Dynamic Business Magazine - issue 32

ISSUE #32

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN

DYNAMIC FESTIVAL Early bird available

2024 Dynamic Awards are open

The new Surrey Network

Best ski resorts revealed

INs & OUTs of IP

Kathy Caton MBE THE SPIRIT OF BRIGHTON

CONTENTS

ISSUE 32

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BIG STORY

The Spirit of Brighton

‘One of our own’, the founder of Brighton Gin, Kathy Caton, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s New Years Honours List. Here is her story

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FEATURE

Surrey Research Park

The Surrey Women’s Entrepreneurship Network (SWEN) has been launched, marking a significant milestone in empowering women entrepreneurs

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FEATURE

Intellectual copyright

If you have created something for you, your company, or a client, make sure you put all legal safeguards in place to protect your work

The fact that ‘attention seeking’ is still considered a slur says much about the role of women in public life, on every scale Laurie Penny

PLATINUM MEDIA GROUP

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The increased likelihood of businesses with gender diverse executive teams having above average profitability

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit. Surrey Business Magazine is owned and published by Platinum Media Group Limited.

REGULARS EVENTS 2 The Dynamic Festival 2024 Announcing more keynote speakers at next year’s festival of business for women

News

8 Upfront: The top international news stories involving women in business 20 In The Right Direction: Good news stories from around the world

Feature

18 The Dynamic Awards 2024 The prestigious business awards for women returns for a third year in April

16 Creative Pod’s latest acquisition Crawley-based marketing agency, Creative Pod has taken over the Hove creative agency 2Upfront

Spotlight

23 Highlighting two female business leaders who ought to get more recognition that they currently receive

Health & Wellbeing

28 Give yourself better eye care as you see in the New Year

Further reading

30 Alison Grieve and Jenni Miller are leadership and team coaches, and co-authors of new book Leading Edge: Strategies for Developing & Sustaining High Performing Teams

Men still get a lot more opportunity.

It is still a big part of the old boy network.

They have more companies they can get money from Billie Jean King

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Best ski resorts revealed

Tess de Klerk reveals the stats to help you choose your winter break

Art Scene

32 Kellie Miller discusses the works of Scottish ceramics artist Patricia Shone

Fine Dining

38 Fork in Lewes, focusing on traditional British cuisine

What’s On

40 A brief snapshot of art and culture across Sussex and Surrey

CONTACTS PUBLISHER: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk EDITOR: Tess de Klerk tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk MOTORING EDITOR: Fiona Shafer fionas@platinummediagroup.co.uk COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Lesley Alcock lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk EVENTS DIRECTOR: Fiona Graves fiona@platinummediagroup.co.uk EVENTS MANAGER: Žaneta Bealing zaneta@platinummediagroup.co.uk HEAD OF DESIGN: Michelle Shakesby design@platinummediagroup.co.uk SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk

WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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Financial advice, built around you.

• Personal finance advice • Retirement planning • Business support • Generational planning • Tax year-end advice

I’m proud to represent both male and female clients. And, while it goes without saying that both can experience the same stressors, there’s no avoiding the fact that women face several unique challenges.

My 20 years’ experience has shown that women can therefore greatly benefit from highly personalised financial advice, which takes these challenges into account. This is why I’m so passionate about empowering women with the confidence and tools to help them achieve their long-term financial goals.

So, whatever your financial journey so far, let me give you the guidance, support, and stability to help you plan a happy and financially secure life.

Call me for a no-obligation initial meeting on 01444 712672 to find out more.

Wellesley House, 50 Victoria Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9LH 01444 712672 | info@wellesleywa.co.uk | wellesleywa.co.uk SJP approved on 08/03/2023 Wellesley is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website: www.sjp.co.uk/products. Wellesley is a trading name of Wellesley Investment Management Limited, registered in England & Wales No. 6530147. Registered Office: 44 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TN.

EDITOR’S NOTE We have big plans for Dynamic in 2024; plans to bring you more business content and more opportunities to connect within the wider business community, with the fabulous Dynamic Awards and the all-new Dynamic Festival in April being two of the highlights we are very much looking forward to.

We will, of course, continue to shine our light on the many women who contribute so much not only to business, but to our society as a whole – with their passion, vision and determination. With that, we give a big congratulatory shoutout to Kathy Caton, who has been made an MBE, in our Big Story this month.

In Spotlight, we bring you the inspiring Emma Lane from Positive Momentum and Kirsty Wilson, partner at Knill James, who have both put their stamps on their respective industries. Plus, read all about the launch of the Surrey Women’s Entrepreneurs Network, a collaboration launched with the intent of empowering women in business.

Our regular features include wisdom for better eye health in Health & Wellbeing, and statistics in Travel may be helpful when deciding where to go skiing this season.

I hope that you enjoy this month’s Dynamic Magazine – we have enjoyed creating it for you.

Editor, Dynamic Magazine tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk

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MORE FIRMS OFFER MENOPAUSE SUPPORT A flagship subject reported on many times in Dynamic; more senior women are starting to speak up about what can be a taboo experience of going through menopause.

In a recent analysis of policies at more than 500 companies across the United States, 15% of employers said they offer or plan to offer menopause benefits in 2024. That’s up from just 4% in 2023.

A growing number of employers are offering or planning to introduce specific menopause benefits for their staff, keen to reduce the $26.6 billion cost to the US economy each year related to employees managing menopause symptoms, including $1.8 billion due to lost productivity and billions more in health expenses.

UPFRONT THE LATEST BULLETINS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

DYNAMIC GONGS Among the many deserving recipients in the King’s New Year’s Honours List 2024, Dynamic Magazine wishes to focus on two women, familiar to this parish, for their awards.

Kathy Caton, founder and Managing Director of Brighton Gin, received an MBE ‘for services to Trade and to the community in Brighton.’

Meanwhile, Rachel Watkyn, founder and Managing Director of Tiny Box Company in Uckfield has been awarded an OBE ‘for services to sustainability, to ethical business growth and to exports.’

See what happens when you’ve been featured in Spotlight over the past few months! All of us at Dynamic Magazine offer our heartiest congratulations on their well-deserved awards.

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You don’t have to be pretty. You don’t owe prettiness to anyone.

Prettiness is not a rent you pay for occupying a space marked ‘female’ Erin McKean

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Kathy Caton MBE

Rachel Watkyn OBE

LACK OF WOMEN IN FTSE100 CEO TALENT POOL Research by the 25x25 initiative, a campaign group tackling the lack of UK female senior executives, found that women make up just 19% of FTSE100 divisional heads – the stepping stone position that 44% of FTSE CEOs previously held.

This is indicative of a lack of women in positions from which FTSE100 CEOs are normally recruited.

Currently, there are only nine female FTSE100 CEOs, (9%); substantially lower than 35% of MPs, and 42% of judges that are women.

“Executive gender balance is a great indicator of how robust an organisation’s succession and talent planning is, because women account for almost half the working population,” said Tara Cemlyn-Jones, chief executive of 25x25.

LET’S DO HER BIZ PROGRAMME A ‘virtual’ women’s startup programme has returned to support aspiring female entrepreneurs in East Sussex and Kent. Her Biz is designed specifically to encourage more women to start a business. A spokesperson for Let’s Do Business Group, which is promoting the programme said: “To increase female entrepreneurship locally, we are offering women living in East Sussex and Kent a fantastic opportunity to come together to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to launch a successful business. The next rounds of the programme are on Friday, January 19th at 10am and Friday, February 9th at 12:30pm. www.letsdobusinessgroup.co.uk/events/her-biz-virtualworkshops-kylzz

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Our mission is to take The Spirit of Brighton to the world with a focus on sustainable and ethical production Kathy Caton MBE

SUSSEX NETWORKING CLUB LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS The Corporate Ladies Club (CLC), an initiative by West Sussexbased charity Dementia Support, is calling for local women in business to make networking their top New Year’s resolution, while helping to make workplaces more dementia friendly.

