SBT 422 2018

SBT

ISSUE 422

FREE

SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

IRWIN MITCHELL

IRWIN MITCHELL RETURNS TO OUR PAGES AGAIN THIS MONTH AS THE SPONSORS OF OUR LEGAL SECTION. KATHERINE SHAW DELVES DEEP INTO THE CONSIDERATIONS TO TAKE WHEN RUNNING A FAMILY BUSINESS

MOTORING WITH RIVERVALE RIVERVALE RETURNS AS THE SPONSORS OF OUR MOTORING SECTION AGAIN THIS MONTH. THIS TIME AROUND, THEY TURN THEIR FOCUS TO BUSINESS LEASING

INTRODUCING BRIGHTON FOOTGOLF OUR HEALTH & SPORT SECTION DELVES DEEP INTO THE NEWEST SPORTING CRAZE, FOOTGOLF. SBT SPEAKS TO BRIGHTON FOOTGOLF’S MANAGING DIRECTOR, RICHARD PHILP

BASEPOINT BUSINESS CENTRES: SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY

BASEPOINT FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF FLEXIBLE BUSINESS CENTRES. FOR THIS MONTH’S COVER FEATURE, SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES TURNS ITS FOCUS TO BASEPOINT’S SUSSEX SITES AND HOW THE COMPANY SUPPORTS BUSINESSES ACROSS THE REGION

SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

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SBTWelcome MEET THE TEAM

Welcome to our latest issue of SBT! As the summer is finally upon us we have another packed issue for you with all the local news, local insights and reviews from across the county. Written by the Sussex business community for the Sussex business community. We hope you enjoy the issue.

Sam Thomas, Managing Director/ Publisher

Jess Saunders, Head of Production

Clare Fermor, Accounts

This month’s cover feature focus is on Basepoint Business Centres. We had great pleasure in meeting and talking to the centre Managers of their four Sussex sites in Crawley, Haywards Heath, Shoreham and Newhaven. Providing quality, affordable and flexible office space and supporting a wide range of Sussex businesses.

Irwin Mitchell return to our pages this month once again as sponsors of our legal section, as Partner Katherine Shaw gives us the lowdown on succession planning for families and rural businesses. Meanwhile, our new Sport and Health section this month focuses on the new sporting craze, FootGolf. We had the pleasure of talking to entrepreneur and Managing Director of Brighton FootGolf Richard Philp, who talks about his passion for FootGolf, his football career and his aspirations for the future and Brighton’s latest FootGolf course.

CONTRIBUTORS

James Dempster, Managing Director, Cobb Digital

Katherine Shaw, Family Team Partner, Irwin Mitchell

Richard Philp, Managing Director, Brighton Footgolf

Andy Soloman, CEO and Founder, Yomdel

SBT also shows its support this month to help Save Saltdean Lido, with £60,000 needed to unlock £4.19 million from the heritage lottery fund. We take a look at how residents are pulling together to save the Lido.

As always, alongside these great features we have Ask the expert columns and our Made in Sussex feature focuses on Alison Nightingale, who owns the boutique award-winning vineyard Albourne Estate in West Sussex. As ever, our popular motoring section, sponsored by Rivervale Leasing, discusses business leasing and the benefits, as well as an exclusive offer for all SBT readers. This month our food and drinks Editor reviews Cru in Eastbourne, who are raising the bar in the seaside town. Our Hotel review this month returns to the Brighton boutique Hotel scene where we visit the very stylish Blanch House. Also within these pages are your usual local, national, motoring and chamber news.

Enjoy this month’s read.

Adrian McClinton, Associate Solicitor, Coffin Mew

Kayvan Khoroosi FCCA, LLP Partner

Sam Thomas, Managing Director

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 3

SBTContents

Issue 422

SBT

ISSUE 422

FREE

SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

IRWIN MITCHELL

IRWIN MITCHELL RETURNS TO OUR PAGES AGAIN THIS MONTH AS THE SPONSORS OF OUR LEGAL SECTION. KATHERINE SHAW DELVES DEEP INTO THE CONSIDERATIONS TO TAKE WHEN RUNNING A FAMILY BUSINESS

MOTORING WITH RIVERVALE RIVERVALE RETURNS AS THE SPONSORS OF OUR MOTORING SECTION AGAIN THIS MONTH. THIS TIME AROUND, THEY TURN THEIR FOCUS TO BUSINESS LEASING

INTRODUCING BRIGHTON FOOTGOLF OUR HEALTH & SPORT SECTION DELVES DEEP INTO THE NEWEST SPORTING CRAZE, FOOTGOLF. SBT SPEAKS TO BRIGHTON FOOTGOLF’S MANAGING DIRECTOR, RICHARD PHILP

BASEPOINT BUSINESS CENTRES: SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY

BASEPOINT FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF FLEXIBLE BUSINESS CENTRES. FOR THIS MONTH’S COVER FEATURE, SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES TURNS ITS FOCUS TO BASEPOINT’S SUSSEX SITES AND HOW THE COMPANY SUPPORTS BUSINESSES ACROSS THE REGION

SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

Cover: Basepoint

Managing Director/Publisher Sam Thomas sam@thebusinessgroup.co.uk 01323 819 012 Head of Production Jess Saunders jess@lifemediagroup.co.uk 07528578177 Web Designer/Developer: Tom Alexander Accounts: Clare Fermor accounts@thebusinessgroup.co.uk 01323 819 016 Published by The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Unit 1a 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 The Business Group Sussex 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 The Business Group Sussex Ltd. 2017 ©

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News

View the latest local and national business headlines.

Spending It

With Father’s Day 2018 just around the corner SBT has put together a moodboard of gift ideas for the special man in your life.

Finance: Grant Thornton

With business in the South East of England at an all time high, and increasing at an increcibly fast rate, Grant Thornton take our Finance pages this month to delve into the region’s potential and explain their research findings on the matter.

Education: Fearless Female Conference 2018

As a celebration of International Women’s Day, Sussex Business Times turns its focus this month to the upcoming Fearless Female Conference 2018, set to take place on 11th May. Here’s everything you need to know.

The Future of Women in Business

Rohit Talwar, Steve Wells, Alexandra Whittington, April Koury and Helena Calle of Fast Future here outline the key uncertainties and challenges women in the business community are currently facing.

Legal: Irwin Mitchell

Irwin Mitchell return to our pages again this month as the sponsors of our Legal section. Here in these pages, Partner in the firm’s Family team, Katherine Shaw delves deep into the considerations to take when running a family business.

Cover Feature: Basepoint Business Centres

Basepoint focuses on the development and operation of flexible business centres. For this month’s cover feature, Sussex Business Times turns its focus to Basepoint’s Sussex sites and how the company supports businesses across the region.

Tried and Tested in Sussex

Sussex Business Times takes to Brighton to review one of the city’s most pristine locations - Blanch House - and enjoys a divine working lunch at Eastbourne’s Cru.

Chamber News

For this month’s Chamber News section, Sussex Business Times has partnered with the Sussex Chamber of Commerce.

Motoring with Rivervale

Rivervale returns as the sponsors of our motoring section again this month. This time around, they turn their focus to business leasing.

Ask the Experts

Local Sussex business experts advise on relevant issues.

Made in Sussex

This month’s home-grown hero is Albourne Estate.

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As a business owner, it’s your passion and commitment that drives your business. Basepoint Business Centres share this enthusiasm and are committed to helping businesses by offering first-class workspaces alongside services that support you in making your business a success.

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www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 5

SBTLocal News Sussex Chamber Launch The Investment in Young People Award Youth skills development is an important part of the UK’s industrial strategy. Can your business help move the youth skills development agenda forward?

Introducing Investment in Young People (IiYP). The business mark for corporate social responsibility.

IiYP is a National Award that recognises the important work that businesses carry out in assisting young people aged 5 to 25 to gain employability skills and to assist them with the transition from education into the world of work.

The Sussex Chamber (who also proudly wear IiYP accreditation) is now Sussex’s sole delivery agent for IiYP. The IiYP accreditation aims to help businesses stand out from the crowd and to be seen as a Sussex-based employer of choice, by prospective employees.

Aimed at recognising an employer’s contribution to assisting young people, the prestigious national award recognises the important work that employers do in supporting a young person’s understanding of the world of work; whilst also helping them to gain the employability skills needed to go on and gain meaningful employment.

Brighton Named Most Entrepreneurial City According to a report by Instant Offices, Brighton is the most entrepreneurial UK city, followed by Manchester and Nottingham in second and third place respectively. This was determined by analysing Companies House data and comparing population estimates in UK cities with the number of businesses launched there in the last two years.

Surprisingly, London did not make the top 10.

A survey by YouthSite of 1 006 students across UK universities found that 15% of students plan to launch their own start-up business after graduating from university. As for their reasons, 45% said they desired to be their own boss, while 27% believe they

would make more money working for themselves than for someone else. The survey also found that male undergraduates are more likely to start their own business, with 20% of male participants interested in starting their own business ventures, compared to only 11% of female graduates.

Coffin Mew Announces More Than 30% Turnover Growth Coffin Mew has emerged as one of the fastest-growing law firms in the South of England, announcing more than 30 per cent growth in turnover since its merger with Charles Lucas & Marshall little more than a year ago.

The firm’s revenue increased from £10.7m in 2016/17 to £14m in 2017/18, achieving healthy growth across its service and sector lines for both individual and business clients.

Miles Brown, Coffin Mew’s

CEO, said: “We are all delighted with the firm’s growth since the merger and feel confident of reaching our target of becoming a £20m turnover firm by 2020. We are now looking at other merger opportunities to accelerate this process, as well as further diversification and enrichment of our service offer.”

The Charles Lucas & Marshall merger, completed in March 2017, created a legal business with nearly 300 years of combined legal experience.

Parker Building Supplies Opens New Showroom and Plumbing Department in Hailsham Parker Building Supplies, the South East’s leading independent builders’ merchant, today announces the opening of a new kitchen & bathroom showroom and specialist plumbing department at its existing heavyside branch in Diplocks Way, Hailsham.

The new showroom and plumbing department are on the Hailsham branch site, where expert staff will be on hand to offer advice on the latest range of products and customers can collect plumbing supplies or arrange for delivery.

The plumbing department offers an

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extensive range of plumbing products for trade and retail customers and builds on the success of Parker Plumbing Supplies in Angmering, Seaford, Bexhill and Maidstone.

The kitchen showroom opens from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 12.30pm on Saturdays. The plumbing department opening hours are 7.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.

The opening follows recent investment in Parker Building Supplies by Cairngorm Capital, the specialist private investment firm, whose focus is on UK building products distribution, manufacturing and

services. Cairngorm Capital partners with successful, ambitious medium-sized UK businesses to provide capital, strategic advice and operational best practice to enable growth potential.

SBTLocal News Secure Trust Bank Expands National Coverage with Appointment in the South

Arundel ‘Wonder Woman’ Marathon Runner Raises £3,500 for Children’s Charity Vanessa Wickens from Arundel, completed the London Marathon on Sunday, raising a total of over £3,500 for the children’s charity, Over The Wall.

Completing the race dressed as Wonder Woman, Vanessa finished the 26.2 mile course with a time of 5:52:11, raising funds for the charity that enables children with serious health challenges to attend free therapeutic residential camps.

“I was so proud to be running on behalf of the charity Over the Wall” says Vanessa. “I’ve been a huge advocate for this incredible charity since I first came across it when I was working as a radiographer and sonographer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. My

sister – a play specialist – accompanied some of her patients to one of its camps, and seeing the impact it had on her led me to volunteer. Five years on, I still feel so privileged to be part of something that gives children the opportunity to grow in confidence and be themselves, without being defined by their illnesses.”

Vanessa has also participated in various other events to raise funds for Over The Wall including a skydive in 2014. She also kindly asked guests at her wedding in 2016, to make donations to the charity, rather than buy her and her husband gifts. www.otw.org.uk

British Airways i360 Wins Gold Award for ‘Innovation in Tourism’ British Airways i360 in Brighton has been awarded Gold for ‘Innovation in Tourism’ at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, which celebrate “the best in English Tourism”.

The award was presented by VisitEngland Advisory Board chairman Denis Wormwell during a ceremony yesterday [April 23] at the Assembly Rooms in Bath, which was hosted by the TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp.

Announcing the Gold Award for British Airways i360, the judges said: “A triumph of innovation and a completely unique attraction, this slender tower and state of the art cable car technology continue Brighton’s tradition of expressing identity through remarkable architecture. From

arrival at the beautifully reconstructed toll booths to departure, the entire experience is one of quality.”

British Airways i360 is an observation attraction on Brighton seafront which was conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, creators of the London Eye.

Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance has appointed Matt Alis as Regional Sales Director as the firm looks to build on its impressive performance in the South East and London.

The asset-based lender announced last month that it had lent £34m to SMEs in the South of England in 2017, with total lending balances more than doubling nationwide.

Matt joins from Bibby Financial Services, where he spent more than three years. In his role at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, he will be focussed on further developing the STB brand across a wide range of intermediaries and will be responsible for identifying opportunities in the South of England. Matt will be based in the London office working alongside Tony Young and Jeremy Uphill, supporting local SMEs with flexible finance facilities to support growth and manage cashflow.

On his appointment, Matt Alis said: “London and the South East are brimming with ambitious businesses that require funding.

Secure Trust Bank has built a strong reputation in these regions, and I’m looking forward to working with the Southern SME community and further reinforcing the firm’s position as one of the leading providers of invoice finance and asset based lending facilities.”

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 7

SBTNational News SME Housebuilders Don’t Feel Supported by Legislators

As the housing market in the UK continues to be blighted by a serious shortage, small and medium-sized developers are complaining about a lack of support from the government and other legislators.

Builders and developers face a number of pressures and challenges at present that are making their jobs difficult. A survey conducted by CRL revealed that one such challenge included inadequate support from those that are responsible for setting regulatory and legal requirements.

