The London Business Journal September 2014 Issue 2 by The London Business Journal

Volume 1 Issue 2 September 201 4

LONDON DESIGNER TO CREATE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE iPHONE 6

Luxury designer, Alexander Amosu, has been commissioned to create the world's most expensive Apple iPhone 6. With a hefty price tag of £1 .7 million, the unique creation will be crafted in 1 8 carat gold and fully encrusted with diamonds. It will take approximately two months to produce. Alexander has labelled this creation the “Amosu Call of Diamond iPhone 6”, and was commissioned to create it a day after Apple announced the general release of the mobile device.

Known for bridging the gap between luxury and technology, his past work consists of creating some of the world's most expensive products. Some notable ones include: the most expensive iPhone 2 (sold for £89,000); the most expensive blackberry (made in solid gold and encrusted in diamonds, sold £1 20,000); the most expensive suit in the word (currently in the Guinness book of records for being sold at £75,000) and the most expensive champagne in the world valued at £1 .2m.

£16M PROGRAMME BOOSTS LONDON SME WORKFORCE More than 1 500 companies across a wide range of sectors have undertaken training needs analysis, thanks to the London Capital Colleges group (LCC). The consortium of 1 2 of London’s largest colleges secured £1 6m last year to fund work-based qualifications for up to 9,000 working adults, to improve employment skills in the capital. Led by Newham College, Skills Support for the Workforce is funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) and awarded by the Skills Funding Agency. The money is being used by the LCC members, along with three other participating FE Colleges, to give free workplace training, helping the city’s workforce gain

INSIDE:

skills and qualifications to advance their careers and boost business growth. Employees working for companies that employ fewer than 250 staff have been targeted by the LCC, with a particular focus on assisting individuals with low skills to strengthen their position in the job market and promoting inwork progression onto apprenticeships and further training at higher levels. At the outset of the project, Chair of the LCC and Principal of South Thames College, Sue Rimmer OBE, said: “This funding is great news for the capital and should have a real impact on people’s skills and confidence at work.”

Daniele de Winter

Fashiola

Page 45

Page 24

Monaco's Beauty Business

comes to the UK

Sue Rimmer OBE: Chair, LCC John Wilson

Redefines Global Recruitment

Page 20

Nicola Cook on sales & WIIFM

Page 40

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News:

Firms Remain Upbeat as Growth Slows in Service Sector The pace of the recovery in the service sector slowed somewhat in the three months to August, but optimism continued to increase, according to the latest CBI Services Sector Survey. Furthermore, there are expectations for a return to growth in the coming quarter. Growth in business volumes eased compared with recent quarters, and profitability also rose at a slower pace, but this came after multi-year highs in the previous quarter. Other indicators in the survey

painted a healthier picture of activity in the sector. Growth in numbers employed in the business and professional services sector – which includes accountancy, legal and marketing firms – reached its highest rate in nearly seven years, with expectations for the coming three months at a record high since the survey began in 1 998. Investment intentions for the year ahead in the consumer services sector – which includes hotels, bars, restaurants, travel and leisure firms – are

particularly robust, with plans for spending on vehicles, plant and machinery also at a record high. Katja Hall, CBI Deputy DirectorGeneral, said: “The slowing in the pace of growth and profits in the service sector reflects our view that momentum in the economy will ease in the second half of the year. But this doesn't necessarily mean a gear change in the recovery. It's encouraging that our service sector firms continue to feel upbeat, especially when looking ahead to the next quarter."

Mid-Sized Businesses Reluctant to Export Despite Growth UK mid-sized businesses are being too conservative in their export ambitions and are not considering key growth markets overseas, even though they are aware of the benefits, new research from Lloyds Bank shows. Almost three out of five firms (58%), turning over between £25m and £750m, said that they do not currently export and less than one in ten (7%) are looking to do so within the next five

years, indicating that over half of mid-sized businesses are still cautious in considering their long-term export strategy. This reluctance to expand overseas comes despite recent indicators showing that firms are more bullish about the UK economy with business confidence reaching a 22 year high according to the Bank's recent Business in Britain report. Tim Hinton, Managing Director for SME and Mid-markets

Banking at Lloyds Bank said: “Although business confidence has reached a record high, midsized firms often appear to be overlooking the benefits of exporting. “Businesses are focusing their efforts on their UK operations first, looking to reduce their costs and increase productivity before embarking on global growth opportunities.”

A new initiative, launched this month, will allow anyone, anywhere in the world to get a better understanding of how to run a business, thanks to a collaboration between global accountancy body ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the University of Exeter Business School and online learning platform FutureLearn. Together, they have launched a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) – Discovering Business

in Society – which is free to study and open to anyone in the world with access to the internet. The aim of the eight-week course is to give anyone the opportunity to learn the principles of business, including prospective undergraduate students, working professionals without a background in business, people looking to return to work after an absence, or anyone seeking to further educate themselves. Clare Minchington, ACCA

Executive Director, said: “The whole point of this MOOC is that it is all encompassing. Yes, it can be a way for someone looking to begin their journey into the finance profession with ACCA, but equally it could be useful to someone seeking to start a business to get a better understanding of what's involved, or a parent looking to return to work with a new set of skills. It's not unusual today for those people already in work to look to change career."

New Initiative Will Open Up Free Business Course

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News:

Video Games Companies to Claim Tax Relief

HM Treasury - Video games companies across the UK can now claim up to 25% tax relief on their production costs. Copyright: jDevaun

Video games companies across the UK can now claim tax relief on their production costs, following the government's new cultural regulations. The tax relief is only available for companies producing games that are certified as culturally British, to support the production of culturally

September 201 4

British games. Video games must achieve a level of points which they are awarded based on their cultural content, cultural contribution and the location of the game's development and nationalities of key personnel working on the project. The BFI has already received a number of applications that pass the cultural test. These include Dino Tribes by Blazing Griffin, MazeCraft by PW Studio, Beyond Flesh & Blood by Pixel Bomb Games, Mega Coin Squad by Big Pixel Studios and

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Spacepants by Boxface Games. Financial Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke, said: "The government is committed to supporting the creative industries, which make a valuable cultural and economic contribution to the UK. Companies will be able to really benefit from the tax relief we have introduced, enabling the UK to continue to be a world-class producer of video games." Video games tax relief builds on the successful model of the film tax relief.

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News:

20 Business Schools Receive SBC Award

Lord Young, the Government’s Adviser on Enterprise, hosted a celebration ceremony at 1 0 Downing Street to award 20 business schools the new Small Business Charter Award in recognition of their work to support start-ups and small businesses. The Small Business Charter Award scheme has already helped 4,700 students to find work placements in Britain’s exciting micro-business and start-up sector. Small Business Charter business schools have directly helped over 8000 small businesses – working with them through workshops, mentoring and other business support. Over 800 new businesses have already been started as a result of Small Business Charter schools. The award also brings significant benefits for successful business schools. They will have the ability to play an active role in schemes such as Growth Vouchers, Growth Accelerators and Start-Up Loans provided by the Government. Lord Young with Sir Peter Bonfield CBE FReng, Chair of the Small Business Charter Management Board: Above. Pic below, Sir Peter Bonfield

The London Business Journal www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Contacts News/Features Editorial@londonbusinessjournal.co.uk Subscriptions Subscriptions@londonbusinessjournal.co.uk Advertising Advertising@londonbusinessjournal.co.uk General enquiries: info@londonbusinessjournal.co.uk The London Business Journal is produced by LONDON BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLISHING (LBCP), 24-26 Arcadia Avenue, Finchley, London N3 2JU. Telephone: 0208 453 71 85 / 07043 020 287. © 201 4 all rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner or any language, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. All material in this journal is provided for your information only and may not be construed as business advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this information; instead, readers should consult appropriate business related professionals on any matter relating to their profession/trade/business. The information and opinions expressed here are believed to be accurate, based on the best judgement available to the authors, and readers who fail to consult with appropriate authorities assume the risk of any financial setbacks or otherwise. In addition, the information and opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of every contributor to The London Business Journal. The London Business Journal acknowledges occasional differences in opinion and welcomes the exchange of different viewpoints. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. Subscribe to The London Business Journal by visiting www.LondonBusinessJournal.co.uk or send an email to: subscriptions@LondonBusinessJournal.co.uk All other enquiries, call 0208 453 71 8 / 07043 020 287

Facebook.com: londonbusinessjournal Twitter: @londbizjournal Twitter: @WomenInBusines3

September 201 4

The 20 Business Schools being awarded the Small Business Charter are: Aston University, Aston Business School; Coventry University, Coventry Business School; Edinburgh Napier Business School; Kingston University, Kingston Business School; Lancaster University Management School; Loughborough University School of Business and Economics; Manchester Metropolitan University Business; Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham Business School; Southampton Solent University, Faculty of Business, Sport & Enterprise; University College London,

Department of Management Science and Innovation; University of Birmingham, Birmingham Business School; University of Leeds, Leeds University Business; University of Leicester School of Management; University of Liverpool Management School; University of Northampton Business School; University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Business School; University of Salford, Salford Business School; University of Strathclyde, Strathclyde Business School; University of the West of England, Bristol Business School; University of Wolverhampton Business School.

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Finance/Banking/Accounting

Lloyds Banking Group to Oversee Government Drive for Improving Digital Skills for SMEs and Charities Lloyds Banking Group has been announced to drive forward Government-led work to increase the digital capability of SMEs and charities across the UK and contribute to their target of reducing the number of people without basic digital skills by 25 per cent by 201 6. This is part of the work overseen by the Digital Inclusion Delivery Board of which Lloyds Banking Group is the only bank to sit on. The working group will work with Government, the digital skills charity Go ON UK and the six other partners to help businesses and charities make better use of information technology.

The first step for the working group will be to establish where the major gaps in support and provision for SMEs and charities are to help them increase their online skills. The group will also identify solutions by building on work and support carried out through Local Enterprise Partnerships and mentoring programmes and linking this to other stakeholders and Government departments. The drive for improving digital skills follows the publication of the Lloyds Bank UK Business Digital Index, which showed that as many as 1 .7 million organisations in the UK have a very low level of digital capability

and over a third of all SMEs and charities don't have the basic online skills, as defined by the digital skills charity GO ON UK. Miguel-Ángel Rodríguez-Sola, Group Director for Digital, Marketing & Customer Development at Lloyds Banking Group said: “We're proud to sit on the Digital Inclusion Delivery Board and chair this important piece of work for SMEs and charities. Through our partnership with Go ON UK, we understand the importance of digital and how valuable it can be for individuals, businesses and charities."

Co-Operative Bank Hails Record Customer Engagement

The Co-operative Bank has revealed a record level of customer engagement with its latest poll on its values and ethics with over 73,000 customers and Bank colleagues completing the survey. The results of the poll will be used to renew and refresh the Bank's ground-breaking Ethical Policy and define the Bank's wider values. The poll marks the fifth point at which the Bank has

reviewed its Ethical Policy, hearing from over 323,000 (250,000 + 73,000) customers in total. After the last review, the Bank introduced nine new statements reflecting changes in customers' views. The poll sought views on the five pillars of the Bank's current ethical framework but also gauged opinion around three new areas which the Bank believes will be important for the

future: responsible banking; transparency; and treating customers fairly. Niall Booker, Chief Executive of The Co-operative Bank, said: “I'm delighted that we've had such a strong response from our customers and colleagues. It shows just how important people think our values and ethics are as we continue to transform the Bank and rebuild trust in the banking sector.

UK Consumers Open to Pure Digital Banks

One-quarter of UK consumers would consider using a pure digital bank – a bank with no branches or call centres that is only accessible via laptops and mobile devices, according to the

latest survey of UK current account customers conducted by Accenture. Customers aged 25 to 34 are most keen on the idea of a pure digital, branchless bank; 33 percent would consider

September 201 4

using one, while the youngest group of bank customers – those aged 1 8 to 24 – are the least receptive, with only 22 percent saying they would consider it.

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Finance/Banking/Accounting

PSI-Pay Appoint Compliance & Anti Money Laundering Specialist PSI-Pay, one of the UK’s leading end-toend, account and cardbased payment Craig James solutions companie s, has announced that Craig James has joined its board of Directors. Craig is a highly Experienced

FCA (FSA)/E-Money and PrePaid Compliance/Regulatory and Anti Money Laundering specialist. Having overseen the compliance / MLRO functions of organisations such as Firepay (Optimal Payments) and Paysafecard he brings considerable business experience and knowledge, along with a full understanding of balancing risk management, regulation and performance. He has a significant track record in e-money and payment services, including advising on

the development and release of some of the largest pre-paid schemes in the UK and advising numerous non-UK pre-paid organisations. He is also the Chairman of the industry representative body PIF (Prepaid International Forum). “I am delighted to help assist the PSI-Pay team in its next phase of development. I have been closely associated with Phil Davies and PSI-Pay over many years and look forward to being a part of its on-going success,” said Craig

6,500 Barclays Branch Staff Promoted to Reflect Change Barclays has launched the new role of a Community Banker, promoting more than 6,500 branch staff to a highly skilled team who are focused on making our customer's lives easier. The move reflects the radical way banking is changing with customers increasingly choosing to conduct basic transactions through a digital platform and instead using branches for more in-depth conversations with

staff. With a more flexible and empowered team, staff will have more time to support our customers from branches through to the wider community. From 1 October, Barclays will evolve the traditional 'Cashier' role into one 'Community Banker role'. Every 'B1 Cashier' will move up a grade to 'B2 Community Banker', more accurately reflecting their role with customers.