Launched in Tangmere, West Sussex in April 2023, CLC was created to bring local businesswomen together for peer-to-peer support and inspiration, while raising funds for Dementia Support and educating businesses on the need to be dementia aware. Dianne Gill, Fundraising Relationships Manager at Dementia Support, said, “The feedback from our events has been consistently positive and we’d like to encourage more women in business to make networking a New Year’s resolution and sign up.“

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Of course I am not worried about intimidating men.

The type of man who will be intimidated by me is exactly the type of man I have no interest in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

NEW CHAIR OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS COUNCIL Mary Mcleod, CEO of Business in the Community will lead the Women’s Business Council (WBC), a government body set up to empower women at work. Macleod was appointed as chair of the WBC by the Minister for Women and Equalities, Kemi Badenoch MP, and the Minister for Women, Maria Caulfield MP, and will lead a team of expert business leaders to enable women from all walks of life to thrive in the workplace.

Kemi Badenoch MP

Since its inception in 2012, the WBC has been instrumental in initiatives to help with the cost of childcare, offer more flexibility in the workplace, and encourage women to start up their own businesses. The Council will look to make further progress on these key issues, whilst tackling a range of other barriers to women’s success.

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STORY BIG

Kathy Caton

THE SPIRIT OF BRIGHTON MBE Brighton Gin Founder and Managing Director Kathy Caton has been made an MBE in the King’s New Year Honours List 2024.

Dynamic chronicles ‘one of our own’...

K

athy’s award is ‘for services to Trade, and to the Community in Brighton’. Everything about her and her product screams exactly what it says on the bottle - Brighton and gin. From the turquoise merchandising (picking up from the town’s iconic seafront railings colour), to the proud statement which can be read on every bottle (you’ll have to buy one if you want to know what it says), to the crafted love behind her favourite spirit. To Kathy Caton MBE, it all encapsulates ‘The Spirit of Brighton’.

Kathy told Dynamic Magazine upon the announcement of the award, “I am absolutely blown away - and genuinely humbled - to have been put forward for the MBE. I’m particularly touched by the kind things that people have had to say about the role of Brighton Gin in the local community, championing diversity in the workplace, and our efforts to start a new industry for Brighton despite all the trials and challenges of recent years.

“I’m really proud too that the citation recognises the radio

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and LGBTQ+ activism side of my life. It’s been quite overwhelming and I’m just getting my head around it! I’m going to mark the occasion with a hefty Seaside Strength Brighton Gin and Tonic (possibly two).”

Her colleagues at Brighton Gin said, “What an achievement, and we are so happy for her to receive this amazing recognition – it’s been a very turbulent 12 years with Brighton Gin and Kathy has been tireless (despite being very tired), kind, engaged, resilient and strong-willed.

We are honoured to work for such an inspiring person.

“It’s been a particularly tough year for us and we are so grateful to still be here, and this is just a lovely way of ending 2023. Onwards now into 2024! PS. Thank you to the people who nominated Kathy, you know who you are.”

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STORY BIG

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We are over the moon that Kathy has been recognised for all the extraordinary work she has put in – not only to the Brighton Spirits Company but the wider community too.

2023 was a particularly challenging year, so it’s wonderful to celebrate such an achievement as we enter 2024. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead for everyone!

Ellie Dobing, Director, Brighton Gin

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A MOMENT OF CLARITY

With the launch of Brighton Gin, Kathy’s ‘moment of clarity’ happened in 2011. “I went out for a morning run along Brighton seafront following a night of gin-drinking with friends – I knew that if I’d been drinking whisky or wine, I wouldn’t have been running! It was then that I had my lightbulb moment. Brighton needed its own gin! After all, gin is the one drink that lets you getaway with it and Brighton is the place that gets away with it on a frequent basis!”

“I started working on the concept of Brighton Gin round my kitchen table in 2011. I told a few friends about my idea and they laughed, declaring; ‘if anyone was going to do it, it would be you’. It was those friends, one a laser physicist, that stayed up with me throughout the night, recipe tasting and experimenting in one small copper still on the kitchen stove.”

Brighton Gin launched in 2013 and, as with many success stories, did so after what eventually became, “months of experimentation with different ingredients, combinations, distilling techniques and approaches and more than one or two accidents along the way – but we lived to tell the tale!”

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Arguably the company’s biggest breakthrough moment came very early on as the result of ambitious persuasion for Harvey Nichols to stock the products. Having such an esteemed retailer on board was only ever going to send Brighton Gin in one direction.

The product, still following the same recipe, as well as the same ethical production values since its first days is nowadays near omnipresent around Sussex pubs, supermarkets regionally and, in many cases, nationally. Brighton Gin is also available in myriad shops and bars overseas including Australia, New Zealand, western Europe and other places the team are fond of visiting!

In 2022, Kathy became a director of the Gin Guild, a trade body for gin distillers and distributors; something she considers an immense honour.

Brighton Gin also supports LGBTQ+ charities, and releases an exclusive, limited edition version of its Gin for Pride each year. And, for every bottle sold, the company donates to the Rainbow Fund, a grant-giving organisation which fundraises for various LGBTQ+ and HIV+ groups throughout Brighton & Hove.

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KATHY CATON IN HER OWN WORDS

A Brighton obsessive with a passion for good food, booze, arts, culture and community. When not making gin and/ or waxing lyrical about it, I can be found broadcasting and podcasting on all things LGBTQ+ on BBC Local Radio across the South and South East and nationwide on BBC Sounds. Occasionally an events compere, and more frequently a public speaker on gin, building an ethical business, women in business, the importance of community and the like!

❛❛ As the home of one of our largest offices and regional energy tariffs, Brighton holds a special place in our hearts.

We are thrilled, therefore, to be powering the distillation of Brighton Gin with locally sourced, 100% renewable energy – a fantastic homegrown business whose local, sustainable objectives truly align with ours Zoisa Walton, CEO, Octopus Energy for Business

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I am very much indebted to ‘the Award-Winning Kathy Caton’ (as the bosses at RadioReverb teasingly insisted we call her) for the time she patiently spent teaching me how to organise and run a radio show, both as a presenter and a producer – often performing both tasks live on air!

PHOTO: BBC SUSSEX RADIO

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ON MY RADIO

It’s not just gin that Kathy is appreciated for in the city of Brighton & Hove, though. For over 15 years, she has worked in radio, initially in production at BBC Radio 4, then hosting radio programmes on BBC Sussex, BBC Surrey, BBC Sounds and RadioReverb 97.2FM, community radio for Brighton & Hove.

Until recently, Kathy hosted her own programme on RadioReverb, the highly influential ‘Out In Brighton’ - a show whose title is a play on words, broadcasting what’s on and interviews within the LGBTQ+ scene in arguably England’s most tolerant and progressive city for gay rights.

This show subsequently transferred to the BBC, and changed its name to ‘Out With Kathy,’ and is now available to listen to on the Sounds app.

The Rainbow List (called the Pink List until 2014) is a list of the most influential openly LGBTQ+ individuals in the UK, published annually in The Independent on Sunday. The list recognises individuals in public life who are openly gay, but have since grown to “…honour those who have long and brave histories of standing up for equal rights” It’s a list Kathy has found herself on, on more than one occasion, especially in 2014, where she rose to No.45 on the list. Her ‘Out In Brighton’ show itself also won many awards, including at the National Diversity Awards. At the time of broadcast, it was Podomatic’s No.1 rated LGBTQ+ podcast with listeners in over 40 countries.

