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SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES

BUILDING UP TO 10 YEARS WITH THEIR LATEST #SHARE77K CHARITY INITIATIVE THE VIRTUAL BUSINESS AWARDS SUSSEX WINNERS ANNOUNCED www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

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G N I H S WI

A U O Y

Y R E V

S A M T S I R H MERRY C

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SBTWelcome

WE LCO M E

Welcome to the final issue of 2020 and my favourite of the year, the SBT Charity Issue.

We highlight some of the amazing charities from across our county and I am delighted to have our Cover story from Gavin Willis and Search Seven, who through a difficult year have maintained their continuous CSR and during a pandemic still raised over £10,000 for the #Share77k campaign.

This issue is to summarise and close what is a year we would mostly all like to forget. With a global pandemic to contend with, slowing down our fighting chance of keeping successful businesses going, it is breath-taking to see how many of us

have pulled through by pivoting, adapting to new working conditions and also taking on different types of work in order to survive. This issue is a round-up of the year and I refuse to focus on the negatives.

The Virtual Business Awards, run by County Business Clubs, was a personal highlight for me this year. It was a true honour to have many readers, and many others, attend to support the Rockinghorse Charity. More than that, I like to think your

attendance itself demonstrates the message I was trying to relay – that the Sussex business community, more than most, are extremely supportive of each other. It is an absolute pleasure to be a part of and I look forward to continuing my participation in it for 2021.

All that remains is to thank you for your commitment to Sussex Business Times this year. With this year’s expansion into

County Business Clubs, there is a real chance for businesses to expand their own networking scope by becoming members.

I hope you will continue to support that venture as our mission is to promote and continue the loyal, friendly and supportive atmosphere which has become a real symbol throughout Sussex businesses.

With the end of the year in sight, and a credible promise of a vaccine which might help things return to some sort of normal in 2021, we have a lot to look forward to. I look forward to seeing you all in 2021. In the meantime I wish you and your families a wonderful Christmas and a happy, health and prosperous New Year. All the best.

Sam Thomas, Managing Director

VALUE ADDED PARTNERS

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Issue 441

05 09 Cover 441

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Managing Director/Publisher Sam Thomas sam@thebusinessgroup.co.uk 01323 819 012 Production & Design Kim Butler

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The Virtual Business Awards Sussex Winners Announced

SBT Roundup

A look back at some of the best of 2020

SBT Finance

MHA Carpenter Box – A year in review and a chance to look forward to 2021

SBT Legal

Employment Law Review of 2020 – By Alex Jones 365 Employment Law

SBT Property

Annual Musings – By Stephen Chipp, Town & Country Property Services

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SBT Sales & Marketing

Published by The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Unit 1a Swan Barn Business Centre, Swan Barn Road, Hailsham, BN27 2BY

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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.

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As 2020 draws to a close – some Marketing Tips for 2021 from Consortium – More than Marketing

A call for businesses to take on apprentices – FFS… The most used phrase in HR in 2020!

We speak to Gavin Willis, MD at Search Seven about the latest #Share77k Campaign

Our Special Christmas Charity Feature – A focus on some of the amazing charities from across the county.

SBT Motor News

The Guiness Book of Cars – bought to you by Rivervale

SBT Ask The Expert

Three at Three James, Emma & Lisa are back with more great advice – 2021 Ready. Set. Go.

Cube Corner

Cube Consulting Paul Rogers Yearly Roundup.

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www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 7

Firstly thank you thank you thank you, for staying in to play

It’s not the normal Christmas do, but we’ll do it our own way.

What a very strange year, no live networking or schmoozing But at least we still can do it, with a little bit of boozing.

We wanted a chance to bring the business community together Showing we acan all get through, any type of weather.

As years go this one, has certainly been tough

Some ups, many downs but one thing’s true, when times get really rough The Sussex community business wise, really are quite brilliant Pulling together, carrying on, but most of all resilient

It’s hit us hard, this COVID thing with new rules every day

Masks, distancing, washing hands, no chance of getaways.

But we are still here, it won’t break us, and here’s a chance to make A great night in, with fun and games, so don’t make the mistake Of thinking this is another zoom call with no fun

Put your phone down, stop, engage, and stay till we are done.

By way of introduction, I’m Sam from CBC

And from Network my Club we have my good friend Bradley joining me.

You can tell the best looking one out of him and me One like James Bond, the other like Stavros Flatley.

Anyway, enough about us, look at all you gorgeous people here tonight, I’m so grateful you are here, and I have you all in sight.

On a slightly more serious note, the main reason we are here Is for Rockinghorse charity, one my heart holds dear

More than ever this special charity needs local support With finance and visibility, so let’s not come up short.

Those that know me are aware, that I think this charity’s amazing And I don’t think I will ever stop my continual praising

Of the work they do and hope they give to those in desperation, We can all assist them tonight by making a donation

A personal plea from me to you - the charity helped save my son I’m not sure, without their support, I’d even still have one.

My son Luca, one of my twins, was born so very ill,

There was a point he might not make it, and time truly stood still The moments in that hospital will never leave my mind

The tests and wires and prayers all horrifically combined,

To make the threat of losing him one I just could not contemplate, Forgive me I really don’t want to open the floodgates.

Long story short, the doctors and equipment was mostly funded

By Rockinghorse, and so we watched how astonishingly well my son did.

Against all odds he came right through to see the other side Unlike me and his Mum, he took it all in his stride.

So there it is, my reason for arranging this event

I can assure you, money for Rockinghorse is very very well spent.

So without further ado, let’s get on with enjoying tonight, I mean that truly and genuinely, I’m not just being polite.

I’m truly humbled to have each of you here, I mean that 100% I hope you have a great time, at this new unique event.

The votes are in, the winners are already pencilled on the board,

So enjoy yourselves, celebrate each other, at the Virtual Business Awards.

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Written by Kelly Thomas

Info@remarkablerhymes.co.uk

www.remarkablerhymes.co.uk

SBT REVIEW

SBT ROUNDUP

WE LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE BEST OF 2020

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 9

SBT Round Up - A Look back at another year brings the Sussex business community together. Based on the back of the 50

years running successful Sussex Business Times, this Club brings many wider online platforms into one space to promote and establish visibility for your business.

With five different platforms, County Business Clubs will allow you to

access many areas which you might

usually have to seek, and pay for, from separate providers:

• Business Community (social networking) • Business Funding (raising money for your business)

Issue 436 - CBC

• Marketplace (selling your products)

This is obviously my personal favourite

• Business Content Hub (E-courses

partners, Lee Mansfield, Greg Carroll

• Business Services (Advertising and

This has been several years in the making

You can pay one membership fee

tried to imagine an online space which

Business, social and online events will

issue of the year as my business

and I launched County Business Clubs.

and crystallizes many meetings where we

10 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

and webinars) Sponsorship)

and have access to all of these areas.

include many top Sussex businesses

and will be a chance for you to show off your own services and a fantastic way to explore providers of other services specific to your requirements.

There are seven different membership options, you can choose a rate

which suits you and tailor make your

accessible services in order to ensure you are at the forefront of the new County Business Clubs.

We are very happy to report that we now have the support of several big named

Value Added Partners such as Ridgeview, LoveLocalJobs.com, MHA Carpenter

Box and New World Tech. We have now upgraded our website, adapted some

content and are ready continue expansion.

We would love if you could join us and

be part of the new wave of the Sussex Business Community in 2021.

SBT RE V I E W Jobs Foundation brings inspirational conferences, events and trips away to local schools. This supports the

core values of the business to raise confidence and help people be the

best version of themselves, which then springboards them into successful career choices.

During the COVID crises, like many

of us, LoveLocalJobs.com has had to

adapt and try and move into more online

training for the schools, certainly a tough gig but one which they appear to have managed seamlessly. Gary is clearly Issue 438 – Love Local Jobs

passionate about ensuring students

year anniversary of Brightonandhovejobs.

manage, and has shown determination

This issue was a celebration of the ten

have the right tools to equip them to

com. Our article outlined in-depth look

in securing the delivery of that training.

company founder Gary Peters.

Despite a tough year, there are

With the main intention of filling a gap

who continue to use and support the

difference to the local community, Gary

com and I wish them every success

at the business and an interview with the

successful businesses across Sussex

in the market, and making a positive

recruitment business at LoveLocalJobs.

outlined that he wanted to ensure he

going into 2021.

provided a business which would help

headed up by second generation

CEO Tamara Roberts and her brother, Chief Wine Maker Simon Roberts.

Ridgeview is at the forefront of the English sparkling wine industry,

pioneering a change in the reputation of English wines. Their dedication is

clear and Ridgeview was recognised in the International Wine and

Spirit Competition (IWSC) as the

“International Wine Makers of the Year,”

a truly respectable accolade. They were also crowned number 36 in the World’s Best Vineyards. Tamara has herself

been personally recognised as Sussex Businessperson of the Year and has also accepted a place after recently

being elected as President of the IWSC. Ridgeview work closely with the nearby Plumpton College in order to assist

and employ winemaking and viticulture

graduates. This shows a commitment to local employment and a keen devotion to ensure the best possible knowledge from their employees.

and inspire local future generations.

In 2020 Ridgeview has done their

American Express, Bupa, Domestic &

anniversary, an event slightly subdued

and EDF, Gary set about securing their

Inside the foil on opening every bottle is

become the successful one it is today.

To meet their own business needs,

Brightonandhovejobs.com have

distanced tours and online wine tasting

encourages skills of resilience,

to remain open and continue with

have been of particular use to all of us

the time to reflect and plan for events

With some big names on board, such as

best to celebrate their official 25 year

General, Legal & General, City College

due to the Coronavirus restrictions.

support and growing the business to

their philosophy “Life is for Celebrating.”

Ridgeview has pivoted to offer socially

supported local schools and persistently

events and this has allowed them

determination and grit, skills which must

business. The company has also taken

this year. It prides itself on it’s unique

and business ideas for the future.

offering of knowing local business and

being able to provide online and face to

Issue 439 – Ridgeview

face services for recruitment.

This article focused on the history and

Two years ago, Gary launched the

and makes for a fascinating read. A

concentrates on working with school

25 years ago as a dream, has now

of the next generation. Launched by the

award winning wine maker in Sussex.

success of the Ridgeview Wine Estate

Love Local Jobs Foundation which

family run business which started

and employers to raise the aspirations

developed into a hugely successful

legend Harry Redknapp, the Love Local

The Roberts family business is now

Going into 2021, and with the hope of a vaccine for all, Ridgeview hope to

continue with their brilliant Ridgefest Music and Street Festival in August.

With their wines now being sent to

seventeen countries around the globe, there is no reason why they cannot

continue to grow and maintain success.

I wish them all the very best in 2021.

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S BT R E VI E W

A fantastic partnership with the

Lawn Tennis Association to handle the corporate hospitality for the

Eastbourne based Nature Valley International Tennis Tournament

has served them well. A massive

acquisition campaign for Johnson

Controls, and the infamous Let’s Do

Business Exhibitions over the last few years are also perfect endorsements for the brand.

Passionate about Eastbourne, PRG

created and ran the Change Your View campaign, and Simon Groves is also Issue 440 – PRG Marketing Communications

A close up at the business of PRG

Marketing Communications for this

issue, with a particular celebration of their 40th year in business.

Based in Eastbourne, this fantastic

business started at the home of Ray Groves, Simon’s father, purely as a

a Parent Governor of Pashley Down

Infant School, showing commitment

and support of the local community.

Despite a tough year, PRG continues

to go from strength to strength as is a beacon of hope that it is possible to

continue with a thriving business, even in a year like 2020. I wish PRG, and

Simon, every success going into 2021.

PR company. Over time and with clear

medium sized business clients, as well as enterprise clients, and he intends to provide them with the support to continue despite the crisis.

Undergoing massive transformation and pivoting to a completely new

direction might be, in Glenn’s opinion, the only way for certain businesses to survive. He gives examples of hotels

opening up rooms for businesspeople to use instead of working in their

home environment, or restaurants

providing pick up or delivery services to adapt to the current crisis.