Whitehall 'Revolving Door'

At the same time Barclays is investing in branches to make them counter-less, with staff in the banking hall helping customers on iPads rather than remaining behind a window. Steven Cooper, CEO, Barclays Personal Banking, said: "We know that really helping customers requires a lot of valuable people skills and this change is about investing in our colleagues and recognising their talents.”

Costing Taxpayers

The world's largest accountancy body, ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) has warned that urgent up-skilling in financial management across Whitehall was needed if the civil service was going to make long-term savings and improved service delivery. ACCA says that while there is strong expertise in the finance function of the UK's public sector, there is a need for Whitehall to invest in skills development in areas such as data analysis, procurement, project as well as financial management if savings in government are going to be made over the long term.

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Property/Construction

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Plans Approved to Restore Coco Chanel’s Love Nest Plans to restore Coco Chanel’s former Highland love nest back to its former glory have been given the green light by planning officials. Despite remaining dormant for more than 60 years, Rosehall Estate near Lairg in Sutherland, will now be fully restored under a project to be managed by Bell Ingram Design. The 20 room Georgian mansion that lies at the heart of the estate was the romantic hideaway for the famed designer during her ten year affair with the 2nd Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor. Plans have now been approved by Highland Council for the estate and home to be converted into an Rosehall Estate: Coco Chanel’s former Highland love nest upmarket boutique hotel with five has been very supportive property and offered their throughout this process however, support in giving access to all luxury holiday apartments and so seeing the plans finally spa. their records. Due to the property approved is great. The sensitive laying derelict for so many years, Iain Cram, Director at Bell Ingram Design, who are working landscape on which Rosehall is the majority of the internal based means we had to take on behalf of clients Ghulam features have not survived with several factors into consideration as much as 60% of the building’s Choudry and Aamer Waheed, said they are thrilled to receive including wildlife studies, bat interiors having worn away. surveys and mitigating strategies “Rosehall still encompasses the news that the famous property will be brought back to to ensure all local habitats were much of the detail from when the life. “A great deal of work will be safe.” second Duke of Westminster A team of specialists who act on lived there which makes the needed to restore Rosehall as sadly it has been uninhabited for behalf of the Chanel Archive has conservation of the property very already been to view the the past 60 years. The council interesting for us," Ian added.

Skills Shortage Concerns Reach Highest Level Since 2008 Skills shortage concerns in the construction industry now stand at their highest level since 2008, with 54% of respondents saying there are insufficient numbers of Quantity Surveyors currently available to meet workloads (up from 41 % in Q1 201 4). The figures, revealed in the RICS UK Construction Market Survey Q2 201 4, show private housing, commercial and industrial sectors are driving strong growth across the whole of the UK, with particularly encouraging performance in the

Midlands, which saw workloads rise at a record pace (57% net balance). However, a shortage of white and blue collar workers (59% of respondents reported shortages of bricklayers and 51 % reported a shortage of managerial workers) coupled with difficulties in the sourcing of some key building materials (brick imports were 63% higher than in Q2 201 3) is likely to result in upward pressure on costs and prices, while also presenting a challenge to further strong

September 201 4

growth in the sector. Alan Muse, RICS Director of Built Environment said: “The UK construction market is mirroring the natural consequence of a rise in demand after five subdued years. The upsurge in housing demand is creating pressure across an industry which failed to invest in attracting new talent or in the training of existing employees at the height of the economic downturn and this in turn is creating similar effects among material supply.”

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Property/Construction

UK House-Building Increasing Ahead of Other EU Countries House-building statistics released by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) show that the rate of UK house-building has risen significantly for the last five quarters in a row (since April 201 3). This supports research by Deloitte that UK house-building is recovering faster than its European neighbours. The number of new homes starting construction in 201 3 increased from 201 2 in only three European Union (EU) countries the UK was the highest (up 23.4%), followed by Belgium and

Germany (1 2% and 7.2% respectively). The Overview of European Residential Markets report shows that overall residential development across the EU declined over the last three years, with the number of completed homes falling from a rate of 3.9 per 1 ,000 citizens in 2011 to only 2.5 in 201 3. The rate for new homes completed in the UK in 201 3 was 1 8% below the EU average. James Pargeter, head of residential projects at Deloitte Real Estate, said: “The UK is one of the very few EU countries

in which housing construction new starts - per 1 ,000 people actually increased from 201 2 to 201 3, and by nearly a quarter. Whilst we still need to build far more housing here in the UK, this increasing trend in construction is a positive sign that we are at least moving in the right direction. This is being maintained into 201 4, with latest statistics showing annual housing construction starts are up by another 22% in the 1 2 months to June 201 4. We expect this ongoing performance to continue to compare well to the rest of the EU in 201 4.”

RAM Estate Agents Expands Into Chiswick One of London’s fastest-growing lettings and estate agencies, RAM Estate Agents, has opened its fifth office, in Chiswick. The RAM Estate Agents team has increased to twelve with the opening of the new office and Managing Partner, NS Suthakaran expects to employ a total of 20 people, within the next few months. Mr. Suthakaran believes that RAM Estate Agents has more to offer than

most agencies, as he says: “We’re very tuned in to what Londoners want. Buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants tell us that they like our friendliness, efficiency and in-depth knowledge of the local property market. We also reflect the diversity and needs of Londoners – our team speaks a total of 20 languages between them, which further enhances the quality of our service.”

UK Appetite for Dining Rooms Waning A poll conducted on behalf of OceanFinance.co.uk has revealed increasing popularity of kitchendiners, where the kitchen is extended to create a space to eat, and the option for families to eat their meal together in the living room, perhaps in front of the TV. This means that there’s one room in the average UK home that’s getting little use. Ian Williams, spokesman for Ocean Finance said: “It seems households are gravitating more towards the living room or kitchen as

September 201 4

a place to spend time together, and dining rooms are becoming obsolete. “One reaction to this has been the growing popularity of the kitchendiner, and knocking through between these two rooms is a home improvement project many might consider investing in. It would appear to be a popular time to do renovation work like this too, as Ocean saw a 50% increase in home improvement loan enquiries in March, compared with January and February.” www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Property

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Amanda Lamb on Interiors For The Home

Some hot tips from one of television's favourite property experts

What is the easiest way to add value to your house?

“Kitchens and bathrooms always add value to a property. De-clutter it, freshen it up, give it a lick of paint from top to bottom get rid of all the junk – we have far too much clutter in our lives so de-clutter it, and think about your Kerb appeal as well, think about what the property looks like from the outside, not just the inside.”

Tell us about conservatories…

“A lot of people can’t afford to move up so they are extending their existing properties, whether that be a conservatory, a loft extension, a basement conversion or any of

that. Anything you can do to gain a little bit more square meterage is great.”

Where would you consider to be a property hot spot at the moment? “I think if you’re talking abroad I think there any some bargains to be had in Spain, there’s some great bargains in Florida, but my biggest piece of advice would be buy where you want to buy. Don’t buy where people dictate you should buy.”

What would you say is the most relevant flooring?

“You need to think about it from a practical point of view. How do you live? Do you have dogs, do you have pets? Do you have children? If you have, it doesn’t matter whether wooden floors are out, get them in! Look at your lifestyle, look at what you’ve got and what you need.”

We spoke to Amanda Lamb at Tesco’s Mum of the Year Awards. For more information visit: www.tescoliving.com/mum-of-the-year September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Property

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Is a Mortgage Buddy Right For You? It's very popular now for first time buyers to boost their buying power by looking to their friends for a ‘mortgage buddy’. In fact, some mortgage lenders actively advertise buddying up with friends and family. Many first time buyers look towards coownership as a mutually benefiting business arrangement where they can get onto the property ladder, benefit from an increase in property value and back up the arrangement with a legally binding document such as Shared Ownership Protection. If you are considering sharing a mortgage you need to think seriously about the pros and cons for you as an individual and agree all the ‘rules’ upfront. People's situations inevitably change, so buyers need to be prepared for this, and should discuss as many eventualities as possible.

1. Sharing a mortgage isn’t for life

It’s best to look at sharing a mortgage in the same way as a business relationship. You decide how the business is going to run and agree a clear ‘exit’ point when you are going to sell. As in a business, you share any increase or decrease in the property value and with a clear exit strategy, co-owners can work towards this date. Usually most mortgage buddies will move on after a few years taking any increase in property value and buy a place on their own, or with their love interest. So when you are choosing a mortgage buddy, don’t think, ‘can I live with them forever?’ Think, ‘can I live with you for a few years while I get myself on the

property ladder?’

2. Stay secure and in control

People have been safely meeting new people on dating websites for years; in fact they estimate 50% of new relationships will be found this way within 20 years. However be sure never to give out any personal information to anyone straight away. If you are using online sites such as Shareamortgage.com to find a buddy, make sure you protect your personal details by staying within these sites. Communicate with potential buddies by using the secure platform provided and only once you are ready, pass on your mobile number to talk to them. Don’t feel rushed into doing anything you don’t want to do.

3. Shared Ownership Protection

Buying a home requires a lot of thought and having a legal document to protect co-owners is incredibly important. As with anything, you never need something until you really need it. When you find your perfect mortgage buddy, make sure to talk about how you are going to live together, set down house rules and document them. A legal document focused on coownership is the Shared Ownership Protection available from Shareamortgage.com.

want, as well as listening to those of your mortgage buddy. Be clear on what is acceptable to you and what is not. However, just remember, without each other you wouldn’t be able to buy a property.

5. Stay on top of your finances

From the outset you both need to be clear on what you can afford, not only as a deposit but in terms of the ongoing maintenance of the property. Make sure you both have your finances in order and that you can afford the bills. You need to be fully aware of each other’s financial situation before committing to purchasing a property together. Remember, no lies or secrets. They will only come back to haunt you later. Buying a property is an exciting time. You’ll never forget the feeling of taking down the ‘for sale’ sign and enjoying sleeping in your own home for the first time. Sharing that elation is now commonplace and means you’ll be able to get onto the property ladder sooner, rather than later.

4. Be flexible

You may not be able to afford the palace you initially dreamed of, or live on the exact road you wanted so it’s always a good idea to be open to new ideas and different options. Make sure you take the time to discuss what you

Andrew Boast

Written by Andrew Boast, Co-Founder of Shareamortgage.com 10

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Business Accelerator

Top Entrepreneurs to Share Secrets of Business Growth A carefully selected group of the UK’s top entrepreneurs and business leaders are set to share their tips and secrets for accelerating business growth at a special Company Shortcuts

event. Organised by renowned entrepreneur Lara Morgan and best-selling author Nicola Cook, Business Accelerator provides a rare opportunity for attendees

Mike Clare: Dreams A serial entrepreneur who founded and grew Dreams to over 200 superstores before selling it in 2008. Through his company, Clarenco LLP, Mike now has an astounding property portfolio of unique towers, castles and monasteries under the “AmaZing Venues” division.

Judy Naaké: St. Tropez Best known for bringing the St. Tropez self-tanning range to the UK, and masterminding the marketing, PR and sales strategy to establish the brand as the market leader. Now recognisable as a TV personality, she knows what it takes to make it in business.

Lara Morgan: Pacific Direct

Founded Pacific Direct aged just 23, manufacturing and selling toiletries to the luxury hotel industry before selling her majority share for £20million. Today she focuses on a number of angel investments, including Gate8 luggage, Global Amenities Direct, Kitbrix and Activbod.

Event host, Nicola Cook is a bestselling author in the field of professional selling and business growth, and has recruited, built and developed sales teams for some of the world’s most prestigious organisations including P&G, American Express, Chase Manhattan Bank and Gucci.