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Kathy has been a fixture on the Brighton scene for many years with Brighton Gin but her work in so many other areas really makes a difference to so many people.

Huge congrats on the honour Kathy, well deserved.

Maarten Hoffmann, CEO, Platinum Media Group

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ON A PERSONAL NOTE

My co-presenter and I took over The Albion Roar, an hour-long, footballbased radio show in 2010, Kathy taught us how to use the equipment properly, how to conduct an interview, how to time each show, and everything else - all in a professional and patient manner I shall always appreciate. Kathy made it easy for us.

When I saw her name on the honours list, I sent her the same message that I always did when I saw her collect yet another award “... the privilege is just in knowing you...!”

Congratulations, Kathy Caton MBE! Alan Wares Platinum Magazine writer and presenter, RadioReverb

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I am absolutely thrilled that Kathy has been recognised. She is a brilliant businesswoman, a role model to many and a genuinely warm and kind person Nigel Lambe, CEO, Sussex Innovation

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IN OTHER WORDS

Kathy’s experience as a successful businessperson, combined with her time at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and her expertise as a radio presenter and interviewer has seen her move into business and motivational public speaking - a role she has taken to like a tonic to gin.

All of us at Dynamic Magazine are thrilled for Kathy’s MBE award. It’s fully deserved, as Kathy is an amazing asset to the city, to the business community, and one of the finest people anyone could meet. Just the Damehood left to go then, Kathy! www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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BUSINES S

December 2023 saw the launch of the Surrey Women’s Entrepreneurship Network (SWEN), marking a significant milestone in empowering women entrepreneurs in the Surrey innovation ecosystem

INTRODUCING..

THE SURREY WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP NETWORK The SWEN’s launch event, with a focus on Women in Sustainability and Social Impact, attracted a diverse audience of aspiring and established women entrepreneurs, plus a number of both men and women investors and other professionals with corporate experience.

The event provided a platform for networking and inspiration, creating an environment where women said they felt “brave” and able to be their authentic selves.

By bringing together like-minded individuals with a commitment to both supporting and pursuing women’s entrepreneurship, SWEN aims to narrow the gender gap in entrepreneurship and empower women to establish and scale successful ventures.

At the vibrant launch event the audience listened to a keynote by Nathalie Hinds and Professor Monique Raats of the Institute for Sustainability on “Three Powerful Words,” hearing how the combination of women and networks in entrepreneurship can create great impact. Examples were given of women regionally and internationally achieving great things.

Following on, panel discussions offered valuable insights and expertise on the challenges of raising finance within sustainability and social impact areas of business, the importance of women’s networks in improving opportunities

for women entrepreneurs and the value such networks can add to both women founders who are just starting out and those who are looking to grow.

Panellists Susannah McClintock, investor with Clean Growth Fund; Alison Callwood, CEO and founder of tech start-up Sammi-Select; and Venture Capitalist at CPI Enterprises, Matthew McCann, discussed funding and investment in depth, sharing their tips about finding the right investor match and sourcing alternative funding opportunities such as public grants.

Tobi Eyinade, Shelley ColemanMarsh and Fiona Sweny shared their personal journeys as women founders, highlighting their huge wealth of collective experience, some challenges of entrepreneurship and the importance of finding the male allies around you.

The event was closed with inspiring words from Kathy Slack OBE, urging those in the room to continue to build on the momentum of the occasion and to ensure that they took action to spread to word of the network and help it grow.

Attendees had the chance to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, potential mentors, and investors. Such connections will provide the beginnings of a strong support system fostering collaborations that can lead

SWEN aims to narrow the gender gap in entrepreneurship and empower women to establish and scale successful ventures

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to business growth and demystify the world of investment and fundraising.

Kat Mack, co-founder of the SWEN says, “The launch event of the SWEN was a wonderful opportunity to spotlight some of the amazing players we already have in our innovation-focussed networks, and to place an open call to those who want to be part of a vibrant community that supports equity for women in the entrepreneurship space.

“It’s important going forward that we, as a network, respond to the needs of our members and that we put in place measures to track growth and development within the community which will ensure effectiveness of our efforts to create an environment where women entrepreneurs thrive.”

FUTURE PLANS AND COMMITMENT

To further empower women entrepreneurs, SWEN plans to organise a series of workshops and skill-building sessions based on the findings of audience engagement and other research with women entrepreneurs locally. Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including investor-readiness, marketing strategies, financial management, and leadership development.

By equipping women with the necessary skills and knowledge, SWEN aims to enhance their chances of success in the competitive business landscape where women-led businesses are booming in number but still disproportionally under-funded by equity investment.

Director of Surrey Innovation District, Caroline Fleming, who oversees the Surrey Research Park and local innovation ecosystem says, “The launch of the Surrey Women’s Entrepreneurship Network has marked a significant stepchange in empowering women entrepreneurs in the Surrey community.

“We know there is a huge amount of potential value that women-led businesses can add to the economy. Through the SWEN’s commitment to providing better access to information and support, we envisage our region will become a thriving hotspot for women’s entrepreneurship, with all the benefits to society that brings. As SWEN continues to expand its reach and impact, it is poised to play a pivotal role in driving the success of women entrepreneurs in Surrey and beyond.”

You can find out more and join the SWEN at https://surrey-research-park.com/ surrey-womens-entrepreneurship-network

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BUSINES S

Award-winning marketing agency Creative Pod has acquired established design agency 2UpFront of Hove

Creative Pod’s

LATEST ACQUISITION

Megan Goober, Account Manager and Ian Highland, Creative Director will be joining Creative Pod

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Creative Pod has now taken on 2UpFront’s clientele, and has seen the addition of two talented professionals to its growing team; Ian Highland is joining Creative Pod as a Senior Designer, and Megan Godber as an Account Manager.

Matt Turner, the CEO of Creative Pod, said, “This 2UpFront primarily focuses on providing digital design, acquisition marks a significant milestone in Creative Pod’s journey. In the last couple of years, we have progressed from print, and branding. Over 15 years, it has built a loyal being a small agency, to a medium-sized one. With this we client base, with household names, including the have seen continued growth and commitment from the team British Heart Foundation, The Salvation Army and the RSPCA. As part of this in delivering Michelin-star marketing merger, Creative Pod will now offer solutions to our clients in the Southeast an even more comprehensive range and beyond. We’re thrilled to welcome of services, covering all aspects of Meg and Ian to the team and look branding, design, marketing and forward to working with their client strategy under one roof and for a fi xed base” monthly fee.

Creative Pod was established in 2006 Nick York, Founder and CEO of

by Turner and, along with a growing 2UpFront, said: It’s been an absoteam, has been working hard to provide lute pleasure getting this deal over the full-service creative design, website and Nick York, 2UpFront founder line with Matt. I honestly don’t think marketing for a whole host of clients.

I could have found a better and more Now an award-winning agency, Creative Pod specialises in everything from branding to digital plus suitable agency to look after my staff and clients, allowing me to enjoy pastures new. Thank you!”. social to PR and outreach, email marketing to SEO. The latest acquisition joins a string of successful mergers and acquisitions for Creative Pod, who acquired Huga Digital Marketing agency, in 2020 and invested in SEO agency, 427 and commercial fit-out company, Spacelink in 2020/21.

