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SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES
A BUSINESS IN EASTBOURNE IS FIRING UP IMAGINATIONS AND INSPIRING INTERIORS AROUND THE GLOBE
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All business is symbiotic in nature. You can be inspiring your peers one day, learning from them the next. In the end, people buy people. That makes sharing our stories the most compelling way to connect with one another.
What’s needed is a platform to embrace and empower our regional business ecosystem. Where varied backgrounds and perspectives provide new context. Harnessing potential, enabling growth. And at the heart of it, a dedicated term of curators unlocking insights for the good of us all.
So we’re changing the way people think of connecting. Because we believe in self-reflection, rather than self-promotion. By demystifying the art of storytelling, we deliver authentic thought leadership through events, publishing and broadcast media.
We come together to discover, share and grow. But we won’t be limited by geography, or our imagination. Instead, we’ll seek out local leaders, visionaries and experts, wherever great businesses thrive. Growing communities, in partnership with the businesses that power them. And nurturing the enterpreneurial spirit in everyone.
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SBTWelcome
W E LCO M E
Welcome to another issue of SBT
Depressing headlines are all too commonplace at the moment. A continuing war in Europe, spiralling inflation and the prospect of recession are juicy topics for those who routinely peddle pessimism. Good news doesn’t quite prick the conscience - or sell newspapers - in the same way, but it should. Behind all the negative stories currently engulfing business, you will find many causes for optimism - not least banks’ willingness to continue investing in great ideas and good business models. In this issue of the Sussex Business Times, you will discover more things to celebrate and look forward to than gloomy forecasts or warnings. As the Head of Commercial Finance at Seico Mortgages, Andy Page, points out: “We have been here before and have come through it.” Many of the current challenges - although not all have been encountered and successfully overcome in the past. Valuable lessons have been learned.
When it comes to reasons for optimism, we are not talking about fantasy ‘sunlit uplands’ but the reality of what is already happening in Sussex right now. We meet a start-up that is a multi-award-winner after just two years, the project inviting Sussex innovators to create new products and numerous examples of sustained success. In addition, we introduce you to the changemakers who are channelling equality into both business and sport with great success. Optimism is actually anywhere you look for it - and hold that thought because inspiring local entrepreneurs are always coming up with new ideas and fresh ways to move business forward. They also inspire, making optimism a mood that can ‘catch on’. Whether you are feeling optimistic or not, this issue of SBT certainly aims to steer you in that direction. Sam Thomas, Managing Director
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SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES
A BUSINESS IN EASTBOURNE IS FIRING UP IMAGINATIONS AND INSPIRING INTERIORS AROUND THE GLOBE
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Monthly News
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20 Joint Managing Director/Publisher Sam Thomas sam@thebusinessgroup.co.uk 07894 762304 Joint Managing Director Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk Production & Design Kim Butler kim@lifemediagroup.co.uk Accounts Clare Fermor clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk Published by The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Licenced to TBG by Pixel Publications Ltd Unit 1a Swan Barn Business Centre, Swan Barn Road, Hailsham, BN27 2BY Printed by Gemini Print Group 1A Dolphin Way Shoreham-by-Sea West Sussex BN43 6NZ 01273 464884 www.gemini-print.co.uk
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We meet a family-run company with a new contract to clean one of Sussex’s top shopping centres and discover how a firm of accountants went viral on TikTok.
Meet the women working together to push for further equality in both sport and business.
The usefulness of the Lasting Power of Attorney and how to avoid workplace discrimination claims.
There’s room for optimism despite gloomy headlines says the Head of Commercial Finance at Seico Mortgages.
New Business
From a business idea to multi-award-winners in just two years - the Business & IP Centre Sussex talks to Watch This Sp_ce. Meanwhile, the BRITE project launches a search for the next Product Foundry cohort.
24
Good Business
28
Cover Story
32
Tech
34
Charity
38
Networking & Events
50
Motoring News
54
Meet SuperLooper CIC, a circular economy-inspired enterprise renting out pre-loved baby clothes and delivering them by bike. The Eastbourne business supplying wallpaper and co-ordinated accessories to the world. We talk to Melanie Adams, Global Head of wallpaperdirect.com which is part of the Brewers group.
The race to Net Zero and why SMEs must play a part. A reflection on Silicon Brighton’s first sustainability-themed Business Leaders’ event.
How people living with HIV are receiving specialist care and support by The Sussex Beacon. We also catch up with Rob Starr who is pressing on with a huge challenge to raise £100,000.
August doesn’t have to be a quiet month for networking explains Bradley Hatchett and Mike Monk talks about his decades in sales.
Rivervale reveals what the average Brit spends a year on driving and writes about the temporary Plug-In Car Grant Scheme.
Chamber News
Ana Christie, CEO of Sussex Chamber of Commerce, reflects on the inaugural Sussex Chamber Business Expo and Brighton Chamber talks to Claire-Jones Hughes about celebrating neurodiversity.
58
Sport
64
Ask the Expert
66
Wine of the Month
The pride of England as the Lionesses roar in Brighton and the ‘bad boys’ of tennis.
John Richards ponders the context of Søren Kirkegaard’s famous quote ‘Of All Deceivers Fear Most Thyself’.
Wine expert Michael Yeoman reveals two wines from the same producer are his picks.
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Simply Business Finance Limited is a Sussex based independent commercial finance brokerage, helping businesses save time, money and manage that all important cash-flow. Allowing them to get on with the most important job of running their business. With so many different types of business finance being advertised, it can seem like a complicated process. We take the time to get to know our customers and remove the need for them to enter lengthy (and sometimes pointless conversations) with their incumbent lender, all so that we can deliver the correct type of finance that will enable their business to grow. With access to over 250 different lenders we can provide multiple funding types including (but not limited to);
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Invoice Finance
Stock & Trade Finance
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Development Funding
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We pride ourselves in being able to source the most suitable finance facilities to match the individual needs of a business. Some recent success stories of how we have helped with one of our top funders ACCREDO, can be found here:
If you are considering any type of business finance, we’d love to hear from you, so for a free and no obligation chat please contact us on 01273 961 755.www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
5
MONTH LY N E WS SP ON S OR
Sussex company wins cleaning contract for The Beacon in Eastbourne Uniclean becomes the first SME to be chosen by the shopping centre for its threeyear cleaning contract A family-run Sussex
Monthly News in Eastbourne.
company has won a three-year contract
to undertake cleaning duties at The Beacon
The centre’s 20-strong team of cleaners,
who keep the centre in tip-top condition, have transferred across to Uniclean. There are no redundancies.
This is the first time that centre owner
Legal & General has chosen a local firm for this vital work. The cleaning team all
live in the Eastbourne area and are wellknown to regular shoppers.
Brighton-based Uniclean beat stiff
competition from 10 other companies who tendered for the work. The
new contract, which started in July,
represents significant growth for the company and Legal & General will become its largest client. Former
cleaning provider Churchill Services has also agreed a new technology
partnership with Uniclean to use its
facilities management platform Mo:dus to help grow and scale the business. All employees working at the centre
are on permanent contracts and paid
the real Living Wage, with employment
benefits including access to counselling
and mental health support, sick pay and death in service.
Legal & General recently published The Marmot Review for Industry
with Sir Michael Marmot. The report sets out how businesses can drive improvements in health equity.
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The Review demonstrates the clear links
between the built environment and health, wellbeing, and happiness. It provides a
roadmap for the role of industry in levelling up across the country and sets out ways
that businesses can improve people’s lives
that the right employment conditions are awarded to the team with new procedures in place to emphasise
our commitment to a cleaner, safer environment for our customers.”
by reducing health inequality. One of these
Mark Tyson, Head of Property
through pay and benefits, hours and job
Assets business, added: “We want
is to promote the health of employees security and conditions of work.
The Beacon’s Director James Roberts said: “We are delighted to award the three-year cleaning contract for The Beacon to Uniclean. There was stiff competition from national and local
companies, but Uniclean’s submission was really impressive.
“It is great that we have been able to
award the contract to a Sussex-based business so that we can help their
growth and invest back into the local economy at the same time. We have
collaborated with Uniclean to ensure
Operations for Legal & General’s Real to deliver positive and more inclusive outcomes for the communities we
operate in. This contract provides an
opportunity for us to help scale a regional business whilst introducing enhanced
benefits and employment conditions for front-line workers who are critical to the operation of our investments.”
Uniclean has been supporting Sussex
businesses since the 1960s. Managing director James Ingram said: “This contract is a game changer for our
company. We are thrilled to be working with the team at The Beacon and can’t wait to get started.”
MO N TH LY N EWS SP O N SO R
Local accountancy firm goes viral on TikTok - 1.5m views! Jonny Matthews, digital marketing executive at Carpenter Box, a local accountancy firm with offices across Sussex, recently created a TikTok video to promote the business’s recruitment campaign to younger people. And it’s gone viral! In just a week, the
Monthly News
nine second clip,
featuring the firm’s communications director Kira
McKinney mouthing words from a
scene in Disney Pixar’s Finding Dory
and encouraging eight Carpenter Box
employees to dance, has received over 1.5m views.
It has also received nearly 150,000 likes on the popular social media platform, almost 2,000 comments and 1,000
shares, turning Kira and her team into a TikTok sensation!
Finding Dory, the sequel to Finding
Nemo, is about a blue tang fish (Dory) who gets separated from her parents as a child. As she grows up, Dory
tries to search for them but, due to
her short-term memory loss, gradually forgets them.
Carpenter Box’s TikTok dance is based
on a Roblox video, which went viral and started the trend. Roblox is an online platform that allows users to create games and play games created by
amongst young people on our TikTok
Those interested in applying should
games so far.
managed by our digital team, and
carpenterbox.com for more information.
Jonny said: “We’re recruiting for trainees
follow it up with some more sensible
You can find Capenter Box’s
others. There are approximately 50m
channel, which is an ongoing project
promised our managing partner we will
call 01903 234094 or visit www.
and wanted to show the fun side to our
posts about accountancy.”
viral TikTok here: https://www.
hoped the video wouldn’t ‘flop’, but
Carpenter Box recruits trainees into
video/7119883169213582597
firm to attract potential applicants. We never expected it to take off like this!
departments such as tax and business
“We’ve successfully managed to
relevant qualifications and supports their
raise the visibility of Carpenter Box
tiktok.com/@carpenterbox/
services, pays for them to study the long-term career goals.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 7
MONTH LY N E WS SP ON S OR
East Sussex Attracts International Coffee Guru for new venture
A man who has spent his entire career in the world of coffee has picked Lewes for his next venture. Andrew Knight, 72,
Monthly News
has spent 40-plus years importing,
roasting, blending and distributing
coffee to high-end aficionados around the world.
From visiting the coffee plantations
and producers of South America to
importing the finest green beans and
roasting to order, he knows everything there is to know about our favourite hot brew. As part of that business,
Andrew was responsible for supplying
coffee to Harrods and many other highend outlets throughout the UK. He is
considered one of the leading industry experts on coffee and coffee trends.
Andrew said: “I love everything to do
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with coffee and when Costa Coffee
Lewes, in particular, stood out for
opportunity presented itself.”
offerings so I’m thrilled to be part of
pulled out of Lewes train station an
He opened The Espresso Room in
its independent and bijou culinary this community now.”
the station after being alerted to the
Andrew opened Fuoco Pizza early this
Lewes is a town that’s very supportive
arch opposite the Depot in central
appreciating really good coffee,”
stone walls, large couches and the
vacant unit by the council. “I feel
year. It is tucked away under a bridge-
of independent shops, while also
Lewes. With twinkly lights, rustic
he said.
smell of wood fired Italian fare, Pizza
At the same time, Andrew spotted a
haunt for those who’ve spotted it.
station and inspiration hit. “It was the
become an Instagram sensation.
It was so unique, it was too good an
Thursday to Sunday.
Fuoco quickly become a favourite
stone archway under the bridge by the
Unsurprisingly, Pizza Fuoco has also
ideal spot for a wood-fired pizza oven.
Fuoco is the Italian for fire. It is open
opportunity to pass on.
“When I was based in London, I visited East Sussex frequently -
Find it on Instagram:
@pizzafuocolewes or visit: www.pizzafuoco.co.uk
MO N TH LY N EWS SP O N SO R
AAB announces acquisition of Sussex customs duty firm Charlton House AAB, a tech-enabled business critical services group, has re-branded the consultancy which will be a key part of its growing indirect tax team. Charlton House,
Monthly News
based in Horsham, West Sussex, has been acquired by AAB. It provides
customs duty advice and compliance
services to a wide range of businesses on all aspects of the customs’ supply chain and has a particular emphasis
on customs compliance services. The
company has a broad mix of customs
professionals whose backgrounds range from HMRC to industry and accounting. Charlton House’s founders, Jon Hicks
and Seanna Whitmore, will remain with the firm to support ambitious plans to grow the Charlton House business as part of the AAB Group. The business will be re-branded as AAB with
immediate effect, forming a key part
of AAB’s expanding indirect tax team
focused on providing clients with VAT and customs duty services.
With international trade becoming more
complex, particularly for UK businesses following the UK’s withdrawal from the
EU on 01 January 2021, Charlton House is considered a good strategic fit with the expansion of the AAB Group.
Following investment from August
Equity in October 2021, AAB Group
has grown rapidly and now employs
more than 550 people across 10 office locations. The acquisition of Charlton House, for an undisclosed amount, will expand the specialist services
provided by AAB while strengthening the support available to businesses trading internationally.
The AAB Group
recently merged with FPM, a leading all-
Ireland independent accountancy and
business advisory
firm, which created a significant new hub
for the group across
the island of Ireland. The acquisition of
Charlton House gives it the opportunity
(L to R) Alistair Duncan, Jon Hicks and Neil Dinnes of AAB
to provide customs
duty services across
the AAB Group offices in the UK and Ireland as well as internationally.
Alistair Duncan, Head of AAB’s Indirect
Tax Practice, commented: “The last two years have demonstrated the growing need for customs duty advice. The
addition of the Charlton House team will strengthen our existing team, bringing
fresh skills and expert knowledge which will enhance our capabilities in the indirect tax space.”
Neil Dinnes, Partner and Head of
Corporate & International Tax at AAB, said: “We have achieved significant growth in our VAT compliance and
advisory business in recent years and
this acquisition strengthens our overall Indirect Tax proposition by adding
the ability to provide more specialist
Customs Duty compliance and advisory services to our clients.
“We are delighted to welcome Charlton House to the AAB Group, and we
look forward to working together to
strengthen our existing service offering to existing and new clients across the UK, Ireland and internationally.”
Jon Hicks, Director Customs Advisory at Charlton House, commented: “We have for some time had ambitious plans to grow the business into the rapidly expanding customs
compliance market. From the outset,
AAB demonstrated that they share our vision and, following the acquisition, we are now well placed to recruit in
line with the demand for our specialist skills and services. AAB also gives
us the geographical reach to expand
across the European Union and further afield. We are all very excited to be
joining such an energetic and forwardthinking organisation.”
Maintaining good customs compliance records allows businesses to avoid
punitive penalties and minimise goods held up at the frontier. For more
information on customs compliance and customs advice visit https://aab.uk/ business/tax/customs-duty/
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 9
CBC STO RI E S S PO N S OR
The Game Changers Striving For Equality Karen Dobres, Director of Lewes FC, and Jo Child, Founder of CoWomen, explain what it means to impact diversification and how it benefits everyone. Football has finally
CBC Stories
come home - thanks to the Lionesses’ 2-1 victory over
Germany in the UEFA
Women’s Euro 2022. We meet two
local businesswomen who are working together to push for further equality in both sport and business.
