SBT issue 469

BRIGHT IDEAS ON THE MOVE

HOW THE BRIGHTER BUSINESS PATH COULD SUPPORT YOU WITH YOUR BRIGHT IDEAS.

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

With the sun about to set on summer, networking is poised to switch up a gear. As well as all the regular events, many of which continued unabated through the holiday period, the Sussex Business Show will herald more feverish marketing activity. We are delighted to explain what the show has to offer for 2023 in this issue.

Being staged later this month, it is one of the highlights of the Autumn networking calendar. Taking place at Brighton Dome on September 28, the Tech, SME and Game themed event is sure to attract a healthy footfall. The Sussex Business Times will be there on stands 83 and 84, so do pop along and say Hello. Full show details are in our Networking and Events section and is touched upon in our cover feature with Sonny Cutting, who also talks about three of his other business ventures as well as the Brighter Business Path. We wish Sonny and all those involved in the show a successful day.

After starting the year on the brink of recession, the economy is still sluggish - leading to a recent rise in unemployment. 365 Employment Law has some first-class advice for small to medium sized businesses on how to approach redundancies. You will find helpful information in our Legal section, as well as a pointer to a webinar.

Over the past few months, the menopause has been featured in the magazine - and it is in the spotlight again in this issue. It’s good to know that so many professionals are debunking myths surrounding this time of life, making employers aware of their responsibilities and, importantly, ensuring women know that menopause is not careerending. We thank Mayo Wynne Baxter for highlighting the continuing problem of women suffering in silence.

Throwing the spotlight on small businesses is always a pleasure and this month we have two. One emerged from the pandemic and the other as a side project inspired by a passion for fun. We think you will like them!

As always, we have features on a wide range of topics - from financial to lifestyle.

As you pack away your desk fan and dust off the brolly, remember that Autumn is always a time of new opportunities. It throws open the door to more networking, more events and a real chance to grow your brand. Grab every opportunity you can.

Sam Thomas, Managing Director

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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Gatwick Airport Community Trust dishes out £200,000 to good causes, Midnight expands client portfolio, Mayo Wynne Baxter highlights South East administrations and Crimtan is credited with driving growth.

Valued

County Business Clubs Sussex throws the spotlight on Westgate Chambers.

Competition Time

Can you put names to faces? Have a go at County Business Clubs Sussex ‘Guess the Value Added Partner’ quiz and you could win Afternoon Tea for Two.

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Legal

Finance Carpenter Box outlines the five pension mistakes to avoid and Preston Insurance Brokers explains why a rise in golf club insurance claims have put renewals in the rough. Meanwhile, Plus Accounting highlights the 50-year milestone reached by Michael Bell Brand Communications. 20

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Samantha Dickinson, of Mayo Wynne Baxter, writes about the menopause and women suffering in silence due to discrimination. Alex Jones, of 365 Employment Law, writes about the law and redundancies.

Cover Story

Sonny Cutting talks about the Brighter Business Path, how new ideas have a habit of forming when you least expect them and, of course, the Sussex Business Show.

Tech

Rubix VT explains what The Big Switch Off 2025 means for business telecommunications.

Health Special

How to navigate the menopause. Helpful advice from experts at Myla Health.

Charity

Learn about a unique youth theatre company supported by The Starr Trust and Search Seven’s highly anticipated Charity Ball.

Sales & Marketing

Webtrends Optimize marks a milestone and reflects on its journey so far.

Networking & Events

Meet Letters in Lights, the businesses putting the WOW factor into events, discover the good cause set to benefit from this month’s Big Business Breakfast Club and learn about a sporting partnership that gave families a free day out this summer. There’s big news from the Love Local Jobs Foundation too.

Motoring

A regional charity has gone sustainable, thanks to Rivervale Maxus.

Chamber News

Ana Christie, of Sussex Chamber, writes about Future Skills Sussex and Brighton Chamber encourages even small businesses to offer work experience.

Lifestyle

How fertility practice is changing with egg and sperm donors soon to have identifying information made available to 18-year-olds who request it. We also throw the spotlight on Nostos and Baker B’s.

Wine of the Month

Michael Yeoman shares his top tipple for County Business Clubs’ September Wine of the Month.

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Gatwick Airport Community Trust supports Sussex charities and groups to the tune of £200,000

Good causes across Sussex were celebrating this week after Gatwick Airport Community Trust announced the recipients of thousands of pounds of funding.

Money went to groups in Crawley, Horsham, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath, as well as around East and West Sussex, which will be used to carry on essential work during the cost-of-living crisis.

Every year, Gatwick Airport Community Trust invites groups across Sussex, as well as across Kent and Surrey, to apply for funding.

In 2023 a total of £200,000 was distributed to good causes across the region.

Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at London Gatwick, said: “We know from the feedback we’ve received that these contributions have a significant

impact, enabling charities, clubs and organisations to thrive and continue making a difference.

“This is especially important during the challenging economic times the country is facing where rampant inflation is affecting every aspect of our lives.

“It’s a privilege for everyone at London Gatwick to be able to play our part in having a positive impact on our community with the Gatwick Airport Community Trust as we continue to provide employment for many people in the area.”

Amongst the groups to benefit in Crawley were the Friends of Forge Wood (£2,500), Crawley Down Residents’ Association (£2,300), Golden Lion Children’s Trust (£2,000), St Catherine’s Hospice (£1,690), Downsman Bowls Club (£1,500)

Children’s Safety Education Foundation (£1,500), The Donkey Field Pre-School (£1,500), The Juno Project (£1,500) and Super Siblings (£1,500).

Super Siblings in Crawley provides monthly support sessions for children with SEN and disabled siblings.

Jackie Strange, Chairperson at Super Siblings, said: “We were delighted to receive the funding and can’t wait to top-up our ‘Wish Jar’ with the children’s ideas of how to spend it.

“We ask our children to think of activities that they are unable to experience at home due to the limitations imposed by their sibling’s needs.

“This can be anything from doing arts and crafts in a quiet and calm

Monthly News

environment to having some noisy and messy fun that their sibling might find overwhelming. We would like to thank everyone that made this grant possible.”

Amongst the groups to benefit in Horsham were Horsham Borough Band (£2,500), The Clarkes Mead Trust (£2,250), Horsham Rotary Club (£2,000), Horsham Rugby Sports & Social Club (£2,000) and Albion in the Community (£1,800).

Phil Broom, disability department lead at Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation, said: “The £1,800 from the Gatwick Airport Community Trust will be used to give more young people with a disability the best possible opportunities to take part in football.

“We will be delivering weekly football sessions in Horsham available for all.

“The funding will go a long way to supporting us to provide inclusive football opportunities to young people with a disability, and we couldn’t continue our work without the support of funders like the Gatwick Airport Community Trust.”

In Haywards Heath some of the groups to receive funding were Slaugham Community CIC (£3,100), Rockinghorse Children’s Charity (£2,000) and The Church of St Augustine.

And in East Grinstead money went to groups such as Dormansland War Memorial Hall (£2,850), Friends of Standen Estate (£2,500), St John’s Church Felbridge (£1,500), Felbridge & Sunnyside Cricket Club (£1,500) and Dormansland Primary School PTA (£1,500).

Elsewhere in Mid Sussex recipients included Mid Sussex Voluntary Action (£2,600), Kangaroos Mid Sussex (£1,500), Balcombe Cricket Club (£1,500) and

Friends of Bolney CEP School (£1,250).

Across West Sussex, beneficiaries included organisations such as Ansty Village Centre Trust (£3,000), JubyLee Bakes CIO (£2,500), West Sussex & Surrey Angling Academy (£2,250), Life 2009 (£2,200), The Benedetti Foundation (£2,000) and Sussex Chorus (£1,750).

And across East Sussex recipients included groups such as The Good Company People CIC (£3,000), Danehill Parish Council (£2,000), FRow Friends (£1,600) and Forest Row Cricket Club (£1,260).

Funding was awarded to more than 100 community groups and charities which operate across Kent, East and West Sussex and Surrey.

Funding applications for 2023 are currently closed, but groups will soon be invited to apply for 2024.

Gatwick Airport Community Trust is an independent charity which provides financial support to projects aimed at the development of young people, fostering the arts, enhancing sporting facilities,

promoting environmental improvement and conservation, improving community facilities, supporting volunteering initiatives and assisting the elderly and disabled individuals.

The purpose of setting up the Trust was to ensure that, as the airport continued to grow, funds generated by the existence of the airport should be made available to a board of independent trustees, to make a positive contribution to the quality of life of the communities affected by the airport and its continuing growth.

For more information about the Gatwick Airport Community Trust, visit https:// www.gact.org.uk/

London Gatwick is also urging community groups and charities in Sussex to apply for the next round of funding from the Gatwick Foundation Fund, which is managed on behalf of the airport by the Sussex Community Foundation.

The deadline for applications is 8 September, 2023.

For more information please visit https://sussexgiving.org.uk/

Midnight expands client portfolio with B Corp Boutique Modern

Award-winning PR agency Midnight has been appointed by Boutique Modern, a B-Corp modular housing specialist, rounding off a string of new client wins this year.

Midnight will be supporting Boutique Modern with a multilayered PR campaign, positioning it as providing one of the solutions to the affordable housing crisis.

Flo Powell, joint managing director at Midnight Communications, said: “If you’d asked us who our ideal client is we would’ve described a company just like Boutique Modern. Property and Construction is a key sector for us and one that’s growing – this contract comes hot on the heels of several new clients in the industry including the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS).

“We’ve also pledged to be net zero by

2030 and our new strapline is ‘positive meaningful impact’ so the fact that Boutique Modern is a B Corp gives us real joy. That they’re based down the road from us, and are all genuinely lovely people, is just the cherry on the cake.

“We can’t wait to get started on their campaign. They are not short of news, case studies and blog ideas so there’s plenty for us to work on.”

Boutique Modern has already completed several projects in 2023, with impressive developments in Eastbourne, Newhaven and Peacehaven with many more in the pipeline.

Lucas Shone, projects director at Boutique Modern, said: “We spent a

long time looking for a PR company who share our vision and values, and who we feel can really deliver the message that BM want to send.

“It’s great to be working with such a nice bunch of people at Midnight, who have invested time getting to know Boutique Modern and listened to our ambitions for the next phase of our development. I’m sure the Midnight team will play a big part in making our plans a reality.”

For more information, please visit www.midnight.co.uk and www. boutiquemodern.co.uk

South East businesses account for 11% of UK administrations in first half of year

Retail, manufacturing, construction, hospitality and real estate were the worst-hit sectors, explains Nick Stockley, dispute resolution partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter.

South East businesses accounted for 11% of administrations in the first six months of 2023 – the third highest region in the UK – according to analysis by Sussex law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter.

A total of 759 businesses, 84 of which came from the South East, filed for administration between 1 January and 30 June 2023, marking a 22% increase compared to 2022.

Retail, manufacturing, construction, hospitality and real estate were the worst-hit sectors, accounting for 57% of all administrations. Greater London led the way with 25% of the filings, followed by the North West (15%) and South East (11%), data from The Gazette Official Public Record has revealed.

While administrations are still yet to hit pre-Covid levels (940 in the first six months of 2019), an insolvency and restructuring expert has warned that more businesses will fail unless inflation is controlled and interest rates stop being increased.

Nick Stockley, dispute resolution partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “Given the prolonged economic uncertainty that is plaguing the country, the increase in the number of businesses filing for administration is no surprise.

“HMRC is definitely taking a harder line than in previous periods and its threat of enforcement is certainly pushing some businesses towards considering their options, with some seeking

administration as an alternative to facing a winding up petition.

“We’re seeing a steady flow of corporate failures. Should some other ‘bad news’ rear its head, then that is only likely to increase. Businesses and individuals need to see interest rates and inflation come down. With a period of stability, we will see confidence increase.”

With the sector’s filing almost doubling when compared with the first six months of 2022, the retail industry replaced construction as the worst-hit sector. The hospitality, real estate and manufacturing sectors also remained in the top five.

Nick said: “The sectors most impacted are feeling the effects of higher interest rates and inflation; the money in people’s pockets is now worth less so they are less likely to purchase non-essential items and services, which is impacting the retail and hospitality sectors.