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It’s been an absolute pleasure getting this deal over the line with Matt

If you would like to work with Creative Pod and learn more about their services, please visit their website and get in touch www.creativepod.uk.com

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Creative Pod has been appointed as the digital marketing agency for the Dynamic Festival and Sussex Tech Week and we look forward to working with Matt and the team.

Maarten Hoffmann, CEO, Platinum Media Group

Matt Turner CEO of Creative Pod

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NE WS

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Now that I’ve matured, I’ve realised that what’s really important is the work, not what people think of me Jane Lynch, Comedian

NATIONS ERADICATE DEBILITATING AND FATAL DISEASES In a hailed “monumental achievement,” Bangladesh became the first country to eradicate visceral leishmaniasis – a life-threatening illness caused by a parasite – as a public health concern. Adding to the roster of public health successes, Iraq joined the ranks as the 17th country to eliminate trachoma, the leading cause of infectious blindness globally.

Belize was declared malaria-free by the World Health Organisation in July. Simultaneously, nations sanctioned a new malaria vaccine, believed to provide up to 80% protection against the disease. Experts anticipate that this vaccine could annually save thousands of lives, particularly those of children.

IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION

As we start the New Year, we can look back on 2023 and be encouraged by much of what people achieved to make our planet a better place

AMAZON DEFORESTATION DECREASED The Brazilian government reported a 33.6% decrease in Amazon deforestation from January to June 2023. This decline took place during President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s first six months in office; Lula had vowed during his campaign to curb illegal logging and reverse the trend of environmental destruction. This was after four years of previous President Jair Bolsonaro’s escalating deforestation and environmental damage in the country. While 4,000 sq.km faced deforestation the first half of 2022, the same period in 2023 recorded a scaled-back threat of 2,650 sq.km.

BREAKTHROUGHS IN CANCER TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSIS In 2023, significant strides were made in cancer treatment. A groundbreaking cervical cancer treatment, using inexpensive existing drugs, was hailed as the most significant advancement in outcomes for this disease in over two decades. Scientists achieved a breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment, and England approved a drug proven to prevent breast cancer. Researchers at University College London developed a “cancertargeting guided missile” using ‘clink chemistry,’ emerging as a potential powerful tool against cancer in the future. Progress in cancer diagnosis was also evident, with a 10-minute MRI scan for prostate cancer proving more reliable than existing blood tests.

Additionally, England’s mobile ‘lung trucks’ enhanced early lung cancer diagnosis in deprived communities.

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LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND APPROVED Although there were some disappointments at COP28, approval was granted for a historical loss and damage fund designed to aid vulnerable communities and developing countries grappling with the aftermath of climate disasters.

THE ‘HOLY GRAIL’ OF ENERGY DREW NEARER In 2023, the possibility of nearly limitless clean energy took a significant step forward as scientists achieved ‘ignition’ in nuclear fusion, producing more energy than inputted.

Fusion involves harnessing the heat generated by merging atoms, distinct from fission’s atom splitting used in current nuclear power plants. Fusion carries no risk of a chain reaction meltdown and produces no hazardous radioactive waste.

This marked the second successful ignition by scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Dr. Robbie Scott from the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council, closely collaborating with the Livermore team, noted that repeating the experiment affirmed an understanding of its underlying physics. He stated, “Now we can proceed to enhance it with the ultimate goal of generating electricity through fusion.”

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I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet Mohandas ‘Mahatma’ Gandhi

According to Reuters, the host nation UAE committed $100 million, with Germany matching the contribution, while Italy and France pledged over $108 million. The United Kingdom committed a minimum of $51 million.

Notably, the United States and China, despite being the world’s largest emitters, provided comparatively smaller amounts, contributing $17.5 million and $10 million, respectively.

The president of COP28, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, remarked on the unprecedented speed at which the world collaborated to operationalise the fund within one year since it was agreed upon in Sharm El Sheikh.

A NEW ERA OF ALZHEIMER’S TREATMENT STARTED Two drugs, Donanemab and Lecanemab, brought cause for optimism as they were shown to decelerate Alzheimer’s progression by clearing amyloid protein accumulation in patients’ brains. While trials suggest a slowdown in cognitive decline, they fall short of fully arresting the disease. Although not a cure, these drugs slow disease progression, affording patients undergoing treatment valuable additional months of quality time with loved ones.

The approval by the US Food & Drug Administration led Alzheimer’s Association President and CEO Joanne Pike, to comment, “This treatment gives people in the early stages more time to maintain their independence and do the things they love.”

UK approval is expected in 2024. It will be a pivotal moment in addressing a condition projected to impact 1.7 million Britons by 2040. Dr. Susan Kohlhaas, Executive Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, stated, “We’re on the brink of a first generation of treatments for Alzheimer’s, deemed impossible a decade ago.” www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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Guiding you to a brighter future In a continually evolving world we help all generations embrace change through trusted advice, support and guidance.

Our passion for continued improvement ensures that we work to understand your goals, support and advise you on your journey and help you to realise your ambitions. #GuidingYouToABrighterFuture For more than accountancy, business and wealth advice.

Call: +44 (0)33 0124 1399 Email: enquiries@krestonreeves.com Visit: www.krestonreeves.com/shapingyourfuture

In our exclusive Spotlight feature, we highlight women who are doing good things in their community.

They’re not always seen but we think they should be.

SPOTLIGH T Kirsty Wilson A trailblazing force in corporate finance, Kirsty Wilson embodies resilience, passion, and unwavering determination in this male-dominated sector Kirsty’s journey is more than just a list of achievements – it’s an inspirational narrative challenging the norm.

Kirsty began her career as a chartered accountant with Vantis plc, and quickly developed a passion for corporate finance. Since joining Knill James in 2007, she has transformed its fledgling corporate finance team into a multi-award-winning department.

Kirsty’s proudest achievement to date is her appointment as Knill James’s first female Corporate Finance Partner in 2022. Accolades like Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year and the Dynamic Financial Services Award in 2023 demonstrate that gender is no longer a determinant of excellence in this field. Reflecting on her success, Kirsty says, “I see these awards as a chance to raise the profile of women in the world of finance and increase opportunities for others.”

Balancing the demands of a complex transaction with being a mother of two poses challenges. Kirsty acknowledges, “My children are my number one priority and there’s no denying it can be tough. When a deal is nearing completion, you sometimes have to pull all-nighters,

but Knill James has always believed in me and offered flexibility and support, enabling me to be committed to both my family and my career.”

Looking forward, Kirsty is an enthusiastic advocate for breaking down barriers for women in corporate finance.

She is the first female chair-designate of the UK200Group Corporate Finance Panel, and, by speaking at conferences and through her mentorship within Knill James, Kirsty is working to improve female representation in the corporate finance arena, both nationally and locally.

As well as being a personal triumph, Kirsty’s story is a beacon of inspiration, challenging stereotypes and paving the way for others in a traditionally male-dominated landscape. www.knilljames.co.uk

Looking forward, Kirsty is an enthusiastic advocate for breaking down barriers for women in corporate finance www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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SPOTLIGHT

Emma Lane Emma is a proud partner at Positive Momentum, a business consultancy firm with B-Corp status

After over 20 years in banking, I have decided to turn my hand to consulting. My experience from working with many different businesses over the years has given me a very pragmatic view on how businesses can be successful.

I’ve seen first hand how strongly run businesses thrive, and poorly-led businesses decline. It fascinates me how even household names, globally recognised brands, are unaware of the sigmoid curve and how to ride the wave of success, ensuring they are looking to the future, mindful of the headwinds.

My experience of having financed countless growth projects, acquisition transactions, and general funding requirements gives me real life experience.