How did you get to the positions you are in now?
Karen: The first thing to say about Lewes FC is that it is 100 per cent
community owned. That means that we have a board of directors elected from the ownership. So, once you become
an owner, which is very easy - it’s just
fifty pounds a year, three clicks away on
our website - you can stand for election.
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I started to volunteer for the club in
2017 when it introduced the concept of
gender equality to football by paying the women’s team the same as the men. I was interested in this and started
to volunteer and to tell people, really communicate, about what sexism is
doing in football - especially to women who may not necessarily like football
because of the gender divide around the sport. I got so into it, wanting to really
encourage women to come through the turnstiles to the women’s matches in solidarity with the cause.
I started to get sponsors on board, but
thought I might as well stand for election to become a director because I was
already doing so much for the club and it gives me a bit more of a platform and
authority. I became a director in 2019. In
October, when we have our annual general meeting, I have to decide whether to restand or step down for a bit.
Jo: There’s been quite a few drip fed
issues of equality throughout my journey, I guess. When my marriage broke down in 2008, I went back to university, did a degree in event management, decided that I wanted to work in the events
industry and gleefully applied for jobs in
London thinking I was just going to walk into this amazing events job and that it
would be the start of my new career. At least three different places turned me
down and were quite clear that it was because I was a single mum. I don’t think it would happen now.
Over ten years ago, one lady sat me in the
C B C STO R I ES SP O N SO R
www.whufc.com interview and she said we don’t really like to employ a single mum because you will need time off for your children. That was the first kind of hint I had that there was
a real issue - like if I’d have been a single dad, would I face the same issue?
Over the years after that, I bounced from job to job and then decided that the only
option for me was to start my own events
business. I delved into the wonderful world of networking and came across comments such as: ‘Has your husband helped you to get this started?’ and ‘Where have
you had the help from?’ It just felt very
insidious - you know. The assumptions
made that women in business would have
had to have help somewhere or that it was a hobby or side project.
I struggled a little bit with networking in general. I just found it very corporate. I felt that it didn’t really feed into neuro-
diversity either. I just felt it was very formal. Gradually, over time, what started as a
very generic events business very quickly became something that needed to be for
women - for women to feel confident and empowered in business and not feel the
massive layers of imposter syndrome that many many women feel.
Karen, how does it feel to be a woman involved in sport?
difference - even though it sometimes
was a real pain and I did feel ignored at times too. What I brought to the board
It’s hugely male-dominated and the
was very different - like being concerned
what women are paid compared to what
breast feeding areas, chanting practice
are the pitches the women play on the
would make someone like me feel
much further away from the town that
at the Dripping Pan. That was, I think,
people to come to?
it was that gate figures for both teams
When I first said I’d stand to be a director
couple of seasons - I kept thinking what
disparities are vast. We can talk about
about whether we had designated
men are paid, but we should also ask
for women, and thinking about what
same, or are their pitches inferior and
comfortable and enjoy the atmosphere
they’re representing making it harder for
really useful and the good thing about
went up, quadrupling for the women in a
at Lewes FC, my friends were laughing
I’m doing is good.
football, but people like me have to feel
Having said that, there are things that I
to feel I can be a director - we’re talking
One of the things I always say to women
know, let’s just take action to do it!
environments is ‘Just stay away from
When I first became a director, there was
everyone tea! I have learned that you
she stepped down and I was the only
matter. I’m not saying I haven’t had what
– that shows how we are progressing all
think it is a syndrome - I think we are
was the only woman.
I felt it and I still feel it sometimes. I
The thing is, I have to keep valuing my
diversifies the organisation.
at the thought, as I knew little about
comfortable at a football ground. I have
remember I had to change about myself.
about diversity all over the shop and, you
if they are going into male-dominated
the kettle’ – don’t be the one who makes
one other women on the board and then
can say stupid things and it doesn’t
woman for quite a while. It’s 50-50 now
we call ‘imposter syndrome’ but I don’t
the time at Lewes FC. But, back then, I
imposters! I am an imposter in football. think it’s a good thing to be because it
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CBC STO RI E S S PO N S OR
Jo Child
I would encourage more women into
male bastions because, if Lewes Football Club is anything to go by, you become very successful economically and
morally. You’re doing yourself a favour. Karen, why aren’t more clubs paying women players the same as men? It is an excellent question because if
you look at what’s happened to us at
‘Equality FC’ it’s been brilliant. We’ve got big sponsors and the women’s takings
have gone up by 367 per cent, the men’s by 82 per cent. Both first teams sold out
last season which is unheard of. We beat Liverpool. We’ve had so much success
from equality. In fact, we are just having a new pitch laid ready for the new season. The grant for that, £750,000, has come
because of the women’s team. The men will, of course, benefit from that.
It just shows you how equality really is a rising tide, lifting not just one of the
boats because both teams benefit. Why aren’t other clubs doing it if it’s working so well for us? It is very hard to run a football club; it’s a financial struggle.
It’s also about the size of the club. It’s
about what you prioritise, and you have to be quite compassionate to other
12 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Karen Dobres
football clubs - when they could be
struggling just to make the men’s team
work why would they start investing in a women’s team?
If you look at bigger clubs like the Premier League clubs, although they are waking
up and starting to invest (the Euros have
been on and people have been watching - they aren’t going to ignore that), if you
look at the kind of amounts they invest in the men’s side there just isn’t that kind of market yet for them to be doing that.
There are changes they can make that
Jo, tell us about some of the challenges you have faced.
I think in the beginning the biggest
challenge was not having a clue what I was doing. I’ve got no business
background, no experience in marketing, in finance. I didn’t have any access
to financial help and did not have the confidence, as a woman, to ask the
questions or even know what questions I had. It was just starting on a very, very basic platform and being hyper-aware
that I was a woman starting a business.
don’t cost anything, like playing on the
What encouraged you to get over that?
website prioritisation of the women’s
Jo: I just knew that it was something that I
same pitch and with social handles and team. Understandably, because the men’s market is so mature and the
product is so mature, you’re not going to put the same money into women as the
men - not like we did at Lewes because we are the size that we are and have
teams in the leagues that they are in. It worked out that we could create that
little bit of sunshine around the globe by putting the inspiration out there: valuing and resourcing the women exactly the same as the men. We now have 2,300 owners in 38 countries.
had to do. I didn’t see any other option at that time. I still think the mission is really important. I still think that women need
representation and I just felt that I don’t
know what I’m doing but the only way I
will get to know what I’m doing is just to keep on this path. It took an awful lot of resilience and it was difficult.
I think along the way, another big
challenge I had was that I was trying to do something that hadn’t been done before so I was trying to bring more joy as a
priority into the lives of women. Women
C B C STO R I ES SP O N SO R
work really hard and they deserve to have this social life created for them.
Another thing that I’ve noticed with
women in business is that they feel this
need to be serious, to be taken seriously, to present themselves seriously and,
again, going to these events women were not smiling. I was thinking ‘Why not?’
A few years ago, there was a very big
company and their manifesto was leaked on how women should and shouldn’t behave. It was wear heels a certain
length, talk at a lower tone of voice, don’t laugh too high pitched. It’s trying to get that mission out there - that it’s okay
to have joy and joy is concomitant with
health. It’s so important. We’re in a time now where we practice mindfulness,
yoga, meditation, and we’re really seeing
the benefits of all of that breath work, but no one is prioritising joy in their life.
Men have been conducting business on the golf course since time began and
they’re having a whale of a time, so why is it that women feel the need to be so serious? Is there a perception that it’s men versus women?
Jo: The idea of men versus women is
such a trigger for people when it’s not men versus women in the first place. It doesn’t matter what product or
service you’re providing, you’re going
to have your demographic. It’s a shame that feminism has got such negative
connotations attached to it because if
you just strip it back to basics it simply means equality for men and women.
Unfortunately, we have got to a point
now where we’ve got extreme feminism. With any project, the pendulum always has to swing completely the other way
before it can come back and rest in the
middle and I think that’s what’s happening right now. We’re on this path for equality for women but that triggers people into thinking that it’s something that is not.
Karen, you’ve done some volunteering
ADHD. They actually frazzle and, if you
a bit about that?
headaches and make yourself poorly.
around mental health. Can you tell us
don’t nurture them, you will get chronic
I was a counsellor. I have also managed
How is your work-life balance?
major player in the music industry.
Jo: For me, I think it’s acceptance
Do you know the concept of the wounded
something that I think you have to make
an internal counselling service for a
of my health. Work-life balance is
healer? Most counsellors have had
work for you.
partly healed or completely healed and
Karen: I believe it’s about knowing
they know about. It’s where they feel
you have the luxury of working for yourself
purpose about making a difference in the
hours that suit you, when they suit you.
have more access to themselves.
Covid helped us at least in that respect
Just being allowed to be yourself brings
those flexible hours. We are all inter-
It’s mental and physical.
care of yourself, you are taking care of
some wounds themselves that they’ve
want to do the same for others. It’s what
yourself and what works for you and, if
comfortable and have a strong sense of
or have a trusting employer, doing the
world. Helping people feel not happier but
a bit of joy and is good for your health.
Jo, tell us about ADHD and diversity in
with working from home and having
connected. You know, if you are taking everyone else at the same time.
mental health
* Karen and Jo both recognise that skills
I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 36, so I
keeping, team spirit and confidence are
spent most of my adult working life not
fitting and not really understanding why.
learned through sport aid business - timejust a few.
Jo, what piece of advice would you
The first thing I’ll say about the way
give to your 18-year-old self?
a very skewed circadian rhythm so the
Prioritise joy, allow yourself to be
nine to five Monday to Friday simply
believe in.
where the brain fog is just so heavy. It is
Karen, who inspires you?
more likely to own your own business
Women footballers. They continually
the ADHD brain works is that we have
idea of going into an office and working doesn’t work because there will be days another reason why you are three times if you have ADHD because you work to your own hours.
coachable and be fearless in what you
inspire me.
Co-Women membership is open now
I was constantly losing jobs through no real
and ready to welcome more Sussex
brain chemistry with ADHD. The harder
a huge variety of joyful social events,
you will make it worse because you do
days across Sussex, helping women
brain and they expand. The neurons talk
clients and collaborators.
over time. That doesn’t happen with
www.co-women.org
full of my, just health. There’s a different
women in business. Membership offers
you try, if you are not managing burnout,
networking opportunities and coworking
have things like memory muscles in your
who work hard to find their friends,
to each other and everything develops
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 13
Do I need a Lasting Power of Attorney for my Business?
A lasting power of attorney, or LPA as they are often referred to, are extremely useful to put in place during your lifetime. An LPA ensures that,
Legal
should you be unable to manage your own
affairs, the people you have appointed can
manage your business on your behalf. This can save a great deal of money
and distress, and will ensure that your
business affairs will be handled correctly and quickly. LPAs give authority to
those you chose to act on your behalf to make nearly all decisions, financial or otherwise, if you were to become
14 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
mentally or physically unable to do so
yourself, or even if you were going to be out of the country for a while.
So, how would they apply in a business situation?
An accident, physical ill health or the onset of mental illness may make
everyday tasks like paying bills and
managing a budget difficult, stressful and, in some cases, impossible. It is, therefore, important for any business
owner to consider what would happen to
their business if they became unable to
make decisions in such circumstances. You should not assume that a family
member or a business colleague will
automatically gain the authority to make these decisions on your behalf.
Having a Business LPA in place
allows you to appoint an attorney
who understands your business and
who you trust to take over the day-today affairs as soon as is necessary. Without such a document in place,
L EGA L SP ON SO R
Jessica Partridge
there can be a detrimental impact
on a business. For example, banks
may freeze your accounts, contracts
may not be entered into and business insurance could be invalidated. Your
business could also be in breach of its
regulatory obligations if a key business owner is incapacitated and measures are not in place. A Business LPA is
necessary for an effective business continuity plan. It is also important
to note that a Business LPA need not only be used if you lose capacity but
can also be used if you travel abroad on holiday or for business.
What happens if I do not have an LPA? If you do not have an LPA in place, an
application would then have to be made to the Court of Protection to enable
someone else to deal with your affairs. The process to apply for a deputy
application is a much lengthier process (at least 6 months, with your assets potentially frozen) than applying for
an LPA, not to mention costlier (three
times the cost of an LPA and sometimes more). It doesn’t stop at the application, either. When you become a deputy,
you must send an annual report to the
Office of the Public Guardian each year, explaining the decisions you’ve made.
How do they apply to the different
Sole trader – If you are a sole trader,
Partnerships – If you are a partner in
legal identity and therefore a Business
partnership agreement may provide for
else to come in and for the business to
business structures?
your business will not have a separate
a business with several partners, the
LPA will be necessary for someone
what should happen in circumstances
continue to trade.
need to seek advice on the contents
If your business doesn’t already have
Business LPA is required, further advice
place, then we recommend you look into
where a partner loses capacity. You may of the partnership agreement and, if a
the protection of a Business LPA in
on the wording of the document so that
getting one.
the partnership agreement.
At Mayo Wynne Baxter we have a
Directors of companies – If you are
the best way to legally protect you
it does not conflict with provisions within
number of experts that can advise on
a director of a company, it will be
and your business. Please feel free
articles of association to consider
Baxter for expert legal advice and
of a director’s appointment if they lose
the preparation of lasting powers
private company, then the company’s
questions you may have.
for the termination of a director’s
Jessica Partridge
necessary to check the company’s
to contact the team at Mayo Wynne
whether this provides for the termination
to discuss how we can help with
capacity. If you are a sole director of a
of attorney, or for any other legal
articles of association may not provide appointment and a Business LPA will be
Partner
necessary for business continuity.
jpartridge@mayowynnebaxter.co.uk
Self-employed – If you are self-employed
www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk
running your own business, again, you
will not have a separate legal identity to
your business and a Business LPA will be needed to continue trade.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 15
Employment Law: How to avoid workplace Discrimination Claims
Top tips from an expert who has advised both employers and employees for over 20 years. When acting for
Legal
employers, that advice is often
proactive, seeking to minimise any
risk that employer may face should an employee bring an Employment
Tribunal claim. Discrimination claims are once such area. I also act for
employees in such claims, and it is
often the case that employers with no
equality and diversity policies in place do badly at the Employment Tribunal. Some employers have those policies in place, but do not implement them
16 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
in any meaningful practical way, often viewing equality and diversity as a
marketing tool, rather than a workplace relations one, and also lose at the Employment Tribunal.
An employer that is proactive about
any workplace discrimination issues
will be much better placed, should any claim arrive.
How is any reasonable employer best placed to have a diverse workplace
and avoid Employment Tribunal Claims for discrimination?
1) Engage with staff early about any
issues that might, if not dealt with,
lead to a discrimination claim, eg any
disability, preferred working patterns, anything booked coming up etc
This is important and often avoided by employers because they think
that if they are not told, they can’t be criticised later. Using disability as a
specific example, the duty to make
reasonable adjustments applies if an
employer knew or ought to have known about a disability. It is much better for
the employer to be proactive when an
L EGA L SP ON SO R
employee starts, and engage with them on the issue of adjustments.
2) Have a full Equality and Diversity Policy in place together with an
anti-harassment/bullying policy Setting out the policies and procedures
that inform employees what is expected of them in terms of behaviour, and what to do if they feel they are discriminated against is incredibly important. By
having such policies in place, with a
practical means for employees to raise concerns, serves two purposes -it can resolve issues more effectively and
it can assist an employer defending, for example, a sexual harassment
claim, when it can be shown that they put the best procedure in place that
enable such actions to be stopped and prevented in future. It goes without
saying that the employer must have
more than a policy. That policy must
be regularly reviewed and must work in practice. Simply telling employees
you are against discrimination will not be enough. The policies must work when tested.