Shocking figures revealed that 53% felt that the government was ‘unsupportive’ and ‘very unsupportive’, with just 2% feeling as though legislators are ‘very supportive’ of the industry.

Sentiments that Government policy also unfairly favours larger homebuilders over smaller ones have continued to circulate.

Kennedy Zvenyika, Managing Director of GIC Capital said: “The Government has set a target of building 300,000 houses each year to address the shortage.

Nominations Open for the 2018 Barclaycard Everywoman Shopping On Mobile To Top £53bn in Retail Awards

By 2024

The 2018 Barclaycard everywoman in Retail Awards has just launched its search for inspirational individuals excelling in the UK’s retail industry.

Women from all stages of their career journey are encouraged to nominate themselves or others – from ambitious rising stars and innovative entrepreneurs to well-seasoned leaders making a significant contribution to their organisation. In addition, the Male Agent of Change Award will recognise a man for his commitment to advancing women working in retail.

However, research shows that women are far less likely to fill senior positions than men, with director-level

roles being 26% female and 74% male.

Together with new title partner, Barclaycard, the everywoman in Retail Awards hopes to tackle these issues by uncovering the breadth of senior roles available, highlighting the achievements of many successful women already excelling in the sector and showing just how fulfilling a long-term career in retail can be.

ISP Beaming: Cybercrime Victim Rates Fall as SMEs Boost The number of British businesses falling victim to cybercrime fell by a fifth in 2017, despite an increase in the volume of attacks, according to new research from Beaming, the business internet service provider. The greatest reductions in victim rates were among small and medium sized businesses, which invested heavily in cyber security last year.

The survey of more than 500 business leaders, conducted for Beaming by research consultancy Opinium, discovered that 43% of businesses suffered cyber security breaches in 2017.

This was significantly fewer than in 2016 when more than half (52%) of firms fell victim.

Beaming credits the decline in cybercrime rates to investments in cyber security technologies and education. The research reveals that the proportion of small and medium sized businesses using a network perimeter firewall increased from around half (54%) of those surveyed in 2016 to three quarters (75%) in 2017, while the proportion of small businesses using intrusion detection systems and proactive vulnerability scanning doubled over the same period.

The proportion of small businesses with documented cyber security policies also increased last year, from a quarter (26%) of firms in 2016 to more than half (51%) by the end of 2017. Amongst medium sized businesses their use increased from 36% to 57% over the same period.

Cost of Cyber Breaches to Middle Market Businesses Quadruples The average cost of cyber breaches affecting medium sized businesses has quadrupled in the last two years according to the latest government survey.

The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2018 carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, found that the estimated total cost of cyber breaches has consistently increased from £1,860 in 2016 to £3,070 in 2017 and £8,180 in 2018 – even when including breaches that do not result in lost assets or data. This represents an increase of over

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400 per cent in just two years.

In instances where breaches do result in a material loss of assets or data, the impacts can be much higher – on average £16,100 for medium sized businesses and £22,300 for large businesses. These costs can include investment in new measures, including tools and technology, to prevent against future attacks and increased staff resource. The survey found that two thirds of medium and large businesses have identified and reported at least one breach or attack in the last 12 months.

SBTNational News Social Media at Work: The Difference Between Employer and Employee Perceptions

Tax Preparation Specialist Queries Reports that HMRC Have Cancelled 270,000 Late Filing Penalties David Redfern, founder of DSR Tax Claims, spoke out after HMRC suffered yet another blow with news that they had cancelled 270,000 late filing penalties in 2016. Added to disparaging media coverage about the CEST tool used to check contractor employment status, the withdrawal of 6,000 wrongly issued accelerated penalty notices and news that HMRC were forced to pull their pension calculator due to the incorrect results it was producing.

This latest blow to HMRC concerns a Freedom of Information (FOI) request showing that 270,000 late filing

penalties were cancelled, with HMRC claiming that these were cancelled due to the taxpayer having a “reasonable excuse” for the late filing. However, there are suggestions that a number of these penalties had been issued in error to taxpayers who had actually submitted their Self Assessment tax return prior to the deadline. As a result of the FOI request, it was discovered that HMRC do not track how many penalties are issued in error and subsequently cancelled. https://dsrtaxclaims.co.uk/

Positive Outlook for Buy-to-Let Britain The past two years have been rife with changes in the buy-to-let market, despite the challenges the industry has faced, a new report from Aldermore1, the specialist bank, reveals private landlords are feeling positive about the future of the market, and the opportunity it presents.

Despite predictions the market will shrink, almost more than two in five landlords (44%) believe the private rental sector will grow, with one in six (17%) hoping to expand their own buy-to-let portfolio over the next year. Amongst ‘portfolio landlords’ (those with at least four properties), over two-fifths (41%) are in a position to expand their portfolio over the next year.

Many of those who are looking to expand are doing so because they still see the rental market as a good investment opportunity, with yields far outpacing current savings rates. Many also acknowledge the opportunity, with the increasing demand for rental properties particularly amongst

millennials, many of whom cannot afford to get on the property ladder.

Just less than one in ten (8%) of private landlords intend to reduce the number of properties they own.

This is predominantly due to ongoing government actions. When asked, many cited too many restrictions and higher taxes while some believe that tenants are protected to the detriment of the landlord.

Virtually since its creation, the use of social media in the workplace has been a bone of contention between employers and employees.

With social media now being so ubiquitous, leading digital marketing experts, Digimax, have discovered that 72% of SME owners/managers now have an active social media policy for their employees to abide by. Unfortunately, only a quarter (28%) of employees are happy with their employer’s stated policy.

With the average person now having 7.6 active social media accounts and spending nearly two hours (approximately 116 minutes) a day perusing them, it’s perhaps not surprising that employers are concerned about the impact social media might have on productivity.

Although more than a third (36%) of employers say that they don’t allow personal use of social media during work hours, three quarters (74%) of workers say that they regularly check their accounts while at work.

18% of those say that their business hours social media use is workrelated with some citing promoting a product or sharing news as their SM use whilst the overwhelming majority (82%) admit that it’s purely for personal entertainment.

Interestingly, eight out of ten (81%) employers believe that their staff’s online content can have a direct effect on their business brand, whether through inappropriate comments or behaviour not fitting for the line of work. Because of this, 33% of small business managers admit to regularly checking their employee’s social media content.

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Father’s Day Gifts With Father’s Day 2018 just around the corner, this month SBT has put together a moodboard of perfect gifts for the special man in your life AUCHENTOSHAN AMERICAN OAK SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY A smooth and complex Single Malt Scotch Whisky, with notes of white peach and smooth vanilla cream.

Auchentoshan American Oak ages gracefully in first fill North American bourbon casks. To the nose Bourbon vanilla and coconut with layers of zesty citrus fruit. To the tongue Refreshingly smooth yet lively with vanilla cream, coconut and white peach. £20.

MOPHIE WIRELESS CHARGING BASE The mophie wireless charging base is optimised to charge your iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X quickly and easily. Simply set your iPhone on the wireless base and charging begins immediately. The non-slip housing ensures perfect placement. £54.95.

www.amazon.co.uk

www.apple.com

SHADOW Shadow is a new breed of cloud-based computers, equivalent to a high-end Windows 10 PC, that transforms any internet-connected device with a screen into a full-featured, always-updated and upgraded PC, ideal for intensive use like gaming. Plus, Shadow frees users from the constraints of physical PC hardware and gives them what they truly want and need. https://shadow.tech

PERSONALISED CUT CRYSTAL DECANTER

APPLE WATCH SERIES 3 Apple Watch is an incredibly accurate timepiece, designed to sync with your iPhone and give you the time accurate to within 5 milliseconds. It’s also connected to your calendar, your contacts and schedule, helping it deliver timely updates that are relevant to you. £379. www.johnlewis.com 10 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

This personalised decanter will give an opulent feel to any occasion. Why not personalise it with a message of good luck or good will. Maybe just personalise it with a name or date. Personalised gifts make any recipient feel special, with all the thought and care that you have taken in finding the perfect gift. £72.99. www.findmeagift.co.uk

MERCURE YORK FAIRFIELD MANOR HOTEL GOLF WEEKENDER

AESOP MOROCCAN NEROLI SHAVING SERUM Suitable for all skin types, the lowfoaming gel is infused with Panthenol and Aloe Leaf to soothe, protect and prevent dryness, whilst Sandalwood and Neroli Blossom deliver a warm, woody aroma. Skin is super soft, smooth and hydrated.

This 18th century Georgian manor house, set in stunning private grounds, enjoys views of the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. After a day on the course, relax over a glass of wine in the Club Bar. Guests can enjoy a wellearned countryside break, near the banks of the River Ouse. £59 per night. www.accorhotels.com

RUARK AUDIO R1 MK3 DAB/FM RADIO The Ruark R1 MK3 is the third generation of R1 digital table radio that features upgraded internal components but sticking to the roots of the original sleek design.

This compact radio packs a powerful 3.5” high-fidelity driver - custom made to deliver excellent sound quality. £219. www.mankind.co.uk

www.hifix.co.uk

HERITAGE DOCUMENT FOLDER

EDWIN JAGGER 3PC SHAVING SET A stunning ivory coloured personal shaving set, expertly crafted in Sheffield by Edwin Jagger. This exceptional home grooming kit includes a Mach3 razor and a pure badger hair brush. £69.

www.farrar-tanner.co.uk

PERSONALISED 10 YEAR OLD TAWNY PORT & NEWSPAPER Ensure your dad has everything he needs during an important meeting with this Heritage document holder from Dulwich Designs. Luxuriously handcrafted from premium bonded leather, it is lined with plush grey suedette and includes three slots for business cards and a pen holder.

Available in black and brown, this document holder makes a wonderful luxury Father’s Day gift idea. £60. www.amara.com

If your dad is a fan of aged alcohol then this port is perfect. Not only is this port a great celebratory drink for any occasion, but the 10 Year Old Tawny Port has all of the fruity essences and flavours that are sure to make you fall in love with this drink. This port also comes in a set with an original newspaper, with the date of your choice. £74.99.

www.findmeagift.co.uk

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 11

Finance

Grant Thornton: Productivity Boost of £10 Billion Waiting to be Unlocked

by South East Businesses With business in the South East of England at an all time high, and increasing at an increcibly fast rate, Grant Thornton take our Finance pages this month to delve into the region’s potential and explain their research findings on the matter Businesses in the South East have the potential to tap into an extra £10 billion Finance GVA (gross value added) in 2018 if they can overcome key barriers and exploit opportunities, according to a new report from Grant Thornton UK LLP. The report, Planning for Growth, found that across the UK the potential GVA to be unlocked amounts to a staggering £72.5 billion – this level of growth could translate in to 1.4 million jobs. With the UK economy expected to grow just 1.5% in 2018, missed growth could prove game-changing in making the UK a more vibrant economy.

For businesses to succeed, they need to emulate the attributes of ‘Growth Generators’: a group of sustainable, high growth companies identified by Grant Thornton, who have recorded growth of 20% or more in the last year and sustainable growth for the last three.

The importance of the economy in the South East to the UK’s overall fortunes is clear – the region represented 15% of the nation’s total GVA in 2016, second only to London. However, the rate of GVA growth (2.5%) was in fact the second lowest in the country and at its lowest level since 2011.

Jim Rogers, Practice Leader for Thames Valley

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and Southampton at Grant Thornton, said: “There is no doubt that the South East – with its export links to Europe, the M4 winding through the high-tech Thames Valley, and its proximity to the capital – has the potential to be a major engine of growth within the UK economy. But the signs are that it needs to punch harder. An uplift in the South East could have a ripple effect elsewhere in the UK economy.”

Grant Thornton’s research found a clear sense that a climate of uncertainty with regards to the future is holding back growth. Only 53% of South East business leaders are confident that they will achieve their growth plans for the next 3-5 years, with over a third (35%) agreeing that political uncertainty has made them more risk averse.

The impact of this wider uncertainty has been to reduce the level of investment for growth over the last couple of years: only 3% of South East businesses have made their most recent strategic investment in revenue growth in the last year, compared to 24% in the

previous one to two years and 70% in the previous three to five.

Ellen Walsh, Practice Leader for Gatwick at Grant Thornton, commented: “While political uncertainty has not been identified as the biggest challenge for businesses, a dropoff

in recent growth ambition is visible, although businesses do still harbour growth plans for the future. The key is to take advantage of opportunities and overcome existing challenges identified, without taking on too much risk.”

Looking at key areas to drive growth such as use of technology and brand and marketing, the region’s businesses face challenges here too.

South East businesses see technology as both a major accelerator and barrier to growth. However, a higher proportion say it is a significant barrier (47%) than those that say it is an accelerator (34%).

Only just over half of South East business leaders are broadly confident in their ability to overcome technology as a barrier to growth.

Like technology, brand marketing and communications are recognised as both a top accelerator and a barrier to growth. But only just over a quarter (29%) of South East leaders who said marketing was an accelerator are confident their organisation can implement this.

The Growth Generators that Grant Thornton identified – 13% of whom are based in the South East – have four key

characteristics that other businesses need to try to emulate. They are purpose-driven, invested in growth, tech confident and networked.

South East businesses perform well at instilling a sense of purpose: over 90% of leaders believe that their staff and management understand and support it. However, only 52% who identified purpose as an accelerator are confident they can implement purpose as an accelerator of growth – compared to 82% of Growth Generators nationally.

When it comes to investing in growth, 70% of Growth Generators see M&A as their number one strategic growth priority in the next 3-5 years, while in the South East it was significantly lower at 54%.

Of business leaders who have identified technology as an accelerator to growth, Growth Generators are more confident in their ability to implement this (59%) than businesses in the South East (42%). Tech was the area of highest investment to reach the next stage of growth for 14% of Growth Generators compared to only 7% of South East businesses.

