SBT issue 465

MAYO WYNNE BAXTER: READY FOR GROWTH

GROWNING FROM A SINGLE LOCATION IN LEWES TO EIGHT HUBS ACROSS SUSSEX

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.

SBTWelcome

Welcome to another issue of SBT

Sussex is blessed to have so many long-established businesses, alongside a plethora of dynamic start-ups.

As features in this issue demonstrate, those that have stood the test of time have focussed on more than just growth. Staying relevant and having the ability (not to mention willingness) to adapt - and, importantly, maintain a razor sharp belief in a vision - have ensured that some of the county’s most successful brands have been part of the business community for many decades. They help make Sussex what it is and are responsible for ensuring that this part of the world leads the way in innovation, equality and so much more.

One of them is our cover feature - Mayo Wynne Baxter. If you are looking for growth inspiration, you will find it here.

From a single location, this is a brand that now boasts no fewer than eight hubs across the county. And its ambitions are unlikely to stop there.

Other businesses you will be familiar with have celebrated milestones recently, including 100-year-old Carpenter Box and flourishing Preston Insurance Brokers.

If you are focussed on growth, don’t forget to take a look at our Networking and Events section. Making new connections could be key to a more successful future.

If you want to see what tomorrow will look like today, check out Plus Accounting’s explanation of what accounting will be like in the future.

You may also be interested to know just how far SEICO Group thinks out of the box to ensure it can help those in even unusual sectors raise money to make big dreams a reality.

Something that can inspire anyone is art - in any of its numerous forms. We are delighted to throw the spotlight on Brighton Festival’s Books and Debate programme. Take a look at what’s on offer.

The world may be full of doom and gloom right now, but take a look a little closer to home and you will find no end of positive business stories. We are here to share them and we hope you learn from others’ fantastic successes.

Sam Thomas, Managing Director

Joint Managing Director Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk

Production & Design Kim Butler kim@lifemediagroup.co.uk Accounts Clare Fermor clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk

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Monthly

Find out why a PR boss is reviving a charity lunch, how memory and identity fit into this year’s Brighton Festival and how you can be part of Women’s World Golf Day for a very worthy cause.

Finance

Carpenter Box outlines the top tax considerations when selling a business, Plus Accounting looks into the future and Andrew Page, of SEICO Group, is a man on a truly divine mission. Special feature: The rise of Preston Insurance Brokers.

Legal

All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Sussex Business Times Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Sussex Business Times Magazine assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisement contained within Sussex Business Times Magazine. All prices featured in Sussex Business Times Magazine are correct at the time of going to press.

Copyright The Business Group Sussex Ltd. 2020 ©

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Cover Story

Mayo Wynne Baxter outlines how to review a non-disclosure agreement and Alex Jones, of 365 Employment Law, discusses ‘Menopause in the workplace’. 24

Mayo Wynne Baxter: ready for growth - even after 150 years.

Sales

Alex Ryan talks ‘Marketing mindfulness’ and more

Charity

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What happened at the Rockinghorse Ryder Cup, One Day at a Time campaign launched by children’s charity and the WOLO Foundation looks ahead to its 2023 Africa 100 challenge.

Networking & Events

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VAP Top Table event unveiled and news from The Property Professionals Lunch, Network My Club, Brighton & Hove Business Show, The Boundary Club and more.

Motoring

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Rivervale unveils a major charity initiative and throws the spotlight on Toyota’s bZ4X.

Chamber News

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Latest business news from Sussex Chamber of Commerce and Brighton Chamber of Commerce.

Lifestyle

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How stopping the biological clock can help firms retain top female talent and tips on how to ‘look casual like a boss’.

Wine of the Month

Michael Yeoman shares his top tipple for May.

PR boss hosts charity fundraiser at The Amex

After a break of four years, the fantastic Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS) lunch is back on the menu at The Amex on Thursday, November 2.

Brighton football club owner Tony Bloom will be doing a Q+A with lunch organiser Tim Cobb, and OMS chief executive Alex Holden will explain about the great work the charity is doing to support people with MS.

An amazing 15 tables have already been sold and Tim hopes to welcome more than 200 people to the event.

“The response from the business community has been overwhelming,” Tim said. “I was not sure if there was still an appetite for this type of event, so I have been bowled over by the welcome from business friends old and new.”

Tim has linked up with the county’s three key networking groups to further promote the event. County Business Clubs, Network My Club and Best of British have all agreed to start marketing the event.

“Their support means a lot to me,” Tim continued. “They had no hesitation in offering their services, and that was just incredible.”

Handelsbanken has come forward as the first sponsor, and three more categories are up for grabs. Sponsors will get a name-check in all promotional literature, a front-row table and a chance to chat to, and have photos with, Tony Bloom.

Tim was diagnosed with MS in 2012 and

found great support and encouragement from Overcoming MS and its chair, Linda Bloom. Linda will be at the event with her husband Tony and it promises to be a top-class day.

“The football club is also throwing its weight behind the lunch,” Tim added. “They will be promoting the event to

fans and we hope to sell a few more seats this way.”

If you are interested in attending the lunch, priced £80per person, please contact tim@cobbpr.com

Explore history, identity and more with Brighton Festival’s ‘Books and Debate’ programme

The programme comprises themes of creativity, memory and identity which are examined through music, landscape and our connections to each other and the past. Monthly News

This year’s Guest Director, musician, DJ and broadcaster Nabihah Iqbal invites audiences and artists to ‘Gather Round’ and celebrate collaboration, community and the joy of shared experiences. Her event series Glory to Sound reflects this ethos as she explores the ways in which music connects us to each other. Across two evenings, award-winning broadcaster Anita Rani (9 May) and one of the greatest modern poets, Linton Kwesi Johnson (14 May) will join Iqbal on stage as she leads her guests through their musical lives.

On 16 May, Iqbal and British-Nigerian historian, broadcaster and film-maker David Olusoga will explore the history

of Brighton and East Sussex and through this lens, discuss what it means to be British today.

Poet Amy Key’s newly released and critically acclaimed memoir, Arrangements in Blue, looks at the realities of a life lived in the absence of romantic love, using Joni Mitchell’s seminal album Blue - which shaped Key’s expectations of love - as its guide. On 20 May, she will examine the unexpected life she has created for herself and the painful feelings we are usually too ashamed to discuss: loneliness, envy, grief and failure, with writer and performer Vanessa Kisuule.

Also on 20 May, journalist Kieran Yates introduces her first solo book, All the

Houses I’ve Ever Lived In. By the age of twenty-five, Yates had lived in twenty different houses, from council estates in London to car showrooms in rural Wales. Between a series of evictions, mouldy flats and bizarre house-share interviews, the reality of Britain’s housing crisis grew difficult to ignore. Drawing on years of research, she exposes the issues underpinning the crisis and charts the heartbreaks and joys of a life spent navigating the housing system.

Author, artist and architect Sabba Khan won the Jhalak Prize in 2022 with her debut graphic novel The Roles We Play On 13 May, she will host a workshop to explain the principles of the genre, allowing participants to experiment with form and illustration and to start their own

graphic novel. Later in the day, Khan will join British-Ghanian author and Costa First Book award-winner Caleb Azumah Nelson, whose latest novel Small Worlds (published on 11 May) explores dance as a form of self-expression, for a discussion about how memories and music can drive storytelling.

On 26 May, writer-in-residence at Seven Sisters Country Park, Alinah Azadeh and guests host an immersive evening of readings, discussion, song and video to present a new body of work by global majority writers from We See You Now, a literature project inspired by the iconic and shifting landscapes of the Sussex coast. The landscape can be experienced through the writers’ eyes and ears from 14 May, with a walking guide from Seven Sisters Country Park Visitor Centre, or online on the Seven Sisters website - https://www. sevensisters.org.uk/

Munroe Bergdorf discusses her lifeaffirming, heartfelt and intimate book, Transitional, on 27 May. Through the story of one woman’s extraordinary mission to live with authenticity, Transitional shows us that we all transition, we all develop as people; it’s

what binds us, not what separates us. Bergdorf shares how to heal, how to build a stronger community and how to evolve as a society out of shame and into pride.

Additional highlights

Catherine Johnson, Patrice Lawrence and Victoria Princewill: Untold Stories: Writing historical fiction for children and young people (7 May).

Award winning authors Catherine Johnson (Sawbones) and Patrice Lawrence (Orange Boy) discuss the joy of finding new perspectives through the voices of real and imagined characters. They will be in conversation with historical novelist Victoria Princewill, whose work is driven by a desire to write forgotten African women back into our world. For adults and young people interested in bringing the past to life.

Rafael Behr: A Survivor’s Guide to Politics (10 May): Award-winning political columnist Rafael Behr discusses his new book Politics: A Survivor’s Guide with Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynsky. Behr will take the audience on a personal journey from despair at the state of politics to hope

that there is a better way of doing things, with insights drawn from three decades as a political commentator and foreign correspondent.

Place, Race & Being British: South Asian Book Club Live (13 May): London’s South Asian Book Club platforms writing from South Asia and its diaspora. For this event, founder Ali Arif will be joined by writers Umi Sinha and Hafsa Zayyan for an intimate discussion on identity, geography and what it means to be British today.

The87press Live (24 May): SouthAsian, neurodiverse and non-binary-led independent publisher the87press hosts a night of poetry on 24 May. Home to The Hythe, an interdisciplinary e-journal for poetry and poetics, the87press regularly runs creative writing workshops in community-based and higher education institutions and curates events that bring together sonic and lyric subcultures.

Polly Toynbee: An Uneasy Inheritance (28 May): Polly Toynbee uses the prism of her extraordinary family to examine the true state of class in Britain in her new book, An Uneasy Inheritance - My Family and Other Radicals. While for generations

Polly Toynbee’s ancestors have been committed left-wing rabble-rousers railing against injustice, they could never claim to be working class. So where does that leave their ideals of class equality?

Festival of ideas

A collaboration with the University of Sussex, Festival of Ideas harnesses the transformative power of the arts and humanities to fashion new ways of thinking about the past, present and future.

Acoustic Ecologies: Mapping Habitats (6 May): To mark The Sleeping Tree sound installation by arts studio Invisible Flock at Brighton Dome, a panel of speakers explore ways in which the field recordings for the installation were made and pick up the theme of loss of habitat that is so crucial to the project.

The Live Archive hosted by Erin James (8 May): Challenging assumptions about what an ‘academic event’ might look like, and who it can include, The Live Archive seeks out new and exciting possibilities for the future of decolonising education and academia. Weaving together poetry performances and live debate, this is not your typical

panel discussion. Organised by Sussex University and The Stuart Hall Foundation.

Gardens, Botany and Histories of (De) Colonialism (11 May): Taking the Royal Pavilion and Garden as their starting point, Rob Boyle, Head Gardener at Royal Pavilion Garden, and Prof. Vinita Damodaran, Director of the Centre for World Environmental History at University of Sussex, explore the remarkable relationships between botany and colonialism. Organised by University of Sussex and Brighton & Hove Museums.

Music for Girls (27 May): Join a panel of artists, writers and listeners for an afternoon of conversation and activities exploring collective music histories and lost memorabilia, hosted by the University of Sussex’s Music for Girls project. Expect nostalgia, mixtapes, and songs!

Young readers (throughout Brighton Festival)

Well-known writers including former children’s laureate Jacqueline Wilson (21 May), bestselling authors M. G. Leonard (May 7) and Liz Pichon (28 May) and Thomas Taylor (14 May) will read their

latest works and host workshops. Katie and Kevin Tsang will take readers on an action-packed adventure with Journey to the Dragon Realm (13 May) and actor and author Stephen Mangan and illustrator Anita Mangan will introduce children to The Unlikely Rise of Harry Sponge (28 May). For younger children, multi-award-winning authors Rachel Bright and Jim Field host a puppet show (20 May), while best-selling illustrator Guy Parker-Rees leads a messy arts and craft session (21 May).

Brighton Festival was established in 1967 and is the largest annual curated multiarts festival in England. The Festival takes place from 6-28 Mayand stages a host of music, theatre, dance, art, film, literature, debate, outdoor and community events in venues and locations across Brighton, Hove and Sussex.

Explore the full programme at https:// brightonfestival.org/

Top tax considerations when selling your business

explains Carpenter Box.

The ability to structure a sale on a tax-efficient basis is central to maximising shareholder value. Reviewing the position in advance of selling a business may identify opportunities. These opportunities can be capitalised on and any risks dealt with.