Malcolm Durham: Flexible Directors Ltd

Chairman of Flexible Directors Ltd., a company specialising in providing flexible Finance, Sales and HR Directors on a part-time basis. At 28 he was the youngest Finance Director of a listed company, whilst at the same time chairing his family’s construction business which subsequently sold to Vinci.

to spend a whole day gaining invaluable and applicable ideas from leading experts. The impressive speaker line-up of nine fascinating entrepreneurs includes:

Business Accelerator, Company Shortcuts’ flagship event, is due to take place at The Church House in London on 23 September 201 4. Tickets are priced at £500 and can be purchased from www.companyshortcuts.com/businessaccelerator

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

"The Pen Is Mightier Than The Spade"

Over the years, Alan Titchmarsh has become as commonplace on the British gardening scene as Miracle-Gro or the Chelsea Flower Show. At 65-years-old, the established horticulturalist has become synonymous with gardening journalism, whilst also finding the time in between his television work to write fiction novels. Jack Ross spoke to him about his creative process and how he goes about sharing the workload between writing and gardening… “This is number nine for me,” says the gardener-cum-writer. “I always set my stories in places that I know and love, and I hadn’t written one about Scotland. The highlands of Scotland are so vast and majestic and beautiful. The book itself was all written in my barn in Hampshire, but I travelled there in my mind and I like to make my books as much about a sense of place as possible.” Originally from Ilkley in West Yorkshire, Titchmarsh started his move South in the early ‘70’s to study in Hertfordshire, and then to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Richmond where he picked up his diploma. He is best known for his breakthrough on British television screens in the late nineties, hosting the successful Gardener’s World and Ground Force shows. However, Titchmarsh considers himself to be a writer first and foremost, and has continued the craft ever since he finished studying. “Writing is all about music. It’s about rhythm and pitch and pace. A story has its own rhythm and its own meter, so it is very different to writing strictly about gardening. But I write every day at home, either in a newspaper column or a nonfiction book, or fiction. It’s a discipline, but then you break through that discipline into what you’re writing about and you’re involved with the words on the page and how they affect the reader. That can be whether they’re putting across information in a clear and concise fashion or telling them a story. I’ve written for a living for forty years now. I started writing

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

in 1 974 and ever since I’ve been living with my pen and my spade!” Taking Alan on a walk down memory lane, he describes how his interest in gardening began early on, and recalls spending time at his grandfather’s allotment. “I’d built a greenhouse out of polythene and wood by the age of ten, and just loved gardening from about eight. I always wanted to do it. I’ve got a picture of me in tiny baggy bloomers aged about 1 8 months being walked through my Granddad’s sweet peas…” Sixty years on, the greenfingered veteran shows no signs of slowing down, proving that gardening truly is accessible at any age. “If I could hope for anything, I would hope that I’ve made gardening a little bit easier to

understand, perhaps even made it more exciting. I’d like to think that had happened, but that’s for others to say rather than me. I just keep sharing my passion in an enthusiastic way, which I hope is infectious and easy to understand.” The Yorkshireman has certainly been instrumental in bettering the nation’s relationship with their own back gardens. The great admiration of his shows is enough to prove it. Titchmarsh continues his broadcasting and exhibited his first garden at the sold-out Chelsea Flower Show in more than 30 years. It seems clear through talking to him that he is very much a salt of the earth chap. With his roots in British culture and inarguably a national treasure, he ends our conversation on a fitting note. “I

love this country,” he says. “I’m devoted to Britain and its landscape, and keen to get more people out there appreciating what we’ve got.”

Bring Me Home by Alan Titchmarsh is published in hardcover by Hodder & Stoughton at £1 8.99

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Automotive/Transport

Gumpert Apollo tattooed car. Image courtesy of London Motor Group

Aleksy Marcinow Inks Gumpert Apollo Supercar

London-based tattoo artist, Aleksy Marcinow, joined London Motor Museum owner Elo to reveal the unique Gumpert Apollo, one of the fastest cars in the world, which was tattooed by Aleksy for the London Supercar workshop. With inspiration for the car’s tattoo design coming from Japanese art and irezumi,

the project took Aleksy two weeks to complete. Elo, London Motor Museum owner and founder, commented: “I wanted Aleksy, one of the hottest tattoo artists to date, to tattoo a very special car to me. We used the same process as you would use on a body, just on a car. I felt confident leaving

Aleksy to it and the result is just fantastic – it’s all his own art.” Tattoo artist, Aleksy Marcinow, said: “I remember when Elo asked me to tattoo a car, thinking it was a crazy idea, but I really loved the contemporary approach that I could take to this project and was interested straight away.”

Goodyear Selects MAM as Strategic IT Supplier

MAM Software has been chosen to supply a new point-of-sale and management solution for Goodyear's company-owned retail store locations and is making it available to Goodyear's independent tire and automotive service dealers. The new solution will leverage MAM's VAST POS application and deliver a versatile and feature-rich solution that can be delivered on

premise or via the cloud. The advanced management tool will provide all the latest features needed in the rapidly advancing tire and auto service business, while remaining intuitive and easy to use. Its comprehensive point-ofsale, estimating and job management functions will help store managers in areas such as administration and cost control.

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Manufacturing

Manufacturing M&A Deals Hit Six Year High

Chris Rawstron, Partner and Head of Corporate & Commercial, Irwin Mitchell

Deal activity in the last quarter amongst UK manufacturing firms reached its highest level for six years according to a new report. According to the Experian Corpfin data and analysis from national law firm, Irwin Mitchell, manufacturers in the UK were the target of 200 deals during the second quarter of 201 4. This compares to 1 83 in Q1 and takes the total number of deals this year to 383 – 28% more than the same period in 201 3.

To further demonstrate the current strength of the sector, Irwin Mitchell's report highlights that not since 2008 have the number of manufacturing deals completed in a three month period stood at 200 or more. The South East strengthened its number one position with 32.4% of the total volume of manufacturing M&A, whilst the North West's claimed 1 4.6% of deals. This percentage was higher than Yorkshire, the West Midlands, the South West, the East Midland and East Anglia. The report also reveals a slight increase in the percentage of manufacturing deals which involved private equity. Nationally in the first quarter of 201 4, the figure stood at 1 5.3%, but this increased to 1 6% in Q2. It was still below levels seen in 201 3 when 28.5% of manufacturing M&A was PE

backed. Chris Rawstron, Partner and Head of Corporate & Commercial at Irwin Mitchell said: “The message is clear. The manufacturing sector is driving a significant amount of M&A activity and with deal flow now 28% higher than at the same time last year, the signs are that we are in for a very strong year. “There was a slight improvement in Q2 in terms of the number of deals backed by private equity, but the percentage figure is still well down on what we have seen in previous years. “Despite this, there are some very encouraging signs for the manufacturing sector and it is vital that any company currently considering their strategic options ensures that they take the appropriate professional advice to ensure their position in the market ahead of any sale or purchase is optimised.”

Manufacturing Pay Runs Ahead of Wider Economy Manufacturing employers are being offered expert advice on managing effective relationships with their employees in the new post-recession landscape, on the back of new data showing manufacturing pay outstripping that of the rest of the economy. According to the data from EEF, the manufacturers' organisation the average pay settlement in the six months from February to July was a healthy 2.6%. Importantly, this includes April, one of the

year's major pay rounds, which is seen as a good indicator for pay this year. At 2.6% the figure is an increase on last year where pay settlements averaged out at 2.4%. Furthermore, pay deferments and freezes have continued to fall with the 3 month average freezes in July this year running at just 6.4% compared to 1 4.6% in July 201 3. Jeff Neild, National Head of Employment & Industrial

September 201 4

Relations at EEF said: “After many challenging years, manufacturers are now literally paying their employees back for their support to keep jobs and businesses going. Business across the sector has clearly been on the up but this new postrecession landscape is, however, presenting employers with a new set of challenges in managing relationships with their employees.”

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Business Development

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Building Your Business Assets: Culture, Talent and Capabilities John Rosling

1 . Develop a real focus on

your culture, particularly if you have taken the eye off this particular ball in the last few difficult years. Think of inspiring but implementable ways to create a transformational culture and allocate a generous budget. Appoint a Head of Amazing?

2. Ensure your culture is

based on the three principles of purpose, autonomy and mastery. Are you setting the

context? Do you have the courage and confidence to genuinely give your people autonomy? Is yours really a learning culture in which your people grow and develop every day? If not, now is the time to do something about it. A culture is not expensive to create. It just takes time and commitment.

3. Have culture as the topic of

your next retreat. Take your key

team offsite to uncover and agree the intent in your business. What purpose do you serve? Are you inspiring and rallying your people and their passions around that purpose? Ensure it is something that you and your team can take pride in. Try to find some emotive language that will engage your people at a deeper level. External facilitation is a great idea.

4. Unless you have recently

conducted a full and proper values exercise that you are proud of, do one this quarter.

Appoint a champion to run it for you but you MUST be actively

involved as sponsor. Have your champion run a workshop or series of workshops so that everyone has the chance to contribute. Ensure you define what your values mean and attribute measurable behaviours.

motivated people are those that feel they are challenged and constantly developing mastery.

9. Start to definitively measure

the capability of your organisation. Create a capability

scorecard of some sort so that 5. Choose to focus on your you can measure capability at an leadership style. Leadership is individual and organisational about confidence, vision and level. Measure progress relative inspiration. The source of all of to self. Use this measure to plot this is an understanding of your progress which will generate own intent and purpose. Find it! energy and confidence for In other words, make sure you yourself and the team. are very clear of your context. 1 0. Start to systemise your Manage the energy of your team culture, talent and capability as every day. Collaborate but have much as possible. At every the confidence to trust your opportunity put in place instincts and ensure you are documented systems and written decisive and clear. Consider policies for culture, recruitment, coaching if you feel it will help talent management, capability, you. etc. Pass this skill on to the next 6. Improve your level of management so that you communication abilities. What can move on, leaving a replicable is the Nelson Touch to you? system in place. Consider adopting 1 0 Things in 1 00 Days or another way to This advice is taken from John improve communication in your Roslingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new book The business. Communicate regularly Secrets of the Seven and honestly with your team. Alchemists: A Blueprint for Consider a daily or at least a Business Success Taking You weekly blog. If your people are at to ÂŁ1 0 Million and Beyond multiple sites use technology. I have found PresentMe (www.presentme.com) to be a great tool for creating engaging communication of factual information.

7. Take a good look at your

talent. Define very clearly what

good looks like. Work out how to measure that. Agree the values and motivations that are important in the talent you seek to hire.

8. Think about what learning, skill transfer and coaching means in your organisation.

Create a strategy for continual development of the whole team. Remember that the most

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Human Resources/Recruitment

Futureheads Win Top Award for Excellence in Leadership London-based digital recruitment specialists, Futureheads, won top award for Excellence in Leadership and came second in Best Workplaces, small category at the 201 4 Great Place to Work™ awards. “We were delighted when we received the call telling us that we had been nominated into the top 25 as a 'Great Place to Work', as well as for a special award for Excellence in Leadership,” said Gill Arnold, Futureheads’ Managing Director. “We have always strived to build a company where people enjoy coming to work, and a management structure where everyone is treated as family. So I was humbled to find that our nomination is due to 1 00% of our employees believing that overall, Futureheads is a “great place to work”.” Arnold, along with fellow directors Be Kaler and Rachel Murray, established Futureheads in 2009, having worked together in previous firms. From a startup of four people, Futureheads now has 26 staff and an annual turnover close to £1 0million.

Futureheads’ employees benefit from working closely with the directors as both collaborators and mentors. “Our management

philosophy has always been to support from below rather than rule from above,” explained Be Kaler.

Self-Employment Rises as Fewer People Leave According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of people leaving selfemployment has fallen. Of people who were selfemployed in 2009, 23% were no longer so by 201 4, the lowest outflow rate from selfemployment for any period over the last 20 years, a new report from ONS has found. Therefore the rise in self-employment can be accounted for by fewer

people leaving self-employment than in the past. Some 886,000 people who were self-employed in 2009 had left by 201 4, compared with 1 .3 million who were self-employed in 2004 leaving by 2009. The rise in employment over the past six years has been predominantly among the selfemployed. There were 1 .1 million more workers in AprilJune 201 4 compared with

September 201 4

January-March 2008, among whom there were 732,000 more self-employed. In total in April to June 201 4 there were 4.6 million people who were self-employed, and the three top self-employment roles were in 201 4 construction and building trades (1 67,000 people), taxi drivers and chauffeurs (1 66,000 people) and carpenters and joiners (1 44,000 people).

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Recruitment

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Redefining Global Recruitment By John Wilson

"Multinational RPO partnerships are in such demand that within the next few years you’ll have to offer global RPO solutions to be a major player" Kim Pope John Wilson, CEO WilsonHCG

The growth of global enterprise and the importance of high-quality talent has shaped region to region. While North America is facing the current state of recruitment process talent shortages in high-tech and pharm/bio outsourcing (RPO). A single-vendor RPO model positions for example, the UK is having issues is increasingly becoming the preferred solution for multinational organizations’ hiring needs. An RPO provider with global reach and the ability to create a streamlined hiring process, coupled with on-the-ground recruitment professionals all around the world and the knowledge of employment intricacies in each region, makes it an attractive option. “Multinational RPO partnerships are in such demand that within the next few years, I believe you’ll have to offer global RPO solutions in order to be a major player,” said Kim Pope, WilsonHCG’s Vice President of Recruitment Solutions. “A growing number of organizations are seeking out global RPO partnerships for the ease of having one point of contact and to ensure efficiencies and consistency across their entire talent acquisition function.” Many areas of the world are experiencing talent shortages, so this begs the question, “How are RPOs going to tackle this challenge?” Although it is a global issue, the strategies required to overcome the talent scarcities vary greatly from

September 201 4

recruiting e-commerce/digital and financial services sector talent. Therefore, the recruitment strategies implemented in North America and the UK are going to differ. So, RPOs dealing with multinational clients must ensure a globally-unified employment with targeted recruitment strategies regionally. With the global talent shortage comes the need for a proactive recruitment model, including workforce planning initiatives. In order to remain competitive in the employment market, companies must identify their requirements and put a plan in place to satisfy them well before there’s a need. Comprehensive RPO solutions now incorporate the forecasting of workforce trends and planning ahead for their clients’ hiring ramp-ups or periods of downswing. Market research goes hand in hand with workforce planning, as it helps to identify compensation trends in different regions, candidate attraction factors and supply and demand of talent, for example.