This year is certainly one we will all

Oman and Africa.

not forget, but as many of us have

collaborated, and truly come together

Very much a family run business, they

as a community it has been great to

take strategic business decisions

continue sharing stories with advice

together as a team and have faced

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NWT has built a number of small to

every success going into 2021.

throughout Europe and even as far as

strength to strength.

ahead of the crisis. Founded in 2016,

in these times. I wish NWT, and Glenn,

based, the company has seen clients

on and it seems have now gone from

strategy might allow businesses to get

possible to think outside the box even

strength to strength. Originally UK

Showing resilience, they soldiered

how an aligned IT and business

the positive article showing that it is

marketing, which has seen it go from

member of staff was lost to cancer.

In the first article, Glenn described

need it the most. Thank you Glenn for

website development and digital

fault of their own, and a very valued

survive during the Coronavirus crisis.

business services, a time when many

The company has now stepped into

large clients were lost through no

the reasons for, and how to pivot to

many businesses with their IT and

graphic design company.

describes a time in 2018 when some

a series of four articles detailing

all of us, NWT continues to support

expanded into a full marketing and

managing director Simon Groves,

Sussex Business Times to supply

Whilst 2020 has been challenging on

hard work and commitment, PRG has

their fair share of difficulties. The

CEO Glenn Ballard has partnered with

Issue 441 – New World Tech

New World Tech are the focus

of this round up from issue 441.

NWT provides a portfolio of digital

consultancy services. The company was designed to help their clients

modernise their IT and embrace the digital world.

and tips shared from our members,

as well as helping some businesses

celebrate some amazing milestones from across the Sussex business

community. We have survived and we will come back stronger in 2021!

Sam & the team

SBT FINANCE

2020: A YEAR IN REVIEW

AND A CHANCE TO LOOK FORWARD TO 2021

SBT FINANCE SPONSORED BY:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 13

2020: A year in review and a chance to look forward to 2021 Between Covid-19, lockdowns and Brexit planning, 2020 was a year few predicted, and unlike most businesses have ever seen.

Finance

With 2021 fast approaching,

and regional lock

downs still part of

the economic landscape, businesses

across Sussex continue to trade under extremely challenging conditions.

However, there actions you can take now to ensure you start 2021 on a strong footing.

Spending Review 2020: implications for businesses

In his Spending Review on 25

November Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the “economic emergency� caused by Covid-19 has only just begun, as he

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warned the virus would mean lasting damage to growth and jobs.

Current UK economic climate

Official forecasts now predict the biggest economic decline in 300 years.

The UK economy is expected to shrink

by 11.3% this year and not return to its pre-Covid size until the end of 2022.

Government borrowing will rise to its

highest outside of wartime to deal with the economic impact.

The Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) expects the number of

unemployed people to increase up to

2.6 million by the middle of next year.

This means the unemployment rate

will hit 7.5%, its highest level since the financial crisis in 2009.

Furthermore, the Office for National

Statistics recently revealed that nearly half (48%) of trading businesses have

seen their turnover fall to below what is normally expected for this time of year.

What does this mean for businesses?

Clearly the situation is unprecedented

in peace time. The cost of Covid-19 is

huge and the Government will need to find more money from spending cuts and taxes just to balance revenues on a day to day basis. Businesses

FI NA NCE

of supports and tax changes.

Take some time to plan ahead to look

at maximising revenue and minimising or streamlining operating costs. We

can provide you with templates and

forecasts to do this or we can help you prepare accurate forecasts based on a could therefore expect to see tax rises

number of scenarios and do a “what if”

announced in the March 2021 budget.

exercise on your business.

There is already speculation that

Cash flow checklist for business

from changes to Capital Gains Tax,

So, if you are running a business and

taxes. However, this will not be

doing to ensure resilience?

so there may also be some corporation

Government support

insurance increases.

times and it makes sense to take

The big decision for the government

These include the new Job Support

support to the recovering economy

using Bounce Back Loans.

finances by tax rises. The extreme

There are also grants available to help

that decision could be.

export administration.

Planning ahead

Cash flow checklist

flow management now ahead of the end

can be very difficult but there are some

the government could raise money

resilience

pensions relief or self-employment

turnover is down, what should you be

sufficient to cover the Covid-19 costs tax, income tax, VAT or national

will be to decide when to stop the

and when to start strengthening public uncertainty underlines how difficult

Businesses should strengthen their cash

Clearly, we are living in tough

advantage of Government supports.

Schemes, as well as deferring tax and

firms with Brexit changes for import and

Business planning for the unknown

practical steps you can take to minimise potential disruption to your business.

1. Review your budgets and set realistic and achievable targets for the

remainder of 2020 and into the early part of 2021.

2. G et your employees involved

in a discussion of likely trading

conditions due to Brexit and get

their input on reducing costs and maintaining revenues.

3. Use ‘bottom up’ budgeting where

everyone in the business gives input

on areas over which they have control – target a 10% cost saving.

4. Review and flow chart the main

processes in your business (sales processing, order fulfilment,

shipping, etc.) and challenge the need for each step.

5. Encourage team members to suggest ways to streamline and simplify

processes (sit down and brainstorm

about efficiencies and cost reduction).

6. P ut extra effort into making sure your relationships with your customers are solid.

7. Review your list of products and services and eliminate those

that are unprofitable or not core products/services.

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FI NAN C E

It’s not about hoping that old services become popular again; it’s about

adapting old services to make them

better, more relevant, and more valuable to consumers today.

4. Stick to strategy

When the only constant is change itself, it can be easy to find your business

further and further away from your initial

objectives and goals. Detailed plans and forecasts are near enough impossible at the moment so strip your strategy back.

Focus on your vision of where you want

to be and then build a one-page-plan of how you are going to get there.

The plan should be a guide, not a rule

book and stick to what you are good at.

Each adaptation should be to move you back in line with your vision. You should 8. Review the efficiency of business

processes and consider alternatives

such as outsourcing certain activities locally or overseas.

9. Agree extended payment terms with all suppliers in advance.

10. Pull everyone together and explain

the business strategy and get their buy-in.

Tips to get your business booming in 2021

Despite the challenging economic

landscape, there still are opportunities

for growth and plenty of success stories out there. So how do you capitalise on these and become one of the ‘lucky’

businesses thriving through adversity?

Below, we provide our top tips to hit the ground running for 2021:

1. Stay close to your numbers

Without a crystal-clear picture of your

business’ financial health, you will not be able to create an effective strategy that will help you weather business challenges. By making the effort to

understand your financials, including your revenue, expenses, profits, and

16 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

cashflow numbers, you will be able to plan accordingly.

Up to date management information will also assist in the preparation of

forecasts. Regular forecasting will be

increasingly important to monitor cash flows and identify any pinch points.

2. Improve Your Cashflow

Cashflow is the lifeblood of your business,

and ideally, you should be bringing in more income than the amount you are spending

adapt your services and operations, not your strategy.

5. External solutions for internal problems

Keep track of what’s going on around

you, what looks like it works and what

clearly doesn’t. Competitor analysis and product surround tools can be great for

identifying opportunities to adapt, but in its simplest form just keep track of what

your competitors are doing and don’t be left behind.

to sustain your business. However,

How we can support you in 2021

you must first ensure that you have

MHA Carpenter Box can provide the

before you can improve your cashflow, accurate financial records and an effective accounting system in place.

Once you have these sorted out, use our checklist above to take control of your

and beyond

guidance to help review your business, provide advice on accessing support

and assist with identifying options for cash flow needs.

cash position.

For more information, please visit

3. Adapt, don’t recover

01903 234094.

When business gets disrupted, most

businesses focus nearly all their attention on how to recover their old services.

By looking forward, you’ll see that the business environment has moved.

www.carpenterbox.com or call

SBT

LEGA L

LEGAL

EMPLOYMENT LAW: REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2020

BY ALEX JONES, 365 EMPLOYMENT LAW

SBT LEGAL SPONSORED BY:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 17

Employment Law: Review of the year 2020

I have written various updates for SBT over the year and these have of course been dominated by COVID 19 and the effect it has on the employment relationship.

By Alex Jones, Managing Director, 365 Employment Law Most of the talking

Legal

points throughout the year followed

difficult decisions

that employers had

to make, relating to the health of their

staff, and the economic consequences of COVID. Those short term issues

have now turned into long term issues as the long terms effects, some

positive, some negative on working conditions take hold.

1) COVID 19 and Furlough Prior to late March 2020, the concept of furloughing in staff in the UK

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employment relationship simply did

not exist. In response to the economic challenges the COVID pandemic was

presenting, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, introduced the concept of paid furlough leave for staff, to essentially place them in hibernation for a period of time, and

to assist business through any closures, reductions in turnover etc.

Certain areas were heavily impacted, including catering and hospitality,

temporary recruitment, and travel and tourism. The impact was immediate.

As the pandemic took off in March,

I had employer client’s from various

areas, but particularly those from the

sectors I mention, faced with huge

drop in turnover (almost overnight), and the need to make immediate

redundancies and in some cases,

in order to avoid that, negotiate pay

reductions by consent with staff. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), then put a lot of those decisions on hold.

The CJRS introduced the concept of paid furlough, when in simple terms,

employers could inform staff they were not needed in the workplace, keep

their jobs open, and recover 80% of their salary (capped at ÂŁ2,500) from HMRC. Initially, employers had to

LEGA L

either place staff in furlough, or keep

them in work. They could not split the two options until later in the summer.

The problems I saw, both for employers and employees, was that the scheme was essentially a rebate from

HMRC, and this was fundamentally misunderstood by a number of

employers. The scheme did not change employment rights, it did not change existing contractual obligations, and

it certainly did not allow employers a

unilateral right to inform staff that they were being placed on furlough. This

opened up a number of challenges and claims, relating to unlawful deduction from wages, how to deal with staff

who refused agreement, claims arising for staff who had the changed terms

imposed without consent, and attempts by employers to change other terms permanently at the same time.

The employers that dealt well with the furlough issue, avoided claims. They

sought to negotiate furlough (following advice), with affected staff and reach an agreement on that furlough, both relating to being absent from the

workplace, and on reduced pay, by consent. They were able to do that

with a basic furlough agreement that

was time limited and two way, and this avoided problems and claims.

2) Health and Safety in the workplace Large parts of the economy started to reopen at the start of June, but large

parts of the workforce were either not back at work, or working from home

at that point. Those areas that almost

immediately went back to full attendance, including factories and warehouse

based business, had to consider what protections and systems they needed

to put in place to protect staff. In many cases, systems were not been put in

place, and lower paid staff were at times exploited and continue to be exploited.

The Health and

Safety Work Act

(HSWA) requires all employers to operate a safe

system of work and

we saw this applied in all workplaces,

specifically related to Covid. The specific application of that

to the return to work and Covid-19 had to be considered by employers.

Employers should of course continue to

Alex Jones

assess this.

That should

public transport, and also their home

plan, that focuses on the specifics

mitigation plans on an ongoing basis

just based on general guidelines eg

considered by all employers. Employers

about the risk areas for possible

the last 9 months, have found

those can be mitigated. A failure to

than those who dictated expectations

by the Health and Safety Executive

expectations had no legal justification.

October, another work from home “if

for more flexible and home working,

the government, but unlike in March,

ahead of others in recruitment.

requirement or sanctions.