“Consumer spending is shrinking and footfall on the high street and in restaurants is declining as a result. The pressure is also on businesses as they face higher borrowing costs and energy expenses, so they are being squeezed from both sides.

“There is still uncertainty in the geopolitical landscape, which is impacting business confidence. With

cash flow becoming tight, businesses are at a greater risk of going under. Supply chain issues and the rising cost of importing goods, especially in the automotive industry, have created a challenging juggling act for businesses to maintain profitability.”

Greater London remains the region where most businesses filed for administration. However, the North West overtook the South East for second place, and the West Midlands replaced the East of England in the top five.

Nick said: “Our advice remains consistent – seeking professional advice early can open up more options for struggling businesses. It is crucial not to ignore the signs and bury your head in the sand, and, instead, take a proactive approach to address underlying issues. By doing so, businesses can better navigate the tough trading conditions and increase their chances of survival.”

For more information, please visit: www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

Plaza Premium Group achieves remarkable growth with Crimtan’s targeted advertising solutions

Plaza Premium Group, the global leader in integrated airport hospitality experiences, announced the results of a successful partnership with Crimtan, the pioneer of lifecycle marketing for programmatic advertising. Plaza Premium Group revealed that the collaboration with Crimtan yielded outstanding results, with a significant increase in new customers, by leveraging Crimtan’s targeted ad solutions.

Prior to partnering with Crimtan, Plaza Premium Group faced challenges to maximise growth due to limited regional brand awareness and the need for optimising its marketing strategies. The collaboration, which began in April 2022, focused on elevating brand awareness and driving ROI with a localised and pragmatic approach. Crimtan, known for its expertise in data-driven advertising solutions, implemented a tailored strategy to target potential customers and enhance Plaza Premium Group’s brand visibility in the digital landscape.

The case study revealed that Plaza Premium Group experienced a remarkable 37% increase in new customer acquisition in the very first month of its collaboration with Crimtan. Using Crimtan’s industry leading programmatic advertising solutions to power dynamic creative optimisation, Plaza Premium Group wanted to target six different types of audiences across airport lounges. With a single template, the ad copies and images were pulled from a data feed and populated according to the traveller’s persona,

The partnership drove a 37% increase in new customers in the first month. Highest new customer growth rate in a month was 187%.

intent and nearest airport location. For these lounges in North America, South America and Canada, the group also saw its highest new customer rate peak at 187% during the campaign period in the US. This surge in new customers demonstrates the efficacy of the partnership and the powerful impact of Crimtan’s targeted advertising solutions.

“We are thrilled with the success of our partnership with Crimtan,” said Esther Tan, Global Director of Marketing, Plaza Premium Group. “What began as a trial and exploration campaign has now become part of our always-on marketing strategy. Crimtan’s advanced advertising solutions, combined with our industryleading airport hospitality experiences, have proven to be a winning combination. The remarkable 37% increase in new customers at the onset of the campaign itself is a testament to the effectiveness of our collaboration.”

“In an era of personalised advertising, the collaboration with Plaza Premium

Group exemplifies the power of targeted campaigns and tailored creative. With a niche and everchanging target market, we embraced dynamic creative optimisation to efficiently target in-market travellers - something that Plaza Premium Group wasn’t able to do with their previous efforts in programmatic,” said Joshua Wilson, Commercial Director (JAPAC) of Crimtan. “Our ArchiTECH platform and our agile and flexible strategy allowed us to quickly pivot and adjust to seasonality, enabling Plaza Premium Group to effectively engage with their target audience and drive impressive growth, ultimately achieving a positive ROI of 2.4 within just two months.”

Crimtan’s ArchiTECH platform gives real time customer intent signals that enable Crimtan to serve the most relevant creative to travellers, depending on where they are in their lifecycle journey.

The success of the Plaza Premium

Group and Crimtan partnership highlights the importance of localised strategies and bespoke creatives in driving brand awareness and customer acquisition. By leveraging Crimtan’s targeted advertising solutions, Plaza Premium Group was able to exceed its goals and grow its customer base significantly.

Following the success of the campaign, Plaza Premium Group has expanded its partnership with Crimtan, adding two products, Aerotel airport hotel and Allways airport concierge services, targeting the global market. The first campaign for Aerotel surpassed expectations with an ROI of 6.07. With Crimtan’s expertise and innovative solutions, Plaza Premium Group will continue attracting new customers and strengthen its presence in the airport hospitality industry.

Value Added Partner Spotlight

1.Tell us about the Westgate Chambers story

Westgate Chambers was founded in October 1987 by John Collins and Raymond Fox. John and Raymond knew both the solicitors and lay clients in the region deserved something more local, more accessible and more dedicated than annexes. We remain the only independent common law set of Chambers in South East of Sussex.

2. What has been the biggest business challenge to date?

In Crime, over the last thirty years we have seen multiple cuts to legal aid fundingand no increase on Crown Prosecution fees for well over a decade. This has led to multiple Criminal Bar strikes to hold the Government to account to show the cuts have decimated the goodwill for many Barristers. During Covid this situation was exasperated still further, and the Criminal Bar undertook a strike on pay which resulted in the Government finally listening and increasing both Defence and Prosecution fees. We have more work to do in relation to this but remain resolute that we are moving in the right direction.

In Family, we have seen several court portals be introduced, where Counsels’ papers are now held. Moving barristers away from physical papers, with the traditional pink string wrapped around them(!), to working online has been a challenge for every Chambers and member of the Family Bar.

COVID was an horrendous time for many. The legal profession was no different, with all Barristers and their Chambers

being hit hard. You may recall that most if not all Criminal, Civil and Family cases were adjourned, save for the cases involving the protection of children.

3. What has been your greatest or proudest business achievement to date?

After the first lockdown and during the second lockdown, Chambers took the monumental decision to move from Lewes, our home for 32 years, and move Chambers across to Brighton. The logistics involved in moving all our Barristers and staff was a big stepalong with totally revamping our IT and Chambers setup to be more flexible and allow full remote working both for members and staff.

Chambers made this decision to be closer to our core base of professional clients and to locate ourselves within the court network which has allowed us to have more of a presence for our professional and lay clients and at the same time give our Barristers the flexibility to be right next to their Chambers should they need us before or after court.

4. What type of clients do you currently work with and who are you looking to meet?

We work with several different clients. Lawyers traditionally instruct Counsel, but we now also work with Chartered Surveyors and members of the public via Direct Access. We are looking to meet anyone who requires excellent representation or advice from best-inclass Counsel.

5. Tell us a story/fact about yourself that people might not know?

Sean - My first vinyl record was Rapper’s Delight by The Sugar Hill Gang.

Stuart – I am a huge music lover! Classical, Hip Hop, Rap, Pop, RNB, Rock-n-Roll – I enjoy it all!

https://westgate-chambers.co.uk/

We talk to Sean Gould, Senior Clerk, and Stuart Taylor, Deputy Senior Clerk, of Westgate Chambers.

Sean Gould

Stuart Taylor

Noel Preston Managing Director of independent insurance brokers - Preston Insurance Brokers

Matt Smith CEO at Webtrends

Carole Gilling-Smith CEO, Medical Director & Founder at The Agora Clinic

Vince Pemberton Chief executive officer at Rivervale

Seren May - Owner and Director of The HR Dept, Sussex-by-the-sea

Bradley Hatchett Founder at Network my Club and creator of the Networker

Lucy Tarrant Solicitor & Managing Director at Cognitive Law

5 pension mistakes to avoid

National Pension Awareness Week runs from 11th-15th September 2023. Pensions are the foundation of retirement planning but are unfortunately one of the least understood financial products as education in the UK is often limited. Consequently, many pension savers risk making costly errors with their funds.

In this article, Carpenter Box Financial Advisers outlines five common pension mistakes that you should avoid.

1 - Relying on “default” investments

Your workplace pension scheme will have a default investment option that all new scheme members will be invested in. This middle-risk investment option may not be the best option for your pension savings, may not invest in the things you care about, and may impact the final value

of your pension. Reviewing your default investments and looking at alternative options is often a good idea.

2 - Under saving

Individuals often under-appreciate the pension value they require to live the retirement they dream of. Although Auto-Enrolment legislation has had a positive impact on encouraging pension saving, people often stick to the minimum contribution levels throughout their careers. Increasing your contributions slightly, particularly early in your career, can have a

massive impact on the final value of your pension.

3 - Losing pensions

Almost £26.6 billion worth of pensions are not currently matched to their owners with lost pension pots averaging £9,470.

It is increasingly uncommon for people to stay with one employer throughout their working lives. Each time you change employer you will be enrolled into a new pension with that employer. If you change jobs frequently and regularly move around for work, your

Finance

old pension providers may lose track of you. Therefore, you should keep a record of your different pensions (providers and plan numbers) and seek to keep your address updated with all of them.

If you think you may have a dormant pension plan, the good news is that it’s fairly straightforward to track them down. With your National Insurance Number, the names and addresses of your previous employers and the use of the Government’s Pension Tracing Service you should be able to find out everything you need to know.

Having found old pension plans, you might be tempted to move older pension plans into your current workplace pension scheme. Whilst this might be the right decision for some, it is important to consider that some older workplace pensions may have valuable benefits which could potentially be lost upon transfer.

Tracking down any old pensions, consolidating them into one plan (if that benefits you) and keeping a regular eye on where you are with your retirement savings could help give you peace of mind about your financial future.

4 - Pension scams

Unfortunately, pensions can also be lost due to scams. Pension scams have been on the rise since the pension freedoms were introduced in 2015. Anyone could be the target of the scam, and the impact on your life and retirement plans can be catastrophic.

Falling for pension scams can often be an isolating and scary experience but keeping up to date on the latest scams can help mitigate this. Whether you have already retired, or your retirement is still some years off, knowing how to protect your money can save you a lot of potential heartache.

Types of pensions scams include:

Free pension review: It is often said “You get what you pay for”, that’s why it’s important to be cautious with businesses that offer free pension reviews. Often, they’re incentivised in other ways, whether through high fees or recommending unsuitable companies for a commission.

Early withdrawal: Unless you are in poor health, you cannot take your pension until you are 55 (57 from 2028). Scammers usually offer ‘liberation’ or ‘loans’ that allow you to borrow from your pension. The funds will be transferred into a scheme controlled by the scammer. They may charge an initial fee of as much as 30%. After fees and tax, the remaining money will then be invested in high-risk products or just stolen.

Defined benefit Transfer / Quick cash:

This is unfortunately one of the most common pension scams of recent

times due to it being legal. Firms encourage clients to transfer their lucrative defined benefit schemes for a relatively smaller lump sum.

Alternative investment: Like the free pension review, the seller will encourage you to invest in ‘high return’ or ‘exotic’ (risky) investments. In return, the seller will receive a commission or be behind the company being invested in.

Multi-company fee: Your funds will be passed through a network of managers each taking a fee.

Signs that something could be a scam include unsolicited messages (cold calling), pressure to act quickly or the use of phrases such as ‘pension liberation’, ‘high returns’, ‘loophole’ and ‘savings advance’.

If you are worried about a potential scam or may have been contacted by a fraudster, contact the financial services regulator (FCA) on 0800 111 6768 or visit their website www.fca.org.uk

5 - Going it alone

Pensions can be complex financial products. People often tackle pensions without seeking advice or guidance. However, there are numerous sources of information available, such as Pension Wise (the Government’s free pension help scheme for those over 50s). Or you can speak to a qualified financial adviser to help prevent making these pension mistakes.

If you would like to discuss your pensions and retirement planning, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our Independent Financial Advisers. Call our team on 01903 534 587 or visit www.carpenterboxfa.com/retirement for further information.

Rise in golf club insurance claims puts renewals in the rough

The Sussex coastline boasts some of the country’s finest golf clubs for amateurs and professionals alike. With unequalled views of the sea and South Downs, it’s no wonder these clubs are popular venues – not just for their fairways, but for dining, functions and charity events too.

But in recent months, wayward putting hasn’t been the only source of concern in the nineteenth hole. Golf club owners have also been sweating over rises in insurance premiums which, according to some specialists, could increase by as much as 35 per cent at renewal time.

