THE LARGEST CIRCULATION REGIONAL BUSINESS PUBLICATION THE UK. THE LARGEST CIRCULATION REGIONAL BUSINESS PUBLICATION ININ THE UK.
ISSUE 56. FEBRUARY 2019
SUSSEX SUPER GROWTH AWARDS
CAGNE
Crossing the Line
&
HEALTH WELLBEING ViiSana Changing the World
MOTORING REVIEW
Audi Q8
THE BIG STORY
Tackling Employee Turnover
James Dyson
ABANDONING BRITAIN?
Celebrating Business Excellence The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards - 21st March 2019
Join us in the Millennium Suite of the Copthorne Effingham Park for a pre-dinner reception hosted by BGF, before taking your seat for a sumptuous three course dinner with wine. Our presenter for the evening will be comedian and actor, Marcus Brigstocke. Marcus has become a regular voice on BBC Radio 4 with an impressive list of TV & film credits including ‘Have I got News for You’, ‘Live at the Apollo’, Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’ and ‘Love Actually’ among many others. This Black Tie event will see the very best of the Gatwick Diamond Business community come together to celebrate the achievements of World-Class businesses in this World-Class region. 6.30pm Evening starts with Pre-Dinner Reception Sponsored by BGF 7.15pm Take your seats for Dinner 9.30pm Marcus Brigstocke 10.00pm Presentation of the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 11.00pm After-Show Party 01.00am Carriages For more information and to download the booking form, visit:
WWW.GATWICKDIAMONDBUSINESSAWARDS.COM
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@gdbizawards
S P ORT
CI T Y PROF I L E: BR IGH T ON & HOV E
H E A LT H & W E L L B E I NG
CONTENTS 7 Local and national News 14 Brexit uncertainy NatWest 16 THE BIG STORY: James Dyson 22 Tackling employee turnover Rix & Kay 24 Going for growth Kreston Reeves 26 Tax-free allowances Carpenter Box 28 Celebrating women in business Coast to Capital 32 The deal maker FRP 37 Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 38 Corporate Health & Wellbeing 40 Does wellbeing pay? Viisana 42 Make a move Posturite 44 A happy holistic workforce DMH Stallard 46 Strategies to help you through pregnancy 48 Good conversation Wellbeing & Performance Co 49 Occupational health Sherrards 51 Motivation made easy Revolution 52 Sussex Supergrowth Awards 54 CITY PROFILE: Brighton & Hove 61 Inspiring global business Paxton 62 Acumen Business Convention Acumen 64 Keeping business travellers safe Priavo 67 Seeking new trustee board members Martlets 68 Flexible office space SINC 71 Does cooperative learning work? Neil Laughton 72 The world’s a stage Technical Solutions 74 Introducing... BAHBAS 2019 77 Hot desking Grand Hotel 78 One direction Picture Book 80 Platinum Club 82 TRAVEL: Shake Hands in... Frankfurt 86 Travel News 88 Bucket List – Panama 91 Worthing Feature: Chis Coopey 93 Worthing Feature: Worthing Expo 94 Worthing Feature: Warnes Ptoject 95 Worthing Feature: Adur & Worthing Awards 96 MOTORING: Audi Q8 98 VW Tiguan 100 Chestnut Tree House 102 Chambers of Commerce listings 106 Start-up surgery Merranti Consulting 108 Anger management 112 Institute of Directors 115 Sport News 117 Golf Golf-Escapes 118 Profile of Chris Eubank 121 Football 123 Training Loz Revolution 124 Interview with Lewes FC Director Jon Ruben 127 Active Sussex Network 128 Brief history of Brighton Rugby Club 130 When Business Meets Sport Phil Graves
16 JAMES DYSON
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PREGNANCY AND WORK
62
ACUMEN BUSINESS CONVENTION
96
MOTORING Audi Q8
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. Platinum Business Magazine is owned and published by The Platinum Publishing Group.
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WELCOME
Welcome W
elcome to issue 56 and our second feature on Health & Wellbeing in the workplace. This is set to be such a major issue in 2019 and one that we encourage all businesses to start taking very seriously. Maarten has steam coming out of his ears having been attacked by a local activist group over his, and this publication’s, view on the expansion of Gatwick Airport. It would seem that if one has an opinion that does not align with theirs, you can expect to be subject to a full-on attack, threats, bullying and corporate sabotage. Anger Management explains all.
Rose has been in Frankfurt to look at their offering for the corporate market and Ian has been busy profiling one of the country’s most controversial entrepreneurs, James Dyson. Whilst steaming, Maarten has also been busy with the brand-new Audi Q8.
We also chose Brighton & Hove for our town feature, highlighting everything this dynamic City has to offer and we launch the most exciting awards of the year, the Brighton & Hove Business Awards (BAHBAs) that return for the 14th year and will, as if that were possible, be bigger and better than last year. The Acumen Business Convention returns in May and Adrian Alexander explains what it takes to sell your business, and Laurence profiles one of our most exciting boxing talents, Chris Eubank Jnr. Enjoy this issue and if you see Maarten, give him a wide berth if you are wanting to chat about airport expansion. He is now planning to personally lay the concrete!
We are delighted to announce the launch of the Sussex Super Growth Awards as exclusive media partner. These are one of the only business awards you cannot enter but have to wait to be selected.
&
Maarten Ian
Platinum Business Magazine February 2019
The Team
Maarten Hoffmann – Director
Lesley Alcock
Sarah Edwards
Fiona Graves
Laurence Elphick
Kate Morton
maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk 07966 244046
Business Development Director
Business Development – Surrey
Events Director
Head of Sport
Copy Editor
Alan Wares
Poppie Sharman
Amanda Menahem
Steve Elford
Head of Design
Events Manager
Food & Drink Editor
Head of Web Development
Ian Trevett – Director ian@platinumpublishing.co.uk 07989 970804
Rose Dykins Travel Editor
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Sussex
news BUSINESS SURVEY
Retail expert is new i360 boss
I
an Hart has been appointed as General Manager at Brighton i360 Ltd. Ian has spent more than 25 years lead-
ing business and operations for premium retail brands including Marks and Spencer, The Arcadia Group, The Body Shop and the Nuance Group, where he operated a large portfolio of airport shops plus outlets at Center Parcs and on Irish Ferries. He also has international retail experience, having led operations across ten countries in the Middle East. More recently, Ian has been centre
director at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth and centre manager at The Friary in Guildford. Ian replaces Steve Bax, who left the company in October 2018. In a further move to strengthen the senior management team at Brighton i360 Ltd, David Sharpe, interim CEO and former managing director of the London Eye, has now been appointed to the board of directors.
Does swimming in debt count as cardio? BUSINESS WISDOM
Rail closures hit Pier
I
n January, Brighton Pier Group warned that pre-tax profits would fall short of the consensus expectations as first-half performance (up to end of December) was hurt by adverse weather and disruptions to weekend railway services to and from Brighton.
“Whilst I am disappointed at the rail network disruptions currently affecting the Pier, once they are complete, this will be of great benefit to future visitors travelling to the city and consequently to our Brighton businesses,” said Anne Ackord, Chief Executive Officer.
“The board now anticipates that profit before tax for the current financial year will be in the region of 18% lower than current consensus expectations,” the company said.
“Despite these challenges the company’s pier, bars and golf businesses remain well invested, strongly cash generative and well positioned for future growth.”
Gemini has the power
G
emini Group Managing Director, Steve Cropper, has been voted as one of the leading printers in the UK by his peers in the industry. Almost 5,000 industry experts cast their votes in a survey by Print Week, which then
featured the top 25 (including Steve) in the magazine. Gemini also made the The Print Week Power 100, which has been described as the print industry equivalent of the Oscars!
On board at the port
S
horeham Port has appointed Sir Alan Massey to the Board. Alan has vast maritime experience, having served for 33 years in the Royal Navy before taking over as Chief Executive of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) in 2010. As a naval officer, he commanded an impressive number of major warships, including the aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, later sitting for five consecutive years on the Admiralty and Navy Boards. As Alan joins, board member Stuart Nicholls will be stepping down after six years. Amber Foster, Chair of the Board said: “We would like to offer Stuart our sincere thanks for his significant contribution to the Board. Stuart brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board and added considerable value to the Port’s drive for high safety standards and compliance.”
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Is your business Going for Growth? We explore the growth aspirations and strategies of 500+ privately owned UK companies in our Going for Growth survey. Download a copy of the report at www.krestonreeves.com/goingforgrowth For all your business, tax and wealth needs Call: +44 (0)330 124 1399 Email: enquiries@krestonreeves.com
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Sussex
news BUSINESS SURVEY
Raising a glass at Bolney
B
olney Wine Estate has merged with neighbouring vineyard Pookchurch, describing the deal as a ‘big step forward’ in its plans to put still English wine on the map. The combined estate of 104 acres is planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Bacchus, Pinot Menuier and Chardonnay
Sam Linter, managing director and lead winemaker at Bolney Wine Estate, said: “Merging with Pook-
church’s vineyard has strengthened our business for the future. We’re really pleased to be formally one team. Both Bolney Wine Estate and Pookchurch vineyard share the same outstanding sandstone soils and aspect so there is a lot of potential for new single vineyard wines. It’s also an opportunity to increase research and development, and benefit from greater economies of scale across the larger vineyard.”
Making future work fairer
T
he University of Sussex is involved in a major new research programme alongside Google, the TUC and the BBC, aimed at making digital services fairer and more secure for all. The University is working in collaboration with academics at Newcastle University, Royal Holloway, University of London and Swansea University as well as businesses, public sector organ-
isations, professional and voluntary community groups on a three year social justice project. Professor Ann Light, an expert on design and creative technology will lead on one of the project’s three main strands; Fairer Futures for Businesses and Workers. The University of Sussex will be hosting an event on the future of workforces in the first half of 2019.
I know the voices aren’t real, but man do they come up with some great ideas BUSINESS WISDOM
Rolls-Royce bucks the trend
T
he difficulties for the motoring industry have been well documented with fears over weakening Chinese demand and post-Brexit supply chains. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has shrugged off such fears announcing the highest annual sales in the marque’s 115-year history, with 4,107 cars delivered to customers in over 50 countries around the world in 2018. CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös said: “2018 was a most successful, re-
cord-breaking year for Rolls-Royce. We have seen growth in all our regions around the world. At RollsRoyce we are deeply focused on each and every one of our customers and are delivering on their demanding expectations. The Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood is acknowledged and celebrated as a global centre of luxury manufacturing excellence, where our skilled, dedicated team create the world’s finest, most sought-after luxury products.”
Business groups back Gatwick
A
n incredible 29 business organisations representing over 25,000 companies across the region have come out in support of Gatwick’s growth plans.