For many years, I’ve been used to constructively challenging businesses and taking a no-nonsense approach to current issues, particularly supporting businesses through challenging times. I understand businesses’ day-to-day issues because I’ve lived them. I am not a career consultant – I have had a life!

The business world is full of theorists and academics offering intelligently articulated ideas that seem as if they might resolve a multitude of problems. As a Positive Momentum Consultant, I absorb as many of these as possible, especially the stuff that has gained popularity, traction and maybe even delivered value in the real world of business. However, while we are not wedded to any of them, I will promise to apply a no-nonsense philtre to everything we do, and always remember how difficult it is to run a business in the actual real world. Our job is to make our clients lives better not perfect.

Nowadays, you can usually find me working with clients to help shape their strategy and make it work for them.

For example, I am working with a local law firm who needed to focus on growth, but were having difficulty persuading the fee earners that business development was a necessary evil!

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You can usually find me working with clients to help shape their strategy and make it work for them This is achieved by working with clients who were having difficulty getting colleagues back into the office, really understanding what the benefits to that business were and making sure everyone was clear on the purpose. I am also assisting another client with their under performing B2B sales team.

As a consultant associating with a business that has ‘Positive’ in its name is important to me. I am an optimist; I recognise when things aren’t going well and work with clients to make it better. I have extensive experience in delivering sales models, methodology and techniques into major corporations including Barclays and Lloyds, and I have direct experience in leading sales in such organisations. I use my own experience of leading successful sales organisations and understanding of the models, methods and techniques that can be adapted to meet client specific needs.

Away from work, I have three active children, three very active horses, three even more active dogs and a wonderful husband who keeps us all grounded. We live in the countryside, and outdoors and nature mean the world to us. It means we can usually be found doing something energetic, whether that is riding, playing golf, rugby or open water swimming. www.positivemomentum.com

FE ATURE

Following the news of the expiration of the Mickey Mouse ‘Steamboat Willie’ copyright after 95 years, the early version of the character is set to soon be in the public domain and can be used by non-Disney creators.

Protecting intellectual property (IP) should be a high priority for businesses and individuals who own IP, as the unauthorised use of its IP can be a serious threat to a company’s success, profitability and future.

Pete Konieczko-Hansom, Head of IP law at Blacks Solicitors shares his advice on key ways businesses can protect their intellectual property.

INTELLECTUAL COPYRIGHT

UNLOCKING THE VALUE OF OUR IDEAS – WHAT REALLY IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?

In today’s dynamic, diverse and competitive business landscape, safeguarding your innovative ideas and creative assets is increasingly paramount. Many businesses’ largest and most valuable assets include things which are not physical, and instead are intangible – such as creations, concepts or ideas. This is intellectual property.

But what actually is intellectual property and how can this be protected? Here are the four key types of protecting your personal or businesses intellectual property – and the importance of doing this.

WHAT IS IP?

Intellectual property encompasses a broad spectrum of intangible assets. This includes patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets. These IP rights provide creators and innovators within businesses with a legal framework to control, protect and monetise their ideas, products and services.

PATENT SERVICES

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, securing patents and exploiting them commercially is vital for companies looking to safeguard and monetise their innovations and inventions. It’s recommended to contact an IP specialist to navigate the patent application process effectively.

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TRADEMARK REGISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Your brand, business or idea is a cornerstone of your business identity. Businesses are advised to seek professional advice to protect their portfolios against any possible infringements. This can be achieved in a number of ways including TradeMark applications and licences to ensure that you have control over how your brands are used and exploited.

COPYRIGHT PROTECTION

Your creative work deserves recognition and protection.

Copyright protects the authors of original works, including literacy, dramatic, musical and artistic work, from unauthorised use by third parties. IP specialists are able to assist copyright holders in protecting these works and potentially recover damages if this copyright is breached.

Intellectual property encompasses a broad spectrum of intangible assets. This includes patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets

TRADE SECRETS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION PROTECTION

For businesses that rely on proprietary information, safeguarding trade secrets is paramount. To qualify as a trade secret, this information must be commercially valuable and be known only to a limited group of people.

Trade secrets should be identified and protected to ensure that a business retains its competitive advantage. This can be achieved by the use of confidentiality/non-disclosure agreements and provisions in larger commercial contracts.

Protecting IP should be a high priority for businesses and individuals who own IP as the unauthorised use of its IP can be a serious threat to a company’s success, profitability and future.

Safeguarding your innovative ideas and creative assets is increasingly paramount For more information on how to protect your personal or businesses Intellectual Property, please visit: www.lawblacks.com/business/intellectual-property-law

www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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WELLBEING

Eye health is not top of the list of popular wellbeing topics.

Yet the vast majority of us will have eye issues during our lifetimes; some from a young age while others catch up with us as we get older. Here Tanya Borowski looks at common degenerative eye problems and what we can do about them

BY TANYA BOROWSKI

Seeing clearly into the New Year PRESBYOPIA

There are changes that happen naturally to our eyes as we reach our 40s, and the first you’re likely to notice is difficulty reading close up material. This is called presbyopia, and occurs because the lens stops focusing light correctly on the retina. Presbyopia is not a disease. It is a natural part of ageing, and cannot be prevented. It is important to see an eye care specialist as soon as you notice that reading or other close-up tasks are harder than they used to be.

DRY EYE SYNDROME

As women enter the later stages of perimenopause and into menopause, they may experience ‘dry eye’ syndrome.

Decreasing levels of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone cumulatively have a detrimental effect on tiny glands called meibomian glands in the eyelid, which produce the oily part of our tears. Not producing enough of this substance can cause the eyes to feel dry and gritty. This can also cause blurred vision.

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+ DIET & LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS FOR DRY EYES

1 Omega-3 oils are vital for eye health. Firstly by helping to reduce inflammation of these glands, and also for healthy tear production and lubrication. Obtaining good levels of omega-3 through the diet can be achieved, by eating fish twice a week from the SMASH* grouping.

Alternatively, you can take a high-quality supplement such as Bare Biology Pure Omega-3 Liquid. Flax seed, chia seed and walnuts are fantastic vegan sources for omegas.

2 Remember to blink! I’m not kidding, blinking releases a tear film made up of water, oil and mucus that covers and lubricates your eyes. Since the pandemic, we are all spending more time on a screen, and it’s a fact that chronic exposure to electronic screens causes reduced blinking rates.

3 Take regular breaks from your screen and devices.

4 Using preservative-free lubricating eye drops and applying warm compresses can also be helpful.

GLAUCOMA AND CATARACTS

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve.

The eye constantly makes a gel like substance – aqueous humor. As new aqueous flows into your eye, the same amount should drain out through an area called the drainage angle. This process keeps pressure in the eye (called intraocular pressure or IOP) stable.

But if the drainage angle is not working properly, fluid builds up and pressure inside the eye rises, damaging the optic nerve. Menopause is associated with modest IOP elevations and as such it becomes vitally important to have regular check-ups with your optician, who will check your IOP and the health of the optic nerve.

Cataracts are when the lens develops cloudy patches.

There are environmental, lifestyle, health, and genetic factors that increase your risk of developing cataracts – or developing them sooner. These include smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, use of steroids, over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation (usually sunlight but also tanning beds and even light therapy lamps) and a family history of cataracts.

OXIDATIVE STRESS AND MID-LIFE

The human body harbours within it an intricate and delicate balance between generating oxidants and producing antioxidants. As we age, our built-in antioxidant systems, many of which depend on oestrogen to work efficiently, become impaired. Any disruption in this checks-andbalances system can lead to harmful consequences, and the eye is a prominent target of oxidative stress as it is continuously exposed to various oxidative conditions, such as light exposure, smoke and various forms of pollutants.