We outline our top tax considerations when selling a business below. However, we always recommend professional advice on a timely basis. This should be tailored to individual circumstances, with specialist tax support through the transaction process.

1. It’s all about BADR

Over recent years, the ability to sell shares in a company with the benefit of a 10% tax rate has been a major attraction for vendors. Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) has provided the means to achieve this. However, there are a number of requirements which, if not met, result in a loss of relief.

A successful claim for BADR requires conditions to be met over a period of two years prior to the sale. Where shares are sold, the company must be a ‘trading company’, the shareholder must have a sufficient shareholding and must have been an officer or employee throughout the period of

two years prior to the sale.

If there’s a problem meeting any of the conditions and changes are needed, there will generally need to be a further period of two years before BADR is available on a sale.

Ensure you avoid making last-minute changes without taking tax advice. The conditions for relief must be met right up to the sale. A shareholder resigning their directorship or employment shortly before a sale, for example, would lose entitlement to relief.

There is also the potential of selling your shares to an Employee Ownership Trust

(“EOT”). Provided the rules are met, no Capital Gains Tax (CGT) would be payable.

2. Securing capital gains tax treatment

Where BADR is not available, a disposal at the current CGT rate of 20% is still quite attractive. However, there are risks to the availability of CGT treatment which may result in sales proceeds being taxed on a much less favourable basis. It’s important to make sure the risks are mitigated.

3. Income tax risk #1: employmentrelated securities

Most shares held by owner-managers will be employment-related securities (ERS). The ERS regime can subject part of the proceeds from a sale of shares to income tax at rates of up to 45% and to employee’s and employer’s NIC.

For example, where arrangements are made to provide an employee-shareholder with a share of the sale proceeds in excess of what would be expected, based on the shares they hold, the excess is likely to be subject to such charges.

4. Income tax risk #2: buy-outs

Where shares are sold as part of a management buy-out or similar transaction, HMRC has the ability to reclassify shareholder capital gains as income. It will then subject the proceeds to income tax at dividend rates in some cases.

The rules won’t be invoked where the transaction is carried out for bona fide commercial reasons (e.g. business succession).

5. Shares or assets?

Whether a sale is structured as a sale of shares or a sale of the company’s assets might be steered by the negotiating dynamic between vendor and purchaser. In any case, it is important to appreciate the differences in tax outcomes.

A sale of business and assets will frequently result in tax being paid at company level on gains realised from the sale of chargeable assets such as property and goodwill. The shareholder will then be subject to tax (ideally CGT with the benefit of BADR) on a subsequent winding-up of the company and extraction of the proceeds of the sale.

Professional costs are likely to be higher on an assets sale.

6. It’s a wind-up!

Following a sale of trade and assets, a solvent liquidation process may be needed to extract the proceeds of the sale. Distributions to shareholders ordinarily attract CGT treatment. However, HMRC has the ability to invoke tax provisions to tax them as income where the shareholder becomes involved in a similar business activity within the following two years.

7. Pre-sale demerger

Vendors should consider what a potential purchaser wishes to acquire. For example, it is unlikely they would

want to acquire non-core investment assets. Finding a means of enabling the purchaser to acquire only the activities they want can introduce complexity and tax inefficiency to a sales process.

8. Looking after non-shareholders

The commitment of key staff will be central to ensuring the success of a sales process. Without forward-planning, the ability to reward these individuals will likely be limited to bonuses taxable as employment income.

Consider establishing more tax-efficient incentives in advance. An Enterprise Management Incentive share option scheme might provide a more compelling and tax-efficient solution for all parties.

9. Inheritance tax

In selling their business, many ownermanagers move from a position in which most of their wealth (in the form of their shares) is protected from inheritance tax (IHT) through business property relief to one in which their wealth (the cash proceeds of sale) is fully exposed to IHT at a rate of 40% on death.

Consideration should be given to addressing this pre- and post-sale. For example, consider Business Relief (BR) qualifying investments, gifts, the use of trusts, family investment companies or life insurance. These are complex areas requiring careful tailoring to individual circumstances. However, the savings that could be achieved are often very large.

For further advice on tax-efficient business transactions or sales, please get in touch with a member of our business tax team at www. carpenterbox.com

Plus Accounting – what does the future of accounting look like?

Plus Accounting has seen impressive growth in both the team and the number of clients it has proudly supported over the last few years, and it has ambitious plans for the future.

Plus Accounting is a fiercely independent firm and a trusted business partner to some of the most impactful businesses and charities in Sussex, and it is aiming to double in size over the next three years. The directors believe that there are some fantastic opportunities in the market for agile businesses to solve interesting challenges and develop sustainable legacies of which to be proud.

The directors are clear that in order for independent firms of accountants to survive and prosper, they need a

comprehensive range of skills and resources which allows them to provide advice on all aspects of auditing, taxation and financial management. The directors equally recognise that the firm needs to be of a sufficient size to accommodate the specialists and technical advisers who provide these services. In these circumstances, size really does matter and with 4 directors and a team of over 35 professionals, Plus Accounting is well on the way to achieving this aim.

The last few years has meant that technological innovations that felt years away, are here now and creating lasting change in business. Now,

more than ever, clients appreciate a business partner to support them with their financial functions and help them navigate their way toward a more profitable, long-lasting future. This has given the directors an opportunity to look at the entire business, focussing on their most important asset – their team.

Developing a high performing team of advisors

Plus Accounting is particularly proud of its record in training accountants and advisers. In the past 12 months, it has seen another two qualify as chartered accountants, and the business currently has nearly 30% of

Finance

Chris Morey, Luke Thomas, Paul Feist, Jake Standing

the team studying towards accounting, tax and marketing qualifications.

Due to ambitious plans for growth, the directors are keen to expand their trainee programme even further and continue to train outstanding accountants and advisors, in addition to employing experienced hires ready for the next challenge. Recently, both Stanley Fowler and Kayleigh Jones were recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) for the high pass rate they achieved in their examinations, and this is something of which Plus Accounting are extremely proud.

The team at Plus Accounting is the backbone to the business’s success and, as a firm, it looks to empower their clients to take control of their finances. Plus Accounting enables its advisors to have the skills and confidence to ask the right questions when speaking to clients and ensure that they have a positive impact on our community.

They recently welcomed Jake Standing as a director and shareholder. Jake is an active member of the Brighton business community and formerly a partner at top 30 accountancy firm Kreston Reeves. Jake is experienced in developing a high-performing team of business advisors, partnering clients and consulting on all aspects of business planning, funding, financial planning, analysis and digital excellence.

Paul Feist, Managing Director at Plus

Accounting, commented: “Jake’s appointment brings a valuable new dynamic to the firm and his experience and skill set will be in much demand with our diverse and vibrant client base.”

Paul added “Jake’s appointment comes at an important time for the firm. The firm’s ambition is to continue expanding and the strategic plan targets a doubling in our size over the next three years. Jake’s experience of working in a larger firm and a spell in industry makes him well placed to help the existing directors bring these plans to fruition.”

Jake said: “I’ve been really overwhelmed by the welcome I have received from the team at Plus. It is clear that people enjoy each other’s company, create a good level of challenge, and relish partnering our clients through the financial rollercoaster we seem to experience each day.

“Advising business owners on their growth plans, and supporting them on that journey, is what I really enjoy. When given the opportunity to be one of those business owners, I knew it was something I just had to do! It’ll be hard work, but together I’m sure we will continue to develop a sustainable business we are all proud of.”

Collaboration is key

This year, Plus Accounting is supporting the ‘Shaun by the Sea’ Art Trail, raising money for Martlets Hospice. Partnering on this brilliant campaign brings both creativity and community together, which

perfectly aligns with the Plus ethos. They are excited for these sculptures to hit the streets of Brighton & Hove this Autumn and cannot wait for the smiles when everyone sees the wonderful designs.

They have also partnered with The Good Business Club, where the team has supported a fully-funded membership for 5 ‘doing good’ businesses. Vicky King, Marketing Manager, commented that “it was instantly very clear after one conversation that this was an organisation that matched our firm’s values and love of contributing to our city”.

Plus Accounting also continues to work with Brighton & Hove Chamber, Wired Sussex, Silicon Brighton who are integral elements of our business ecosystem, together with many more.

Looking into the future

This is a business that is always on the lookout for innovative and ‘out of the box’ ways to support the local business community – it believes continuing to build strong relationships with memberships, community, clients and team will be the key to their future success. The economic landscape is ever changing and as a firm they must continually evolve and adapt to meet the changing requirements of their stakeholders – Plus Accounting believes this to be an exciting time and a chance to really get to know and develop its clients, team and create an environment that allows them to be their true selves. www.plusaccounting.co.uk

Emma Hardwick

Vicky King

Man on a mission…

Finance

Dayo Oluwamuyiwa, Youth Leader of Elpis Ministries, describes here how Seico Group helped them achieve their funding challenge.

The challenge

Churches face a battle with fundingespecially those that are not funded by the government. Repairs, maintenance, and day-to-day church activities can be challenging to fund. Elpis Ministries, (Elpis meaning the Greek word for Hope) has been running for 25 years and we have moved from pillar to post.

The current premises, located in Walthamstow, has proved to be a challenge as we share the building with other occupants. Disabled access, privacy and wider church activities were impacted.

Our aim has been for a very long time to own our own building giving us the freedom and space to fulfil our vision and mission of our church. Finding a suitable building was challenging, however securing funding was even more challenging. Traditional lenders are not always keen on lending to churches. The option that was found with the help of Andrew still required us to come up with extra funding.

The solution

Andrew Page, of Seico Group, was an immense help and support in securing our premises. Andy discovered Charity Bank which was in a position to support our dreams of purchasing our own

building. Through Andy’s introduction to Charity Bank, we now had a starting point, however we found ourselves short of the funds to complete the purchase. This proved another challenge as we were not aware of the alternative avenues available for us to purchase 8 Oaks Lane.

As a church, we moved by faith and that faith was rewarded. Andy discovered SIB (Social Investment Business) who, at times, work hand-inhand with Charity Bank. We followed the process and were given the funds to make up the shortfall in purchasing 8 Oaks Lane. Andy went far and beyond to ensure we secured the premises, and we are grateful for his input, time, effort and zeal in helping us seal the deal.

We thoroughly recommend Andrew Page, his service is great, but more importantly he showed a genuine care and passion for us to make our dreams come true. Andy will remain a friend of Elpis and we look forward to working with him in the future.

If you have any unusual financing challenges, you can get in touch with Andy Page to discuss your options on: 01273 778888

www.seicogroup.co.uk/commercialfinance/

Andrew Page of Seico Group has been busy this month securing funding in a rather different sector to his usual client base…

Andy Page of Seico with Victor Darteh, Senior Pastor of Elpis Ministries

The rise of Preston Insurance Brokers: A 10-year anniversary celebration

On Friday 21 April – as the sun sunk into the sea on the south coast – over a hundred clients, peers and partners took flight on the Brighton i360 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Preston Insurance Brokers.

The futuristic tourist attraction, complete with its double-curved glazing and convex mirror underbelly, was a fitting venue for the celebration. Since opening in 2016, management of the attraction have appointed Preston Insurance Brokers to annually renew its one-of-akind insurance programme.

With the hi-tech pod completing its descent from 138 meters above beach huts and bandstands, guests poured into the i360’s lounge and sun deck area for complimentary fizz accompanied by heartfelt words from the Managing Partner of Preston Insurance Brokers, Noel Preston.

“Everyone here today – whether in the past week, month, year or decade – have contributed to Preston Insurance Brokers success story, and for that reason, we’re forever thankful.”

After sharing a short video to spotlight Preston Insurance Brokers ethos and journey, Noel went on to highlight one of the business’ biggest achievements to date.

“Something I’m most proud of is our one hundred percent staff retention rate. We collectively create a culture where everyone can be themselves – and although we don’t take ourselves too seriously, what we do for businesses, we take extremely seriously.”

The speech concluded with a special mention to his team and several key people who have contributed to the success story.

“First of all, I’d like to thank Gary Peters

who, for the duration of a 10-hour flight to Florida, answered the many questions I had about starting my own business.

“I’d also like to thank our first-ever client who, at 8.50am on the first day of business, called to say they would appoint us as their brokers. That, of course, is Michael Punter at Parafix Holdings Ltd.

“Lastly, and most importantly, I’d like to thank my wife, Suzy Preston, who has offered nothing but unrivalled support since we first opened our doors in December 2012.”