3) Have some sort of training on those issues, even if once a year
Once the policies are in place, staff must be aware of them in practical terms. In this regard, equality and diversity
training is important, and employers
should do this annually to make sure
staff understand what is expected, what behaviour is unacceptable, how to raise
any concerns, and how concerns should be dealt with.
4) Have a confidential complaint
channels as part of your policies
– if you are small, use an external provider
Employees who feel they are being discriminated against, particularly
those who are being harassed, need
to be able to raise those
allegations confidentially. This is hard with a small business. Employers
should have a confidential, allocated person available to deal with any such
complaints. It might, in
some situations, be better for a small employer to appoint either an HR
Advisor or Employment Solicitor to investigate. 5) I nvestigate all allegations of
discrimination
irrespective of source and or who the
complaint is about –
don’t fail to investigate
Alex Jones
good performers
I have dealt with many discrimination allegations for clients (employee
and employer) over the years. One
factor that often applies is employers are reluctant to criticise employees who are good performers, even if
they are accused of discrimination. This is not an acceptable practice, and an employer will lose at the
employment tribunal if they take
this course of action. Keeping a well
performing employee who is behaving in a discriminatory way will be hugely negative for the business, not just in
liability terms but also in reputational terms. Employers should be fully
prepared to discipline any employee
for disciplinary acts, irrespective of the value they hold to the business.
6) T ype detailed minutes of all internal meetings and/or discussions
be recorded. This will enable a clearer thought process on any investigation, and also be evidence to defend that investigation if a claim is raised.
7) Seek regular pro-active advice from an employment solicitor - either
through a retainer, or by contacting when an issue arises
Employers should also always be alert
to any issues involving departing staff, and always take proactive advice in how to deal with these issues. The earlier this is done, the better the outcomes are likely to be. Alex Jones
365 Employment Law Solicitors Tel: 01903 863284
ajones@365employmentlaw.co.uk www.365employmentlaw.co.uk
where discrimination is an issue,
give feedback on any non serious
investigation and/or training issues All allegations, including interviews
connected with any investigation, should
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 17
FI N A NCE S PO NS O R
Andy Page, Head of Commercial Finance at Seico Mortgages
Despite the impending doom of the headlines, there’s room for optimism - Says Andy Page, Head of Commercial Finance at Seico Mortgages. Pandemics, global
Finance
conflict, inflation,
rising interest rates,
recession - worrying about everything
in the news right now takes so long it feels like there’s no time for anything
else. I often muse that headline writers will only be happy once we’ve all
succumbed to the powers of negativity. But having been around for more years (and economic cycles) than I’m happy to admit, I remind myself that this has always been the way of things. Even
when everything’s going swimmingly in
the world, there will always be a headline telling us why it will all come crashing down before the next quarter’s end. And that’s not all- if you are a small
business owner there are even more
headaches to deal with. It takes superb time management just to fit all the
worrying in - what with staffing, red-tape
and, of course, Brexit (whatever way you saw it) to deal with.
But it is also true that we have been
here before and have come through it. ‘There is nothing new under the sun’ is a phrase so ancient it was in the
Old Testament. Business people do
not simply give up in the face of bad headlines, and it’s just as well. They
know that planning for the future is a continuous process, not confined to
the good times alone. And if you are
making plans, there’s a good chance
that funding will be required to see them through. So, here’s a piece of good
news... Money is available to businesses who have made such plans. I have been involved in business finance for many
years and talk to banks every day - I can genuinely say that funding is out there
– notably to trading businesses and as much now as it ever has been. Banks like to make funds available to this
sector because it helps to create and safeguard jobs and makes for better headlines - something they haven’t always benefited from. That said, a
good business idea needs to be put in
front of the right lender, and it’s our job at Seico to make sure that happens.
Seico have been arranging finance for property owners and business people for over 30 years and, despite the
headlines, we are as busy now as ever.
If you have a business idea, I’d welcome the chance to discuss it with you. Please don’t be shy about getting in touch on: 01273 778888 Or email: Andrew@seicogroup.com • www.seicogroup.com
18 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Whole of market mortgage specialists, helping property owners since 1990. Make sure you’re getting the best possible rates for: •
First time buyer purchases
• Equity release
•
Re-mortgages
• Commercial finance
•
Buy to Lets
• Rate switches
•
Self-employed mortgages
• Life cover
•
Foreign mortgages
Scan to find out more:
Contact us today to access exclusive deals and lenders not available on the high street.
01273 778888 / mortgages@seicogroup.com
www.seicogroup.com
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 19
N EW BUS I N E S S SP ON S OR
From a business idea to multiaward-winners in just two years A start-up success story: Watch This Sp_ce A wide variety of
New Business
entrepreneurs, startups and businesses come through the
doors at the Business
& IP Centre Sussex. We listen to their
business ideas or business journeys so far and what their inspirations are, so
that we can offer them the best-suited support. But, our relationship with
them doesn’t end there. We follow their
progress and celebrate their successes. One of these start-ups is Watch This Sp_ce, an innovative diversity and
inclusion consultancy set up by Mo
Kanjilal, Allegra Chapman and Rachel Pearson during the pandemic. We
asked one of the founders, Mo Kanjilal, to share their inspirational journey of
20 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
becoming a multi-award-winning startup business in just two years.
Year award at the Dynamic Business
Awards run by Platinum Media Group.
Who are Watch This Sp_ce?
What was the inspiration for your
business on a mission to re-imagine
Watch This Sp_ce began at the beginning
We are a Sussex based start-up
the world of work to include everyone.
We want to see diverse leaders, leading organisations and starting businesses. We founded the business during
lockdown in April 2020, at a time when
the world was forced to re-think the way it does business. The three of us were already working together on volunteer projects and we realised in lockdown
we had the time to do something about
changing the world to create a world we wanted to see. And now, two years on, we have won three awards! The latest one, in June, was the Start-up of the
business idea?
of the first lockdown. The Directors of
the business have been running a group called Brighton Digital Women since
2015. This community was founded to support those who identify as women
to start and grow careers in the digital
sector and to make women more visible
in this sector. As part of our work running this group, we heard story after story
from our members of harassment and discrimination they had experienced at work. Whilst we were working
predominantly with women, the impact of intersectionality was clearly visible.
N EW B U SI N ESS SP ON SO R
We knew the issues were about more
than women in tech careers. And, as you may, unfortunately, expect, we all had
our own experiences that had haunted
our working lives. We all felt strongly that we wanted to do something to make the world of work better for under-
represented people. We also recognised that there were huge benefits that
organisations were missing out on. We
knew that the world of work needed to be re-imagined in order to benefit everyone,
but we had busy jobs and lives that got in the way of pursuing that goal.
Then the country went into lockdown.
Not only did we find ourselves with more time and less work but also the sudden need for flexible approaches to work
made it clear that it was now imperative to challenge the status quo. We,
therefore, made a commitment to move
away from our former roles and focus on making Watch This Sp_ce a reality.
How did the BIPC help you develop your business?
We built a good relationship with BIPC
Sussex early on, and this has helped us in many different ways. The free BIPC
databases helped us with research for
finding prospects and partnerships and we often use their space to work. I became
one of their Experts in Residence, offering one-to-ones, and this has helped us
develop relationships with people starting
businesses. We’ve also run webinars with
What’s the best piece of business
great to get to know the team and how
To network as much as possible and find
the BIPC on a range of subjects. It was they help people start businesses. We
often recommend BIPC Sussex to people we talk to, as it’s such an invaluable free resource for any start-ups.
What are your plans for the future?
We want to continue working with clients who operate locally, nationally, and
internationally to scale the business and secure longer-term contracts. Building
on our strong customer reviews, awards, and our reputation, we want to grow
our client base through sales activities, networking and strategic partnerships. To grow the business even further we
are planning to invest in technology to
help us scale our products and services to reach more people. And we are
already expanding our team, bringing in people to help us as we grow.
What’s been your proudest moment in business so far?
Winning the Simply Business, Business
Boost competition in October 2021 totally
changed everything for us. We beat 25,000 businesses to win £25,000. And if you
advice you can give to start-ups?
every opportunity to meet people. It takes time to grow your reputation. In those
early days, every conversation counts
and could be an opportunity. We also say enter competitions, because someone has to win and it could be you!
What book has impacted you?
There’s a book we quote very often in our training, Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed. It’s about the power of diverse thinking and diverse teams. It’s a
great book to help people see how
different types of people and different
perspectives are what we need to have in workplaces.
Would you like to be our next success
story? Get in touch with BIPC Sussex to book a free one-to-one session with an Information Specialist so we can help
you develop your business idea or grow your existing small business.
Visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/bipc or email bipc@brighton-hove.gov.uk
have seen the video of us being told we
had won, our reactions are totally genuine! We had no idea what we were dialling into
a call for. We’re so proud to have won that award, and now the Dynamic Business Award for ‘Start-up of the Year’ too.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 21
N EW BUS I N E S S SP ON S OR
The BRITE project is on the hunt for the next Product Foundry Cohort ‘As a city, we need to cultivate and advocate for our makers, the radical thinkers and physical creators who are coming up with new products and remedies for the problems we’re facing in our communities.’ Although Brighton
New Business
and Hove has
abundant space and support for service businesses, there
aren’t anywhere near as many options for the city’s product makers to create
and prototype. Access to maker spaces can be difficult, slow and expensive. This is where Plus X innovation hubs
and the University of Brighton step in;
empowering our city’s physical makers, providing them space to test, fail and
create at speed. Since opening in 2020, the innovation hub has been one of the only places in the city that combines
entrepreneurship with facilities for creation and has quickly become the beating heart of Brighton’s innovation scene.
22 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
As well as providing office space and
digital fabrication tools like 3D printers,
co-working spaces for businesses of
laser cutters and other hardware.
BRITE Project - a series of innovation
With the next programme starting in
team at Plus X and the University
innovation experts will guide participants
Product Foundry, aims to support the
eight to ten fellow product makers, they
advanced prototyping workshop.
way from testing ideas to maximising a
Product Foundry is for anyone that
is no idea too big or too small.
individuals looking to explore the seed
Product Foundry is open to anyone in
looking to develop new technologies and
product idea and strong vision, even if
and new designs. Rather than waiting
The programme will provide them with
you’ll be able to create in-house, using
see the product through to completion.
all sizes, Plus X Brighton is home to the programmes developed by the innovation
October 2022, the team of product
of Brighton. One such programme,
through seven weekly sessions. Alongside
development of physical products in an
will develop early-stage prototypes, all the
wants to create a physical product;
product for its commercial impact. There
of an idea, to established businesses
the Coast to Capital area with a great
processes for both existing products
they’re new to a workshop environment.
weeks for your prototype to come back,
the tools and knowledge needed to
Fung-Bedford-1-1-690x860.jpeg 690×860 pixels.pdf Saved to Dropbox • 2 Aug 2022 at 16:48
Andy-Mindel-Shore-Ride-1-1-690x860.jpeg 690×860 pixels.pdf Saved to Dropbox • 2 Aug 2022 at 16:47
Jazmine-Tiley-Protective-Bubbles-1-1-1-690x860.jpeg 690×860 pixels.pdf
N EW B U SI N ESS SP ON SO R
Saved to Dropbox • 2 Aug 2022 at 16:48
Angela Fung
This fully-funded programme is
completely free for participants, and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It is open to both
current members of Plus X Brighton, and non-members that are able to travel to Brighton one morning a week.
Could this programme be right for your business or idea? Let us introduce
you to some of the alumni from the
first cohort to find out more about the
types of businesses benefitting from the Product Foundry: Angela Fung,
Director of Fung and Bedford Fung and Bedford is the design studio
of Sussex-based designers Angela Fung and Ashley Bedford. They combine
architecture with origami to create largescale, bespoke paper installations for
inspiring spaces. Their designs are low-
impact, sustainable and 100% recyclable. Angela and Ashley joined Product
Foundry, with the duo splitting time on the programme. Their time on Product
Foundry was used to explore how they could retain their intricate designs and
Andy Mindel
commitment to sustainability whilst
creating pieces on a smaller scale. In addition, it enabled them to focus on creating a lighting prototype that
could be used to collaborate with lighting companies. Andy Mindel,
Owner and Director of Shore Ride Combining his love for the ocean with his passion for sport, serial
entrepreneur Andy is on a mission to make it easier, more environmentally
friendly and more accessible for people to enjoy watersports.
Jazmine Tiley
Tiley, came up with the idea for her
product Drink Bubble after she and a
group of friends had their drinks spiked. Her Company Protective Bubbles will launch Drink Bubble to help protect
people from being spiked or spilling their drinks in busy venues.
Whilst taking part in the Product
Foundry, Jazmine focused on the
product’s packaging alongside some
additional material exploration centering around price per unit and sustainability.
She is completing the programme while studying for a BSc in Psychology at the University of Sussex.
Wanting to eliminate unnecessary car
Applications for Product Foundry close
easily attaches to your SUP or kayak
to find out more, visit briteinnovation.
journeys, Shore Ride is a product that that allows you to then either walk or
cycle to the water. Andy used Product Foundry to refine his product and
explore the design alongside alternative materials for manufacture. Jazmine Tiley,
Founder of Protective Bubbles A 2022 winner of the University of
Sussex’s Social Impact Prize, Jazmine
on the 17th of September. To apply or co.uk/product-foundry.
Product Foundry is part of BRITE (Brighton Research Innovation
Technology Exchange). Led by Plus
X, in partnership with the University of
Brighton, BRITE aims to support leaders of companies that have ambitions to
grow and scale their business, receiving
up to £5.5m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 23
GOO D BUS I N E S S S P ON S OR
The Joy of SuperLooping! SuperLooper CIC is a circular economy-inspired pre-loved baby clothing rental service created to help parents dress their babies in lots of lovely clothes whilst reducing waste and making better use of clothes already in circulation. Babies grow so
Good Business
quickly and their
outgrown clothes
have often only been
worn a few times. So,
instead of parents buying and owning
their baby’s clothes, why not rent them for as long as they’re needed and then swap them for the next size up?
Our customers are parents who love dressing their baby in sweet clothes
but feel guilty about over consuming. They’re people who choose to use
pre-loved clothing which they find after a trawl through second hand outlets or acquire from well-meaning family and friends handing down their outgrown treasures. (Sometimes these things
aren’t actually wanted or needed by the
‘lucky’ recipients who end up with a load of things they now have to get rid of!)
With SuperLooper, parents can choose as many clothes as they want from an
already curated selection and have their order delivered to their door.
All this hoarding is a terrible waste of
Hubbub, the environmental
resources and money - and is where
million items of outgrown baby clothes
to get lightly-worn clothes back into
are multiple understandable reasons
possible. Recycling minimises the
planning more babies, they may be
production and its inherent negative
they may intend to pass them on or
the amount of textile waste ending up
campaigners, found that there are 183
SuperLooper comes in with a mission
stored away in UK cupboards. There
circulation and worn for as long as
why parents do this - they may be
need for so much textile and clothing
emotionally attached to certain things,
environmental impact, and reduces
sell them. But, ultimately, these clothes
in landfills.
gathering dust. As a mum of three, I
Not only do SuperLooper users update
of the clothes worn by my kids … and
also choose a new-to-them wardrobe
too often end up forgotten about and
have to admit to still holding onto some
their order as their baby grows, they can
they’re now in their teens and twenties!
if the season changes or if they simply
24 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
want to try-out new styles and colours.