3) Working Parents

Every workplace, should continue

The balance of full and part time staff,

relating to covid and their staff safety,

discrimination is an ongoing situation

relating to what to do in terms of

As covid developed, Employers faced

include a detailed risk management

working environment. Working out

of their business/workplace and not

in that regard eg later starts, should be

1 metre plus. Employers should think

who engaged with their staff throughout

transmission of COVID-19 and how

themselves in a much better place,

do this could result in an investigation

to them, especially when those

in the event of an outbreak. In

Staff expectations will continue to be

possible” declaration was made by

and employers who offer that will be

it was not backed up by any legal

to assess, on a rolling basis, issuing

working parents, maternity leave and

including having protocols in place

that all employers have to deal with.

symptoms and an actual diagnosis.

the situation where, as staff were

Employers should appreciate that

School and Nursery closures (even

extend to the worker’s commute to

workers ability to attend the office in

reduces transmission risk is not

The requirement to self isolate, and

workplace, for example, via crowded

testing, also increased this problem.

brought back into the workplace,

providing a safe workplace, can also

on a part reduced basis) affected

work. Eg an office that dramatically

accordance with their normal hours.

enough, if workers attend the

delays at times in getting access to

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L EGAL claims. I have one live

case, where the employer put the employee (and others) on furlough in

April, and informed them they would continue to work despite this. My

client objected, and was

subsequently dismissed,

leading to various claims.

Employers should be very careful in these circumstances!

7) What to expect in 2021 Covid will continue

to dominate staffing

matters, with the same

issues arising, including businesses closing and re-opening (and issues

Employers may be inclined, if numbers

5) Redundancy post Covid

to focus on those employees first. They

Redundancies as a result of the

cycles repeat, some locally, some

are happening and continue to be

management, furlough, redundancies,

ends next year. Employers should

The end of the CJRS in March, could

selection process, and should be

en masse in certain industries.

assuming that employees placed on

The other issue that will affect

the list for redundancy selection.

staffing issues, is Brexit. Whatever

Employers should be as flexible as

January 2021 will lead to sustainability

that the bar for reasonableness in any

in turn will lead to redundancies, and

need to be reduced through redundancies, should avoid this. This could open

them up to discrimination and/or unfair dismissal claims.

4) Disability Discrimination Most employers will have members of staff who would be classed as

having a Disability for the purposes

of the Equality Act 2010. I have seen a focus from employers on those

with a disability who are potentially

directly affected by COVID19 eg with lung conditions. If an employee has

a disability, the employer has a Duty to Make Reasonable Adjustments to assist with that disability in the

workplace. Employers should consider what reasonable adjustments need to

connected with that) as lockdown

economic fallout of the pandemic

nationally. This will lead to absence

inevitable when the CJRS Scheme

and the health issues I mention above.

always have a transparent and fair

also lead to large scale redundancies

cautioned against automatically

furlough previously should be top of

business, and how they deal with arrangements are in place on 1st

possible, and be alive to the possibility

issues for many businesses, which

unfair dismissal claims will be lower,

claims connected with that.

Covid 19, will not necessarily be the

Please always take advice.

and justification for dismissal presame in the current environment.

Alex Jones

be made given the ongoing situation,

6) Whistleblowing Claims

365 Employment Law Solicitors

lockdown’s happen again, even at

I have seen a number of examples,

ajones@365employmentlaw.co.uk

and what they will do as and when a local level. Eg An employee with extreme anxiety might consider working from home on a semi-

permanent basis a means of avoiding escalation of their condition.

20 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

where employees who have complained about their treatment relating to

furlough, have then been dismissed.

The employee will then be able to bring Protected Disclosure (Whistleblowing)

Tel: 01903 863284

www.365employmentlaw.co.uk

SBT PROPERTY

ANNUAL MUSINGS

WELL QUITE FRANKLY WHERE DO I START…?!

EDWARD STREET QUARTER

ANNOUNCES GROUND-BREAKING AIR-PURIFYING TACTICS

SBT PROPERTY SPONSORED BY:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 21

Annual musings Well quite frankly where do I start….?!

Having looked back

Property

over the 15 newsletters sent to clients this year it is frankly staggering

the amount of change and information

that has had to be conveyed to ensure the smooth running of our business and our clients properties.

I am immensely proud of the team with how we have continued to provide a

seamless service to our clients during this ‘year of all years’.

We have had not just the Covid-19

legislation to read, understand (ha!!),

implement and comply with but also

22 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

further changes with the laws of the lettings industry itself. These have

created huge challenges – not least the electrical safety standards legislation –

during a time when access to properties, and contractor time, is difficult to come

by because of the changing nature of the various Covid-19 measures.

I have to also thank several other

businesses as we could not have carried on so seamlessly without them; •O ur partners at RDA Estates,

who facilitate the purchase and

management of investment properties for, mainly, overseas investors. If you

ever need assistance in growing your own property portfolio please ask

me for an introduction as they have a wealth of experience.

•O ur IT providers; Support Desk. It is

fair to say that without their assistance we would not have been able to pivot

so successfully without any disruption to our daily activities.

•J en Wallace of JooJoo Creative who deals with our marketing and on line presence and helps me make my newsletters look so pretty!!

• Finally the contractors who have to a

man, and woman, dealt with maintenance reported as swiftly as access, and the availability of materials, allowed.

P RO PE RTY property management, in my opinion, is

an industry that deals with people by and large so I long for the days when tenants come back to our offices to ‘check in’.

This brings me on to what I think the

future holds for the lettings and property management industry.

I think we are certainly going to see

more localised, and possibly national,

lockdowns in the coming months which will obviously impact all economies and could have further impacts on tenants abilities to pay rent. We have taken

a human approach and, as we are an

agency that has experience of Universal Credit, are well placed to advise our

clients as to what is possible if there are issues.

It is vital that you have good

communications with your clients, and their tenants, as you can only hope to

address financial problems if you do. A kind and compassionate agent, in my

view, will have much greater success in

dealing with rent arrears by tenants than

one who threatens and adds pressure to

already difficult circumstances. It is a fine It goes without saying, but I will say it

again and again, that our biggest thanks goes to our clients this year, and all

years. We have never, nor will ever, take any of our business for granted.

Whilst there was of course a real dip

during the initial UK lockdown it was

as if the floodgates had opened once it was relaxed and properties have been

taken from virtual viewings and tenancies signed remotely with applicants only

coming to the office to collect keys and

to carry out Right to Rent checks. I have to say that I do think bigger agencies will wish for this to carry on due to costs but I actually like my staff to meet and get

a relationship with the tenants who are

moving into our clients properties. In fact I like people full stop and lettings and

line as tenants also need to be aware that unless stated rent will accrue as an arrear and will have to be paid back.

In 2021 the UK Government is going

to have to give some consideration to

landlords who, currently, could be over 6 months in arrears, with a mortgage,

who has a disruptive tenant and have

very little hope of obtaining possession quickly. As I say a fine line…

Energy efficiency will also continue to

have an impact on the sector. By 2025 it is mooted that any new tenancy may

as to whether many of the properties in

the UK will comply with this rating level.

The Government is currently finishing

its consultation exercise and so we ca expect an announcement shortly.

I think that the UK Government, at some point after this crisis has passed, will look further at eviction processes by

removing the use of section 21 notices as this was included in the Queens speech

some time ago. I would think that if the above does happen tenancy terms will be made longer giving less rights for

no fault possession to the landlord but

perhaps putting more onus on carrying

out improvements to the tenant. This is

seen as somewhat of a negative currently but actually I see this as a positive for

the long term investor. What could be

better than having a guaranteed tenant for a number of years who has a legal obligation to upkeep the property?!

People will continue to need places to live and their ability to save for a

deposit to purchase will undoubtedly

be made that much harder due to the economic reality we are facing. This

should mean that property remains an

attractive investment opportunity so long as you are aware of the myriad pieces

of legislation that governs the sector. I

cannot stress enough that a good agent can save you thousands of £’s from

compliance alone. I might just know a good one if you are in need?! Ha Ha!

I will end by wishing you all the very best wherever you are reading this and with a quote I read on social media recently;

Before I agree to 2021 I would like to see the bloody terms and conditions!!

well have to be at a minimum rating of ‘C’ or above and this would encompass all

existing tenancies by 2028. The current

level is set at ‘E’ and above and I have to say that many of the energy assessors I

have spoken to are somewhat sceptical

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 23

PRO PE RT Y

Edward Street Quarter announces ground-breaking air-purifying tactics Edward Street Quarter, the mixed-use development currently being built at the former AMEX House site in central Brighton, will introduce ground-breaking ways to improve the air quality in and around the site.

Developer First Base

Property

has ordered the use

of antibacterial and air purifying paints which will benefit residents

and occupiers as well as painters and decorators, as the materials are free

of VOC emissions. The paints work by

absorbing CO2 from the environment in

their carbonisation process which leads to cleaner and more climate-friendly spaces.

To further reduce air pollution, the new neighbourhood’s design will introduce 16 species of native and non-native trees, in a mix of deciduous and

evergreen, to its three predominantly

green spaces – including field maple,

weeping birch, Himalayan cedar, dawn

stripped tree logs will also be installed to

make a positive impact around Edward

redwood, Scots pine, hazel and pin oak.

attract invertebrates.

Street Quarter.

The average reduction of particulate

To support local biodiversity, developers

“Keeping healthy and staying well

and 24 per cent, according to a study

boxes to encourage nesting of Great

Covid-19 has brought this to the forefront

healthy trees are the most effective at

the city and imbed 67 different plant

leading the way at Edward Street Quarter

matter near a tree is between 7 per cent

First Base also plan to install 20 bird

has always been important, however,

by The Nature Conservancy, and large,

Tits, Blue Tits and House Sparrows in

of everyone’s minds. We are pleased to be

improving local air quality.

species sourced from a British nursery

so that our community will work and live in

throughout the development.

a safe and healthy environment.”

will give the public games garden an

Landscape architect, Rosie Sargen

Edward Street Quarter will deliver

of disease-resistant Elms will provide

carefully selected a range of resilient

39,000 sq ft of food, beverage, retail

will be reintroduced with the development.

for its uses of Elm trees to bring shade,

homes and three new public spaces.

Buildings within the development will

cleaner air.”

built with a target to achieve a BREEAM

area equivalent to five tennis courts,

Steve Eccles, project director at First

sustainability assessment for buildings.

other plants which will absorb rainwater

big priority in urban locations and that

For more information, please visit

features such as hibernaculum and

new trees, shrubs and green roofs to

A diverse mix of mature specimen trees arboretum feel year-round and four species

of SpaceHub, commented, “We have

110,000 sq ft of Grade A office space,

shade and shelter to Mighell Street, which

species, for example, Brighton is famous

and leisure units, 168 new residential

shelter and importantly contribute to

The mixed-use development will be

feature 15,000 sq ft of green roofs, the comprised of sedums, wildflowers and

Base, said: “Improving air quality is a

and provide better insulation. Habitat

is why we will deliver air purifying paint,

24 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Excellence rating, the globally recognised

https://edwardstreetquarter.com/

SBT

P RO PE RTY

SALES & MARKETING

AS 2020 DRAWS TO A CLOSE…

SOME MARKETING TIPS FOR 2021

SBT SALES & MARKETING SPONSORED BY:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 25

As 2020 draws to a close… some marketing tips for 2021

By Lara Squires – Consortium More than Marketing If I ask whether any

Sales & Marketing

of you will be sad to

see the end of 2020, I can almost hear a

collective groan and

moan saying NO! What a year it has

been, for business, for employees, and for human interaction! As a marketing agency specialising in professional

services, we have seen some great (and not so great) shifts this year.

Looking back on 2020 What are those shifts? One has certainly been businesses have

embraced virtual networking and

26 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

virtual meetings, with the huge uptake of tools such as Zoom, Remo, Hopin, MS teams, etc. If anyone told you

to invest in Zoom this time last year,

would you have taken notice? Probably not. But no doubt virtual networking is here to stay, even if we eventually return to some form of ‘normal’ in

2021, I envisage it will be a blended mix of in-person and virtual events.

It is a great way to interact with one

another, whilst achieving that work-life

balance (by reducing travel) and all the while saving business costs!

Take a look at my recent blog about

what virtual networking opportunities

are out there and what you should go to.

In my recent podcast with 10½ Boots I present a case for virtual networking.

Another not so positive shift has been with marketing spend. During times of uncertainty this is quite typical,

as many businesses consider some marketing activities to be non-

essential, however, companies that bounce back most strongly after a recession usually do not cut their

marketing spend, and in many cases

increase it. Do you have a strategic or

tactical marketing plan in place? If not, we urge businesses to forge ahead and plan for 2021 and beyond.