Gatwick’s draft plan considers how the airport could grow looking ahead to the early 2030s, including using technology to increase existing capacity, potentially bringing the existing standby runway into routine use for departing flights, and safeguarding land for possible future expansion. An open letter of support of the draft plan was sent to Stewart Wingate, the airport’s CEO, and was signed by: • Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce •B righton & Hove Economic Partnership • Brighton BID •B urgess Hill Business Park Association •C hichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry • Coast to Capital LEP •C ranleigh Chamber of Commerce •C rawley & Gatwick Chamber of Commerce •C roydon Chamber of Commerce & Industry • Develop Croydon •E ast Grinstead Business Association •E astbourne Chamber of Commerce • FSB Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex • FSB London Region • FSB Surrey • FSB Sussex •G atwick Diamond Business • Gatwick Diamond Initiative • Gatwick Hotels Association •H astings Area Chamber of Commerce •H orley & District Chamber of Commerce • Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce • METALL • Newhaven Chamber of Commerce • South London Export Club • Surrey Chambers of Commerce • Sussex Chamber of Commerce • Sussex Property Alliance •W orthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Thinkers Challengers Innovators Leaders DISCOVER THE SUS SE X MBA
M A S T E R S O P E N D AY – S AT U R D AY 9 M A R C H 2 0 1 9
www.sussexmba.com
national The One and Only
B
ank branches are being shut by the hundreds across the country but at one of London’s most exclusive addresses — One Hyde Park — they’re still very much in demand. A European investor has bought Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank’s prestigious branch at the £1 billion development created by the property tycoons Candy brothers, for £27.5 million — a £10 million rise on when it was last sold six years ago. The undisclosed buyer paid the cash to a private Turkish vendor for the ADIB branch at 100 Knightsbridge,
news
next door to Rolex’s store and McLaren’s supercar showroom. The new owner will get rental income of nearly £900,000 a year from the investment and the deal underlines the huge demand for commercial property in London despite Brexit uncertainties.
rozen ready meals retailer Cook celebrated higher sales in 2018 and has signed off on plans for a new production site that will help revenues pass the £100 million mark. The Kent-headquartered firm, which has 89 UK shops including scores in London, said it will invest £10 million to open a second kitchen to develop products in Sittingbourne in 2019. The expansion comes after a good period for the business in the year
Life is not a fairy tale. If you lose your shoe at midnight, you’re drunk.
BUSINESS WISDOM
Monday should be optional BUSINESS WISDOM
Getting Lippy
L
uxury accessories firm Lulu Guinness, founded by the designer 30 years ago, has narrowed losses and increased sales, new accounts show. The firm, which has won an army of celebrity fans such as Paloma Faith and Kate Moss since it opened for business in 1989, is most famous for its lip-shaped handbags.
Ice Ice Ready
F
BUSINESS SURVEY
to March 31st - sales rose 15% to £58.3 million and pretax profits edged up slightly to £2.5 million.
The Highgate-headquartered firm posted a pre-tax loss of £188,710 for the year to March 25th, compared with a loss of £802,358 before. It made a gross profit of £4.7 million, up 21%. Turnover rose 6% to £10.1 million, helped by a jump in online sales. The retailer’s website experienced a 10% rise in the number of visits, and 51% growth in active customer numbers.
Cook is less exposed to Brexit than some other food firms because most of its sales and its supply chain are in the UK. Chief executive Ed Perry, who co-founded Cook in 1997, said Brexit was not the “ideal” backdrop as the company looks to expand, but he added: “When economic conditions are difficult good companies come into their own.”
Sweet Dreams
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ind it hard to switch off at night because of the blue light from your smartphone? Tech will aim to solve all your sleeping problems in 2019 according to Jeroen Tas, chief innovation and strategy officer at Phillips. As part of FleishmanHillard’s Tech Trends report, Tas said: “Technologies that proactively improve our sleep will become much more prominent in 2019. These innovations will be used to give really solid insights as to how we can gain some well-needed rest and boost our sleep quality, thus supporting health behaviours like sleep, exercise, nutrition and meditation.”
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national All Hail King’s
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ondon could get its first 24hour hospital helipad under plans that could save dozens of lives every year. King’s College Hospital has applied to extend the operating hours of its helipad in Denmark Hill, which is currently open between 7am and 9pm. London is the only major European capital without a 24-hour emergency helipad.
news BUSINESS SURVEY
ed to enable King’s to receive a further 75 patients a year. A spokesman said: “This would give critically sick patients faster access to specialist treatment at night as well as during the day.” The helipad at King’s is the first in mainland Britain to use an automatic foam
and water system that avoids the need for firefighters to be on standby for a crash landing. The hospital’s planning application said it consulted 500 residents and claims to have secured “85%” support. It told the council it was “acutely aware” of concerns and proposed a two-year trial of night flights “in view of this sensitivity”. Mayor Sadiq Khan said he had no objection to the plans and has referred the final decision to Lambeth council.
About 500 patients have been flown to the helipad since it opened in 2016, with night opening expect-
Growing old is mandatory, growing up is entirely optional BUSINESS WISDOM
Super Handy Scandi Cars
Milking It
T
he popularity of vegan foods continues to grow, with the new year seen as a traditional time to consider giving them a try. Milk alternatives, such as oat, soy, almond or coconut, are one area of interest, with sales rising in the UK.
A scientific study suggests the greenhouse gas emissions used in the production of plant-based milks are lower than for dairy milk. Producing a glass of dairy milk results in almost three times the greenhouse gas emissions of any non-dairy milks, according to a University of Oxford study.
One glass every day for a year requires 650 sq m (7,000 sq ft) of land, the equivalent of two tennis courts and more than 10 times as much as the same amount of oat milk, according to this study. Food production is responsible for a quarter of all human-produced greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming, according to the study. The research also found meat and other animal products were responsible for most food-related greenhouse gas emissions, despite providing only a fifth of the calories consumed.
A
lmost a third of new cars sold in Norway last year were electric, a new world record as the country strives to end sales of fossil-fuelled vehicles by 2025. In a bid to cut carbon emissions and air pollution, Norway exempts battery-driven cars from most taxes and offers benefits such as free parking and charging points to hasten a shift from diesel and petrol engines. The independent Norwegian Road Federation (NRF) said electric cars rose to 31.2% of all sales last year, from 20.8% in 2017 and just 5.5% in 2013, while sales of petrol and diesel cars plunged.
“I’ve heard that hard work never killed anyone, but I say why take the chance? BUSINESS WISDOM
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Brexit uncertainty weighs on growth at end of 2018
UK) 14 January 2019
The South East’s private sector economy slowed at the end of 2018 in the midst of Brexit uncertainty, according to the December NatWest PMI® data
st South East PMI
®
ber, the second-lowest figure in over two years. This signalled a modest rise in private sector output and was below the long-run average of 55.0 (since 1997). Sector data signalled modest gains in both services activity and manufacturing production. The South East saw a slightly stronger rate twenty-ninth consecutive month in December. The South East's private sector economy of growth than the UK as a whole in DeThat said, the rate of expansion eased and was slowed at the end of 2018 in the midst of cember (51.4). among the weakest registered over this period. Brexit uncertainty, according to the December
certainty weighs on growth 2018
dex falls f 51.9
oyment
e slides ing
ess
E v UK
®
NatWest PMI data. This resulted in the weakest quarter of growth since the third quarter of 2016. Outstanding business continued to decline and employment rose only fractionally. With incoming new work increasing at one of the slowest rates in six years, confidence Stuart Johnstone towards the next 12 months weakened.
The headline NatWest South East Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures combined output of the region’s histheresulted in the weakmanufacturing and service sectors since – fell to est quarter of growth 51.9 in December, from 52.7 in November, the third figure quarter of two 2016. the second-lowest in over years. This signalledbusiness a modest rise in private sector Outstanding continued to output and was below the long-run average decline and employment rose only of 55.0 (since 1997). Sector data signalled fractionally. With incoming workand modest gains in both servicesnew activity manufacturing production. The South East increasing at one of the slowest rates saw a slightly stronger rate of growth than the in six years, confidence towards the UK as a whole in December (51.4).
T
next 12 months weakened.
In terms of regional rankings, the South East slipped from fourth to sixth in December out UK regionsNatWest covered. This was, however, Theof 12 headline South East still better than the recent low of 11th posted in Business Activity Index – a seasonAugust. The South East also outperformed two allyofadjusted index that (50.6) measures its neighbours – London and thethe South West (50.3). combined output of the region’s man-
A number of firms commented that Brexit
had weighed on demand. Inuncertainty terms of regional rankings, the South East slipped from fourth to sixth in DeCapacity cember out of 12 UK regions covered. With new business rising only modestly, the volume of incomplete workbetter fell for than the fourth This was, however, still the time in five months in December. This lack of recent low of 11th posted in August. pressure on capacity limited demand for staff, The South Easta fractional also outperformed two resulting in only rise in employment the month. Moreover, the (50.6) averageand rate ofduring its neighbours – London of private sector job creation in the South East the South West (50.3). in 2018 was the lowest annual trend registered
survey data. A similar trend was observed for output prices. In both cases, inflation remained The volume ofstronger new business received comparatively in manufacturing relative to services. by private sector firms in the South East
South East Business Activity Index 70 60 50 40 30
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'03
'05
'07
• Business confidence slides for fifth month running With new business rising only modestly, the volume of incomplete work fell for the fourth time in five months in December. This lack of pressure on capacity limited demand for staff, resulting in only a fractional rise in employment during the month. Moreover,
volume of new business received by private Average input prices rose atin thethe slowest rate sector firms South East rose for the 29th in seven months in December, albeit one that remained strongconsecutive in the context of historic month in December”
sa, >50 = growth since previous month
'01
• Private sector employment barely increases
“The Prices
sector firms in the South East rose for the
'99
• Business Activity Index falls to four-month low of 51.9
since 2010.
rose for the 29th consecutive month in Outlook December. That rateEast of were exPrivate sector firmssaid, in thethe South relatively eased downbeat regarding pansion and was amonggrowth the expectations for 2019. Sentiment was the weakest registered over this period. A second-lowest on record since the series number of firms commented that Brexit ufacturing and service sectors – fell to Demand began in mid-2012, higher only than in July 2016 following theweighed EU referendum. had on demand. 51.9 involume December, from 52.7 in NovemThe of new business received by private uncertainty
'97
Key Findings
'09
'11
'13
'15
'17
the average rate of private sector job creation in the South East in 2018 was the lowest annual trend registered since 2010. Average input prices rose at the slowest rate in seven months in December, albeit one that remained strong in the context of historic survey data. A similar trend was observed for output prices. In both cases, inflation remained comparatively stronger in manufacturing relative to services. Private sector firms in the South East were relatively downbeat regarding growth expectations for 2019. Sentiment was the second-lowest on record since the series began in mid2012, higher only than in July 2016 following the EU referendum.
BUSINESS SURVEY
Stuart Johnstone, Managing Director, London & South East, Corporate & Commercial Banking: “Private sector businesses in the South East blamed Brexit uncertainty for a loss of momentum in the final month of 2018. The Business Activity Index fell to 51.9, the fourth-lowest in nearly six years and indicative of weak expansion. “Over the final quarter of 2018 the headline figure trended at 52.4, just below Q3’s 52.5. If you exclude the brief disruption in July 2016 following the EU referendum, these have been
the worst quarters since Q1 2013. “New business rose more slowly, freeing up capacity and leading backlogs lower for the fourth time in five months. Subsequently, employment growth slowed to a crawl. Looking ahead, expectations for output were the second-lowest since the series began in mid-2012, which is hardly surprising given the lack of clarity on the UK’s fast-approaching withdrawal from the EU.”
Methodology The NatWest South East PMI® is compiled by IHS Markit from responses to questionnaires sent to South East companies that participate in IHS Markit’s UK manufacturing and services PMI surveys.
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Dyson: Abandoning Britain? James Dyson’s name is synonymous with vacuum cleaners and hand driers, but the serial innovator has bigger plans - to lead the way in the production of electric cars. It should be an opportunity to celebrate the vibrancy of British innovation and engineering, but his decision to manufacture the cars and base his HQ in Singapore feels more like a betrayal. By Ian Trevett
I
n October, Sir James Dyson announced that he would be building a Singapore manufacturing base to produce a new electric car, with plans to launch the first model in 2021. After years of quietly developing the project at its research facility in Wiltshire, it appears that the Dyson car is about to become a reality. Dyson Chief Executive, Jim Rowan, wrote in a staff memo that the business was making excellent progress on the car and declared that, “Clearly we now need to move quickly towards manufacturing and assembly.” So will we all be driving a Dyson in ten year’s time? James Dyson has always been a disrupter and an inventor and it would be no surprise if he was to bring game-changing new innovation to the industry, just as he has in other sectors, but this is a very
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competitive market and many wonder if whether this is a gamble that will pay off. It certainly isn’t a knee-jerk reaction. Dyson reveals he has been working on the concept of an electric car since 1998, and it is believed that he has set aside £2.5 billion into the car project. Bearing in mind the experience of Elon Musk and Tesla, the question is whether this will be enough.
months alone and last year Volkswagen Group revealed a €34bn investment plan.