Noel also recognised the contribution of his business partner from the start, Ian Penfold, without whom Preston Insurance Brokers would not have been formed.

If you want to learn more about Preston Insurance Brokers and how they support businesses across Sussex, London, the Home Counties and beyond, visit www. prestoninsurancebrokers.co.uk

From renting a desk at a friend’s office to becoming acting brokers for the world’s tallest moving observation tower, Preston Insurance Brokers marks a decade on the up.

Finance

How to Review a Non-Disclosure Agreement

By James O’Connell, Partner, Mayo Wynne Baxter.

A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is a legally binding document that prohibits a business from sharing with anyone else information that it has received in confidence. In today’s world, where businesses rely heavily on intellectual property and confidential information, NDAs have become an essential part of protecting sensitive information. Seriously reviewing any NDA that you are asked to sign is vital.

As a business lawyer I find too many people think that an NDA is a standard form document (which means they all say the same thing) – not true!

Here are some issues to consider if you are asked to sign an NDA:

1. Know thine enemy

As a rule of thumb, the more the other party acts like Gordon Geko’s younger brother, the more carefully you will need to review their NDA and the more detail you will need. Ambiguity is not your friend.

2. Does it go far enough?

As mentioned, NDAs are designed to facilitate the exchange of confidential information to see if a deal can be done. Some variations include non-compete provisions. This is because a basic NDA will say that the other side cannot

disclose to anyone else your confidential information – but that doesn’t stop them from using it for themselves (i.e., exploiting it without disclosing it).

3. Is it one-sided?

The most common problem I find is where the terms are reasonable, but they only protect the information of the party supplying the NDA – you are left out in the cold. Both sides information needs protecting.

4. Definition of confidential information

The NDA should define the type of information considered confidential. This is key. The definition should be precise and

comprehensive. The biggest mistakes I see are situations where the definition:

a. is detached from reality. Virtually everything is classified as confidential even when it clearly isn’t. It’s unworkable, and will stop you from conducting normal business, or, conversely;

b. is so vague you won’t know where you stand if the other side threatens to enforce the NDA.

The NDA should include any exclusions or exceptions. For example, information that is already publicly available, information that is developed independently, or information that is disclosed through a court order should not be considered confidential.

5. Purpose of the NDA

The NDA should include the reason

why the confidential information is being shared and (hugely important) the specific project or initiative it relates to.

6. Subsidiaries, group companies, employees

These connected parties tend to get added in without any thought. But is adding them necessary? If you don’t control them, don’t promise their good behaviour!

7. Obligations of the parties

The NDA should clearly specify the obligations of the parties involved. It should outline what information must be kept confidential, the manner in which it should be protected, and the consequences of any breach. The NDA should also specify the obligations of the recipient after the agreement has expired, including the destruction of any confidential information (but keep it realistic re this last point).

8. Term and termination

The NDA should specify how long confidentiality will last (years usually) and the conditions under which it can be ended. Include a provision for termination by either party upon written notice if negotiations may go nowhere.

9. Governing law and jurisdiction

If either of the parties or elements of the project are based overseas it is important that the NDA specifies the governing law and jurisdiction of the agreement. This information is essential in case of any legal disputes.

10. Representations and warranties

The NDA should include representations and warranties from both parties.

The disclosing party should represent and warrant (formally guarantee) that they have the right to disclose the confidential information and that the information is accurate and complete. The recipient party should represent and warrant that they will comply with the obligations of the agreement.

11. Remedies

The NDA should specify the remedies for any breach of the agreement. This can include an injunction to stop unauthorised distribution of your information, monetary damages, or both. The NDA should also specify whether there is any cap on the amount of damages payable in the event of unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.

12. Confidentiality of the agreement

The NDA itself may be something you also want kept confidential. If so, include a provision that prohibits either party from disclosing the existence of the agreement or its terms to any third party, except as required by law.

13. Enforceability

Don’t sign an unreasonable, unfair or one-sided contract in the belief that the courts won’t enforce it. Only a few types of contract must be reasonable to be enforceable, NDAs are not one of those!

In

conclusion, review every

NDA to ensure it is fit for purpose in the particular circumstances relevant to you at the time. The review is not a process that should be undertaken lightly.

joconnell@mayowynnebaxter.co.uk www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

Employment Law: Menopause in the workplace

In the UK, menopause is not explicitly covered under the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, age, disability, and other protected characteristics.

Despite nondiscrimination laws relating to sex being in place since the 1970’s, and most other protected areas for over 10 years, there is no specific protection in place if women are dismissed or subjected to discrimination as a result of the menopause.

However, employers have a legal duty to provide a safe and healthy work environment that does not put their employees’ health at risk. Menopausal symptoms can impact an individual’s

ability to perform their duties and, therefore, employers should take reasonable steps to support them. Employers should also remember that they owe a duty of good faith to all employees to make their working environment a reasonable and fair one. It would also be the case that any action, or lack of action, that affects women, but clearly not men, because of the menopause, or women over a certain age, compared to younger employees may amount to indirect sex or age discrimination. In certain circumstances, the medical effects of menopause, if serious enough,

could amount to a disability under the Equality Act, triggering the duty to make reasonable adjustments.

One way that employers can support women going through menopause is by providing flexible working arrangements, such as flexible hours or remote working. This can help women manage their symptoms and reduce stress. Employers should also provide training and education to managers and colleagues to raise awareness of menopause and its impact on the workplace. Women should be able to discuss their symptoms with their

managers and colleagues without fear of discrimination or stigmatization.

Recently, there have been some positive developments in the UK regarding menopause workplace rights. In 2019, the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and the British Menopause Society published a guidance document called “Menopause and the Workplace,” which provides recommendations for employers to manage menopause in the workplace. The guidance recognizes that menopause is a health and safety issue and advises employers to implement policies and practices that support women going through menopause.

In 2020, the Scottish government announced that they would provide free menopause training for all public sector employees. This training aims to raise awareness and improve understanding of menopause, and its impact on women’s health and wellbeing.

There are also ongoing efforts to include menopause in the Equality Act 2010. In 2018, the Women and Equalities Committee launched an inquiry into menopause and its impact on working women. The inquiry recommended that menopause be explicitly included in the Equality Act 2010 and that employers be required to make reasonable adjustments for women going through menopause. However, to date, no legislative action has been taken to implement these recommendations.

Indeed, during 2022, the UK government indicating it was considering adding menopause as a specific protected characteristic under the Equality Act and started a consultation relating to this. This would have made it easier for employees to bring any claims, and place more specific obligations on employers to act. Despite legal recommendations that it should do so, it chose not to classify menopause as

a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.

In the future, it is likely that menopause will receive more attention in the workplace, and employers will be required to take more proactive measures to support women going through menopause. This may include providing more flexible working arrangements, implementing policies and practices that address menopause-related symptoms, and providing training and education for managers and colleagues. It is also possible with a change of government, that menopause will be explicitly included in the Equality Act 2010, providing women with legal protections against discrimination.

It is clear that menopause workplace rights in the UK are slowly gaining recognition, and there are ongoing efforts to improve them. Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe and healthy work environment, and this includes taking reasonable steps to support women going through menopause. In the future, it is likely that menopause will receive more attention in the workplace, and women will be better protected against discrimination.

Please always take advice on any staff related issues.

By Alex Jones, Managing Director, 365 Employment Law 365 Employment Law Solicitors

www.365employmentlaw.co.uk

Alex Jones

Mayo Wynne Baxter: ready for growth

Founded 150 years ago, Mayo Wynne Baxter is a leading law firm for life and business in the South East. During that time, the firm has undergone more than 15 mergers and acquisitions, and it has grown from a single location in Lewes to eight hubs across Sussex.

In May 2022, the firm announced its merger with national legal and professional services group Ampa, and earlier this year, it merged with Lawson Lewis Blakers, all the while maintaining its personality, brand credibility and ambition.

Cover Story

Despite being one of the oldest law firms

in the region, the forward thinking firm has remained progressive, with a culture of collaboration, transparency, equality and inclusion, achieving B-Corporation status earlier this year and listed as a best employer.

Poised and ready for further growth; the firm is proactively looking for lateral hires, teams and merger brands - there seems to be no stopping Mayo Wynne Baxter.

150 years of serving Sussex

Steeped in history, the firm was originally founded in Lewes by Wynne Edwin Baxter; the first mayor of Lewes, who famously carried out inquests into three recognised victim cases of Jack the Ripper in 1888. He also investigated the deaths of Joseph Merrick (known as the ‘Elephant Man’), German spies, First World War

bombing fatalities, accidental deaths and murder victims.

Fast forward, and more than 15 mergers and acquisitions later, the award-winning firm has eight hubs across Sussex, including Brighton, Crawley, Eastbourne, Storrington, Lewes, Seaford, East Grinstead and Peacehaven, as well as ambitious plans to grow further into Kent and Surrey.

In the past year, the firm has attracted more than 40 news starters, including litigation partner Nick Stockley, who has more than 15 years’ experience as a top commercial litigator and dispute resolution solicitor. As partner, Nick has been tasked with developing Mayo Wynne Baxter’s commercial dispute resolution and insolvency services, growing the team, and boosting client relationships.

Shortly after Nick, commercial expert Daniel Jenking, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the city and a large Surrey-based firm, joined the ranks as partner - brought onboard to build a dedicated team devoted to helping business owners, and to provide a greater depth of expertise.

Today, it has a team of more than 220 people, serving SMEs and high net worth individuals in a range of legal areas, including property, corporate and commercial law, employment, litigation, international, private client and family law, as well as specialist litigation, rural affairs and commercial transactions. Not forgetting small businesses, startups and families with a tighter budget, Mayo Wynne Baxter is also looking to expand LawEasier; its online platform that offers one-off consumer purchases and business subscription services for

bespoke letters and legal documents that don’t require extensive expert advice.

Amping up growth

In May 2022, Mayo Wynne Baxter announced its merger with Ampa, a national legal and professional services group that provides infrastructure and backing to enable the growth of its brands. All brands within Ampa have a shared purpose; to unlock potential, as well as shared values and ambition for long-term, sustainable growth that keeps clients, communities, people and the planet in mind.

With no money exchanging hands as part of the merger, Mayo Wynne Baxter has remained a separate LLP, keeping its brand and independence, but gaining access to more than 1,000 other experts across legal disciplines and business operations to

increase the breadth and depth of what the firm can offer to its clients.

In return, Ampa benefits from Mayo Wynne Baxter’s well-established presence in Sussex, its expertise and its growing client base.

Dean Orgill, chief executive partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, and Board member of Ampa, said: “There has been a lot of consolidation in the legal market recently, but no one else is offering what Ampa does. The merger was not a takeover, there were no redundancies as a result, nor a one-off ‘pay-day’ for equity partners; it is a merger of the purest kind, where we know that the sum is greater than its parts and that working together will make us stronger and enable bigger and faster growth.

“Our move to join Ampa is part of a wider strategy shared by the businesses for growth, collaboration and combined infrastructure, as well as shared values

in terms of supporting clients and the community. When we saw what Ampa had planned, we were excited: merging was a case of ‘want to, not need to’.”

As part of the merger, Mayo Wynne Baxter’s personal injury and clinical negligence teams have joined Ampa’s existing national consumer-focussed law brand, Lime Solicitors, broadening the geographical reach of this consumer brand and uniting existing expertise across the group.

Adding Lawson Lewis Blakers

In 2023, Mayo Wynne Baxter announced another merger, this time with Eastbourne firm Lawson Lewis Blakers.

At the time of the merger, Jeremy Sogno, director at Lawson Lewis Blakers, said: “We were looking for a larger organisation that shared our values and could offer greater growth opportunities for our talented and ambitious team,

as well as providing additional services and expertise to our valued clients; Mayo Wynne Baxter more than fits these criteria, and we are excited about joining forces and continuing our legacy within the local area.”

With origins traced as far back as 1835, Lawson Lewis Blakers is no stranger to mergers, with the latest iteration of the brand forming when Lawson Lewis & Co and Blaker Son & Young merged in October 2012.

Acting for businesses, people and their families in Eastbourne, Peacehaven and Lewes, Lawson Lewis Blakers has significant experience in private client and family law, residential property, employment, commercial transactions and litigation, adding complementary services and skills to Mayo Wynne Baxter’s existing teams.