To many, this has come as no surprise. With a steady climb in claims relating to clubhouse break-ins, damage to playing greens, and theft of golf equipment, many insurers have withdrawn from the market based on a high historic loss ratio – leaving golf club owners and operators somewhat in the bunker.

Impact of a restricted market

When asked about the rise of insurance premiums for golf clubs, Noel Preston, Managing Partner at Preston Insurance Brokers, explained: “Insurance providers are initially attracted to the market because of the high rates and potential for profit.

“But within two or three years of offering schemes to sports and leisure businesses, they often leave under the financial strain caused by claims that far exceed premiums.

“What’s left are fewer insurance providers with larger market shares in an advantageous position to set higher premiums, often with restrictive terms and conditions that may fail to cover every type of risk.”

The rise in claims has caused insurance providers to become much stricter, with the majority demanding upgraded security and fire suppression systems before a premium can even be quoted.

Premiums increase by as much as 35% in response to insurance providers ditching the golf market.

This all comes as another expense for golf club owners who, for the foreseeable future at least, join many other leisure industries suffering the strain of sky-rocketing premiums.

Not all schemes are up to scratch

Many schemes for golf club venues provide cover for standard disruptions to business, such as damage to clubhouses, playing surfaces and machinery. But Noel shares concerns that the level of cover may not always be adequate or accurately reflect the risk.

“Not all self-placed policies account for every type of eventuality, namely cover for compulsory course alteration and road traffic liability to name but two. For this reason, I’d always recommend contacting a broker to advise on the policy options available for the right type of insurance and level of cover required for your Club,” he said.

“Not only does it provide golf club owners with a peace of mind their bespoke policy will cover a claim but it also means they’re likely to secure a more affordable premium, with brokers having access to more providers for both specialist schemes and standard policy options, albeit within the current restricted market.”

Planning for a reduced renewal

Although rising insurance costs have left a divot in many club owners’ finances, there are several ways to cut the cost of a premium, while still retaining a suitable level of cover.

Whether it’s an independent rural course without a clubhouse or an established multifunctioning venue with a long list of assets, preparing for a renewal by implementing additional risk management processes and security systems can, over time, pay for itself.

As Noel explained: “One of the most common claims we see alongside stolen golf machinery and equipment is significant fire damage to clubhouses and other structures within golfing venues, often caused by commercial kitchens.

“By investing in high-end automatic fire suppression systems that help tackle fires without human intervention, insurance providers are more likely to offer a policy to golf club owners at a reduced rate or at all!

“Similarly, the addition of security systems to protect plant, machinery and high-value equipment in pro shops all helps to make a venue more appealing to insurance providers.”

Stronger together

To combat rising premiums, many golf club owners and operators are active members of the Golf Management Group (GMG) – a purchasing alliance that gives UK golf clubs the opportunity to access discounts without sacrificing on quality.

As a trusted partner to GMG, Preston Insurance Brokers are a preferred option for venues such as Mid Sussex Golf Club and Gatton Manor Golf Club, both of which benefit from access to specialist schemes and wholesale broker facilities that go beyond a standard umbrella policy.

“We have worked with Preston Insurance Brokers for nearly 10 years now and they know our business inside out. Their service with a personal touch has been a huge benefit to the club through the difficulties of placing the insurance, controlling costs and most importantly being there for us when we’ve had to claim.”

Noel added: “One of the reasons GMG have chosen us as a partner is because of our personal approach. For us, it’s about getting to know the clubs, their attitudes to risk, and coming up with a range of options that best protect pockets and the Club.”

If you’re a golf club owner or operator wanting to discuss your insurance renewal with Preston Insurance Brokers, feel free to call Paul Morriss on 0333 222 1183 or email paul. morriss@prestonib.co.uk

Lee Andrews, Mid Sussex Golf Club

Paul Morriss

50 years and counting

Michael Bell Brand Communications is marking a significant milestone. Here, we learn more about the ‘big’ small agency.

In the 50 years of being in business we’ve never courted awards or press coverage. It is not our style. Despite working in the communications industry, we can be a bit shy! We have been too busy helping our clients get the awards and media attention.

But time flies when you are having fun and here we are celebrating our fiftieth year of trading - when Paul Feist from Plus Accounting (our trusted and

supportive accountants) approached us to ask If we’d like to collaborate on this feature we said: “Yes, sure, maybe it is our time to shine?”

So, what is it like for a local business that has been around since 1973? We have worked through a few recessions … global financial meltdowns … and not forgetting a pandemic with all the challenges that brought us too.

About us

We are a brand communications agency

- supporting brands and businesses in their commercial goals, ambitions, and raison d’etre.

The agency has two sides - Michael Bell - serving global brands such as American Express, Uber, Amazon … and Michael Bell One - looking after regional and national brands. But no matter the size of the client we are working with, one thing remains the same and that is we keep ‘service’ at the core of what we do. I firmly believe this is a key reason for how we’ve managed to survive and prosper.

Finance

We take pride in the fact that we operate in the service industry - we strive to be the best in class when it comes to client care. We have always taken the view that the best form of business development is doing a great job for your clients - thinking beyond the ‘ask’ and delivering more than what was expected when needed. That could be from helping to write and deliver a marketing strategy to ensuring a client understands what a Google spider is and how it is impacting their website (do you know?!).

Whatever support is required, it is important to us that our client sees us as an essential part of their marketing effort. This then leads to endorsements, referrals, and repeat business - new business for us has almost entirely come from an existing relationship - directly or indirectly. That is something to be proud of.

Our team all share this belief and approach to doing business and it’s what we look for as well in our professional partners - media buyers, HR specialists, legal firms and of course, accountants like Plus Accounting.

Our partnership with Plus Accounting

We’re celebrating close to 25 years of working with Paul and his team - when the business moved from London to the South coast in the 80’s it soon became apparent that we needed a more local, regional accountancy firm to serve our needs.

Via a referral (the best endorsement see above!) from our lawyers we were introduced to Plus Accounting - who have been our financial advisors both for the business and also us as owners on personal tax, and pensions ever since.

Plus Accounting has overseen and supported us through many changes

as a business – including acquiring and incorporating another business. They have always been there at the end of the phone to offer advice and steer us through the challenges of being a business owner. They have the same approach as us when it comes to client care and consequently, they are an essential part of our company team. A supplier that we could not be without.

Our latest project has been to set up an Employee-Owned Trust (EOT) – an exciting next step for the company – it will reward our loyal team that have helped grow the business to where it is now and will hopefully set it up for its next 50 years!

Plus Accounting has helped us source the right specialist legal partner for this as well as guiding us through the

intricacies of a company valuation and setting up the Trust. It has all gone very smoothly and I fully endorse this for the right type of business owner looking to pass on responsibility to their team and secure the future legacy for the business.

So 50 years and counting, to sum up the secret of our success to date…a dedication to service…delivering beyond the ask….great clients and great staff…oh yes, and trusted professional advisors…winning combinations!

www.michaelbell.co.uk

www.michaelbellone.co.uk

Women ‘suffering in silence’ due to menopause discrimination

With nearly half (44%) of women saying they would lie about why they needed a sick day to cover up menopause symptoms, employment partner Samantha Dickinson, from Sussex law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter, discusses how employers can support their female workforce.

Despite increased awareness by celebrities such as Davina McCall, 39% of women experiencing perimenopause and menopausal symptoms are still embarrassed to talk about it at work, according to our latest research.

electric fan or flexible working hours.

Legal

Less than a third (29%) of women would feel comfortable asking for reasonable adjustments to support them in managing their symptoms, such as an

Furthermore, less than half of women (49%) would raise a formal complaint if they felt they were being discriminated against as a result of experiencing menopause, and 48% admitted they would lie about why they needed to take a day off work if they were suffering with symptoms.

It is very sad to learn that so many women believe going through menopause will negatively affect their

career, which is why so many choose to remain silent – female employees should not have to hide their symptoms and discomfort to avoid discrimination in the workplace.

Supporting over 50s

Despite the government’s renewed focus on supporting the over-50s back into the workforce, little has been done to mandate menopausal support and awareness in the workplace. Disappointingly, the government refused

to make the menopause a protected characteristic – slamming the door shut in the face of progress and betraying a total lack of empathy.

Thankfully, there are still legal protections in place women may be able to rely on to safeguard against discrimination. Under the Equality Act, women may be able to bring a sex, age or disability discrimination claim if they think their employer has disadvantaged them for a reason related to menopause. However, it should not have to get to that stage.

Creating a supportive environment

In a time when employers are facing challenges in recruiting and retaining talent, they should consider how they can create an environment where women feel comfortable to express their experience of the menopause and feel they can raise concerns with confidence.

According to our research, 60% of women are in favour of additional menopause support from their employers and there are a number of steps employers can take to assist their female employees.

It is sensible to start with a clear policy that sets out how the organisation will support those who are experiencing symptoms. This will show employees you have a positive attitude to the issue and will give managers guidance on how to deal with any problems that may arise.

Employers may also want to consider highlighting menopause awareness as part of a wider occupational health awareness campaign. Again, this will indicate to staff that you are sensitive to the issue and that it is not something they should feel embarrassed about.

Menopause champions

Consider also having a menopause

wellbeing champion in your workplace. This would help women feel more comfortable raising concerns while also ensuring employers know how to offer the right support from the start.

Women should be given information on how and from whom they can get support for any issues resulting from the menopause. Many women will feel uncomfortable going to their line manager, especially if they are male, and other options should be available. However, employers should ensure all line managers are trained to understand how the menopause can affect work and what adjustments may be necessary to support women.

Risk assessments should consider the specific needs of menopausal women and ensure the working environment will not make their symptoms worse. If individuals are working from home, it may be necessary to consider if that environment is suitable too.

Managers should carefully manage any drop in job performance or sickness absence caused by the menopause or perimenopause, ensuring any such absences are recorded separately and dealt with sensitively.

Flexible working

Lack of flexibility was cited as a barrier to 37% of women. Working arrangements should be flexible enough to ensure they meet the requirements of menopausal women, who may need to leave suddenly or need more breaks during the day. Consider flexible working hours or shift changes. If sleep is disturbed, later start times might be helpful.

Depending on the workplace and the nature of the work, a number of practical steps could be taken to assist women such as reviewing workplace temperatures and ventilation, providing a desktop fan, or locating a workstation near a window or away from a heat source; providing access to drinking water in all work situations, including off site venues; ensuring there is access to wash room facilities and showers, including when travelling or working in temporary locations; and offering flexibility on uniforms, such as allowing women to remove jackets or providing lighter, non-synthetic workplace clothing or uniforms.

It is time for employers to open their menopause dialogue with their employees and consider any steps they could take to make their workforce more inclusive.

Samantha Dickinson Equality and Diversity Partner

Samantha Dickinson

Employment law: the law and redundancies

Often as a result of economic performance in the economy, or more specifically in their own business, many business owners are worried about how to deal with staff. Alex Jones, Managing Director of 365 Employment Law, has this advice.

Rising interest rates increasing borrowing costs and rising inflation, including increasing energy costs, mean redundancies are inevitable. The issue of staff redundancies will be in the news as the economic situation deteriorates. Business owners also often consider existing business structures and their efficiency as part of a redundancy process.

Employers that have held off on redundancies would be wise to consider

the next steps they might want to take, before any economic situation for them becomes critical. How those redundancies happen is important from both a reason perspective, but given a process must be followed, also a procedural one. If employers make redundancies quickly as problems hit them, they will face difficulty arguing that dismissals are not, at the very least, procedurally unfair.

If the number of affected staff is over 20, then collective rules apply. I do not focus on those for the purpose of this article, but on the smaller number of

redundancies, that affect SMEs on a more regular basis, and that will have to be dealt with when they are faced with those financial pressures. Many of these considerations should already be in the mind of employers.

The legal position relating to redundancy of staff sets out that it can happen in one of three situations - business closure, workplace closure (ie the location where the employee worked closes) and, the most commonly used, a reduction in the need for staff to do work of a particular kind.