In The Telegraph, industry editor Alan Tovey sought the opinion of Professor David Bailey, an automotive industry expert at Aston University, who expressed doubt that the investment would be sufficient: “In the car industry £2bn is small change, just look at how much Tesla has burned through and they haven’t made a profit.”
Professor Bailey continues: “I’m surprised Dyson has not tried to find partners. Maybe they have a technology that is radically different and don’t want to share it.
Tovey adds a sense of scale, writing that, “Elon Musk’s electric car company spent $3.5bn over the past 12
“VW, the world’s biggest car company by sales, has stated it wants to be the global leader in electric mobility by 2025, and has an industrial footprint that dwarves all but a few players in the sector.”
“It’s repeatedly said that the next 10 years will see more change in the car industry than the past 100 years because of disruptive new technology. Those companies that don’t embrace the change are going to get crushed and Dyson’s certainly a disruptor.”
BUSINESS THE BIG SURVEY STORY
So what will be the outcome? Does Dyson have a masterplan that will change the face of the electric car industry or has he been seduced by an unaffordable dream?
Electric Dreams
The dangers associated with diesel emissions are now well established, but Dyson had concerns before the risks became widely accepted. When you are researching vacuum cleaners, you quickly become finely attuned to pollutants and dirt, and Dyson, acutely aware of how filthy diesel exhaust pipes can be, designed filters to isolate the offending particles. He later recalled: “All I could see and smell were these huge clouds of diesel exhaust coming out. In 20 minutes from a transit van, you could get nearly a cup of this black sud.” Sadly no-one seemed to share his
concern and the idea to tackle diesel emissions was shelved, but Dyson did not fail to see the shared principles in building powerful home appliances and electric cars, notably the source of power. In a GQ profile of James Dyson, Stuart McGurk highlighted some of the synergies: “The latest Dyson motor in its V10 cordless vacuum, spins at 125,000rpm – which is around eight times faster than the engine of a Formula One car and ten times faster than a jumbo jet. The magnet inside it gets so hot that it grows. Machine learning and advanced AI are used to control the spin… Manufacture is fully automated and Dyson Ltd can produce one every 12 seconds. It’s a design James Dyson and his team have been refining for more than 20 years.
“The 360 Eye Dyson robot vacuum uses ground-breaking panoramic camera technology and advanced artificial intelligence to learn more about your home the longer it lives in it and can successfully navigate your socks… It took Dyson 17 years of work to develop a robot vacuum, but the result – featuring Dyson’s own unique 360-degree vision system and advanced artificial intelligence – could be incorporated into driverless features. “In just a few years, Dyson realised he possessed nearly all the major technologies required for an electric vehicle, just in miniature, and in the broom cupboard. An electric motor no one else could rival, a self-driving vision system forged in the fire of the hardest navigational environments on earth (teenagers’ bedrooms) and an air filtration
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Innovation in rechargeable batteries has been at the heart of the firm’s research and development for many years. The first clue that Dyson was progressing his car dreams came in 2013 when the Government’s National Infrastructure Delivery Plan revealed government funding for Dyson to develop new battery electric vehicles securing £174m of investment and creating over 500 jobs.
has been married three times, twice to the same person, divorced the same number and wants to die on Mars. The other has been married to the same woman for 50 years and presumably would rather stay at Dodington Park, his Georgian estate in South Gloucestershire. “One became a billionaire almost overnight after he invented a single piece of payment software (what would later be known as
Another crucial development was the appointment of Ian Robertson, who had formerly been on the management board at BMW - in fact, he holds the claim to be the most senior British employee at the manufacturer.
The British Musk?
In addition to the major car manufacturers, the most familiar name in the electric car market is the American entrepreneur Elon Musk. Inevitably comparisons have been drawn between Musk and Dyson, mostly highlighting the contrast of their styles and personalities.
PayPal); for the other, it took decades, countless inventions, an ever-expanding workforce and tens of millions of products sold.
GQ’s Stuart McGurk spells out the stark differences between the extrovert, eccentric Musk and Dyson, who can be easily imagined happily tinkering in his garden shed:
“Musk worries artificial intelligence will create ‘an immortal dictator from which we can never escape’. Dyson worries that the V8 vacuum’s head wasn’t quite good enough at picking up dust on hardwood floors.
“Seen from a distance, there’s not a lot that binds the brash 47-year-old Musk and the professorial Dyson, 71. One
“Musk recently went to war with the press and threatened to create a website to rank their honesty. Dyson still
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gets upset by a poor review in a Japanese consumer magazine, but ‘mostly because they’re right!’” Both are driven and visionary, but Dyson, at heart, is an engineer who loves to invent. He is very proud to boast that, “The company is run by engineers now. The CEO is an engineer. All the product directors are engineers.” It is clear that he’d have it no other way. He actually found engineering by accident. He recalls: ”At school I opted for arts, put off by all the formulae in science. There was nothing that combined the two like design engineering does. I only stumbled on engineering by accident and immediately decided what I wanted to do – make things that work better." One thing that could work better was the vacuum cleaner he had in his home. In 1978, dissatisfied with the performance of his new Hoover Junior, he had an idea. He'd spotted a local sawmill using cyclone technology to separate sawdust particles from the air. Could this work on a vacuum cleaner? James ripped off his Hoover's clogging, stinking bag and replaced it with a crude cardboard prototype of his cyclone design - and it worked! As well as an inquiring mind he had another vital quality: patience. It took five years and 5,127 prototypes before he created DC01, the world's first bagless vacuum cleaner. His bio on the James Dyson Foundation reports on the subsequent rapid growth: “Dyson has grown from one man with one idea, to a global technology enterprise of over 7,000 people.
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system that wouldn’t just eliminate uncomfortable smells from the car’s passengers, but would be actively cleaning the outside air it sucked in. The company already made six per cent of the rechargeable batteries in the world.”
Musk worries artificial intelligence will create ‘an immortal dictator from which we can never escape’. Dyson worries that the V8 vacuum’s head wasn’t quite good enough at picking up dust on hardwood floors.
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THE BIG STORY
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Dyson is just the latest in a long list of leavers promising a glorious Brexit future while secretly making plans to cover themselves
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“More than 3,000 of them are engineers. From acoustic to robotic, software to electronics, they use their diverse skills to solve the problems others ignore. “Every year, the UK faces an annual shortfall of 69,000 engineers. Failing to address it could cost the UK economy £27 billion every year from 2022. Very simply, we need more. “Feeling strongly that bright young minds shouldn't miss out on an engineering career, as he nearly did, James set up the James Dyson Foundation in 2002 to challenge misconceptions about engineering and combat the shortage.
steering. Conventional wind turbines capture wind travelling only in one direction, and are notoriously inefficient in cities where wind trapped between buildings becomes unpredictable. Clearly these are inventors from the same mould as James Dyson.
Abandoning Britain
James Dyson could be lauded as a national treasure but instead he may be known as the man who betrayed Britain. Just as we go to print, the company has announced that its Headquarters will also be relocated in Singapore. With the opportunities in the Far East, it
could be explained away as a pragmatic, but disappointing strategic move. But James Dyson has been a vocal and consistent advocate of Brexit. “I would just walk away,” says Dyson. “We have offered lots. They’ve offered nothing. They’ve made a huge fuss about Ireland, which is none of their business. We are walking away and if you want to sell your cars and washing machines and your wine and Champagne to us, we’ll talk, but when you behave like this, we will not talk to you. The fast-expanding markets are in the Far East. Europe is declining. I
“The Foundation also runs activities in 25 countries, encouraging young people from across the globe to pursue an engineering career.” In 2018 the Foundation awarded two MSc students at Lancaster University a £30,000 prize for inventing a spinning wind turbine. Nicolas Orellana, 36, and Yaseen Noorani, 24, scooped the James Dyson award for their O-Wind Turbine, which – in a technological first – takes advantage of both horizontal and vertical winds without requiring
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Making deals happen Market conditions • Generally, there is a strong appetite from banks, private equity and trade buyers to support transactions
Succession
Preparation
• Aim to make yourself less critical to the business
• Appraise your business honestly and objectively
• Is there a natural candidate(s) to take the business forward?
• Formulate responses to and mitigate against any perceived areas of weakness
• BREXIT uncertainty will remain for the foreseeable future, and market conditions could worsen
• Most buyers will want a solution in place before completion
• Alternative strategies including ‘Two Step’ exits
• Early planning is key to avoid succession issues impacting on your exit horizon
• Attractive Capital Gains Tax reliefs remain available under current Government
• Make sure information is robust, up to date and readily available • Focus on building sustainable, recurring and profitable revenue streams
There is no time like the present to start developing your exit strategy We advise on…
We help by…
We bring…
Optimum deal timing
Demystifying processes
Commercial advice
Exit strategy
Preparing sales materials
Financial expertise
Succession planning
Accessing buyers
Years of experience
Preparation for sale
Articulating investment cases
An extensive network
Business valuations
Running the process
Honest approach
Buyer populations
Taking the burden away
Compassion
Contact us Adrian Alexander
Partner 07889 412631 adrian.alexander@frpadvisory.com
@ frp_advisory
Nick Lovelock
Senior Manager 07585 903640 nick.lovelock@frpadvisory.com
linkedin.com/company/frp-advisory-llp
www.frpcorporatefinance.com
THE BIG STORY have always said the Commonwealth countries are the ones we should be trading with first. They speak English. They used to like us. We understand them. They are huge, rich markets – Australia, Canada, India. Why aren’t we concentrating on those?” He is probably the highest profile British businessman to come out strongly for Brexit - and the harder the better! Unsurprisingly his outspoken stance has attracted criticism, and even accusations of hypocrisy in the context of his Singapore migration.
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wants but he is ditching Britain. This can only be seen as a vote of no confidence in the idea of Brexit Britain.” Dyson hasn’t been afraid to take the EU’s cash either. In September, Michael Pooler reported in the Financial Times: “The farming business of Sir James Dyson, the vacuum cleaner magnate
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An example can be found in The Daily Mail, hardly known as a fortress of Remainers. Ruth Sunderland writes: “Sir James is far too astute not to realise that critics will interpret it as the hypocrisy of a rich Brexiteer. He will be branded as a man who delivered an almighty snub to Britain at a time when the country needs him most, as we seek to build our economy from outside the EU. And the bombshell comes at a critical point in negotiations over our departure, when entrepreneurs without Sir James’s vast personal fortune are terrified of losing their livelihoods.
Dyson realised he possessed nearly all the major technologies required for an electric vehicle, just in miniature, and in the broom cupboard
“They do not have the option, as he does, of simply moving their HQ to another continent – they will have to battle to keep their businesses afloat no matter how tough Brexit may be.” Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, unsurprisingly, took the opportunity to declare: “This is staggering hypocrisy for Brexit-backing businessman James Dyson. It is utterly unbelievable that the business face of Brexit is moving yet another part of his business out of the UK. “James Dyson can say whatever he
who backed Brexit, turned a profit for the first time last year as it secured higher EU agricultural subsidies.