Eat lutein and zeaxanthin, found in dark leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, egg yolk, corn, squash, avocado, and fruits like peaches MACULAR DEGENERATION

The macula is part of the retina at the back of the eye. It is responsible for our central vision, most of our colour vision and the fine detail of what we see.

The macula houses powerful antioxidants from the carotenoid family, lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin.

These carotenoids protect the retina against blue light and reactive oxygen species damage. In fact, they are often referred to as the macula’s shield.

+ DIET & LIFESTYLE INTERVENTIONS

FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION, CATARACTS AND GLAUCOMA 1 Consume enough omega-3 oils.

2 Eat lutein and zeaxanthin. Found in dark leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, egg yolk, corn, squash, avocado, and fruits like peaches. Since carotenoids are fat-soluble, eating these foods with dietary fat will help to increase their bioavailability.

3 The use of astaxanthin has been shown to reduce lens opacification in cataracts. Astaxanthin is produced naturally in the freshwater microalgae, and best obtained in supplemental form.

4 Reduce exposure to blue light. By wearing UV blocking glasses or use a screensaver that internally adapts the blue light from screens to mimic the suns natural path (iris tech)

If your diet isn’t quite up to scratch, consider lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and astaxanthin in supplemental form – such as MacuGuard, available from The Supplement Hub. www.tanyaborowski.com * The acronym SMASH stands for salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines & herring - nutrient-rich fish, high in omega-3s and low in mercury. www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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RE VIE W

FURTHER READING… Alison Grieve and Jenni Miller are leadership and team coaches, and co-authors of new book Leading Edge: Strategies for Developing & Sustaining High Performing Teams Teamwork and collaboration have never been more essential for success. While individual contributions are important, it’s the collective effort of a team that often makes or breaks a project. Shifting an employee’s mindset from “me” to “we” is crucial for fostering a collaborative work environment. The book gives you five strategies to achieve this transformation:

Begin by defining a clear and compelling common reason that unites your team. This purpose should highlight how each team member’s role contributes to the larger organisational goals. When employees see the bigger picture and understand their part in it, they are more likely to prioritise team success over personal gain.

INTERDEPENDENCY OF ACCOUNTABILITIES IN TEAM RESULTS 2 CREATE

To encourage a “we” mindset, establish interdependencies among team members’ accountabilities. Each person’s responsibilities should rely on others’ contributions in some small way. When individuals understand that their success is intertwined with their colleagues’ success, they become more motivated to collaborate effectively.

BOUNCE BACK

RISE TOGETHER

Success. Innovation. Creativity. Growth.

We all want these things at work - but the one thing they all have in common is that they involve failure. A fear of failure, or the inability to bounce back and learn from failures, is one of the biggest things that can hold us back in our professional development. So how do we learn how to fail well and develop our resilience?

Wherever we work, and whatever role we deliver, we all have the power to change our thinking and our response to failure.

Written by Business Psychologist Dr Susan Kahn, this book will show you how to embrace failure. Failing fast and learning how to be agile at work is a vital part of being a successful leader.

Maintaining the engagement and mental well-being of employees dealing with often challenging and demanding work situations is a business-critical skill for today’s leaders. Rise Together is a book that can help teams bond and become more resilient than ever. The book highlights the five essential comforts employers should provide for employees to survive through uncertainties.

It also addresses ways to make your team members flexible and productive.

Furthermore, the author takes a psychological approach to explain that positively conditioning the brain is critical to building sound employees.

HOW TO FAIL FAST A ND BE RESILIENT AT WORK

By Dr Susan Kahn Kogan Page (2019)

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1 CREATE A COMMON REASON

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A LEADERS’ GUIDE TO THE SCIENCE BEHIND CREATING INNOVATIVE, ENGAGED AND RESILIENT EMPLOYEES

By Dr Sam Mather Rethink Press (2021)

THAT YOUR TEAM ROUTINES BUILD A “WE” MINDSET 3 ENSURE

Team routines, such as meetings and project updates, are perfect opportunities to nurture a “we” mindset. Make sure these routines focus on collective achievements rather than individual accomplishments. Ask team members to share how their work contributes to team goals and celebrate milestones together. Over time, these rituals will strengthen the sense of unity within the team.

While individual contributions are important,it’s the collective effort of a team that often makes orbreaks a project

COLLABORATION IN TEAM RELATIONSHIPS 4 EXPECT

Set clear expectations for collaboration within your team.

Communicate that teamwork, information sharing, and supporting colleagues are not just encouraged but required.

Recognise and reward collaborative behaviour and address any instances of individualism that hinder the team’s progress. When collaboration is a core expectation, employees will align their efforts accordingly.

A SENSE OF BELONGING TO SUPPORT RESILIENCE 5 FOSTER

Building a strong team culture based on a common purpose and the interdependencies between team members creates a strong sense of belonging. Encourage team members to support each other in their day-to-day interactions.

WELLBEING AT WORK

THE PREPARED LEADER

Increasingly, leaders and managers must support mental health and cultivate resilience in employees – not just increase engagement and performance.

Based on more than 100 million Gallup global interviews, Wellbeing at Work shows you how to do just that.

Co-authored by Gallup’s CEO and its chief workplace scientist, Wellbeing at Work explores the five key elements of wellbeing – career, social, financial, physical, and community – and how organisations can help employees and teams thrive in those elements. The book also helps leaders get employees to use their innate talents and strengths to thrive in each of the wellbeing elements.

The next crisis might be here now, or it might be around the corner; two history-making experts in crisis leadership – James and Wooten – argue that the time to prepare is always. The Prepared Leader encapsulates more than two decades of the authors’ research to convey how it has positioned them to navigate through the distinct challenges of today and tomorrow. In their fast-reading and actionable book, James and Wooten provide tools and frameworks for addressing and learning from crises, as they provide insight into what you need to know to become a Prepared Leader.

HOW TO BUILD RESILIENT AND THRIVING TEAMS

By Jim Clifton & Jim Harter Gallup Press (2021)

EMERGE FROM ANY CRISIS MORE RESILIENT THAN BEFORE

By Erika H. James & Lynn Perry Wooten Wharton School Press (2022)

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SCENE ART

By KELLIE MILLER

WITH LAND, SKYE AND SEA THE WORKS OF PATRICIA SHONE

Erosion Bowl 26 ‘bright uplands’ Fired stoneware

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Her pieces are made by hand building, throwing, texturing, stretching, and carving. Colours are achieved using slips, oxides and glazes, but most of all, by the firing processes. She uses raku firings for soft earthenware blacks and greys, wood firing for warm earth tones and glazed stoneware, and saggar firing within the wood kiln for dark greys and glazed stoneware.

These techniques give her a wide range of textures and densities of ceramic surface and body. They often create moody yet elegant vessels that mimic, and are an interpretation of human civilisation, such as bowls and bottles.

Patricia Shone is a highly celebrated ceramic artist who has received numerous awards for her ceramic work. She won the prestigious Emmanuel Cooper Prize at Ceramic Art London 2019, resulting in works being selected for the Victoria & Albert Museum’s permanent collection.

Her works can be viewed at Kellie Miller Arts, Brighton.

Kellie Miller is an artist, curator, critic and gallery owner. www.kelliemillerarts.com

PHOTO: SHANNON TOFTS-KELLIE

Patricia Shone was born in Scotland and moved to south Devon as a child. She first encountered clay at school there.

After studying ceramics in London, finances and a love of cooking led her to work as a chef in the UK and Italy. She returned to the country of her birth, drawn to the Isle of Skye, where she has been dedicated to ceramics for nearly three decades.