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Recruitment

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Jerry Wright

Kim Pope

"How will RPO's tackle talent shortages?" As RPO continues to evolve from a tactical approach geared toward cost savings and “filling seats,” to a more strategic approach, employment branding is a major factor in implementing a proactive recruitment model. “The consultancy side of RPO is necessary as talent becomes harder to attract and retain. The challenges we have seen in the UK include companies struggling to build trust with candidates, so strategic employer branding initiatives have become key to recruiting top-tier talent,” said Jerry Wright, WilsonHCG’s Managing Director of EMEA. A proactive recruitment model must also focus on talent

community building initiatives and nurturing relationships with passive candidates for the identified future employment needs. Employment branding initiatives complement talent community building as they facilitate the exchange of intriguing information about the company. The talent community will enhance the employment branding strategy by providing a platform to share content with established and engaged candidates. The community will also offer options to target branded messaging to segmented groups, ensuring the right communications are being immediately seen by relevant

candidates and guaranteeing your community is developing a valuable pipeline. A comprehensive and proactive talent acquisition solution, including workforce planning, employment branding and talent communities, is essential for an RPO to have an impactful influence on its clients’ recruitment function. And as more organizations leverage a global recruitment partner and holistic solution provider, the companies will realize their recruitment efforts as more strategic, and therefore employing higher quality talent.

John Wilson is the founder and CEO of WilsonHCG (www.wilsonhcg.com), a top global recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and human capital consulting firm. He has spent more than a decade building WilsonHCG into a premier RPO provider that is bringing innovation to the industry. John’s extensive experience has made him a respected authority in the industry. He regularly educates business leaders on a range of human capital topics, including talent acquisition, diversity leadership, employment branding, workforce planning and employee engagement and retention, and is regularly featured in industry media. John’s hands-on leadership has been instrumental in driving growth every year since the company’s inception. September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Technology

Scripps Networks Launch Two Channels on TVPlayer

Networks UK & EMEA. Food Network and Travel Channel are the only dedicated lifestyle entertainment channels on the platform and include programming such as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa and Andy Adam Smith, Bates Brazilian Street Feasts on Founder and CEO, Food Network and Michael Simplestream Palin’s Around the World in 80 Group Days, World’s Greatest TVPlayer, the free TV streaming Motorcycle Rides and Coach Trip on Travel Channel. Both app for mobile and tablet, has announced a licensing deal for channels will now be available to watch online for free, via popular lifestyle entertainment TVPlayer. channels Food Network and Adam Smith, Founder and CEO Travel Channel, including their of the Simplestream Group plc, plus ones, from Scripps the owner of TVPlayer, said: “We

are delighted to welcome Food Network and Travel Channel to TVPlayer, offering our users a great selection of premium programming. The addition of Scripps channels form the start of a series of updates over the summer period, which will add further channels and functionality to TVPlayer, culminating with the launch of our PVR service later in the year. With the number of set top boxes currently in the market, we think the TVPlayer app offers a welcomed alternative to tech-hungry audiences, who are looking to watch TV on their mobile and tablet devices whilst they are out and about as well as at home.”

Cross Match Introduces Guardian Module Biometric Capture Designed to meet the needs of biometric APC kiosks and eGates Cross Match Technologies, the largest independent global provider of biometric identity management solutions, announced the formal launch of the new Guardian® Module. The Guardian Module provides a complete biometric capture solution that includes the latest ten-print technology, biometric middleware and customisable user guidance interface designed to seamlessly integrate with Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks and eGates. APCs and eGates are increasingly being deployed by airport authorities to reduce

passenger wait times, improve the traveler experience and secure the overall border process. Airport authorities implementing APC report reducing passport inspection processing times by 89 percent while lowering overall airport wait times by 50 percent. “The Guardian Module leverages our industry leadership in biometric enrollment and, in particular, our Guardian line of ten-print fingerprint scanner technology and biometric middleware,” said Richard Agostinelli, CEO of Cross Match. “We offer kiosk

September 201 4

and eGate integrators the latest fingerprint capture technology packaged in a compact, easily integrated form that is wrapped with our unique user interface for biometric identity capture.” Designed to prompt the applicant/user through an unattended imaging of their fingerprints in a simple, pictogram-based approach, the Guardian Module ensures the highest quality image capture in the shortest amount of time. Cross Match has over 80,000 Guardian family ten-print scanners deployed around the world.

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Technology

MSAB Release Latest Evolution of XRY Digital Forensics

Glenn Hickok, President MSAB

MSAB, the mobile leader in forensic technology for mobile examination and pioneer of XRY has announced the release of the latest version of its internationally recognised XRY platform. XRY allows users to perform forensically sound digital extractions of data from mobile devices. Version 6.1 0 offers a number of new features and capabilities including expanded access to smartphone apps and broader interoperability. “The latest version of our groundbreaking XRY technology

will enable access to 1 2,41 5 device profiles — offering unparalleled capability to users, allowing them to keep pace with latest versions of applications and new technologies in the personal device marketplace,” said Glenn Hickok, President of MSAB Inc. “This latest version was driven by the evolving needs of law enforcement and direct feedback from the field—we feel the latest XRY platform provides our customers with a unique and powerful tool, that will be a real game changer.”

Invisalign G5 'Metal Out, Plastic In' for Orthodontists Invisalign, the clear aligner system which has changed the way people straighten their teeth, has announced the UK launch of Invisalign G5, a significant collection of advanced new features and technological innovations. “Invisalign G5 makes it much easier than before to treat deep bite with clear aligners, which is one of the most common and more challenging types of

orthodontic problems we see,” said orthodontist Dai RobertsHarry who presented the new product at its launch in London. “With Invisalign G5, I can now use Invisalign to treat a wide range of complex teeth straightening issues, and I see Invisalign with the same advantage as metal braces. In my opinion and from my experience, Invisalign is comparable in terms of results,

treatment speed and efficiency with fixed braces. In the last decade this technology has taken us in a direction that very few of us could have predicted.” In addition to the aesthetic, emotional and convenience benefits of Invisalign, the removable nature of Invisalign makes it easier to maintain good oral hygiene while in treatment because aligners are removed to eat and brush teeth.

Hosting.co.uk Launch Contest To Kick-Start Businesses

Hosting.co.uk has launched a contest to help individuals, entrepreneurs and start-ups succeed online. Launching the contest through Facebook, Hosting.co.uk aims to help 300 people get online with professional, business-class, web packages. The overall winner will win a Microsoft tablet Surface Pro 3. Frederick Schiwek, CEO of Hosting.co.uk said: “You may have an exciting new business idea, but lack the seed capital to get it promoted online. That’s where we can help! We are offering a Microsoft tablet Surface Pro 3 to the best idea and the lucky winners will get start-up business cloud packages which include a .Biz domain name, Exchange 201 3, CakeMail, BackupAgent and a website builder." September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: eCommerce

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Enabling The British Fashionista International fashion search engine Fashiola recently launched in the UK. The Dutch company has grown tremendously by helping the fashion-concious find exactly what they are looking for. Peter Langenkamp, it's Managing Director tells Ronnie Ajoku why the Fashiola brand has grown so fast in the world of eCommerce and why the UK is an important market Peter Langenkamp, MD, Fashiola

ifferentiating themselves with a unique search technology for finding fashion seems to be working well for Fashiola, 'The Fashion Finder'. In the Netherlands and Germany, Fashiola enjoys two million search queries each month, and 700,000 unique visitors; offering over 3 million products from 500 shops. "Fashiola the fashion finder" solves the problem of finding the right clothes, in the right size, at the right price, at the

dedicated fashion experts that write blogs and make stylebooks daily, so there is inspiration every day on what to buy. Our visitors are also encouraged to be creative, as they can use the stylebook tool and make their own fashion stylebooks using a selection of products. Fun to do and easy to share with other fashionistas!” The brand has seen a commendable growth in recent years and Peter hopes to replicate the winning formula in the UK. “In 201 2 we launched kleding.nl in The Netherlands and in 201 3 we launched Fashiola.de in Germany. We generated an overall €1 0 million in sales volume for the shops in both countries in 201 3. Now in 201 4 we have launched Fashiola.co.uk in the UK. best webshops. It makes fashion shopping online easier. You can find all the popular fashion shops and brands on one site where everything is categorised to help you find what you are looking for,” Fashiola's Managing Director, Peter Langenkamp explains. “You can search more specifically using the convenient filters like sizes, colours, brands, shops, materials, discount levels, price range, themes, etc. We have our

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: eCommerce

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

"We generated an overall €10 million in sales volume last year"

“The UK has one ofthe strongest fashion eCommerce markets in the world"

“The UK has one of the strongest fashion eCommerce markets in the world and it was inevitable that we would venture into the UK, after succeeding in the Netherlands and Germany. Shops that we already work with have specifically asked us to launch in the UK, after their experiences with us in the Netherlands and Germany. We are looking forward to growing their sales volumes in these three

countries now, and are also preparing our launches in Spain and France.” Despite the many search avenues and eCommerce websites out there competing for customers, Fashiola has come up with it's own unique way of keeping customers happy and loyal. “Users can set a sale alert on a product, which will alert them by email as soon as that product comes on sale. They can also

September 201 4

save a specific search query and be notified of new available products matching their search. We encourage loyalty by having daily interaction with our users on our social media and love to hear about what they would like to see more of. We also inspire people with our blogs and stylebooks like 'Get The Look' of a celebrity and also run an exclusive giveaway competition every week for our visitors,” he concluded.

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Motivation

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Ideas for reaching the ‘impossible to reach’

By Lara Morgan the outset whether the call was messages. Be more entertaining convenient made an immediately than the rest, and more good impression by putting me approachable. first. When you meet your ‘hard to Do you make it utterly simple for reach’ target don’t forget to: people to contact you? Are all Smile your contact details on all the Speak in a confident voice and communications stuff you send change your tone to suit the out? Do you text new customers person you are speaking to these details immediately after a Be enthusiastic in whatever you first conversation to make their say or ask lives easier? Maintain good eye contact Offer a firm handshake Have you networked and Be sincere – you can’t fake attended dinners in your industry friendliness, stand tall Remember that you are just one to meet the power players? Have Have a manner that of a myriad of voices in pursuit of your worked your socks off to get communicates the expectation other customers to reference you that you deserve and expect to a sale. I find there is nothing to their contacts? Introductions get what you request. more boring than a repetitive like these are priceless. pitch without imagination, and So get organised, get dedicated I’ve been on the receiving end of Make sure you leave energising, and get calling. many since the sale of Pacific Direct. People who asked from interesting and compelling voice Send them something far more interesting than the normal and expected glossy brochure, perhaps something entertaining. I once sent a buyer a tube of Savlon – he had explained that if he supported my prices his management would beat him up. I pointed out on the accompanying compliment slip that I could not help with the prices, as they were value for money, but that perhaps I could help him recover from the beating.

This extract is taken from More balls than most © Lara Morgan, 2011 (published by Infinite Ideas). Lara is founder of Company Shortcuts – a consultancy dedicated to excellence in sales and leadership. For tips, checklists and templates to help you grow your business, visit: www.companyshortcuts.com 26

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

The Queen of British Chick-lit is Back!

A prolific author with 13 bestselling titles, Catherine Alliott has built a reputation as the British queen of chick lit. While Alliott always had an interest in writing, it wasn’t a path she pursued until, discovered scribbling away at her first novel under her desk at her copywriting office job, she was unceremoniously given the sack. Speaking to the successful author, Camilla Davies wonders ifshe saw this as a literary call to arms…

Photograph courtesy of Neil Cooper

“I think I was a bit peeved, actually! Looking back I thought ‘right, I’ll show them.’ I saw it as a way to prove to myself I could do something creative. I was working in a creative industry anyway, so writing a book seemed even better at the time.” Newly unemployed, Alliott suddenly found the time to devote to her hobby. “Yes, and then I had my first baby who slept about 4 hours a day so I had plenty of time in which I couldn’t leave the house. I wrote whilst he slept which was ideal really. It worked rather well though later when I had three children under 4 I didn’t have so much time on my hands! I think if you’re trying to hold down a day job and write at the same time it’s jolly difficult.” That’s not to say she’s encouraging aspiring authors to quite the day job though. “My advice would be to do a bit of writing a day, not leave it for weeks at a time and then have another go; to try and keep a momentum going and maybe do a bit in the evening.

It’s really corny but do be true to what you know, as if you write about things you don’t know it doesn’t come across as overly truthful. And if you think you’re in danger of writing a bit of purple prose and banging on too much then throw in a joke - that’s what I tend to do.” Clearly one to practice what she preaches, Alliott’s own novelistic ideas are very much dictated by her day to day life. “I used to write about girls in flats when I was younger though I can’t write about that anymore because I don’t know anything about it! So I write about middle aged women living in country houses and all the shenanigans that go on with their friends, neighbours, teenage children, animals, grandparents … my books are very much character led so I don’t sit down and plan out a plot with a structure, rather I start with my main character and usually write in the first person, so that character dictates the book in a way.” Not tempted to dip her toes into other literary genres - “only because I wouldn’t know where to begin - I don’t really think about the genre I’m writing in, I just write what becomes apparent and that’s the best way of explaining it” – she spends her spare time riding horses, enjoying a rural Hertfordshire lifestyle.

My Husband Next Door by Catherine Alliott published by Penguin paperback is now available, priced £7.99 September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Marketing/Advertising/PR

AdRoll Opens London Office, Appoints Michael Bertaut Michael Bertaut, Managing Director, EMEA Strategic Sales

AdRoll, the world's most widely adopted retargeting platform, has announced the opening of its London office and the appointment of Michael Bertaut as Managing Director of EMEA Strategic Sales. Bertaut, Google's former Country Manager for Italy and ex-Head of New Business Sales in Latin America, will be responsible for building out a Londonbased strategic sales

organisation, focusing on bringing AdRoll's cross-device, cross-platform, transparent digital advertising solutions to sophisticated larger brands and agencies across EMEA. "AdRoll is one of the world's leading ad tech businesses and this investment in ongoing international expansion demonstrates our commitment to staying front and centre in the industry," said Bertaut.