“Beeswax Dyson Farming, which comprises 35,000 acres of land throughout Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, reached a milestone in 2017 as it generated pre-tax profit of £747,000, compared to a loss of £1.53m the year before. “The business recorded an 11% increase in turnover to £15.7m last year, while cost of sales fell 12% to £7.93m. Financial support from EU schemes
totalled £2.8m, up from £2.4m the previous year.” Even the company itself is downplaying its Britishness. When Chief Executive Jim Rowan was asked whether Dyson could still be referred to as one of Britain’s best success stories, he said the firm should now be referred to as a “global technology company.” So that would be a no then! And the ultimate irony is that the EU (which James Dyson is so dismissive of) and Singapore recently agreed a landmark free trade agreement. Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, said the deal, signed in October, was: “An ambitious trade deal, it is a high-quality arrangement, and it is one which will fly the flag and encourage others, I hope, to do the same.” The last word goes to the Brexit flag-wavers at the Mail, where Ruth Sunderland concludes: “Sir James deserves admiration for creating such a successful company – just the sort of enterprise Britain needs to prosper after Brexit. And we should now be celebrating the fact the firm’s annual profits have leapt past the £1 billion mark for the first time. “What a terrible shame the tributes have been drowned out by an ill-judged act of desertion.”
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The question of tackling
employee turnover Strategies for retaining your top talent and reducing employee turnover in the workplace
O
ne thing that pretty much all businesses agree on, irrespective of size or sector, is that retaining great people is one of their biggest challenges. In this article, Amy White, Associate Solicitor and Georgina Hardcastle, HR Consultant, of Rix & Kay’s Employment Team take a look at some key trends in employee turnover and consider whether thinking outside the box can help businesses keep their best people.
The trouble with turnover
Employee turnover is a significant issue facing employers in the modern workplace. The 2018 Employee Engagement and Loyalty Survey found that 45% of employees questioned had changed jobs in the preceding 12 months or planned to do so in the next year (Randstad) and that 30% had left a job within the first 90 days of getting hired (Jobvite). Similarly, LinkedIn recently analysed half-a-billion professional LinkedIn profiles and found that
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the average world-wide turnover rate (namely the percentage of LinkedIn members who indicated they had left a job role in 2017) was almost 11%.
So, with the New Year well and truly under way, is it time for employers to consider new ways of incentivising their staff to avoid high turnover and a tumultuous start to 2019?
Service-related benefits or ‘long service awards’ are potentially indirectly discriminatory against younger workers, who have not had the opportunity to qualify for them and women, who are more likely to have taken career breaks. While there are exceptions under the Equality Act 2010 permitting employers to provide benefits that reward service (so long as they are awarded on the basis of five years’ service or less), employers should always take a cautious approach to service related awards so as to avoid allegations of discrimination.
Out with the old?
A fresh approach
Staying put, it would seem, is no longer the norm. Rather, regular relocations and short term stints are becoming much more commonplace.
With employee turnover at such high levels, traditional methods of motivating and incentivising staff, many of which seek to reward longevity, are falling by the wayside and out of popularity. In addition, they also present a number of risks that employers can’t afford to overlook.
Employees in the modern workplace don’t anticipate staying with the same employer for a long period of time – the 2018 Employee Engagement and Loyalty Survey showed us that much. As such, benefits tied to long service are unlikely to be terribly attractive to a workforce or to achieve the level of loyalty sought by an employer. Rather,
LEGAL What does the future hold?
As much as employers would all like their employees to remain loyal and stay put, the modern workplace, characterised by rapid turnover and workplace fluidity, isn’t that simple. Incentive schemes now need to provide choice and flexibility if the employer offering them is to remain competitive, improve its employee engagement, retain talent and build a compelling employer brand. They also need to be relevant and to appeal to a multi-generational workforce. Oh, and last but not least, having the “wow” factor wouldn’t go amiss.
Amy White and Georgina Hardcastle
employees in today’s workforce are more likely to want things they can benefit from in the here and now.
ti-generational workforce and is often gratefully received.
Although cash payments (such as Interestingly, money is not always the bonuses) are still widely offered, the biggest incentive and may not always be range of alternative awards employers the most effective means of retaining employees. As a result, employof employees ers are increasingly introducing flexquestioned ible incentive schemes, rather than having a one size fits all approach. had changed jobs in the This allows employees to select preceding 12 months rewards that best suit their needs, including the need to benefit now, not later. For example, family medical incan now offer is expanding. Gift cards, surance is likely to be of little value to a extra holiday, tech gadgets, weekends single employee who may welcome the away, tickets to major sporting events benefit of, say, gym membership. Such and so on, all provide the desired rean approach helps to accommodate ward, but in a much more immediate the different wants and needs of a mulway.
45%
Employers seeking to keep up with demand need to develop a more creative approach to incentivisation. They need to think about demonstrating their appreciation now, not later and recognise that a new iPhone or a relaxing weekend away at a spa may well be a better way of keeping staff happy than something they won’t experience the benefit of for many years to come. With that in mind, if you’re an employer tackling high levels of employee turnover, you might want to review your incentivisation package and find out what your employees really think of it. Providing multiple opportunities to gather and learn from employee feedback, such as employee satisfaction surveys, departmental meetings and suggestion forums can help to shed light on what you could do better. Exit interviews are also a popular method of obtaining honest feedback from leavers about what you are doing well and what you need to improve. Capturing employee feedback on your current offering will help to create a positive attitude to changes, as well as ensuring staff feel involved in the process. For more information on managing employees and an effective workforce, contact Rix & Kay’s Employment Team. amywhite@rixandkay.co.uk georginahardcastle@rixandkay.co.uk
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Going for in Post-Brexit Britain
The outlook for the UK economy looks strong according to a recent report published by Kreston Reeves. Partner Richard Spofforth, gives us an insight... on the views of 530 privately owned businesses from across the UK, 80% of which with a turnover below £25m. The report aims to better understand the hopes and aspirations of businesses towards growth and the barriers to growth as Brexit draws ever closer.
U
K private businesses, despite the greatest period of political uncertainty for over a decade, are optimistic and predicting strong growth for the next three years. Future growth is most likely to come from domestic markets yet, despite the UK’s decision to leave the EU, Europe remains a key market. That is one of the conclusions from a new piece of research from accountants, business and financial advisers Kreston Reeves.
The research – published in a report called Going for Growth: UK company growth strategies to 2021 – is based
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The survey reports that 60% of privately-owned UK businesses have seen growth of 25% or more over the past three years, with 58% predicting growth over the next three years of 25% or more. Businesses also appear optimistic about Brexit, with 47% seeing Brexit as a business opportunity and 45% say their growth plans have been positively affected by Brexit. Just 24% perceive Brexit as an obstacle and only 24% think it has negatively affected their growth plans. A third (32%) of the businesses surveyed generate between 50-100% of their revenues from their immediate geographic location. And the UK is set to become an even more
47%
see Brexit as a business opportunity
important market for businesses, with 56% believing their immediate geographic location to be the most attractive market for future growth. But it is not necessarily a case of ‘Britain first’ – 46% of the businesses surveyed believe Europe to be highly attractive for future growth. The Going for Growth report highlights include: • 60% of businesses have grown by more than 25% over the past three years. • 58% of businesses remain positive that they will grow by more than 25% over the next three years.
FINANCE
growth • 34% expect to see growth come from investment in new technology. • 31% of businesses will finance growth through retained profit. • 21% believe business uncertainty to be the biggest barrier to growth. Access to funding (20%) and increased competitor activity (20%) follow closely behind. • 35% of businesses fail to scenario plan and prepare for eventualities that may impact their business. • 35% of businesses have no international aspirations at all.
Perhaps the greatest concern highlighted by Going for Growth is the reliance on UK customers and limited international ambitions. Many UK businesses still appear to be thinking local when our world is increasingly global. Whilst it is true that businesses will continue to grow in their domestic markets, the evidence
A quarter of businesses told us that they simply do not know how to access international markets, which suggests that all the time, effort and money successive UK governments have invested in encouraging UK businesses to expand internationally is not yet working. There is clearly more that can be done.
“Many UK businesses still appear to be thinking local when our world is increasingly global”
• 28% say they are unable to resource international expansion, with 27% saying the lack of experience holds them back.
• 32% say they would like help in finding international customers.
of limited international ambition at a time when UK businesses should look to wider international markets is something business leaders need to address.
• 47% see Brexit as a business opportunity, with 45% saying their growth plans have been positively affected by Brexit. Just 24% perceive Brexit as an obstacle and only 24% think it has negatively affected their growth plans. The remaining businesses remain uncertain.
The Going for Growth report shows that 24% of businesses surveyed generate up to a quarter of their revenues from Europe, compared with 21% from North America and South America, 23% each from the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and 22% from Australasia.
Resourcing international expansion holds back 28% of businesses, with a further 27% saying lack of experience is the main barrier.
Given that the UK’s departure of the EU is now just one month away, it was surprising to discover a third of businesses asked had no ‘what if’ scenario plan leaving them in a perilous position. Similarly, just over a third (37%) have no plan for the departure of a key customer of supplier, and 35% have no plan in place for the departure of a senior member of the management team. Going for Growth: UK company growth strategies to 2021 is published by Kreston Reeves. A copy of the report can be downloaded at w w w.krestonreeves.com/goingforgrowth.
You can contact Richard Spofforth at richard.spofforth@krestonreeves.com www.krestonreeves.com T: 0330 124 1399
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Tax-free allowances.
Why wouldn’t you? As the end of the tax year quickly approaches, Stuart Noakes, Partner and Head of Tax Services at MHA Carpenter Box, highlights the importance of taking advantage of the tax breaks highlighted in the MHA Year-End Tax Planning Guide
“The ISA family has grown considerably since its inauguration in 1999” Stuart Noakes
Utilise Individual Savings Accounts Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are an excellent investment for higher rate taxpayers. The maximum allowance is £20,000. You must save or invest by April 5th for it to count for that year and if you don’t use the allowance, you lose it so get saving! The ISA family has grown considerably since its inauguration in 1999, with a further five ISAs to consider:
• Help-to-buy ISA where first-time buyers get a 25% cash bonus from the Government on savings made into a Help-to-buy ISA. The maximum cash bonus savers can receive is £3,000 (if £12,000 has been saved). • Inheritance ISA which allows a spouse or civil partner to inherit the savings in an ISA belonging to their deceased loved one without triggering income tax. • Lifetime ISA (LISA) where UK residents aged between 18-39 can contribute up to £4,000 per tax year and the Government will then add a 25% bonus at the end of each tax year in respect of the contributions paid.
• Flexible ISA is a basic ISA which allows you to withdraw and replace money from your ISA. • Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) lets you put your savings with peer-topeer lenders or invest in companies through crowd funding websites.
Consider investing in Enterprise Investment Schemes and Seed EIS shares Tax relief is available where you subscribe for shares qualifying for Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) or Seed EIS (SEIS) relief. Under the EIS scheme, your tax liability for the year may be reduced by up to 30% of the sum invested. In addition, capital gains from disposals in the previous 36 months or following 12 months may be reinvested into EIS shares, resulting in a deferral of the gain. You can invest up to £1m under EIS in the year or up to £2m if you invest in Knowledge Intensive Companies generally, these are early stage businesses engaged in scientific or technological innovation. The Seed EIS scheme offers another form of reinvestment relief for inves-
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FINANCE tors who subscribe for shares in small start-up companies. For 2018-19, the maximum qualifying investment is £100,000. Income tax relief is given at the rate of 50% of the sum invested, and relief may be given against tax in 2017/18 or 2018/19. Both EIS and SEIS shares are normally exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Inheritance Tax (IHT), subject to detailed conditions being met.
Get advice Prudent utilisation of the relief’s associated with tax favoured investments as part of a balanced portfolio can make a big difference to future investments’ returns, but it is important to consider the risks associated with them and it is essential that professional advice is sought.