Dean commented: “Lawson Lewis Blakers is a long-standing firm with an excellent

reputation and an ambition to grow – for its people and its clients. We see ourselves being stronger together and are delighted to welcome the whole team to the Mayo Wynne Baxter brand.”

Following suit of the Ampa merger, no money exchanged hands as part of the merger and there were no redundancies.

Becoming a B-Corporation

Committed to people, planet and purpose, Mayo Wynne Baxter – as part of Ampa – has been on a journey to becoming a B-Corporation, which the group achieved in January 2023.

Organisations with certified B-Corporation status are legally required to consider the impact of business decisions on their people, customers, suppliers, communities and the environment, ensuring a balance between purpose, people and profit.

The benchmarks in order to achieve accreditation are incredibly high and the auditing process is rigorous, with non-profit B-Lab independently scoring companies across governance, workers, community, environment and customers to determine the business’ social and environmental performance.

Dean said: “This is a key milestone in our ambition to change the world of business for good. We believe we can be both purposeful and profitable and our B-Corporation values are embedded in our business strategy and fully supported from the top-down. We also take great pride in helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals.

“We keep ourselves accountable

through our responsible business ambitions that are constantly tracked and analysed, pushing us to do better and achieve more. So far, we have achieved a number of our group-wide ambitions across diversity and inclusion, reducing landfill waste and carbon emissions, as well as supporting young people in our local communities.”

Future growth plans

Over the next year Mayo Wynne Baxter is looking to grow further both organically and by taking on practices and lateral hires that fit with

its ambitious plans for growth. Seeing opportunities in the commercial and litigation spheres, the firm has already appointed new partners in these areas, with plans to focus on expanding other areas already developed.

And Mayo Wynne Baxter has proved itself as a good employer having been listed (as part of Ampa) in Best Companies 2022 as one of the top 100 best large companies to work for in the UK, as well as a top 25 law firm to work for.

Dean said: “We are recruiting

proactively across Sussex, Surrey and Kent. We are also looking for likeminded teams or smaller firms in our current localities - and further into Kent and Surrey - who share our culture and values and are looking for a firm where they can flourish.

“We will also continue to be inventive in the way we approach private client work, developing our IT provision further, in order to enhance the quality service we provide. Further growth is also expected in the family work that we do.”

Reflecting on recent years, Dean added: “As we emerged from the pandemic, we found we had retained a huge number of staff and admirable client loyalty. We have utilised and enhanced ways of hybrid working

with flexibility based on individual need and job role. This has resulted in improved efficiencies in the way we work on client focussed outcomes. We are also learning to use our office space in different ways, creating hubs for creative and collaborative thinking. Adapting to market trends has also been key, for example a property market that has been open to all sorts of influences.”

Committed to Sussex

Dean said: “Despite the turbulent times we’re experiencing, there is a huge amount of business opportunity in the region and we’re witnessing a great deal of ambition, innovation, creativity and resilience across Sussex and beyond, making it a fantastic place to live and work.

“As a firm we’ve experienced rapid change and we’re really proud of how far we’ve come, how embedded we are in the community and how we are able to offer high quality service and an attractive proposition to our people.

“We are completely committed to Sussex as we have very loyal, longstanding clients, who are at the heart of every business decision we make. We are looking to grow, yes, but we are looking for sustainable growth that retains our culture and approach to law and never compromises our service.”

www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

Marketing Mindfulness: Alex’s Epiphanies

Sales & Marketing

Funnel vs Linearthe right marketing perspective

Many business owners tend to fixate on individual marketing activities and outcomes, rather than the wider marketing funnel. Though attention to detail is vital, a funnel-centric approach offers a holistic view of marketing efforts, optimizing the customer journey from awareness to conversion. This strategy promotes synergy between marketing activities, boosting effectiveness and efficiency, whereas a linear focus on separate tactics could miss essential touchpoints and growth opportunities.

Get emotional - we sell feelings! Humans are simply a journey of feelings - one after another. Do you sell a good, memorable feeling or an average, forgettable one? Or worse, a bad, memorable feeling? Tapping into customers’ emotions when marketing enables businesses to create powerful connections and foster brand loyalty. By appealing to their audience’s feelings and needs, businesses can evoke emotional responses that drive decision-making, increase engagement, and ultimately enhance the overall customer experience, leading to long-lasting relationships and success.

Strategy spotlight - real tips for using ChatGPT today

Small business owners often juggle multiple responsibilities and face time constraints that demand efficient solutions. Enter ChatGPT, an advanced AI language model designed to assist businesses in various tasks and help them grow and optimise their operations.

1. Content creation and editing

Creating captivating content for your website, blog, and social media can be demanding. ChatGPT assists by generating imaginative content from your prompts. It can also proofread and edit existing content, ensuring grammatical accuracy and adherence to your desired tone and style.

Prompt ideas:

“Suggest ideas for a blog post about the benefits of [your product/ service].” (then ask ChatGPT to write 100 words on your favourite title)

“Create a catchy social media post

to promote our upcoming sale [insert full details of the sale].”

2.

Customer service support

Improve the quality and speed of your replies to customers - this not only frees up your time but also enhances your customers’ experience by providing prompt assistance.

Prompt ideas:

“How do I handle customer inquiries about shipping times? [include the details of your shipping times]”

“What is a polite way to respond to this customer complaint? [copy and

paste the customer complaint into the chat]”

3. Brainstorming and idea generation

Whether for fresh marketing campaign ideas or solutions to business challenges, ChatGPT can be an invaluable brainstorming partner. Just provide the context, and the AI will generate a list of ideas for you to consider.

Prompt ideas:

“Suggest marketing campaign ideas for our new product launch. [include all details]”

“How can we improve customer retention?”

4. Market research and analysis

Understanding your target audience, competitors, and industry trends is crucial for business growth - analyze market data and extract valuable insights to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition.

Prompt ideas:

“Summarise the key trends in the [your industry] sector.”

“Provide a competitive analysis of [your top competitors].”

5. Email drafting and templates

Craft professional emails or templates for purposes like sales outreach, customer follow-ups, and newsletters. This saves time and maintains consistent communication

with your audience.

Prompt ideas:

“Draft an email to follow up with this potential client. [include details of the client / where you are in the discussion]”

“Create a newsletter template to update customers on our latest offers. [include industry info and offer details]”

Hopefully that gives you a great starting point for this game-changing tool, but remember - ChatGPT is an electric bike for your mind - it’ll do a lot of the heavy lifting, but you still need to pedal! Happy Chatting!

Meet Marketing 101

On May 30th, Marketing 101 celebrates our 3rd anniversary. Born amidst the pandemic, our brand has thrived, becoming a leading marketing force in the Sussex business community.

Our journey began with Alex Ryan in March 2020. Restless after a week of furlough, he offered free marketing support to businesses during lockdown. As “The Furloughed Marketer,” Alex worked with over 35 businesses for three months before transitioning to

Marketing 101. This generosity propelled our growth, and now we celebrate our success and expansion.

We’re grateful to everyone who contributed to our journey—clients, suppliers, and advocates. Your support made this adventure possible.

Marketing 101 specializes in digital strategies that deliver measurable results, including Social Media Advertising, Google services (PayPer-Click, Google Shopping, and

Search Engine Optimization), and Email Marketing. Trust Marketing 101 to drive your business forward.

Written by Alex Ryan

Thanks for reading. At the core of Marketing 101, I manage strategy, consultancy, and mentor internal marketing teams for our valued clients. With 25 years embracing ADHD as a unique advantage, I excel at understanding a brand’s essence and customers’ needs. Let’s talk! Visit marketing-101.co.uk and alexryanuk.com

Rockinghorse Ryder Cup hits a hole in one for charity partners again

At the end of April, Rockinghorse Children’s Charity trustee Sam Thomas and long-term supporter Gavin Willis once again teamed up to host 32 local business men and women at East Sussex National for the annual Rockinghorse Ryder cup.

The two day event saw the two teams of 16 go head-tohead on the course to battle it out for the prestigious Ryder Cup Trophy. Despite some heavy rain on day one, participants’ enthusiasm didn’t waiver and over a fantastic three course meal that evening the day one scores were announced as Gavin Willis’s Team Yellow and reigning champions finished a point up. The pair then hosted a raffle and game of heads and tails to raise much needed funds for the charity, before we heard from Amanda Hethrington, corporate engagement manager at Rockinghorse, about the charity’s upcoming projects and how companies can support the

new One Day at a TIme campaign, helping families experiencing cancer.

Following the dinner, Team Blue captain Sam encouraged some team bonding at the bar until the early hours to go out and try and bring home the trophy on day two.

The FirmBalls weather guarantee kicked in on day two as the sun gods came out. The two teams went toe-to-toe as groups came in it was extremely tight and the teams where level with two groups still to come in. Gavin and Sam waited at the 18th as co-sponsors Aiden Dunning, EMW (Team Blue) and drinks sponsors Mark Brown, Viewz.AI (Team Yellow) walked up the 18th fairway. As they came in with partners Mark Martin

(Team Blue) and Rob Callow (Team Yellow), Aiden pointed at team captain Sam saying they had brought it home and gave Team Blue the advantage with one final group to come in. Stuart Noakes, from headline sponsors Carpenter Box and Ross Czolak, Team Blue, walked up the 18th with opponents Sonny Cutting, of Sussex Business Show, co-sponsors, Team Yellow and Duncan French. The sign from the teams was that Team Blue had won the match and won the 2023 Ryder Cup.

“It was amazing to host our second annual Rockinghorse Ryder Cup this year at the fantastic East Sussex National, with my good friend Gavin Willis. I was overwhelmed with the support and popularity of the event that sold out in

Charity

under a week after launch. We bought 32 players together over two days for some fantastic golf, fun, building connections all whilst raising money for a fabulous cause. The weather on the first day didn’t dampen people’s spirits and although I was overly excited to secure a win for team blue this year (12 months of bragging rights in the bag) the real winner is Rockinghorse with the money that was raised. Massive thanks to our sponsors Carpenter Box and to the co-sponsors, MCR MEDIA SOLUTIONS LTD, Sussex Business Show, EMW Law LLP, & STax - part of the EMW family, Viewz.AI and Accredo for being drinks sponsors and everyone that attended the event. I am

already looking forward to next year and retaining that trophy for team Blue’”~

Sam Thomas, owner of FirmBalls

“The 2023 Rockinghorse Ryder cup was another epic battle, enduring all weather conditions, with all 32 players being absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was brilliant yet again, and i am very proud of what this event is becoming, and what it stands for. Bringing people together, to have fun, network and build relationships, and help make a difference to a simply amazing local charity that means so much to me - I really couldn’t ask for more, and I’m already excited for next years event.” ~

Gavin Willis, Founder Search Seven

This fantastic two-day event is now a firm favourite in the FirmBalls and Search Seven calendar as a flagship event for Rockinghorse. The teams are now one win each and 2024 is all set up to be another amazing event.

Thank you to all the sponsors and everyone that participated to make this a truly memorable event that raised an amazing £3,000.

For more information or to see how you or your business can support Rockinghorse please visit https://www. rockinghorse.org.uk

Local children’s charity launches campaign to help families dealing with cancer

Life becomes a constant stream of appointments and treatments - and parents quite often slip into autopilot just so they can hold it altogether and get through it one day at a time.

But life doesn’t stop during this treatment. They still have to think about work, bills, mortgages, their partners, other children, childcare and schooling. It’s a lot.

And when treatment ends, they aren’t completely out of the woods. The cancer could still return, but they don’t have to be in the hospital quite as much. And it’s at this point that families can begin to stop to take stock; but that’s when what they have been through really hits them.

Carey was just 9 months old when he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. He went through three rounds of chemotherapy before receiving his sister Aubrey’s bone marrow, which eventually put him into remission.

Naomi, Carey’s mum, found the experience overwhelming. She said: “When Carey was diagnosed, our entire world shattered. There is no part of our

lives that cancer did not effect.”

Without support, children and their families coming out the other side of often long and grueling cancer treatment, get stuck emotionally and find it impossible to deal with the trauma they have experienced and find it hard to move forward with their lives.

Rockinghorse has helped to fund emotional support for children and their families from the start of a cancer diagnosis and through treatment for the last few years. But because of the growing demand for this service, there is only limited provision once the active treatment ends.

Naomi explains the impact of the counselling support she received, “I would have never got through this terrible experience if it wasn’t for the psychological support I received.