Web3 Consulting Opens London Branch Online 'SEO for PR' specalist Web3 Consulting is expanding its operations to the United Kingdom with a new London office. The new office is located in the central Garden Studios in Covent Garden, and will increase Web3 Consulting’s clientele base further into the UK sector. The launch coincides with a new-look website at Web3Consulting.com and follows a

successful expansion from the company’s original Dublin location. Founder and CEO of Web3 Consulting, Radek Kotalarek, said of the opening: “We’re delighted to become part of the entrepreneurial digital community in central London, and look forward to expanding our London team in the near future to reflect our excellent growth in recent years.”

Rant & Rave Hires Phil Evans Mark Wilson Joins Rant & Rave, the SaaS Customer Engagement solutions provider, has taken on Phil Evans as its new Chief Revenue Officer. The company, which has adopted an aggressive business strategy to challenge the status quo of the customer engagement industry, will be using Phil’s extensive expertise to help grow the company – both in the UK and overseas. Phil has more than 1 5 years of experience in sales in the tech industry – across an array of platforms; e-commerce, web analytics, fashion analytics, social media and retail. Phil says: “For the past few years I have worked within fast growth start-ups, helping them to scale up quickly and build a structure able to withstand that growth. Rant & Rave is a fantastic company because it is edgy, dynamic and willing to experiment to win new customers and make an impact." September 201 4

Taylor Rafferty

Taylor Rafferty, the world's leading cross border investor relations agency, has announced the appointment of Mark Wilson as Managing Director, based in the firm's London office. Mark was previously with Bank of New York and BNY Mellon for 33 years, having graduated from The London School of Economics in 1 980. Mark said: "The firm has built a reputation for consistently helping clients to achieve their capital market goals through the provision of high quality IR advice and support. I am delighted to join Taylor Rafferty's leadership team."

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Branding

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

The Role of Personal Branding in Today's Digital Economy How does personal branding contribute to business growth? Is it fluffor is there real substance? Does personal branding have a role to play in the digital economy? How can ‘Personal Brand’ be used to engage customers and increase profit? Branding expert Katy Ennis enlightens us...

"Regardless ofage, regardless ofposition, regardless ofthe business we happen to be in, all of us need to understand the importance ofbranding. We are CEOs ofour own companies: Me Inc… Everyone has a chance to be a brand worthy of remark"

"Personal branding unites your passions, strengths, skills, behaviours, attitudes and core values in a focused message. It makes you instantly recognisable, differentiates your uniqueness, builds a loyal following and makes you relevant to your target audience" Kathy Ennis

Tom Peters

In our digital world a business is no longer a logo and a strapline; regardless of the size of the company, from oneman-band to large corporate organisations, they are a melting pot of identities – Personal Brands.

To understand how personal brands can contribute to business growth, it’s important to understand how ‘brand’ is used within business. Yes, it is part of the Personal branding ‘borrows’ marketing process, but it does have the principles of product branding and applies them to its own specific role in ensuring: a person. In a business context it is about taking the •Recognition core values of the individual •Differentiation (or individuals) who start the •Loyalty business, translating these •Relevance •A focussed marketing into a set of company values and communicating them messaging coherently so that they become understood by a target market.

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Branding

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

The company identity can be just as important as its product when it is time for a buyer to make a purchasing decision. Therefore, in the same way as branding a product or a service, the key elements of a personal brand must be applied consistently and congruently across all media. Congruency is consistency, alignment and harmony. Congruency builds credibility. Credibility builds trust, respect and loyalty and is an absolute requirement for all businesses. This convergence of congruency and credibility is the cornerstone of personal brand development and, as a consequence, the basis for a business with a clear vision and mission. With the method I have developed for enabling individuals to identify and build their personal brand – The 4Vs Principle© – all four elements must align as they are interconnected and have an inter dependency.

Values - who you are, what you believe, what

you want and your strategic route to achieving your goals Visuals - your visual impact and the visual impact of your company Vocals - what you say, how you say it and who you say it to Verbals - building your reputation, promoting your personal brand and establishing your expertise through the written word

"Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny" Mahatma Gandhi

Every day there are examples of social media faux pas that have a detrimental impact on society’s view of an individual or an organisation which, unlike a passing conversation, may live on in the internet forever. However, because a digital personal brand involves everything from visual identity to content creation, to digital marketing and PR it must to be rooted in authenticity and honesty and should exactly replicate offline life. Simply, an online personal brand will guide online actions embedded within professional and business goals. As for those gaffes? Are they the fault of social media or rather a true reflection of the individual who Tweeted, Posted, Uploaded etc?

While all four elements are equally essential in developing a strong, engaging and profit Does personal branding have a role in boosting personal brand online as well as today’s digital economy? Certainly. offline it is the fourth V, verbals, that is most closely concerned with leveraging a digital Bottom line is, a well-developed online personal brand. personal brand increases recognition by The fear expressed by many business peers, customers and competitors while owners about the adverse effect online simultaneously giving a company a social activity can have on an organisation is often and, more importantly, a financial boost. well-founded. Kathy Ennis is an expert in visual communication, engagement marketing, brand creation and personal branding. She has designed and delivered coaching, business consultancy, training and learning programmes to a wide variety of individuals and organisations in the UK, Europe and Scandinavia. As a mentor, business consultant and trainer Kathy uses the concepts of brand development and engagement marketing as methods of business creation and growth strategies. See www.kathyennis.co.uk. She is also a Founding Partner of The Business Support Group: www.tbsg.org.uk September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Branding

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Branding With Tools of The Trade Celebrity chef James Martin has spent the past fifteen years teasing the taste buds of telly watchers across the UK. A man with a clear passion for the dishes he produces, Martin’s engaging TV presence has seen him consistently on our screens across the years. From Ready Steady Cook to today’s Saturday Kitchen, the Yorkshire man may alternate from Red Tomato to Green Pepper but he’s remained one of TV cooking’s most recognisable faces. We spoke to the chefabout his tools ofthe trade… Growing up on a pig and cattle farm, James Martin discovered his aptitude for the culinary world at an early age. He may have struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia during his school years, but in enrolling at catering college at 1 6, found himself thrice awarded Student of the Year and at just 22 was appointed head chef at Hotel du Vin in Winchester. Martin’s spent the past six years hosting Saturday Kitchen, and when he’s not whipping up dishes against the clock, you’ll find the chef devising cookbooks or collaborating with his long term cookware partner, Stellar.

"With Stellar we develop things together. It's not a case ofhere is the product, now stick your name on it"

“Stellar approached me and asked if I’d like to work with them. I said ‘I will if it’s actually beneficial to you, if I can help you develop stuff,’ and that’s where we’ve come from. It’s not a matter of ‘there’s the product, stick your name on it’, it’s been a relationship we’ve had for 1 6 years – they come to me with ideas, and I come to them with

September 201 4

ideas.” Martin’s partnership with Stellar has seen him produce wide ranging kitchen products. “Firstly pans, then we worked on knives, cutlery, an accumulation of a lot of things from salt and pepper mills to pizza wheels to all manner of different stuff.” A professional chef, Martin obviously needs equipment that

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

dishwasher, but the handle is too thick.’ So we went back to the drawing board with a thinner handle.” Now, Martin’s baker’s dozen range covers just about everything you can think of. “It’s all the stuff that I’ve worked with over the years of being a pastry chef put into one collection so you’ve got muffin tins that you can do Yorkshire puddings in, to Swiss roll tins to cake tins.” And with shows like The Great British Bake Off causing a nation of amateur bakers to jump for their rolling pins, Martin agrees that “baking’s still a huge, huge thing. Not as big as it is in America by any means but it’s getting there.” Though whether or not people are routinely kneading their own bread is another question. “They’ll have a go and probably make a cock up of it and don’t bother again!” Happy that people are getting back into the kitchen, Martin warns against readymade supermarket produce. “It’s not the stuff chefs are cooking on TV that’s unhealthy, it’s all the crap that Joe Public’s eating from burgers to readymade pizzas to bought in lasagnes to all that stuff. What makes you fat is the stuff that’s in fizzy drinks, all the hidden stuff that’s everywhere, not the food on your Sunday lunch table.” Sceptical about recent research recommending people should eat ten different fruit and veg a will serve him well in the kitchen, stressing, “we really day - “Well good luck to anybody who wants to try to find the best quality that people can afford. And try that one…” the chef laughs – Martin reveals that’s a tall order when you’ve got everybody else his own food heaven and hell to use before he’s doing cheap, cheap, cheap… off – “crab and horseradish!” “Take baking tins; whenever you get a cheap tin it’s flexible, the minute you apply strong heat or anything it’ll twist and then you end up wrecking your cake. So it’s gotta be made out of a decent material, now that comes from how we develop that material, knowing what we want, what it needs to do, what it needs to work like. And then they come back and say ‘what about this…?’ and it goes back to the drawing board again. And then we eventually come to a medium where we are both happy and off we go.” Like any creative process, there exists an element of trial and error. Take Martin’s custom knives, for example. “I can’t do my job without them!” he tells us, but the product took time to perfect. “When we were looking at knives to sell retail wise I originally asked for the handle to be too thick. When I gave it to my mother and friends to test, they turned around and said, ‘it’s a nice knife, it’s great in the

To learn more about James Martin’s cookware ranges with Stellar please visit www.jamesmartinchef.co.uk/shop or www.stellarcookware.co.uk September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Creativity

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Conflicts, talents and welcoming new ideas By Sofie Sandell

A few weeks ago I went to meet up with an old friend who lives in Sweden. We’ve known each other for over 1 5 years and have supported each other in good and bad times. I no longer live in my home country of Sweden so my visits to see some of my friends are not regular enough. Unfortunately, in this instance making arrangement s about where and when to meet up turned into an argument. I felt really sad. The meeting that was supposed to be a happy event turned into a fight and both of us had to express ourselves and really say what we felt. Thankfully, it all turned out ok and we spent a few hours catching up and sharing some nice stories. What this did to me was that it challenged my thoughts about meeting up. We had some different ideas about how to arrange things, but the outcome was great for both parties. We both dared to express what we felt and how we wanted things to be done, and that is what I believe we must all do more often when we work using our creative force and innovative spirit.

Steve Jobs and John Sculley

An idea is rarely fully developed until it has gone through the magic process of having input from several people. I recently watched an interview with Steve Jobs on Netflix entitled ‘The Lost Interview’ in which Jobs shares his views on creativity. Do you remember when Apple almost went bust under the leadership of John Sculley, the former

September 201 4

CEO of PepsiCo? Sculley and Jobs had a huge argument about the creative process and how to develop new products and the rest is history – everyone has heard the story about Sculley kicking Jobs out of Apple. Jobs claims that Sculley suffers from a disease, a disease that makes you think that 90% of a great product is a great idea. Jobs argues that a great idea evolves by a team taking it through the creative process, and that includes arguments and different ideas interacting with each other. This then creates a product that is shaped for success. He also added that he has worked with the top experts in his field and when doing this it is challenging to manage people. You have to let their creativity add value to your final product. Have you ever agreed to go along with a suggestion because you had to stroke someone’s ego? If your answer is yes then this person may suffer from the same disease as Sculley did: thinking that you only need a great idea to develop a great product.

When do you feel creative?

When does the next level of creativity come and knock on the door? And how do you know it’s there? I’ve spoken to lots of people about this and the creative force often turns up at very odd moments. Grainne McGuinness, a TV and film producer based in Belfast, told me that it was when she was a sleep deprived mother of two young children that she had the most fantastic ideas: ‘Sleepless nights and the joy of spending time with my kids made

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Creativity

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

me come up with some amazing off the wall ideas, one of them Bia Linn, a cookery show for kids.’ We never know when we will feel creative and who would have imagined that sleepless nights could contribute to your creativity? Maybe it’s when we let our ideas go through the tumbledryer in our mind and mix them with other people’s ideas that magic happens. What do you think? One of the most disruptive things you can do is to work with people who can never be wrong. Have you ever had that experience? If often happens when people are not open to listening to new ideas and suggestions. Creative people love to bounce thoughts of others and get other people’s perspective. When you produce a TV programme you are dependent on many talented people to make it happen. You need them to help you; you can’t do it by yourself. You might have the idea, but it’s thanks to the group and their creativity that you are able to create something wonderful. Great marketing will not sell a bad product in the long term. Any customers you do get will leave you.

ideas internally? This question comes down to the culture of the business, the way things are done. Did the digital markets I spoke to not have enough room to try out their ideas? Should they have set up a beta website where they could try out their new digital ideas? Should they have established an unofficial marketing lab where people could go and be a bit artistic? They think their limits are time and people, but is it really? People need to express themselves and if you are not letting them do that then you are not going to be able to root out the best ideas. Creativity can be painful and hard to catch, so when it happens you need to be ready for it.