Download the full MHA Year End Tax Planning Guide For additional tips and advice as we come to the end of the 2018/19 tax year, you can download our handy Year End Tax Planning Guide. Our guide, put together by our national tax team at MHA, is for both individuals and companies, and summarises key tax and financial planning tips, including more information on the points above. You can download your free copy at www. carpenterbox.com/tax-planning-guide
Join us for our Investment and Tax Seminar You’re invited to join us for our upcoming Investment & Tax Seminar on February 21st 2019. The event runs from 8am-10am at South Lodge Hotel, Horsham, and will provide an overview of the current financial landscape, explain how recent changes may affect you and help you make the right financial choices.
Are you getting all the creative tax relief you can? Sam Uwins, Head of Creative & Media at MHA Carpenter Box, explains how Creative Sector Tax Relief could help your business thrive
C
reative sector tax reliefs were introduced to help support the technological innovation and growth of businesses to maintain the UK’s position as a leader in the creative industry. Similar to Research & Development (R&D) tax relief, creative industry tax relief is part of the UK’s growing suite of special company tax reliefs.
When can you claim creative industry tax reliefs? Making a creative industry tax relief claim can be a complex process to undertake. However, our experienced tax team would first assess whether you are liable to Corporation Tax, and identify if you are directly involved in the production and development of: • certain films • high-end and children’s television programmes • animation programmes • video games • theatrical productions • orchestral concerts • museum or gallery exhibitions These reliefs work by increasing the amount of allowable expenditure. Where your company makes a loss, you may be able to surrender the
Sam Uwins
loss and convert some or all of it into a payable tax credit.
Cultural test In order to qualify for these reliefs, all films, TV programmes, animations or video games must pass a cultural test certifying that the production, programme or video game is British. Theatrical productions, orchestral concerts and exhibitions do not need to apply for or pass a cultural test.
How we can help Our tax team can help you navigate the complex claims process from identifying and reporting through to final submission. Get in touch with Sam Uwins on 01903 234094 or visit www.carpenterbox.com.
Register for your place for free at www. carpenterbox.com/investment-tax
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Celebrating
Women in business As International Women’s Day approaches, Coast to Capital profiles two women who have gained business investment and success through the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and pays tribute to Amanda Geel, who sadly lost her battle with cancer on New Year’s Eve
C
oast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership is passionate about supporting and enabling business growth. Our region is diverse and vibrant and we are com-
mitted to ensuring that our investments reflect and celebrate a wide range of business sectors and ventures. In anticipation of International Women’s Day 2019, we are pleased to
feature some of the businesses led by women which have received support and investment from Coast to Capital. First we profile board member Julie Kapsalis...
Coast to Capital Board Profile: Julie Kapsalis
T
he Base and Ridgeview were both awarded their grants at a Coast to Capital Business Grants panel that was chaired by Coast to Capital Board Member, Julie Kapsalis. Julie is passionate about supporting small business growth and championing women’s enterprise. Here we find out a little more about her role at Coast to Capital. Julie has been a Board Member at Coast to Capital since 2013 and has a portfolio of Board roles including the Institute of Economic Development, Gatwick Diamond Business and is Chair of Chichester Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Julie has worked in leadership roles across the public and private sector and is currently Managing Director at Chichester College Group – the largest training provider in Sussex which supports over 25,000 learners each year. Why did you get involved in Coast to Capital? I spent many years working in economic development and particularly enjoy facilitating opportunities that bring together the public and private sector
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to enable regeneration and business growth. I had previously worked as a Director at a Regional Development Agency and was keen to support the Local Enterprise Partnership as it took over the strategic leadership for a number of areas I had previously worked on. I also knew a number of the Board Members and was impressed by the calibre and impact that they were having – so I applied and was delighted to be appointed. What have you enjoyed most during your time as a Board member? I particularly enjoy chairing the Business Grants panel. We have invested in some amazing companies in the region – like Ridgeview and The Base. It gives me huge satisfaction to see how these grants make a difference in supporting local businesses to grow and create jobs for the local economy. I always smile when I go to my local brewery as their growth has been enabled by the LEP – that feels great – and their beer tastes great too. I am also very proud of our new Strategic Economic Plan (Gatwick 360) – I think this
sets out the challenges and opportunities for our region over the next ten years and I am excited about our role in being a catalyst for growth. Why is diversity so important to deliver Coast to Capital’s vision? Our region is diverse – so I believe that Coast to Capital must reflect and celebrate this diversity – from the makeup of our Board and staff to our values and the way we engage with businesses and stakeholders. Diversity fosters growth and innovation and is integral to the delivery of our strategy.
COAST TO CAPITAL
Janina Parker – The Base Skate Park
Awarded a Coast to Capital Regional Growth Fund grant of £36,767
“I
n 2013, I was working for Sussex Police, and after 10 years, was starting to get itchy feet and beginning to feel lost. I had my two boys and a fabulous husband who had his own career. My boys had started scooting and I was spending a lot of time at the local outdoor skateparks. I witnessed a number of serious accidents, with no first aid equipment on site, I felt helpless. I soon came to realise that the weather also played a major part in whether children could ride or not. A spark lit inside me and a vision and dream was born.
time breakfast was over we had our name and brand colours. The next 364 days was spent organising the planning application, meet-
After being up most of the night with the thoughts of building my own skatepark, I presented my revelation to my boys over breakfast. Slightly shell shocked and wondering if mummy had completely lost her mind, it was met with enthusiasm and wonder. A frantic discussion took place, over where, how and more importantly why! I used the boys for inspiration and by the
ing local councillors, getting 1,000 people to sign a petition, taking a £40,000 loan on my house, raising money, finalising skatepark designs and most important of all writing funding applications. The biggest one by far was for Coast to Capital. A lovely lady called Amanda Geel, took me through the form, and that constant help and support was invaluable to me as I had never written anything like that before. The £36,000 which we received was amazing and made a huge difference to the start-up of the business. We opened in 2014 and have had over 100,000 people ride the park. We have won two national awards and three regional awards. We have bred the World Scooter Champion and regularly have world class riders visit us. We have worked with most of the schools in the local area and we are incredibly proud of our facility, community and the team who run it.”
There will be a number of opportunities to join the Coast to Capital Board in 2019 including as our Vice Chairman. If you are interested in finding out more about getting involved in the work of Coast to Capital as a Board member or supporting the delivery of our strategy please contact Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs Katie.Nurcombe@coast2capital.org.uk.
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COAST TO CAPITAL Ridgeview Winemakers
Awarded a Coast to Capital Regional Growth Fund grant of £29,089 Tamara Roberts joined Ridgeview, the family’s English sparkling wine making business, as General Manager and became CEO in 2014. Tamara has overseen growth from the original 25k bottles per annum to 300k bottles and is currently managing the next growth phase which will see production reaching 600k by 2020. This expansion at Ridgeview has been supported by two Coast to Capital grants; in 2014 towards the purchase of a new bottling line to increase capacity and in 2016 assisting the renovation of their new Head Office.
2018 has been a fantastic year for Ridgeview as they continue amazing international success, culminating in being awarded “Winemaker of the Year” in the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition 2018. This is on the back of Ridgeview’s biggest and best ever harvest. As a reward for Tamara’s tireless efforts at Ridgeview, and the wider business community, she was awarded joint winner of ‘International Business Woman of the Year’, at the Sussex Business Women in Excellence Awards.
Amanda Geel
Coast to Capital pays tribute to a respected business advisor who did so much to help small businesses in the region It was with very great sadness that I heard of Amanda Geel’s passing on New Year’s Eve. I had the pleasure and privilege of working with Amanda for a number of years. She was passionate about her work and showed extraordinary commitment to supporting businesses. Many, many businesses in the South East have been impacted by Amanda’s advice, guidance and support in accessing funding. She was wise, kind, caring and great fun to work with - I will miss her. Julie Kapsalis, Coast to Capital Board Member Amanda was a big part of the Sussex business community. She joined the Coast to Capital Growth Hub service in September 2016 initially as a Business Adviser in the West Sussex and rural areas, assisting growing companies access finance and achieve their growth aspirations.
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Amanda had a wealth of business support experience and held various senior management and advisory roles. Amanda had previously worked for the Green Growth Platform and also as a Business Development Adviser for the Coast to Capital Growth Grants at the University of Chichester. She built an excellent reputation in business support over the past 15 years and was very well connected and regarded in the South East. Her knowledge and experience of the local business environment was far reaching, having held Senior Manage-
ment and Business Advisory roles at Business Link, University of Chichester and the Innovation & Growth team, as well as Director positions at Surrey and Adur Enterprise Gateways. Amanda took on the role of Growth Grants Manager in November 2017 to lead on the development of the grants programme that had been brought back in house to be delivered directly by Coast to Capital. She was a real specialist in helping growth companies access funding to support their innovation and growth, and achieved a 96% success rate helping businesses prepare for grant applications – for which she was rightly proud. Our condolences go out to all of Amanda’s loved ones and those close to her. Malcolm Brabon, Coast to Capital Head of Services
BUSINESS SURVEY
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The deal-maker Adrian Alexander, corporate finance partner at FRP Advisory LLP, explains the process of buying or selling a business. Interview by Ian Trevett
A
drian Alexander has been working on merger and acquisition deals for approximately 30 years across the South East of England. He reveals the process almost always starts with a bit of a shock… “Business owners like to know how much their company is worth and I am almost always asked this question.” says Adrian. “They usually have an idea in their mind of the value of their company, but often this can be over-inflated for a whole range of reasons. During my time valuing companies, there have only been a few occasions where I’ve had to tell a business owner that they had underestimated the value! “We will always give them a realistic valuation - there is no point getting hopes up for a sale price that they won’t achieve. We strive to get the best deal for the seller, in any case.” Once the owners are comfortable that
their valuation expectations can be met, Adrian and his team can start the sale process: “It is at this point we can discuss the next steps and get the process moving. The first task is to write the information memorandum. This includes the history of the business, its USPs,
“Although it is ultimately a marketing document and needs to highlight the real ‘value added’ areas that will interest a buyer, it is important that the information memorandum is accurate as the buyer will not want any surprises when they undertake the due diligence. Ideally due diligence should be confirmatory, rather than uncover any
“Business owners like to know how much their company is worth and I am almost always asked this question” a financial summary, highlighting the maintainable earnings that the buyer can expect once they own the company, the opportunities open to the business, operational details, the market it operates in and any other information that is relevant. It should provide enough information, so a potential buyer is in a position to make an informed offer.
An example of a recent deal brokered by Adrian Alexander
problems or issues. If these are uncovered during the completion process it can kill the deal, or at the very least result in a reduced price or increased warranties and indemnities. “We will search for potential buyers through our specialist national research team. We also liaise across our national Corporate Finance team who keep a close watch on the market and have a range of sector experience. They can provide intelligence on trade or private equity or other potential interested parties. By using a centralised system we can find buyers across the UK and from overseas, rather than just rely on local networks. FRP Advisory belongs to an international accountancy network called Prime Global, which means we are plugged into 80-90 countries.
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“Once we have a shortlist of serious interested parties we arrange meetings, start the offer process and carry out negotiations. At the point we have a preferred bidder and a deal acceptable to our client, we then draft the Heads of Agreement and liaise with the law-
CORPORATE FINANCE yers, accountants and other advisers through the completion process. It is very much a collaborative approach, and we see their accountants, for instance, as being part of the team.” It all sounds so simple! Of course, in reality, many businesses are not ready to be sold, or at least, they are not in position to maximise the best value. Adrian explains that in many cases it is the long game to achieve the owner’s ambitions. There is a huge amount that can be done to improve the value and get the business ready so the sale process is as painless as possible: “We can help with exit planning, where an owner is looking to prepare a business for sale in two or three years’ time. We will value the company as it is and find out what the owner is looking to achieve, so we can then put a strategic plan in place. It may be a case of achieving their objectives through organic growth, appointing key personnel or maybe acquisitions. We look at all the ways the business can build value and prepare for a more successful sale and then monitor their progress.
businesses struggled with the bank debt and a lot of vendors were left with money still to be owed to them. As a result, these methods have fallen from favour. You would have management buyouts where the new owners would find themselves burdened with a lot of debt, and they probably weren’t aware
of what they were letting themselves in for. “In the last decade, we have seen companies concentrate on paying off their bank borrowing, consolidating and then the owners paying themselves increasing remuneration and dividends.