Like Growth Generators, a minority of South East businesses are active

internationally. But both recognise the importance of growing international activity, with 37% of Growth Generators and 33% in the South East citing it as one of their top five strategies for the next 1-2 years.

Ellen Walsh concluded: “We believe that if more UK businesses adopt a Growth Generator mindset, we can unlock the UK’s full growth potential and the private sector can lead the way in shaping a vibrant economy. There is no doubt that businesses in the South East have the capabilities to drive up their growth performance and move nearer to claiming that £10 billion productivity prize.

It is a question of having the confidence when the right opportunities arise and being clear about the strategy for the future.”

ABOUT GRANT THORNTON “Our underlying purpose is to build a vibrant economy, based on trust and integrity in markets, dynamic businesses, and communities where businesses and people thrive. We work with banks, regulators and government to rebuild trust through corporate renewal reviews, advice on corporate governance, and remediation in financial services.”

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 13

BOUTIQUE STAYS STAYS BOUTIQUE

CELEBRATIONS CELEBRATIONS

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AWAY DAYS DAYS AWAY

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17 Atlingworth Atlingworth Street, Street, Brighton, Brighton, East East Sussex, Sussex, BN2 BN2 1PL 1PL 17 17 Atlingworth Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1PL 1PL 17 Atlingworth Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1PL Atlingworth Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 14 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk @blanchhousebrighton @blanchhousebrighton www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 333 @blanchhousebrighton @blanchhousebrighton @blanchhousebrighton www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk @blanchhousebrighton 0127317603504 603504 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 01273 603504 01273 01273 603504 603504 01273 @blanchhouse @blanchhouse www.blanchhouse.co.uk @blanchhouse @blanchhouse @blanchhouse info@blanchhouse.co.uk www.blanchhouse.co.uk @blanchhouse ||| www.blanchhouse.co.uk info@blanchhouse.co.uk |info@blanchhouse.co.uk www.blanchhouse.co.uk info@blanchhouse.co.uk |info@blanchhouse.co.uk www.blanchhouse.co.uk

News

Robin Evans Appointed Partner at MHA Carpenter Box

As we continue to provide you with the most recent news from across the region, local Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisers, Carpenter Box grace our Finance section this month with a new appointment Robin joined the firm back in 2002 as a Senior Manager and has progressed Finance to Partner following a stint as a Departmental Director in the firm’s Assurance and Advisory Group which deals with all of the firm’s client audits, amongst other things. Initially qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1997 and a Chartered Tax Adviser in 2002, Robin previously worked for BDO in London before moving to a Brighton practice.

Prior to joining MHA Carpenter Box he took the role of Internal Auditor for The Body Shop, and has gained a vast amount of experience in audit work both in practice and in industry over the years.

Within the Assurance and Advisory Group at MHA Carpenter Box, Robin works with a variety of limited companies on statutory audits, tax planning and strategic reviews, as well as providing general technical support to a portfolio of clients. He is also a specialist in dealing with academy schools, assisting them through the conversion process and providing them with ongoing support. He is Head of the Academies Sector at MHA Carpenter Box and is the Senior Statutory Auditor for a number of academy schools and commercial businesses.

Robin also works closely with the Charity Sector at the firm and provides invaluable audit support to many charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Robin is thrilled with his new appointment, commenting: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as a Partner at MHA Carpenter Box. It’s been a great place to work both in terms of the people within the firm and the wide variety of

client issues and opportunities that we deal with on a daily basis. There are always new challenges to face and I relish the prospect of being part of the partnership team to give my input into the strategic direction of the firm.”

Robin lives in Littlehampton, and is married with three children. Besides watching his sons play football and

his daughter ride horses, he is a cardcarrying Welshman, a keen fan of Brighton & Hove Albion and season ticket holder at the AMEX Stadium in Brighton.

For any further information, to contact the team or to keep up to date with news, please visit www.carpenterbox.com

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 15

Insight

How to Recover an Unpaid Invoice

Chasing late payments is a massive drain on any businesses resources, especially when you’re unsure about the best approach or legalities involved. Here, Sage provide you with a guide which lays out this process in a simple and straightforward format - including how and when to send reminders, and what to do when you need to escalate the situation

Chasing payments for overdue invoices can drain your energy Insight and time away from running your business. Your best strategy against late payments is to ensure your invoices are well-formatted by following our guide to producing invoices so that you get paid on time.

For all our efforts, at times there will always be a client or customer who either doesn’t have the funds to pay or uses a tactic of delaying payments to manage their own cash flow.

Always remember that dealing with customers also involves good judgment

16 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

and if you have a five-year relationship with a client and suddenly they don’t pay, then take the time to understand what is going on before jumping in with payment demands.

In most cases, if you haven’t been paid on a late invoice then you do need to act swiftly.

Before you begin to recover an unpaid invoice, remember to bear in mind that incorrect information on an invoice can cause dispute and delays during recovery. Make sure you: • • •

Check your details and facts.

Check the invoice date and payment amounts.

Check the customer’s details (name,

•

trading name and address) are correct.

Use companies house to search the company name.

If you do proceed to court recovery then you will need to prove that you followed a fair process so keep a record of all correspondence.

Note phone call times and dates and the person you spoke to Summarise what was said and send a copy to the person you spoke to offering them opportunity to dispute what was agreed.

As a small business, you have protection and government guidelines

Insight stipulate that a customer must pay you within 30 days of receipt of your goods/ service, unless you agreed other payment terms. Anything agreed for longer than 60 days must be fair to both businesses.

So what steps should be taken when an invoice hasn’t been paid?

Send a follow up email two days after the invoice was sent out Make sure you’re speaking to the right person and get a contact name for accounts. Offer a friendly reminder and ask directly if they received the original invoice, and remember to attach a copy of the original invoice.

After seven days, send another email reminder Be friendly and ask directly if there is any reason it hasn’t been paid because of an issue with amounts/services outlined in the invoice. If you have not received a reply within the next 24 hours, make a phone call. Be friendly, and ask directly if they received the previous two emails.

Ask directly when payment will be made.

Summarise what was said and send an immediate email as a record so that they have the option to dispute what was said and agreed within the call.

After a further seven days, make another direct phone call Summarise what was said and send an immediate email as a record so that they have the option to dispute what was said and agreed within the call.

If no action or response has been made by the client within a further seven days, send a formal letter from your business Outline that interest is being applied to the debt and accruing and that the sooner they pay the invoice the less they will have to pay.

After 14 days...

Send a solicitor’s warning letter OR another formal letter directly from yourself that includes the

date of the original invoice, how much they owe, what the invoice was for, the contact name of the person that agreed to the work or approved the goods and your payment terms agreed. Then make a final request for payment.

Inform the customer that you will be issuing a statutory demand OR proceeding to Court and filing a claim against them for the amount overdue plus any interest if they do not make payment within 7 days.

Make sure you can prove the letter was received by using a signed for delivery service. Seek legal advice on how to best structure this letter.

Fast forward another seven days...

At this stage it’s assumed that the relationship between your client/customer and yourself is at a non-recoverable stage and unlikely to result in more business from them.

If you do continue to work with them after this process, it’s advised that payment terms revert to all invoices being paid in advance (PIA).

You’ve now taken all of the possible steps you can personally carry out, yet there are other meansof debt recovery for a small business or individual.

Firstly, Mediation. At the first stage of any dispute and fall out it’s always best to try and recover the situation by using a mediation approach. Sitting down together in a room and talking may uncover simple miscommunication or misunderstanding. Or, even embarrassment on the customer’s part for a situation that has spiralled out of control. Potentially a cheaper cost than starting legal proceedings, mediation is a small fee and may help recover your unpaid debt.

Alternatively, sending a statutory demand may catch the attention of your client. A formal letter that demands for payment will get the attention of your client who hasn’t paid their bill. The customer then has 21 days to respond before further action is taken. If the

letter is ignored or they don’t pay you can apply to a court to make them bankrupt (debts over £5,000) or have their company wound up (debts over £750).

You can issue the letter yourself but you must understand the strict criteria to have it upheld.

This brings us on to the third means of debt recovery - and more often than not, the least preferred for any business - court action. If the invoice hasn’t been disputed at any stage in your communication you can take court action. There is a simple online process for making claims under £100,000. Before claiming, be sure that you can prove there has been enough communication between yourself and your customer so that they understand what your claim is for. In other words, make sure you follow all of the previous steps!

As a last resort, you can sell the debt to a specialist agency to recover a percentage of the invoice. Although, this could only be pennies on the pound. You can add the cost of the debt recovery to your claim.

By using a third-party service, this does mean that any relationship with your customer will most likely be irretrievable. If you do approach a third party to recover the debt remember: • • • • • • •

Only employ a reputable firm as they are representing your name and brand.

Ask for references and follow them up.

Do NOT pay upfront or registration fees.

Only agree a no-collection-no-fee basis.

Ask for their terms and conditions.

Only use an agency that is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Do not employ anyone where you suspect a use of ‘heavy tactics’.

For any further information or guidance, please visit www.sage.com

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 17

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Fearless Female Conference 2018

As a celebration of International Women’s Day, Sussex Business Times turns its focus this month to the upcoming Fearless Female Conference 2018, set to take place on 11th May. Here’s everything you need to know...

To kick start International Women’s Education Day, we would like to announce our second event of the year.

Following on from our successful ‘LoveLocalTalent’ conference in October 2017 where we addressed the topic of Millennials in the workplace, we are proud to confirm the launch of our Fearless Female Conference 2018.

Gender Equality is a hot topic and one we want to tackle head on. Bringing gender balance to the workplace is not only is it the right thing to do but it also makes total business sense.

On 11th May 2018 at the Hilton London Gatwick Airport, this full-day event will show you how to “Attracting & Retaining Female Talent”. In partnership with The Skills Farm, this groundbreaking conference is packed full of expert speakers with useful insights and practical tips that ensure you are hiring and developing the best female talent for your business.

We are delighted to announce that our Fearless Female Conference 2018 will

be hosted by Julia Francis - A Former Global Director of Learning & Leadership Development for a world leader in Sustainability Consulting.

Julia will be facilitating the day ensuring that you get the most from our guest speakers and panelists. Julia will be opening the event with her own keynote speech on the importance of investing in female leadership programmes. She will be drawing on her 15+ years of experience, coaching and developing

Senior Leaders around the world and sharing her thoughts on how organisations can do more to support apprising female leaders achieve their career aspirations.

We will be announcing a full line up of speakers in the coming weeks. You will not want to miss out on this!

This is a unique opportunity to join like-minded businesses at an insightful and inspirational conference designed to explore how best to attract and

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 19

Education

recruit talented females. Our aim is for you and your company to benefit from gender equality attraction and retention programmes that will:

joined B&CE in January 2013 and has 20 years’ experience in people management and organisational development within the private and public sectors.

• • •

Antoinette Oglethorpe Antoinette Oglethorpe is a leadership development consultant, coach, speaker, and author. She is the author of Grow Your Geeks - A Handbook for Developing Leaders in High-Tech Organisations. Her philosophy is a simple one. She believes organisations can’t develop leaders. They can only help them develop themselves in a way that will support the organisation.

So, learning through experience, coaching, mentoring and career conversations should be an integral part of any development strategy.

Increase productivity and profitability Support your employer brand Stimulate innovation / Creative problem solving

Early bird tickets are priced at £69 with limited availability. Full priced tickets are £99. Lunch will be provided with both tickets.

While the full line-up has not yet been announced, some of the event’s speakers so far include...

Julia Francis Julia Francis is a Global Talent Consultant.

Julia has designed and implemented ‘Women in Leadership’ programmes at organisations such as KPMG. As your host of the event Julia will be sharing her insights into the full talent spectrum as well as how to become recognised in your industry for your development programmes.

Zoe Wright Zoe is B&CE’s Director of People and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. She is responsible for designing and implementing people strategy across the business including our recruitment, performance management, reward and people development strategies. Zoe

20 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Nikki Gatenby Nikki Gatenby is MD and owner of Propellernet, a digital marketing agency consistently ranked as one of the top 15 best places to work in the UK. Nikki’s unorthodox approach to employee engagement has led to her being an internationally-renowned speaker on the philosophy of ‘making life better’ - built on the principle that if you create a brilliant place to work, you’ll create brilliant experiences for your customers.

Mary Appleton Mary is an award-winning magazine editor with more than 10 years’ experience in print and digital publishing.

She leads the editorial team at

Changeboard, a thought-leadership magazine and careers advice platform for senior business professionals and HR directors, which has more than 1000,000 subscribers across the globe.

Adrienne Saunders Adrienne Saunders is the Master Trainer and Fearless Female Graduates Programme Lead at The Skills Farm In her business career, Adrienne has led winning teams for several multinational organisations, including General Electric and Sweaty Betty. As a European Champion and a World Champion in Aerobic Gymnastics she knows what it takes to develop a skill to world-class level. Adrienne now heads up the Fearless Female Graduates Programme at The Skills Farm helping female graduates boost their business confidence and reach their full potential as they enter the world of work.

Scott Summers Scott Summers is the Co-Founder of The Skills Farm. Their company is known for designing and delivering award-winning leadership programmes that transform companies. Our clients include IBM, Apple, Google, Deloitte and American Express.

For any further information or to stay up to date with the event, please visit www.eventbright.com or www.lovelocaljobs.com

The Future of Women in Business

The Future of Women in Business

Rohit Talwar, Steve Wells, Alexandra Whittington, April Koury and Helena Calle of Fast Future here outline the key uncertainties and challenges women in the business community are currently facing Ensuring a truly equal future for women in society has risen Insight up the agenda of global challenges –at the same time that indicators suggest the actual gap is growing globally.

From harassment and #metoo, to #timesup and the rights to equal pay, equal access in education, the workplace, and the boardroom, women have been succeeding in spotlighting the issues and arguing for their rights.