“My partner Simon and I realised very quickly that we would need to ‘fix’ ourselves if we were going to be able to move forward as a family and not let cancer define us and send us into a pit of misery.

“I had started getting flash backs from

the very traumatic time Carey spent in intensive care and the time around his diagnosis. I would suddenly be crying the street or car and it was having an impact on my daily life and ability to function as a mother and partner.

“The counselling sessions were a wonderful release and helped us make sense of the hellish whirlwind we had been living. They gave me some grounding whilst still juggling Carey’s care and family life. They kept me sane and gave me hope.”

To make sure the support is there for the hundreds of local families this affects, Rockinghorse are fundraising to extend the Oncology Psychology service at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital, specifically for families who may have finished their active treatment but are struggling to deal with their experiences.

This means that other families with experiences like Naomi’s, can get the help they need to get back to their lives, one day at a time.

For more information, or to donate, just visit the Rockinghorse website at www. rockinghorse.org.uk

When a child is diagnosed with something as life altering as cancer, it affects the whole family, explains Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

Charity

Wolo Africa 100 - 23rd Sept2nd Oct 2023

This 10 day journey through the African bush, The Tugela River and rural Zulu communities will give you the opportunity to run or trek 100 miles (averaging 16-18 miles a day) through areas where there is plenty of wildlife, wonderful scenery and friendly people. The terrain is varied, but is predominantly undulating game paths dotted with tall standing aloes and acacias. There will be an underlying ethos of nature conservation, with an exciting initiative planned for this year.

The trip will also support the latest conservation effort by Wolo Africa 1002023 Angus Wingfield and round off with a BIG 5 SAFARI.

By signing up, you’ll help to raise vital funds so we can carry on supporting the families who urgently need our help. Wolo supports the whole family through the physical and emotional sides of cancer, and is totally unique. Many of our families report that there is no-one else out there doing what we do!

Please click link below or in bio to register your interest. www.wolofoundation.org/woloafrica-100-2023

Chris Goodman’s story from last year Acta Non Verba. Most people do a lot of talking and not a lot of walking… but Marcos Jarvis is all about action, and after being diagnosed with stage 4 terminal liver cancer in 2019 he set

in motion a series of life changes that would see him beat that diagnosis and be declared cancer free less than 3 years later.

So, what better way to mark the 3rd anniversary of his diagnosis than to set out on a 100-mile run & trek across the wilds of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

In partnership with Africa Wild Trails, Marcos and a team of runners and hikers set out on a mammoth multiday mission to raise money for Wolo, a charity supporting families affected by cancer ( www.wolofoundation.org ).

The project would also incorporate an element of in-country conservation and community engagement.

After years of research into the local giraffe population it was clear that greater genetic diversity was needed and an initiative to release a new bull giraffe would broaden the gene-pool and ensure the long-term health of the population.

With 100 miles of trails criss-crossing the bush, but also winding through local communities, the project also looked to provide funding to give back to the very communities who were playing host.

Ten days, 100 miles, one purpose – to raise funds for WOLO Foundation, a charity that helps and supports families living in Sussex affected by cancer.

Charity

The scene is set…now the hard work begins!

Fri 30th Sept/Sat 1st Oct - All Aboard! Joh’burg bound

With four of the team already on location in Zingela, 10 intrepid travellers boarded a BA flight from Heathrow to Johannesburg. Adam and Jason had already crossed the Atlantic, flying in from Tennessee, USA!

A medical emergency mid-flight but thankfully not for team Wolo! A quick dash to terminal B and a short hop to Durban. Another meal! Logan, our driver was all smiles on arrival. As we raced inland the weather turned, from cold and cloudy to hot and humid in no time. Heads bobbed catching forty winks, before a healthy pit stop for some local cuisine, namely KFC in KZN.

Our last leg soon came as Angus

greeted us and we climbed into 4x4s. A bumpy and dusty trip down acacia lined tracks, eyes peeled for wildlife and needle-sharp thorns! Impala and Ignala, then, GIRAFFE! 2 herds, one off in the distance but then a family but meters away, watching us, warily. Calf in tow they lumbered languidly…our first glimpse.

…one more corner, and we’d made it.

Warmly welcomed by Justin, Marcos and Sam, we stood in awe at the beauty of Zingela - we’d arrived!

The heat of the day had waned as we sat for a late light lunch! Then off to our rooms to unpack and settle ourselves. Our home for the next week.

Surrounded by gentle bush covered hills, Zingela is nestled alongside the Tugela River. A gentle roar of rapids in punctuated by beautiful birdsong. Every effort made to retain the wild and remote nature of the camp while trying to accommodate the modern, perhaps less adapted traveller.

Once orientated we returned to HQ for our first daily briefing and a delicious dinner. As day turned to dusk, and the river melted into the night sky, we sat around the campfire and contemplated the challenge ahead.

Another journey was underway…the coming together of strangers, sharing stories of lives lived.

Off to bed…tomorrow it begins!

Read the full story here https:// wolofoundation.org/newsfeed/wolo100-africa-a-story-of-cancer-charityconservation-and-community

Life is precious, we need to make the most of it. We only live once – Wolo!!

A VAP Top Table event – sharing stories to build true connections

Networking & Events

This ethos and the power of storytelling is what we do at County Business Clubs, from SBT, our business publication, to our podcast, members’ news feed and our events.

What does a VAP Top Table Storytelling Dinner look like?

Well, you get a great group of people together in an amazing environment, you eat, drink, ask some really insightful questions that you wouldn’t normally find at any usual event, using our conversation cards, and ultimately share stories and find something out about someone you wouldn’t know.

At our April event at the fabulous Old Ship Hotel, there were some funny stories with drunk dogs and family football fun (or not), some deep, insightful and powerful stories, but each one unique and brilliant.

When you have an idea for something and not quite sure how it’s going to go, but the people involved fully embrace it and make it something really special, it’s a magical moment.

I truly believe that we really do build such great relationships through the power of storytelling and this event for me highlighted and validated that.

Massive thanks to the amazing VAPs that attended and embraced the event. To

Stephen Lawrence for the great photos and to Carol Whitney and the amazing team at The Old Ship Hotel Brighton. If you haven’t visited the cellars there it’s a truly fantastic venue and one I’d been wanting to host an event at for some time. It was the perfect setting for our dinner.

If you would like to enhance your businesses storytelling and unlock your business narrative then why not join us on our Storytelling Retreat with Inside Stories in July. We have very limited spaces available.

To find out more about the event or becoming a VAP and joining County Business Clubs contact sam.thomas@ countybusinessclubs.co.uk

At County Business Clubs, we believe everyone has a story to tell and that by sharing our stories we can build true connections and inspire our piers, writes Sam Thomas.

Celebrity guest wraps up latest Property Professionals Lunch

The regular networking lunch is back and as successful as ever, with its most recent event held on 21 April at the Hotel Du Vin, Brighton.

Networking & Events

Returning as host was Sophie CampbellAdams from Britton and Time Solicitors. Sophie described the event as “a delightful afternoon filled with great networking and laughs between some of Sussex’s most charming businesspeople”.

After her introduction, James Turner from Creative Pod gave an insightful talk on their business, what marketing services they offer and how they can help your business grow. Following this, Tom George from Mansell McTaggart spoke about his professional journey, all he has learned along the way and how his agency go above and beyond for their clients.

In aid of their charity sponsor Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, the

event was proud to raise just over £755 through the incredibly popular raffle. The raffle consisted of a stunning photo of Brighton pier and a luxury bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne. Congratulations to the lucky winner!

To wrap up the event, captivating TV personality and chef Rustie Lee took to the stage as the guest speaker. Rustie’s tales of stardom were complemented by a delicious Caribbean punch cocktail, which guests thoroughly enjoyed alongside her brilliant singing.

These talks were all accompanied by an exquisite three-course meal with plenty of wine available too, with talks merry and moods at a high.

As always, these events wouldn’t be possible without the kind support of

businesspeople in Sussex, alongside the many sponsors: Creative Pod as the headline sponsor for 2023; Mansell McTaggart as the event sponsor; St Giles Insurance as the drinks sponsor; media sponsor and year-long partner County Business Clubs Sussex; print sponsor and year-long partner Connect Media, and charity partner Rockinghorse.

For those keen on attending the next event, taking place 20 July, early bird tickets are now available but are quickly selling out. Follow the links to the Property Professionals Eventbrite page here ( https://www.eventbrite. com/e/property-professionalslunch-20-july-2023-tickets621858384167?aff=erelexpmlt ) or, alternatively, contact Sophie at sca@ brittontime.com for an invitation.

Huge number of stands booked for Brighton & Hove Business Show

Up-coming event promises to be a day to remember, with unrivalled networking opportunities, free seminars and much, much more.

Networking & Events

An extensive number of businesses have booked stands at this year’s highlyanticipated Brighton & Hove Business Show.

A month away, the event has been extended this year. Exhibitors will occupy two lounges, from 10am to 3pm on June 8.

The major networking event, expected to attract key decision makers and business influencers, is being staged at the AMEX Stadium.

With free parking and an excellent lineup of top class speakers, the show is already being billed as the networking event of the year in Brighton.

Thanks to sponsors, Brighton & Hove Business Show is free to attend. Preregistrations are being accepted online

now and help show visitors by saving them time on the day.

Official sponsors for 2023 are: Data Mail UK, Cleankill Pest Control, SRC Corporate Finance, 28thStreetMedia, County Business Clubs Sussex and More Radio.

The range of exhibitors spans a multitude of sectors - from pure B2B brands to those in hospitality, finance, training, wellbeing and courier services. The charity sector is also represented, along with membership organisations and specialist business support services.

Show organiser Mike Monk said: “The exhibitors list is being updated dailysometimes more than once!

“Interest in this year’s event is incredible. I am looking forward to hosting a truly valuable day that will offer unrivalled

networking opportunities as well as a chance for businesses to generate potentially very lucrative leads.

“I would urge anyone who wants a stand at the show to contact me urgently. I would also encourage those intending to visit the show to pre-register for a ticket online as soon as possible to minimise delays on the day.”

Stand bookings: https:// brightonandhovebusinessshow.uk/ book-a-stand/ Free show tickets: https:// brightonandhovebusinessshow.uk/ visitor-registration/

List of Exhibitors

Stand 1: Blue Billboard Ltd

Stand 2: The Recruitment Lab

Stand 3: Sussex First Aid Courses

Stand 4: Digibubble

Stand 5: County Business Clubs

Stand 6: Data Mail Solutions

Stand 8: Neil Laughton

Stand 10: Phil Bath Business Services Consultancy Ltd

Stand 11: The Jonathan Lea Network

Stand 12: Help to Grow, University of Brighton

Stand 14: Dor2Dor

Stand 15: Thriiver

Stand 16: Federation of Small Businesses

Stand 17: Structured Communications Ltd

Stand 18: Elwood Wines Ltd

Stand 19: Secrc

Stand 20: Clearline Recruitment

Stand 21: Extech Ltd

Stand 22: Servo Private Wealth Ltd

Stand 23: Rubix VT

Stand 24: The Ixchel System & Fidelis Health UK Ltd

Stand 25: Pearce Marketing

Stand 26: Cleankill Pest Control

Stand 27: Alkira – Turquoise Creative

Stand 28: Your Lead Machine

Stand 29: Phoenix Systems

Stand 30: Total Sense Media/More Radio

Stand 31: Rivervale

Stand 32: Merceric Executive Coaching

Stand 33: Chestnut Tree House

Stand 34: Brighton i360

Stand 35: Inspire You

Stand 36: Lime Consultancy

Stand 37: Gatwick Diamond Business

Stand 38: Sussex Chamber of Commerce

Stand 39: VA Creative Media

Stand 40: The Float Spa

Stand 41: The Arora Group

Stand 42: Martlets

Stand 43: McMillan Wealth ConsultantsFinancial Advisors

Stand 44: Mid Sussex Golf Club Ltd

Stand 45: Fresh Display Ltd

Stand 46: IT Document Solutions

Stand 47: Buxted Park Hotel

Stand 49: BNI Hove Albion

Stand 50: Brighton Harbour Hotel & Spa

Stand 51: Co-ordination Event Hire

Stand 52: Sussex Copywriting Services

Stand 53: Watson Associates

Stand 54: Incorpore/YourWellnessHub

Stand 56: Streets Chartered Accountants

Stand 57: Consult Group Ltd

Stand 102: Inside Stories

Stand 103: BSEFM Ltd

Stand 104: Little Jasmine Therapies and Spa and Nostos

Stand 115: Cotential

Stand 116: Big Business Breakfast Club

Stand 117: Rose Media Group

Stand 122: Speedy Freight

Stand 123: Twin Group UK

Stand 124: JDA Tax & Accountancy Services Ltd

Stand 125: The Old Ship Hotel

Stand 127: Best of British Events

Stand 128: Wolo Foundation

Stand 130: Eye Centre Prague UK

Stand 131: Lovelocaljobs.com

Stand 132: 1626 Ltd

Stand 135: Care for Veterans

Stand 136: Acumen Law

Stand 138: Sodexo – Amex Stadium

Stand 141: Hotel Du Vin & Malmaison

*Please check the show’s website for the latest updates.