SAL ES & MARKE TI NG

Lara Squires

At the end of January, we’ll be launching

to engage your audience and promote

data. There are endless possibilities

Club to give professional services

effort into video content.

existing clients, if only your data was

The Consortium Marketing Coaching businesses the tools they need to

your brand. Invest in time, budget, and

develop their own marketing strategy.

2. SEO Marketing:

objectives, how to analyse your audience

while, but it is becoming increasingly

We will cover how to set marketing

and competitors, outreach tactics, and

how to network to grow your business.

We have 6 spaces in our group sessions, or we will have 1-2-1 sessions available.

Get in touch if you are interested.

Marketing tips for 2021 Here are my marketing tips for 2021

with the caveat that as with 2020, so much can change in a short time!

1. Video is king:

Video has been getting a lot of attention recently, and rightly so. It is a great way

SEO has been around for a long

important for businesses, from how

to cross-sell and upsell to your

in the right state to market to your

customers according to their needs and wants. New Year’s resolution – sort your client data out!

you present your website content, to

Over the coming months we will

and LinkedIn profile. With Google’s

changes, as no doubt the current

the keywords you use in your blogs new Page Experience algorithm

update in May 2021, SEO and our

websites are likely going to be more important than ever.

3. Client data and how you leverage it to get more clients:

How many hidden jewels do you

revisit some of these tips to see what coronavirus uncertainty will present many more challenges in 2021.

Contact Lara via the platform or: Email: lara@consortiumbiz.co.uk Call: 01903 530787 www.consortiumbiz.co.uk

have in your data? If only it was

cleansed and segmented! I bet many

businesses have the same challenge:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 27

JACK NEEDS

YOU We’re looking for ‘Hero’ businesses from across Sussex to help raise the aspirations of our local next generation. Raise your profile and market your business while helping 1,000’s of young people.

Find out more – visit LoveLocalJobsFoundation.com or email Foundation@lovelocaljobs.com

28 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Dare to

Dream

Delivered by

SBT

COVER FE ATU RE

PEOPLE MANAGEMENT & RECRUITMENT

A CALL FOR BUSINESSES TO TAKE ON APPRENTICES

BY THE LETTING PARTNERSHIP

SBT PEOPLE MANAGEMENT & RECRUITMENT SPONSORED BY:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 29

The Letting Partnership calls for businesses to take on apprentices and give young people opportunities Specialist provider of services to the lettings industry The Letting Partnership is calling for businesses to take on more apprentices and support young people in a challenging jobs market.

The company hired

HR

three apprentices after it witnessed a surge in demand for its

outsourced client accounting and Client Money Protection services this year.

The Letting Partnership’s new

apprentices are supporting its ambitions to grow and have brought a fresh dynamic to the team.

Jenny Markham, CEO of The Letting Partnership, said: “We have had

30 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

incredible feedback from our clients

about our apprentices in their first few

months and they already feel like part of the team.

“It has been a privilege to offer

these hard working, intelligent and enthusiastic young people from

Greater Brighton Metropolitan College a platform to excel in such a difficult jobs market.

“It is giving us so much joy to nurture their professional careers, but their

arrival is helping us to successfully

navigate our recent expansion to meet the demands of the letting industry.

“Today we’re calling on the lettings

industry to think about what it can do to

support young people, but we also want them to think about the benefits for their businesses of hiring apprentices.”

Apprentices Millie Draper, Chloe Smith

and Jake Collins were delighted to join

The Letting Partnership as apprentices during the summer.

P EOP L E MAN AGEM EN T & R ECR U ITM E NT

opportunities for

progression. By the

time they complete the apprenticeship thanks to the rigours of the

course and our inhouse training program,

they are competent and confident staff

members ready to take on responsibility and

sometimes seniority on the team.

“We are certainly

aiming to take on more

apprentices in the future as our business grows and we urge the rest

of the lettings industry and indeed the wider business community Guided by mentors, they have been processing client accounts, liaising

with agents on the phone and by email and carrying out day to day jobs, while working towards Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeships.

The Letting Partnership hired its

first apprentices in 2016, beginning with John Westwood who is now

the Client Induction Lead with full responsibility for onboarding and

settling in new clients since passing

his apprenticeship. He was followed

by Ocean-Lee Parker, who passed her

apprenticeship in September 2020 and accepted a full-time role as a Client

Accounts Administrator, mentoring the new apprentices.

The Letting Partnership said some

business owners are concerned that employing apprentices will take too

much time or cost too much money, but the truth is that apprentices can help to upskill a workforce and that when

a business hires any new employee it takes time to train them up.

The benefits of hiring apprentices

include providing increased support for

a growing business, fresh ideas and the opportunity to grow a member of staff

for the future, while existing employees can also learn from the new and enthusiastic recruits.

Government grants, such as the

recently launched Kickstart Scheme,

are available to businesses, providing funding for employers to create new

six-month job placements for young

people aged 16 to 24. Until the end of January 2021, additional Government

funded incentives are also available to

businesses which take on apprentices.

Jenny added: “All three of our

apprentices are absolutely fantastic. Our mission is to provide them with a good working environment and training. In

return they have a fantastic opportunity

to do the same and to give young people a

platform where they can excel.

Claire Gehlig, Head of Apprenticeships at Greater Brighton Metropolitan

College, said: “Our students were so

happy to secure their apprenticeships at The Letting Partnership and they have told us what a supportive and

interesting working environment the business has provided for them.

“It’s businesses like The Letting

Partnership which can see the benefits of taking on apprentices that are going to make a real difference to young people’s lives during a time when

finding an entry level job has become more difficult than ever before.”

For more information visit: https://www. thelettingpartnership.co.uk/

to progress up the career ladder.

“The lettings industry is the kind of environment which would

suit apprentices and there are

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 31

FFS…. the most used phrase in HR in 2020! (for a couple of different reasons!)

So here we are,

HR

nearing the end of

2020 does anyone else think it went

January, February, March, zoom,

December?! Where has the year gone?

Whether it has gone fast or slow for you there’s no doubt that in business and pleasure we’ve all been affected.

Over the course of 2020, many of

us had those carefully laid people

strategies torn up by the end of March and re-written, covering many areas

32 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

that no one had thought would be on the agenda this soon.

So, whether you’ve lost parts of your business, grown, pivoted or started

something fresh, sit back and read our HR round up for 2020.

It doesn’t cover all employment law

changes (you can get them from Acas or gov. websites) but rather some of

the practical changes and challenges

that have affected employers over the course of 2020.

Furlough. Prior to about the 20th March that was a word that had not even come into my vocabulary yet today I often

play bingo and see how many times its mentioned in a day!

With agreement, employers have been

able to put employees on furlough leave and claim back from the government a

percentage of wages if they met the criteria of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Over the months the amounts and

rules changed – in July moving to a

P EOP L E MAN AGEM EN T & R ECR UITM E NT

flexible furlough scheme (FFS) where employers could ask employees to

work part of their hours and still reclaim their pay from the government for the hours not worked.

This scheme is now due to be in place until March 2021. Whether it will be

extended again and/or be recognised

as a term to use in future employment

areas and references only time will tell.

Remote working. It’ll never work…well, well, well!

How many times have I received a flexible working request, and the

response has been “we can’t trust

our employees to work at home, be

productive and deliver results…. it’ll never work”

A lot of the aversion previously has

been lack of trust or potentially (dare I say it!) poor management skills but in

many businesses, this has been a real eye opener and I have heard

many stories of businesses now considering selling offices and

downsizing as this remote working has so many benefits….

It hasn’t worked for everyone and

some have hated homeworking. I personally love to see people and

know I bounce off others so I’m hoping that in the future there will be the

flexibility and understanding that a

hybrid approach is best. Managers will need support to ensure this continues to be a success and businesses need to comply with H&S requirements but let’s watch this space.

What do you know – it happened!!

Along with remote working, more

have no choice it’s been amazing to see

norm. Gone is the standard 9-5 with

When push comes to shove and we

how people have adapted and just got on with their jobs – and in many cases been more productive.

Flexible Working has also become the many people juggling partners roles,

home schooling and other caring duties whilst seeing the devastation of the

virus so there has been a shift for many to enjoying a better work/life balance.

Forward thinking employers are

understanding that if objectives are met, projects are delivered, and customers are happy there is no reason why

employees can’t work hours to suit the family/home life.

With employees more engaged,

motivated and satisfied employees from the above two approaches, I hope the

approach continues when we go back to normality – providing the business can operate not to its detriment.

Employee Wellbeing has been

bubbling away in the background for several years but this year the health of employees has become a priority.

Not physically seeing team members,

understanding home working challenges and caring responsibilities (which

may not have been discussed or even considered before) have come to the forefront of many a managers minds and with regular check ins, better

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 33

PEOPL E MAN AGE M E N T & R EC R U ITM E N T

Theresa Cooper

There are many ways to do a formal, regular check in and this must be an

approach that works for the business – not just a corporate exercise we think we should have but I like a

regular check in and do think this is the way forward.

communications, some delivering

mental health awareness training and

recognition and gifts being utilised and

delivered in businesses to show thanks and support employees and employers have both benefitted.

There is still a long way to go but it has been great to start seeing

businesses use the human approach when dealing with their employees.

Long may it continue.

Following on from above, many a job seeker will want to ensure that their

next workplace fits with their values and

goals and therefore Employer Branding and digital presence has become a key part of the people strategy.

Company websites have been updated and many businesses have taken the

opportunity to update their glassdoor

and indeed profiles to showcase their

business, giving potential employees a real insight on how it might be working for their company.

34 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

This is an area that I believe will continue - according to Link Humans, around 78% of candidates will investigate a

company’s reputation before applying

for a job so make sure you’re on top of this for 2021.

An area I have been discussing with

many of my businesses has been the Removal of Annual Appraisals and

Replacing with Regular Check Ins. Annual performance reviews are a formal, infrequent way to discuss

employee performance. Often, they

are time consuming and unproductive.

Sometimes, they even cause decreased employee engagement.

Because of the frequency businesses

have had to change over the last twelve

months a more formal regular review has been discussed as being more effective and valuable. It encourages agile

working and ensures the business keeps at the top of its game with the ability to adapt to whatever is thrown at it.

What a whirlwind! With Brexit,

the ongoing Coronavirus situation including the introduction of the vaccine (can we enforce

our employees to have it), huge

unemployment levels and the normal

changes to employment law there will certainly still be a lot going on in the HR world in 2021.

If there are any areas that you know you could or need to be better on and/or

you want to discuss an affordable way of managing your HR in 2021 please give me a call.

Have a great Christmas and New Year

and I look forward to seeing you in 2021.

Theresa Cooper, Managing Director,

CooperativeHR Ltd, enabling business owners to do business, not HR. www.cooperativehr.co.uk

SBT COVER FEATURE

THEIR LATEST #SHARE77K CHARITY INITIATIVE

WE HEAR FROM SEARCH SEVENS MANAGING DIRECTOR, GAVIN WILLIS

SBT COVER FEATURE SPONSORED BY:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 35

Search Seven: Building up to 10 years with their latest #share77k charity initiative With their 10th anniversary fast approaching, Brighton-based paid media and SEO agency Search Seven have raised the bar by setting themselves the challenge of bringing their fundraising total to £77,000 by the end of 2021. We spoke to Managing Director, Gavin Willis to find out more.

Cover Feature

We last caught up

“That’s right – the #share7 campaign

during your #share7

raised an amazing £20,000 for the

with you in 2018

campaign. Before

you tell us about the new campaign you have underway, what have you been up to since then?

36 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

across 2018 was incredible. We

seven charities we nominated, with

£10,000 going to our flagship charity Rockinghorse. Our efforts were

recognised locally by being awarded

the CSR Excellence Award at the

Brighton & Hove Business Awards 2019 and shortlisted for the same award at

the Sussex Business Awards 2019 - for our commitment to fundraising. We

were thrilled with this recognition and even more thrilled to hand over the

COVER FE ATU RE

monies we raised to our charities, and seeing it have such an impact.