This article draws on insights from our recent book – The Future Reinvented – Reimagining, Life, Society and Business to explore how business and society can adjust to ensure a more positive future for women, focusing on what we consider to be critical agenda issues. We conclude with our advice and dreams for the future of women.

Increased participation As we look to the forces shaping our world, it is clear that society could benefit significantly from the increased participation of women in the future of technology development, elected governmental roles, and higher education. For example, we need to better understand that even an algorithm can be racist or sexist before integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into our social systems and institutions. The new book

by Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble, Algorithms of Oppression, is a great example of the kind of critical thinking about its broader social implications that the technology sector needs.

An increased participation of women in technology development could contribute significantly to the creation of more female-oriented products. For example, Natural Cycles, created by a woman, is an effective contraceptive app

that gives women a natural choice over family planning, without the hormonal side effects of the pill. Many other clever technological solutions could be developed with an increased participation of women in technology.

The workplace One view on the evolving role of women in the workplace is that men’s role is also evolving. Work in general is changing because of the different economic and technological drivers in place, for example remote and gig working. The evolution of work has cross-gender impacts.

Nations should look to follow Iceland’s fair pay example and eliminate the idea that women and men at work deserve different treatment in the first place.

In some domains and countries, the evolving role of women in the workplace is engendering a more confident and empowering attitude. Women are taking control of their own workplace situations

and actively tackling inequalities. A variety of studies suggest that women’s confidence when asking for a raise or a promotion is growing year by year.

Women are realizing that the first step to change starts from within and these small changes can have a major impact on their work environment.

In a future where much of the work to create products and services will be automated what we offer our customers and clients could become increasingly commoditized. So, our new propositions will need to focus on something different.

Being more human and focusing on the relationship between businesses and customers could become a critical differentiator. Hence, the focus might shift to building propositions on a foundation of competences and values, typically thought of as feminine – such as collaboration, relationship development, and empathy.

Such an approach could help firms

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 21

The Future of Women in Business

create their future competitive advantage.

The role of women across business could become increasingly crucial in leading the culture change required to underpin the development of new propositions.

Challenges facing women professionals Women professionals face the continuing challenge of leading a household and maintaining a career. Societal pressure to “have it all,” however, may be taking a new shape. Women from the millennial generation have not married or reproduced at the same levels as their predecessors. Hence, a woman’s versatile balancing act across various personal and professional roles in the future may not necessarily be due to motherhood, but rather, a choice made for personal fulfillment.

Women professionals face the challenge of establishing a new relationship with the men in their lives.

Men, as working colleagues or as relationship partners are used to the stereotypical idea of providing higher economic support and assuming leadership roles. The challenge now is

22 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

to create new ways of relating to each other based on an authentic mutual partnership.

The cultural and deep-rooted context for discrimination is likely to take some time to clear and is only likely to change through a combination of active campaigning, legislative change, behavioural modification, and generational trends.

Will the man-woman divide persist in the next decade?

In November 2017, The World Economic Forum estimated that, at current rates, it will take 217 years to close the gap on pay and employment opportunities.

(47 years over figures calculated a year earlier). They also estimate that the broader gender gap - taking account of factors such as healthcare, education, and participation in politics – has risen from 83 to 100 years over that same period.

If we define “the man-woman divide” as sexual dimorphism, e.g. that our differences extend beyond just our physical organs, then certainly it seems likely that this will continue. However,

the roles of each of the genders might become more similar. There could be less men or women-oriented services, products or roles. This might be the beginning of the next era where, in 20 years from now, the man-woman divide might become much less perceptible.

As with many norms that become unacceptable as our collective sense of right and wrong evolves, from one perspective, a gradual erosion of alpha male domination looks set to take place.

Society through the empowerment of women, supported by the increasing enlightenment among men, could help to accelerate the agenda for equality, aided by the power of technologies such as social media as platforms for campaigning and “outing unacceptable practices”. At another level, the dominance of strong male leaders of major economies such as Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin, suggests that traditional male hierarchies may be hard to dislodge.

Women and risk Is society responsible for preparing women for the risks and challenges

The Future of Women in Business

of the future? How should we help them respond to economic shocks, the failure of social institutions, and the challenge of adapting to the automation of work - potentially displacing many jobs? Perhaps the best way to do this is to increase the participation in and completion of post-secondary education by women worldwide.

It has been thought that men are more prone to taking risks and overcoming challenges than women. Psychological research has debunked this myth and now we know that these differences depend of the type of risky behaviors we include in the research questionnaires. It is not that one gender is more prone to risk taking than the other. Rather, we are all capable of developing these capacities depending on the experiences we have had and the situations we face.

Are there innate abilities that women have that can be nurtured through education, in work training, and coaching? Could these help raise women’s awareness of their own capabilities, whilst also allowing them to demonstrate competence in managing challenges in leadership positions?

How to tackle the future In a world increasingly dominated by the hype and reality of technology, women need to adjust their expectations of this growing force in society. Even though we encounter abundant conventional wisdom that says humans will be replaced by technology, this is a line pushed by the technoprogressives with a vested interest, and women, in particular, shouldn’t fall for it. The future, especially one highly imbued with AI, needs humanity, and especially women, more than ever.

The future is waiting for women to take on any leadership role where they feel they can contribute to society. The world as we know it is changing, and now is the time to evolve a new generation with higher expectations of what women can do. The critical challenge here is for women to believe in themselves and encourage other women to do so as well.

The key here is for women to focus on maximizing their potential as women. This means celebrating their natural skills and sense of the importance of relationships, empathy, collaboration, and caring.

Ultimately these are the traits that could make the difference between a dystopian

technology enabled world and a very human future.

The progress of women - in five years’ time?

In five years we hope to see better legislation to protect women’s health and access to education. Hopefully more countries will adopt gender-blind wage policies like Iceland. Also, we hope to see greater priority placed on bringing maternal and infant mortality rates down to near zero globally within five years, using strategies that empower women and make best use of local knowledge.

In five years, we truly hope that we will finally have zero tolerance of female genital mutilation everywhere. We hope that globally women have full access to education. And that women participate in at least half of the leadership roles in the corporate world.

Across the next set of electoral cycles it will be a pleasant surprise if half of all major democracies are led by a woman with supporting legislatures that are gender balanced. www.fastfuture.com

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 23

Take your business to greater heights We are Chartered Accountants, Chartered Tax Advisers, Auditors and Business Consultants with a reputation for innovation and excellence.

At award-winning MHA Carpenter Box, we believe accountants should do more than just report on how your business is doing. They should help you identify opportunities to improve your business as a whole.

This means looking at profit levels and tax efficiency, and supporting you in trying to achieve those ambitions, whatever the size of your business.

Our services include: Audit and advisory • Accountancy and bookkeeping • Business consulting Tax compliance and planning • Wealth management

Get in touch: Gatwick: 01293 227670 • Worthing: 01903 234094 Email: info@carpenterbox.com

www.carpenterbox.com

24 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Helping (not Selling) to Increase Sales

Innovation Visual’s Tim Butler gives us some insight into the ways in which the sales industry is changing - along with just about everything else in the business world - and how to best achieve The sales game is changing as a result of technology: It’s no Insight longer about selling, it’s about helping.

There’s a vast amount of information available online, which has led to a power shift in the sales process. If people want an answer to a question, then most will go online to find it. The information is there, and it’s easily attainable. The internet has empowered people and the sales person is no longer the fountain of knowledge they once were.

So, the best way to achieve sales is through a policy of helping, not selling.

This may sound counter-intuitive, but by developing a structured process around helping sales targets you can achieve improved sales results. This process is referred to as inbound sales.

The inbound sales strategy For your business to grow you need

to sell. It’s a simple statement, but not always an easy one to achieve, especially if your approach to sales is lagging behind the times.

Helping someone has the ability to shift the power of the sales process back into the hands of the seller. The important thing is to help the right people and offer the right advice. To do this you have to use marketing intelligence.

This information is gathered by tracking a person’s visits to your website and seeing which pages they visited, what blog posts they read, which whitepapers they downloaded, and beginning to build a real understanding of their interests, goals and concerns.

Engaging in this process means that before you even pick up the phone you know a lot about the person you are about to ring. Use other digital platforms, such as LinkedIn, to research the person you are about to call in more detail and find out about their business. Before you pick up the phone there is one more thing

you need to know the answer to; how are you going to help them?

Instead of selling your product and/or service you should be saying something like, ‘I saw you downloaded this whitepaper, so here is a case study about a client of ours who faced a similar challenge’.

Your company should have invested time in creating content and should have the necessary resources to provide relevant help, whether this be a webinar, a whitepaper, an industry top tip, a guide or even a quick solution. If your company is not producing content relevant to the industry on a regular basis then this needs to change, fast.

One of the best ways to guarantee your company is producing regular content is to create a blog section on your website.

Providing the answers to issues people may be facing can lead to them visiting your website where they can find out what solutions you offer to the problem they have. This help could ultimately lead

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 25

Insight

to an enquiry, followed by a sale.

The ‘help’ approach to sales is not only refreshing for the consumer but approaching the sales call in this way means you are no longer a sales person cold calling someone entirely for your own benefit. Instead you are helping someone, and the call benefits the receiver.

You can break the inbound sales process down into some simple steps: 1. Inbound marketing: The first step is to employ an inbound marketing methodology, which is focused on providing helpful content, which draws people to your site.

2. Marketing intelligence: It’s important to make sure you are tracking visits to your website, so you know who is visiting your website and what they are looking at.

3. Provide helpful advice: Before

26 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

you contact your sales prospect you should now be armed with the information that allows you to provide helpful information that is specific to that person needs. You should know exactly how you are going to help them before you pick up the phone.

4. Open the door to further conversation: After phoning and helping your sales prospect, you have provided yourself with an opportunity to speak in the future.

If someone is willing to talk to you, then they are more likely to buy from you in the future.

5. Help, don’t sell: The most important thing is to remember you’re helping, not selling. Turning to a full-on sales pitch too soon can deter the potential customer.

This sales approach suits human psychology. We’re programmed to help

each other, and this means if you help someone then they feel obliged to help you back. This could be them deciding that the product or service your company provides is the solution to overcoming the challenges their business is facing.

That first call to help them could lead to a sale further down the line. The most important thing is to be patient and build a relationship first by helping.

Tracking is incredibly important to gain marketing intelligence. There are a number of different automation tools that can assist will tracking, sales and contact management. Implementing one of these tools provides companies with the ability to track visits to their website and gather information about that person’s visit.

The future is about helping, not selling, so make sure you adapt your sales strategy to stay ahead of your business competition. www.innovationvisual.com

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 27

Succession Planning for Families and Rural Businesses

Irwin Mitchell return to our pages again this month as the sponsors of our Legal section.

Here in these pages, Partner in the firm’s Family team, Katherine Shaw delves deep into the considerations to take when running a family business Bringing children into a family business can breathe new life into Legal an already successful enterprise, but there can be pitfalls which could be avoided with some forward planning and good advice.

Family harmony is a precious commodity which is particularly important in the context of family businesses seldom more so than when thinking about succession planning for the next generations.

The human touch Dividing a business equally between different family members might not be the best way for that business to thrive.

On the other hand, anything other than an equal division could be perceived as unfair and the emotional impact of actual or perceived inequality can be very

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strong. Finding the right balance and ensuring that all members of a family are provided for can help to preserve family harmony and avoid disputes over Wills in the future. Managing people’s expectations can be an important part of the process.

Planning for inheritance It is important that a partnership agreement or a company’s constitution is up-to-date and that it enables a person’s interest in the business to pass in the way that they would wish. Taxes need to be considered in the round and owners of the business should review how assets are held – particularly if they are held inside or outside the business.

The accounts should accurately reflect the legal position.

It is worth checking if there are provisions in a partnership agreement or company constitution which could

prevent a claim for Business Property Relief from Inheritance Tax after an owner of the business dies. In particular, does the governing document include a binding contract that compels the surviving business owners to buy the deceased owners interest?

When thinking about Wills, it is not just parents who need to ensure that their Wills are up to date and accord with their wishes. It is also important to ensure that children have their own Wills in place, particularly if they are being brought into a family business and wealth is being passed on to them. Without a Will, a child’s estate could pass to unintended beneficiaries which might also be less tax-efficient than if a Will had been put in place.

Planning for incapacity It is worth ensuring that anyone involved in a business has arrangements in place in case they lose mental capacity. Lasting

Legal

Powers of Attorney (LPAs) enable people to select and appoint attorneys who they trust. It can be helpful for an LPA to refer explicitly to business interests and for guidance and restrictions to be included, but care is needed.

Protecting against relationship breakdown Divorce can pose a major threat to the future of family businesses, particularly if key asset holders find their wealth being redistributed on a divorce. Prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements can be very helpful in protecting a family business from the impact of a relationship breakdown. It is often helpful for discussions about such agreements to start early - long before a child joins the business - so that the expectations of a child and their future spouse can be managed.

For a pre-nuptial agreement to be upheld by the courts, both parties must have given full financial disclosure and they must each receive independent legal advice well before they marry. Unless the needs of a party are not met, the divorce courts will generally try to uphold such an agreement. If a divorce happens and there is no agreement in place, timely advice can help to reduce the impact on a business.

The Private Wealth team at Irwin Mitchell works closely with business owners and family members to understand their objectives. The team draws together expertise in tax and succession planning, family and commercial law to help you to plan appropriately and to make decisions which will be beneficial for the future of you, your family and your business.

Irwin Mitchell’s Private Wealth team provide comprehensive legal and financial services that help resolve the complexity of Private Wealth. Drawing on our history, experience and culture, we are driven to deliver on two key promises: Where life gets complex, we simplify; where life gets contentious, we fight for you.

Whatever you are dealing with you value expert advice, a depth of experience and a straight forward approach. Our teams can offer both an expert hand and a human touch.