The subscription is just £23 per month,
which includes delivery and returns fees and clothing rental to the value of £20
- if they want more items they just add
them to their cart and pay at checkout. A report by Ergo Baby found that first time
parents in the UK spend on average £83 per month in the first year of a baby’s
life, so we can save them time, money and storage space.
We make recycling a bit of a no-brainer for parents who love fashion but feel
uncomfortable about buying too much. All the clothes in our library have been
GO O D B U SI N ESS SP ON SO R
given to us either by parents doing a
their outgrown items in
or by brands who want to make sure
to redeem when they next
‘conscious clear-out’ of their cupboards that their overstock and sample items go to good use. We get other people involved by offering gift vouchers for
friends, grandparents and workmates to give to new parents, so in this way we
can all play a part in reducing some of
the waste that inevitably happens when we have babies.
We’re all about collaboration - we work with other like-minded businesses that complement what we do and help us
build awareness of the whys, hows and whats of our service.
Locally we’ve teamed up with Zero Waste Brighton as part of Bella
Kennard’s Low Waste Parenting Group,
where parents can meet-up every month at Wrap’s work & play space in Brighton. As well as SuperLooper, this brings
together other sustainable baby services like nappy and sling libraries.
Via the ‘SuperLooper Loves’ page
on our website, we work with brands
that complement what we do. So far, we’ve joined the Jubblies (reusable
nursing pads) and Nimble (child-friendly
cleaning products) affiliate programmes. This means our customers get to know
about great products and enjoy a bit of discount while we benefit from a little
bit of extra income and more exposure to a wider audience.
We’re very proud of our Brand
SuperLoop collaboration which we
recently launched with the backing of
Little Green Radicals, the London based organic and fair-trade baby clothing
company. Realising that there are plenty of people who don’t want to dress their
exchange for a voucher
shop with the brand. This returned stock is then
added to the SuperLooper library ready to go to another home.
Through the data we collect, participating
brands can gain valuable
feedback on the longevity of their products and,
where necessary, can make improvements. They also build a more meaningful
engagement with existing
customers and attract new ones through their positive sustainability messaging.
Of course, SuperLoopers hugely benefit too by
having access to more great
clothes - a win-win for all, including the
planet. Little Green Radicals have added one of their retailers to their SuperLoop
so now their customers can join, on and off-line. We’re now adding Lucy & Sam
to the scheme and we’re talking to other genuinely sustainable brands who want to join us too.
You can find more about the Little Green Radicals SuperLoop here.
We take care to focus on sustainable
and ethical working practices wherever
we can. We use recycled and re-usable
cardboard boxes, sustainably produced tissue paper, flyers and stickers and
we deliver our local orders by bike. We
know we can do more and are working hard to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible going forward.
baby in pre-loved clothes, but who
SuperLooper addresses The UN SDG
we’ve set up a scheme which includes
numbers 12 - sustainable consumption
do want to do their bit for the planet, them too. It offers an opportunity
for the brand’s customers to return
(Sustainable Development Goals)
and production - and 13 - climate change. Our aim is to:
• Reduce waste, avoid over-
consumption and change the way people shop
• Create a platform to make it easy
and attractive for parents to re-cycle baby clothes
• Build a supportive network of parents wanting to connect and do their bit for the planet
• Create a nationwide operation that is scalable globally
In other areas of good business practice, we’re members of the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign and employ
someone we were lucky enough to find as a perfect match via the KickStart scheme managed locally by social
change incubator Koreo. Kate has now been taken on as a valued permanent
member of our team. I was introduced
to this scheme by fellow Good Business Club members Jo Godden, of Ruby
Moon, and Iain Chambers, of The Bevy and The Brighton Food Factory.
We’re currently developing a scheme
to include families on low income in our
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 25
GOO D BUS I N E S S S P ON S OR
Through 2022 we hope to raise early-
stage seed/growth capital and transition from the MVP stage to a fully functional
business model. To do this, we may have
to look at changing our CIC status but we
don’t want to end up susceptible to having our core values diluted, so we’re looking
at a hybrid structure, using a guardian or golden share, and pairing a not-for-profit
and a for-profit together. [https://medium. com/planestories/re-balancing-
company-ownership-through-guardianshares-3a4608685d66]
It’s a big ambition but we want to make ‘SuperLooping’ a verb - like Ebaying
with a purpose! Thanks to the likes of Ebay, Uber and Airbnb, the sharing
economy has become the norm and
customers, hungry for new ideas, want to consume more responsibly. My thoughts for you, if you’re SuperLooper family. We believe that
we can’t have a significant impact on increasing the lifeline of baby clothes
unless we involve as many people as
possible - too often these ideas are only available to people on higher incomes, so we want to change that pattern.
Before SuperLooper, I’d previously run an organic baby and children’s
clothing brand but this was a fresh and disruptive business model and I liked the idea of creating something that
hadn’t existed before. I fully believe
in living and working with a purpose and, although I love fashion and
clothes, I never felt quite right working in an industry so largely polluting
and harmful to its workers and to the
environment. The idea of sharing and
recycling what already exists ticked a lot of boxes for me.
I ‘conceived’ SuperLooper in 2017 as a result of a chance meeting in the coffee queue at the Brighton
Chamber Summit! After a long labour involving focus and beta test groups
26 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
and support from friends and experts
considering either going into business
Innovation Centre, UnLtd, Yermi, The
The City’s [https://www.escapethecity.
& Hove, The Co-Women’s Club, The
seek purposeful work that matters to
from the fashion industry, The Sussex
for the first time or maybe taking Escape
Mumpreneurs Club, Circular Brighton
org] lead to quit the corporate world and
NatWest Accelerator and of course The
you and to the planet - just go for it!
finally born in October 2020!
We’re so lucky in Brighton to have the
I now have a business partner, Ashwin
creative community, open to fresh ideas.
rental platform enabling us to tailor our
organisations, like those I mentioned
Good Business Club, our ‘baby’ was
interest and engagement of such a
Susarla, who has built a customised
We can connect to masses of supportive
service with our own features.
earlier. Our local council is also very
Together, we’ve created a Minimum
circular economy city and a hotbed for
keen to make Brighton and Hove a
Viable Product. Up until now, we’ve only
pioneering and game-changing ideas.
years of age, but the potential for renting
So, really…what are you waiting for? As
(and any clothing come to that) is huge!
Good Business!
our model and tech, and find ways to
Written by Jenny Barrett, founder of
our service is having. We think it’s really
works in Hove but at the moment is
changing the way they shop can have a
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-
future of our planet.
jenny@superlooperlife.com
concentrated on renting baby clothes 0-2 maternity clothing, children’s clothing
Ashwin and I would like to further develop
Sara Osterholzer would say - Let’s Do
recycle clothes and track the impact that
SuperLooper, who normally lives and
important that people understand that by
working remotely from Los Angeles!
significant positive knock-on effect for the
barrett-b91a70a/
Selling, buying or starting a business? Call us on 0800 84 94 101 Offices across Sussex
www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 27
A business in Eastbourne is firing up imaginations and inspiring interiors around the globe Wallpaperdirect, a trading name of C. Brewer & Sons Limited, has cornered a niche in not just wallpaper but co-ordinating fabrics too - making it the go-to online brand for effortless decorating projects. It is a business
Cover Story
renowned for stocking top designer patterns, being at the forefront of interior trends and
offering customers unrivalled choice.
We spoke to Melanie Adams, Global Head of wallpaperdirect.com, to find out more about the brand’s
28 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
international success and to get a
flavour of what is currently trending in interior design.
“Wallpaperdirect was started online
in Eastbourne in 1999,” she said. “At the time, people thought we were
slightly mad. They couldn’t see who would buy wallpaper online. We
now have websites in the UK, USA,
Canada, Australia and India but have
customers across the globe. All orders are supplied out of Eastbourne.”
Melanie, who has worked for the
Brewers group for 28 years, says
customer services are provided out
of Eastbourne for everywhere except
North America, which is serviced by a dedicated team based in Tennessee.
C OV ER STO RY SP ON SO R
How did the pandemic impact the business?
“We carry a lot of stock and that saw us very well placed to meet demand.
We saw the average order value go up,”
“It grew it somewhat,” she said.
Melanie acknowledges. “Online sales
and the majority of our customers are
purchases rising. However, online sales
a young market.
been in America for 10 years now and
“Wallpaperdirect.com is a consumer site
have flattened now in the UK with in-store
women aged between 25 and 45 - quite
continue to grow in the US. We have
“During the pandemic, they suddenly
found themselves looking at their walls. They realised how boring they were.
wallpaper is very fashionable over there.” What trends are you seeing? “There is a big increase in blues and
“Wallpaper is a fashion-focussed
yellows at the moment, and we are also
change their walls more often.”
the colour of the year. Wallpapers that
With people confined to their homes
wildlife, have been popular because they
industry and, because of that, people
seeing a lot of green which has been
depict nature, such as trees, flowers and
for weeks on end during the early
bring the outside in.”
reached fever pitch - and the versatility
What the doubters didn’t envisage in
fashion focus, saw website sales soar.
live was that the internet could bring
part of the pandemic, DIY projects
of wallpaper, coupled with its strong
1999 when wallpaperdirect.com went
people closer to design ideas and see how wallpaper patterns would look in any number of locations in a home.
Melanie said: “Every pattern we put online you can see in a lounge, a
kitchen, a bedroom or a hallway - so
people can get a true scale of how it will look in their house.
“The whole Arts and Crafts theme is
driving sales. Sales of William Morris, with a more contemporary colour
palette, have been amazing. Customers love the fresh colours coming through. “People like the feeling of Arts and
Crafts. And that look is not something you can achieve with paint.”
While statement walls are still popular, there is a shift towards papering four walls and ceilings, Melanie revealed.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 29
COVE R STO RY S P ON S OR
She is also head of designerpaint.com, another trading name of the Brewers
designers, that must-have new look has
wallpaper online giving our customers
never been so easy to achieve.
a huge range of choice worldwide,
uplift in sales following lockdowns.
Tell us a bit about the business
stocking thousands of these for next
Wallpaperdirect makes it easy for
“In Eastbourne, we employ 250 people.
handmade curtains and blinds, as well
Melanie said. “From Eastbourne, we
enables our customers to create the
group, and that too has attracted an
those browsing online to find what they are looking for. The Trends section of
the website, for example, has ‘Colour
Crush’ sections so people looking for a particular shade of wallpaper can find tons of inspiration.
They can also discover what is popular with other customers too.
This is a website that opens up a whole new world of all-over patterns. One
example that is currently trending is the stunning Morris & Co’s Willow Boughs wallpaper, which has been given a
fresh new green on ecru colouring.
Recoloured from the original archive
design it is one of many new takes on the Morris classic patterns. Stunning. With luxury patterns from pedigree
30 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
offering over 20,000 wallpapers and
day delivery. The fact that we also sell
Across the UK, we have 1,500 workers,”
as complimenting/co-ordinating fabrics
send out thousands of wallpaper
whole look, which is really important”
samples and orders every week.” She added: “Brewers is a growing
The Brewers group of companies has roots that date back to 1904 when the Brewer
business with 190 stores and currently
family started a decorators’ merchants.
We are moving further North and
The company is also proud to be a
established in 1904 in Eastbourne,
decorating materials to the Queen and
opening a new store every month. into Wales. Still a family business
Royal Warrant holder and supplies
the company prides itself on being
her residences.
multiple brands and great service.
Website: wallpaperdirect.com
“We understand that every customer
@designerpaintuk
the first choice for decorating with
is different. And, of course, one of the beauties of wallpaper is that you can feel you are being unique and ‘make your home your own’. We are proud to offer the worlds widest choice of
Social: @wallpaperdirect and
Since 1999
Brilliant BLUE
wallpaperdirect.com designerpaint.com
Make your home your own www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 31 Coordonne / Kerry Caffyn / Sanderson Exclusive / 1838 / Paint: Earthborn
T ECH S PO NS O R
The Race to Net Zero
On June 9th, Silicon Brighton hosted its first sustainability-themed Business Leaders event at Plus X Brighton. It showed SMEs how to get to grips with the challenge. www.sas.org.uk
In the year after
Tech
the UK hosted
COP 26, business
communities have been stepping up
action to tackle the climate crisis.
Whilst large corporations have been
vocal about net zero pledges, the 99% of UK businesses that are classed
as SMEs have been grappling with the terminology, complex carbon
measurement and implementation of net zero plans.
One thing is clear: The Race to Zero
is a race we either all lose or all win -
and we only win when the last person crosses the line.
Silicon Brighton partnered with Low Carbon Leaders to programme our speakers that equally inspired and
educated the audience to take action
for their businesses that will have a big impact on saving the planet.
32 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Living Beyond Our Planet’s Resources
The situation is bleak and with
widely now that it is easy to lose sight of
slower than is needed. The context of
means the ability to “maintain or support
to the business community about what
That word “sustainability” – it is used so
governments all over The World acting
what it actually means. As a definition, it
our evening was set with a rallying call
a system or process over time”.
more can be done.
How unsustainable is our current
Collective Action Works
The 28th July 2022 is this year’s “Earth
night who has a track record of taking
day has been modelled every year
As co-founder of the Surfers Against
scientists and represents the day
more recently Director of The Eden
biological resources to sustain our
and radical belief in protecting our
Polman, ex-CEO of Unilever and
opened hearts and minds from the
way of life?
Step up our keynote speaker for the
Overshoot Day”. Since the 1970’s this
action for the planet - Chris Hines, MBE.
from data gathered by environmental
Sewage movement in the 1990s and
by which humans have used up the
Project, Chris’s infectious enthusiasm
way of life for a whole year. As Paul
natural world from human destruction
author of Net Positive, puts it: “Every
moment he took to the stage.
days in 2022) we are in planetary
Chris recounted the tragedy of ocean
be regenerated. That’s 156 days that
in his local area in Cornwall were
future generations.”
sanitary waste.
day after Earth Overshoot Day (156
deficit, using up resources that won’t
pollution 30 years ago, when beaches
we are stealing from the planet and
filled with raw, untreated sewage and
TEC H SP ON SO R
Surfers Against Sewage achieved
notoriety and huge support as they
took on the water companies and the government in an era where online
petitions didn’t exist and direct action
involved turning up to Westminster in a
wetsuit and gas mask carrying a 20 foot inflatable turd to make their point.
The movement used the media to apply pressure on the perpetrators of the
ocean sewage scandal and not only
achieved success with UK Government legislation passed but even got a faceto-face meeting with the head of the European Parliament.
One thing is clear from the Surfers
Against Sewage story…collective action can succeed against all the odds. Never doubt the power of a small group of
determined people to change the world for the better.
And so, we can translate this story to the SME business community in Brighton and beyond. It takes strong will,
perseverance and co-ordinated planning to achieve real impact.
We Have The Solutions
Chris’s final point was in stark contrast to how the climate crisis is often portrayed
in the media. “Don’t be fooled…we have
all the solutions we need to tackle climate change and WE WILL WIN. It just takes
enough people to stand up and act. And that means everyone here…from today.”
With hearts beating hard at the prospect of playing a part in solving the biggest
challenge of our times, our expert panel
took to the stage to provide insights and knowledge to our audience about how
they, as individuals and businesses, can take action straight away. Panelists:
Zoë Osmond – Director of Clean Growth UK – green innovation accelerators at the University of Brighton
Ben Knight – Head of Sustainability fin-
acceleration of business action.