You get what you pay for with networking

Why pay to go networking? Bradley Hatchett, founder of Network My Club, answers this question in-depth.

“But of course you’re going to say you should pay to go networking, you run a company that charges for networking events.”

You are right. But also very wrong. I’m a believer of; you get what you pay for in life. Networking is no different. Here’s why. And what you get.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when choosing networking events, as there are SO many out there.

Naturally, particularly if you’re new to networking, or just starting out in business, this means free or low-cost events can seem quite tempting.

Unfortunately, what’s then delivered, and the kind of networking it breeds, have both contributed to the damaging of the reputation of networking. And the negative stigma it can have.

So I’m willing to protect it.

And whilst ‘free’ or very low cost events may look appealing. And there’s nothing to lose.

Let’s look at the reality.

I’m willing to bet that someone does it cheaper than you in your industry?

And that you pull your hair out at the corner cutting, experience, and product/ service being delivered?

Networking events are no different to any industry.

But it amazes me with how, when it comes to free or low cost events, there seems to be a lack of consideration to the quality or the value. Like you would do with any other purchase.

For example, when searching for a hotel room, would you go for a £35 hotel room over a £100 one without giving it any thought or doing any research whatsoever?

Probably not.

Unless you’re 18-year-old me tasked with booking a holiday to Tenerife for my friends where the brief was ‘cheaper the better’. You can imagine what we ended up in…

I’ve observed a race to the bottom with networking over the years.

• Who can be the cheapest.

• Who can get the most people in the room.

And it’s at your detriment, the networker, as the quality has declined.

The bar for networking has been lowered. So, what are you paying for? And should you be more aware of?

Attendees that understand value Do you expect to walk into an event for nothing (or next to nothing) and find your

next big client Amazingly, some still think this is how networking works.

And it was a realisation I discovered early on in my journey from starting Network My Club.

I used to charge a ridiculously (in hindsight) low cost just to get people to events. It was a big mistake. Not just from a business stand point. But because we attracted the wrong kinds of networkers. Those that don’t truly value networking.

Any reputable and serious networking organisation have costs. They aren’t charities.

And a good networking event and experience isn’t just getting a room and laying on some food for you (more on that shortly).

And you should understand what you’re really paying for. Clue: it’s not just the food and drink.

A large portion of value is in the opportunity to be in a room where you can rub shoulders with other that might potentially help your business, and who you can help.

There’s where the true value from networking is.

You review your networking activity by assessing what connections you’ve made and new business generated. Not the amount of coffees drunk or food

Networking & Events

eaten. Good networkers understand and value this.

And you want to work with clients that value your services, right? Being at free or low cost events, you’ll unlikely be surrounded with those that are going to. The amount of times I’ve heard (and still hear to today): “I paid to come to an event but I didn’t got any business from it. So not sure it’s going to work for me.”

If you view networking like this – you just don’t get it. And don’t value it.

Try something else. To save your time AND money.

Attendees with the right approach and mentality

I speak a lot of success coming from networking coming from the right approach and mentality.

It’s attending to start conversations, create new or build on existing connections, and opening new opportunities.

It’s not closing sales at every event. Attending free or low cost networking –the mentality of attendees is often they have nothing to lose. Except their time. So anything is a bonus. Meaning the approach and mindset reflects this.

It’s often an approach of pitching or selling to others. Seeing what they can get.

You also have to understand the type of networker. I call it the more ‘social networker’. Who look at networking more as a social thing. Which, by the way, is a completely fine way to approach networking. Typically suiting very early start up business owners, or those with low (or no) budgets.

But this networking is quite hit and miss. And something I speak to that target market about and encourage to avoid if they can.

With paid networking, with that element

of commitment, this mindset breeds more open-minded and collaborative conversations, with the view to help one another see a return.

It’s viewed as an investment, both financially and with their time. Again, the sort of people you want to connect and collaborate with.

Organisation

Paid networking events have better organisation and resource.

And can much more likely (if not always) offer a better networking experience. Including key factors like event venue, catering, experiences, and resource from the organising team to connect attendees.

Organisations behind paid events, like ours, are judged by the quality of their events. Quite rightly so if people are parting with their businesses hard earned money.

So they/we should be doing as much as possible to ensure you have a positive experience and ultimately, attend regularly.

The resource can help to facilitate more effective networking and make it easier for attendees to connect with each other.

Free or low cost events you are often left to your own to move around the room. With little structure given the lack of resource.

Making it hard to find the right people. And make the most out of your time. Quality networking organisations are not charities. They are helping create opportunity for you.

Those that are doing it for free you may want to consider what their agenda is. And if they are truly looking out for you.

Increased chance of ROI

While paid networking events require a financial investment, you often have a higher return on investment in the long run.

Because it’s not just the financial

investment. It’s your time too. And you should value that.

In my experience, attendees at paid events are more likely to make (and want to make) genuine connections and build relationships that can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.

Compared to free or low cost events, where attendees are less committed or serious about networking.

One for the I-went-to-an-event-once-anddidn’t-get-anything-from-it-ers again.

The wrap up

Ultimately, what I want is for your enjoyment and value derived from networking to increase.

But this is directly linked to the quality of networking events. Which are those similar to explained above.

Because like any industry, if you do it cheaply and don’t see results you were hoping for, it’s likely you’ll bemoan the service or method.

Thankfully, not every networking event is the same. And there are some brilliant organisations changing the game.

As I truly believe, you’ve got to find the right event and group for you. But considering what you’re paying (or not paying) for should form part of that decision too.

I learned this pricing business lesson. As you price goes up, so does the quality of your clients. Or in our case, the quality of attendees and networkers.

I’m now proud to say that most (I’d love to be able to say ‘all’ but we’re working on it) fit the mould of the type of networker I’ve described today. I wish I’d increased prices sooner.

You get what you pay for in life. Networking is no different.

https://www.networkmyclub.co.uk/

Record-breaking distance runner next Boundary Club guest speaker

Last month’s Boundary Club gathering took place during the Sussex v Yorkshire game on day one. It offered a beautiful sunny backdrop with an attendance ofmore than 100 local business owners.

Networking & Events

Established in 2011, The Boundary Club is Sussex Cricket’s premium business networking and membership club, where business meets cricket, hosted right on the boundary’s edge of the 1st Central County Ground in Hove.

The club aims to bring like-minded Sussex and South East based businesses together nine times a year, with most events hosted against a backdrop of first-class cricket. Each event includes:

• Glass of Ridgeview or soft drink on arrival

• Networking drinks reception

• Three-course seated lunch

• Keynote speaker

• After lunch networking

• Afternoon tea

At each event, the club welcomes around 100 members and guests in a room made up of key decision makers from SMEs to large enterprises in a variety of sectors.

The guest speaker in April was Matthew Phelan, CEO of The Happiness Index. The Happiness Index measures life satisfaction, the feeling of happiness, and other happiness. domains:

psychological well-being, health, time balance, community, social support, education, arts.

The employee happiness index is collated from over 1 million people.

May’s Boundary Club meeting will be held on May 18th with keynote speaker Elise Downing, In 2016 she became the first woman and youngest person to run 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain. This fantastic event will take place with the backdrop of Sussex Vs Yorkshire day 1.

Picture credits Stephen Lawrence

DIScoverABILITY Day

Sussex Cricket will again be opening the gates of The 1st Central County Ground for DIScoverABILITY Day on Thursday 16th June.

DIScoverABILITY Day is one of the largest mass disability sport events in the South East and aims to provide an unforgettable experience in a unique setting.

Networking & Events

The flagship community event involves people from Sussex-based schools, colleges, charities, day centres, care homes and community groups enjoying a fun-filled day out at Hove.

The day comprises a series of batting, throwing, catching, and bowling challenges on the outfield, designed for all abilities, led by coaches from the Sussex Cricket Foundation with help from dozens of volunteers from local businesses as well as members of Sussex Cricket’s professional, county disability and visually impaired squads.

In addition, representatives from Albion in the Community, Brighton Table Tennis

Club and Sussex Bears Wheelchair Basketball will be running adapted activities of their sports incorporating a cricket theme.

The event is also supported by Student Sports Leaders from several local secondary schools, providing them with valuable experience of volunteering at a large community event.

Sussex Cricket’s Disability Cricket Programme provides playing opportunities for around 1,000 people with physical and/or learning disabilities.

The programme aims to help this part of our community get physically active and reap the socially inclusive benefits that are unique to cricket – a game where different ages, abilities, genders, and backgrounds can come together to make friends and have fun.

This year’s event is the centre piece of several events in mid-June showcasing

Sussex’s Disability Cricket Programme. They include participants from the Ansty Super 1s (Disability Cricket) Club featuring as flagbearers at the Gloucestershire T20 fixture on Friday 10th June and the first ever county disability fixture being played at The 1st Central County Ground, when Sussex take on Surrey on Sunday 19th June.

Gary Wallis-Tayler, the Community Cricket Director, said: “DIScoverABILITY Day is the most important event in the Foundations calendar. The event enables us to provide opportunities for young people and adults with varying degrees of disability to access cricketing activity in a professional setting and creates lifelong memories in the process.

“Disability Cricket in Sussex is a key part of our Club Strategy and making our ground available to the wider community is extremely important so that our disability players/participants continue to feel a part of Sussex Cricket.”

Karen Dobres guest speaker at networking breakfast

After another sell out event, join the Big Business Breakfast Club on Friday 19th May at Brighton i360, from 8am.

Networking & Events

Our special guest speaker for May is Karen Dobres, alongside Alex Ryan from Marketing 101 with his marketing hints and tips. We give you plenty of time to meet other likeminded businesspeople in the room.

As ever, our guest sponsor, Brighton CCTV’s Chris Dean, gets to choose the month’s charity, and for May that will be the Somerset Centre, where Rob Henly will be with us, highlighting what the charity does in the local community. Please show your support and make a generous donation when you purchase your ticket, which they’ll get directly.

May’s sponsor, Chris Dean –Brighton CCTV

Brighton CCTV delivers system design, installation and maintenance from standalone residential projects to the latest in multi-networked camera systems for industry and the public sector. It can design and install high-resolution systems to suit all budgets. Excellent

customer service is paramount, starting with a free site survey and continuing with ongoing help and support through remote maintenance monitoring.

Sponsor’s nominated charity – The Somerset Centre

Day services at The Somerset Centre are available to older people (over 50 years or where there is a need) who welcome some support during the day and benefit from meeting with others from within their local community.

The centre aims to promote independence and enhance the quality of life of those who attend, hoping that their members enjoy going and treat everyone who attends with dignity and respect. All are valued members of the community.

Guest speaker- Karen Dobres

After becoming community-owned, Lewes Football Club (LFC) was the first football club in the world to assign equal playing budgets, raising the women’s budget to match the men’s.

Elected co-director Karen Dobres will share how LFC worked hard against the sexism that pervades sport today by welcoming unwelcome women to the game and attracting sponsors who align their message.

We look forward to seeing you all on Friday 19th May. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. The 19th is also National Bike To Work day - so we’ll make sure we have plenty of storage available for your helmets!

Book here now: https://www. bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk/

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a sponsor of the BBBC then, please get in touch with the team at team@ bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk

Delivering delight: who will win Customer Experience Awards at Sussex Business Show?

What does customer experience mean to you?

If you were to close your eyes and think of the best customer experience you’ve ever had, what would spring to mind?

Networking & Events

EXPERIENCE AWARDS

Was it that speedy email response to your question at 3.06pm that one Friday? Was it that time you didn’t have to wait for elevator music to fry your brains before someone answered your call? Was it the time when you didn’t even have to go anywhere other than Twitter to get your problem resolved?