We haven’t stopped raising money for charity, either – in 2019 we held our

respective annual golf day and quiz night, raising £8,000 combined, and our team have been on a fundraising rampage –

with Christina raising £1,000 for Epilepsy Society, and in March 2020 Andy and Ryan, took part in the Endurance Life

Half Marathon across Birling Gap, raising money for The Clock Tower Sanctuary and for The Royal Brompton Hospital,

of which we donated £650 towards their efforts as part of our CSR strategy to

encourage employees to fundraise for their nominated charities.

This brings us to new #share77k

tough. Charities that we know and

2020. Tell us more and has it been

events, were immediately postponed

campaign which launched in March difficult this year to fundraise?

support, as well as our own organised and fundraising in general came to

a halt whilst everyone was trying to

“The #share77k campaign is a

re-group and figure out what was

campaign, and the money raised will

many of our charities do not get much

nominated by the team, like we did

rely on fundraising events which they

continuation from our #share7

going on. It was a massive blow, as

be shared amongst 10 charities, each

government funding, if any, and solely

beforehand. As of the start of 2020 we

couldn’t put on.

the agency was formed in 2011.

We had to postpone our #share77k

As you mentioned, we launched the

golf day set for July, to later in the

week as the pandemic outbreak was

adamant I wanted us to help where

had raised just under £51,000 since

launch event, which was our charity

campaign in March, the exact same

year, but despite the set-back I was

announced, so this was incredibly

we could, so we immediately reacted

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 37

C OVE R F E AT URE

by promoting and hosting an online

charity quiz at the end of March, where we had 50 teams sign up, raising £750 which was fantastic.

Following this we launched a

Corporate Charity Rally on LinkedIn, asking people to record a video of themselves serving a volley and

tagging 4 people to keep the rally going. A bit of fun to keep spirits

high and to help raise much needed

awareness on behalf of our 10 amazing charities, so in essence we could rally

behind them during these tough times.

This raised £400 and we classed both as un-official #share77k events.

What are the ‘official’ #share77k

events you have organised so far and what are the big plans for 2021?

“So we have six events lined up across 2020 and 2021, and delighted to say

that we hosted our charity golf day in

October at Mid Sussex Golf Club and

just a few weeks ago now we hosted our charity Christmas quiz online – with your very own Sam Thomas as quiz master extraordinaire – from both events we

raised a staggering £7,000 which (on top of the other events we did at the

start of lockdown plus other donations)

38 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

means we have now surpassed the

£60,000 milestone by end of the 2020,

which given how tough it has been, I am absolutely amazed by - and incredibly

grateful to everyone who has supported the #share77k campaign so far.

As we enter 2021, we have four events left to go - as well as the inaugural

charity golf day, and a charity football

match that we are bringing back for our finale year (over the summer months),

we are introducing two new events that we’re really excited about. People are all a bit quizzed out now, so we are

teaming up with County Business Clubs and Network My Club to bring everyone the Sussex Virtual (Pub) Games 2021, hopefully late February/ early March –

where teams can come together on their own group table and get involved in a

crystal maze style event in a virtual pub, with teams doing different challenges to win points and prizes – it’s going to be great fun, so keep an eye out for this.

Then later in 2021, we’ll be asking

teams to pick up their table tennis bats and battle it out to be named

Ping Pong Champions! Some of our clients and partners have played on our office table tennis table - which is what sparked the idea - and we

think it’ll be great fun to get everyone playing against each other, whilst

giving them the opportunity to meet other local businesses, as well as

being inclusive to friends and family too, as all our events are.

I am thinking a dodgeball style event

with music, bar, each team having own headbands etc. It will be electric – and

as it’s the last event, we would combine this with an afterparty to celebrate our

10-year anniversary, and hopefully it will be double celebrations if we can reach our £77,000 fundraising target.

We have had some great support over the years, and we will be relying on

this to continue into 2021 as we get

closer to the end of our 10th year, and ultimately close in on the target we

have set. If we manage to do it, the Search Seven 10-year party will be pretty special and one not to miss!

What impact has your fundraising

efforts had on charities over the years?

“The money we have raised over the

years has made a massive difference

to many charities we support, in ways

we never imagined. RISE, a charity that supports people affected by domestic

COVER FE ATU RE abuse in Brighton, were able to fund

a Volunteer Coordinator who went on

to recruit 13 helpline volunteers 2019, allowing the helpline to open on an

additional evening. This has removed

the list of people waiting for a call back, and those that do require call backs

receive them on the same or next day.

RISE has been able to support more

people, and provide a faster response to professionals, family and friends.

“The fundraising money donated to Rockinghorse has contributed to

a resuscitaire to enable training of

resuscitations skills at birth to benefit

the neonatal service at the Trevor Mann Baby Unit (TMBU) in Brighton. The

resuscitaire allows trained staff to teach essential resuscitation skills to doctors, nurses, midwives and advanced

nurse practitioners both in situ on the ward and on nationally recognised resuscitation courses.

“We have sponsored Allan Mubangizi for the last six years now, a pupil at Nkuringo Primary school in Bwindi

Forest, Uganda. As well as covering his yearly costs for education we

donated a water tank to the school

and my wife and I visited the village and school in 2017, which was the

most powerful experience, especially with the whole school and village

greeting us with songs and dancing when we arrived. A moment I will

never forget and its experiences like

this that make me very proud to have

charities that are close to their hearts.

We always support our flagship charity, Rockinghorse – and have done since day one. The other nine charities

have been chosen by me and the

Search Seven team. This year we’ve introduced three new organisations – Brighton Women’s Centre, Royal

Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity and Epilepsy Society.

built a purpose driven agency that

What does 2020 look like for Search

difference on people’s lives.

campaign?

really cares and wants to make a

In 2019, our donation from the #share7 campaign directly covered the cost

for life saving eye surgery for a patient

who lives in Nkuringo. These are just a

few examples of how the money helps our charities and spurs us on to do

more when we know what impact it is

having on communities locally, but also nationally and all over the world.

How did you choose your 10 charities?

“It’s important that the team choose

Seven outside of the #share77k

“Very good question, as a lot of people think we are an events company these days! We are very much a digital

marketing agency with a charity drive/ ethos in place and we’ve got lots of exciting plans for 2021.

We have been working hard on plans to improve all things from client

services to getting an amazing people culture in place that can match the

amazing charity ethos we’ve built up over the years.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 39

C OVE R F E AT URE

After a difficult year in 2020, and at

one point seeing half our revenue go overnight when many of our travel

and hospitality clients could no longer operate, we have steadily built things back up, and now in a position to re-

invest in the business and will be looking to add a further 3-4 people to the team in 2021- which is incredibly exciting!

Our aim is to bring on board some

exceptional paid media talent, with new junior to mid-level roles being open

from January, and we are delighted to announce that we will also be joining the kick start movement, offering

6-month placements to one or two lucky individuals aged 16-24 and currently

seeking an opportunity to get into work.

So, with four key events to organise, as

dates and tickets, our events often sell

culture and talent programmes to

events and donations for our raffles and

and days out, there is plenty to keep

a JustGiving page, where you can also

from me though, when I started Search

closer to our £77k target.

run a successful agency that not only

“We have social media artwork and

make a real impact, both in donations to

followers and let them know about

same time. It’s why we call our service

a fundraising event, we can take part

well as a business to run, new people

out fast. We also need sponsors for our

develop, client days and staff parties

auctions. For one-off donations we have

us busy! You’ll hear no complaints

keep track of our progress as we edge

Seven I set out to prove that you could delivered results for clients, but could

content for you to share with your

charity and in knowledge-sharing, at the

our events, too. And if you’re hosting

digital marketing with meaning.

in we’d love to hear about it – every

Hopefully, our journey and purpose

total and shared between our 10

penny we raise counts towards our

driven ethos, inspires other start-ups and

amazing charities.”

in proving that you don’t need to be a big

Web: searchseven.co.uk/share77k

small businesses in Sussex and beyond, company to make a big difference.

JustGiving: justgiving.com/

opportunities for people to join a great

How can people get involved?

Twitter: @searchseven

people culture and be in an environment

“Please do come along and enjoy our

We will be providing some superb

team that has a strong purpose and

where they can develop and be supported whilst feeling like they can make a big difference on the community too.

40 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

events, whether they are online or not!

Keep an eye on our website and social

media channels for when we announce

fundraising/share77k

SBT CHARITY

ROCKINGHORSE CHILDREN’S CHARITY LOOKS BACK ON AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR

RUSSELL MARTIN FOUNDATION (RMF)

LOOKING FORWARD TO A VERY EXCITING FUTURE IN 2021

SUSSEX NIGHTSTOP HELPING OUR HOMELESS

SUPPORTING PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS

ENABLING YOUNG PEOPLE TO FLOURISH IN THEIR COMMUNITY

ESTEEM - EMPOWERMENT, SUPPORT, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, ENVIRONMENT, SUPPORT

DISABLED VETERAN COMPLETES CHARITY CYCLE CHALLENGE CROSSING THE FINISH LINE OF AN 874-MILE CHARITY CHALLENGE

CHILDREN’S RESPITE TRUST

DELIGHTED TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP MANY FAMILIES IN 2020

CHESTNUT TREE HOUSE

A LETTER FOR YOU

CHOSEN CHARITY PARTNER:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 41

C HA RI T Y

Rockinghorse Children’s Charity looks back on an extraordinary year When 2020 began Rockinghorse had high hopes. They were aiming to fund between 40-50 projects worth a total of about £350,000. But then, along with the rest of the world, their plans changed.

But despite the

Charity

challenges this year has brought, the

team at Rockinghorse

have carried on working throughout, trying to find that silver lining. And

they really found it. From individuals

to businesses, young to old, they have

been overwhelmed by the support they have received this year.

Starting with the launch of their

Rockinghorse Hero campaign in March

and running through the amazing range of support from their fundraisers, there are lots of things to celebrate during 2020.

Rockinghorse Hero Campaign success Within a few days of their office closing, the charity’s Rockinghorse Hero

campaign was up and running across the local press and social media channels, letting their supporters know how

important their continued support was going to be over the coming months.

And they didn’t let them down. The campaign helped them raise an

42 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

astonishing £95,000 over the first few

months of the lock-down, thanks to their amazing supporters.

Children supporting children

Amongst the many wonderful things

that has come out of this year, one of

the stands out has been the number of children who have put their time and energy into raising money for other young people in their community.

This included the young netball players who organised a shoot-a-thon over

Zoom that raised £3,500, twelve-yearold Bella who ran 26km as part of the 2.6 Challenge in May raising nearly

£2,000 and Molly aged 6 who set up

her very own Etsy store with proceeds coming to Rockinghorse.

Charity Challenges

Along with their younger supporters,

they also had lots of people getting out

and fundraising by running, walking and cycling around their local areas.

In April there was the 2.6 Challenge,

created by the London Marathon

organisers to help charities raise some of the funds they were missing out on

following the postponement of the event.

Individuals, couples and families all got involved in doing a range of activity to raise money for Rockinghorse.

There was also the astonishing Craig

Peters who undertook a 12-hour burpee marathon following the support his

twins received from the Royal Alex. He managed to complete 4,470 burpees raising £1,500.

And then there were the only organised events that Rockinghorse were able to go ahead with – two abseils from the i360 on Brighton seafront. In total 43

heroes took the plunge, raising a total of over £24,000 by dropping the 450ft to the ground from the raised pod.

Individual support

The charities’ supporters also used their individual skills to help during the year.

Supporters like Matt Culli, a father of two from Henfield, who runs his own

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YouTube channel where he organises

different giveaways and competitions raising funds for Rockinghorse.

Matt was inspired to help after his

youngest son Logan was born two

months premature and cared for at

the Trevor Mann Baby Unit. After the

help his family got, he wanted to give

something back so along with his regular YouTube posts he has completed two

24-hour live stream gaming events so far this year, with another planned, and has raised £3,500 so far.