Too many ideas

I once spoke in front of a group of digital marketers whose principal problem was that they had too many ideas. They worked for a large supermarket in the UK and they didn’t have a process in place to help them nurture their ideas. Instead, they often felt overwhelmed by all of the creativity around them and they often killed ideas because there was no time to do anything about them. What you want to do as a supermarket is to create a great experience for your customers and to make their time spent shopping quicker and easier. How do you then channel all your

Sofie Sandell is a lecturer in digital marketing at INSEEC business school in London. She is the author of the book 'Digital Leadership' which is inspiring you to be more creative with the digital tools. Sofie was born in Sweden and now lives in London. www.sofiesandell.com

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Media

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

What makes a video campaign effective?

Images courtesy of Be Inspired Films

Move your customers...

By Ravinol Chambers If a picture can paint a thousand words, imagine what video can achieve. As well as telling your target market exactly who you are and what you do, a campaign video can move viewers emotionally, enabling them to connect with you and your brand.

definitely the time to start. When making a video, either yourself or by commissioning a professional production company, there are keys to getting it right. Firstly, decide what it is you want to achieve.

Have a conclusion in sight throughout the process. Keep it simple with a single theme, make it entertaining enough for repeat viewings and aim for brevity (around three minutes) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; much like a classic pop song.

Ninety per cent of all internet traffic is predicted to be video content in the next three years. Much of this will be personal, homemade film, but professional-quality corporate campaign videos can make a big splash when made and distributed well. If you're not using film as part of your marketing mix already, now is

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Media

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Indeed, like the best pop music, successful campaign videos are emotive. John Lewis's Christmas advert is now a much-anticipated event, expected to bring a tear to the eye and festive joy to the heart â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and making the department store one of the biggest brands of the season as a result. By including a 'face' of the company, brands can also build a personal relationship with viewers, in the much the same way as soap actors often get stopped by fans in the street to discuss their on-screen traumas. Video can create relationships with customers and key contacts without you even meeting them. However, this personal connection can only be made through honesty. Whether your message is happy or hopeful, sad or silly, an audience will only connect if you are being truthful: there's nowhere to hide with so much information on show. Yet with customers demanding more transparency from their favourite brands, this lets video shine as an advertising medium. As the filmmaking mantra

goes, 'show, don't tell'; with video you don't need to tell the viewer about your great service or product line, you can show them what it looks like, your satisfied customers, your successful project in action. You can literally open your doors and show people around your business. Look to other successful online videos and television adverts for inspiration, but the best campaigns are inventive, ambitious and honest.

Ravinol Chambers is the Founder of Be Inspired Films, a socially minded video production company. For further information visit www.beinspiredfilms.co.uk September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Nick Hewer

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

From charity treks to Kazakhstan to reuniting runaways, PR man Nick Hewer has been busy

As Lord Sugar’s aid, Nick Hewer has refined the art ofThe Apprentice selection process, and he appears just as content watching over the Countdown clock. Now, the PR magnate has taken to matters away from the TV cameras, becoming involved with Street Child, a charity seeking to help the poorest children in West Africa. Street Child’s latest campaign, ‘Every Child in School’, determines to put the impoverished children of Liberia and Sierra Leone back into education by building schools and improving living conditions, getting kids off the streets and into safe accommodation. It was a chance meeting with Street Child founder Tom Hewitt that alerted Hewer to the plight of West African children. Learning that there are over 50,000 street kids in Sierra Leona alone, the former PR impresario decided to lend his expertise to the cause.

“What Street Child does is identify kids and reunite families, but what they do in order to stop the children from running away again is give them a little ground of just £50. In Sierra Leone this is a lot of money, though for us it’s nothing. When these kids can stay at home they can go to school. In the rural areas, if there isn’t a school we build one for them. We don’t need much money to build a school - it only costs £1 2,000 to build a school that would be big enough for 250 children. That isn’t a lot of money, is it? And it only costs

September 201 4

£1 000 a year to run and then kids get a decent education. And everything stems from getting a decent education.” Ever the business minded sage, Hewer notes the appeal of this particular charity. He believes the goals the campaign strives toward to be tangible – not to mention achievable. Having taken part in charity treks to Kazakhstan and spent time in Rwanda, Hewer has witnessed first-hand how an industrious approach can achieve palpable goals.

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Nick Hewer

“Street Child is doing incredible work, making tremendous inroads.” He tells us. “And the unusual thing about this project is that it can be done. I’m not in any way being disrespectful of the efforts of Children in Need, but that is so big that it is sometimes hard to see what is being done and what needs to be done. What we are saying here is that we only need enough for 50,000 kids. We could do this in a couple of years. It is not

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

impossible to see an end to this craziness. It is achievable. You could actually finish this one off.” As a familiar face on British television, Hewer knows that his ‘celebrity’ status can aid the causes he holds dear. “I am convinced it is a very worthwhile thing to support. And if that is helpful, then why not?” He also makes use of his well renowned sternness when imploring people to give to a worthy cause. “It’s all very well

saying we have Government backing, but we have to raise the money. It’s just £50 to save a family. All you have to do is not take your girlfriend out for dinner on Saturday.” Aside from his charitable endeavours, Nick Hewer remains a best known as Lord Sugar’s right hand man, and he promises us that The Apprentice will return better than ever in this autumn. “Oh, it will come roaring back, you can be sure of that.”

You can support Street Child in their quest to help thousands of children leave the streets and receive an education. To donate £3, text ‘STREETCHILD £3’ to 70707 or visit www.streetchild.co.uk for more details.

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Sales

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Fun Ways to Tune Into WIIFM FM

By Nicola Cook There are a number of fun ways in which you can tune in to What's In It For Me (WIIFM) daily. Select a few from the list below and surround yourself with your own emotional drivers, so that when you need to, you only need to focus on a goal to remind yourself why you need to pick yourself up and dust yourself down and get back out there.

Create a visual goal board. Take your list from the previous exercise and find pictures that represent your goals, preferably with you in them (even if you super impose yourself onto an existing picture) then stick the picture to a goal board that you hang somewhere where you see it every day. Every time you glance at your goals, take a brief moment to focus your intentions on living that goal and how that feels.

Stick a post-it note to the bathroom mirror, and then every morning as you wash your face, you will also re-focus your mind. Stick a post it on a white board in your office, or alternatively do as I do and write a goal in lipstick across the mirror! No way can you avoid them then.

Write a cheque to yourself, dated for the day you anticipate cashing it and carry it in your wallet or purse.

4 Create a certificate of achievement and frame it. 5 Laminate a goal and place it on the side of your bedside

cabinet or even on the ceiling above your bed, so that the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning is that goal.

Create a goal book. Just as with the goal board, except place your goals within a book that you carry with you and flick through every day.

7 I require everyone that has ever worked in any of my sales

teams to complete this exercise. I obviously want them working hard for me and the business, but their efforts have to transfer into something meaningful for them. I enjoy seeing the pictures of them on a luxury holiday with their family, or driving their dream car, or owning their own home, plastered all over their desks and I take great joy when they are able to fulfil those ambitions as a direct result of their own efforts. I also find as a sales manager that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extremely useful to know what motivates the people within my team.

This is an extract from The Secrets of Success in Selling by Nicola Cook, published by Pearson. Nicola is MD of Company Shortcuts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a consultancy dedicated to excellence in sales and leadership. Join her at the next Company Shortcuts Business Accelerator sales growth conference. Find out more at www.companyshortcuts.com/businessaccelerator www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk September 201 4 40

Accounting

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

The Company Financial Year-End: What does it imply?

Riz Wasti: Director 2E Accountants Ltd

By Riz Wasti

A company’s financial year is a requisite for tax paying purposes. Similar to the way we pay our personal taxes, businesses have the obligation to report on their net income at the end of each financial year, which will serve as a base for pertinent tax calculations. The financial year-end is also the moment when a company informs shareholders about the company’s annual profit. It is important to keep in mind that a company financial year-end doesn’t necessarily have to coincide with the last day of the calendar year or the personal tax year (5th April in UK). Let’s assume that a business starts its activity in July. Its financial year-end would be in June, the following year. In any case, you must meet the financial year-end with accurate and complete financial reports. That will ensure that your taxes will be accurately calculated.

For this you need to make sure that • all business transactions are properly finalised and reflected in your business’ bookkeeping records • reconciliations are accurate and complete The financial year-end usually implies a lot of work and stress. The preparation of the company’s taxes can only be accurate if all the bookkeeping records, all through the year, have been kept perfectly organised following the basic accounting principles e.g. matching principle, accrual, historical cost etc. This is the reason why many businesses choose to employ bookkeeper and outside tax accounting services. This way they will make sure that all tax fillings are professionally calculated and that they follow the latest tax laws. A professional tax accountant will keep abreast of all issues related to business tax. In addition, they will be able to make the most of the possible tax savings.

Riz Wasti (ACMA) is a member of the Business Mentoring Meetup Group and a Director at 2E Accountants Ltd. www.2eAccountants.co.uk September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Business Evaluation

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Your business could be worth 40% less than you think and other scary things! By Tony Gimple

Despite the somewhat difficult trading climate over the last few years, many businesses are still making money but, instead of reinvesting or distributing those profits, directors are holding on to the cash. Now there’s nothing wrong with putting money aside for a rainy day, the trouble is that by leaving money on deposit the shareholders could be loosing out on Business Property Relief (BPR), which means that their estate will pay 40% in Inheritance Tax (IHT) instead of none. In a not dissimilar vein, where a

business has surplus cash, HMRC may deny a shareholder Entrepreneurs’ Relief at the point when they come to sell their shares. This means that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) could be payable at the full rate of 28%. However, by putting the surplus cash to good trading use, the business can restore the availability of Entrepreneurs’ Relief to its shareholders, meaning that CGT will only be payable at 1 0% which represents a significant saving. Carrying on the theme of HMRC giving you a hard time, if you are

September 201 4

a director, and regardless of whether you are also a shareholder, if for any reason the business fails to pay National Insurance Contributions, our friends at HMRC can issue you with a Personal Liability Notice (PLN). The effect of the PLN is dramatic, with liability for the company’s unpaid NIC (plus interest and penalties) transferring from the company to you personally and thus falling outside the limited liability criteria. You might say that this is nothing new, but HMRC are actively looking for ways to

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Business Evaluation maximise the tax intake and a hungry wolf is an especially dangerous one. A million businesses across the UK are now exposing themselves to serious financial risk by not having the legal or financial cover in place to make sure that their business borrowings would be repaid or their share in the business could, when they die, be bought by family or colleagues. That salutary fact still remains true even though the death of a business owner has a greater impact on a business’s future than their premises burning down, with over half of business owners ranking the death of an owner as the worst scenario they could experience, saying that the business would either immediately cease trading or do

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

so within the following two years. Despite that, almost half of UK business owners expect the remaining fellow owners to buy their share of the business in the event of their death, but less than a tenth of UK businesses have a Partnership or Shareholder Agreement and, of those that do, over half have not reviewed them in the last year and more than a third admit that they have never reviewed their Agreements at all. Yet, although four out of five small business owners say they would like to pass on their company shares to specific beneficiaries in the event of them

passing away, almost half have yet to put any legal instructions in place to ensure these wishes are honoured. No doubt you’ll agree that there are plenty of more pressing things to worry about, such as closing the next deal or which Merc to buy etc., without delving into the less obvious ways in which you can be tripped up when you’re looking the other way. Likewise, you might think that because your lawyer or accountant hasn’t already mentioned these horrors that they don’t apply to you - if only that were true!

"A million businesses across the UK are now exposing themselves to serious financial risk"

Tony Gimple is the Founder of Succession Planning (www.planned-succession.com) - a referral only legal support provider in wills, probates, share holder agreements, and succession planning. He is also a mentor at the Business Mentoring Meet Up group

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

News: Fashion

World’s First Wheelchair Dress is Just the Ticket Paralympian athlete unveils innovative train ticket dress to promote Polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) awareness

(left to right) CEO ofThe British Polio Fellowship, Ted Hill MBE, with Paralympian and The British Polio Fellowship Ambassador Anne Wafula-Strike MBE, in the first ever designer dress totally designed around the wheelchair itself. Inspirational London Paralympian athlete Anne Wafula-Strike, MBE unveiled a ‘catwalk’ designer dress made of 3500 train tickets in London, in a bid to raise awareness of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS). The bespoke dress was made by haute couture designer Aleah Leigh for Anne, an Ambassador

of The British Polio Fellowship. Anne said: “I am a big believer that disability is no bar to anything, and the greatest disability of all is in fact how some people think. Polio and PPS has not stopped me fulfilling my sporting or career ambitions and it should not stop people looking good. Just because you

use a wheelchair, it doesn’t mean you can’t be sexy and glamorous and this designer dress is a great way to get that message across. It was a wonderful, liberating feeling to turn a few heads today and challenge some misconceptions about disability, Polio and PPS along the way.”

British designers urged to close the gap between creativity and business The British Fashion Council (BFC) unveiled a report commissioned in collaboration with London Business School (LBS) and in partnership with Land Securities highlighting the importance of commercial guidance and specialist business

September 201 4

partners for up and coming designers. The new report, ‘Commercialising Creativity – Creating a Model for Success for British Fashion Designers’, reveals the commercial secrets of success for creative fashion businesses.

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Women In Business: Daniele de Winter Monaco

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

From The Inside Out...