The powerful landscape around the Isle of Skye has informed her ceramics. The surfaces of the land eroded by forces of climate and human intervention are the inspiration for the textures on her forms.

The natural textures of clay are similar to the patterns of erosion and decay in the land’s geology. Patricia aims to achieve a tension between the spontaneous patterns of texture and the formality of a vessel form. She creates vessels, boxes, bowls and jars because they represent innately human vessels of containment. There is another tension there, too, between the natural and the human.

Unsurprisingly, the ceramic chapters of her life have woven together her life experiences and environments and inspire the shapes and surfaces she produces.

Patricia comments, “The natural textures produced by clay reflect the formation and erosion in the geology of the land. The techniques I use to make my pots encourage the development of these textures on the surface of a controlled and formal vessel.

“It has taken many years for me to begin to understand this path in my work and that our scars from living can be seen mirrored in the scars on the land.”

With an instantly recognisable style, Patricia’s work is a balance of bold texture, drama and grace, with many pieces fashioning strong, earthy, smoky exteriors and contrasting marbled interiors veined with thin cracks typical of the raku process.

Erosion bottles Stoneware

With an instantly recognisable style, Patricia’s work is a balance of bold texture, drama and grace

Erosion Jar Saggar fired stoneware

Raku Fired ceramic www.platinummediagroup.co.uk

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TR AVEL

STUMPED? Best ski resorts revealed

BY TESS DE KLERK

Ski season is here. The slopes are calling, but it isn’t always a simple task choosing the right resort. Experienced skiers may prioritise the number of black runs while families with young children may be looking for nursery zones and fun slopes. Value for money is also top of the list for many this season. We therefore bring you the top five choices in five categories of ski resorts across Europe and North America.

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This analysis covered 50 ski resorts, using parameters that included: • The average cost of fl ights • Cost of ski hire • Cost of accommodation (for a three-night stay in a studio apartment, one-bedroom apartment or hotel suite) • Number of black, blue, and red runs, etc • Average annual snowfall (cm) • Number of bars • Number of ski schools

+ BEST SKI RESORT

FOR OVERALL VALUE

RANKING DESTINATION 1 Stubai Glacier 2 Espace San Bernardo 3 Kaprun 4 Livigno 5 Obertauern

RESORT(S) Stubai Glacier (Stubaier Gletscher) La Rosière/La Thuile Kitzsteinhorn/Maiskogel – Kaprun Livigno Obertauern

COUNTRY Austria France Austria Italy Austria

Due to the reasonable pricing and the abundance of amenities to cater for all age groups and interests, the Austrian ski resort Stubai Glacier came out on top. With 64.9km of slopes, 60 nearby bars, 24 ski schools and 401cm of snowfall each year.

Austria’s Stubai Glacier also places first as the best ski resort for beginners, due to its 24 different ski schools and 22km of blue ski slopes. This is closely followed by another Austrian resort, Kaprun, which boasts 27 ski schools. Swiss resort Parsenn places third with an impressive 35 ski schools on hand to upskill beginners, in addition to 17.3km of blue ski slopes.

+ BEST SKI RESORT FOR ADVANCED

Life is like skiing.

Just like skiing, the goal is not to get to the bottom of the hill.

It’s to have a bunch of good runs before the sun sets Seth Godin

+ BEST SKI RESORT FOR BEGINNERS

RANKING DESTINATION RESORT(S) COUNTRY 1 Stubai Glacier Stubai Glacier Austria (Stubaier Gletscher) 2 Kaprun Kitzsteinhorn/ Austria Maiskogel – Kaprun 3 Parsenn Parsenn Switzerland (Davos Klosters) 4 Skicircus Skicircus Austria Saalbach Saalbach Hinterglemm Hinterglemm Fieberbrunn Fieberbrunn 5 Mammoth Mammoth USA Mountain Mountain

RANKING DESTINATION RESORT(S) COUNTRY 1 Espace La Rosière/ France San Bernardo La Thuile 2 Obertauern Obertauern Austria 3 Stubai Glacier Stubai Glacier Austria (Stubaier Gletscher) 4 Kaprun Kitzsteinhorn/ Austria Maiskogel Kaprun 5 Schladming Planai/ Austria Dachstein Hochwurzen/ Hauser Kaibling/ Reiteralm (4-Berge-Skischaukel)

Espace San Bernardo, a French-Italian destination, came out as the top choice for experienced skiers, and holds the second position in overall best value. Within the region’s resorts, there are an impressive 71km of challenging red ski slopes and 15km of black slopes for intermediate thrill seekers.

The area enjoys an annual snowfall of 451cm. The resort is budget-friendly too, offering a ski pass day hire for £50.

Following closely in second place is Austria’s Obertauern resort, featuring 35km of red slopes and an impressive annual snowfall of 482cm. Securing the third spot for advanced skiers is Stubai Glacier, providing 15km of red slopes and 27.9km of challenging black slopes.

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TR AVEL

+ BEST SKI RESORT FOR APRÈS SKI RANKING 1 2 3 4 5

DESTINATION Stubai Glacier Schladming Dachstein Espace San Bernardo Parsenn Obertauern

RESORT(S) Stubai Glacier (Stubaier Gletscher) Planai/Hochwurzen/Hauser/Kaibling/ Reiteralm (4-Berge-Skischaukel) La Rosière/ La Thuile Parsenn (Davos Klosters) Obertauern

COUNTRY Austria Austria France Switzerland Austria

Apres-ski is an integral part of the perfect winter sport holiday. For some, it’s as crucial as skiing and snowboarding itself. Once again, Stubai Glacier ranks top with 60 bars and restaurants in the area, coupled with great value for patrons.

Schladming Dachstein in Austria, ranks as the second best destination for apres-ski, with 65 bars for visitors to enjoy.

Espace San Bernardo in France, Parsenn in Switzerland and Obertauern in Austria also rank in the top five, with a sizeable 46 to 57 bars at these ski destinations.

❛❛

It’s better to go skiing and think of God, than go to church and think of sport Fridtjof Nansn, Nobel laureate and champion skier

+ BEST SKI RESORT FOR FAMILIES

RANKING DESTINATION RESORT(S) COUNTRY 1 Skicircus Saalbach Austria Saalbach Hinterglemm Hinterglemm Fieberbrunn Leogang Fieberbrunn 2 Stubai Glacier Stubai Glacier Austria (Stubaier Gletscher) 3 KitzSki Kitzbühel/ Austria Kirchberg 4 Kaprun Kitzsteinhorn/ Austria Maiskogel Kaprun 5 Parsenn Parsenn Switzerland (Davos Klosters)

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❛❛

Skiing is the next best thing to having wings Oprah Winfrey

When considering the most family-friendly ski resorts, the top spot goes to the Skicircus Saalbach-HinterglemmLeogang resort in Austria. This resort stands out by providing 140km of beginner-friendly blue slopes and an impressive 73 ski schools dedicated to helping young enthusiasts hone their skiing skills.

Securing the second position is the Stubai Glacier in Austria, offering 22km of gentle blue slopes and a total of 24 ski schools. The Kitzski area in Austria, encompassing the resorts of Kitzbühel and Kirchberg, takes the third spot.

Visitors to these resorts can enjoy access to 102km of blue slopes, a diverse array of 55 ski schools, and a cost-effective ski hire day pass priced at $58.

Also making it into the top five are Kitzsteinhorn and Maiskogel in Austria’s Kaprun, along with Switzerland’s Parsenn Resort. The town of Kaprun provides access to 29km of beginner-friendly blue slopes and hosts 27 ski schools. Meanwhile, Parsenn offers 17.3km of gentle blue slopes and boasts 35 schools for children, creating an ideal environment for building up their confidence in the snow.