What’s been achieved this year

Despite losing around £250k of income

since March, their priority has always been to provide equipment and services to the children and families that need it most.

Thanks to their amazing supporters, they have still been able to fund a wide range of services and equipment, including some directly related to the impact

of the coronavirus pandemic such as

individual paediatric stethoscopes,

they’ve been there to help. So, we want

function machine.

of them that have run, walked, jumped,

But they also knew it was important

We wouldn’t be here without you.”

projects like the oncology psychologist

If you have a brilliant idea to raise

hippotherapy project at Chailey Heritage

Rockinghorse’!

at Chailey Child and Adolescent Mental

You can find out more about us

parent camp beds and a portable lung

to continue funding their ongoing

to support young cancer patients, the

Foundation and their activity programme

to say thank you to each and every one baked, gamed, drawn, sold or cycled.

some funds, just ‘Remember

Health Unit.

and ways to raise money on the

Ryan Heal, Rockinghorse CEO, is taking

rockinghorse.org.uk or to speak to the

known how the year was going to pan

your ideas, call: 01273 330044 or

have been terrified about how such

enquiries@rockinghorse.org.uk

Rockinghorse website at: www.

a lot of positives from 2020: “If we had

charity about how they can support

out in January, I think we all would

email them at:

a small charity would cope. But not

only am I incredibly proud of the team for working through these exceptional

circumstances but I am absolutely blown away but our supporters.

“Despite our worries, they haven’t

forgotten about us and at every turn

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 43

Russell Martin Foundation (RMF)

Despite the difficult times we have all faced in 2020, the Russell Martin Foundation (RMF) has been able to see light at the end of the tunnel and is looking forward to a very exciting future in 2021.

Charity

The registered charity

‘Now, not only is our football provision

by Russell Martin in

also set up an education department

a football academy

to students throughout Brighton & Hove

which was set up

developing and expanding, but we have

Brighton in 2016 as

which is making a significant difference

to help local players. has since that

secondary schools and are about to

dreamed of.

Watching the organisation grow and help

‘When I originally set up the organisation,

an amazing experience and in 2021 we

then that eventually I wanted to moved

through facility management and health

time expanded to something he’d never

set up a similar project in Worthing.

so many young people has been such

I was captain of Norwich FC but knew

are looking to widen provision even more

back to my hometown, Brighton. I

improvement initiatives’

opportunities to others. Since that time,

RMF Chief Executive, Alan Sanders

me but also for the organisation’.

lies not only with Russell’s vision but

Russell, who is now manager of League

I’m not wholly surprised at the impact

also knew that I wanted to help give

life has changed massively not only for

1 side MK Dons sees a very bright future,

44 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

believes the success of the organisation with the staff. He stated, ‘I have to say we have had when I think about who

works for us and how committed they are. They are constantly striving to

improve and find new ways of helping

the local community. It’s a real privilege to work in such a vibrant organisation’ Football (led by Gary Mansell)

• A football academy, with over 600

players aged between 5-14, which is

cheap & affordable including the offer of sibling discounts.

• Many players who have gone on to sign for professional clubs

• Curricular and extra -curricular

activities in many local primary & secondary schools

• Holiday courses throughout the academic year (with over 2,000 participants for 2019/20)

• A post-16 academy for Varndean

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College. Sussex Champions for

2017/18 & 2019/20. Also, employment pathway for college graduates

• A short-term mentoring scheme for Year 11 – 12 students

• Managing the Hove Park as part of a 15-year lease for the Hove 3G pitch

with record numbers of participants from the local community

Education (led by Tom Betts)

• RMF have had outstanding success with alternative provision for 11-14

year olds which is funded by the local authority and all 10 Brighton & Hove secondary schools. This provision

is a 12-week course for 11-14 year

old students who are struggling with full time education. Their success is

measured on attendance, academic

progress and measured improvements

in social and emotional well-being. The

attendance levels for these students has been higher than the national average for mainstream students between

September and December this year

• RMF has now been given contracts

to set up 3 new centres in 2021 which

will be funded by West Sussex County

Council (WSCC) & 30 secondary schools in Worthing, Chichester and Crawley.

• RMF expanded its provision by

winning a European Social Fund project to help upskill the local

workforce by offering mathematics courses (Level 1 & 2).

Charitable donations (led by Donna Cox)

• RMF have been providing vulnerable families with food packages which

This opportunity showed a huge

for many has been a lifeline

increase in their wellbeing, confidence,

‘Clock Tower Sanctuary’- a registered

skill set.

•R MF has joined forces with the

charity which helps young homeless people aged 16-25 years. RMF

during November and December

has managed to provide brand new

understanding of the game and their • We have supported and funded the

walking disability ‘Limitless FC’ for the 3rd year running

• A free disability course which not

sleeping bags, hats, socks, gloves and

only gave the players a full day of fun

hygiene and cleaning products.

individual needs, this also gave the

44 low income families and provided

to have some rare ‘me’ time.

many more essentials items such as •T his year we have managed to help

packed activities designed around their parents much needed respite for them

them an annual membership worth £500 per player. This meant these

players could reach their full potential and play football at a high standard.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 45

C HA RI T Y

Sussex Nightstop helping our homeless

Sussex Nightstop is a community response to homelessness, a local resident’s initiative to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Our volunteers

Charity

understand the

limits of what they

can personally offer.

Nightstop’s professional partners bring the skills and resources necessary to secure long term housing and

specialist support. We do not seek to duplicate what others do, but no one else offers what we can. Our hosts

are normal (and yet amazing!) people who open their homes to provide a

hot meal, a warm welcome and a safe night’s rest. They volunteer the gift of

kindness and respect to people often

at their lowest ebb. Sussex Nightstop

46 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

enables this to happen safely for volunteer and guest alike.

Since starting out Sussex Nightstop

has enabled 80 volunteer households to provide over 3,800 safe bed nights

to 475 vulnerable people. Our support provides a stable foundation from

which people can find a safe and more

suitable long-term home. We are driven by the fact that every night someone

stays with one of our hosts, is a night

they are not vulnerable to the dangers of rough-sleeping. On the streets

or sofa-surfing, the homeless in our community risk sexual exploitation,

substance misuse and coercion into criminal activity.

This year has not been a ‘typical’ year for those experiencing or at risk of

homelessness. Covid-19 has brought even more anxiety for those facing or experiencing homelessness. Many

families and individuals have faced

challenging lockdown circumstances

and the predictions of recession will only precipitate issues that place people at risk of homelessness.

It is vital that we continue our work,

facilitating and supporting a community

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response that makes both practical

support and kindness possible at a time where people find themselves in the most bleak of circumstances.

More than ever before Sussex Nightstop

finds itself grateful for the financial aid of its corporate allies. The timely support of companies such as archangels

Architects and Mortgage Medics with their creative fundraising has given a much needed boost to our finances.

From experience we understand the

responsibilities of being a charity working with business and we hope to find other

local businesses who see that partnering

with us can deliver mutual benefits. If you would like to join our fight against roughsleeping and think your business could be enhanced by working with Sussex

this community response to homelessness.

links below or speak with our business

our streets it is hard to know what the

Nightstop please contact us through the

Confronted daily with homelessness on

ambassador Richard Zinzan of Archangels

right thing to do is. For us, Nightstop is a

Architects (richard@aaarchitects.co.uk).

solution we can have confidence in.

Sussex Nightstop is supported

One initiative we have promoted is

Homelessness Charity. We are a

consultation to donate £25 directly

and accredited by Depaul UK

to ask clients who receive our free

registered charity (Charity No: 1132386

to Nightstop. We also opened our

For contact or further information:

of Nightstop to the Mayor’s charity gala

call 07887 492 927

pledges at the charity auction. We’ve

Website: www.sussexnightstop.org.uk

the team have had fun in the process.

charity/sussexnightstop/

we are doing something constructive

archangels architects

community. We encourage other local

about our community and proud to

great organisation.

Nightstop. This is a brilliant Brighton

Richard Zinzan, archangels architects

people aged 16 upwards. Nightstop

Mortgage Medics

training open their spare room to provide

charity that offers accommodation to

manager@sussexnightstop.org.uk or

Donations: https://localgiving.org/

Here at archangels we are passionate be Business Ambassador to Sussex based charity supporting homeless

contacts book to sell 30 seats on behalf

safe, non-judgemental, inclusive place

to stay for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Mortgage Medics are committed to

supporting Sussex Nightstop. That’s

why every time we arrange a mortgage for someone lucky enough to own property, we make a donation to

Sussex Nightstop, to help them support someone less fortunate.

and raised a further £1300 through

Sam Murphy – managing director

had great support from the charity and

thrilled to be in partnership with Sussex

Most satisfying though is the knowledge to help fight homelessness in our

businesses to join us in supporting this

recruit volunteers, who after selection and

Sussex Nightstop are a homelessness

a safe, warm bed and a hot meal.

people who are at risk of rough sleeping.

archangels architects, are proud to support

of volunteers who provide access to a

of Mortgage Medics – says: “We’re

Nightstop. They do such amazing work; helping young people and adults who

are at risk of homelessness. We’re so

proud to support their hardworking team of staff and volunteers. Our days are

spent helping those fortunate enough to own property, so it was a natural fit

to partner with Sussex Nightstop, to try

and help people less fortunate with their housing needs.”

They create and coordinate a community

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 47

Enabling young people to flourish in their community ESTEEM - Empowerment, Support, Training, Experience, Environment, Support.

Cat Vizor has been

Charity

Chief Officer at

ESTEEM for over ten years. Based

in Shoreham, ESTEEM provides

vocational and wellbeing support for

14-26 year olds across Sussex. Since opening they have grown to work

with more than 500 young adults from across the region.

ESTEEM is unique in providing both paid and volunteer roles within the

48 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

charity. Young adults are able to build confidence in a safe and encouraging environment where they can identify life goals and passions. 70% of

young people find jobs through family connections in the UK, creating a

real barrier for those without family support. ESTEEM’s Mentor Me

programme instead helps young adults to find employment through local

networks. Mentors also support them

in creating CV’s, applying for jobs and preparing for interviews.

Alongside this work, ESTEEM provides wellbeing support. Mental health is a

huge barrier for young adults who are struggling to engage meaningfully in

society. Using counselling and coaching programmes, ESTEEM supports young

adults to develop resilience and tools to overcome adversity.

Cat Vizor explains, “We are a small but energetic team who put our heart and soul into working with young adults

to achieve their dreams. ESTEEM is

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Cat Vizor

all about creating a family feel where

people feel they belong. With support

young adults feel motivated to take part

in life-changing opportunities or develop

their own projects within ESTEEM. There have been some great success stories,

and we hope to be the catalyst for many others across the county.

The last six months has been a

testing time for the charity, with many participants needing more support than ever. We saw a seven-fold

increase in safeguarding referrals from our youth work team - concerned about people living in high-risk

situations. This wellbeing crisis

included issues such as unsecure

accommodation, a lack of income and worsening mental health.

As a team we worked hard to ensure

To read more about ESTEEM head

We had to adapt quickly and took on

uk or find them on Facebook https://

meals and food parcels.

and Twitter https://twitter.com/

As the long term effects of the

email us: hello@esteem.org.uk to see

young adults were as safe as possible.

to their website www.esteem.org.

new challenges, such as delivering

en-gb.facebook.com/esteemuk

esteemcharity?lang=en. You can also

COVID-19 pandemic start to bite,

the many ways you can support us.

the rise we expect to see an increase

ESTEEM reg. charity no. 1187128

we have been fortunate in securing

https://esteem.org.uk/

with unemployment and isolation on in need for our services. Until now

01273 091511 hello@esteem.org.uk

short-term grant funding, however in

the current climate, we recognise this is not a stable source of income. We would love to speak to local people and businesses to see how they

can get involved in helping ESTEEM

support the next generation to thrive in their community.�

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 49

C HA RI T Y

Disabled veteran completes 874-mile charity cycle challenge An army veteran, who was partially paralysed from a brain injury sustained in a near-fatal motorcycle collision six years’ ago, has crossed the finish line of an 874-mile charity challenge.