We pride ourselves in our ability to deliver a breadth and depth of expertise

Katherine Shaw, Partner in Irwin Mitchell’s Family team

seamlessly, across all of our national teams. As many of our clients will attest, it is our open and honest culture, our reluctance to judge and willingness to listen that sets us apart.

We recognise the issues that you and your family face; we understand that while many of your experiences are normal for our clients, your circumstances are unique to you.

Whether you are trying to comply with the complexities of tax law and regulation, looking for a solution to intractable family issues, grappling with a personal dispute where it feels as if emotion is driving decisions rather than

common sense or you simply want to get that important property transaction over the line Irwin Mitchell’s Private Wealth team will be there for you.

Whether you are globally connected through residence, domicile or investment or facing the very personal consequences and opportunities of later life our Private Wealth teams work together to provide with the solutions or advice that you need.

When you need help with tax, trusts, estates, family or property, or even when life becomes confrontational, you can trust Irwin Mitchell’s Private Wealth team to be there for you.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 29

Basepoint Business Centres: Serving the Sussex Business Community Basepoint focuses on the development and operation of flexible business centres. For this month’s cover feature, Sussex Business Times turns its focus to Basepoint’s Sussex sites and how the company supports businesses across the region Basepoint developed the concept of Managed Business, Cover Innovation and Feature Enterprises Centres, opening the UK’s first business centre in 1994 in the market town of Romsey in Hampshire.

Comprising 30 units totalling 16,000 square feet, the Centre was developed in partnership with Test Valley Borough Council and it has since been extended 3 times, and is now home to 80 thriving

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businesses within 27,500 square feet of space.

23 years on this year Basepoint’s concept of flexible managed office and workshop space is still proving very popular and we currently own or operate 32 Innovation and Enterprise Business Centres in the UK, across Southern England, The Midlands. East Anglia and Wales, home to over 2,000 businesses.

All our Centres provide a mix of high quality managed office, studio and workshop space available in a range of sizes to cater for SMEs and whether

a small one or two person business or a larger 20+, each will benefit from Basepoint’s unique service. This variation in type and size of unit gives maximum flexibility allowing for internal movement and growth as businesses develop.

Innovation & Enterprise are central to the core business of Basepoint. Innovation and Enterprise Centres are not, as many incorrectly brand them, places of business exclusively for science & technology companies. Innovation & Enterprise Centres are diverse and exciting work environments where many

Cover Feature

and pastoral care, outstanding value for money, ultimate flexibility, client focused, community spirited and independent business advice & support.

With multiple locations across the UK, and a wide range of high-quality managed and serviced office space to suit all shapes, sizes and budgets, Basepoint Business Centres provide fully managed facilities to keep every business running smoothly.

With shared facilities such as franking and photocopying, reception services and on-site management, every company based at Basepoint has the independence of their own business unit with the benefits of managed work space facilities and serviced offices.

Our fully managed office space provides exceptional flexibility compared to conventional business space for rent.

With a choice of short term or long term arrangements and the ability to move to larger units within the centre as your business grows, Basepoint offers the ultimate in flexible managed workspace.

Above all, our aim is to provide a friendly and supportive environment which gives you the freedom to focus on growing your business.

Sussex Business Times took to Basepoint’s Sussex-based sites to find out exactly what is offered to businesses - from larger, more established companies to SMEs and startups - within our region, and the facilities that come along with space...

Can you give a detailed description of what services Basepoint offer to Sussex-based businesses?

different companies and characters thrive on the community spirit engendered within them to develop new products and services or improve existing products and services, all with the aim of giving them a competitive advantage and a platform for growth.

Creating the right environment for businesses to be nurtured and grow has been the key to the success of Basepoint and has helped it develop and improve its own products and services. Basepoint is widely recognised as a leading provider in this sector.

Basepoint Centres have previously won the BCA’s coveted Workspace of the Year award for 3 consecutive years, an award which requires nominations from workspace occupiers.

The management teams within each

of our Business Centres build and develop links with other organisations and ensure they maintain a wide knowledge of the availability of new initiatives and funding that may help small SMEs particularly with the signposting and promoting of grant availability. Each centre will also hold regular, free to attend, networking events and seminars to help raise awareness of business issues and to provide advice on key areas such as business planning, sales, marketing and PR. Basepoint has earned itself numerous awards over its years of operarion, recognising what exactly their customers tell them about their unique selling points. These awards include unparalleled customer service

“23 years on this year, Basepoint’s concept of flexible managed office and workshop space is still proving very popular and we currently own or operate 32 Innovation and Enterprise Business Centres in the UK, across Southern England, The Midlands, East Anglia and Wales.”

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Cover Feature Basepoint Business Centres provide high quality, cost-effective, managed and serviced offices, alongside different types of flexible work space designed to suit all companies. The Crawley centre is set within an attractive, landscaped setting, providing a wide range of business units from small one to two-person offices, through to larger units and suites, as well as drive-up studios and workshops.

The centre boasts a broad selection of facilities including a business lounge area, fully serviced meeting rooms, high speed internet services, VOIP telephony systems and free parking.

The managed offices in the centre also benefit from a full-time receptionist, IT support and a range of networking opportunities with other licensees. Virtual offices are also available through this centre.

What sets Basepoint apart from other businesses and makes it special?

The business support services provided by Basepoint really set us apart. Every centre offers regular, free networking events with knowledgeable guest speakers to raise awareness of a variety of business issues, whilst helping to develop a thriving business community in the Manor Royal area.

In addition, the centre teams work closely with business support organisations such as the local Chamber of Commerce, FSB and Action Coach, to host events that will be beneficial for the business community and provide signposting to qualified business advice, funding streams and more.

We’re also proud to be part of a wider network of business centres and flexible workspaces owned by IWG Plc. With over 3,000 locations in over 100 countries and 1,000 cities across the world, IWG

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is the global market leader providing cutting-edge, inspirational workspaces that support effective working and collaboration. This gives our licensees and members the ability to operate anywhere in the world, with options for a part-time or full-time monthly subscription. Ideal for a modern, dynamic and mobile workforce.

What makes Manor Royal/Crawley/ Gatwick a good place to do business?

The business community in Manor Royal is exceptional. The regular networking events, exhibitions & seminars hosted around the area give incredible

opportunities for business to meet and work together, as well as creating a real sense of community.

Manor Royal also has great transport links and is ideally situated for commuting to and from London and the South Coast. Gatwick Airport is on the doorstep and Heathrow is within easy commuting distance. This makes it a great place for businesses to recruit as well as have easy access to their clients.

Crawley Basepoint’s managed offices in Crawley are set within an attractive, landscaped setting, providing a wide range of business units from small one to two-

person offices, through to larger units in Newhaven. With a range of small and suites, as well as drive-up studios/ incubator units for start-ups, workshops, workshops. and larger units aimed at businesses Purpose built in 2003, the centre with one to fifteen people our managed boasts a broad selection of facilities office space provides a range of modern including a licensee breakout area, highbusiness facilities including high speed speed internet broadband, access and free serviced meeting parking. The rooms, breakout “Basepoint Centres managed offices areas, mail and provide high quality, in the centre also service and cost-effective, managed phone benefit from a fullfree parking. We and services offices, time receptionist, also offer virtual IT support alongside different types office rental. and a range Located on of flexible work space of networking Denton Island designed to suit all opportunities with and adjoining companies. The Crawley the town centre, other licensees.

Virtual offices the Newhaven centre is set within an are also available Enterprise Centre attractive, landscaped through this centre. benefits from easy setting providing a wide access by road, Situated in Metcalf Way, behind public transport, range of business units County Oak Retail and by sea – the from small one to twoPark, the centre is town having person offices, through close to Crawley a regular ferry to larger units and Town Centre and service to France.

Gatwick Airport, Newhaven is suites.” alongside an array situated midway of local amenities. between Brighton 01293 817717 and Eastbourne, crawley@basepoint.co.uk about five miles south of Lewes.

01273 615 250 Newhaven newhaven@basepoint.co.uk A stunning design and harbour-side location makes this centre an ideal Haywards Heath choice for fully managed office space Basepoint Haywards Heath, built in

partnership with Mid Sussex District Council and West Sussex County Council, is a modern business centre, providing over 9,000 sq. ft. of space within 33 self-contained units available for rental on a short, fixed or long-term basis.

The facility will provide office, studio and workshop accommodation between 150 sq. ft. and 500 sq. ft.

Basepoint Haywards Heath is easily accessible from the A23 and A272, as well as being a short walk from the town centre and the Station, so ideally situated for travel to and from the business centre.

01444 849250 haywardsheath@basepoint.co.uk Shoreham The Basepoint business centre in Shoreham is a modern, purpose-built facility centrally located on the High Street in Shoreham-by-Sea. The Centre’s purpose is to promote a culture of business enterprise and entrepreneurship, by offering start-up and growing companies much needed new, high quality managed office space, with the additional benefits of on-site fully serviced meeting rooms, conference facilities and ‘break-out’ areas. Virtual offices are also available via the Shoreham Basepoint business centre.

01273467500 shoreham@basepoint.co.uk.

For any further information, please visit www.basepoint.co.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 33

Health & Sport

Health & Sport: Introducing Brighton Footgolf!

Our Health & Sport section this month delves deep into the newest sporting craze, Footgolf! Here, SBT speaks to Brighton Footgolf’s Managing Director, Richard Philp

Health & Sport

SBT: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your history with football?

Richard: Hi I’m Richard Philp, I moved down to Worthing 4 years ago and lived with my wife and our 10 year old little girl who is my favourite tv channel – she entertains me daily. I’ve got one dog and two cats.

I left school and went onto become a professional footballer before injury got the better of me in my mid 20s. My two main passions in life have always been sport and inspiring youngsters which then lead me to founding a charity that uses the power of sport to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children. After setting up

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playing footgolf on a regular basis. An the charity I then created a new sports opportunity came up for me to take brand called 1v1. 1v1 specialises in over the old Benfield Valley Golf Course creating customised and personalised in Hove. I then footballs, aimed at started work on inspiring youngsters transforming and to feel valued. Since El Abd is a big fan of landscaping the December 2017, I the facility. He said: course to transform have been working “Brighton Footgolf is into an 18 hole on the creation of amazing and I think it’s footgolf course. It Brighton Footgolf. going to become a really was nice to have former Seagulls SBT: What was the popular place to play a favourite Adam Elinspiration heind sport that’s beginning to Abd officially open this new venture in take off.” the course on 11th creating Brighton April. When wanting Footgolf? someone to open the course, Adam [El Abd] stood out R: Through 1v1 we started to make straight away as on the pitch he is footballs for footgolf players and tough and tenacious. However, off the courses and I had started to take up

Property

pitch he is a real gentleman and family man, making him the perfect role model for the course.

The initial feedback since opening has been extremely positive and we are aiming to make this one of the best footgolf courses in the world.

SBT: Can you tell us a bit about Footgolf and the concept of the game?

R: Footgolf is a fusion between football and golf which explains the name.

However, footgolf is far less technical for beginners. The principle is simple, you have to kick a ball into a large hole – what could be so hard?

SBT: What can Footgolf offer?

R: The best thing about Footgolf is anyone, male or female of any age can play. Brighton Footgolf is aiming to attract friends, families, collegues etc to spend quality time together, whilst having fun and enjoying a round of footgolf. It offers people of any fitness level the opportunity to participate as it combines a gentle stroll out in the open whilst kicking a ball… Easy.

SBT: Do you think Footgolf has scope for growth?

R: Brighton Footgolf will be looking to set up various leagues and tournaments that will appeal to everyone e.g. adult, juniors, overs and various professions and trades. We reckon only 1 in 4 people have heard of footgolf so there is massive scope for us to grow the game. It has

been stated that is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK. SBT: What is your plan for Brighton Footgolf ?

R: Firstly, we’re still developing and nurturing new parts of the course.

Secondly, our listed barn which currently serves as a clubhouse will under go more improvements. Thirdly, to get more and more people aware of footgolf and to get more people active and off their mobiles and gadgets.

SBT: What can people expect when they turn up to Brighton Footgolf?

R: We want people to come to Brighton Footgolf to have some fun. We possibly have views to rival the i360, and on a

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Health & Sport clear day can see for miles. You can relax after your round in our 19th Hole cafĂŠ, or bask in the sunshine whilst sitting out on our patio area. We can cater for groups of any size, and special occasion like birthday parties and celebrations.

Whatever your reason for coming to Brighton Footgolf, one thing is for sure, you will leave with a smile on your face.

SBT: Tell me about the process/ changes gone through when developing the course and the cafe...

R: I cant say it has been easy. When we had the snow, I was inside the barn, cleaning and vacuuming the timber rafters and beams in the listed barn. The whole course has been landscaped to suit footgolf, which has meant creating new fairways and greens. What used to be an overgrown sorry looking golf course, now looks stunning and loved. New pathways at the entrance make the course more inviting, and new trees and shrubs have been planted to add new dimensions to the whole site.

SBT: How do you believe Footgolf can be used as a tool to inspire a generation?

R: We all need an excuse to get out of the house and away from our technology.

At Brighton Footgolf, we want people to come and socialise, and enjoy each others company. Playing footgolf is fun in the freshair. How serious you decide to take it is up to you. All I know is my wife, who isn’t into football apart from the World Cup enjoyed playing footgolf with her friends and family.

SBT: If you could sum up Brighton Footgolf in a few words what would you say?

R: Fun, simple, quick and affordable!

For any further information on Brighton Footgolf or to get in touch, please visit www.brightonfootgolf.com

Richard Philp, Managing Director, Brighton FootGolf

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FRESH CLEANING & MAINTENANCE

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

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

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

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

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Historical Sussex: Norman Wisdom

“

Cobb Digital’s Managing Director, James Dempster returns this month for the next of his historical Sussex columns This edition of our historical tour of Sussex sees us heading to Hastings – home of the last successful invasion of England. There’s a strange orange disc in the sky, so it’s time to get out of your house, leave the Netflix box set and enjoy another historical Sussex scene.