“You need to be sale-ready at all times, as you never know when you are going to be approached”
“It is never too early to prepare for selling your business, even at the start-up stage. Having an end game in mind when you start a business can help drive value and provide direction. “You need to be sale-ready at all times, as you never know when you are going to be approached. Who knows when the phone will ring with that call? A lot of deals are happening ‘off-market’ where someone calls and offers to buy the business. If you are not prepared for that call, then you are already on the back foot.” In between the options of a quick sale and a long-term plan to make the business saleable, there is a middle way that has become much more popular over the last decade. “Since the recession there has been a rise in alternative exit structures,” says Adrian. “Formerly it was just a case of either a trade sale or a sale to the management (“MBO”). A lot of the MBOs were highly geared but when the recession hit, many of the
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CORPORATE FINANCE “We do work on the acquisitions side as well, and we can undertake proactive acquisition searches. We use our research team and have a large network of intermediaries to help find the right target businesses. We are proactive and will discreetly let shareholders know that there is an interest in the business. They might not be keen to sell straight away, but you often find that they will get in touch at a later date.
Many companies have become ‘lifestyle’ companies with the risks associated with not investing for the future. Rather than take out big dividends, there has been a realisation that the best investment for the future is their own company. However, for this to continue you have to incentivise managers to grow the business. We have seen more ‘twostep exits’, where managers are offered the opportunity to have partial ownership. The owners can take some capital off the table at step one without over-gearing the business. Then the managers are highly incentivised to grow the business and the owners can start to take more of a back seat.
pact has the economic uncertainty had on activity? “Some people are holding off on the decisions to sell until there is more clarity over our economic situation, replies Adrian. “But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it allows businesses to get their house in order and ensure they are properly sale-ready. The danger of delay is that you might become a ‘lifestyle’ business, stop investing in innovation and start to flatline. In which case, when you do come to sell, you will find it much harder. It’s easy to fall behind competitors and behind in technology. It is quite a dangerous time for a business. It is vital to keep the management engaged and motivated to keep momentum high. For those who want to sell now, we are still seeing international buyers and private equity continue to demonstrate an appetite for acquisitions. M+A activity levels in the UK still remain high despite the uncertainty.”
“It is never too early to prepare for selling your business”
“At step two, either the managers re-finance to take over total control or a trade buyer comes in - and both the owner and the managers benefit. An extra advantage of a partial sale is that owners can take advantage of Capital Gains Tax Entrepreneurs’ Relief before, as most people suspect, the relief is removed.” No interview on the M&A market can avoid the obvious question: what im-
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“A lot of acquisitions are reactive, or you may find that businesses just look to take over competitors. This is only worthwhile if there is a strategy in place rather than doing it for the sake of it. With a proactive search, you define what it is you are looking for and we can help find the right fit. You should ask if the target business can actually add something to the bigger picture and is value enhancing. You should know exactly why you want to buy the business.”
About FRP Advisory http://www.frpadvisory.com FRP Advisory provides a professional and considered approach to problem solving. With 50 partners and more than 300 staff operating from 19 offices across England and Scotland, FRP Advisory is one of the UK’s largest independent business advisory firms specialising in corporate restructuring, corporate finance, forensic services, pensions advisory and debt advisory, with a strong reputation and track record for creating, preserving, and recovering value across a range of complex situations. Its advisors work at board level, with investors, lenders, government and regulatory bodies, plus other professionals and individuals requiring professional support. FRP Advisory provides a wide range of services, as well as specialist industry experience to enable the delivery of sector specific solutions. Contact: Adrian Alexander, Corporate Finance Partner adrian.alexander@frpadvisory.com
So far the emphasis has been on how to sell a business, but Adrian is keen to point out that he is just as experienced in helping clients buy businesses:
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HORSE RACING
Racing Round-up at
T
he 2018/19 season is proving to be a cracker at Plumpton with some star names gracing our hallowed turf. Our first December fixture had an electric atmosphere with racing aficionados and Christmas parties mingling beautifully to watch Kalashnikov saunter home for a victory, as well as favouritism for the Arkle at Cheltenham in March. Eden De Houx was an impressive winner of the bumper, and has already won a listed race at Ascot since. Our Sussex National day was one to savour, with packed grandstands leaving the Christmas blues behind and fair weather allowing all racegoers to savour one of the best races Plumpton has ever witnessed. Six quality horses lined up with representatives locally from Sussex as well as the powerhouse yards from the West Country and Lambourn coming
Plumpton together with international raiders from Ireland and France – what an occasion! It was the highest rated French horse, Master Dino who came home ahead of the gallant Knocknanuss (from Gary Moore’s yard in Sussex) in a race for the ages. The Sussex National itself was won by the Two Amigos, a gallant front run, and whose name will now adorn our walls and winners boards across the site. From January to May we run 11 race fixtures and there is something for everyone. The midweek racedays showcase some great competitive action and great days
for entertaining clients, whilst our Sussex Day sprinkles some local flavours onto a really competitive card on April 7th. Ladies Day gives everyone a chance to dress up and enjoy the sunshine (fingers crossed!) on May 12th, but Easter combines all this into one action packed weekend on Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd April. With a £50k feature race and over £100k of prize money on offer each day, loads of family entertainment (and where kids go free), some great restaurants and live music, it’s a Bank Holiday weekend not to be missed. The 2018/19 season at Plumpton is one that is living up to all expectations
2019 FiXtures AT PLUMPTON RACECOURSE Wed 13th Feb Injured Jockey Fund Charity Raceday Mon 25th Feb February Raceday
Mon 11th Mar Anglo-Irish Raceday Mon 18th Mar Sky Sports Racing Spring Jumps
Sun 21st & Mon 22nd Apr Easter Festival Sun 12th May Ladies Day
Sun 7th Apr Sussex Raceday
Advance Standard Racedays Tickets available from: £13 Advance Picnic Enclosure Tickets available from: £13 (not available at every fixture)
Tel. 01273 890383 racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk
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THE 2019 GATWICK DIAMOND BUSINESS AWARDS CELEBRATING BUSINESS SUCCESS NEXT MONTH Jeff Alexander, Chief Executive of Gatwick Diamond Business, looks ahead to the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2019 Celebrating Business Excellence
entrants get meaningful feedback – we aim to ensure that all entrants benefit, not just the finalists.
L
ast year we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards. We now look forward to the next 10 years with the GDBA 2019 Awards ceremony on March 21st at the Copthorne Effingham Park. How do the Gatwick Diamond Awards stand out from the crowd? First, there is the Gatwick Diamond itself. With Gatwick Airport at its economic heart, the Gatwick Diamond formally covers East Surrey and West Sussex. But at gdb we are not bound by administrative boundaries that mean little to businesses. We have members – and Award winners - from East Sussex, Kent, Brighton and Hove, and Croydon who are attracted by being part of our dynamic £24 billion economy. Importantly, the Awards celebrate the totality of the Gatwick Diamond economy, they are not exclusive to our member businesses.
Third, it is the commitment of our sponsors and delivery partners. Without them it would be impossible to stage an awards programme of the scale and prestige that the Gatwick Diamond business community has come to expect. Last, but by no means least, our big awards night is known for being great fun. We are not shy when it comes to glitz and a touch of pizzazz. And we take a calculated risk with our entertainment, as those who “enjoyed” Brian Connelly’s riskier jokes last year can testify! For 2019 we have a very different, but I am sure equally entertaining, Master of Ceremonies, Marcus Brigstocke. “A comedian, actor and satirist”, Marcus is a regular on BBC radio and also has an impressive list of TV, film and theatre credits which include, Love Actually, Have I got News for You, QI and Live at the Apollo. The Awards are perhaps our highest profile activity but just part of our wider and distinctive membership offer.
Join as we recognise the passion of andthe talentinclusive of our business community Weusstand out because
nature of our membership package our focus on connecting busiinand their work, and have demonstrated a real commitment to the region. The Awards have become one of the most prestigious business occasions – celebrating the best of the best across the Gatwick Diamond. nesses rather than selling services.
The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards celebrate people and businesses who have shown innovation and inspiration
For more information and to download an entry form, visit:
We offer our members a wide selection of opportunities for effective networking, including our monthly members’ meetings each attended by over a hundred businesses. We also include free promotional opportunities through our magazine “The Source”, our website, social media and our membership directory. For more information on gdb membership call 01293 440088.
WWW.GATWICKDIAMONDBUSINESSAWARDS.COM
Our equally important but perhaps less obvious role involves influencing and lobbying on behalf of our members. Our aim is to encourage investment that benefits our members and, more generally, to champion the Gatwick Diamond and make it an even better place to do business.
So, join us for the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards to celebrate the successes of our businesses and of course to have a great time. To book your table visit www.gatwickdiamondbusinessawards.com or call 01293 813888.
Second, our Awards are so much more than the fun and glitter of the big night itself. We expect a lot from the businesses who enter. We put them through an exacting process that includes visits from our category judges. We also run “How to Win” seminars in which judges and past winners pass on the benefit of their experience. And we ensure that all
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@gdbizawards
CORPORATE
Health Wellbeing &
It has long been recognised that a healthy workforce has a dramatic effect on productivity, leads to less absent days, increased motivation, company loyalty and overall economic prosperity.
Throughout the New Year, this magazine will partner with a selection of major companies in the sector to offer advice on how to deal with the growing crisis of avoidable employee absent days. We intend to lead the way on this subject to aid in the economic prosperity of our region.
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Health & Wellbeing ‘We can easily try to steal time from sleep. The net result is that we are tired during the day’
Men 10.9%
Women 19.8%
Women in fulltime employment are nearly twice as likely to have a common mental health problem as full-time employed men
1 in 6.8
people experience mental health problems in the workplace
(14.7%)
‘Educating people will only go so far. We need to restructure their environment’
“We are embedding health and well-being at the heart of our business strategy because our people are our greatest asset, and we recognize that a healthy, happy and committed workforce is vital to our business success.” Alex Gourlay, MD, Boots UK
“Those who think they have no time for healthy eating, will sooner or later have to find time for illness.” Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby
61%
of employees say health is their biggest concern for the future
‘Employees should be on the balance sheet in the same way as you account for cash. People think it’s a bolt-on’
£
‘Financial worries can affect motivation and sickness absence’ 2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
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Does wellbeing pay...? By Paul Ollerton, Managing Director at ViiSana Ltd who wholeheartedly ‘get it’, and who need holding back from spending their entire budget on wellness, and those who honestly see wellness as a far-away land of gyms, treadmills and bottles of green juice (at a recent meeting the owner chuckled with his colleagues at the concept of their employees ‘being well’!). Paul Ollerton
N
o self-respecting business owner can avoid the growing emphasis being put on the wellbeing of their employees. And quite rightly so. Gone are the days of offering a competitive salary, backed with good leadership and long-term career prospects. Our people want more – they want to feel well at work and at home, and they choose to work in an environment that enhances their lives. But it begs a big question – ‘does the investment in wellbeing for a business owner give a real return?’ The purpose of this month’s article is to put forward an honest view from an (honest) business owner. Many of those who will read this article will suffer from the same conundrum, that cashflow tends to dictate whether day-to-day operational investment decisions are made or postponed. My aim is to give some perspective to this question – should spend on wellbeing sit at the top or near the bottom of the decision pile?