This week, Steve,

Charity

a former Warrant

Officer with the Royal Engineers, achieved

his target of cycling the distance

from Lands End to John O’Groats on a static bike. He raised over £1,000 for Care for Veterans, a care and

rehabilitation facility in Worthing, where he is a resident.

Life completely changed for Steve when, after returning home from a

second tour of duty in Afghanistan,

he was involved in an accident whilst out riding his beloved motorbike. He

50 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

suffered a severe brain injury which significantly affected his speech

and paralysed one side of his body.

Aged just 39, he was suddenly

unable to walk and needed to use a wheelchair. Before his accident,

Steve served in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone. He was a Joint

Service Mountain Expedition Leader,

loved canoeing, mountain biking and snowboarding.

Steve completed the final stretch of his

cycle challenge on his 45th birthday and celebrated crossing the finish line with

staff at Care for Veterans. His family was

outside cheering him on, as visitors are not currently allowed inside the facility due to the current Covid restrictions.

Helping him celebrate via a video call,

were four of his former army colleagues, as well as the actor, Christopher

Timothy, who supports the charity.

Speaking on the day, Steve said: “I

finished my bike ride on my static bike

today. It was lovely to finish it, and I’ve

raised loads of money for charity. I liked doing it as it was good for me - I can’t

walk, but this will help me to get better. I

decided to support Care for Veterans, as the charity looks after people like me!”

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Steve set himself the challenge to

complete during his physiotherapy sessions which form part of his

extensive rehabilitation. Steve cycles

approximately 13km in 60 minutes: 20 mins with his arms, 40 mins with his legs, two to three times a week.

Lead Physiotherapist at Care for

Veterans, Emma Curtis, said: “I can

say that Steve has absolutely loved his cycle challenge and now wants to set new cycling goals. He looks forward

to his cycling a lot. The exercise helps with his psychological wellbeing,

cardiorespiratory health, as well as rebuilding muscle strength in legs and arms and helping with weight loss.

“Setting himself this challenge has

been a real motivation, and we have been overwhelmed with the support

he has received. We need to raise £1.9 million each year to fund tailored and

comprehensive care and rehabilitation programmes for our residents, which really help them to improve their quality of life. We are extremely

grateful to Steve and so proud of his attitude and achievement, especially

during a time when Covid restrictions have had such a huge impact on the number of activities and visitors our residents can enjoy.”

Steve came to Care for Veterans

in December 2018, after spending

Steve Boylan

three years in various hospitals and rehabilitation centres where he was

not making progress and had become depressed. Since arriving at Care for

Veterans, he has made improvements in his speech and movements. Steve

said: “Care for Veterans has given me a new mindset and the determination to succeed with my recovery.”

Care for Veterans, a UK charity based in Worthing, provides the highest possible standard of care and rehabilitation to

disabled veterans from the RAF, Army,

Royal Navy and auxiliary services. A

centre of excellence for acquired brain injuries and degenerative neurological conditions, the 60-bed facility

provides services, including nursing,

curry4steve-boylan or call the Care for Veterans fundraising team on

01903 218444 or email fundraising@ careforveterans.org.uk

physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy, to help

rehabilitate those who live there so that they can live more independent lives.

To sponsor Steve, visit www.

justgiving.com/fundraising/david-

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 51

C HA RI T Y

Children’s Respite Trust

Like most Charities it’s been a testing year for us at the Children’s Respite Trust, but we’re delighted to have been able to help many families nonetheless.

The Trust believes no

Charity

family should be left

to care for a disabled child alone and so

we provide respite, both at our Day-

Care Centre in Uckfield and throughout Sussex and parts of Kent in children’s own homes.

Back in March at the start of the

pandemic, we were unsure how we were going to be able to continue to provide a service, if the children couldn’t come to the Centre. We began by sending

out our “Smile Packs” to families, full of

52 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

sensory activities, crafts and stimulating

games, all tailored to each child’s needs.

We offered help with shopping and just

wanted to be there at the end of a phone to remind families they are not alone.

Soon afterwards, we received the news that care provision such as ours was deemed an essential service and we

were given the greenlight to restart our community care, albeit with significant

restrictions. The families were so grateful.

If you have faced difficulty adjusting

to the new normal, just imagine how it

must have been for a family with a child with a significant learning disability.

Routine is often vital to managing their challenging behaviour, but suddenly

life looks nothing like a familiar routine.

The knowledge that a friendly face, who knows their needs is visiting, can be such a lifeline.

Even if it is for just a couple of hours a

week, respite gives people the chance

to do something that the rest of us take for granted. It could be doing some

shopping or a household chore, or even

just getting some well-earned rest. When

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we ask families how they have spent

their time, more often than not they have dedicated it to their other children, who

can often miss-out on so much, because of the extent of the attention needed by their disabled sibling.

We’ve used the time that the Centre has been closed to good effect by

refurbishing it, including installing a new lift and putting in new flooring. But we

were all so desperate to hear the sound of children laughing and playing in the Centre again, so it was wonderful to

finally welcome children back in October.

We celebrated 10 years of the Children’s Respite Trust in 2020 and it should have culminated in a grand ball, but as with

many events, celebrations had to be put on hold. Usually, we’d raise around half

of our annual income from events, so we

racing circuits starting at Goodwood and

were delighted when our golf day was

including a dinner at Silverstone.

many restrictions making it very different

None of the Trust’s work is possible

the generosity of many Sussex and Kent

community and so it is vital that we

able to go ahead in October. There were from our usual Golf Day, but thanks to

without the support of the local

businesses it raised over £10,000.

continue to make a success of the

We have to assume that things are

We welcome anyone wishing to get

come and so the Trust is excited about

Children’s Respite Trust”, a volunteer

for fundraising activities that can be

or Racetrack Run. Simply visit www.

events that we do manage to hold.

going to be different for some time to

involved, whether as a “Friend of the

events for 2021, where plans are afoot

or simply attending the Virtual Ball

successful in spite of future lock-downs,

crtcharity.org to find out more.

such as our recently launched “Friends

of the Children’s Respite Trust” scheme and our forthcoming Virtual Ball. One

event planned for April can continue even if we are restricted to small “bubbles”.

It is called the Racetrack Run and is a

five-day rally linking all of the UKs motor-

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 53

Chestnut Tree House

We know how challenging this year has been for everyone and we are so grateful for the amazing support you continue to offer to local charities like Chestnut Tree House.

We recently caught

Charity

up with Chestnut

Tree House children’s hospice to see what

is going on and find out how you and

your colleagues can support them this Christmas time.

What’s going on at your local children’s hospice?

When the pandemic struck, Chestnut Tree House had to respond really quickly. Their aim throughout the

pandemic, as always, has been to keep any disruption to an absolute minimum and where possible, maintain all

services and activity to ensure that they

54 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

can support the children and families who need hospice care, whilst also

continuing to raise the funds they need to sustain these services.

Unfortunately, in March, the hospice

had to close their doors to all but urgent and end-of-life care in accordance with government guidelines. The

team continued to support families

in different ways, and by August, the hospice was able to open back up

for short breaks, something that was helpful to families who have been shielding at home for months.

The hospice has also recently introduced

family annexe days, giving families the chance to spend some precious time

together in a dedicated area of Chestnut Tree House to play games, get messy with arts or crafts, or simply spend

some time away from home. Times are still tough, but Chestnut Tree House

are feeling really encouraged that they are working out new ways to support children and families.

It currently costs over £4.6 million each year to provide all the care services offered by Chestnut Tree House.

Families are never charged for their

care and less than 9p in every pound

is funded by the government, so they

CHA RITY

rely heavily on the generosity, help and

to be our last. My husband and I were

support of the people of Sussex.

desperately trying to keep the ship

Chestnut Tree House couldn’t do this

badly. Meeting Lucy, our Chestnut Tree

afloat, but in reality we were sinking

without the support of people like you.

House nurse, changed all of that.

care possible.

In the new year, Owen went downhill

A letter for you

became our home, and for almost

fundraising campaign to support Chestnut

precious time to step back from

Thank you. You make children’s hospice

quickly. So Chestnut Tree House

We hear from a parent who will be part of a

six weeks we were given the most

Tree House over the Christmas period.

medication and focus on us, our family.

Dear friend,

As a local charity, Chestnut Tree

My daughter Esther and I spotted a

robin in the garden yesterday, and it was a very special moment. For us,

it means that Christmas must be just

around the corner… and it also gave us a chance to talk about Owen, Esther’s big brother. He used to love watching

the garden with her, hoping to see one of Santa’s robins.

Sadly, Owen isn’t with us this

Christmas. He died of a brain tumour

four years ago, when he was just seven years old. But by talking about him

and sharing our memories, Owen will always be part of our family life.

Christmas is still a difficult time for us. I remember our last one with

Owen – we always knew it was going

House depends on the amazing

generosity of people like you. Please

will you send a gift of £10 today to help more families who could be facing

their last Christmas together? This

Christmas, after a year of uncertainty and disruption, there is a need for

donations more than ever. To donate

online, please visit www.chestnut-treehouse.org.uk/snowmanappeal

With love and best wishes for a very

happy, peaceful Christmas to you and your family.

so many more ways to support your

local children’s hospice this year with your colleagues!

Reindeer Fun

Get together virtually for some Reindeer Fun! Maybe a reindeer cake break or a festive business brunch! Get your

team together and spread some festive cheer, what Reindeer activity will you take on this year?

Charity Christmas Cards

Don’t forget to send your colleagues

a Christmas card. You can browse the

new 2020 range of Chestnut Tree House Christmas cards on our website!

Lottery

Play our Lottery and help change local

children’s lives this Christmas. From just £1 a week you could win £1,000 every week, which would mean Christmas presents for everyone!

Visit www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/ christmas to get involved now.

Registered charity number 256789

Gemma Support Chestnut Tree House this Christmas

As well as donating to Chestnut Tree House’s Christmas appeal, there are

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 55

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SBT MOTORING NEWS

THE GUINESS BOOK OF CARS

BROUGHT TO YOU BY RIVERVALE LEASING

SBT MOTORING NEWS SPONSORED BY:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 57

MOTO RI N G N E WS

The Guinness Book of Cars

Have you ever wondered what the world record for the longest car is? Perhaps you have mulled over how much the most expensive car sold for?

Brought to you by Rivervale Leasing www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk

Cars come in many Motoring different shapes and sizes. And while News there’s more to a car than how big it is or how fast it can go, we think you’ll enjoy learning more about some of the world’s most exciting record-breaking vehicles.

Whether you’re interested in finding out what is the fastest car in the world or you want to know more about the world record for the smallest car, you’re in the right place.

Read on to discover some of Rivervale’s favourite Guinness World Record winning cars and find out about some of the most impressive automotive records.

58 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Most expensive private car sale This record is held by the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO (4153 GT) which was sold in Germany for the staggering sum of £52,730,800. Just 36 of these highly desirable vehicles were ever made.

Capable of accelerating from 0-60 in just over six seconds, the car boasts a top speed of around 175 mph. It was purchased in 2018 by David Macneil, CEO of Weathertech to complement his existing Ferrari collection.

Fastest car Fitted with two Rolls Royce specification jet engines, the fastest car in the world is the Thrust Supersonic Car (SSC). Driver Andy Green reached the impressive land speed of 763 mph when he drove this

car through the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, USA in 1997. As a result, the Thrust SSC was the first car to officially break the sound barrier.

Longest car A limousine created by Jay Ohrberg in California holds the title for the world’s longest car. Made in 1986, it has a grand total of 26 wheels and is a whopping 30.5 metres long.

Designed to be used in movies and exhibitions, the car can be driven in either a straight-line configuration or with a bend in the middle. Take a look inside, and you’ll find a swimming pool with a diving board and a king-sized water bed!