James Manktelow – Green Angel
perspective and shared how increasingly
tech pioneers GoCardless
James Manktelow provided an investor’s
Syndicate investor and founder / ex-
the investor community are moving
CEO of mindtools.com
away from fossil fuel and carbon
A fascinating 45-minute discussion
green transformation that supports the
measurement and reduction, going
His syndicate seeks out pioneering tech
challenge is more than just carbon
positive IP and a resilient business
intensive businesses and fuelling the
covered key areas of carbon
transition to a low carbon economy.
beyond net zero, recognising the climate
businesses that have strong, climate
emissions and fighting for climate justice
model to scale.
least damage but are on the front line
One Piece of Advice
global south.
providing a single piece of advice for the
Zoë Osmond shared information about
came shining out were:
360 (https://www.clean-growth.uk/
Do something now… however small -
workshops, a free carbon calculator tool
Work with others. No-one is an expert at
on behalf of those who have done the
of the impact of climate change in the
a new service for SMEs called Net Zero net-zero-360/) which offers free online
Our evening ended with each speaker
businesses in the room. The themes that
just get started
and access to funding and expertise
climate action and collaboration is key.
innovation and R&D support.
We have the solutions to solve this
There is also a local grant scheme
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of
Kent that match-funds up to £10,000
doing nothing.
solar panels and retrofitting office
The conversation ended where we
from Brighton University to provide
(https://locase.co.uk/) in Sussex and towards eco initiatives like installing
buildings to lower carbon emissions. Ben Knight shared the progress
problem. Take a positive approach
good. Doing something is better than
began - with Chris Hines delivering the last rallying call:
GoCardless have made in the
“Imagine you are waiting on your
measurement and company policies to
day and you see it coming… paddle like
included employees being given “smart
you catch it - if you don’t you could miss
from home working and a new business
Our future depends on it.”
transition to net zero including carbon
surfboard to catch the best wave of the
support low carbon solutions. These
your life depends on it and make sure
plugs” to reduce energy consumption
the ride of your life and get left behind.
travel policy to reduce air travel.
Written by Sam Zindel, Founder of Low
He shared the TechZero free net zero
Carbon Leaders , Managing Director of
pdf/technation-techzerotoolkit-v1.pdf)
- Race to Net Zero event.
our audience to sign up to the TechZero
You can watch Chris Hines’ keynote
passion is to “open source sustainability”
Silicon Brighton’s YouTube channel:
toolkit (https://techzero.technation.io/
which he has helped produce and invited
Propellernet and host of Silicon Brighton
pledge (https://techzero.technation.io/). His
speech and the panel discussion on
and is focused on collaboration and
https://youtube.com/SiliconBrighton
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 33
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
The Sussex Beacon - specialist care and support for people living with HIV The Sussex Beacon is a local charity that has been providing specialist care and support for people living with HIV for the last 30 years. Their services
Charity
promote
independence and
improve health and
wellbeing by providing
inpatient and outpatient support.
Working from their centre in Brighton, The Sussex Beacon comprises a 10-
bed inpatient unit, therapy rooms and larger rooms for group work. There is
34 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
also a landscaped garden for patients and visitors to enjoy all year round.
The aim is to provide high-quality care and support in a friendly, homely and inclusive environment.
The Sussex Beacon’s services have
been needed more than ever in the last few years and the charity has ensured
that they have been constantly available, offering support, care and practical help
to people across Sussex. Their service users face daily challenges, whether that be physical or mental ill health,
social isolation or being stigmatised in
their community. Many have stated that
without The Sussex Beacon, they would have nowhere to go.
It is the only specialist inpatient unit
for people living with HIV in the South East and the unique service is open
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
365 days of the year, creating a haven
can to help people living with HIV.
free place within Team Beacon at the
they need.
How to get involved
sponsorship funds raised being added
#BeMoreJill
#BeMoreJill? The Sussex Beacon would
in which patients can receive the help
To celebrate 30 years since its foundation, The Sussex Beacon has teamed up
with one of its lovely patrons, Jill Nalder, creating a #BeMoreJill campaign.
Jill was the inspiration behind Russell T Davies’ hit show ‘It’s A Sin’, which
was aired on Channel 4 last year. The
show follows a group of friends facing
the HIV epidemic whilst living in London in the ’80s. The character Jill (based
on her real-life namesake) shows deep compassion and care whilst helping both her loved ones and complete
strangers, who are facing an unknown
illness at a time when few others would. The public fell in love with the person
they saw on their screens each week, and as a result #BeMoreJill began
trending on Twitter each time an episode was released. It was a call to arms,
encouraging the rest of us to act with
the same level of kindness as Jill herself.
Would you like your company to
love for you to get involved, and they
have loads of ideas of how you can do it. Collection Tins
• They will provide your business with a
collection tin, to collect funds that you
raise. They will credit you £10 per month towards your total initially and for each time they swap it for a new one. Fundraising Events
• Their fundraising team would be delighted to help you set up a
to take on the challenge of doing all they
how your organisation could #BeMoreJill – the more creative the better!
Your hard work won’t go unrewarded – if you raise…
£1,000, you will receive a table at one of the popular Beacon comedy nights with
meals and drinks included as well as social media coverage promoting your support.
WestEnders, including a “meet &
Volunteer
• Volunteer for them and for each hour
a fabulous show featuring The
greet” with Jill Nalder and social media
coverage of your organisation’s support.
of time provided (in the shops, at an
£5,000 you will receive a table at
credit you £10 towards your total.
WestEnders, including a “meet & greet”
event, or at the main centre) they will
Donate to our shops
• Simply donate an item to one of their
£5 towards your total.
local companies to “get on board” and
from you if you have any other ideas of
at fundraising@sussexbeacon.org.uk
they decided to help maintain Jill’s
#BeMoreJill. This year, they are asking
The Sussex Beacon would love to hear
£3,000 you will receive a table at
service users. Simply contact the team
two shops and for each item in good
caring message, by asking people to
to your total.
fundraising event, to benefit their
When the real Jill came on board
as a patron of The Sussex Beacon,
Brighton Half Marathon 2023, with the
condition donated they will credit you
Brighton Half Marathon 2023
• Each company joining The Sussex
Beacon to #BeMoreJill will receive a
a fabulous show featuring The
with Jill Nalder, social media coverage of your organisation’s support, and a video endorsement of your business by Jill! Would you like to sign your
organisation up to #BeMoreJill, or
would like to know more? Please email fundraising@sussexbeacon.org.uk and they will be happy to chat and answer any of your questions.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 35
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
52 x 52 Triathlon Challenge
SBT’s Sam Thomas caught up with Rob Starr, Founder and Chairman of the Starr Trust charity, to see how he’s fairing with his extreme year-long 52 x 52 Triathlon Challenge. An Olympic Distance
Charity
Triathlon every
week for 52 weeks
during 2022 to raise money for local
young people struggling to overcome roadblocks in their lives. Rob is more than half-way to completing his
challenge, having ticked off an amazing 34 out of his 52 challenges to date. He plans to double up some weeks to be finished by the end of November.
Sam Thomas said: “I believe in life,
we meet people who have a profound impact on us, change our lives and
inspire us to in many ways. For me, Rob Starr is one of those people. I
have heard Rob’s story in the past,
about his business journey, why he started the Starr Trust and many
of his previous challenges such as
swimming the channel, Ironman Long Distance Triathlon and many more,
but, after doing the cover story at the beginning of the year and getting to know this amazing individual, I am
simply in awe of his incredible mindset and feel lucky to now call him a friend.
When I met him for a sea swim, he had been suffering with his sciatic pain
but didn’t let that beat him and, rather than the 1500 metres he needed to
swim, we actually swam over 2.5km. This amazing challenge he has set
himself is quite an incredible feat and, over 60% of the way, he is getting
closer to his target. If you are yet to
sponsor or support him, I urge all our
members and readers to do so. Keep going mate, you are smashing it.”
Rob Starr said: “Now being over 60% into the challenge, I finally realise how
difficult it is; clearly I am a slow learner! The hardest part has been trying to
keep injury-free, which has not always been possible, and then carrying on
regardless of the pain. The other tough
part about the challenge is definitely the mental aspect rather than the physical;
having to push forward no matter how I
feel. When Sam surprised me by joining me for my sea swim one morning after
my sciatic nerve started playing up, we swam pier to pier and back – Sam’s
furthest sea swim ever. I was so happy to have his company and support -
Sam truly is a good friend. So far we have raised just over £50,000 of our
£100,000 target. The amazing money
we are raising is already changing the lives of so many young people and
along the way I am becoming the fittest
I have ever been. That’s a win-win in my book. Absolutely no regrets at all.”
Find out more about getting involved as a business or sponsoring: enquiries@starrtrust.org Or visit: www.starrtrust.org
36 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
CHARITY 7 GOLF DAY POWERED BY
THURSDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2022 DYKE GOLF CLUB, BRIGHTON PART OF Star Hole in
One Prizes:
Europe, olf Holiday in G , sh ca 0 0 £5,0 break and UK Golf Set of clubs
SPONSORED BY
ENTRY INFORMATION • • • •
£360 per team Teams of Four Stableford Points 9am shotgun start
Register now at: toby@tpgsportsevents.com
WHY ENTER? • Great prizes for nearest pins and longest drives • Chance to win £5,000 cash, a new car, an all-inclusive holiday, a set of golf clubs or a UK golf break • Breakfast & Lunch included • Raffle & Sponsor Sweepstake Sponsorship opportunities available
IN SUPPORT OF:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 37
N ETWO RKI NG & EVE NTS S P ON S OR
Best of British Events, London On July 8th we attended another fantastic Best of British event, this time at the London Waldorf Astoria.
It was held in the
Networking & Events
iconic Palm Court,
which was amazing, and the food was
simply excellent. The
guest speaker was cricketing legend Phil Tufnell, who entertained the guests with cricket stories, career anecdotes, what it’s like to be a captain on Question of
Sport, plus secrets from I’m a Celebrity! The event raised thousands of pounds
for The Starr Trust – and it was great to hear from fundraising manager Tracey
Starr as well as a heart-felt talk from the charity’s ambassador, Jason Burrell. The was event was sponsored by Britton and Time Solicitors. Co-
sponsors included RubixVT, FRP
Advisory, DevAssist and FirmBalls ,
who were all thanked by Best of British founder Ryan Heal. He said: “These
38 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
events don’t happen without sponsors
the last year at the many fantastic events
and partners, and we are truly grateful
they have delivered across Sussex and
for their support.”
up to London.
Sam Stephenson was there to
From this, they announced that from
amazing shots, some of which you can
not only raised awareness of many
Best of British website. Once again, the
events have exceeded OVER £100,000!
partner for the fundraiser.
It is a true honour and privilege for SBT
If you missed this event, please
see the difference they make across our
British Events to book one of the last
fantastic charities.
events featuring Jeff Stelling and Bob
To learn more, visit bestofbritish.org.uk
photograph the day. He took some
July last year to date their events have
see in this feature as well as more on the
charities, but the funds raised at those
Sussex Business Times was the media
register for 2023 or contact Best of
tables for the Gatwick and Eastbourne Champion, respectively.
It has been quite an amazing seven months being involved with Best of
British Events. We recently caught up
with Ryan Heal to take a look back over
to support these amazing events and county and beyond through so many
N ETWO R K I N G & EV EN TS SP O N SO R
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 39
N ETWO RKI NG & EVE NTS S P ON S OR
Westgate Chambers bring staff and clients together for an event with a difference hosted by team Dasaki Westgate Chambers are one of County Business Clubs’ newest Value Added Partners - and they are celebrating their 35th anniversary year in 2022.
Stuart Taylor, Deputy
Networking & Events
Senior Clerk, and I have known each
other for many years
and when Stuart was
looking to host an event with a difference, where he could engage staff and invite
clients to help build strong relationships, they decided to team up with Dasaki to deliver a Greek Cypriot cooking class.
In July, six members of the team and six
clients from various solicitors’ firms across the county including Goodman Ray, Gaby
Hardwicke, Stowe Family Law, and Britton & Time, attended the Community Kitchen
on Queens Road in Brighton where Uncle George and I shared four of our family recipes that have been passed down through generations.
We started with Koupebia, stuffed vines leaves but with a vegan twist. Teams of
40 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
three to four worked together making
After the cooking had finished, the
whilst sharing a glass of wine or two.
Cypriot Family-style and enjoyed the
the sauce, rolling the vine leaves - all
Whilst the vines leaves where cooking, the
teams all sat around the table in true dishes they had prepared.
teams made a traditional Greek Cypriot
Stuart Taylor said: “It was a wonderful
yoghurt, lemon, cucumber, garlic and mint
food, with new and existing clients to
dip called Tzatziki, which combines Greek
evening making traditional Greek
with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Chambers. Good fun was had by all and
Stuart continually mixed the pairings
and with full stomachs.”
get to know each other. For the final
To find our more about Dasaki, visit
vegetarian and meat eaters and made
To book a team-building event, email
at each dish so staff and clients could
everyone left with a smile on their faces
dishes, the teams separated into
www.dasaki.co.uk to view the recipes.
separate pasta dishes.
info@dasaki.co.uk
The vegetarian dish was Village Macaroni,
To find out more about Westgate Chambers,
a very simple macaroni dish cooked in
visit https://westgate-chambers.co.uk
mint. The meat dish was Pasta Pastourma,
To find out more about the Community
Greek Cypriot sausage and coriander.
cookery-school/
vegetable stock with Haloumi cheese and pasta with fresh plum tomatoes, spicy
Kitchen, visit https://bhfood.org.uk/
N ETWO R K I N G & EV EN TS SP O N SO R
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 41
August a quiet month to network? Think again. Bradley Hatchett, Founder of Network My Club, explores this further to help you avoid going through a networking lull this month. August. A funny old
Networking & Events
month for networking, I’ve noticed it can go one of two ways.
Here’s my take. Firstly, it’s hard to predict. Network My
Club have had really busy August events in the past, as well as quieter ones (and
I exclude 2020 as I’ve tried to erase that from memory).
42 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
What I’ve noticed is; you’ve got one side that takes that time to rest, take a break
from networking, go on holiday, schools are off etc. And that’s great, it’s very healthy and I applaud it.
I too will be. A sangria in the Seville sun is calling my name now!
But you’ve also got the other side who
have a little bit more time. Perhaps their clients are away so they have more
availability to go out networking. Or,
maybe, their business and industry does naturally get quieter.
Meaning? These people are far more proactive in this period than they usually would be.
And there’s no right or wrong way. But what I’ve learned is, ultimately, you’ll
make August whatever you decide it to be.
N ETWO R K I N G & EV EN TS SP O N SO R
Bradley Hatchett
If you are saying it’s a dead month,
nothing happens and you can’t wait until September when the world comes back to life. Guess what? It’ll be exactly that.
But if you say it’s a month to explore
opportunity, a chance to get out there a bit more and tap into areas or your
network that are little quieter. It will be that too.
August follows a busy networking
period. I’ve never seen so many events
take place during a period than between April and July this year.
Use it to evaluate your networking
activity, following up on new people you met and conversations you had.
It also falls before a notoriously busy
networking and event period through
September-November. There is a real ‘back to networking’ feel and focus
amongst business owners to finish the year strong before Christmas.
So, you can use August to take the
A ‘quieter’ August for Network My
time to get a running start on that. Use
Club includes:
different areas of your business or refine
• 1 x in-person event
it to strengthen relationships, develop your focus for networking.
It will ensure you are not going into September from a standing start.
• 3 x online meetups
• 4 x 60 minute Networking & Sales Masterclass Series
The latter will arm members with the
And, yes, I appreciate school holidays
tools and knowledge to use August as
with children. But the world and way of
month ahead of September.
does not become such a barrier either.