Hastings Abbey is built on the site of arguably one of most important battles in British history. I say arguably as some of you may say that Boudicca’s rebellion against the Romans, the defeat of the Spanish under Drake, the Cavalier rout at Naseby and the Battle of Britain may have a claim; but, for me, 1066 gave us something that defines our “Britishness” – a big list. If there’s one thing we love, it’s a list. Thanks to William conquering these green and pleasant lands, we have The Doomsday Book – a huge list of who owned what and how much tax they would have to pay as a result. British.

One of the many reasons that I love history is the unpicking of stories.

Hastings Abbey marks the spot of a key story in our past – the spot where King Harold took an arrow to the eye and died.

Although in ruin, it is possible to climb

the staircase and explore the view and atmosphere, soaking up a key moment in Sussex history (although the parts that are still standing date from the 13th to 16th century, but allow me some artistic license here).

The Abbey was built as a way for William the Conqueror to say sorry for killing so many good Sussex folk. This wasn’t a sudden crisis of conscience – he was ordered to by the Pope. In 1070 ignoring the Pope was like working for Facebook and not listening to Zuckerberg – bad for your career prospects – so William obliged. Annoyingly for him though, he died before it was finished, but at least his son got to see it in all its glory.

Apart from soaking up the ambience, one of the key things that makes this a great place to visit is the café that is home to a fantastic museum and media room. I recommend taking the audio guide, but take some time to embrace the vision – fields of terrifying Normans roaring through our glorious countryside, chaos and bloodshed aplenty – a good old-fashioned British tear up. We lost

”

this one, but the Normans undoubtedly brought progress, efficiency and closer ties to the continent. Things that made us what we are today.

Enjoy the sun, take a walk, and try to avoid getting an arrow in the eye.

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Saltdean Lido

Save Saltdean Lido!

£60,000 is needed to unlock £4.19 million from The Heritage Lottery. Sussex Business Times tells provides you with all the information you need...

Driving along the coast road into Saltdean Brighton, one cannot fail to notice Lido the imposing façade of Saltdean Lido.

Opened in 1938, and designed to represent an ocean liner, Saltdean Lido is the UK’s only Grade II* listed lido with a unique and special history. It is regarded by many critics as one of the best surviving examples of lido design in the UK. The pools reopened last year after local campaigners raised money for a rebuild. Now the group is reaching out to local businesses across the region to help them secure £4.19 million from the Heritage Lottery.

Re-opening the new pools last summer was phase one of their project.

Phase two is the restoration of the building. The Heritage Lottery has set aside £4.19 million towards this.

However, it has said that the public needs to contribute too.

And so the volunteers are in a race to raise another £60,000 from their crowdfunder by 1 June which is when the Heritage Lottery committee next meets (£45,000 already raised.)

If the group doesn’t reach this target then the lottery money will go away and phase two won’t proceed.

The future of the pools will also be in doubt as they cannot survive without revenue from a café, and events in a revamped building. The group plans to have a number of rooms available for businesses to hire ranging from small meeting rooms to a large conference area. After a long meeting, what better way to recover than a swim in the pool!

Despite the background of this crowdfunder, the pools will be reopening on May 26.

There are a variety of sponsorship packages available to suit the budgets

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of companies large and small. 37,000 people swam in Saltdean Lido last year (this is unique visitors as most people made multiple visits) with more than 50,000 expected this year with a longer season. Its advertising boards are clearly visible to the tens of thousands of cars that travel along the road.

We hope that our readers will support this amazing project which will benefit both residents and businesses across Sussex – and beyond. If you are able to contribute to the crowdfunder please pledge online at: www.spacehive.com/saltdean-lido

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 41

Working Lunch: Cru Eastbourne Sussex Business Times’ continues this month with our regular lunch review. This time around, we venture to Eastbourne’s town centre to endure a delightful evening at Cru

Lucky us having a booking to visit Cru Lunch in Eastbourne this week for a working Review lunch. I have heard much about this place having changed the dining experience in Eastbourne for the better.

I have spent several years dining in and out of Eastbourne at various places and this, I can confirm, is a true fact.

A contemporary, young, wine bar and restaurant offering a wine shop is an absolutely delightful place to visit.

I struck gold by managing to visit at the same time as the owner/manager Hardy Ovaisi who could not have been a more accommodating host. Genuine and friendly, Hardy was able to tell me a great deal about the restaurant which was a gift I am not usually treated to on my reviews.

In my quest to be independent I decided to make up my own mind. The wine list is truly world class with sommeliers trained at the infamous Plumpton college. That fact alone attracted me to the adventurous wine list. There are

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over 200 hand selected artisan wines on the list and I can’t remember anywhere in Eastbourne which can boast such a mouth watering selection.

After looking through the extensive wine list we informed Hardy of our food choice and asked him to recommend something. His knowledge surpassed any sommelier I have previously encountered.

He recommended a 2012 Barlolo made

by Anna Maria Abbona, whom we were told is part of the quality control panel for wines from Barolo. It was a fine elegant wine and a true joy to drink and complimented our steak perfectly.

In my view wine bars often fall short with food offering the standard nibbles and cheese. However the food in Cru is out of this world. The award winning chef Nic Oarton, previously from the Mirabelle in the Grand, gets it right in every single dish on the menu. His life might be made easier by the dedication to obtaining the best quality ingredients, with the restaurant personally visiting London every fortnight to source the best dry aged loins of beef for their famous steaks, one of which, my personal

favourite, is the Tomahawk. But the journey continues with the chef making everything else fresh in-house and what appears to be a genuine commitment to local ingredients. Even the fishtail Neon sign was locally crafted by Brighton artist Andy Doig!

The menu changes with the seasons and there are different specials each week which really push food boundaries and make for an exciting visit every time.

Daring dishes such as Wagyu beef and lobster burgers, Iberica acorn fed pig dishes and Wagyu steaks make for an inspiring menu and would impress even our most adventurous business readers.

We started our experience with a charcuterie platter to share, which was a mixture of fine cold meats and cheeses.

A fabulous selection that included, iberico chorizo, salami Milano and coppa, accompanied by barbers cheddar, brighton blue cheese, golden cross goats cheese, manchego and reblechon.

Presented beautifully on a wooden platter and a perfect way to start the meal.

For main course me and my colleague opted for the special to share, a 52

day dry-aged Tomerhawk Steak. We excepted Hardy’s advise to have this on the bone Steak cooked medium rare. It was cooked to perfection and so tender due to the quality produce. We was informed that the Tomerhawk is dry aged in London which uses Himalayan salt in the process of dry ageing to add flavour and depth to the meat.

After two amazing courses there was not a great deal of room left for dessert, but I could not resist the dark chocolate brûlée, with white chocolate sorbet and pear and cardoman compote. An innovative take on a traditional creme brûlée and was simply delightful.

The restaurant was heaving for a mid-week lunch and appears to have a fantastic local following. I am reliably informed by Hardy that even people from other towns such as Hastings, Bexhill, Brighton and even London make the journey just to visit Cru. I can well believe it.

The service was a nice balance of highly trained and very knowledgeable staff who understandably and obviously love their jobs as they are so passionate

about the wine and ingredients. One became visibly enthusiastic when I asked about a particular wine and was able to describe regions and grapes and why the wine was chosen. The staff also seemed to pay attention to comfort, ensuring each of us were seated well and enquiring at various intervals if we needed anything more. I have to say these enquiries were so discreet as to hardly notice them at all and is a true indication of well trained, polite staff.

Cru is a game-changer for Eastbourne, raising the standards of local food

choices and I suspect leaving other restaurants rightly a little uncomfortable.

The staff, wine, food and general ambience makes for a wine / dining experience like no other.

ADDRESS: 8 Hyde Gardens Eastbourne BN21 4PN www.cruwine.co.uk 01323 646494

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Hotel Review: Blanch House, Brighton

Sussex Business Times is back again this month with our regular hotel review. Continuing along with a focus on Brighton’s most pristine locations, this month reviews the beautiful Blanch House When I was asked to complete a review Hotel for Blanch House I was pleased to say Review the least. The hotel’s reputation speaks for itself. It meant also that I had very high expectations and perhaps I walked into the hotel with an air of entitlement. Perhaps that was a little unfair on the hotel but it certainly did not disappoint.

The location of the hotel alone, in the bohemian Kemp Town, is a breath of fresh air in comparison to the more sedate establishments on the other side of the Old Steine. The hotel is in a

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Regency Town House, a grade II listed building which stands out amongst its counterparts as the most well maintained property in the street.

Upon entry I was greeted by the wonderful Andy. Smartly dressed and giving the utmost attention to his guests he immediately stopped what he was doing for a “check in” which can only be described as a welcome chat as if I was being welcomed into his own home.

I was shown around the bar area which is quiet and elegant, definitely a place I would return to with a business colleague or indeed a contact I was keen to impress. The well stocked bar appeared to have a penchant for gin, the current

flavour of the day.

I was shown to my room, the PerrierJouet double room. It is true to say that the colours closely followed resembled that of a champagne bottle and the entire feel of the room was one of luxury. With floor to ceiling windows and a side view of the sea I felt myself relax as soon as I entered.

I was offered a complimentary bottle of water and, a very welcome touch – home-made biscuits in a tin. The fresh flowers in the room left me with a firmly formed opinion that the welcome at Blanch House was just terrific. It is exactly those types of complimentary personal touches that separates Blanch House

Hotel Review

from the other hotels in Brighton. Every item and furnishing placed in the room seems to be a deliberate gift placed with the guests at the forefront of their minds.

Andy recommended some delicious local restaurants and following my dinner I returned to my room. I made prolonged use of the roll top bath and complimentary aromatherapy toiletries provided. The bed was crisp and white, one of the biggest I have ever seen and I can genuinely say I had one of the best nights’ sleep I have ever had. It would be worth the room price to stay again for that alone. The room facilities were second to none.

In the morning I enjoyed a drench shower and a selection of teas and coffees, which enabled me to start the day with a clear head and so I headed straight to the breakfast room.

The breakfast is included in the price and was exceptional. I opted for Eggs Benedict. It was obviously made with truly fresh ingredients, cooked to perfection and served quickly and without fuss.

Again fresh tea and a range of pastries and fruit left me with a keen interest on returning on a lazy Sunday morning to re-visit the delights.

The business community will find a lot on offer at this hotel. Whilst the hotel may have a typically romantic reputation, I would most certainly recommend business guests for a luxury stay between business duties. The hotel caters specifically for business events, with an exclusive conference room for private meetings, and also hosting or hiring the lounge for more social occasions. The hotel has a Business Club which has

many benefits, some of which are 20% discount at the Champagne & Cocktail bar, breakfast meeting bookings, access to Business Club and Supper Club events (check the website for up to date details), preferential rates, use of a conference co-ordinator and complimentary Wi-Fi. Any business, local or otherwise, would benefit from the use of this space.

Overall this hotel is a true gem in the heart of Brighton. It offers a delightful combination of the elegant, high ceilinged, lavish décor and in-room modern luxuries. The staff are well turned out, attentive and polite.

The food is fresh and cooked to perfection. The overwhelming feel of the place is one which shows true attention to detail and a unique ability to cater to every need. I can’t really sing this

hotel’s praises any higher. A “must-stay” place for anyone visiting Brighton and a “must-use” venue for all of us in Brighton business.

ABOUT BLANCH HOUSE Blanch House is Brighton’s original boutique hotel, is housed in a Grade II listed town house, situated in a Georgian terrace just off the seafront in fashionable and bohemian Kemp Town, Brighton.

17 Atlingworth St Brighton BN2 1PL www.blanchhouse.co.uk 01273 603504

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 45

NEWS

#ShareYourNotSpots National Campaign

A national campaign for ‘No More Not Spots’ was recently launched with the aim of ending not spots for voice coverage where UK phone users live, work, travel and play What is the issue?

Access to mobile voice call services is a basic requirement of business today: it’s essential to consumers and for linking people and communities. From the time that cell phone services were first introduced in the UK to the present day, the locations with signal coverage have grown from a handful of urban areas to around 98% of UK premises. The UK’s four Mobile Network Operators EE, 02, Vodafone and Three, have invested heavily to deliver against their licence obligation of 90% geographic coverage for voice and text by the end of 2017.

Despite welcome progress, the actual experience of mobile phone users differs from the scale and consistency suggested by these numbers. With about 30 million residential and commercial properties in the UK, 98% of premises would still leave around 600,000 buildings without coverage; with only 10% of Britain’s landmass ‘developed’ – 90% geographic coverage still leaves not spots in areas like dense commercial centres, road and rail corridors where access issues, the built environment, and the economics of new infrastructure can combine to weaken coverage and frustrate network rollout.

Results from a national British Chamber infrastructure survey, conducted in February this year showed that a majority (53%) of responding businesses perceived the reliability of the UK mobile phone network to have improved over the last five years. But a substantial number (21%) did not agree that the network

meets its needs for accessing new and existing customers, suppliers, and employees.

What are we campaigning for?

The reasons for patchy coverage are many and varied: from building and vehicle design to the number and location of masts and cells; from the topography of the built and natural landscapes to the technologies in phones.

Through this campaign, the national Chambers of Commerce will mobilise the business community to identify gaps in coverage and to work constructively with industry and government to resolve issues locally.

the British Chambers of Commerce website http://www. britishchambers.org. uk/ and share the campaign via Twitter #ShareYourNotSpots.

Action you can take Mobile not spots hinder business’ ability to connect with customers, suppliers and employees.

Register your not spot on

www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk

46 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

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18/04/2018 10:38:37

Motoring with

Rivervale

Rivervale returns as the sponsors of our motoring section again this month. This time around, they turn their focus to business leasing...