MOTOR I NG N E WS

Smallest roadworthy car At just 68.5 cm high, 65.41 cm wide and 126.47 cm long, the record for the world’s smallest car is held by a vehicle with a number plate that ironically reads “IM BIG”. Built-in 2012

by Austin Coulson in Arizona, USA, this nippy motor can achieve a respectable top speed of 25 mph and has been approved for legalised use on the roads.

Lowest roadworthy car The Mirai (which translates to “future” in Japanese) sits just 45.2 cm from the ground. Created in 2010, this vehicle is the brainchild of a group of teachers and pupils from Okayama Sanyo High School in Japan. This record-breaking, roadworthy car runs on six main batteries.

Fastest police car in service With a top speed of 253 mph, this Bugatti Veyron is worth £1.6million. It was named as the world’s fastest police car in 2016. Driven by the police force in Dubai, this jaw-dropping vehicle can go from 0-60 in under three seconds, making it the ideal vehicle for tracking down and catching criminals.

First flying car The Terrafugia Transition is an amazing two-seater flying machine. Its wings can be folded at the touch of a button, transforming it into a roadworthy car in just 15 seconds. It was invented in the UK in 2009 at a cost of approximately £132,000.

Coffee powered Do you need a cuppa to get you going in the morning? Did you know cars can be powered by coffee too? The world’s fastest coffee powered car is affectionately known as The Cooperative Bean Machine. Made in Stockport, UK, by Martin Bacon in 2013, this car can manage an average speed of around 65 mph.

Oldest functioning car This record is attributed to a four-seater steam-powered car which was made in 1884 by De Dion Bolton in France. La Marquise holds the title for the world’s

first-ever automobile race where it zoomed along the 19-mile track at an average speed of 26 mph.

The car can achieve a top speed of 38 mph, which is pretty impressive when you consider that it is powered by wood, coal and paper! It was sold at auction in 2007 for more than £1.5million and is currently kept in California, USA. Fastest car in space In February 2018, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket was launched into space. This was a test flight, so there was no need to send any useful equipment. Instead, SpaceX owner and entrepreneur Elon Musk decided to pop in one of his Tesla Roadsters!

The supercar is currently in an elliptical orbit around the sun, where it will probably remain for billions of years.

A dummy astronaut sits in the driver’s seat, and rumour has it that David Bowie’s Life on Mars and Space Oddity are playing on repeat...

Cars of The Stars – Notable Celeb Cars of 2020 2020 has been a year of challenges and adaptation but it’s also been a year of growth, redesign and unveiling. Speaking of which, 2020 has seen the unveiling of

pretty impressive cars being driven by some pretty impressive celebrities.

Whether old, new or somewhere in between, we’ve scoured the dizzying heights of the celebrity driving playground and found our top 5 cars being driven around in style in 2020.

Starting with...

Who: David Beckham What: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe Why: When it comes to luxury car ownership, footballer David Beckham has built up quite the collection. From hummers to Porsches and Ferraris to, most notably and recently, the purchase

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 59

MOTO RI N G N E WS £150,000, this stunning car is not for the faint-hearted but it is dripping in extravagance. That’s what makes it the choice of car for Rapper, Ludacris.

It may be a thing of beauty to look at but it also provides a serious amount of comfort for its drivers and passengers alike. Possessing light-alloy wheels, an eye-catching grille and sophisticated chrome detailing throughout, it even offers an active air ride for entering and exiting the vehicle. It’s clear to see why Ludacris showcased his personal blue and silver trimmed Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 on Instagram. Go and take a luxurious look for yourselves. of the super sophisticated Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. But just what makes this car superstar so special?

Boasting a huge and impressive V12 engine, this unique car, which actually possesses qualities more similar to a yacht, can reach 60mph in just under 6 seconds. For a car that weighs in excess of 3 tons? That’s pretty magnificent.

Complete with its own decking, this luxury grand tourer is loud, proud and looks every bit as intimidatingly luxurious on the road as you’d expect. The perfect companion to a superstar celeb.

Who: Lady Gaga What: Lamborghini Huracán Evo RWD Why: Okay, so this may not be one of Lady Gaga’s personal purchases but this ultra-loud, flashy, and impressive supercar features in her recent 911 music video.

It’s aimed at those who seek to gain pure pleasure and excitement from their ride.

And boy, does it excite. With a sleek nose, sharp angles and body work that says “don’t mess with the best”, the only way to drive this supercharged supercar is to pull the top down, hit the open road, and feel the exhilarating wind in your hair.

Fancy being one step closer to owning this spine-tingling coupe? Fans of Lady Gaga can enter a competition to become the proud owner of a Huracán. Supporting the Born This Way Foundation, a gift for

60 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Lady Gaga is a gift for her fans.

Who: Jim Carey What: Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Why: As a celebrity with a big personality, it’s only right that Jim Carey owns an equally impressive car. Enter the glamorous 2-door SL63 roadster.

Picking up this hot ride after ending a relationship in his personal life, Jim Carey is frequently spotted out and about town in this flashy motor.

And it’s not hard to see why. As one of two powerful AMG versions of Mercedes’ two-seat open-top S, this particular Mercedes has a powerful 6.2 Litre V8 engine with a show-stopping 518 horsepower. It’s incredibly agile out on the open road and comes with spectacular acceleration - it’s able to go from 0 to 60 in just 3.9 seconds. The SL 63 is a pretty impressive vehicle and one that fits right in on the celebrity circuit.

Who: Ludacris What: Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 Why: Due to an increase in demand for luxury SUVs, MercedesMaybach felt the need to keep up and design their own version. And they didn’t hold back.

With a pretty eyewatering starting price of

Who: Kim Kardashian What: Cadillac Escalade Why: Unveiled as direct competition to the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class and Lexus LX, The Cadillac Escalade is a bigger than average SUV. As their fifth SUV in their collection of luxury cars, Kim and Kanye recently picked up their Cadillac Escalade with the imminent arrival of baby number 3, Chicago West.

Focused on providing its passengers family sized comfort, it’s a true symbol of celebrity culture. Expensive?

Absolutely, the 2020 model starts at £82,515 for the base trim. But it’s also fuel-efficient and has unbeatable towing capacity. And it’s not just Kim getting involved. In fact, between them, the Kardashian clan owns more than 4 Cadillac Escalades. If that doesn’t indicate status, we don’t know what does.

SBT ASK THE EXPERT

THREE AT THREE

WITH EMMA, JAMES & LISA

CUBE CORNER: OCTOBER 20

BY PAUL ROGERS

SBT ASK THE EXPERT SPONSORED BY:

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 61

AS K T H E E X PE RT

Emma Mills-Sheffield Mindsetup Ltd T: 07775 947 818 E: emma@mindsetup.co.uk

James Dempster, Managing Director Cobb Digital T: 01273 208 913 E: James@cobbdigital.com

Ask the expert:

Lisa Seymour, Managing Director Made By Spoken T: 01273 964044 E: lisa@madebyspoken.co.uk

2021 Ready. Set. Go! It’s December – how are you feeling about Ask the it? Are you very much expert looking forward to seeing the back of this year or has it been better than you thought in light of the challenges and uncertainty?

As we say so long to 2020 - or good riddance! it is time to reflect. Yes, we’ve lived in very different times, but what have we learnt? What have we learnt about our businesses, our teams, and our resilience? It’s good to glance back before you look forward, but it’s important not to dwell. So, now’s the time to start thinking about next year and what you can plan for, rather than what you can’t.

The psychology of brand and really getting to know the people behind the businesses is a big focus for us going into next year, as it is fascinating learning the stories of why a brand is here and who is behind it.

We ensure these stories are represented not only on their websites, but through its

62 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

design and aesthetic. This, we feel, not only differentiates us in our craft, but also cements our client relationships. We have formed collaborative friendships with our clients and have helped them share their story, whilst acting as a sounding board.

This has never felt more important than this year.

There have been some fantastic examples of business resilience over the last year - both practically within a business, but more so personally for business leaders. Stepping back whilst we’re still in the midst of a crisis is really hard, but there’s an optimistic feeling that we’re through the worst of it. Perhaps it’s the final rush towards that well deserved break over Christmas or something deeper. The economic fallout of the last year is going to hit many for a long time to come, but there’s a turn in mood to one of forward planning, looking at 2021 with positivity and less ‘fire-fighting’ which we’ve been doing for months.

Take time to reflect on 2020 - what

worked, what needs changing in your business and take that focus into 2021.

We’ve been resilient, supportive of others and we’ve made it! Don’t count your chickens mind, but do think about the turkey now.

For so many of us, this year has been reactive, as it’s had to be. We have been so busy ‘doing’ that we haven’t had time to reflect or take stock and see how our business has changed and adapted.

Take time over the Christmas break, to recharge, refocus and meet 2021 head on.

From the three of us, thank you, for your support over the last year.

Listening, sharing, and laughing. It helped us get through some tough times with our own businesses.

Wishing you all an amazing Christmas and we look forward to seeing what each one of you and your businesses achieve in 2021.

Lisa, James, and Emma x

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C U B E C ORN E R

Cube Corner - December 20 Cube Corner

Welcome to the last

Cube Corner of 2020,

and what a year it has

been, there have been so many challenges

for all businesses throughout the year with the stop, start nature of the lock

downs and different restrictions across

the industry sectors. I have been in and around Brighton and Hove throughout the lock down period and it has been

really strange seeing the streets so eerily quiet. There are so many businesses that have been a real part of the

Paul Rogers

business community for so many years just closed up which is so sad. The

restaurant hospitality and hotel sector

has been the area which have suffered the most locally, even after investing

in infrastructure to make themselves

Covid compliant they have been forced to close, hopefully as we approach

2021 we can help our local community bounce back in the new year.

I think there has been a shift with the

public now keen to support the local and independent market.

I have just been reviewing the year with my clients and throughout all sectors they have been forced to re-evaluate

their business plan, although it has been very challenging there have also been very valuable lessons learned during

the year. The implementation of flexible working has obviously been brought to

the forefront of companies plan moving forward, after numerous conversations with owners and employees I think this will continue to evolve as we

move forward as each business and

64 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

each employee have different ways of

managing their diaries and tasks. There

are some real opportunities to work in an agile and collaborative way, whilst still

being home based with new platforms which have come to the forefront.

deal with for all of us, but we have all

managed to come through with a clear plan ahead, our meetings have had to

change a little this year from the normal but we have all managed to adapt, thanks again to the following;

It has been really interesting to see the

Vince Pemeberton and Neil Chapman

how they have evolved over this period,

Jason Young at Overline

work involved with my clients to see Vince Pemberton and the team at

Rivervale have completely re-modelled

their work space and have implemented a home based workforce and an office based team to keep the business

operating to its full potential. After a

challenging couple of months at the start of the lockdown with the shut down of manufacturing plants across UK and

Europe, things are now getting back on track with vehicle production now back up to normal levels.

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank my clients for all their support

throughout the year, all of the businesses have come through a tough period to

at Rivervale

Bruce Hayter at Rix and Kay Phil Bristow at Nsure,

Stuart Noakes at Carpenter Box Andy Tugwell at TSS

Glenn Ballard at New World Tech Paul and Lisa Ollerton at Meyado

Steve Darby and Malcolm Jacobs at City Utilities

Max Robinson at MCR Media

James Johnson at Picture Book Films Millie Stone at Whitespace

I hope you all have a great xmas break

and look forward to seeing you in person in 2021.

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Search Seven’s #share77k campaign To celebrate our 10th anniversary, we’ve set ourselves the target of bringing our charity fundraising total to £77k by the end of 2021.

justgiving.com/fundraising/share77k searchseven.co.uk/share77k Charity Events 2020

Charity Events 2021

ent

Kick off ev

Golf Day

Quiz Night Nov

8 October th

Table Tennis Feb

Footy Match May

Golf Day Sep

Quiz Night Nov

£77k target - 10 charities - 10th birthday IN SUPPORT OF:

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@SearchSeven

@searchse7en

Search Seven

@SearchSevenUK