Yes, there aren’t as many networking
You don’t need to be at physical events
opportunities to network.
are opportunities in:
Unearth new opportunities this August
•A ttending virtual events - network
attending a Network My Club event
• Setting up virtual meetings
www.networkmyclub.co.uk.
make it difficult for business owners
networking has evolved to ensure that
to network and grow in August. There
from anywhere
that planning, improvement and growth
events in August. But there are plenty of
or kickstart your September by near you. Find us at
• Visiting clients or prospects
• Webinars - swat up on some skills • Building connections with your LinkedIn network
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 43
N ETWO RKI NG & EVE NTS S P ON S OR
Interview with Mike Monk
Mike Monk’s business career has spanned more than three decades. He is a sales,
Networking & Events
networking and expo expert and has been a franchisee and
franchisor. He ran
Monk Marketing for many years, set up
Advantage Business Mentoring in 2020 and launched the Brighton and Hove Business Show earlier this year.
Tell us a bit about you and your story? My father died when I was 13 and it had a big impact on me. I’d always wanted to go into sales from a young age and
my uncle had an office supply shop in
Brighton, called IT Office. I approached him and said could I come in on a
Saturday and learn how to sell type -
that’s how long ago it was, typewriters. One Saturday, they decided to leave me alone for a couple of hours,
looking after the shop. I was 15. This
44 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
couple came in and I thought ‘Here
we go, here’s your chance’. To cut a
long story short, there was a particular type of typewriter, it was new from Italy, and I immediately steered
them towards that one - and I ended up selling them two. That was the beginning of my career in selling.
Did you envisage from a young age
that sales would lead you to run your own business?
I worked in the rag trade and travelled
across the South of England. I was then headhunted by a company that printed T-shirts. They had a shop in Church
Road, Hove. They took me down to the
basement and asked if I’d be interested
in selling T-shirts. I said I’d give it a try. I went to an English language centre and a golf range, and they ended up buying 500 T-shirts. I joined the company as sales director.
Carnaby Street was still very popular back then. I thought there must be
some good potential clients, so I got
on the train and went up to London. I
went in and out of shops - it was ‘No,
no, no’... After four hours, I thought I’d go and get a coffee - it was driving me
mad and it started to rain. I was sitting there, having a coffee, and thought ‘I don’t think I’ve been in that shop
over there’. One more shop before I
go back. I went over and introduced
myself and the guy said: “Actually, the boss is upstairs. I’ll go and see if he
wants to see you.” He owned 18 shops in and around London - a huge retailer - including Oxford Street. All the main places. He ended up spending a
quarter of a million pounds with us that year. That’s the thing about sales - you should never give up.
What has been your biggest challenge
and tell us about how the past two years
Brighton and Hove Business Show-93.JPG 2,100×3,150 pixels.pdf Saved to Dropbox • 26 Jun 2022 at 22:03
N ETWO R K I N G & EV EN TS SP O N SO R Brighton and Hove Business Show-91.JPG 3,150×2,100 pixels.pdf Saved to Dropbox • 26 Jun 2022 at 22:03
have impacted the expo business?
Radio 1’s Smiley Miley Roadshow.
wife has been very supportive.
It has not all been plain sailing. I had
As long as my family is happy and
What does the future hold for
a very bad time in the late 80s. I was
comfortable, that is success to me.
Mike Monk?
business and interest rates hit 18 per
How important was culture in that
I’ve already got the dates for next year’s
had young children. It was a really tough
advice do you give your clients
and I’m going to surprise the exhibitors
running my own promotional clothing cent. It wiped me out. I lost my money, I
franchise model? As a mentor, what
time. I said to my wife: “We will be back
about culture?
have to set yourself a target.
Training was ongoing. I would have them
The pandemic was very challenging.
days going around with them, then I’d
give to your 18-year-old self?
sitting there, looking out the window
country - so they could see how T-shirts
Listen more, especially to advice.
‘How about a virtual exhibition?’ So, in
all the time: “If you do things like this,
Who has been your biggest inspiration
within three years.” And we were. You
down here with me, then I’d spend a few
show. It’s going to be bigger and better, with a little event at a hotel a couple of weeks before which I will fund.
What one piece of advice would you
There were no events. Again, I was
take them on factory tours around the
in my office at home, and thought
and mugs are printed. I instilled in them
partnership, I put on an exhibition. We
you will be successful.”
throughout your journey and why?
much financial reward in it, because we
It’s all about instilling confidence in people.
Sir Alan Sugar - a very smart guy and a
the ball rolling. I’d never heard of Zoom
Being honest is important, and I cannot
And collaboration is something I’ve
transparent. Having people who are
had 20 to 30 exhibitors. There wasn’t
didn’t charge very much, but it just kept
fantastic salesman.
before the pandemic. I now have Zoom!
stress that enough, as well as being
Could you recommend a business
really bought into.
interested in your business is key.
had an impact on you and
What has been your career highlight
You have been married for many years
to you?
created a work-life balance?
and what does success look like
and are a family man, how have you
My career highlights were building my
It’s good now but it hasn’t always
that client in London in the pouring rain.
40,000 miles a year. You’ve got to pay
contract to supply 60,000 T-shirts for
is a really tough time - it’s full on. My
book or podcast for our readers that your career?
Two books - How To Win Friends and
Influence People by Dale Carnegie and
Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
franchise without question and winning
been like that. I used to travel 30 to
Websites:
Another career highlight was winning the
the bills. The build-up to the exhibition
advantagebusinessmentoring.co.uk
brightonandhovebusinessshow.uk
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 45
N ETWO RKI NG & EVE NTS S P ON S OR
Big Business Breakfast Club
For the up-coming Big Business Breakfast, the sponsor will be the Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East. The cyber resilience
Networking & Events
centre for the South East is a policeled partnership
with academia and
businesses aimed at improving cyber
resilience in business in the South East of England.
Using a combination of police officers and cyber talent, the cyber resilience
centre for the SE supports and helps
protect small businesses, SMES and
supply chain businesses as well as third
sector organisations in the region against cyber-crime. A new line, covering the
areas of the Thames Valley, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, West
Sussex, East Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, sees the resilience centre work with local universities and police forces, providing access to the latest
local as well as national information on
emerging cyberthreats, criminal trends,
46 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
best practise for cyber resilience and new
Peer support is the cornerstone of
guidance to prepare and protect their
and national events to bring survivors
from cybercriminals.
and networks to support them through
technology to provide people with timely
COPS’ work. The charity arranges local
businesses comment staff and clients
together, where they build friendships
The cyber resilience centre for the SE
the good times and bad.
has chosen UK COPS as their chosen
COPS also provides specialist counselling
month’s BBBC.
its two partner organisations, Winston’s
Care of Police Survivors (COPS) was
opportunity to talk through their feelings.
Fulton MBE and the late Jim McNulty, a
This month’s event takes place on Friday
charity and it is the beneficiary of this
founded in 2003 by survivor Christine
support to bereaved families through
Wish and Red Arc, giving survivors the
Strathclyde Police Detective.
the 19th of August at the County Cricket
Care of Police Survivors provides peer
is Grace Prior, from Silicon Beach, joined
counselling services to help surviving
of Marketing 101
shattered lives.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://
It supports families of police officers
We look forward to welcoming you later
support opportunities and access to
family members (‘survivors’) rebuild their
who have lost their lives on duty.
Ground in Hove. Our speaker for August
by our regular marketing guru Alex Ryan,
www.bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk/ this month.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 47
Join us for our Rockinghorse Charity Golf Day 2022 Thursday 29 September Mid Sussex Golf Club £350 per team of 4 players To book contact the team on:
01273 330 044 Amanda@rockinghorse.org.uk
Sponsored by 48 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Media Sponsor
N ETWO R K I N G & EV EN TS SP O N SO R
Boundary Club The boundary club is
Networking & Events
Sussex cricket’s own unique networking
and membership club
where business meets
cricket, hosted on the boundary s edge. Julys Guest speaker was the very inspirational Floyd Steadman
Floyd was one of the first Black
Business has a story to tell. Networking on its own is not always enough but to understand the people you are connecting with.
I was fortunate enough to sit on a table
where great conversations were happening with people I had never met. This
conversation enabled us to learn a lot from each other from sharing our stories.
Stephen, Mr Taxi Man alias Skin Wig, sold eggs and bacon to Paul in London Road market. And Dan Richards (Acumen) works for my neighbour. This is the opening paragraph of the County Business Clubs manifesto and I believe encapsulates this event and why it is at the heart of what we do and what we believe.
rugby captains and the UK’s first
Our Table: Our Story
sector. Steadman, a former rugby
Sally Waite (Harbour Hotels) grew up
All business is symbiotic in nature.
hundreds of miles from where born.
You can be inspiring your peers
black headteacher in the independent scrum-half, captained Saracens in
the 1980s taking them to the brink of Glory against the Wasps. Aside from his rugby career, Floyd has also had
a successful career within education, climbing the ladder.
This particular Boundary, for me,
completely underpinned our core values at County Business Clubs, that every
where my brothers now live even though
Will Farthing (Rubix) grew up down
the road from where we currently live. Paul Kendrick (Kendrick Property
Services) back in the day went to roller discos with Sally and also attended at the same time.
one day, learning from them the next.
In the end, people buy people.
That makes sharing our stories the most compelling way to connect with one another.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 49
MOTO RI NG N E WS S P ON S OR
Mapped: Average Brit Spends £3,800 Per Year on Driving
With rising fuel costs, insurance premium hikes and the eye-watering price of parking, the pleasure of driving doesn’t come cheap. But how much are
Motoring News
Brits spending every
year? We researched the average cost
of insurance, fuel,
parking, tolls, repairs, servicing, and
road tax in the 50 most populous areas of the UK.
The data reveals that British drivers spend a huge £3,800 per year, on
average – and that’s without buying the car itself.
Read on for the full breakdown of our research as we uncover the
50 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
cheapest and most expensive places to drive a car.
City of Westminster is the most
expensive to drive in, costing £8.7k per year
It’s no surprise that the London borough is the most expensive place to drive in
the UK at £8,722 per year – that’s £4,922 more than the average.
A large chunk of this comes from the London Congestion Charge, costing
£15 a day to drive through the capital’s busiest areas.
But even without the Congestion
Charge, the City of Westminster is still
the most expensive place to drive in. It’s also the priciest place to park overall, costing a huge £3,684 each year.
Liverpool follows as the second-most expensive city, costing drivers £5.5k each year
Commuters in Liverpool won’t be
happy to hear that it’s the second-most expensive city in the UK to drive in,
costing £5,505 per year, including a
whopping £2,780 on parking and £600 on insurance, on average.
MOTO R I N G N EWS SP ON SO R
Our research also shows that drivers who
travel through the Mersey Tunnels will pay £683 per year when travelling to the city
centre four days per week (accounting for one day working from home).
Edinburgh takes third place thanks to pricey parking
Parking in Edinburgh city centre will seriously set you back, costing a
massive £3,483 per year – higher
than any other area, bar the City of Westminster.
Outside its pricey parking, however, we also found that Edinburgh’s insurance
prices aren’t so high compared to other areas at £472, and there are no major tolls to pay.
But if you do want a spot in the city
centre, you’ll need to fork out. The huge cost of parking means that Edinburgh
is the third-most expensive city on our list, costing £5,390 annually.
Leicester revealed as the most
expensive city for insurance, setting you back £955
Breaking down the data, we looked closely at average insurance prices
across the UK. We found that Leicester is the most expensive city overall,
costing £955 per year on average. It costs over £3k per year to park in these UK areas
Commuters who want to cut back in the City of Westminster, Edinburgh
and Islington might want to consider car parking costs. Drivers could be spending over £3k to park in these
areas each year, with a huge £3,684 in Westminster, £3,483 in Edinburgh and
From toll roads and tunnels to the latest Clean Air Zone charges, some will have to shell out more than others to drive within the UK road network.
We researched the charges from toll
roads, bridges and tunnels, London’s
Congestion and ULEZ zone, plus Clean Air Zones to reveal how much drivers spend each year. Our calculation
considers Brits working four days per
week in the area’s centre and one day working from home.
Thanks to the London Congestion
Charge, the City of Westminster is the most expensive area at
a whopping £3,015 per year.
Birmingham follows, thanks to the
newer Clean Air Zone charge, totalling around £1,608 annually.
Crawley is the cheapest area to
drive in the UK – a third cheaper than the average
It’s not all doom and gloom for drivers, though, as we can also reveal the cheapest places in the UK.
With low costs on insurance, fuel, parking and no tolls, the town of
Crawley is the cheapest overall, costing £2,618 annually – that’s £1,182 less than the UK average of £3,800 (or almost a third lower at 31% less).
Dudley is the cheapest place to park at just £615 per year
Coming second overall in our study, we found that the market town of Dudley costs only £2,719 to drive in. It’s also
offers and find an affordable deal on your next brand-new car? Methodology
We researched the average cost of
insurance, fuel, parking, tolls, repairs, servicing and road tax in the 50 most populous areas of the UK.
Insurance costs were calculated by
collecting quotes using a profile of the
average UK driver. The only factor which changed while researching insurance quotes was the driver’s postcode to determine the policy price in each central area.
The cheapest petrol prices were
recorded and cost determined using
the average UK mileage of 7,400 miles per year.
Car parking costs were calculated
using the average of the three cheapest
spaces in the location’s centre according to JustPark. This was based on parking four days per week to account for those
working from home, based on Office for National Statistics data.
Tolls, congestion and Clean Air Zone costs are recorded by charges from
that area according to the RAC, driving
four days per week to account for those working from home.
Repairs, servicing and road tax are based on the UK averages, which
do not change as these factors are
mostly dependent on a person’s car, not location.
the cheapest place to park, costing only
Our data was collected in May 2022.
centre on weekdays.
request a callback at a time that
£615 annually to leave your car in the
£3,007 in Islington.
Find more motoring studies and news in
The most expensive driving charges in
the rising cost of fuel plus the cheapest
the UK – from tolls to Clean Air Zones
Why not browse our latest car leasing
Get in touch on 01273 433 480, or suits you.
the Rivervale blog, including advice on cars to insure.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 51
MOTO RI NG N E WS S P ON S OR
UK Electric Vehicle Grants & Initiatives The plug-in car grant (PiCG) scheme was launched in 2011. Its purpose was to reduce the cost of buying or leasing an electric car. Motoring News
The PiCG was always a temporary initiative, with government funding only made available until 2022/2023.