Q

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A BUSINESS LEASE AND WHAT IS THE ATTRACTION OF LEASING FOR A BUSINESS? A business lease occurs when the monthly rentals for a vehicle are paid from the business account and not an individual, it can prove very cost effective…

Leasing is generally considered the most tax efficient way of running cars for your company. The main attraction is reducing the whole life cost of the company vehicles in a way that would not be possible with a personal lease.

The way Contract Hire can be kept

48 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

‘off balance sheet’ is usually a benefit to the company’s account. However, there are a few exceptions, so you should always take advice from your Accountant.

A business lease is subject to VAT but if your company is VAT registered, in some cases, you may be able to claim back up to 100% of the VAT cost.

Depending on the emissions of your business vehicles, you may also be able to save on Corporation Tax. In some circumstances it is possible to reclaim the entire cost of your lease rentals against your taxable profits.

Paying for a company vehicle also avoids the need for a huge initial

outlay needed to buy a vehicle outright.

Leasing a vehicle brings the benefit of fixed cost motoring. Only a small initial outlay is required, followed by fixed monthly rentals. A Business can even choose to take out a maintenance package to cover the cost of manufacturer recommended servicing and the replacement of wear and tear items including tyres. This means there is one monthly cost to the company without any unexpected servicing costs, allowing for easier budgeting.

Lastly, at the end of your lease, you simply hand the vehicle back. This takes the worry of depreciation away from your business along with the

hassle of trying to resell or dispose of the vehicle.

With a business lease you are likely to be changing your vehicles every 3-4 years which can provide a few more benefits. Firstly, as emissions continue to be in the forefront of manufacturers minds, vehicles are becoming increasingly more fuel efficient. This means by changing vehicles regularly, you have access to the most fuelefficient engines, which could help reduce your overall carbon footprint and even your fuel costs. Additionally, safety technology also advances every year, so the newest vehicles will offer the best protection for your employees.

Q

AND WHO EXACTLY HAS THE RIGHT TO APPLY FOR A BUSINESS LEASE?

In order to qualify for a business lease, your company will need to be one of the following;

check before finance is agreed. To complete this check, you will need to supply the following information...

• • • • • •

Company details: These are the basic details about your company to include; company name; address; company registration number (if applicable) and annual turnover.

Public Limited Company Limited Company Limited Liability Partnership Partnership Sole Trader Charity

This is not an exhaustive list. There are some other less common company arrangements that would be considered

Q

WHAT INFORMATION WILL I NEED TO PROVIDE FOR A BUSINESS LEASE? Your business will need to have a credit

Director, Partner or Principal details: These will be personal details including; name; date of birth; marital status and home address.

Business bank details: You will need to provide the name of the bank where your company holds an account; the account number and the sort code.

In some circumstances you may be asked to provide additional information

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 49

“Paying for a company vehicle also avoids the need for a huge initial outlay needed to buy a vehicle outright.

Leasing a vehicle brings the benefit of fixed cost motoring. Only a small initial outlay is required, followed by fixed monthly rentals. A Business can even choose to take out a maintenance package to cover the cost of manufacturer recommended servicing and the replacement of wear and tear items including tyres.” to support your finance application.

If this occurs, you are likely to be asked to provide business bank statements, management accounts, or filed accounting information. This will provide a broader view of your company’s financial situation when funders are deciding whether they are happy to provide finance.

Funders supplying finance for your business lease are always looking to reduce the risk to themselves.

So, if your company is a Limited Company, the Director could be asked to act as a guarantor.

This means if the company ever

50 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

becomes unable to pay monthly rentals, the Director will be required to take over repayments.

Additionally, some funders may require a company to make a higher initial rental so more of the total cost is paid at the beginning of the lease.

It’s a common myth that if you are a new company you will not be eligible for a business lease. This is not true! A new company can apply for a business lease. The finance company will likely ask for more additional information to support your application – but it is possible!

If you would like any advice on your company’s eligibility for a business lease our Account Managers at Rivervale will be happy to talk to you.

JOIN THE RIVERVALE PARTNER’S CLUB! When Paul Rogers joined Rivervale 7 months ago he quickly set about using his partnerships experience to bring a venture to local businesses and organisations that would help them and their employees with any of their vehicle needs. Since launching The Rivervale Partners club several organisations have joined including; Overline, Oliver and Graimes, Viisana, City Cabs, NSure, Bishops Move, Carpenter Box and The Brighton and Hove Gujurati Society.

The benefits of introducing the scheme within your business include:

• • • • • • • •

A £100 loyalty gift for each vehicle purchased or leased (issued to individual or organisation) The most competitive pricing on new and used vehicles Priority booking for vehicle servicing Vehicle collection and delivery Personal account manager FREE MOT for life of vehicle (where applicable) FREE mini Valet FREE vehicle health-check

Rivervale are based in Portslade, Brighton and are specialists in vehicle leasing and used vehicles. Rivervale also offer part exchange, servicing and MOT. We are a one stop shop in Sussex for ALL vehicle requirements, providing a variety of funding options on new and used vehicles as well as all the necessary after sales care.

We cater to everyone from private individuals looking for their next ideal affordable family vehicle to companies looking to source large fleets, in any scenario we can offer the best advice as to which funding options would be best for YOU. For any further information on Rivervale, expertise on motoring matters or details on the Rivervale Partner’s Club, please visit their website: www.rivervale.co.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 51

SBTMotoring News Motorists Waste Thousands on In-Car Tech Motorists are paying thousands of pounds for high-tech car features they don’t even realise that they have. Expensive gadgets and key safety systems are going unused across Britain’s roads because drivers don’t know what the symbols on the buttons mean.

Even mainstream cars like the Ford Focus are now available with headup displays and partial self-driving modes, but many owners haven’t got a clue how to operate them, or that

Honda Takes Hat Trick at Honest John Awards

Honda has taken three of the top awards in this year’s Honest John Awards, with the Jazz, Civic and HR-V winning the gongs for small hatchback, small family car and small crossover of the year respectively.

Dan Harrison, managing editor at honestjohn.co.uk, commented: “the Honda Jazz is a smash hit with the readers of HonestJohn.co.uk and a worthy winner of the Small Hatchback of the Year award. Easy to drive, comfortable and practical, the Jazz is everything a small car should be, and our readers agree when we say it’s simply one of the best small hatchbacks you can buy.

“The Honda Civic is a great family car. Not only is it eye-catching, but it manages to blend dynamic handling with family-friendly comfort and practicality. Over the past 12 months the Civic’s popularity has soared with the Honda winning praise it for value and refinement, which makes it a more than deserving winner of our Small Family Car of the Year award.

52 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

they are even there. As in-car technology evolves faster than the typical driver’s understanding, and the number of features increases, the problem appears to be getting worse.

BuyaCar.co.uk invited more than 1,000 motorists to identify six common dashboard symbols and found that in one case a majority of drivers do not know what it signifies. Most confusing to motorists seems to be the speed limiter, which is mistaken by most people for cruise control

Mini Clubman Named Best in its Class The MINI Clubman has won the accolade of ‘Estate Car of the Year’ in the 2018 Honest John New Car Awards.

The MINI Clubman sets itself apart from other vehicles in its class thanks to its distinctive looks, premium technology, sophisticated personalisation options and typical MINI driving dynamics. Everyday practicality is enhanced by its spacious interior and distinctive split doors at the rear, which offer easy access to the boot.

HonestJohn.co.uk Managing Editor, Dan Powell, said: “The MINI Clubman is a great family estate with its split rear doors giving it a real edge when it

comes to everyday practicality. Add in its huge boot and economical engines and it’s easy to see why the Clubman is considered the UK’s number one estate.

Over the past 12 months no other car in its class has come close to matching its popularity at HonestJohn.co.uk. As a result, it has brushed the opposition aside to be named Estate Car of the Year 2018.”

Revamp your Fleet with Accessories from Vokswagen Commercial Vehicles Suitable for Caddy and Transporter vans, Volkswagen’s Rear Bumper Protectors aim to prevent damage when loading and unloading. With a fitted price starting from around £68 (RRP inc VAT), these products come in a range of different materials including transparent film for practicality, carbon fibre for a stylish finish and traditional black plastic.

Door Sill Guards are an excellent

choice for those with Transporter vans, to protect against scuffs. Coming in a set of two, the black ABS plastic protectors are designed to contour against the vehicle. The polished stainless steel inserts also add a touch of style to the van. The Door Sill Guards can be fitted from £76.50 (RRP inc VAT).

With UK weather notoriously unpredictable, Waterproof Seat Covers are ideal for all models of Volkswagen van.

DESIGN • LITHO • DIGITAL • LARGE FORMAT FINISHING • FULFILMENT • PRINTWEAR PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS • PACKAGING • POS MANAGED PRINT SERVICES • MAILING MANAGED DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS Providing Sussex business top quality, eco-certified printing for +40 years

www.gemini-print.co.uk www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 53

SBT

ASK THE

EXPERTS

WE ASK THE EXPERTS TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

EXPERT

Kayvan Khoroosi FCCA, LLP Partner to HMRC through Making Tax Digital compatible software.

What is Making Tax Digital?

From 1 April 2019, businesses (including sole traders, limited companies and partnerships) with taxable turnover above the VAT registration threshold (currently £85,000) will have to keep their records digitally (for VAT purposes only) and provide their VAT return information

EXPERT

Does a business have the right to remain in a property at the end of its lease?

While desperately wanting to avoid sounding like a typical lawyer, the answer is it depends. The ability for a company (no matter its size) to be certain as to

54 www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk

What is a digital record?

HMRC accept a digital record to be a record of data extracted either manually or automatically from the original record.

This does not mean the original record, such as a paper receipt or invoice, will need to be captured and stored in electronic format, but by doing so you would alleviate the need to keep and store the equivalent paper records.

We are experts in automated expense capture and processing systems Receipt Bank, Auto Entry and Expensify, all of which integrate with our preferred accounting software QuickBooks Online.

Digital records are first captured through these systems then pushed through to QuickBooks, with records stored in both the expense capture system and QuickBooks Online.

This level of automation will save you hours of time and provide you with a much more usable information system.

What software will be compatible?

We recommend QuickBooks Online as the best software solution for small to medium sized businesses and have 4 of the top 10 rated accountants* according to the QuickBooks “Find An Accountant” portal in the country.

Businesses will be able to continue to use spreadsheets for record keeping, but they must ensure that their spreadsheet meets the necessary requirements of MTD for business (such as passing relevant information across to HMRC every quarter), which will involve combining the spreadsheet with additional software to perform the upload of data to HMRC. Our specialist small business technology team provide award winning implementation training and support.

Adrian McClinton, Associate Solicitor, Coffin Mew where it will be located is important for stability and, importantly, growth.

The starting point is the lease and whether the lease is ‘contracted out’ of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. If the 1954 Act does not apply, the tenant does not have the right to remain at the end of the lease. This does not mean a new lease cannot be agreed.

The 1954 Act provides tenants with ‘security of tenure’ i.e. the company’s right to remain at the end of its lease and, crucially, the ability to compel its landlord to grant a new lease. If a new lease cannot be agreed, then the court can decide. End of story? Not quite.

Even considering tenant rights under the 1954 Act, landlords have the upper hand. If they are able to establish certain grounds then they can still oppose the grant of a new lease and there is nothing

the tenant can do about it.

These grounds can be broken down into two categories ‘fault grounds‘ and ‘no-fault grounds’. If the landlord can establish one of the ‘no-fault grounds’, then the court has no discretion and the tenant won’t be granted a new tenancy.

The most common no-fault ground cited is the landlord’s intention to redevelop the premises. However, in certain circumstance landlords can also rely on the fact they intend to occupy the premises for their own purposes, which could be extra galling for a company.

When planning for the future it is important for companies to be aware that the location of their operations may be out of their control.

For any further information, please visit www.coffinmew.co.uk

SBT

ASK THE

EXPERTS

WE ASK THE EXPERTS TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU NEED

EXPERT

Andy Soloman, CEO & Founder, Yomdel out there, but Yomdel is unique in the way we partner with clients to deliver the very best results. Our technical platforms are built based on my experience as a former Reuters foreign correspondent and editor, and speed and accuracy are essential.

Is Yomdel easy to set up?

Yes, easy. We provide a short snippet of code which takes a couple of minutes to place on the website. We also do all the heavy lifting and create detailed knowledge banks and key operator questions on a client’s behalf. Of course, we will have a few questions, but to get started it is as easy as it could be. And of course, it is all whitelabelled, so our operators become a genuine extension of an agent’s own team.

Why should Estate Agents care about the Live Chat?

Live chat is no longer an option. The best businesses will be using all available channels to communicate with existing and prospective clients, and this should include live chat alongside web forms, telephone, text messaging and social media channels. The interesting thing about intelligently executed live chat is that many people who otherwise would not have made contact, will do so via chat. They often have simple questions and if they get professional service and instant responses, they can then be nurtured to start a process that results in them becoming loyal customers. We have a globally leading 15-second average response time, and I’m immensely proud of the exceptional digital customer experience we deliver for our clients.

What makes exceptional Live Chat?

Beware, all live chat is not the same and it should never be a cost. Rather, it is an investment that delivers a transparent and measurable return. Yomdel handles tens of thousands of chats a month for UK estate agents and no other supplier has more experience understanding how to target, capture and deliver outstanding new business opportunities for clients.

We have invested heavily in quality, processes and systems, and our UK operations team is constantly reviewing and managing output, to ensure our live chat operators are performing at the highest levels.

Our live chat operators are all graduates and postgraduates, with excellent written English skills. We are an ethical business that believes in supporting staff and creating career opportunities, which as a fast-growth business we can offer.

There are other live chat providers

What is your ultimate goal for thhe Yomdel business?