Two sides of the same coin
I’m coming at this from a position of insight. Every day I speak to business owners, singing the virtues of investment in wellness. I tend to get reactions that sit in two camps – those
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However, the answer to unlock the potential for both camps ultimately lies in proving one thing – does any investment lead to improvement of the business performance?
A vicious circle at play
Before we talk about demonstrating a return on an investment made, the ugly truth is that burying our heads in the sand is costing us money every day. For a long time, traditional business models assume certain costs, particularly sickness absence, as an accepted cost of operation. You even hear horror stories that some institutions
see a certain number of sick days as an ‘entitlement’. The latest government statistics state an annual UK sickness rate of 1.9% (1.7% in the private sector, 2.6% in the public sector, 3.3% in public sector healthcare), which although lower than it has ever been previously, the Office for National Statistics also suggest that as sickness absence falls, presenteeism has increased in line. Whilst we love a good statistic, what this means to business owners is that our people are coming to work ill instead of staying home to recuperate. This is arguably worse – but what’s for sure is that both scenarios lead to red numbers on the accounts. By the way, 1.9% is the equivalent of 4.1 days per year sick for every employee, and if we believe what we read, the average cost of employment across the UK is £107 per day, so that’s a direct sickness cost of over £400 per employee per year.
Sickness absence leads to a reduction in productivity
Which impacts revenue and profit
From vicious... BUT… it cuts a lot deeper than this, as the problem of absenteeism/ presenteeism creates a vicious circle that impacts far more than the cost of lost wages:
Which ultimately leads to higher levels of attrition / or lower retention
The lack of productivity leads to more pressure on other employees
The increased pressure leads to a lack of motivation / engagement
Health & Wellbeing Whilst there is no silver bullet solution, understanding what causes the sickness absence in the first place begins the journey to wellness (which includes financial wellness).
From vicious to virtuous
It stands to reason that addressing the causes that drive sickness absence leads to a better place - and probably the most logical way to achieve this is to pro-actively implement a programme that addresses those causes. If you join the growing number of businesses who do so, there are many reportable benefits that will impact your bottom line. These will include: • Lower sickness – (to state the obvious) in some cases, by as much as 35%. • Lower attrition – companies who invest in wellness report figures that are 10% better than those who don’t. • Higher productivity – the Britain’s Healthiest Workplace 2017 study reports an average 16% improvement in productivity loss. • Better engagement – staff align to the company values when they feel good. So the vicious circle becomes the virtuous circle – because the improve-
paying for gym membership solves the problem.
1.9%
UK sickness rate
which is the equivalent of..
4.1
days per year for every employee
which is also the equivalent of..
£107
a day
1.7% private sector 2.6% public sector 3.3% p ublic sector healthcare ments complement and drive each other, resulting in exponential results. If managed correctly and appropriately the financial impact of the above will vastly outweigh the cost of both the underlying absence but also the cost of implementing a programme. But…
A word of warning
Reducing avoidable sickness absence is not a simple tick box exercise. I speak to far too many people who think that providing a company gym or
Lower sickness (to state the obvious) – in some cases, by as much as 35%
Better engagement – staff align to the company values when they feel good
... to virtuous Higher productivity – the Britain’s Healthiest Workplace study reports an average 16% improvement in productivity loss
Lower attrition – companies who invest in wellness report figures that are 10% better than those who don’t
The answer is not just to throw money at the problem. All this will achieve is even more red numbers on the accounts. The aim when creating a culture of wellbeing is to positively change the way people live their lives, so that this positive change manifests in a better performing business. This is primarily achieved through the company culture, and it generally starts with management. My advice when setting out on the journey is to be realistic. Ask for opinion, get feedback along the way, and look for evidence of the sustainable small steps that lead to bigger improvements. It also won’t happen overnight – depending on your starting point, to create something meaningful will take time.
In conclusion
We asked the question ‘does the investment in wellbeing for a business owner give a real return? The answer is a resounding yes – and prompts and even BIGGER question – ‘Can you afford not to invest in wellbeing at work?’ As the main sponsor of Platinum’s Health & Wellbeing section, we will be regularly contributing with simple tips to embed the right culture into your business Watch this space in future editions – our aim is to give you implementable ideas that won’t cost you the earth. Next month we will be outlining how to go about forming a plan, and what to include.
In the meantime, if you would like to discuss your company’s individual health concerns/challenges, or if you would just like to discuss ideas for implementing a programme at your business, please get in touch: Email: gethealthy@viisana.com Phone: 0333 772 0761 Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn
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Make a move
Sedentary behaviour and prolonged computer work can lead to serious health problems. Posturite, the leading workplace health and wellbeing specialists, tell us why we all need to move more
A
s a result of millions of years of evolution, you are now the guardian of a complex musculoskeletal system consisting of hundreds of bones, muscles, ligaments and other connective tissues specifically designed to give you the support, strength and agility to move around. While our bodies are perfectly geared up for wandering the prairies, looking for food and warding off sharp-toothed animals, our lifestyles have moved on somewhat. Modern first-world life is designed to be as low effort as possible: we like everything to be easy, convenient and immediately available. This is the philosophy behind the traditional office. Gather all employees in one place between specific times, with allocated workstations and set breaks for optimum productivity. It’s sound logic, except that humans, physiologically and behaviourally, don’t actually operate like this. We are generally healthier when we’re mixing rest with regular movement. Studies have linked sedentary behaviour with increased risk of being overweight, obese, having type 2 diabetes, developing some types of cancer, and dying prematurely. It also slows the metabolism, which makes it harder for the body to break down fat or regulate blood sugar and blood pressure. In essence, one of the worst things you can do for your health is spend a lot of time sitting down. According to WHO, physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality.
Above and right: The Opløft Sit-Stand Platform
breaks and ergonomically set up equipment, workers often find themselves in uncomfortable positions without adequate support. The repetitive nature of computer work eventual-
ly tires muscles out, leading to injuries that cost businesses millions each year in lost working days.
know that when we don’t move for a long time we can start to feel sluggish, tired, unfocused and uninspired. One University of California study found that people who move less experience thinning in the area of their brain responsible for memory formation. More worrying is that even high levels of exercise didn’t seem to stop the brain degeneration, suggesting it is the frequency of movement and not the intensity that matters. The question is: how can we move more when our jobs require us to be seated?
Research shows it’s bad for our bodies, but how does sitting all day actually make us feel? Empirically, we
That’s where products like sit-stand desks come in. University College London recently used our Opløft Sit-Stand
“According to WHO, physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality”
Prolonged computer work can also increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Without regular movement
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BUSINESS SURVEY Health & Wellbeing
“While our bodies are perfectly geared up for wandering the prairies, looking for food and warding off sharp-toothed animals, our lifestyles have moved on somewhat” Platform in a trial that found a profound improvement in office workers’ performance after a week of sit-stand working. It doesn’t take much to be more active, but it could make a huge difference to your health. We’ve put together a few more ideas for Platinum Business readers to get started with:
1
Use a sit-stand desk The simple act of moving from sitting to standing, when repeated throughout the day, activates your muscles, raises the heart rate and gets you out of poor postures.
2
Park further from your office Even if it’s just a few spaces further than your usual spot, those extra steps add up over days, weeks, months and years.
3
Wear a fitness watch to track activity Everyone loves a graph. Quantify and track your progress with a wearable watch to keep your motivation levels up.
4
Walk at lunch Don’t lunch ‘al-desko’ - use your break to go for a walk. You could even invite colleagues along or turn it into a walking meeting.
5
Stretch regularly A series of gentle desk-based stretches every hour will relieve tension and keep your body feeling supple.
6
Lead by example Active working, which is what all of this is, can be tricky to start in an office where there’s long been a culture of presenteeism (appearing to work for longer hours by being present at a desk). It takes a bold person to get things going. Help yourself to the many resources you can find at posturite.co.uk/useful-resources to inspire your co-workers. Pretty soon, your whole office will feel healthier, more energised and productive.
About Posturite Workplace health and wellbeing specialists Posturite have long been champions of moving more at work. They sold their first sit-stand desk in 1994 and have been refining their designs ever since. At the end of last year the company unveiled their most exciting sit-stand desk yet: Opløft, Scandinavian-inspired and designed to be easily carried between workspaces or stored away to cater for the rising number of home workers and hot-deskers. Find out more at: posturite.co.uk/advice-sheets
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A happy holistic workforce DMH Stallard’s focus on a healthy workplace supports the delivery of service excellence
A
ccording to the World Health Organisation, most of us (58%) spend one-third of our adult life at work. With that figure in mind, it’s important that employers do all they can to provide an environment that helps maintain a healthy and happy workforce. DMH Stallard encourage talented staff to progress their career with the firm whilst benefitting from a great working environment that delivers excellent service to clients.
They have been investing in a healthy workplace for some time. The firm’s holistic approach to mental and physical wellbeing is highly regarded and was an influential factor in the assessment that led to a Silver Award from Investors in People (IIP). A dedicated learning and development team has created a comprehensive programme that staff are encouraged to take advantage of, with initiatives covering everything from nutrition and fitness to resilience and positive thinking. Marzia Edwards, Learning & Development Manager, said: “Our IIP Silver Award recognised the significant commitment made by the firm to give colleagues the opportunity to broaden their horizons in terms of healthier living, better physical conditioning, mental
wellbeing and personal development.” Building on the national ‘Learning at Work Week’ initiative, we have designed sessions that have included topics such as mindfulness, nutrition and healthy cooking. Exercise is also actively encouraged with office pilates, yoga and massages organised.
“We introduced a flexibility policy in the summer that has been very well received. Individuals can, when necessary, arrange their hours around personal appointments and family commitments. This may involve working from home or simply starting the day earlier or later, depending on where they need to be.
“A wellbeing policy is much more than ticking a box, it’s about creating a safe and rewarding workplace where people can thrive” Marzia added: “It is heartening that 119 staff attended the resilience and wellbeing workshops during 2018, with many reporting real benefits to their lives, inside and outside of the working environment.” At the core of DMH Stallard’s integrated wellbeing strategy is the adoption of HR policies and procedures that are geared towards balancing the needs of the business, with the functional flexibility that allows people to operate most effectively. Caroline Wright, HR Manager, said:
“We also work very hard to support career development by ensuring staff can access knowledge-based training and fully engage with continuous professional development. A regular staff survey gives all staff the opportunity to let us know what they think, and it’s anonymous too so people feel comfortable sharing whatever they like.” Developing a physical workspace that reflects high modern standards is also an integral part of the wellbeing philosophy at DMH Stallard. The firm’s head of office operations, Graham Lawrence, said: “Good design is fundamentally important and we’ve worked hard to create bright, open plan offices wherever possible, and certainly brought that ambition to bear when we relocated from Gainsborough House to Origin One in the centre of Crawley. “We created a bigger breakout room than we have had previously to allow staff to get away from their screens in a comfortable environment where they can interact with others. A new coffee machine was also installed and areas used for printing and copying were sensitively screened to limit noise disturbances in other areas. Every office
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Health & Wellbeing
“According to the World Health Organisation, most of us (58%) spend onethird of our adult life at work” is also equipped with a defibrillator. I hope they won’t ever be used but quick access to a defibrillator can literally mean the difference between life and death.” And it’s not all work and no play at the firm. A social programme from Brighton to London, and all the offices in between, keeps people busy, whether it’s fundraising for a host of fantastic good causes, representing DMH Stallard at football, cricket and volleyball, to name just a few sports, and, of course, in the many quizzes that staff take part in. Vanessa Joll, who is a Partner at DMH Stallard, coordinates many of the events outside office hours. She said: “Having a really busy social calendar is ideal for getting to know colleagues better, especially in a relaxed and fun environment. It’s great for team building and after a busy day in the office or in court, taking part in a competition is a good way to let off some steam, especially when we win!” Richard Pollins, Managing Partner at DMH Stallard, said: “The firm has grown quickly over recent years and with that growth comes great responsibility to have in place a framework of support that underpins both professional and personal development.