Reductions in the size of the grant, and the choice of vehicles available to purchase under it, had minimal impact on rapidly increasing sales, or on the ever-growing range of electric vehicle models being manufactured. As a result, the existing scheme was closed to new orders from 14 June 2022, after supporting the sale of almost half a million electric cars. The UK government is now committed to refocusing funding to tackle some of the key barriers to achieving successful EV transition. The new objectives include: • Expanding the public chargepoint network. £1.6billion has already been invested in the UK’s public chargepoint network, with further investment planned. • Supporting the purchase of eight different types of plug-in vehicle, including low-emission electric vans, motorcycles and wheelchair-accessible vehicles (such as minibuses). It is hoped that the new plans will make it easier and cheaper for businesses and individuals to achieve zero emission travel. Battery and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) account for over 50% of all new cars sold, while sales of fully electric cars have increased by 70% during the past year. 1 in 6 cars being driven on UK roads is an electric car. Read on to learn more about the latest
52 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
government initiatives to help you save money when you buy or lease an electric or plug-in vehicle. Government discount for brand-new low-emission vehicles in 2022 Certain brand-new low-emission vehicles will be available at a discounted price, through a grant the government pays to vehicle manufacturers and dealerships. If you are considering buying or leasing one of these vehicles, there is no special process to follow. The price you pay to buy or lease the vehicle will reflect the value of the grant. Eight vehicle categories are included in the scheme: • Small trucks • Large trucks • Taxis • Small vans • Large vans • Motorcycles • Mopeds • Wheelchair-accessible vehicles A full list of eligible vehicles is available on the government website. Rivervale Leasing offers lease deals for a number of eligible vehicles, including small vans, large vans, and minibuses. When leasing an eligible vehicle, instead of the value of the grant being deducted as a single lump sum, your savings will be spread out across the term of the lease. For example, if you choose a vehicle that is eligible for a grant of £2,500, and you choose a 36-month lease deal, you could save approximately £83 per month. The value of the grant available will vary according to which category your
preferred vehicle falls into. The grant does not cover all low-emission vehicles; it is only available for vehicles approved by the government. Small vans Eligible vehicles in the ‘small vans’ category have a gross vehicle weight of under 2,500 kilograms, co2 emissions below 50g/km, and can travel a minimum distance of 96km (60 miles) without emissions. The following vehicles are eligible in the small vans category: • Citroën e-Berlingo • Maxus eDeliver 3 (short wheel base variants) • Nextem Orca • Nissan e-NV200 • Nissan Voltia • Peugeot e-Partner • Renault Kangoo ZE • Renault Zoe Van • Toyota Proace City Electric • Vauxhall Combo-e The grant can be used to pay for 35% of the purchase price for a small van, up to a maximum total grant of £2,500. Businesses are entitled to receive a maximum of 1000 plug-in van and truck grants per year. The limit resets on 1 April each year. Large vans Vehicles in this category have a gross vehicle weight between 2,500kg and 4,250kg, co2 emissions below 50g/km, and are able to travel a minimum distance of 96km (60 miles) without emissions. The following vehicles are eligible in the large vans category: • BD Auto eTraffic • BD e-Boxer
MOTO R I N G N EWS SP ON SO R
• BD e-Ducato • BD e-Relay • Citroën e-Dispatch • Citroën e-Relay • DFSK EC35 • Fiat e-Ducato • Fiat E-Scudo • Ford E-Transit (Leader) • Ford E-Transit (Trend) • LEVC VN5 • MAN eTGE • Maxus eDeliver 3 • Maxus eDeliver 3 LWB Chassis Cab • Maxus eDeliver 9 • Maxus eDeliver 9 MC L3 Chassis Cab • Maxus eDeliver 9 LC L4 Chassis Cab • Mercedes-Benz eVito • Mercedes-Benz eVito Premium • Mercedes-Benz eVito Progressive • Mercedes eSprinter • Peugeot e-Boxer • Peugeot e-Expert • Renault Master ZE (3.1 and 3.5 tonnes) • Renault Trucks Master ZE • Toyota Proace Electric • Vauxhall Vivaro-e • Volkswagen ABT e-Transporter • LDV EV80
more reliable public charge points. The government has committed to installing 10 percent more EV chargers on public streets by 2030.
The grant can be used to pay 35% of the total purchase price, up to a maximum ceiling of £5,000.
What are the benefits of the Workplace Charging Scheme? • Available to any business, including charities and public bodies • Claim for up to 40 charging points • Save over £1000 per year in employee fuel costs across 10,000 miles • Reduce benefit-in-kind tax for company cars • A chieve sustainability goals (here’s why electric cars are better for the environment)
Businesses and organisations will be entitled to claim up to 1000 plug-in van and truck grants every year. This allowance resets on 1 April each year. What are the benefits of running an electric vehicle? Driving an electric vehicle often leads to significant savings when compared with petrol or diesel counterparts, and the savings are often higher than the current value of the grants. What’s more, electric vehicle drivers enjoy generous incentives, including lower company car tax rates, and zero road tax, which could save more than £2,000 per year. Aside from lower running and refuelling costs (as low as just 2p per mile), a steady increase in cheaper, faster, and
The motor industry has also taken steps to encourage drivers to choose greener vehicles. More than 20 different zero emission cars are available for under £32,000. What’s more, the cost of signing up for monthly purchase schemes and lease deals has dropped significantly. To learn more, check out the EV hub, and read our guide on costs to maintain your electric vehicle. What is the Workplace Charging Scheme? Another government scheme offered by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) is the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS). Designed to make EV owners’ lives easier, it reduces the cost of purchasing and installing a single socket charging station at work by 75% (with a maximum cap of £350 per socket).
How do I apply for the WCS? You can apply for the WCS here. What is the EV chargepoint grant? The EV chargepoint grant replaced the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS), which was closed to new applicants on 31 March 2022. If you have already submitted an application for the EVHS and your case is under review, you don’t need to submit a new
application under the new EV chargepoint grant scheme. The EVHS is still open to resubmissions until 31 March 2023. The purpose of the EV chargepoint grant is to make it easier to charge an electric vehicle at home, instead of having to rely on public charge points. With the grant, you can receive a 75% contribution towards the cost of one chargepoint and the cost of installing it. There is a cap of £350 (including VAT) for each chargepoint installation. To be eligible, you must own, lease, or have submitted an order for a qualifying vehicle (as determined by the government). You must also have allocated off-street parking at your home. You can apply for two charge points to be installed at one property, but only if you have two qualifying vehicles. To use the scheme, you must first find a person qualified to install your EVHS chargepoint. The installer will check your details to ensure you meet the grant eligibility criteria, before applying for the grant on your behalf. The installer will send you an invoice for the price of the installation, minus the grant amount you have made an application for. Should your grant application be approved, the installer will receive the grant funds, which will have been offset from your invoice. EVHS grant claims will be processed by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) within 30 working days. You can find further information on the EVHS here. Want to take advantage of the EV government incentives available to your business? Check out the growing range of ecofriendly electric and hybrid van lease offers from Rivervale Leasing. Call us today on 01273 433480 to discuss your requirements with our knowledgeable team.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 53
CH A M BE R N E WS S P ON S OR
Sussex Chamber of Commerce Supporting Business Growth by Ana Christie, CEO I was absolutely
Chamber News Business Expo.
thrilled when Mims Davies MP agreed
to officially open our
first Sussex Chamber
The expo allowed members to network, increase their brand awareness, and
brought business together from across the Sussex county.
My amazing team managed to put
the expo together in a very short period of time. For our first expo, it was incredible!
54 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
A huge thank you to our keynote speakers on the day:
•C laire Beech, Senior Account
Manager, Love Local Jobs Foundation
without the support from our wonderful sponsors. Thank you to Pentagon
Plastics Group, Harwoods Group and Creative Pod.
who spoke about Inspiring young people
Of course, a huge show of gratitude
and professionally
came along to support us but,
to reach their full potential, personally
• Clive Bonny, Owner/Director, Strategic Management Partners Ltd who spoke about How your eco and social value credentials can win new business
We could not have delivered the expo
to the amazing attendees who
more importantly, to meet all of the
exhibitors and amazing companies. Mims Davies, MP for Mid Sussex,
officially launched the expo and took the time to speak to many of the businesses on the day.
C HA M BER N EWS SP O N SO R
She said: “I was delighted to open,
global British Chambers of
Sussex Chamber of Commerce
has huge potential for
alongside Ana Christie, the inaugural Business Expo, held at the Kings Church in Burgess Hill. This very
Commerce, your business growth.
successful event gave our brilliant local
Businesses want to train,
together to showcase themselves,
opportunities to grow. We
companies the opportunity to come promote their latest products and
services and make those all important new connections to grow their
businesses. It was a pleasure to meet with them, hear their experiences
and their plans for the future. This
was a really valuable opportunity for
businesses to network and I hope to
see more of these important events in Mid Sussex going forward.”
To support business growth in Sussex, I will continue to work closely with
local MPs, local authorities and other key stakeholders.
We all know that businesses are
facing unprecedented challenges.
The economy is still facing massive
structural issues, including uncertainty
about the UK’s relationship with the EU, supply chain breakdowns, problems in
develop and give their staff are already seeing a drag on economic growth due
to the lack of people in our labour market. Too many
businesses are struggling to find the people they need to succeed and
grow. 78% of firms tell
us they are struggling to
recruit. Government can do more to help firms fill
their gaps. We supported businesses through the
Ana Christie
Kickstart scheme, helping young people from job
centres into work to develop key
essential skills - a scheme which was
supported by Mims Davies MP, when she was appointed as Parliamentary Under
Secretary of State for Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions.
recruiting people and rocketing energy
A great example of the Power of
network, we will ensure Government
been in the development of the eight
costs. Through the British Chamber
are aware of business concerns and
these are addressed to develop a longterm economic strategy for growth.
The role of Government is to set the
conditions that allows the UK to be the
best place for our entrepreneurs to start and grow a business and to incentivise investment in growth.
Only a few weeks ago, I attended a SussExport event with local MPs,
Department for International Trade and
businesses to promote the county. Sussex
Partnership over the last year has
Trailblazer Local Skills Improvement Plans, one of these being Sussex Chamber. We are already seeing
positive outcomes from this truly
collaborative process with colleges
adapting their provision to better meet local needs, and businesses having a
renewed focus on the long-term skills
they need to succeed. All businesses can get involved to help develop
the local skills plan. Email: skills@
sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
has a global brand that can be maximised
Tackling the devastating effects of
international trade. Through our export
challenges facing the world today. All of
through the Chamber’s services in
and customs documentation services, as
well as connections with both national and
climate change is one of the biggest
us have a responsibility to play our part in reducing our carbon emissions, and
the time to do that is now. The journey
to Net Zero can be daunting, especially
for SMEs who may have fewer resources to dedicate to it. The Chamber network is here to help and guide businesses to
sources of advice and funding. Reducing
our carbon footprint is crucial but helping businesses to innovate through green products and services is essential. All of the businesses I meet across
Sussex are run by innovative, dynamic, committed people. Now is an exciting
time to support each other to grow back our local Sussex economy.
The Sussex Chamber Business Expo was a new development for the
Chamber. We will continue to evolve and bring greater opportunities to all.
Our next expo is already planned for November 15th, so contact us to
book! Join us in supporting Sussex business growth.
sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
info@sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk Tel: 01444 259259
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Celebrating neurodiversity with ClaireJones Hughes: neurodiverse leadership by Hannah Jackson, Membership & Marketing Executive at Brighton Chamber. About 15-20% of the
Chamber News
world’s population is neurodivergent.
When we talk about
neurodiversity, or being
neurodivergent, we’re referring to the
cognitive differences in our brains – the
way we perceive and process the world around us.
This might include the autism
ultimately, better business. As part of a mini-series celebrating
neurodiversity in business, we spoke to Claire Jones-Hughes, Partner at
Contentim. She shares what she’s learnt
about herself after receiving her diagnosis as an adult, how she celebrates
neurodiverse leadership in her business and her ADHD superpowers.
spectrum, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia,
Here’s what Claire had to say.
and leaders has proven to lead to more
On the initial diagnosis
dyspraxia. Having diverse teams, talent productivity, better performance and,
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At the grand age of 48, I received
a diagnosis of adult ADHD.
Perimenopause triggered escalations of
symptoms I had been masking very well since childhood. Getting a diagnosis is the start of the journey, and it’s a
positive step forwards to understanding your brain and developing strategies to live and work positively.
After receiving a diagnosis as an adult, it’s not uncommon to look back over
your life and reframe moments that were
stressful or felt like a failure. This process also allowed me to spot common
denominators that contributed to success
C HA M BER N EWS SP O N SO R
at school, university and work and see how I can continue to apply them. What I learned about myself
I learned that where there is structure, I thrive. I like deadlines, clear objectives and data. In the past, where structure
my team to understand areas where
me by understanding how people
tools and tactics I employ to improve
perspective on life through other
I talk about my ADHD superpowers and
then, that I found myself in a variety
I struggle. But also show them which
feel and think. I want to broaden my
productivity and focus. More importantly,
people’s experiences. It’s no surprise
where they can rely on me.
of customer-centric roles during my professional life.
was lacking, I could deviate and
My ADHD superpowers – the benefits
in the title – attention deficit). You often
ADHD people can often hyperfocus
Contentim.
well, it helps regulate brain activity
As part of our series celebrating
hyperfocus in my professional life is
spoke to James Dempster, MD of
other humans. Adults with ADHD can
founder of The Joyful. Read their
like small talk. And will attempt to get
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procrastinate. I get bored quickly (it’s
see me zone out, fiddle with my hair or doodle. But I am processing audibly
and usually get the gist. My desire for
structure and change means I often look to where processes can be streamlined and improved. This also fuels my role
as a creative lead, where I never accept the status quo and seek new ways to communicate and new visual ideas.
I am accepting my brain is different.
In a leadership role and as a business partner, it’s been crucial to educate
of working with someone like me
on specific things. When channelled
Claire Jones-Hughes is a Partner at
and emotions. The most valuable
neurodiversity in business, we also
my desire to connect mentally with
Fox&Bear, and Alice Reeves, Co-
often have social challenges. I do not
stories on the Chamber website:
to the heart of a meaty topic quite quickly while networking.
I have recently realised this is my need to make sense of the world around
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www.i.eurosport.com
The pride of England as the Lionesses roar in Brighton Sunday July 31st 2022, the day momentous history was made as the England women’s football team won their first ever major tournament, beating old rivals Germany 2-1 to be crowned as European Champions. Germany had previously won the tournament eight times and had never lost a final. Finally, the nation was able to celebrate lifting a trophy that had Sport almost become the holy grail after fifty-six years of hurt. A record crowd of 87,192 watched the game at Wembley with millions glued to their TV sets across the country as Chloe Kelly scored the winning goal in extra time. A reported audience of 17.4 million tuned in, making it the most watched women’s match on UK television.
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Under Dutch boss Sarina Wiegman, England Women began the European Championships on the back of scoring fifty-three goals and conceding none in her first six games. Following success in the Arnold Clark Cup and winning their three pre-tournament friendlies against Belgium, Switzerland and impressively over the Netherlands, the then reigning European champions, the Lionesses kicked off their Euro 2022 campaign with a slender 1-0 win over Austria at Old Trafford.
Then the Lionesses came to Brighton to play Norway and that appeared to be when momentum began to gain pace and people started to believe. Those lucky enough to secure a ticket out of the crowd of 28,847 at the American Express Community Stadium, witnessed a memorable night as England broke their own tournament record with a sensational 8-0 victory. Ranked eleventh in the world, Norway were completely
SBT SP O RT SP O N SO R
www.nme.com
outclassed and outplayed in every department as Beth Mead netted a hattrick and Ellen White scored a double to move within one goal of Wayne Rooney’s all-time England goalscoring record. The Amex crowd produced an electric atmosphere which the players undoubtedly fed off and a stunning performance by England only served to support their status as one of the tournament favourites. After the seventh goal went in, there was a loud rendition of ‘It’s coming home’ around the stadium and, as supporters shone lights from their phone cameras, the full-time whistle was greeted by the players dancing in wonderful scenes of celebration. The players gathered in front of fans and the stand containing their families, held hands and sang ‘Sweet Caroline’ before walking around the pitch to reap the plaudits that were coming down from the stands. However, their toughest test was just around the corner as one of the other tournament favourites, Spain, were
the visitors to the Amex in the first of the quarterfinals. England were unbeaten in 17 games heading into the match, but they fell behind when Esther Gonazalez broke the deadlock in the 54th minute to give Spain a deserved 1-0 lead. With a new quarter final high of 28,994 people packed into the stadium and tension rising with every minute that passed, the pre match excitement reached fever pitch as coach Wiegman’s expertise came to the fore. Two of her changes combined to draw England level with just six minutes left as Manchester United team-mates, Alessia Russo heading down for Ella Toone to score. With thirty minutes of extra time to play the nail biting thought of a penalty shoot-out simply became too much to contemplate and the crowd noticeably raised the noise levels. The players responded, Spain looked rattled and when Georgia Stanway advanced towards Spain’s penalty area six minutes into the restart and unleashed an absolute rocket into the top corner, it
felt like if there had been a roof at the Amex, then it would have come off. Rapturous celebrations followed and continued for the rest of the match and when the whistle went for the end of the contest, there were scenes of unbridled joy both on and off the pitch as England’s women had secured a remarkable 2-1 success. Despite the clash being interrupted by a protestor who tried to tie themselves to the goalpost, this was unquestionably a match that will live long in the memory for those who were there. Jubilant scenes were echoed by chants of “It’s coming home” across the stadium in the dying moments of the match and at full-time, a joyous crowd joined the England players again in a chorus of ‘Sweet Caroline’. The show rolled on to Bramall Lane, Sheffield United’s ground for the semi-final where an equally incredible atmosphere undoubtedly helped to produce a resounding 4-0 thrashing of Sweden. Then, onto Wembley and a day that created history. It’s finally come home!