Beyond Superficial Beauty

By Ronnie Ajoku ot many people can claim to be a beauty pioneer, health expert and best selling author at the same time, but for Daniele de Winter she is all that and more. Having found fame and success at a young age with her bestselling book, Eat Yourself Beautiful, Daniele went on to create Daniele de Winter Monaco, a luxury, holistic beauty and spa company based in Monte Carlo. After three years of product development, Daniele successfully launched her innovative and medically developed skin rejuvenation range in 2006. Daniele de Winter InsideOut beauty skincare is today sold worldwide, used by celebrities and royalty from Monaco to Japan and available in some of the most famous spaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the world including the Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo, The Adlon in Berlin, the hotel Vierjahreszeiten in Munich and the Kempinski in Dubai Ajman. September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Women In Business: Daniele de Winter Monaco

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

“MyMother, atrueentrepreneur, hadalwaysinspiredmeto startmyownbusiness" hotel Vierjahreszeiten in Munich being recruited in the late 90’s to and the Kempinski in Dubai an Internet startup in Munich Ajman. that failed miserably. It was a Beauty Shot and Skinergie, horrible experience – but we all the latest addition to her high- survived, and going through this performance luxurious skincare gave me the courage to give 'the range, launched in April at The entrepreneurship thing' a go by Deck of the National Theatre in myself – but this time do things London. my way.” So what made her go from Daniele is the daughter of Dr being an author to developing a Jan de Winter, a pioneering sophisticated range? “My cancer specialist who opened Mother, a true entrepreneur, had the UK's first Cancer Prevention always inspired me to start my Clinic in 1 982. She worked with own business ‘one day’, and my her father in cancer prevention, father infected me with a focusing on the lifestyle choices passion for health. It was all the people can adopt to reduce their questions I received during my risk of contracting the disease. US book tour and a realisation From this she developed a that there was a gap in the philosophy that health and beauty market that gave me the beauty are inseparable, leading idea to create my own her to write her first book, What 'synergistic, InsideOut beauty' the Doctor Ordered, at the age product line. of 1 5! This was followed by the “What finally gave me the US bestseller Eat Yourself courage to start a company was Beautiful, which Daniele wrote at

September 201 4

the age of 21 . Her third book, InsideOut Beauty, was published in 2006 to accompany the launch of her InsideOut beauty skin rejuvenation system. Daniele de Winter, who has an MBA from Insead, spent years researching and sourcing the precise combination of 1 00% natural ingredients to provide the optimum benefits to the health and appearance of skin. Aimed at educated women and men interested in naturally beautiful skin and an energized, youthful body, what makes the range special according to Daniele is that “deW InsideOut beauty skincare, supplements and drinks do not just regenerate skin cells – they work to regenerate your whole body – it is a natural, holistic approach that delivers results. “Some of our customers are individuals with very dry or

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Women In Business: Daniele de Winter Monaco incredibly sensitive or problem skin that have previously had to resort to pharmaceutical grade skincare to relieve the redness, dehydration or acne in any measurable way. deW InsideOut beauty nourishes and rebalances their sebum and skin immunity from within – people are amazed that something natural can work so well.” As an in-demand speaker, she is passionate about creating a healthier world. “I am most passionate about holistic antiageing, beyond ‘superficial’ beauty. Our ‘civilized world’ is fighting a losing battle against an epidemic of burn-out, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and cancer – all of which can be prevented and often cured through gentle lifestyle adjustments combined with the right supplements. Unfortunately the pharmaceutical model – which is all Doctors are taught is entirely disinterested in curing

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

anyone : they just want to keep the patient alive for an long as possible so they can sell the greatest amount of drugs. “Over the next 20 years, the number of obese adults in the UK (to say nothing of children) is forecast to soar by a staggering 73% to 26 million people1 , leading to a matching rise in heart disease, diabetes and cancer. I would love to gain the leverage in order to make a big dent in those numbers and make it clear that there is another much, much better way.” Although the marketplace is a tough one filled with big industry players, Daniele has managed to continue the growth of her business thanks to certain unique factors, not least of which is the authenticity of her brand: “We are underpinned by a lot of holistic science due to the 20 years I spent working with my father, visionary anti-aging doctor Dr Jan de Winter. Our

InsideOut beauty approach (that synergistically combines skincare with 1 00% natural supplements and drinks) is still relatively unique. We target the causes of skin inflammation, collagen glycation and premature ageing from both inside and out so that 1 +1 = 5 in terms of results. Once people see how our products work they usually stick with them. “We are also from Monaco, which still enjoys a wonderfully exclusive ‘cachet’ that helps dial up the chic of Daniele de Winter as a brand. We are also truly authentic; I am a real person, my name is on the boxes and there is no huge corporation in the background. I think people like that. My small team is composed of fabulous, passionate individuals and we love customers to engage with us and really appreciate having a relationship with them.”

Daniele's Tips For Success

• Get a job at a company you admire

in the industry you are targeting

before starting out on your own to get a feel for how the industry functions. You will learn a lot and avoid many of the mistakes that I made starting a beauty company from scratch. • Find one or two close friends to start the business with . There is nothing like ‘sweat equity’ to drive a business forward. You want people who care as much about the business’s success as you do. Employees are for later.

• Be brutally honest – would YOU buy your own products/service? You need to be able to answer YES without hesitation to have a chance of success.

For more information please visit www.danieledewinter.com September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Women In Business: Make it global

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk The Make It Global project is a £1.5 million funded project that aims to support the internationalisation of women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in London. The project is funded by the EU, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). If you want to find out more about how your business can benefit from Make It Global visit: uel.ac.uk/makeitglobal

Yasemin Guzeler: Chantam Following the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the ensuing shakeup in the industry, Yasmin found herself without a contract. “I used to be a finance professional, mostly doing contract work for legal firms. In December 2008 I was in between contracts and met two friends of mine for pre-Christmas drinks. I noticed a woman at the next table waiting for her friend, who later arrived wearing a black coat with a gorgeous Harris Tweed handbag. She looked very stylish. I thought it was a nice way to compliment dark winter coats with a colourful handbag to uplift,” says Yasemin. After spending hours searching for the same type of bag she was unable to find one and so the seeds for her business were sewn. “I realised there was a gap in the market for good quality yet affordable Harris Tweed handbags. Most of the handbags I found on internet were either cheap and low quality or very expensive designer ones. I had worked in the fashion industry before and appreciate high quality fabrics produced in Britain and so decided to produce my own design of Harris Tweed handbags.” Yasemin has seen her business more than double in just a few years, proving that she made the right decision in choosing her target market. “Make it Global helped me to catch up with the recent trends in marketing and business development. I learned to develop a cost effective but very powerful marketing strategy that will help to grow my business much faster.”

For further information on Chantam visit www.chantam.com 48

September 201 4

Sanna King: Sannapanda

Sannapanda is a unique business started by Sanna King, aimed at helping people to sleep. “I met a lot of people who said they could not sleep without their eye-mask or hot-water bottle for comfort, so I started designing sleepy sets for people to use at home or for when they were travelling. “I wanted to make individual pieces that people could collect and use to create their own cosy little sanctuary - and get some rest wherever they happened to be. “The style is very much influenced by my mother's Finnish roots. That meant I was always surrounded by beautiful and practical household goods, with vibrant patterns and colours.” Sannapanda has been involved with a number of craft and design events over the last few years showcasing their products. Networking has proven beneficial to Sannapanda's expansion plan and through these events and some independent boutiques it has started to build up a small but growing customer base, predominantly in London and the UK. On the role played by Make It Global in helping her business she said: “Make It Global have provided us with lots of useful business advice in general and, more specifically, how to grow and reach international customers. “They have lots of essential information on researching different markets in different countries and cultures, and understanding the different approaches needed to appeal to them. They also provided important insights into the logistics and legalities involved when exporting or trading abroad.”

www.sannapanda.com, Facebook.com/sannapanda.uk, Twitter: @sannapanda

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Women In Business: Clover Lewis

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Creative Hub offers advice and

support responding to the needs of small to medium creative businesses in fashion, jewellery, textiles, accessories, soft furnishings, homeware, digital and visual media. It has bases in Bermondsey Street’s Fashion & Textile Museum and Soho’s 01 Zero-one studios.

www.creative-hub.org.uk

Clover Lewis is an entrepreneur that has attended Creative Hub's courses and this is her story.

Clover Lewis Swimwear

“After my cancer diagnosis I wanted to tick a lot ofboxes on my ‘to do’ list" Clover Lewis is a Londonbased post-surgery swimwear designer. She

trained at Central St Martins and has had a varied creative career spanning several years in film, physiotherapy, and costume design. However, it was while recovering from her breast cancer diagnosis that

she combined her skills to create Clover Lewis Swimwear in 201 2 as a recovery project. “By intuitively detecting an aggressive form of breast cancer that was completely hidden from all medical screening, I survived and have been clear for 4 years,” Clover says of her ordeal.

September 201 4

It was her horrific experience that led Clover to target women that have experienced a mastectomy. “After my cancer diagnosis I wanted to tick a lot of boxes on my ‘desire to do’ list and high up on that list was learning how to dive. My partner and I booked a holiday to Bali for me to earn an

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Women In Business: Clover Lewis

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

"The training I received at Creative Hub was fashion specific" open water diving certificate. While preparing to go on this exciting trip I couldn’t find swimwear that made me feel comfortable or confident enough to be seen on the beach, which also concealed my breast imbalances after mastectomy and whilst I was undergoing reconstruction. This was soul destroying! So, after my fruitless search, I created a gorgeous bikini for myself, went to Bali and returned with my diving certificate. My confidence was boosted. “On my return I started speaking with hundreds of women though online breast cancer forums, surveys and breast care nurses - most of whom expressed similar disappointment around choosing swimwear. From this, the idea for Clover Lewis Swimwear was

born.” Clover's business caters to the post surgery segment that is currently underserved. “The majority of post surgery/mastectomy swimwear products available are functional, yet very conservative in design,” Clover points out. Post-surgery swimwear needn’t only be functional. “Women yearn to feel gorgeous in a swimsuit, especially after breast cancer, and this is my brand's motivation. I have experienced the transformative effects of how looking good on the outside can have positive effects on the inside after my own breast cancer diagnosis, which is why I have this ethos at the forefront of my design process.” The training received at Creative Hub was fashion industry specific, and has been

very useful for raising her professionalism and effective communication wit hin the fashion industry. “I attended both 'Preparing the Perfect Presentation' and 'Meet the Buyer' training courses at Creative Hub. Together with useful one-to-one sessions with the trainer, these courses enabled me to create industrystandard paperwork such as line sheets, practice pitching my post surgery swimwear brand, and prepare for a myriad of buyers' questions. The overall result of this is I was well prepared for dialogues with fashion buyers at my swimwear brand's prototype launch, at the Startup's Festival at Selfridges Old Hotel.” Clover, hopes to attend some more courses at Creative Hub in the near future.

For further information visit www.cloverlewis.com , twitter.com: @CloverLewisSwim , Facebook.com/CloverLewisSwim, Linkedin.com/CloverLewis 50

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Fashion

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Is there room for change in the fashion business? London Fashion Week is undoubtedly one of the most renowned events in the fashion industry's calendar. The buzz behind models, designers and labels had everyone talking. But isn't it time for an industry so set in its ways to embrace change? Models of Diversity's Ruth HarrisonRoberts thinks so...

Ruth Harrison-Roberts Photographer Credit: Simon Blower

The Fashion industry – where do we begin? Models, designers, brands…it’s a big business. Chanel, Dior, YSL… we all know the big names. But what about the little people? The lesser known names in the industry that are making a change? The faces within the fashion industry that are pushing for progress? Why aren’t we seeing change within the industry? On the 28th of April, Models of Diversity held their first live Q&A session and due to the success of it held another on the 8th of August. The underlining issue was whether there is enough diversity in the fashion industry and the conclusion was that much more could and should be done. Everybody in the industry needs to take responsibility for making those changes happen, even us. If we don’t make our voices heard then who is going to listen?

There is a definite ripple effect that starts with a voice and lends itself out to the stores, to the suppliers and to the designers, and this all stems from the images that we are presented with in the first instance. Talking amongst ourselves is all very good but it doesn’t make a change. Working alongside the larger brands is where we will see change starting to happen. Over the last ten years retailers and designers have changed the way we shop to a considerable degree. We now have a greater choice of plus size lines, clothing available in taller sizes as well as petite and even fashionable maternity wear. So shopping has become easier if you are the average sized UK woman (size 1 6). Debenhams recently launched

September 201 4

size 1 6 mannequins in its stores, however it still isn’t enough. What about the size 0 models who wear these designs in the first place? A majority of the time campaigns cause a sensation; after all, the brand is fighting for life in a sea of other designs and needs to stay afloat and the key to doing this is by getting your campaign noticed. Name a brand that hasn’t used a shock tactic over the last few seasons? Shock campaigns are a flash in the pan, yet many brands are applauded by those who see it as foresight on the brands behalf that they are using plus size models, models of colour or models with a disability. These models all get their brands noticed. Unfortunately these campaigns only last a season and they are gone the next — back to the standard practise.