Customer experience means different things to different customers. But, ultimately, it’s leaving the customer with a good feeling about the brand, individual or company they just dealt with. It’s knowing they are being looked after, and that they feel like they care.

Network Xpress, the brand behind the Sussex Business Show, is all about people. Which is why they place a large emphasis on highlighting and celebrating those who care and look after their customers. Each year the Customer Xperience (CX) Awards at Network Xpress recognise businesses that have demonstrated exceptional dedication to delivering outstanding customer experiences.

Last year’s event showcased some stellar customer experience companies. Yeoman’s Toyota Brighton took the

coveted first-place spot. Nettl Face Media Group stole second and Knockhatch Family Adventure Park came in third. Gatwick Diamond Business received an honourary mention.

How are the winners chosen?

Such customer experience awards are typically given out by third-party organisations or industry associations that specialise in customer service research and benchmarking.

Why is good to win a CX Award? Network Xpress loves shouting about businesses that deliver exceptional experiences for their customers. And it’s not just important for the recognition at an event…

Businesses that receive customer experience awards typically enjoy increased brand recognition, reputation,

and customer loyalty (and consequently increased sales and revenue). It’s a badge of honour and should be worn as such too. Winning such an award generally means your customers view you as more trustworthy, reliable and customer-focused.

Network Xpress prides itself on the customer experience and values other likeminded businesses that do the same. Is your business in the running to be a winner at this year’s CX Awards at the Sussex Business Show. What could you do to be more customer-centric and deliver the best customer experience possible?

Register by visiting the site. Good luck to all the exhibitors of the tradeshow this year. https://www.sussexbizshow.com

Gatwick Diamond Business

Yeoman’s Toyota Brighton

Knockhatch Family Adventure Park

Nettl Face Media Group

Rivervale unveils Rockinghorse

Children’s Charity initiative

The business’s support of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity is part of its ongoing commitment to support local communities and charities, as it explains... Motoring News

Operating in Sussex since 1967, Rockinghorse provides lifesupporting specialist projects and enhanced services for sick babies, children, and young people throughout the county.

To help achieve our fundraising target of £10,000 by the end of the year, we have planned a series of exciting fundraising events throughout 2023.

We are committed to ensuring that all proceeds from these events go towards Rockinghorse Children’s Charity’s ongoing efforts to support sick children and young people in Sussex.

Fundraising events

Brighton Marathon Rivervale was the official commercial vehicle partner of the Brighton Marathon, which took place on the 2nd of April. We had a stand at the marathon

village on Hove Lawns with the aim to showcase our innovative and ecofriendly Maxus vehicles However, just as importantly, we were there to raise money for Rockinghorse!

We set up a treadmill, powered directly by the Maxus T90 EV, and attendees were encouraged to walk, jog or run on the treadmill. The collective goal was to complete a marathon distance of 26.2 miles! The treadmill challenge was a great success, attracting many people

who wanted to test their fitness and support a good cause.

Rockinghorse Charity Golf Day

On the 12th of May, Rivervale will be attending the annual Rockinghorse Charity Golf Day. With plenty of prizes to win and the weather starting to improve, this event is shaping up to be another big success for Rockinghorse raising loads of money!

Rivervale Golf Day for Rockinghorse

In aid of Rockinghorse, Rivervale has also organised a golf day on the 20th of July 2023 at Dyke Golf Club. Participating teams will be provided breakfast and lunch and prizes will

be given to the winners and those who get a hole-in-one on any par 3 holes! All proceeds of this event will go straight to the charity, to help as many people as possible. Are you interested in taking part? Sign up here: https://rivervale.golfgenius.com/ pages/9392779198596154687

London-Brighton-Paris

Begining on the 30th June is the London to Paris Electric Vehicle Rally 2023. Rivervale will be taking part and showcasing a whole range of EVs. During the rally, the convoy will arrive at Brighton for an event in the day and evening reception at Brighton’s Soho House. During the event, Rivervale will have a

stand on Madeira Drive to promote our vehicles and fundraise for Rockinghorse!

Overall

We are committed to continuing our efforts to support local communities and charities as believe that supporting Rockinghorse will enable them to make a significant impact in the lives of many young people in Sussex. We would love it if you could help us support Rockinghorse by donating to them today -

https://rockinghorse.enthuse.com/ donate#!/

Toyota bZ4X - Toyota’s impressive first all-electric car

The first of Toyota’s bZ (Beyond Zero) all-electric line of vehicles provides a spacious, comfortable and reliable vehicle that can handle any driving situation while minimising its environmental impact. Motoring

This vehicle is most comparable to competitors such as the Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai IONIQ and Tesla Model Y.

Kyle from the Sales team gives us a video review of the Bz4X: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=bzaHv6_oyu4

Introducing the Toyota bZ4X

The Toyota bZ4X comes in three options: Pure, Motion and Vision. These have a 150kW motor and 71.4kWh battery (204hp) as standard and

increases in price, performance, and interior tech respectively. The Motion and Pure models have the option of a 160kW aotor to become all-wheel-drive. However, this feature will cost you a small amount of electric range.

Rapid DC charging being available as standard enables a quick 10%80% charge in as little as 30 minutes; complimented by up to 318 miles of range, there is no need for range anxiety! With a fast charger, you can expect a full recharge in about 6.5 hours at 11kW, an improvement on many other EVs within this price range.

The front-wheel drive models of this vehicle only achieve a top speed of 99MPH and acceleration of around 7.5 seconds. However, these are not the intended aspects of this vehicle designed to impress!

Interior technology and features

Safety

Toyota Safety Sense: This is their collection of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that includes features such as pre-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

Blind spot detection and rear parking sensors: These assist with parking the vehicle and making you aware of a pedestrian’s presence.

Surround view camera: this uses multiple cameras to give the driver a complete view of the vehicle’s surroundings, this is helpful when parking or navigating tight spaces.

Comfort

The interior of this vehicle is impressively spacious, there is loads of room for the driver and front and rear passengers. Additionally, the vehicle has a higher roof which helps to create extra headroom for taller passengers too. With this being an electric vehicle, the floor in the rear of the vehicle is completely flat making the experience for the middle-seat passenger a lot more enjoyable. Continuing the theme with the rest of the bZ4X, the boot space of this vehicle is 452L, easily enough space for plenty of luggage or a big food shop, coupled with an electric tailgate and you’ve got a brilliant family SUV! Finally, a lovely additional feature is the heated front & passenger seats.

Infotainment and connectivity

The bZ4X includes an 8” touchscreen on the Pure model & 12.3” touchscreen

infotainment system on motion and vision models. The Toyota Smart Connect+ system provides constantly updated real-time map and traffic information, as well as road updates. Additionally, it offers the convenience of wirelessly connecting and charging your phone on the go with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Another handy feature is the MyT App on your smartphone. It allows you access to a range of connectivity features. These include the ability to check your car’s battery level, schedule charging times, view trip data, and even

remotely control your vehicle.

Finally, Toyota couldn’t forget the allimportant wireless mobile phone charger which sits nicely in the centre console.

Body shape

It’s hard not to notice the bZ4X from its stylish and sleek body shape. It comes in a range of 6 colours including Scarlet Flare and Platinum White Pearl, which all stand out from the crowd.

18” Alloy Wheels are standard on the Pure & Motion. For those wanting something more then you can get 20” alloys on the Vision model.

Conclusion

The Toyota bZ4X is a great contender in a hugely competitive electric SUV market, especially considering that it is their first all-electric model. It has loads of space for 5 passengers and luggage, coupled with a huge range of safety features, smooth suspension, and expansive connectivity systems; Toyota has created a great all-around driving experience!

Our Deal of the Month

https://www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk/ car-leasing/tesla/model-y/hatchbacksuv-crossover-5-door?ivlppref=540%2 C&ivlpdrivetype=Electric%2C

The Sussex Chamber Business Awards 2023 - win locally, regionally and nationally

Sussex Chamber of Commerce is delighted to launch its prestigious annual Business Awards 2023.

Chamber News

The awards will celebrate exceptional business success and recognise outstanding business

entrepreneurship throughout Sussex.

They will also bring the Sussex business community together and showcase the amazing achievements

of a hugely diverse range of businesses and talented individuals.

It is the only business awards that enables winners to win locally, regionally, and

nationally. Last year, five out of eight Sussex winners went on to win the British Chambers Regional Award! Absolutely outstanding, seeing our local businesses being recognised across the Southeast and Southern region.

Sussex Chamber Business Award Categories

The Game Changer - Entrepreneur of the Year

The Equality Trail Blazer - Diversity and Inclusion Award

The Problem Solver - Business Diversification Award

The Global Player - Export Business of the Year

The Planet Saver - Green Business of the Year

The Workforce DeveloperCommitment to People Award

The Rapid Riser - Scale-Up Business of the Year

The Community ChampionCommunity Business of the Year

A huge thank you to our Headline Sponsor ACUMEN Business Law, an award winning, innovative law firm. They are modern, approachable with smart lawyers of a different kind.

Guest Speaker - Ben Fogle

We are delighted to announce that Ben Fogle will be our celebrity guest speaker. Ben is a well-known award-winning

broadcaster and adventurer. He has presented numerous programmes for the BBC, ITV, Channel 5, and Discovery, including the hit series New Lives in the Wild. Ben is also an ambassador to WWF, Tusk, and Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and a Patron of The Red Cross and the United Nations, and we are excited to welcome him to our special awards evening.

We will also be joined by Ryan Mac who appeared on the television series Romeo and Duet. Ryan will be performing some of the greats by Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé and the Rat Pack.

The black-tie awards evening, taking place Friday 23rd June in the lavish Grand Ballroom at the Crown Plaza Felbridge, will be a glamorous occasion, filled with fun, excitement, and celebration.

www.sussexchamberofcommerce. co.uk/events/chamber-events/ the-sussex-chamber-businessawards-2023

Ben Fogle

Four reasons you’re never too busy to network

If you think you’re too busy to network - think again! Hannah Jackson, Membership and Marketing Manager at Brighton Chamber, shares four reasons why you should never stop networking.

“I’m too busy to network.” It’s a sentence we’ve all heard (or said), and when you’ve got lots going on in your business, it can be hard to dedicate time to networking. But being busy is often a sign that you’ve already been busy networking.

Networking is all about consistency – the most successful networkers do it all year round. As well as being a great tool for your business to meet potential clients, collaborators and referrers, networking can be just as valuable for learning, getting inspired to try something new in your business, and keeping tabs on what’s going on in the city.

So, why put the brakes on networking when you’re busy? That’s when you need networking the most.

With that in mind, here are my four reasons to book your next networking event, even when you don’t think you have the time – along with some tips and advice from Chamber members to help convince you.

1. Think beyond your business’s immediate priorities

You wouldn’t stop marketing your business because you’re busy. What happens when those projects you’re working on end? Where’s your next client coming from? The diary might free up a little and you think, time to do some networking!

Even when the pipeline’s healthy, consistent networking can help maintain your business profile, your workflow, and help with motivation. Sam Knowles from Insight Agents

always gets some networking in the diary right before a deadline:

“To keep a consultancy sustainableindeed to grow its reach and impact - it’s vital to never turn the networking off. I live by a rule that even when I’m at my busiest and in full-on delivery mode, I always schedule another coffee, walk, or drink with a prospect or collaborator. First, it makes me beat and often smash a deadline. And second, who knows where that conversation may take you?”

2. Keep up-to-date with what’s happening in the city

If you’re busy, odds are your clients are too. Networking can be an invaluable source of information to find out what’s going on locally - plus, it makes you feel part of a business community.

Chamber News

In our recent membership survey, 70% of members said the Chamber has helped them find out what’s happening in Brighton.

Use that information for new ideas to work on (rather than in) your business and inform conversations with your clients – whether that’s offering advice, insights, or helping to build your trust and credibility.

James Phillips, Partner at Galloways says it’s easy to avoid networking: “We convince ourselves we can afford to miss it because we’re too busy. But, networking is like going to the gym - you don’t really want to go, but afterwards you’re happy you did. I remind myself of this when making key decisions about how I spend my time –spending time on your business is just, if not more important, than working in your business.”

3. Build and nurture business relationships

This may sound obvious. Networking is all about building and maintaining relationships (even making business friends!) It helps to future proof your business, maintaining a healthy network of contacts.

If you’re meeting people, building relationships to find people to work or collaborate with, you’ll naturally build that list of trusted contacts - people you can refer to if someone says: ‘Do you know someone who could help with...?’