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SBT S PO RT S PO N S OR
Panamera – more than just a Porsche! 2022 is currently enjoying the 30th anniversary of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, which got underway at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari track at Imola in Italy on 24 April. Eight races will take place over the season, including Sport the exclusive street circuit in Monaco and last month’s race at Silverstone, with proceedings concluding back in Italy on 11 September at the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza. All the races are there as support events for the Formula One season this year.
purveyor of German perfection. Ask the average Joe or Jill on the street what Porsche they think of, generally the 911 is the answer. However, there is so much more to the array of choice within the Porsche line up. Step forward then the lovely people at Porsche Centre MidSussex in Burgess Hill who were kind enough to lend me a Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo for a weekend away in Bath.
to understand why. Described as a mid/full size luxury car, this is unquestionably the largest car I’ve ever driven; despite being just over five metres long and just shy of two metres wide, it’s handling, particularly in the corners, was effortless and smooth in equal measure. At just under £89,000, the 3.0-litre V6 twin turbo engine was sharp and active when required and felt like the luxury sports car it was meant to be.
So as a hat tip to the world of Porsche, I thought it would be remiss of me not to have a test drive in one and acknowledge the creative engineering and design that goes into today’s
The Panamera is probably the model that’s least visible on the road and providing an extremely comfortable and effortless three-and-a-halfhour drive both ways, it’s difficult
Unlike the 2-wheel rear drive 911 that I had the pleasure of driving a few years ago, this Panamera is a front-engine all-wheel drive with an eight-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox, together
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SBT SP O RT SP O N SO R
with an electric motor allowing you to change from petrol to electric with the added bonus of the electric motor that charges up while you’re on the move. Whilst the fuel economy supplies up to an acceptable 134.5 miles per gallon (I drove to Bath and back without needing to fill up!) the electric range is only 34 miles so the automatic charging while you’re on the move is a definite plus. With 457bhp at 5400-6400rpm, the Panamera provides a tremendous 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 174mph the latter which unfortunately I couldn’t test for obvious reasons…honestly! Under acceleration, there is no question that despite it’s size, it pulls away strongly with effortless ease. Despite being a relatively quiet car on starting the ignition, things noticeably change when Sport or Sport Plus mode are activated, with the exhaust emitting some great sounds that you would hope for from a car of this magnitude. So, what’s it like to look at from the outside? With the lines and curves in all the right places, the Panamera oozes class and sophistication whilst having the look of a car that could wreak havoc on the roads whenever the situation
demanded it. The considerable wheel base and 21-inch alloy wheels with neon green brake callipers only served to enhance the feeling of excitement and satisfaction in tandem. Internally Porsche never fails to disappoint, and the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is no exception. Surrounded by cream leather, a minimalist array of buttons and Bose speakers supported by an easy to navigate touch-screen system there is an abundance of space coupled with class and style. The seats are very comfortable as you would expect and by adding the majority of the vital controls to the flat console surrounding the automatic gear shifter, Porsche has been able to push the dashboard further towards the front, thereby creating more legroom, especially important for a six feet tall person like myself. This is undeniably an extremely well-built car and including an additional satellite navigation system on the driver’s side as well as the centre console allowed me to enjoy the sensation of being safe without spoiling the fun. With front and rear cameras and side sensors built in to aid parking, let me tell you this was an absolute godsend in the
hotel car park. Tight spaces between the cars was an understatement and having this system of protection should be built into all makes and models and not just Porsche. Scrapes and scratches from careless drivers would be reduced significantly and I’m delighted to say, despite taking a little longer, being the largest vehicle in the car park, I was able to manoeuvre without incident. Finally, the boot provides 418 litres of space or over 1200 litres with the rear seats folded down, in other words, acres of room for all the family luggage and with a beautiful weekend of sunshine, the sunroof was duly utilised to the full. There are plenty of other features I could describe and let you know how I swooned over them, but I don’t unfortunately have the same space as the Panamera. In summary then, the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Sport Turismo is an absolute delight to drive, I would thoroughly recommend it as a luxury sports car, it’s more than just a Porsche…I certainly didn’t want to return it that’s for sure. To find out more or book your test drive at Porsche Centre Mid Sussex visit them at Innovation Drive, York Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9TW or online at https://www.porschemidsussex.co.uk/
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Bad boys of tennis
Last month saw Nick Kyrgios reach his maiden Grand Slam final, where he lost in four sets to Novak Djokovic.
However, his antics through the proceeding rounds Sport of arguing points and line calls, spitting in the direction of fans as well as accusing the referee of ‘financial bias’ set him apart from the other players. His opponent in the quarter-final, Stefanos Tsipitas even appeared to lose control of his emotions, wacking the ball into the stadium clock and also against Kyrgios to win the point, no doubt through annoyance and frustration at the Aussie’s behaviour. While some people think he’s a breath of fresh air and others find him an absolute disgrace to the sport, it had me thinking that surely tennis always needs a bad boy or pantomime villain which we either love or hate. After all there have been a few in the past whose notoriety on the court wasn’t always for the right reasons. Step forward my personal favourites, starting with Ilie Nastase. The mid 70s saw the arrival of Ilie ‘Nasty’ Nastase, who set the standard for which others are measured today. He’s probably best remembered for his frequently bizarre and rude behaviour where on occasion he would walk off the court, resulting in fines, suspensions, and even disqualifications. Reportedly in one match, when he got mad at the crowd, he revealed a T-shirt under his regular shirt to reveal a picture of the infamous middle finger. Jimmy Connors Eight-time Grand Slam winner Jimmy Connors won a record 109 titles and regularly argued with umpires. In
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https://img.lemde.fr
1977, he even refused to take part in a parade of former champions to mark Wimbledon’s centenary and was booed when he went out to play the following day. He was recognised for regularly being foul-mouthed, swearing at umpires and even the fans when things weren’t going his way. John McEnroe The original bad boy of tennis, John McEnroe was nicknamed “superbrat”. He upset the Wimbledon committee so much that he was denied club membership despite winning the title in 1981 - the first winner to be treated that way. That year he unleashed his famous “You cannot be serious!” tirade against the umpire over a disputed line call on court one. He repeatedly smashed rackets on tour and was even disqualified from the Australian Open. Goran Ivanisevic Goran Ivanisevic is best known at
Wimbledon for his extraordinary 2001 triumph as a wild card, when he beat Tim Henman in a rain-interrupted
five-set semi-final. But Goran certainly knew how to behave badly on court too. He holds the rare accolade of being the first tennis player to forfeit a match because he had run out of rackets, by smashing them. Jeff Tarango Kyrgios’s antics don’t compare with Jeff Tarango, when in 1995, things quickly escalated with the French umpire during a third-round match. Tarango lost the first set on a tiebreak and was serving early in the second when he exchanged words with spectators. The umpire gave the American a warning at which point Tarango accused him of being the most “corrupt official in tennis” before storming off court and promptly being disqualified. In a match with Michael Chang, Tarango also once dropped his shorts on court. “Bad Boys Bad Boys… watcha gonna do…?” For me a refreshing face of tennis…unpredictable, controversial and compulsive viewing.
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Sam Thomas & laurence elphick
This podcast converses with the great and the good from the world of sport and business about …. Well sport in Sussex, from FootGolf to fencing, from wakeboarding to weightlifting and everything in between. Discussing with guests what makes them tick and why business and sport go hand in hand Sponsored by
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ASK TH E E XPE RT S P ON S OR
‘Of All Deceivers Fear Most Thyself’ Søren Kirkegaard Many people ponder the context of Søren Kirkegaard’s famous quote.
In order to become increasingly aware, Ask the one of the primary Expert things that we must be willing to do is to explore our true selves; us as we really are.
As we discover truths that are unpalatable about ourselves, we face an enormous battle if we are not to pander to our overwhelming egoseeking to constantly drag us from reality and back into the comfort of our complacent individualism.
Though this is such an exciting journey and the most powerful that we can ever embark upon, it is simultaneously traumatic and must be prioritised in the face of the constant temptation to stop altogether.
Our entire modern culture is structured to distract us from looking at who we really are and the difficult work of our inner journey, because such work requires the two things that we prioritise least: time and reflection.
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Furthermore, humans who are selfaware and understand who they really are, will not buy and desire things relentlessly or give their time solely to the pursuit of success. Consequently, this revelation is simply incompatible with what our society requires of us to maintain its ravenous appetite for our constant spending. Capitalism requires the sacrifice of our souls for its relentless drive towards ‘growth’ and we offer them gladly.
ASK TH E EX P ERT SP O N SO R
We frantically pursue security and wealth, and yet the self-attention and nurture that we need most evade us. Modern life simply steals them from us, and we are not self-aware enough to miss them or to get them back. A good way for us to understand and measure this phenomenon is to ask ourselves when we last had an hour alone, undistracted and quiet, in which we had the opportunity and peace to think about ourselves and how we are doing. We become addicted to filling our free time with more ‘things’ and spend longer at work or on our phones, feeling that we are ‘connected’ when the most crucial person to connect to and invest in, ourselves, is left alone and slowly withers away. This is why children are infinitely more alive and well than us - more capable of happiness and joy than adults; because their inner life and self-communion has not yet had time to be extinguished. As they grow older and the overwhelming emptiness of adulthood in a materialist culture is forced upon them, they develop the emptiness that we know only too well. Actually, the greatest and most valuable of all gifts we could possibly give to our children is to daily exemplify a person who honestly knows themselves and in that knowledge is able to consistently demonstrate self-love, selfaccountability and self-nurture. When I work with parents around this phenomenon and think about myself as a father, I witness the most profound truth: We are aware enough to know that this is the most important thing of all but we are rendered helpless to teach it despite our desire and longing to do so. Instead, we know that we are unable to teach it because we don’t practice it.
We do not have it within ourselves and it can only be instilled by example. So it is better to suppress what we really know and, in order to quieten our guilt, we give our children far too many things and thus distract them. The internet, television and the relentless demands of our busy lives mean that we are constantly bombarded by information, products and images that monopolise our attention. Individualism and materialism only need appeal to our hunger: our ravenous desire to feel better about ourselves driven by the subconscious knowledge of our true fragility. The journey of inner discovery is at best sporadic and is nearly always only considered in the most extreme conditions of personal duress, precipitated through conditions such as personal crisis of some kind: the breakdown of a relationship, illness, bereavement, alcoholism, depression or psychological breakdown. This is because these occurrences tend to simply expose our true vulnerability and us as we really are and force us to address the reality of our human fragility and brokenness. True awareness, despite its certain pain and inherent suffering, is a wonderful journey containing endless reward, if only we can continue in our bravery and willingness to negotiate that which is yet to be discovered within. We contain both the propensity for tremendous good, and for great evil. In our deepest parts, we are simultaneously both light and dark, truthful and self-deceiving, glorious and yet vulnerable.
We are lovely; in fact, we can be more supremely beautiful than most of us have ever dared believe even in our wildest imaginings. But the key to the unlocking of this beauty is actually found only in first exposing and then facing the very real darkness that lives in part of our souls. This knowledge can not really be taught. It can only be discovered; accepted within - and then lived out. This is Awareness. It is in this cumulative and lifelong humility that such people find their limitless ability to be fruitful and to do real good. Isn’t this a wonderful paradox! John Richards has spent over 20 years working in Crisis Intervention with a vast range of clients and organisations as a Speaker, Writer and Consultant specialising in Awareness and Spiritual Development. He is a founding Director of The Inspiration Programme and, with his co-directors explorer Neil Laughton and wildlife trails leader Angus Wingfield, leads adventure retreats in wild places around the world including Tibet, The Himalayas, the Mediterranean coast and South Africa. His first book, about Awareness, Change, Relationships and Fruitfulness, was published by EyeWear in the UK in October 2018. Find out more: www.awarenesschange.com
The more that we run from facing such evil and pretending that it does not live in us, the more we give it overwhelming power.
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W I N E O F TH E MO NT H S P ON S OR
County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month August 2022 Stopham Estate – Pinot Gris 2020 and Bacchus 2020 For this month, we have chosen two wines from the same producer as I found it a real challenge to choose between the two of them from Stopham Estate, in West Sussex, the other side of Pulborough. Both are perfect for a refreshing
mid-summer glass of white wine on
their own or with food. The owner of
Stopham, Simon, has a motto for his Estate’s wines, which is “Made with
Precision and Passion”, and so I have to agree with his statement - all his wines have a clean and fresh taste
Visit the Vineyard at
with subtle, well-balanced flavours and
Stopham Estate
elements coming through.
Simon and his team are open
The first wine is a Pinot Gris, a versatile
for wine tasting and tours
throughout the summer. Set in
grape grown across the globe from
South Africa to the US and Argentina
with original origins in Burgundy, France. For this wine, I had a lovely hit of
stone fruit together with good acidity making the mouth water (in a good
way!). Because of the fruit and texture of this wine, it works really well with spicy or heavier flavour dishes that
it matches with its ample character. Typical sales price is £16.
FOOD PAIRING - For me, personally I
would say this works well with Chinese or Thai dishes.
Winemaker’s comments;
If you like a little sweetness and texture in your wine, then our Pinot Gris may suit you. It is off-dry, with aromatic peach and pear fruit.
The second wine of the month from
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Stopham is the Bacchus which is a
a beautiful rural location, it has the
its elderflower and floral notes. With
nearby, a great lunch excursion for all
be too prominent but with Stopham’s
South and North Downs. I would
start of Covid), we have a delicate hint
sparkling wine, which is excellent.
grapefruit and citrus coming through
Michael Yeoman,
orange peel with limited floral notes. A
Wine Specialist
this wine. Typical sales price is £15
Michael Yeoman produces his
FOOD PAIRING - I would say that this
with Spirit of the Downs (www.
English winemakers’ favourite due to
Stopham Bridge Pub on the river Arun
some Bacchus, the elderflower can
where you have views of the rolling
Bacchus 2020 (a great Summer at the
also recommend trying their English
of Elderflower quickly followed by a followed by a slight sweetness of
nice minerality from start to finish for
wine works particularly well with white
English Wine and International
own range of sustainable spirits spiritofthedowns.co.uk) and works
fish, goats cheese or asparagus.
with small batch local vineyards with his
Winemaker’s notes;
brightonandhovewineclub.co.uk)
Our Bacchus is floral on the nose with orange peel and grapefruit on the
palate. It has moderate acidity with a touch of sweetness.
Brighton and Hove Wine Club (www.
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A
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