Legal

A reduction in the need for staff to do work of a particular kind is the most common route to staff redundancies at this time. The staff are redundant if the employer no longer has the requirement for staff to do work of a particular kind. The test is not whether the work still exists, but whether or not the role is needed to do the work. This means that redundancy can be because of specific work reduction, for cost saving purposes, or for reorganisation purposes. As an example, in hospitality, a widely affected area as energy bills become unaffordable, a bar owner may have two bar managers, both of whom share shifts, so both are needed. The employer may decide to make one of those redundant to save costs, despite the work need being there, and do some of the shifts themself. That would be a genuine redundancy, as the requirement for a bar manager has ceased. They would, of course, have to have a fair selection process to decide which employee goes, but one of those roles is redundant.

A redundancy situation does not occur under this heading, if an employee is made “redundant” and someone else is hired into exactly the same role. Using the above example, if another bar manager is immediately hired, a redundancy situation would not exist.

An employee made redundant will be entitled to statutory redundancy pay. The right to qualify for that pay is conditional on two years continuous employment with the employer.

The reason why it is important for employers to get this process right is that if an employee is not redundant, or they are unfairly selected, or a fair procedure is not followed, the employee will have an Unfair Dismissal claim, and could receive much higher amounts of compensation.

Employers should also think about selection, and whether or not genuine redundancies exist.

Employers also often have the mistaken belief that they can change hours and/or pay. They can only do this with informed consent. If they unilaterally vary either, they run the risk of a constructive dismissal claim and/or a claim for unpaid wages for any differences in pay. They could, of course, explore these possibilities with employees as a means of avoiding redundancy, and reach agreement in that regard, but should never impose such changes unless redundancy is not possible and there are dire financial circumstances.

It is also the case that before starting a redundancy process, employers should consider other options:

1. Review your finances and cut unnecessary costs;

2. Freeze recruitment and consider existing staff for vacant roles;

3. Stop using freelancers;

4. Enforce annual leave: If the situation is only temporary, could you ask your team to take some annual leave?

5. Working with your team to find solutions: Have informal conversations with employees and see if there is any scope for reducing hours

6. Utilise the short time/lay off clause in your employment contract. You might have a short time/layoff clause in your employment contract. This gives you the contractual right to temporarily reduce hours or provide no hours.

7. Look at short service employees: If you have done all of the above and know you need to let some people go,

one of the easiest things to do might be to look at those still on probation, or under two years’ service, and sadly give them their notice.

8. Please always take advice on any staff related issues.

I am grateful to Sarah May at Mayday HR for the above 8 helpful suggestions.

We are running a joint webinar on this very issue on 14th September. If you wish to attend, the details are here: Webinar - Zoom. https:// us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_00e81lM4TDWfKr-y5K_ZVA#/ registration

365 Employment Law Solicitors Tel: 01903 863284

ajones@365employmentlaw.co.uk

www.365employmentlaw.co.uk

Alex Jones

Bright ideas on the move

How the Brighter Business Path could support you with your bright ideas.

Cover Story

The most remarkable ideas often come to us in the shower.

They sneak up when we are sitting bored in traffic. They are sparked whilst we’re in deep conversation with a stranger. These ideas do not come to us on demand, whilst we brainstorm, nor whilst we’re sat, beavering away at the ‘to-do list’.

Great ideas come to us at the moment we least expect it.

Where do your best ideas come from?

For Sonny Cutting, founder of multiple ventures and dad to twins, ideas have a funny way of coming to him. They appear when he is on the move. Whilst he travels, whilst he spends time with his family and whilst he is out and about networking.

Today, his four ventures seamlessly take businesses from one stage to the next on their ‘Brighter Business Path’. A journey which supports those with the entrepreneurial fire to take the next steps towards growth and a

successful enterprise.

Sonny’s creation of the Brighter Business Path came from his own experiences through the years and smart identification of distinct gaps.

But his four services were not generated in the boardroom. These organic ideas have emerged from conversations and epiphanies at unexpected moments.

What is on the Brighter Business Path and how can it help you?

The Entrepreneurs’ Blog

‘I get by with a little help from my friends - The Beatles

The Beatles knew it. And Sonny does too. Everyone needs a little bit of help. And that is particularly true if you are starting a business.

Over lunch with a good friend, Fay Millar of Brighton Cakes, the pair were musing about what they felt they had lacked at the start of their careers. They wished for a central information hub that could help serve businesses seeking advice on the medley of life that accompanied entrepreneurship.

A previous digital marketing blog Sonny had run had been dull and lifeless. He wanted a more personal

blog that encouraged people to open up. Together, he and Fay worked their magic on what is now known as The Entrepreneurs’ Blog.

An eclectic mix of articles, written by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs.

It offers the platform for businesses that have ‘made it’ to give back to help those starting out by sharing their own words of wisdom and guidance.

Whilst initially published on Sonny’s networking events site, COVID-19 presented a unique opportunity to give the blog its own site. Sonny snapped imagery with his beloved Nikon D90 and his pictures and the new site exclusivity gave the brand

a real individual feel.

The Entrepreneurs’ Blog covers many aspects of life and business, ranging from advice on being an entrepreneur (as well as featuring successful entrepreneurs), and general life advice from experts.

The blog posts are to help mitigate the stresses of owning your own business. Topics vary from meditation and simple brain training skills to personal development and how to deal with stress.

Those who have perhaps eagerly scoured the Entrepreneurs’ Blog for advice might need investment to start their own business.

The Tiger’s Pen

‘What if we could provide a funding and mentoring platform for start-ups?’ - Sonny

Cutting

This is where the Tiger’s Pen steps up on the Brighter Business Path.

As an avid viewer of the BBC programme Dragons’ Den, and the show’s original inspiration Shark Tank, Sonny knew how critical investment could be to businesses.

He was honoured to be invited by Pete Baikins, creator of Gamification+, to Brighton University to be a ‘Dragon’ alongside other business-minded individuals. Students would pitch their business plans for investment opportunities and mentorship opportunities.

Later, whilst playing with his kids up on the Sussex Downs, surrounded

by the beautiful countryside views of rolling hills and views out to the sea, Sonny suddenly had an epiphany. His already vibrant orange branding, a personal love for tigers and a thrill from his experience as a ‘Dragon’, gave way to a ‘bigger picture’ idea.

Sonny managed to test run the pen with Pete Baikin’s help at Brighton University, with students pitching business ideas ranging from women’s bamboo lingerie, a high-end bedside table and lamp which doubled up with USB adapters, to an app which helped people in nightclubs. All innovative and clever concepts from the minds of student entrepreneurs from the university.

And so, the Tiger’s Pen was born. Designed for start-ups looking for investment and some extra advice from Tigers who have been there before them, the Tiger’s Pen is for energetic entrepreneurs to pitch their magic ideas to experienced investors.

The Tiger’s Pen offers students and start-ups access to business resources, videos and podcasts. The whole venture provides guidance from the experienced directors, founders and business owners who form the collective hub of Tigers at the heart of the Tiger’s Pen.

Those who have managed to secure funding then may look to grow their business through advertising and making connections.

“What if we could provide a platform for startups in Brighton and the wider Sussex region that provides funding and mentorship?”

The Sussex Business Show

‘None of this would have happened if the pandemic hadn’t hit - it forced me to fight, after losing 97% of revenue….’ - Sonny

Cutting

The Sussex Business Show offers businesses the next stage of support on their Brighter Business Path. Once up and running and looking to advertise, business owners can choose to get a stand or attend the infamous trade shows run by Sonny.

These trade shows come with a gamification twist. They are themed to break the ice and revolve around making networking fun.

The evolution of the Sussex Business Show came from its roots in Sonny’s original businessNetwork Xpress, or Net XP. PreCOVID, Net XP ran four events a year, growing year on year.

But on a cold, wet day in March 2020, lockdown changed everything.

The events industry took a monumental hit, as did the income of Net XP, losing 97% of revenue overnight. At this point, Sonny had a choice - either close the business and get a job or do something radical and bring to the market a new style of tradeshow.

In June 2020, a conversation with a fellow business owner, Rachel of Shake It Up Creative, sparked a rebrand of Net XP to create a premier, game-themed county event, launching a new style of tradeshow with a new website and new logo. A tradeshow that would bring businesses across Sussex together at the right time.

May 5th 2022 was the chosen relaunch date. The show at the South of England Event Centre in Ardingly was a booming success with over 500 attendees.

Yet over 33% of businesses from the Ardingly event were from Brighton and Hove, making Sonny realise

that Brighton was the scene to tap into. Especially with his Tiger’s Pen foothold in Brighton University and new friends in the area.

Meeting and having a chat with another good friend in business, Flo Powell of Midnight, led to the suggestion to host the 2023 Sussex Business Show at the Brighton Dome.

With a few associated risks, Sonny knew he needed to be bold to make moves with a venue that would deliver an iconic experience in a unique venue. Flo’s reassurances in that conversation sparked a courage that moved the Sussex Business Show to book the Brighton Dome and it is set to be a truly unforgettable tradeshow on the 28th of September 2023.

Those who have enjoyed exhibiting or visiting trade shows may then be searching for sophisticated and highlevel business camaraderie and support.

The Directors’ Hub

‘The hub is levelling up my knowledge, network & experience, which as a new business is invaluable.’ - Bruce Bignell, Evolve.

The Directors’ Hub - once you’re an established LTD company and a Director - gives you a safe space to talk and rant and seek like-minded individuals.

Like many good ideas, the spark of the Directors’ Hub came over a pint in the pub.

In 2019, Sonny was helping a friend who was having issues in her business with a content management system. Despite paying a website company, the updates she needed to stop her website from getting hacked, were unfortunately not included. Sonny also shared the challenge he was facing with time management for

his accounts and bookkeeping. After discussing a few solutions between the pair, they exchanged ideas and helped each other.

It was then, over the pint, that the idea of the Directors’ Hub first came to Sonny.

Sonny eventually found the perfect spot at The Sportsman in Hassocks.

Over the years, the hub grew, and soon it was clear that the members were travelling far and wide to get to Hassocks. The group was spiralling into a far bigger crowd than initially desired for an intimate safe business space.

The solution was clear: more hubs across Sussex were needed.

And so the Director’s Hub came to be.

Whilst initially in locations such as the Grand Hotel and Malmaison in Brighton Marina, room hires were proving to be a sticking point on costs. After some searching, networking and more conversations,

The Directors’ Hub has now grown from one group in Hurst to eight in four years and more groups are in the mix to support founders and directors alike in 2024.

The hub supports you like your very own team, and gives space for directors to share problems, become mentors to others and give back - by contributing to the Entrepreneurs Blog.

“What if there was a hub to bring directors and founders together to discuss and problemsolve common issues?”

A Brighter Business Path

The holistic vision of an end-to-end business path that empowers business owners every step of the way came for Sonny from a whole host of unexpected twists and turns.

The synergy and bringing together of each part of the journey was sparked during a conversation with another friend in business, Natasha Kingdon of H2 Words. It was during their catch-up, that Sonny recognised the power of bringing together the distinct and individual brands to help support businesses at every stage of their path.

Today the Brighter Business Path truly supports an entrepreneurial spirit, from end to end.

Navigating the perils of starting out, to successful establishments that now can give back, helping those taking their first step, and everything in between. Each venture fulfils a need

the entrepreneur may face on their path towards being a successful business.

It is with the vision of the Brighter Business Path that Sonny looks forward to supporting others, not just for the destination, but the journey it takes you along the way.

Ideas come at the times you’re least expecting them, so get out there.

What are Sonny’s top tips for great ideas?

1. Have conversations. Throw yourself into situations where you are forced to interact. Remember the basic need for human interaction – the Zoom calls won’t quite cut it! You never know what could spark an interesting thought.

2. Travel. Get out into the world. Interact with the world. See places you’ve never been. This doesn’t mean you have to go to far-flung places, simply just exploring your local streets can do the trick.

3. Have fun. With your friends and with your family. Play more. Try a few games. Playing and gamification unlocks a whole new level of creativity.

When you’re on the move, interacting, rather than staring at a screen, you never know what unexpected ideas you may have…

And if you’re looking for business support at any part of your journey, then take a look at netxp.co.uk for guidance – whether you’re considering taking the entrepreneurial leap, you’re looking for investment, you are looking to advertise or you’re looking for a community.

Network Xpress, the Brighter Business Path, really does have it all.

Photo Credit: Hugh Fox

Photo Credit: Jim Stephenson

The 2025 Switch Off – does it actually affect you?