This works both ways. If you drop off networking, although your referral list stays the same, you might have dropped off someone else’s. It goes back to thinking beyond your business’ immediate priorities, growing those warm leads for your business. Plus, you never know who you might meet at the right time!

Jane Lavery from Adept OH said: “Networking can be very powerful, and it’s not always about the initial discussions you have - it’s about continuing to build awareness of your skills in the wider business community.”

4. Ideas, inspiration, and insight

When you’re busy, it can be hard to find the headspace for new ideas, being creative – but some of the best ideas come when you’re not working.

Networking isn’t just a tool to get new business. You can connect, meeting people who might have a different

perspective to your own, learning from them and getting new ideas.

Susi Owusu, Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy at Martlets uses networking as a tool to meet people, and get inspired with new ideas. She said: “As Brene Brown says, we’re all hard wired for connection. That’s why walking into a room to network is always a little daunting. But I always come away with a new idea, or story someone has toldthat’s the joy, meeting people who have a different perspective and can help inspire you, shift how you see or think about things.”

So, what are you waiting for?

Hopefully this will have inspired some of you busy bees to get your networking hat on – whether that’s to motivate you to beat a deadline, learn something new, or build relationships.

Brighton Chamber is a dynamic, inclusive and welcoming membership organisation for businesses of all sizes. Head over to brightonchamber.co.uk/ event for networking events and more.

Stopping the biological clock: a new opportunity to attract and retain crème de la crème female talent

In the business world, everything moves fast - too fast sometimes - and for those with careers, the race to impress and progress is one of the most common reasons fertility rates are on the decline, not just in the UK but globally, explains fertility expert Carole Gilling-Smith. Lifestyle

A fractured worklife balance puts relationships on the line and postpones family building until, sadly for many, it is too late. Forget stories about Charlie Chaplin fathering children into his seventies, these are the exceptions to the rule. Admittedly, men are more protected from fertility aging than women, but even they start to lose their fertility beyond the age of 40. So, let’s get the conversation going about fertility aging, how to insure yourself against it and how your business can get involved and make a difference.

For women, or trans folk with ovaries, finding out you have little or no hope of conceiving your own biological child can be the most distressing diagnosis to be given. Sadly, in my Fertility Clinic, I am the bearer of this sad news far too often, and for many of my patients they are still young, in their late 20s or early 30s. The ovary holds your life’s stock of eggs when you are born, some 2 million of them, and that pool of potential fertility gets depleted exponentially throughout a person’s life. But as egg loss occurs at different rates in different people, there is no way of knowing how many eggs you have left without a fertility or ‘ovarian reserve’ test.

Eggs also age with the passage of time, acquiring genetic faults. That means that by the time a woman celebrates her 36th birthday, egg numbers are usually down but, far more concerning, egg quality is also on the decline. This double whammy seems to hit just when things in your life might be coming together!

That’s why I am such an advocate for educating women about their reproductive health and choices from adolescence onwards. I want to ensure we empower a whole new generation of young women, to not only learn about contraception but get a real understanding about how their

biological clocks tick so they can choose when, and how, to have a family and tap into the new technologies that can help them preserve their future fertility.

Egg freezing is the new buzz word in female business circles. In its most simplistic terms, egg freezing involves a woman taking a 2-week course of hormone injections during the first half of her menstrual cycle to create more eggs than she would normally produce. These eggs are then harvested during a short ultrasound guided procedure before being frozen rapidly in liquid nitrogen in a process called vitrification. The harvested eggs are frozen in time, thus preserving their quality, and can be thawed out years later when the time is right to create a baby. They remain as ‘young’ as the day they were frozen. Under current UK law, frozen eggs can be stored for up to 55 years, although, in reality, they are never likely to be kept that long due to the risks of a person carrying a pregnancy much beyond the age of 50.

Egg freezing only became a viable option for women about 10 years ago following a breakthrough in freezing and thawing techniques which significantly reduced the risk of eggs being damaged as they were frozen. Survival rates in top fertility clinics when eggs are thawed out are now well in excess of 90% which is why we have seen an exponential rise in the number of women coming forward to freeze their eggs at the Agora Fertility Clinic, the majority of whom are single. The same technique is used to freeze eggs before having chemotherapy for cancer treatment or before starting cross hormones when transitioning, the only difference being that the NHS in Sussex now fund the later but not the former so for the time being, social egg freezing has to be paid for privately.

A single cycle of egg freezing at the Agora costs £3,600, a fee that includes everything except for the cost of the hormonal medication, which can range

from £800 - £1200, depending on your egg reserve. The Agora also offers a very low cost ‘freeze and share’ option to those who want to preserve their fertility whilst doing something amazing for someone else. You need to be under 35 and meet other eligibility criteria but in this program, you complete a full cycle of egg freezing but give up half the eggs that are harvested to someone unable to have a family without donated eggs. An incredible gift of life!

Egg freezing can for some be daunting and stressful, especially if you are doing this on your own, as well as hormonally challenging, which is why our team are on hand throughout the whole process to provide emotional support.

The optimum age to freeze your eggs is from your late 20s onwards, but ideally before you reach 35. It is also advisable to freeze at least 20 eggs to have a realistic, greater than 85% chance of conceiving a child when you come to thaw them out in the future, meaning for some more than one egg freeze cycle. Also, as this is a relatively new technique, the numbers of babies born from frozen-thawed eggs

remains low, which is why it is wise to choose your fertility clinic carefully to ensure they have the best techniques to freeze your eggs and robust future proof storage methods. Even more importantly, make sure you speak to others that have used their services and ask them about the emotional support you can expect as you go through the process.

Increasingly, many organisations in the UK are now offering egg freezing as a health benefit to their female employees, to attract and retain the best talent. There is no doubt that egg freezing is an option worth exploring and the best advice I can give to any women in her 20s or 30s reading this article is to at least check her fertility on a regular basis and consider the option of putting her eggs on ice before it is too late. To businesses, my advice is to give serious consideration to part or fully funding an egg freeze employee benefit scheme as a way of attracting and retaining your crème de la crème female talent.

For more information about egg freezing contact the Agora Clinic https://agoraclinic.co.uk/

Dress business casual like a boss

Michelle Barrett, Stylist and Founder of Capsule Closet Stylist, explains how.

You may have noticed a subtle change in the workplace since the pandemic. I am not talking about the economic downturn or the rise in hybrid jobs, but how we all dress for work. Traditionally men wore suits and, when women started to join the workplace, they tended to dress in similar attire. It made a clear distinction between office and home life.

Lifestyle

Since we came out of the pandemic, things have changed.

Many of us spent nearly a year or more working from home. At the most, we had to wear something smart on our top half for Zoom calls; at worst, some sat in their PJs. Since the world opened up

again, dressing for work has never been the same. For example, 2021 saw the rise of the Athflow trend, a comfortable and sophisticated style suitable for home or office.

Previously, we knew that if we went to a meeting or worked in an office we had to be smart, but hoodies and jeans have crept in since then. BBC Radio asked me to comment on my thoughts on Rushi Sunak wearing a hoodie at a conference, which would otherwise have been unheard of. I still felt he looked smart. Granted, he was not wearing a suit, but the hoodie in question was in a silver-grey knit, so subtle and not in any way tacky. So this is key, it is ok to ditch the suit on some occasions, but you still need to look as if you have made an effort.

How do you know what is business casual and what is too casual?

It is usually a blend of traditional business attire mixed with a more relaxed but professional style that is still appropriate for the office. Some examples are below:

• Smart dress trousers, cargo trousers, chinos, dark (not distressed) jeans, knee-length or maxi skirts and dresses.

• Shirts, Breton stripes, blouses, polo shirts, simple knitwear.

• Blazers, cardigans, knitted hoodies

• Brogues, loafers, oxfords, smart, clean trainers, boots, flats, heels or wedges.

• Neck scarves, belts, simple jewellery.

So what is too casual? As a general rule, I would suggest you avoid the following in a working environment:

• Jeans with holes in

• Flip flops

• Shorts above the knee

• Sloppy, baggy clothes

• Distressed clothing

• Inappropriate logos or images

• Crop tops

• Anything dirty or wrinkled

• Attire too tight or short

• Swimwear (unless you are a lifeguard or swim teacher!)

However, having worked in TV and film for over 20 years, I will admit I have seen some of the above in my working environment. Anything in the arts is a little more relaxed, but if you are heading into a corporate climate, veer towards the smarter end of the spectrum.

In addition to this, it can help to look at colour too. Neutral colours can make an excellent basis for any wardrobe but work particularly well in a capsule wardrobe for work. Neutral colours include white, cream, grey, charcoal, navy, black, beige

and stone. Neutral colours look great on everyone except for black and white, which can drain some people. It is not to say that other colours are inappropriate, but neutral colours are a great place to start if you struggle with putting outfits together for work. Ideally, you will have a capsule wardrobe just for your job. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of clothes that mix and match easily.

It will likely take a while before the new way of dressing for work settles down. The impact of the pandemic has left its mark in ways we could have never imagined. If unsure, play it safe and go for the more sophisticated option. If you are to meet a new employer, client or boss for the first time, making an effort is still advisable. Another good tip is to look at the business website and scan how people are dressed there and emulate it.

In addition to thinking about how smart or casual attire should be for work, an outfit should also feel good

on you mentally and physically. We spend so much time at work, so feeling good about what we wear is essential. Wherever you work and whatever you do, make sure a little of your personality shines through. Ignore what advertising in fashion tells you you should wear and find your own style.

Remember what Coco Chanel said: “Fashion changes, but style endures.”

For help with your business wardrobe or finding your style, I offer SBT readers 15% off any of my services at www. capsuleclosetstylist.com. Alternatively, you can book a FREE consultation with me https://calendly.com/ capsuleclosetstylist/free-consultation

** Offer excludes Capsule Closet Success Membership

Use code SBT15 to get 15% off https://capsuleclosetstylist.com/

County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month May 2023

Frescobaldi Chianti Nipozzano Rufina Riserva DOCG

Vintage 2019, chosen by wine expert Michael Yeoman.

This month’s wine of the month comes from one of my favourite wine regions in Italy. It’s called Chianti and is in the region of Tuscany in the mid North West of Italy. The area is stunning with signature Cypress Ttees lining many hillsides. Chianti, as a region, overlaps the DOCG regions of two of my other favourite areas which are widely recognised as some of the finest Italian wines, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

Frescobaldi’s Chianti Reserva comes from Nipozzano in Rufina, which is a historic wine producing area - one of the most important in Tuscanylocated to the north-east of the city of Florence. The first historical evidence of wine production in the Rufina area dates back to the early fifteenth century. Any Chianti to be released as Riserva must be aged for two years before release giving more complexity to the wine.

Wine maker’s tasting notes

Nipozzano 2019 has a vibrant ruby-red colour. The nose presents fruity hints of berries and black cherry, as well as elegant floral notes. The fresh quality provided by the balsamic notes is simply wonderful. These are followed by roasted and spiced notes of pepper, nutmeg and coffee. On the palate, the wine is rich, characterised by the elegant density of the grapes and the mineral freshness of the finish that make it balanced and persistent. The tannins are dense but not abrasive. The taste and smell correspond beautifully.

Michael’s tasting notes and food pairing

For me, four to five years’ aging is ideal for a Chianti Reserva, in terms of balance between fruit and bottle aging. It has lovely taste of characteristic cherries, while other notes such as blackberries and oak come through. It has a light

body, medium alcohol at 13% and fresh acidity. Very moorish. It works very well with Trenchmore Sussex Wagyu steak. I will often serve a Chianti well into the summer and ideally have it below room temperature served around 18 degrees with the smokiness from the BBQ. It works equally well with other beef, veal, poultry, haloumi and mushrooms.

Where to buy

This wine is widely available from various supermarkets such as Tesco’s at £15 a bottle, especially well worth a try with your bolognaise!

Written for County Business Clubs Sussex by Michael Yeoman, English Wine Specialist and producer of Spirit of the Downs, artisan award winning local spirits.

Nothing beats face-to-face marketing. It offers unrivalled opportunities. Brighton & Hove Business Show puts you in front of key influencers and delivers outstanding networking opportunities. If you want to promote your business to the right people, the Amex Stadium is the place to be on June 8, 2023

With hundreds of decision-makers in attendance, you are guaranteed to meet people who could be your next big client.

Don't take our word for it - check out Testimonials from last year's event. Benefits of exhibiting include:

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