Our goal is to continue accelerating our already rapid growth and to set ever more ambitious targets for defining what excellence in our sector should look like. We have recently established Yomdel in New Zealand, and the range and scope of services is increasing rapidly. Yomdel is the market leader in the UK, and my mission now is to help educate people on as to what good looks like, while continuing to create exceptional customer experiences.

There are more entrants to our sector now, and agents need to carefully consider how they choose a live chat provider. As I mentioned, cost should not be the main factor. After all, we have the responsibility of representing someone’s brand and businesses only have one opportunity to create a great first impression. These days that is likely to happen online.

For any further information on Yomdel or to speak to the team, please visit www.yomdel.com

www.sussexbusinesstimes.co.uk 55

Five Ways to Grow your Business in 2018 Director of Monk Marketing and organiser of the West Sussex and Brighton Business Expos, Mike Monk is back again this month with tips on how to best grow your business in 2018

The start of a new year can be a Business challenging time for Exhibitions many businesses. A slow first quarter can have a lasting impact on the bottom line.

That is why it pays to give your brand a boost early in the year. With the right kind of marketing, you will be able to grow your business in 2018.

Successful marketing doesn’t have to break the bank. You can often drive sales by raising awareness about your brand and being consistent. If you are looking for some inspiration, here are five great ideas to get your marketing moving.

Engage your target market If you are concerned about conversion rates for online marketing, try a different tact. Organise a competition or giveaway with small prizes your target market will love. Promote the competition for free on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and drive traffic to your website at the same time. Use a link to your contact page for contest responses. Consider who your ideal customer is and tailor the prize to

56 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

pique their interest. For example, if you run a B2B business you may want to consider offering a prize that will appeal to executives and company directors. Try golf products.

Motivate your people Your staff are your biggest asset.

Enthuse them and they will enthuse your customers. Why not organise an Employee of the Month scheme? You can reward winners with a branded gift.

If you choose something they will find useful, such as a power bank or cup, they will happily display your company name all hours.

Look after your clients With so much competition to contend with, it pays to look after clients you value. That is why many businesses choose the start of the year to send regular customers a small corporate gift. As well as rewarding them for their loyalty, it keeps your brand in their minds. This is an inexpensive way to reengage with people who have used your products or services in the past. It could be just the nudge they need to place a

new order. Useful corporate gifts include branded memory sticks, key fobs, pens or a bag.

Use a call to action You can boost sales with a simple giveaway linked to a purchase. For example, you could offer a free branded gift to the first 25 people to place an order above a certain value. Make sure the gift will appeal to your target market so that your call to action is really persuasive.

Raise awareness Face-to-face marketing is proven to generate quality leads. Why not consider taking a stand at a business expo? There are two great, established business expos in Sussex - Brighton and West Sussex. What’s more, if you book stands at both expos before the end of January you will get 10 per cent off.

For any further information or inspiration, please visit www.monkmarketing.com or email mike@monkmarketing.com

B2B Expos

West Sussex Business Expo 2018

B2B Expos returns to our pages again this month, just days away from this month’s West Sussex expo

Sussex Business Times has again partnered with the West Sussex and Brighton Business Expos and ahead of the Fontwell event, we’re back again this month to provide you with all the latest event information.

As we are just a matter of days away from the West Sussex Business Expo, taking place on 24th May at Fontwell Park Racecourse, Sussex Business Times got in touch with some of this year’s exhibitors.

Why exhibit at such business events?

What are the aims of local businesses?

Have businesses had success out of past events? Here, just some of this year’s exhibitors tell all...

Jason Edge, LawEasier: ““Our business is all about helping other small businesses make sure they are protected by, and from, UK business laws and regulations. So we didn’t take long to identify that the West Sussex Business Expo would be the perfect place to reach other businesses and show them what we do. It is important to us that we make connections in person as we are not like any other business law firm, we are a bit of a disrupter.

This will be the first time that LawEasier has exhibited (ever!) and we are really looking forward to meeting some likeminded businesses and perhaps even getting some new members to join us on the day. With all the changes in employment law and GDPR recently we are keen that other small local business don’t fall foul of the law by letting them know there is an affordable alternative to expensive lawyers. Our members get unlimited online legal support and

assisted legal document creation for less than a mobile phone contract and I can’t think of a better way of getting that message out than by taking a stand at the Business Expo.”

Julia Britten, JBS Print & Design: "JBS Print & Design are looking forward to exhibiting for the first time at the West Sussex Business Expo on 24th May 2018. We fully understand the importance of keeping our business name out there and how many diverse and interesting people we can meet at these exhibitions.

JBS Print & Design is new to West Sussex, having started out in the year 2000, in Surrey. As we no longer have a shop front, this is a great way of showcasing our business and meeting like-minded business people. Please

come along and say “hello” to us, we’re at Stand 06. Email us at info@jbsprint. co.uk and let us know your favourite chocolate bar and we’ll endeavour to provide that for you when we meet you at the exhibition.”

While yes, we’re just a matter of weeks away from 2018’s West Sussex Expo, Brighton Racecourse will be the host of the Brighton Business Expo, taking place on Thursday 11th October. Now is the time for exhibitors to be booking their stand and preparing for what will be, without a doubt, yet another successful business event.

For any further information, please visit www.B2BExpos.co.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 57

Network My Club

Network My Club Team up with Goodwood!

Network My Club take to our pages again this month to announce their most recent collaboration with Goodwood. Here, they tell all...

Network My Club are delighted to announce News another exciting new collaboration and an excellent opportunity for Sussex businesses!

Teaming up with the Goodwood Estate, will see the launch of ‘Network My Club at Goodwood’, bringing together businesses from across Sussex and afar at the iconic estate.

Launching in June 2018, Network My Club at Goodwood will feature quality monthly networking events across the Goodwood Estate, whilst delivering a host of exclusive benefits and opportunities for businesses to access as members.

Bradley Hatchett, Managing Director

of Network My Club, said, “We are delighted to team up with Goodwood, a venue and estate that needs no introduction and one we’ve had a working relationship with for the past couple of years.

Whilst perhaps better known for flagship events such as the Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival and Qater Goodwood Festival, the venue boasts a number of world class facilities for us to host events, whilst presenting opportunites and benefits we’ll open up to businesses through Network My Club at Goodwood.

We anticipate this group to be very popular, complimenting the work we are currently doing across the South and London, ultimately adding value to all across the Network My Club group.”

Network My Club can also announce

that their partnership with Fontwell Park Racecourse has come to an end, and with that, the discontinuation of the Network Fontwell Business Club.

Bradley Hatchett added, “Fontwell Park played an integral part in the growth of Network My Club, for which we will be forever grateful, however with a number of factors considered, now is the right time to move on. We’ve thanked them for their support and hope we’ve helped raise the profile of the racecourse during our time of working together.”

To find more information, register your interest in Network My Club at Goodwood and keep up to date regarding the inaugural networking event in June, visit www.networkmyclub.co.uk

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

58 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Network My Club

“I’ve found the business club to be an excellent way to meet like-minded professionals and those are often in senior positions.”

- Engage Healthcare

“Network My Club make you feel very welcome and allow you the time to actually network!

They take a keen interest in your business and try to help any way they can, which I find very refreshing.”

- Best Vehicle Leasing

“The structure Network My Club have created really is the future of networking.”

- Detect Fire & Security “In today’s fast-paced business environment, I was struck by the time and care the Network My Club team dedicated to getting to know our business and objectives.” - Hero IT Support

Contact them on 01903 898025 or info@networkmyclub.co.uk

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 59

Networking in Sussex

SBT

Society Shipley Arts Festival Launch Celebrates Chestnut Tree House’s 15th Birthday

Chestnut Tree House Patron, Sally Gunnell OBE; The High Sheriff of West Sussex, Caroline Nicholls; and the Deputy Lieutenants of West Sussex, Hilary and David Tupper; were among the guests at the official launch of the Shipley Arts Festival 2018 on Friday 20 April. In addition to opening the festival, the event, which took place at South Lodge Hotel, celebrated the 15th birthday of Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice, and raised £2,000 for the charity.

Featuring violinist Andrew Bernardi, the evening included a drinks reception, four-course dinner interspersed with four musical interludes from the grassroots of Sussex and England, and some fundraising activities.

The General Manager of South Lodge Hotel, David Connell welcomed guests to the event, and Andrew Bernardi spoke about the Shipley Arts Festival and working with Chestnut Tree House.

After dinner, the CEO of Chestnut Tree House, Hugh Lowson, talked about the history of the hospice and how much it has changed since opening in 2003. He spoke about how the charity’s then President, Lady Sarah Clutton, donated the land the House is built on; the capital appeal to raise the £5 million needed to build it; and how care services have expanded over the last 15 years. He ended his speech by thanking everyone who has helped Chestnut Tree House, highlighting that without their ongoing generosity, the charity wouldn’t be able to continue providing specialist care for local children with life-shortening conditions and their families.

The £2,000 raised for Chestnut Tree House was the result of a Heads and Tails game during dinner, and an auction with auctioneer Rupert Toovey. Auction lots included a private soiree

by Andrew Bernardi on his 1696 Stradivarius violin; Sussex County Cricket Club tickets; and an overnight stay at South Lodge Hotel with a tour and tasting at Ridgeview Wine Estate.

Juliette MacPherson, Fundraising Development Manager at Chestnut Tree House said: “We would like to thank Andrew Bernardi and the Shipley Arts Festival for choosing to support us at their opening festival dinner concert, as well as everyone who attended, and sponsors Toovey’s, Wakefields, Rossana, Nyetimber, NFU Mutual, Kreston Reeves and South Lodge. A lot has changed since Chestnut Tree House opened in 2003, and we could not have helped the 833 children and families we have over the last 15 years without the help and support of the local community. The £2,000 raised will pay for a child to have a three-night break at Chestnut Tree House, where they will receive specialist care, and enjoy a range of facilities, including the hydrotherapy pool and multi-sensory room. We would like to thank all our supporters for helping us to continue providing the care that is vital to so many children and young people in Sussex and South East Hampshire.”

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Guests at dinner

Peter and Margarette Barker

Gavin Graimes and Susie Wilding-Graimes

Networking in Sussex

Guests at dinner

Anthony Fisher with fiancĂŠe Maria Tymofienko

Chris and Tracey Rooke

Final sound check for double bass player from Bernardi Music Group Vera Pereira on the terrace at South Lodge

Chestnut Tree’s Juliette Macpherson, Libby Hannelle and Sarah Colbourne

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Made in Sussex

Made in Sussex: Vermouth...

After Gin, the Next Big Thing?

Boutique vineyard, Albourne Estate has unveiled the first Sussex vermouth: an English take on the Italian favourite which is rapidly seeing a resurgence in popularity Named 40 after the number of botanicals Brand with which it has been infused, this highly Focus complex tasting white semi-dry vermouth has already won its first award in The Spirits Business Master 2017 blind-tasting competition.

Vineyard owner Alison Nightingale, renowned for her white still and sparkling wines, says that the timing of the 18% alcohol content drink is opportune as vermouth – popular in the seventies with big names such as Cinzano and Martini Rosso – is becoming fashionable again.

“Everyone was drinking vermouth straight or with a mixer back when Leonard Rossiter famously threw his Cinzano over Joan Collins in those iconic TV adverts. But then it took the back seat as people became more accustomed to drinking wine at home,” says Alison.

“Now as we have seen with Campari and Aperol, the classics popular in the seventies, there is a revival of interest in vermouth,” she adds. “Vermouth bars are opening in London, following the trend in New York and it is a popular ingredient in Negroni, the cocktail of the day.”

But she says, the challenge now is to re-educate drinkers on enjoying vermouth as a straight drink, or with a mixer, as well as in cocktails. A lot of people will be drinking vermouth in cocktails and not realising it, she explains.

“Our mission is to remind people to really appreciate the blend of botanicals by drinking vermouth straight. Many people will be enthusiastic once this is rediscovered and pairing 40 with food will be a big part of this.”

Alison’s quintessentially English vermouth is unique, not least because it uses grapes solely from her 11 hectare Sussex vineyard near Hurstpierpoint, overlooked by the South Downs and 15 minutes drive from Brighton.

40 uses many herbs and other ingredients which are grown in the

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English countryside – including rosemary, thyme, rose petals and chamomile – alongside citrus peels, more exotic spices such as saffron and cardamom and the unexpected - coffee beans and tea.

This results in a complex and elegant drink which can be enjoyed on its own as an aperitif or instead of a dessert wine. Alternatively, it can be mixed with sparkling wine, as part of a cocktail, or – Alison’s favourite – with a quality tonic water, as one part 40, one part tonic.

“We spent hours blind tasting the vermouth using different botanicals, comparing it with the competition to release a product that can write a new vermouth-era for Sussex, England and beyond,” says Alison.

Alison and her team have created their own cocktail recipes for 40 – The English Rose – with gin, tonic water, a splash of rose water, optional sugar syrup to taste and a sprinkling of dried rose petals, and The Elderflower.

“A lot of people nowadays have no idea how to drink vermouth and our job is to show what a delicious and versatile drink it is, which works really well with

many different types of food.”

“We are using cocktail ideas on the 40’s neck tags and in-store tastings with food pairings such as with nuts, salami, prosciutto and strong cheeses like gorgonzola,” says Alison.

40 stands out in its modern, spirit like bottle, which has a cork T-top stopper and delicate artwork showing vines and a selection of the botanicals present in the vermouth.

It uses matured Albourne Estate base wines blended with the botanical extract and sugar. It is then fortified to 18% of alcohol. And 40 is one of just a handful of English variants, containing the vital bitter, aromatic wormwood ingredient required to take the vermouth name.

“Recently most of the launches from small drinks producers have been in gin.

But vermouth makes much more sense for us as a wine producer as it is wine based, fits well with our range and is delicious to drink,” she says.

For more information or to order 40 at £20 for 70cl, please visit www. albourneestate.co.uk

S

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