With 795cm of snowfall every year, coupled with a good number of ski schools and bars available, Mammoth Mountain in the US is the best ski resort destination for the best ski and snowboarding weather experience. Whistler Blackcomb in Canada ranks second, with 782cm of annual snowfall.

Credit to MoneyTransfers.com for some of the statistics in this article

+ BEST SKI RESORT FOR SNOWFALL RANKING DESTINATION 1 Mammoth Mountain 2 Whistler Blackcomb 3 Espace San Bernardo 4 Stubai Glacier 5 Palisades Tahoe

RESORT(S) Mammoth Mountain Whistler Blackcomb La Rosière/La Thuile Stubaier Gletsher Palisades Tahoe

COUNTRY USA Canada France Austria USA

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DINE WINE

&

FORK LEWES

BY TESS DE KLERK Lewes is a lovely country town to visit, steeped in history. Visit the castle high above the medieval streets, and see how the Tudors and Elizabethans lived by visiting Anne of Cleves’ House, or simply meander and browse all the quirky independent stores and markets.

After a day of exploring, you may want to stay for dinner since Lewes has a choice of places to dine. From well-knowns such as Côte or Bill’s – their original, flagship restaurant – to the charming Pelham Arms that serves great gastropub food, all created in-house. Not only do they cure their own meats and fish on-site but also brew their beer in their microbrewery downstairs!

One of Lewes’ latest additions to the culinary scene is Fork, which is where we headed a couple of weeks before Christmas. Centrally located and easily accessible, this small neighbourhood restaurant prides itself on serving modern British cuisine based on seasonal produce sourced from local farmers and artisan producers. We arrived on a chilly evening, beckoned by the cosy atmosphere.

I purposefully mention that we visited before Christmas as I assume it must have been the reason why the menus in front of us had no choice of red meat – nada, none.

It did have a turkey though, which must have, given the season, taken the place of a lamb or venison dish on the menu. My husband grumbled that there could have been red meat instead of the duck dish as he skipped the starter (Fork’s dinner menu is a choice of either two courses – £47.50, or three – £57.50) and ordered the turkey with sage, onion and cranberry stuffing, potato rösti, herb infused carrot puree and sautéed sprouts.

I, on the other hand, ordered the Sussex parsnip and chestnut velouté with truffle oil and rosemary croutons as my entree, which arrived promptly after our delectable little amuse-bouche bites but was, unfortunately not as tasty. It simply tasted of pureed parsnip, not a hint of

chestnut or truffle detectable. It was disappointing but my husband was meanwhile praising the Fork house bread and whipped butters. All wasn’t lost, therefore.

Next arrived our mains, two gorgeous plates. I had chosen the South Coast supreme of hake accompanied by sprout and leek fricassee, roasted celeriac and pancetta cream sauce. While I can say that it was tasty, I unfortunately can’t say that it was fantastic. On the other hand, my husband thoroughly enjoyed his dish – and that is unusual given he isn’t normally partial to turkey.

We would have ordered dessert but our seating time was coming to an end (seatings before 7:30 PM have a maximum of two hours but bookings after that time have their tables for as long as they like) so we skipped.

The bill arrived. Over £150 for a starter, two mains plus a couple of glasses of wine felt steep. Oh, and the bread basket.

The amuse-bouche was thankfully complimentary.

Fork has had some good reviews and I would like to say that I would happily go back and try the menu again but at those prices, restaurants have to get it right the first time to get me back.

My husband thoroughly enjoyed his dish – and that is unusual given he isn’t normally partial to turkey

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Fork, 14 Station St, Lewes BN7 2DA www.fork-lewes.co.uk

Centrally located, this small neighbourhood restaurant prides itself on serving modern British cuisine

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BRIGHTON

THE SHINING LIGHTS OF SERVICE

Exploring its role as a hospital for wounded Indian soldiers during the First World War, Artist Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE’s colourful neon sculptures draw on the spectacle of the Pavilion interiors, where Asian symbols and motifs intermingle with signs of British imperialism. Chila’s work often explores the cultural syntheses she experienced growing up in Britain.

Royal Pavilion, Brighton Until January 28th, 2024 https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/ event/the-shining-lights-of-service

WHAT’S ON...

A brief snapshot of art and culture in Sussex and Surrey

LEWES

ROBINSON CRUSOE This Winter, all members of the popular Lewes Drama Collective are joining to present a rip-roaring and unique traditional British pantomime adaptation of Robinson Crusoe at the popular All Saints Centre community venue in the historically significant town of Lewes in the South Downs National Park area of East Sussex...

All Saints Centre, Lewes February 4th www.ticketsource.eu/ lewes-drama-collective/robinsoncrusoe-an-unforgettablepantomime-adventure/e-kdpymj

BEXHILL-ON-SEA

THE CIRCLE

Crossover dance music icon and platinum selling chart-topper Example touring the UK and Ireland celebrating all of his biggest hits and new tracks.

Renowned for his monstrous live sets, fans can anticipate a high-octane show featuring all of his timeless hits like ‘Changed The Way You Kiss Me,’ ‘Kickstarts,’ ‘Stay Awake,’ ‘Say Nothing,’ and ‘We’ll Be Coming Back,’

Somerset Maugham’s sparky comedy of manners was first staged in 1921 and has remained a firm favourite with audiences ever since. This much-praised production from London’s Orange Tree Theatre is directed by Tom Littler.

Jane Asherplays Lady Kitty, a society beauty who notoriously abandoned her stuffy husband, played by Clive Francis, and eloped with the handsome Lord Porteous (Nicholas Le Prevost).

De Law Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea January 14th https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/examplebexhill-on-sea-2024-02-13-19-00

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CHICHESTER

EXAMPLE

Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester January 30th - February 3rd www.cft.org.uk/events/the-circle

MODERN CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

RURAL SUSSEX GIRL WALK & TALK

NR BRIGHTON

HOVE

Join us for a relaxing morning in the Courtyard Café where you will be taken through a two-hour dip pen session by Helen Wallace. Learn everything from mark making, letter formation and numbers, whilst building your own unique hand lettering style.

Whether you have lived in the Sussex Countryside for as long as you can remember or you are new to the area, come and meet other Rural Sussex Girls for Walk and Talk. We are a group of kind, supportive and inclusive girls who are all here with the same thing in mind - to create some strong connections and quality friendships.

Jukebox 1264 presents an evening that sends us back to California in the 1960s and 70s as the hippies took over the Sunset Strip. A creative hub emerged in Laurel Canyon; an area overlooking Los Angeles in the Hollywood Hills. Some of those included members of The Byrds and The Doors as well as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Carole King.

LOWER BEEDING

Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Nr Horsham January 21st, February 2nd, March 31st www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/ all-events/modern-calligraphy-workshops

Devil’s Dyke, Nr Brighton January 14th https://citygirlnetwork.com/ tickets/rural-sussex-girl-walk-and-talk

TAPESTRY: AN EVENING IN LAUREL CANYON

The Brunswick, Hove February 7th www.wegottickets.com/event/595604

WORTHING

FUNNY GIRLS Funny Girls... the longest-running all-girl comedy night in Brighton is now established in sunny Worthing! Join us upstairs at The Libertine Social for a fantastic Thursday night of fun featuring...

With award-winning musical comedy from your host Hannah Brackenbury!

The Libertine, Worthing January 25th www.visitbrighton.com/whats-on/ funny-girls-worthing-p2306651

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NOV/DEC 2022 #19

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