You may have seen the reports that BT will be closing down its analogue phone services and switching off ISDN lines. Called The Big 2025 Switch Off, the call is to “Act Now”. But how do you know if YOUR service will be discontinued? Nick Poyner, Managing Director of Rubix VT, explains.

It’s a massive event in the world of telecoms. In 2025, The Big Switch Off happens when BT Openreach yanks the analogue plug out of the socket, despatching millions of phones into a silent void.

Telecoms businesses have, unsurprisingly, been posting dire warnings of telephone Armageddon. Do you have an analogue line? Act Now! Are you on ISDN? Don’t wait!

Yet no-one is taking any notice.

It’s not that businesses don’t care about their telephony continuity. Of course, they do. For the most part, they simply don’t know whether their phone connection is analogue, digital, copper wire or a piece of string. Why would they?

Warnings of “PSTN” or “ISDN” switch offs are completely meaningless to huge numbers of business owners.

Those businesses who are tech-savvy

will have switched to VOIP phones years ago. Those who remain on analogue are those business owners who have zero interest in cabling or connectivity methods. To be fair, it is hardly the most riveting of conversations.

The telecoms industry solution is to sell through fear (it works for the Life Insurance sector), posting lurid warnings about the Big Switch Off on LinkedIn and Facebook.

This method is about as effective as

sticking posters all over Paris with this powerful message:

“Vous ne parlez pas français? Inscrivezvous à nos cours de langue.”

Which translates to: “Can’t speak French? Sign up to our language classes.”

You may have spotted the problem. If you cannot read French, you can’t understand the poster. Your target market has no comprehension of what you are going on about and will simply ignore the poster.

Back to The Big Switch Off. Many businesses will soon find their phones and internet suddenly stop working. The key question is – will that be your business?

Who will be affected by the 2025 Switch Off?

If you are not sure if you have services due to be discontinued, these pointers may help…

1. When did you last change your phone system?

VOIP phones (i.e. phones that make calls via the internet) have been around for some time now. It was back in 1995

when a company called VocalTec found a way to make calls via PCs connected to the internet. But the internet wasn’t really ready for a mass migration of phone users. Most people simply didn’t have the bandwidth.

It took a while for VOIP phones to take off, with large-scale adoption only really accelerating after 2010.

If you have updated your business phones since 2010, then there is a good chance you are future proofed. If you haven’t touched anything for ten or more years, or you can’t actually remember the last time you looked at your phone services, then you may well still be on an analogue system.

2. Check your phone bill

Your telephone bill should offer clues as to whether you have up-to-date kit.

To check if you may be at risk form losing your services, skim through the bill and look for the incriminating words: ‘Analogue’ and ‘PSTN’. If you spot any of these words, you may be using a legacy phone system.

To make it more confusing, many broadband services and data lines are also being disconnected. Look out for these soon-to-be-axed terms: ISDN, ADSL, Max, 2+ and FTTC.

3. Is it plugged in?

If your phone is plugged straight into a phone socket similar to the one pictured, then the chances are you are still on analogue. Or it could be an ISDN connection. Either way, you may get switched off very soon.

4. Just ask!

If you are not sure, just email hello@ rubixvt.com or call us (020 3740 4923). It’s what we are here for. We can instantly

work out whether you are using a service that is about to become redundant. We can offer you options of how best to upgrade your phones and/or broadband – but there is no obligation and we promise there will be no hard sell from us.

Having to change your phone system may sound like a pain, but it is worth doing, big switch off or not. The latest telephony services can improve your productivity and ensure people who call you get a better customer experience. We can save you money too.

Why is it best to act now?

Analogue landlines offered only basic features and, unless you invested heavily in your own private exchange, the options were very limited. Cloud-based telephony opens up a whole world of possibilities.

• You can take, make and transfer calls on any device, including laptops and mobile phones.

• You can set up an auto-attendant, which gives the caller multiple options to ensure they go straight to the right department.

• You can easily manage incoming calls, ensuring the caller gets the best possible experience.

• Phones come with multiple useful features such as voicemail to email, call recording and music on hold.

If you haven’t changed your phones for a while, forget about The Big Switch Off. It’s just time to get switched on!

hello@rubixvt.com

rubixvt.com

Menopause: everything you need to know - including navigating this stage of life

Until recently, the menopause was a topic which had been talked about in hushed tones. Due to media exposure and celebrities such as Davina McCall opening up about their experiences, that is no longer the case. The focus on menopause seems long overdue, explains Myla Health.

So why are we talking about it now? The menopause will affect 51% of the population of the UK so clearly isn’t a new issue. Until relatively recently, however, we had never been fully aware of the extent of the symptoms it can cause, or understood the significant impact it can have on some women’s lives. Women in their 40s and 50s are usually working, often have caring responsibilities for young children or elderly parents, and want to live healthy, active and fulfilling lives. It is important that awareness keeps on increasing, so that women can feel well supported and thrive at this stage of life.

With more understanding, and good evidence to support effective treatment for women, things are really moving forward.

In this article we use ‘Women’ to refer to people assigned female at birth. Not all people experiencing menopause identify as women. Transgender, non-binary and intersex people may experience the menopause.

What is the menopause?

Menopause is defined as the time when periods have stopped for 12 months.

Following puberty, most women’s bodies go through a finely balanced dance of hormones - resulting in the release of an egg followed by a monthly bleed.

As time goes on, the egg supply women are born with starts to diminish and hormone levels start to fluctuate unpredictably. Women may initially notice subtle changes with the cycle becoming a bit shorter. Symptoms may appear just at certain times of the month, such as the few days before your period. This is known as the perimenopause and can start up to 10 years before the menopause.

Hormone levels then decline to a point when there are no further cycles and periods stop. For most women in the UK this happens between the ages of 45 and 55 with an average age of 51.

What are the symptoms?

The majority of women will experience some symptoms. As hormones have

an impact all over the body, symptoms are far more broad than the hot flushes and night sweats most people think of. Often the symptoms women struggle the most with can be those which impact them emotionally such as anxiety, low mood and poor sleep.

Many women can find that they can’t think as clearly as they did; they forget words or cannot focus in the same way. This can really undermine confidence, especially at work.

Physical symptoms such as palpitations, migraines and joint pains can often lead to a lot of concern, unless these are recognised as part of the menopause transition.

How women experience these symptoms and the impact on their lives

Dr Zoe Schaedel and Dr Olivia Hum are menopause specialists and the directors of Myla Health, a private menopause clinic in Sussex and Kent

is very individual. It is estimated that as many as 25% of women will find their symptoms debilitating. Symptoms on average last between 4-8 years. For some women it can be much longer than this, with some still experiencing symptoms into later life.

One group of symptoms which do not improve with time without treatment are those affecting the genito–urinary system. Women are often embarrassed to discuss these, and they can significantly impact on quality of life. The most well-known symptoms are

vaginal and vulval dryness, but women may also experience pain during sex, or vulval soreness, itching or burning.

Urinary symptoms include recurrent urine infections, needing to pass urine frequently, and sometimes even incontinence.

These symptoms can usually be easily and safely treated even if you cannot take HRT, and we would really encourage women to discuss these with their doctor.

How do you know you are menopausal?

In most cases, blood tests will not be needed. In women over the age of 45, we can confidently say they are menopausal when their periods stop. Blood tests may be helpful in younger women and should always be done in women under the age of 40.

In the perimenopause, due to the fluctuating hormone levels at this time, blood tests can cause confusion as results can appear to be normal.

The best way to make a diagnosis is by monitoring symptoms. Your 40s and 50s are often stressful and busy- it can be difficult to unravel what is caused by stress and what by hormonal changes. Some women find symptom trackers available online can help. Have a look at our checklist at https://www.mylahealth.co.uk/ menopause-symptom-checker

How can women navigate this stage in life?

Management of the menopause and perimenopause needs to be holistic and individual. Not all women will need or choose to take HRT, and some cannot. Management of stress, and optimising nutrition, exercise and sleep are very important and can really help to control some symptoms.

HRT is recognised as the most effective treatment for the perimenopause and menopause and can result in significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life. We know that for the vast majority of women under the age of 60, or within 10 years of their last period, the benefits of taking HRT outweigh the risks. Women over 60 can still take HRT but the risk/ benefit balance is not as clear.

The decision to treat your menopausal symptoms needs to take into account the risks and benefits for you as an individual so that you can make an informed choice about your treatment. The first stage in managing your menopause is to talk to your GP- many of whom are excellent at managing menopause. If you would like a bit more time with a doctor, or need more expertise, then come and see us at Myla Health. Our team of menopause specialist doctors work in Hove, Haywards Heath, Sevenoaks and online.

Menopause can impact on all aspects of a woman’s life so it is so important that women are well supported by their workplaces. Myla Health has a comprehensive workplace programme including seminars, staff training and discounted appointment packages.

www.mylahealth.co.uk

info@mylahealth.co.uk

Menopause Symptom Checker www.mylahealth.co.uk

Unique Hungry Wolf company delivering passionate youth theatre

The company was conceived, with funding from The Starr Trust, by the creative team behind the well-established The Theatre Workshop in response to the huge demand from their teenage and young-adult students to provide a platform for passionate youth theatre that doesn’t pander to stereotypical ‘youth theatre’ standards.

By working exclusively with new writers and tackling only the hardesthitting and realistic subjects experienced by young people today, Hungry Wolf is unique.

Central to the company’s ethos is the creation of challenging, thoughtprovoking and often political youth theatre that is relevant, modern and not patronising to either the young people performing or the audience.

Hungry Wolf gives young actors the opportunity to work with up and coming writers and directors on imaginative, cutting edge theatre. They collaborate with a writer to create a unique piece of work. The resulting collaboration is theatre written for young people by young people, empowering them.

It provides a platform for young people to have their creative voices heard and to make work involving all areas of theatre, from writing, directing, production and technical theatre. It creates opportunities for young people to perform at Fringe festivals across the UK.

Hungry Wolf brings together young people from a diverse background, united by a common focus in the creative arts. Unlike other local and national youth theatres our focus is on the work being devised by the young participants who join the company. It is a safe space where the thoughts and

ideas of young people shape the work that they ultimately produce and perform in. It is a chance to be involved in all the elements of theatre not just performance, these opportunities to work in technical theatre are so rare for young people.

During the Summer Workshop 2023, 30 young actors between the ages of 13 and 21 came together to collaborate on a re-interpretation of a classic. With the guidance of Artistic Director Melody Roche, Director Gary Sefton and writers Katherine Manners and Ella Dorman-Gajic, the young company wrote and performed an immersive adaptation of Antigone.

The Starr Trust funding enabled five young people to access this creative process which also opened the door for one young student to be further funded to attend The Theatre Workshop post-16 course for one term.

This will go some way to support his ambition of going to drama school.

Students

Finlay Brookes

Chloe Wright

Elise Read

Lucas

“The workshop has been a fantastic opportunity that I wouldn’t have been able to do without the help and support of the trust. I met some wonderful people, and have also received incredibly generous support to continue with a term at the theatre workshop with the help from the director and others.” - Finlay Brookes, 17

“My experience attending the Hungry Wolf summer school was so much fun and I’m so glad I went. Without the funding, it wasn’t even a possibility for me to attend.” - Chloe Wright, 19

https://www.starrtrust.org/

Ava Pavlo-Ruffell Ima

Charity

Thank you Starr Trust! Your funding made it possible for me to partake in a transformative journey through the world of theatre. Attending the Hungry Wolf workshop provided me with invaluable learning opportunities and highlighted many different aspects of creating a piece of drama. Under the guidance of experienced mentors, I explored stagecraft, acting, scriptwriting and improvisation. This exposure not only enhanced my creativity, but also fostered essential life skills, such as teamwork, communication, and selfconfidence as we all had to listen to each other in order to create our own play at the end of the week.

Thanks to your support, I was able to learn from professionals in the field, who shared their knowledge and expertise generously with individual acting guidance, writing tips and how to dissect a story. Your contribution has allowed me to continue doing what I love and I am now starting to write my own pieces.

The final performance we put on for our friends and families brought joy and inspiration to everyone present. I was introduced to the world of promenades and multi-rolling. The sense of achievement we felt was immeasurable, and it was all made possible because of your support.