An example of size 1 6 mannequins recently introduced www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Feature: Fashion

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Jillian Mercado

"Name a brand that hasn’t used a shock tactic over the last few sasons?" Jillian Mercado, broke the mould earlier this year when she was picked to be the face of Diesel’s campaign. Jillian is in a wheelchair. “I think that we are slowly, but surely, seeing a change in the fashion industry. They're noticing that not everybody can be a perfect skinny model. It's unrealistic,. especially if you want to sell clothing to everyday people. If every time people look at the models and all they ever see is a tall skinny model, insecurity will start forming. This is why Diesel under Nicolas’ direction is so amazing because he is saying we need people to relate to clothes — to connect people together. Each and every model on the campaign can be relatable to someone,” Jillian told models of Diversity about the campaign. So is it the modelling agency's fault for supplying these models for campaigns? Many agencies now have a 'plus' or 'curvy' model section as well as a classic model section on their websites. One agency that is making a change is Leni’s Model Management. Eleni Renton has a strict vision for her

agency — ‘to create an agency that puts the health and well-being of the models they represent at the forefront of its ideology.’ As a rule, Leni’s will not take on a model that doesn’t have a healthy BMI. If the agencies are starting to make a change what about the designers themselves? On the runway we aren’t seeing much happen in the way of diversity. The general excuse for this is that it isn’t cost effective for a designer to make their samples in a range of sizes. I still haven’t had a response from anyone with regards to why they won’t make a standard sample a size 1 2. So what can be done to change this way of thinking? As the Front Row proved, it’s not about talking about change. It’s proving that the change needs to be made – and for this we are all responsible. Fashion is an industry which has many sectors that need to work in unison to create a product, just like any other industry, and within industry change is inevitable.

"I think that we are slowly, but surely, seeing a change" Jillian Mercado

Ruth Harrison-Roberts is a spokesperson for Models of Diversity, an organisation aimed at campaigning for diversity within the fashion industry. To lend your support or for further information visit www.modelsofdiversity.org September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Prime Time

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME) is a national charity helping people over the age of50, who are not working or unemployed, start their own businesses. With rising unemployment and increases to the retirement age, PRIME helps the over 50s explore self-employment as a different option through online resources, workshops, business clubs and mentoring schemes. PRIME believes that self-employment is a suitable option for older people as they have experience and are highly skilled, qualities that naturally lend themselves to enterprise.

Rima Abboushi and Selve Krishnan are two entrepreneurs that have received support from PRIME... Rima Abboushi's Chachoulie (Chachoulie.com)

Chachoulie is a new business into trendy handbags. These that proves that there is more to were then donated to the charity's spring fair. I Palestine than what we are accustomed to seeing on our volunteered and donated annually to this event and television screens. watched the enthusiasm The brainchild of "The team at with which people Rima Abboushi, PRIME have wanted to buy Chachoulie given me something from (Chachoulie.com) direction, Palestine. They seemed produces beautiful support and to want to express their handmade ongoing support to the people, accessories that make use the current contact that culture and heritage of helps keep me Palestine. I then environmentally focused.” branched out into friendly trends, jewellery, T Shirts and recycling and upsilk shawls,” Rima says. cycling. “Seven years Although initially aimed at the ago the Palestinian worldwide Palestinian diaspora, Ambassador's late wife had secured an Embassy presence Chachoulie has branched out, attracting a wider audience. On at the Children and Families future growth Rima hopes to Across Borders (CFAB.org) annual spring fair, held at the “make contact with retail outlets in the UK and Middle East, Kensington Town Hall. At my such as Liberty's and request she kindly sourced Bloomingdales.” She has panels of embroidery from a already received an offer from women's cooperative in Dubai based online shopping Palestine, that I then stitched

website, Aura-b.com. PRIME has played a significant part in realising her dream. “Attending the PRIME course offered me a more serious approach to what I hope will be a flourishing business. Completing the assignments forced me to view my craft with a business and financial mind, as well as remove the isolation that working from home can bring. The team at PRIME have given me direction, support and ongoing contact that helps keep me focused.” To others hoping to start, Rima has some words of advice: “If you have an idea, research it and try it, even if it is just a hobby, do it. Don't go beyond your means and don't borrow until you understand the market and have a customer base. And of course attend a PRIME course, it is there to help.”

To find out more visit Chachoulie.com, Twitter: @Chachoulie, Facebook: facebook.com/chachoulie 54

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Prime Time

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Selve Krishnan's Communication Links

Before starting Communication Links, Selve Krishnan worked with the NHS, a local authority school and as a locum speech and language therapist. Determined to bring value to her clients she decided to set up her own speech and language therapy business in 201 2. Communication Links works in partnership with individuals, families, educational establishments, charities and businesses to help people with communication difficulties attain their potential communication goals. “My business is aimed at nurseries, schools and any business that serves or employs people with communication difficulties,” Selve explains. PRIME’s input was extremely important in setting up her business properly. “Before attending PRIME’s “Preparing to Run Your Own Business”

course, I was undercharging clients as I had not worked out my survival budget and breakeven costs due to my fear of reviewing my bank statements.” Communication Links continues to grow, acquiring new clients along the way. “I have now started working with another charity to deliver speech and language therapy training to schools to help children who are trailing behind their peers - due to socioeconomic factors. Having another person on board has reduced my anxiety and I feel more energised,” she said of a newly acquired client. Selve knows it's never too late to start: “The thought of starting a business after 50 might sound daunting. But remember you have a lifetime of experience, talents and skills that would help you move towards your goal for selfemployment.”

“Before attending PRIME’s 'Preparing to Run Your Own Business' course, I was undercharging clients as I had not worked out my survival budget" Regarding the course offered to her by PRIME she said: “The course guided me through all my fears and also provided me with structured templates to work out my costs. By the end of the course I developed a sound business plan which I felt very confident in showing to a bank and a business advisor. After the course PRIME provided me with a business mentor which proved invaluable in developing my networking skills. The PRIME community is very supportive and I was provided with networking and exhibition opportunities too.”

To find out more visit Chachoulie.com, Twitter: @Chachoulie, Facebook: facebook.com/chachoulie

PRIME is currently looking for business mentors For more information email: info@prime.org.uk or visit www.prime.org.uk

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Networking

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Networking for Newbies

By Svietlana Lavrentidi

If you are a total newbie in networking, there are few things that I usually teach, that you need to remember. To start with, a lot of people come to networking events aiming to sell their services. Remember, networking isn’t selling, it’s all about connecting with other professionals, making friends and having fun. If you feel uncomfortable going to events, just remember that you are there to make friends and this will ease you a bit. When you have found an event that you are happy with, make sure you keep going back. If you go to different events all the time, you will not have a chance to bond with people. Once you became a regular member and people meet you frequently, they will know that you are serious and consistent. After seeing you a few times, they will feel like knowing you, therefore they will trust you more. Prepare for each event physically and emotionally. For people to take you seriously, you should be dressed up in accordance with what you do. I always say: “If you are a business person, look like a business person. If you are a rock star, look like a rock star,”

it’s that simple. People always case. After communicating and look at your appearance when listening you will be able to they meet you. recognise their needs and wants Do you know who you would like to meet? It’s always good to and therefore to provide value for that person. By providing have an idea of the type of person that "When you have value I mean do something for them. It you would like to found an event can be something as connect with. little as introducing that you are What’s their age, them to somebody gender, profession, happy with, valuable, providing etc? Again, I never make sure you them with helpful advice to look for keep going information that they clients, it’s much might need, or better if you will look back" anything else you will for someone you come up with during could potentially the conversation, or after. work with, maybe JV, or buy Remember to always do what from them. Many networking events have a you promised and over deliver. Very last thing, if you found the registrar of attendees that you contact useful, remember to can see in advance. You can see their names, pictures and a follow up. You will be surprised brief description. This way you by the amount of people that can check in advance particular never do. If you won’t follow up, people that you want to connect whatever you achieved during the event won’t really matter with. anymore and unless you will Once you are already at the meet over and over again, you event connecting, part of first impression is your handshake. will be forgotten. Once you start using all these While getting to know the person you are communicating strategies on regular basis, your networking skills will dramatically with, really listen to them — instead of talking the whole time improve. I wish you lots of about yourself. Listening is the valuable connections. Happy key to any type of relationship Networking! and it isn’t any different in this

Svietlana Lavrentidi is the Founder & CEO of the Entrepreneurial Women’s Network www.entrepreneurialwomensnetwork.com Facebook.com/EntrepreneurialWomensNetwork Facebook.com/svietlana.lavrentidi 56

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Events: Review

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Startup Grind with Eventbrite Founders Founders of Eventbrite: Renaud Visage, Kevin and Julia Hartz

By Andrew Lockley

Eventbrite at Google HQ – what’s not to like? All three founders of the billion-dollar ticketing firm went to Google’s palatial London HQ and were grilled by members of the London tech community for a couple of hours. The views were immense, both out of the windows, and from the founders. This team is a seriously impressive bunch. Far more start-up than Forbes, they exuded passion for the product, and what it could do. They spoke frankly about their business and lifestyle, both from the stage and more generally on their UK trip. It was the kind of from-the-heart event which people will take a variety of messages from, but for me, the key things I learned were…

Be humble

clear traction.

Listen

This wasn’t, strictly speaking, part of the event – but when I caught up with Julia and Kevin later, they were really keen to hear suggestions about the Eventbrite product. This was no pretence – they handed out their cards, and followed up quickly on suggestions by email. This clearly shows a genuine concern for users - and a real striving to do better, and to be better. I’ve seen and heard a lot of wealthy and talented people talk and Eventbrite’s team impressed me like Buffet impressed me.

Even if your firm is worth a billion, you can’t stop for a second. Julia in particular charmed with a combination of passion and humility. She’s clearly a woman with a talent for drawing people to cooperate on a vision, and was genuinely interested in the audience questions - often visibly excited at the chance to answer something which had caught her eye on the sli.do voting system. Furthermore, the whole team Further ‘Startup Grind’ events can be found was quite happy to admit when successes came from on Meetup.com, or on Eventbrite at http://www.eventbrite.com/o/startupfortune, not planning. Their largest ever event came as a grind-london-631 0960637?s=26247683 complete surprise, when Eventbrite was used for a LatinAmerican public gathering. Andrew Lockley is an

Raise when you don’t need it

Far from banging the drum for their vision to VCs, the Eventbrite team went out and made it happen. They chased customers, not capital – only raising when the brand had September 201 4

entrepreneur and the Founder of Business Training News: businesstrainingnews.com

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Events: Startup Socials

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Startup Socials is a global community of entrepreneurs built to connect and empower people in the startup ecosystem. They host social and educational events around the globe where entrepreneurs can network, learn, and create new relationships for current and future startup ventures. The first of their London events, which was sponsored by SoftLayer, took place on June 26 at Casa Negra, and another is set to take place on September 1 7 .

Above: Co-Founder, Yuri Rabinovich

If the first event is anything to go by, and you are serious about your startup, you simply cannot afford to miss it! Unlike many other networking events, attendees are able – and encouraged - to 'let their hair down' and interact with each other. In such a friendly environment even the most shy of entrepreneurs will come out feeling like a networking hero. “We allow entrepreneurs from around the world to connect with Silicon Valley talent and tap into other ecosystems easier and accelerate their growth,” said Co-Founder, Yuri Rabinovich.

The next Startup Socials Mixers event is set to take place on September 1 7. Venue: Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3AY Time: 1 9:00 – 23:30 For further information visit: www.startupsocials.com 58

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Events: Startup Ready

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Startup Ready will be hosting a free networking event on 22 September aimed at professionals who have an interest in entrepreneurship Venue: 51 Red Lion St, London WC1R 4PF Time: 18:30 For further details on the mixer visit

www.meetup.com/StarupReadyNet/events/202104692

www.startupready.net

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Dining

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

The Holborn Dining Room Offering classic British cuisine in a refined historic setting, the Holborn Dining Room & Delicatessen is ideal for a business breakfast, lunch or dinner meeting and is sure to impress. It forms part ofthe newly opened Rosewood London, which has been meticulously restored from a 1914 Edwardian Belle Epoque building.

September 201 4

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Dining

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

The lunch and dinner menu, comprised of traditional British dishes made from the finest locally sourced ingredients, is divided into sections: Charcuterie, Cold Counter, Hot Counter, Crustacea, Hot Kitchen, Sides, and Afters. Starters include; Pressed Ham Hock and Goats Cheese & Red Onion Tart from the Hot and Cold Counters, whilst main courses such as Whole Lobster mayonnaise and the Royal Seafood Platter can be selected from the Crustacea section. Prompt service and efficiency offered by the staff ensure you get much more than you bargained for, leaving you with an experience rarely found in other places. Apart from the beautiful interior, there is also the terrace were you can soak up the ambience while enjoying your meal, should you choose to dine in that section. With its design of reclaimed oak, antique mirrors, red leather, tweed banquettes and two antique copper-topped bars, Holborn Dining Room provided the perfect setting for the exciting final of MasterChef (shown on BBC 1 ), where the finalists were tasked with cooking an exquisite four-course menu for four leading chefs, Tom Kitchin, Simon Rogan, Nathan Outlaw and Michael Caines. September 201 4

Holborn Dining Room & Delicatessen is situated at 252 High Holborn, London WC1 V 7EN See www.holborndiningroom.com

www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

Wanttosubscribe? Emailsubscriptions@londonbusinessjournal.co.uk Wanttoadvertise? Emailadvertising@londonbusinessjournal.co.uk

LikeusonFacebook: londonbusinessjournal FollowusonTwitter: @londbizjournal FollowourWomenInBusinessonTwitter: @WomenInBusines3 www.londonbusinessjournal.co.uk