I want to sincerely thank The Starr Trust for making this incredible experience a reality. Your belief in the potential of young artists like me has changed lives and opened doors that we never thought possible. I am determined to continue pursuing my passion with the skills and confidence gained during this week.

Thanks again,

Ava Gypsy Pavlo-Ruffell

thetheatreworkshop.com/hungry-wolf-youth-theatre

Ava and Elise (Starr Trust awardees)

Could Your Business Help Support Young People Who Need Us?

With the kind support from businesses like yours, you will help us to remove roadblocks that a young person may be facing and give them the opportunity to completely change the trajectory of their life.

“I grew up in Brighton and receiving financial assistance from the Starr Trust is more meaningful to me coming from local businesses and has helped me overcome huge barriers to realise my aspirations for a medical career in the NHS. Without this support, my story would be a very different one.”

www.starrtrust.org

Find out how to get involved:

Webtrends Optimize is 5 years old (+18)

Webtrends Optimize celebrated the anniversary on the 1st August. Here, we look at its journey so far and get some insights into the future.

Sales & Marketing

The milestone marked half a decade since the business separated from Webtrends Inc. to become a standalone entity, acquired by CEO Matt Smith and his board of Directors, Ben Charlesworth, Matt Goodchild and Sandeep Shah.

Webtrends Optimize technology goes back much further, however. Created in 2000, it was the first AB testing and targeting solution available in the market. And that additional 18 years of history is vitally important, as Matt himself says: “When we first started on this journey in 2018 we referred to ourselves as an 18 year

old start-up. We had that passion, agility and fierce drive of a start-up business, combined with a hugely experienced team and a technology which had already been finely tuned over many years.”

The journey

Matt has driven Webtrends Optimize to be a leading technology vendor in the Digital Marketing space over these past 5 years. Whilst there have been some brilliant highs in this time, it has not been without its difficulties too, particularly when Covid-19 hit. It has certainly been an interesting journey to get to where they are now.

But Matt feels they are now starting to

achieve the success he originally had in mind when he put together the team to take over the business in 2018.

“When we started, I felt early success for us would just to be considered. To be part of the conversation. Whenever anyone is reviewing the market, I wanted us to be part of their review.

“I accept we are not the right fit for everyone (no one is!) but I feel we are getting to that point now. There’s still more we need to do of course, but big brands and businesses are approaching us to be part of their RFP process (and we’re winning them), and when I talk to people in the industry at events, or

in agency meetings, they always talk positively about what we are doing.”

Has his idea of success changed over the past 5 years?

“Of course, the goalposts are always moving, and I have huge ambitions for the business, but fundamentally that initial goal is still vitally important, because being part of the consideration process is always the first step. It’s then in our hands to prove ourselves to be the right solution.”

“It’s also now about maintaining our high renewal rate (we’re at 97% this year, it was similar last year too) and remaining true to our core values and the ethos we’ve tried to build. Beyond that, who knows what is possible!”

What is Webtrends Optimize and what does it do?

Webtrends Optimize describes itself as a ‘full-stack experimentation solution, with an all-inclusive model’. Its website says that they help businesses increase online conversions, maximise the ROI from a website and enhance the customer’s experience.

What does that actually mean?

Essentially, they offer AB Testing (which measures the performance of 2 different versions, or more, of the same page) and data-driven Personalisation that guarantees tailored, unique user experiences. They also offer Server-side Testing, which can allow even greater scope for users to experiment and test.

Also included in the platform are a host of other Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) features, as well as Social Proof and Product Recommendation tools, which use real-time data to build trust in your brand.

The key point that Webtrends Optimize makes in the statement above is the ‘allinclusive’ element. Businesses are quoted just one price (based on the number of visits their website receives), for full access to the entire platform, with no restricted areas or upgrades needed to access any functionality. Something which seems to be fairly unique within the industry.

Birthday celebrations

To celebrate reaching this recent 5-year milestone the team at Webtrends Optimize held what is now becoming their annual Birthday BBQ and 6-a-side cricket day at Bolney Cricket Club.

Webtrends Optimize is a premium and community partner of Sussex Cricket, and also a sponsor of the Sussex Cricket Foundation, who do excellent work in raising the profile of Disability Cricket across the county and beyond. So, cricket was a fitting way for them to celebrate.

Matt said: “First and foremost, we wanted to do something to say thank you to the most important people in the business - the team. I am very proud that we have such an amazing, dedicated, talented group of people who are at the heart of every success the business has.

“We also wanted to invite some of our friends, family, ex-Optimizers and a few others who have been big supporters of us over the past 5 years too, to show our gratitude.

“We decided that cricket was a great way of both having a bit of fun but also tying it into that strong bond we have built with Sussex Cricket. We also sponsor Bolney Cricket Club so it all felt like the perfect fit, and it’s such a fantastic venue - especially when the sun is out!”

www.webtrends-optimize.com

Matt Smith

Adding the WOW factor and a touch of fun to special events

Letters in Lights is synonymous with magic mirror photo booths and giant lights hire. Here, we speak to co-owner Alison Miskin to learn more.

Networking & Events

Letters in Lights is passionate about helping you create the best event, for any occasion - every time.

Alison explains: “We are a partnershipmyself and Graham - and we are based near sunny Eastbourne, East Sussex. We are passionate about life, making an impact and having fun social times.

“Letters in Lights is a part-time business that we operate in addition to our other careers. Over the years my main Careers have been working in a Bank and a Healthcare Assistant/ support worker in the Community. Between us we have 5 grown up kids

so we have plenty of family help with our business when needed.”

The business journey

Letters in Lights was founded in 2018. Alison said: “I had some funds that I wanted to inject into a business to make them work for me. I am a party animal and very passionate about making the most out of life. Following the loss of many special people in my life, highlighted to me how precious life is.

“Graham and myself had attended events back in 2017 and we found the giant lights very eye-catching and experienced lots of fun in the photo booths and thought it would be a great idea to start a little business from what we loved.

So, did they have any hesitation? “The initial concern for me was – would this business interfere with my own social life?” Alison admits.

“Yes, it could, but Graham was happy to attend the events with our products if I was not available.

“My role is networking, marketing and organising all our bookings – Graham is always on hand to do all deliveries and events. I attend the events where I can. It doesn’t feel like a job at all and we love it.

“I am not a natural saleswoman but, to be honest, our products sell themselves and I love chatting and meeting new people, so it’s a win-win situation.”

Letters in Lights is an expanding business and is currently looking to build relationships with those in the corporate sector. Alison and Graham aim to make new connections at the Sussex Business Show on September 28 at Brighton Dome.

They are also members of Sussex Chamber of Commerce and love to showcase their products at its annual expo.

What does Letters in Lights do?

Alison said: “Our magic mirror photo booths add so much extra fun at any corporate event, including team

building, awards evenings, trade shows, christmas parties or as an ice breaker at corporate events. We also add extra fun to any private event.

“All top quality props are provided and It’s brilliant for advertising your business too as your company logo and company message can be displayed on each print and the prints are instant.

“We also attend charity events and we offer a charity discount too so that we can offer extra support in our community.

“Our four and five foot lights are a stunning and creative way to give you great visual impact, a unique way of getting your message across, making amazing photo opportunities and event styling at its best.”

https://www.lettersinlights.uk/

Insta – Lettersinlights50

Facebook - @Lettersinlights

Linked in – Alison Miskin Letters in Lights

X - @lightsinlights

Tel 07399 738802

Big Business Breakfast Club to support Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation

The charity will benefit from the next networking event and was chosen by the breakfast’s sponsor, Pryzm.

Eight breakfast events and eight sell-outs! Why not join us for Brighton’s biggest breakfast event on Friday 15th September at Pryzm - yes, Pryzm the Nightclub, on West Street? It wasn’t a typo.

Networking & Events

The Big Business Breakfast Club team will be on hand to facilitate any introductions and, as always, the legend himself Alex Ryan from Marketing 101 will be there with his marketing hints and tips. The room will remain open after breakfast and a talk from out guest speaker, so that we give you plenty of time to meet other likeminded businesspeople in the room.

As ever, our guest sponsor gets to choose the month’s charity and for September that will be the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation. Please show your support and make a generous donation when you purchase your ticket, which the foundation will get directly.

Our sponsor - PRYZM

As the night comes alive with our club events, PRYZM is more than just a dance floor. Operating only 15 hours a week, PRYZM transforms into a canvas for private events. From morning networking to daytime conferences and late-night soirées, the possibilities are endless. Moreover, the late license ensures that there’s no Cinderella hour here, bars can operate until 3:30am.

With six event rooms bookable around the clock, PRYZM has the flexibility to accommodate events of 50 guests up to 2,700. Each room boasts its own

entrance, toilets and bars, providing self-contained functionality. As well as being equipped with state-of-the-art sound and light technology including video walls, screens, immersive lighting effects, stage, and live streaming capabilities.

As well as hosting private Christmas parties, this year PRYZM is introducing a new Christmas joiner party offering - a bookable table experience perfect for companies seeking food, music, drinks, and entertainment all conveniently under one roof. And, of course, let’s not overlook the optional after-party that continues well into the early hours!

Sponsor’s nominated charity –Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation

Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation is the official charity of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. For more than 30 years it has been using the power of football to engage and inspire people to make good life choices and help to reduce inequalities in their local communities in Sussex.

It delivers award-winning educational and outreach programmes that improve people’s wellbeing, supports learning and offers inclusive opportunities for everyone to get active and play football.

Guest speaker - Pippa Moyle

Pippa Moyle is the CEO and founder of the City Girl Network, a mission-driven organisation empowering and supporting all women across the UK. Since its creation in March 2016, they have helped over 110,000 women find new friends, business connections, jobs, housemates, business recommendations, life advice and things to do.

We look forward to seeing you all on Friday 15th September. Tickets will sell out, so book in advance.

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

Sports foundations partner up to give families a day out

Sussex Cricket Foundation and Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation join together to provide free activities and games.

Networking & Events

During August, the Sussex Cricket Foundation teamed up with the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation to provide a free day of sports activities and games to hundreds of local families at The 1st Central County Ground.

Families were invited to take part in a range of football and cricket-based activities, including speed bowling, football target practice, Sid’s Big Hit, table cricket, and blind football. There was also a healthy eating station, where families could use an exercise bike to blend their own healthy smoothies, and an area to try out BHAFC Foundation’s Soccer STEM robots.

Lynsey Hermann, Head of Community Programmes at BHAFC Foundation, was very pleased with how the event went and said: “Today’s been a real success, especially for parents as a free family event in the middle of the summer holidays,” she

said, “We’ve had a really good turnout, hundreds of families here. Everyone’s been able to enjoy the sunshine, have some food, and get involved in the activities.

“It’s been a good opportunity for us as well to showcase some of the great work we do.

“It’s something that we’ve wanted to do for a very long time, and it’s a lovely sunny day, so we’re very happy.”

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director, highlighted the importance of the two clubs working together.

He said: “It’s really important that we have a strong relationship,” he said, “We’re two of the biggest sports clubs in the south and we want to be doing more together, and we see this event as just the start.

“Between us we can create a really powerful message to get more people involved in sport.”

Families at the event were greeted by a number of special guests, including Albion mascot Gully, and Sussex mascots Sid and Sandy the Sharks.

A group of Sussex cricketers including Jofra Archer, Brad Currie, and Ari Karvelas came to meet people and pose for photos, as did a group of players from our women’s academy side.

Sussex Police, who work closely with the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation as part of the Premier League Kicks programme, also had a stall at the event. Officers brought along a police car and van for people to explore, as well as some police equipment to look at and uniform for the kids to try on.

You can find out more about the great work of the Sussex Cricket Foundation here , and the BHAFC Foundation here

Love Local Jobs Foundation achieves full UK charity status

The new charitable status will allow the Foundation to enhance its mission of supporting, empowering and raising the aspirations of young people across Sussex.

To herald the start of the new academic year, Brighton-based LLJF Ltd - known as the Love Local Jobs Foundation - has today announced its status as a UK charity, registered as a Charitable Company by Guarantee.

Networking & Events

Working in close partnership with numerous educational institutions, employers and public sector entities

across Sussex, the Love Local Jobs Foundation delivers the inspirational programme – Dare to Dream – to equip young people with the tools and confidence they need to reach their full personal and professional potential.

Fuelled by the passion and philanthropy of founders Gary and Kate Peters, to date, Love Local Jobs Foundation, which began life as The LoveLocalJobs Foundation C.I.C in

2018, has supported over 23,000 young people throughout Sussex and have partnered with over 40 local employers, 30 schools and 1,100 business mentors.

“Kate and I started this journey as something that just felt right. We had no idea how successful it would be, but we knew we could make a difference to everyday young people who just need a positive path to follow”, said Gary..

“Every young person should have a chance to reach their potential. With the support of local role models and employers, we boost dreams and break down barriers that may hold them back. I couldn’t be prouder of our team’s achievements over the years, and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds for all involved.”

Throughout the 2022/23 academic year, the Dare to Dream programme reached over 6,200 students as it promoted the core themes of identity, self-belief, resilience, happiness, relationships and employability through a series of workshops,

one-to-one mentoring and employer workplace visits.

“We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved thus far and are really looking forward to this next chapter in our journey. Looking ahead, we’re excited to explore additional opportunities and to develop new initiatives, collaborating with even more outstanding partners. Our primary goal remains unwavering: to enable even more young people to benefit from these unique and potentially life-changing experiences,” added Paul Scrivens, Chief Executive Officer at Love Local Jobs Foundation.

“Everything we have accomplished has

been made possible by the generosity, passion, and commitment of our supporters. On behalf of our entire team and the thousands of young people who have taken part in our programmes, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the wonderful organisations and individuals who have played such an invaluable role in enabling our work.”

For more information, visit: www. lovelocaljobsfoundation.org.uk

FareShare Sussex & Surrey choose to invest in

a

sustainable future with Rivervale MAXUS

FareShare Sussex & Surrey is a leading regional charity committed to tackling food waste and supporting local communities by providing surplus food to local charities.

During times of economic hardship the services

FareShare Sussex & Surrey offer are so important to society. In order to deliver these services and maintain their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals the decision to ‘go green’ with their vehicles aligned perfectly.

It chose to ‘go electric’ with its latest additions to the fleet, opting for the highly acclaimed MAXUS eDeliver 9; state-of-the-art fully electric vans that offer high performance, spacious cargo capacity and zero emissions.

By incorporating these vans into its fleet, FareShare Sussex & Surrey will significantly reduce its carbon footprint,

contributing to a cleaner and greener environment for the communities they serve. Furthermore, the anticipated longer term cost savings from electric power over traditional fuel is expected to completely change their vehicle outgoing budget in the next 12 months.

As a local organisation, choosing to shop local was important in the

selection process for FareShare, that’s why, it chose the long-established and highly recommended Rivervale for the purchase of their latest additions. Rivervale has long been known across the county as suppliers of cars, but in more recent times, has been growing its light commercial vehicle operation.

“We are thrilled to have Rivervale MAXUS as a supplier and invest in these cuttingedge electric vehicles,” said Dan Slatter, CEO of FareShare Sussex & Surrey.

“By incorporating the MAXUS eDeliver 9 Vans into our operations, we are taking a significant step towards achieving our ESG goals and further reducing our environmental impact. We are proud to support local businesses like Rivervale MAXUS, who share our commitment to sustainability.”

In addition to its sustainable fleet investment, FareShare Sussex & Surrey will participate in the very first London to Paris EV Rally alongside Rivervale MAXUS. This event aims

to raise awareness and promote the adoption of electric vehicles, particularly light commercial vehicles, as a viable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional transportation.

As part of the participation in the London to Brighton to Paris Electric Vehicle Rally, FareShare Sussex & Surrey and Rivervale MAXUS will showcase the capabilities and benefits of electric vehicles, emphasising their importance in the transition to a more sustainable future. The event will provide an excellent platform to raise awareness and educate the public about the positive environmental impact of electric vehicles. You can discover the MAXUS range at their adjoining stands on Madeira Drive on Saturday 01 July 2023.

“We are honoured to have FareShare Sussex & Surrey as our valued customers, and we are delighted that they have chosen the MAXUS eDeliver 9 Vans for their sustainable fleet expansion,” stated Rob Semple, Brand Manager of Rivervale MAXUS.

“Our long-standing partnership is based on shared values, and together, we are championing the adoption of electric vehicles to build a greener society. We look forward to joining forces with Fare Share in the London to Brighton to Paris Electric Vehicle Rally to highlight the immense potential of electric light commercial vehicles.”

FareShare Sussex & Surrey’s acquisition of MAXUS eDeliver 9 Vans and its participation in the London to Brighton to Paris Electric Vehicle Rally demonstrates an ongoing commitment to sustainable practices, community support, and environmental stewardship. By leading the way in the adoption of electric vehicles, FareShare Sussex & Surrey is setting a remarkable example for organisations across the region.

https://www.rivervale.co.uk/

Future Skills Sussex - the Local Skills Improvement Plan for Sussex

As you may be aware, the Government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper set out an ambitious employer-led approach aimed at making Further Education (FE) provision more responsive to local skills needs and ultimately local economic needs.

As part of this approach, Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) were introduced as a key part of the

Government’s vision of an adult skills system where businesses are given a much stronger voice in local skills planning by working closely with FE providers, engaging effectively with local leaders and other stakeholders and forging a stronger and more dynamic partnership that will enable provision to be more responsive to the skills needs of employers in local labour markets. The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill provides a statutory underpinning for Local Skills

Improvement Plans. It introduces duties on providers to co-operate in the development of and then have regard to the plans.

Sussex Chamber of Commerce is the designated Employer Representative Body (ERB) for the development of the LSIP in Sussex. Over the last 18 months, Sussex Chamber has engaged with the business community in order to ascertain and articulate their skills requirements.

Chamber News

Ana Christie, CEO of Sussex Chamber of Commerce, writes about the forthcoming launch of Future Skills Sussex.

As part of the future LSIP activities work will commence on the skills priorities and solutions identified within the “Future Skills Sussex Improvement Framework”, the LSIP’s three-year action plan.

Future Skills Sussex launch event

6th October

To celebrate the approval of the Sussex LSIP (Local Skills Improvement Plan) report, Sussex Chamber will be hosting a launch event at Bramber House, University of Sussex on Friday 6 October.

The event will provide a chance to celebrate all the collaborative partnership work that’s taken place to develop this Sussex-wide approach to addressing skills gaps and taking forward the skills priorities required by businesses.

There will also be an overview of the LSIP’s action plan – Future Skills Sussex Improvement Framework, information on progress so far and the activities Sussex Chamber and partners will be working on over the next year. There will also be an interactive session and networking opportunities.

The Chamber would like to welcome all those employers and partners

across Sussex who have been instrumental in helping the development of the LSIP and those new to the LSIP, who would like to find out more about the future work to implement the Future Skills Sussex Improvement Plan supporting employers with their skills needs.

The LSIP will support and benefit businesses across the Sussex area as follows:

• Improve productivity and fill skills gaps with locally grown talent,

• Create international competitiveness,

• Increase economic growth,

• Strengthen links between employers and further education and providers,

• Place employers at the heart of defining local skills needs,

• Improve the skills system will be crucial to building an agile and adaptable workforce,

• Support people to get the skills our economy needs and give them opportunities to progress in their careers,

• Make sure people can access training and learning flexibly throughout their lives,

• Support growth industries.

Link to book: https://www. sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk/ events/chamber-events/-futureskills-sussex-andndash-local-skillsimprovement-plan-lsip-launch-event

Please contact skills@ sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk for further information.

Ana Christie

Work experience – why even the smallest of businesses can offer it

Amy Lishman, Head of Member Engagement and Deputy CEO at Brighton Chamber, writes about the chamber’s recent work experience students - and why, even if your business is small, you can benefit from opening your door to those who want to learn.

Back in July, Brighton Chamber welcomed two students from BHASVIC for a threeday work experience placement, a first for the Chamber. In the past offering placements has been tricky due to resource constraints with our small team. But this year, as part

of our work with local schools and colleges, we put aside reservations and welcomed Lara and Massiel, two year 12 students from BHASVIC. It was a brilliant experience, and we’ll be offering work experience each year from now on.

It wasn’t without its challenges but the benefits for us far outweighed the cost.

Here’s my rundown of the benefits to your business, and my top tips for making it a worthwhile and rewarding experience for you as an employer and for the student.

The benefit vs the

cost

Supervising and organising the work

Chamber News

for the placement students can be a brilliant opportunity for members of your team, or yourself, to develop people management skills. It was really rewarding seeing the progress of the two students over just three days. For me personally, it was one of the most rewarding bits of my job this year. Yes, it did take me out from doing my ‘day to day job’, and there were a few longer days catching up, but I was prepared for this, and in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t set me back even half as much as I thought it might.

Work experience students can do work that benefits your business. I wish my work experience placement at Northumberland Magistrates Court back

in 2003 had realised this instead of getting me to shred hundreds of files, do basic data entry and make tea.

Lara and Massiel did work for the Chamber that mattered and gave us a fresh perspective. Amongst other things, they researched speakers for our events, created marketing mailers and marketing collateral for us, they wrote blogs and created surveys. Their work had a positive impact on our business.

With so much disruption to education in the last few years with Covid and ongoing industrial action, offering a reallife experience of the workplace just seemed like the right thing to do. They are the future workforce after all! Getting to know the students gave us an insight into what it’s like to be in education right now; the challenges and opportunities; and also the skills we need to work with schools to develop so that the future workforce is equipped with the learning and life experience needed for the careers of today and tomorrow.

Some learnings and tips for success

Arrange to speak to the student in advance of the placement, at minimum on the phone. This gives you the opportunity to find out more about the skills, experience, and interests of the person who’ll be joining you. It can also be a brilliant way to make a young person feel welcomed and motivated to join you.

Preparation is key – plan out tasks in advance and create a schedule. Our placement students said: “There was always someone there if I had any questions, but I found having an itinerary for the week to be particularly helpful in terms of getting orientated in the mornings.”

It might seem like considerably more effort to take on two students instead of just one, but we found that taking on two worked well. They chatted together and problem solved.

Treat them like a member of staff, not a student – give them independence, and see what they do with it. You’re not there to babysit them, they are there to work and experience the workplace –and sometimes that means getting into situations where they have run out of work and need to ask for more, ask for help and work on different tasks simultaneously.

Technology: it’s not the be all and end all! - As a small team, we don’t have spare laptops or desktops lying around. We had to get creative. The students didn’t need access to a computer for the entire duration of their work experience, so we could share laptops/desktops and created a programme of work where they weren’t stuck at their desk – we went to visit a workspace and attended a business event. They didn’t need access to email, and we used Google drive for document sharing.

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

Opening the door for children to meet their egg or sperm donor: a new era in fertility practice begins this year

Carole Gilling-Smith explains how, later this year, 18-year-olds will be able to access identifying information about egg or sperm donors.

Should children conceived from donor eggs or donor sperm have the right to meet and know their donors? This was the question put to relevant stakeholders over 20 years ago by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The overwhelming majority of those consulted voted yes. They felt that the emotional and ethical benefits to children of being able to better understand and visualise their genetic origins would help them form a more solid framework around which to build their adult world and

Lifestyle

was regarded as a landmark move in UK fertility practice. As a result, in April 2005, the law around the identification of altruistic egg and sperm donors was changed and since then, all identifying information about egg and sperm donors has been securely logged on the HFEA donor register.

Later this year, for the first time in UK history, the first donor conceived children since the law changed will reach the age of 18 and will be legally permitted to access identifying information about their egg or sperm donors and, if they wish, get in touch

with them. This was not an option for donor-conceived children prior to April 2005 and is still not an option in most other countries that practice donor fertility treatments. No one really knows what those first few children who contact their donors will feel or experience, nor indeed how their donors will react, but fertility clinics like the Agora Clinic, along with the HFEA, have been very proactive over the last few months helping to prepare donors and their recipients for this moment and will continue to support and guide both to ensure the best possible outcomes for all concerned.

The process of accessing information about donors is known as ‘Opening the Register’. It will undoubtedly raise many feelings, not just in donor conceived children but in their parents and their wider family as well as in the donors themselves. Some may view this with excitement, others with apprehension and possibly fear and anxiety, but in a society where we now encourage more openness and transparency about fertility treatment, the longer-term benefits of this approach to donation are obvious. The wish to know more about ourselves is not just restricted to donor conceived children. Many adults, as well as children, who are not donor conceived, are searching to find out more about their genetic origins through DNA testing kits and online ancestry forums. Most of us have a natural curiosity about our genetic makeup and that it why it is so important that those conceived with the help of donor fertility treatments get the best possible information when they feel ready to ask for it.

Egg and sperm donation is no longer a rare occurrence in the fertility world and forms a significant part of our daily work at the Agora Clinic. Every year the HFEA registers some 2,700 cycles of donor treatments across the UK. For some couples, they have come to the end of their fertility journey using their own eggs or sperm, often after multiple rounds of failed treatments, and will only have a realistic chance of having a child if they consider donor eggs or sperm. For others, they have always known it is their only option, as they are in same sex relationships or maybe have no eggs or sperm due to medical conditions, surgery, cancer treatment or an early menopause.

When donors don’t have to provide their identifying information to the future child, known as anonymous donation, they often feel less pressure, as is the case when people donate blood. This is why the change in the law around anonymity

of donors in the UK immediately led to a marked fall in the number of people coming forward to become egg or sperm donors, and this is still the case. But the number of people who need donor eggs or sperm has risen year on year. This has led to long waiting times for those who need such treatment, as well as a rise in the cost of buying donor eggs or sperm for the majority as very few are funded by the NHS. It has also created a whole new fertility tourism industry where patients are encouraged to travel abroad for their treatment to countries that have a ready supply of anonymous donors. I always caution those considering this route to appreciate the potential emotional impact on their future child who will, as a result, be denied the chance of knowing more about their donor when they reach adulthood.

In the face of such a shortage of egg and sperm donors in the UK, I really want in this article to put those who give up their time to donate their eggs or sperm on a pedestal. They are true heroes! To give the gift of life in this way is one of the most extraordinary acts of human kindness. Due to the tight HFEA regulation around donation, donors are first required to complete a series of screening blood tests to be accepted and then must give up time for appointments to donate. In return they receive very little in the way of financial compensation, just enough to cover their expenses, so their gift is truly altruistic and admirable. They are only allowed to find out the number of children, if any, that have been born from their donation, the year they were

born and their sex and can only donate to help create a maximum of 10 families. There is no permissible contact until the child becomes 18 and, even then, there may not be any contact from the child; it is just an option, one they may never take up. All donors and recipients are protected by law. Donors have no parental responsibilities and no legal rights over any child conceived from their eggs or sperm and the child’s parents are not provided with any identifying information about their donor, just characteristic information to help them choose the donor that is the best match for them.

At the Agora Clinic we are always looking to recruit donors and would encourage local businesses to raise awareness and support any of your employees who ask for time off to be able to donate the gift of life. Please get in touch if you want to find out more about donating to our Brighton Egg and Sperm banks. We are also on hand to support those looking to have egg or sperm donation treatments as well as parents of a donor-conceived children who may want to find out more about the Opening of the Register. Please contact us at the Agora Clinic www.agoraclinic. co.uk or 01273 229410 where one of our specialists can advise you.

Brighton’s epicentre of Greek hospitality, sustainability and philanthropic ventures

In the vibrant heart of Brighton and Hove, you’ll find Nostos, a beacon of Greek hospitality and philanthropy that has seamlessly integrated into the community since its inception in August 2019.

Co-founder and managing director

Kyriakos Baxevanis shares his vision: “Nostos is not just a restaurant; it’s a nurturing ground for community and tradition, a place where you can dive into a vibrant mix of culture and friendship. We invite you to join us on a remarkable journey that resonates deeply with our core values of community engagement and sustainability. These initiatives are a testament to our commitment to being a purpose-led business, continually

evolving to better serve our community.”

Table Talk Foundation: building bridges to a brighter future

Kyriakos continues: “As you step into Nostos, you become a part of a larger movement, a collaboration with the Table Talk Foundation that blossomed six months ago. This dynamic partnership, introduced by a mutual friend, Sam Thomas, is a beacon of hope and education, fighting child obesity and fostering education in the community.”

In the past two years, the Table Talk Foundation has transformed lives, reaching over 1,200 children through educational programs in over 30 schools, and raising substantial funds to further their mission.

“At Nostos, we are honoured to contribute to this noble cause, adding a £1 donation to each bill to support the foundation’s initiatives. Together, we are fostering a healthier, brighter future for our children, nurturing both mind and body with concerted efforts” Kyriakos adds.

Catering services: crafting unforgettable experiences

In March 2023, Nostos embarked on a new venture, offering catering services that blend modern Greek and Mediterranean flavours with Brighton’s vibrant culture.

This journey began with a lean startup approach, testing the waters with a minimum viable product. Since then, Kyriakos says: “We have achieved

Nostos rolls out exciting community initiatives in Brighton and Hove.

remarkable milestones, including catering for prestigious events and forming collaborations with key event managers and suppliers in the South East.”

He added: “Our catering services aim to create memorable experiences, adding a touch of Greek elegance and warmth to every event. Whether it’s a wedding, corporate event, or a private gathering, our goal is to craft menus that resonate with the event theme, offering a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity, all upheld to the highest standards of quality and service.”

Yaya’s Corner: a revival of tradition and sustainability

Their latest initiative, Yaya’s (Grandmother’s) Corner, is a heartfelt homage to the Greek tradition of community and sharing.

Kyriakos explains: “In collaboration with Oanh Brophy from Return Ware, we are reviving the spirit of communal ovens that were prevalent in Greece post-WW2. Every day, we offer healthy, traditional homemade meals at a nominal price, served in reusable containers, promoting sustainability and reducing single-use packaging.”

This initiative serves as a pillar of support during the current cost of living crisis, encouraging healthy eating habits and nurturing a connection with ancestral roots.

“It’s a corner where heartwarming goodness meets sustainability, fostering a sense of unity and nostalgia in the community. Through Yaya’s Corner, we aspire to bring families and friends together, sharing meals that are not only nourishing but also kind to our planet” Kyriakos continues.

“As we forge ahead, our vision remains clear: to be a beacon of Greek hospitality and philanthropy in Brighton, nurturing community connections and preserving traditions. We invite you to join us in this journey, as we continue to innovate and give back to the community that has embraced us with open arms.”

How all these initiatives align with the vision

Nostos is a place where you can both indulge in a culinary feast and also become a part of a larger narrative, a story of community, sustainability, and giving back. Every meal is an opportunity to contribute to a brighter

future, to support initiatives that are making a tangible difference in the lives of our children, fostering a healthier, more educated generation

“We invite you to be a part of this beautiful journey, to witness firsthand the magic that unfolds when tradition meets innovation and when community meets compassion. At Nostos, we are not just building a business; we are crafting a legacy, a beacon of hope and positivity in the heart of Brighton and Hove”, Kyriakos concludes, inviting you to Nostos:

“Come join us, be a part of our story, and let’s together weave a tapestry of community, tradition, and philanthropy that stands as a testament to the vibrant spirit of Brighton and the rich heritage of Greek culture. Your table at Nostos awaits, where every visit is a step towards a brighter, more connected world.”

You can visit Nostos’ website to learn more, book a table or find out about their catering services:

https://www.nostos-hove.co.uk/

https://www.nostos-hove.co.uk/ catering-services-in-brighton-hove/

How an offer to make a cake with leopard spots spawned a baking business

Dean Brown, founder of start-up Baker B’s, explains how lockdown pushed him in a new creative direction.

“Dont!” I shouted to my wife as she went to throw away some perfectly good overripened bananas. “I’m going to bake banana bread.”

Lifestyle

Lockdown, March 2020.

I bought oats during lockdown to grind into flour, as there were shortages of essentials, which I used to make gluten free cakes.

I often make dairy-free or vegan cakes as my daughter suffers severely with both milk and egg allergies.

During lockdown 2021 a friend mentioned in passing that she couldn’t get a cake made for her son’s 1st birthday. I half joked that I could do it but didn’t think she’d take me up on it. To my surprise she was keen for me to create a lasting memory for her son.

I set about jotting notes down on my phone. I’d always baked brownies, cookies, cupcakes etc but never really made a serious celebration cake, except my wedding cake but I’ll circle back to that.

I had no idea where to begin.

I had next to no tools, including a £9.99 hand mixer from LIDL with a broken

clasp that held the whisk attachment in place - meaning I had to hold it with two hands whilst simultaneously keeping the bowl still with my elbows!

The brief: “Can you make a simple mottled cake with leopard spots if you can. Don’t worry, if not.”

I’m competitive by nature. I love to challenge myself, so I decided to make my life more difficult by using edible paint for the first time (for the leopard spots) and create realistic edible white chocolate leaves instead of using props!

I was pleased with the result and my

friend was blown away. I’d delivered beyond her expectations. Through word of mouth, I started getting more requests.

In 2018, whilst trying to save money wherever possible for my wedding, I told my wife-to-be that I will be making the cake. She was worried and sceptical to say the least. I created a three-tier chocolate sponge with vanilla buttercream. The reviews were great in terms of taste but to be honest I hate looking back at the pictures of it as I have improved dramatically since.

I am currently doing this on the side of a full-time job as a retail manager, often

baking and decorating on days off and sometimes between shifts up until 3 or 4 am just to complete an order without turning down work. I would love for this to kick off and pursue this full time.

My passion lies in baking and creating something special that can be the talk of the party. I love to be creative and produce something unexpected. I like to use edible elements. I try to avoid using props where possible.

For more information, get in touch.

Email: bak3r_b@outlook.com

County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month September 2023

Smock Alley English Sparkling Brut 2019

This month’s Wine of the Month comes from Smock Alley who are in West Sussex at West Chiltington near the village of Pulborough. It takes its name from the traditional Sussex smock mills that can be found throughout the area.

Background to the brand

I have seen Smock Alley wines on a couple of occasions at local events and Farmers’ Markets that I attend but only tasted their wine for the first time last weekend. I met Sarah, the owner, and Mike at the monthly Steyning Farmers’ Market which runs from 9am till 1pm, where they had a stand.

I tried a capful of the golden fizz and was pleasantly surprised with the lovely fruitiness on the nose and nice taste on the palate. All of their wines use the same grapes as most other traditional English sparkling wines and champagnes, which are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

The thing that surprised me the most with this wine was the price which was a Farmers’ Market special of £24 a bottle which is excellent value for an aged English sparkling. Sarah explained to me that they have a small, two hectare holding and work as a co-operative where workers are responsible for tending a number of rows over the season. To put it in their own words; “The combination of teamwork and passion for the vineyard and the product makes a very special wine”.

I have to agree, their wine would match any mid range Champagne in terms of quality, I loved the freshness together

with the length of flavour on the palate which was very pleasing with my wife wanting more!

Looking a bit deeper, we see that Smock Alley has had some very able winemakers assisting them in creating their cuvee, namely Dermot Sugrue (ex Nyetimber/Wiston and now Sugrue South Downs) and more recently Marcus Rayner of Wiston Estate. There are no surprises that, despite the great value, the wine is up there with some of the best of West Sussex.

My tasting notes for Smock Alley 2019

It has an enticing nose, it has lovely toastiness like a quality champagne. On the nose, we have delicate spices and sweetness, which very much reminded me of a Cinnamon swirl.

On the palate, we have fine bubbles and an attractive Rose Gold colour which comes from the Pinot Noir and Pinot Munier grapes. It is light and fruity, with citrus lemon with brioche coming through. The wine has good acidity and a long finish.

In summary it has a delightful, freshness with complexity, a lovely drop and a wine that you would happily gift for a special occasion.

This wine retails at £24 a bottle and can be purchased directly from the vineyard https://www.southlandsvalleywines. com/how-to-buy/

New 2017 release of Smock Alley aged in Burgundy Oak barrels now available!

They also just launched a limited edition 2017 vintage which was aged in Dermot’s Oak Burgundy barrels for first fermentation and four years on the lees which is definitely worth a try at the same time from £32 a bottle.

Written for County Business Club

by Michael Yeoman, English Wine Specialist and producer of Spirit of the Downs,

award winning local artisan Brandies and Grape

spirit.