6%
Only of IIP businesses have achieved the Silver Award. In their latest report on DMH Stallard from July 2018, comments by the IIP assessors included: ‘The firm is well managed with high standards of governance and has very clear people processes, which are consistently applied across the business.’ Richard Pollins
“One of our central strategic goals is to make DMH Stallard a better place to work. Wellbeing is at the heart of this. With the expertise and experience of dedicated HR, and Learning and Development teams, we’ve made wellbeing integral to the firm’s culture. “Of the many steps that demonstrate our progress, I’m particularly proud that, in addition to signing the Time to Change Employer Pledge, we now have six trained mental health first aiders within DMH Stallard.
‘DMH Stallard strongly believes in investing in its people and continually reviews its HR practices to ensure effectiveness in the way in which it engages with its people.’ ‘The firm continues to invest heavily in learning and development and people’s personal and professional growth.’
“A wellbeing policy is much more than ticking a box, it’s about creating a safe and rewarding workplace where people can thrive.”
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Business
with a bump
Pregnancy and the working woman. Strategies to get you through the 9-5 whilst pregnant. Words: Kate Morton
Y
ou’ve hit one of your most life-changing experiences, you’re going to have a baby. You’ve spread the word amongst family and friends and now it’s time to manage your working situation, be it employed or self-employed. Whilst facing possibly one of the most exciting nine months you will ever have, you will also be contending with new thought processes about your career, income, and your future. Your brain will be somersaulting with questions and decisions, however, remembering yourself and your baby is your number one priority.
rate among women of ‘prime working age’ (aged 25-54) is up from 57% in 1975 to a record high of 78% in 2017 (www. ifs.org.uk). So what does this mean? For some women, having a baby often coincides with a time when their career is taking off, however, pregnancy at work doesn’t have to be a constant struggle. Many women continue to work
with your feet up sipping ginger tea? If you’re healthy and experiencing a normal pregnancy, you will no doubt decide to continue to work, with the help of a few adjustments and changes to priorities. Some jobs may be ok at the beginning of pregnancy and get more challenging towards the end; schedules and hours may need to be altered and you may need an extra pair of hands at your desk.
“For some women, having a baby often coincides with a time when their career is taking off, however, pregnancy at work doesn’t have to be a constant struggle”
On average, around 250 babies are born every minute, that’s more than 130 million a year and it is projected that there will be 11 billion people on the planet by 2100. With that comes an almost continual rise in the proportion of women in employment in the UK. The employment
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throughout their pregnancy without any problems, yet pregnancy causes many changes to the body as well as to overall health and wellbeing, and your goal is to stay safe and healthy for both yourself and your baby. So how do you survive the working day? Is continuing to work a good idea or should you just stay at home
Between physical changes, fatigue (sometimes extreme), bursts of energy, emotional highs and lows, and frequent trips to the bathroom, here are a few strategies to keep you calm and collected at work.
Take frequent breaks
You may get more tired than usual, especially in the first and last trimesters, so make sure you take short breaks. Use the opportunity at lunch to eat and rest, or go for a short walk in the fresh
Health & Wellbeing air to get your heart pumping to help with that afternoon slump.
Boost energy levels
Snacks are imperative during pregnancy especially if you suffer from morning sickness (which unfortunately isn’t always limited to the morning). Take healthy snacks with you to munch on throughout the day and remember to keep it simple. Ginger, peppermint, and lemon tea will help calm your stomach whilst snacks such as crackers, pretzels, toast and even soup can help a churning tummy. And remember to stay hydrated!
Manage stress
Stress unfortunately comes hand in hand with pregnancy so keep any emotional slumps at bay with lots of early nights and gentle exercise which will help release endorphins and get the blood flowing. Meditation,
massage, yoga and even acupuncture are all good ways to help reduce stress and anxiety.
Ask for help
Work is pilling up on your desk and you’ve got a deadline looming - don’t face it alone. Take a deep breathe, stay calm and ask for help. If you can’t complete it all in time, say you need extra time and help. If you work for yourself, keep clients in the loop, give them realistic time scales and schedule your meetings wisely - don’t be overambitious. Regular exercise during pregnancy can improve your posture and decrease some common discomforts such as backache and fatigue. It will keep you fit during pregnancy, ultimately preparing you for the physical challenge of labour and birth. It will improve muscle tone, strengthen your core and boost your mood.
The employment rate among women of ‘prime working age’ (aged 25-54) is up from 57% in 1975 to a record high of 78% in 2017
75% 57%
1975
2017
(www.ifs.org.uk)
Here are four desk-based exercises to keep your body moving in the right way during pregnancy.
Leg extensions
Good for strengthening your thighs and boosting circulation - keep your feet flat on the floor and slowly lift one knee to a comfortable height, keeping the leg lifted, slowly straighten the leg without locking the knee, repeat on each side.
Pelvic Floor Exercises
This is one exercise no-one will ever know you’re doing. A strong pelvic floor can support your baby and your bladder in pregnancy, help rotate your baby’s head during labour, and help prevent prolapse and stress incontinence once your baby is born.
Exercise Ball
Depending on your working environment, where possible, swap your chair for an exercise ball. Sitting and bouncing lightly on a ball will work your core muscles, encourage better posture and relax the lower back and hip muscles make sure your ball is firmly inflated.
Regular stretching PLATINUM TOP TIP: All the furniture at Platinum Towers is from Posturite and one side benefit of our sit stand desks is that when one of our team was pregnant, she would raise the desk, slide her bump in and then lower the desk to just above her bump, thus allowing her to decrease the reach to her keyboard. Brilliant!
Your joints and ligaments are more relaxed during pregnancy so take time to slowly stretch every day to realign muscles and ease any strain on joints. Take time to walk around the office don’t stay desk-bound all day.
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Let the conversation flow
Good communication is a key factor in increasing wellness and boosting performance. Kim Evans, Wellbeing & Performance Coach and Mindfulness Lead tells us more
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ast month, we opened our wellbeing article with the results of a study suggesting that an increase in wellbeing could bring about an improvement in workplace performance, amongst other positive outcomes. It also showed that employers can have an influence on an individual's sense of wellbeing in the way they run a workplace. Mandy Brook’s report ended with the 11 key factors for increasing wellbeing to boost performance in general, with the key thread being good, open communication with colleagues and employees.
So, where and how to start that conversation? I would suggest quite a radical approach, in that you have an open and honest conversation with yourself first - how are YOU feeling? How are YOUR levels of wellbeing, and are they affecting your workplace in a positive or a potentially negative way? Let's face it, February is a gloomy month weather wise, with Christmas and most likely any New Year's resolutions a distant memory. If you're anything like me, all you want to do is eat your own body weight in carbs and hibernate until spring arrives. (If you're feeling upbeat and positive give yourself a huge pat on the back, but remember to see how others around you are doing). So, what can we do to help keep motivation levels up, and support the positive mental health of those around us at work? Firstly, check in with people - ask how they are and whether they need a little extra help, perhaps simply acknowledging that February has the potential for motivation levels to drop but reminding them how important they are to your business, and how much they are valued. Try it, you may be surprised at how easy it is to make a big difference to someone's day. There are many tried and scientifically tested ways to support mental and physical wellbeing, from brain and gut boosting food to daylight lamps that will get your people through this period and emerge into spring like butterflies, with renewed vigour and vitality, all whilst feeling the love and support of a boss who values them!
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Here are a few free mood boosters to help your employees: Lack of daylight can produce symptoms of persistent low mood and tiredness, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD for short. Lumie.com make a desk lamp which can alleviate symptoms with an hour a day's use. One lamp could be shared between a number of workers, and if anyone is diagnosed as suffering with SAD, the purchase will be VAT free. Gentle exercise is a mood booster - it relieves stress, improves memory and creativity and helps us to sleep better. Consider replacing an email with a one-to-one conversation whilst taking a walk. Meditation is one of the greatest things we can do to support our health and happiness and there are plenty of apps to download to guide you through the process. Going to bed a little earlier and listening to a meditation can help you drift off to sleep more easily, or waking up a little earlier to listen to a Mindfulness of Breath meditation will help to calm and prepare you for the day ahead. Try apps from either the Oxford MBCT Centre, or Finding Peace in a Frantic World, both available to download for free. Kim Evans is a Wellbeing & Performance Coach and Mindfulness Lead at The Wellbeing & Performance Company. You can contact her at kim@twpc.co.uk or call the team on 01424 236900 www.twpc.co.uk
Health & Wellbeing
How Occupational Health can be good for business We all know that being in work is good for people’s health and wellbeing, but it’s increasingly being recognised that a healthy workforce is beneficial to employers too says Harry Sherrard, Director of Sherrards Occupational Health.
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nlike many European countries, there is no statutory requirement for employers to provide access to Occupational Health services in the UK but organisations who invest in workplace health (via risk assessments and health screenings etc.) can expect to see improvements in employee performance which can have a positive impact on business.
• Providing management reports in the initial stages of ill health when an employee is still present in the workplace • Providing return to work medicals when an employee has been absent from the workplace for some time
What is Occupational Health?
Occupational Health is a specialist branch of medicine focusing on the health of staff in the workplace. Occupational Health professionals are uniquely positioned between the medical profession, employers and employees and aim to find out what impact work has on staff health and to make sure that staff are fit to undertake the role they are employed to do - emotionally and physically.
What services can be provided?
Occupational Health providers can offer a wide range of services designed specifically to meet the needs of all organisations. Many of these services are proactive, aimed at keeping staff well and at work and not just about supporting staff when they are ill. Occupational Health provides independent and professional advice. The range of services on offer is likely to include: • Pre-employment health assessments
• Making recommendations on what adjustments could be considered to ensure a safe and productive working environment for individual employees • Providing health surveillance, a system of checks to ensure employees who are exposed to workplace risks, such as noise or vibration, are supported on an ongoing basis • Advising on lifestyle, wellbeing and health promotion services to increase overall productivity and staff retention
What are the benefits of using an Occupational Health service?
Occupational Health services can play an important role in helping to maintain workplace health and wellbeing in all organisations. Too often employers don’t believe there is enough evidence to justify spending their money on Occupational Health services and as a result a significant proportion of employees in the UK do not have access to these services. However, having access to an Occupational Health service gives staff and managers access to professional specialist advice which can help to protect, maintain and support staff with health issues. The service has the advantage of being able to work closely with the manager to understand the complexities of roles within an organisation and can therefore suggest adjustments and support which someone without that knowledge may not be able to offer. In conclusion providing a professional, competent Occupational Health service to your staff has many advantages, and will bring added value to your organisation. Sherrards Occupational Health helps organisations to promote and maintain the physical, and mental wellbeing of their employees. For further information contact the team by calling 01273 834120 or visit www.sherrardsoccupationalhealth.com
• Providing organisational wide steps to reduce sickness absence.
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Brighton HarSPA IS LOCATED WITHIN BRIGHTON HARBOUR HOTEL ON BRIGHTON’S POPULAR SEAFRONT, PROVIDING A RELAXING RETREAT IN THE HEART OF THIS LIVELY CITY. THE SPA BOASTS A HYDROTHERAPY POOL, AN INDOOR 11 METRE HEATED SWIMMING POOL, SCANDINAVIAN HOT TUBS, SAUNA, STEAM ROOM AND URBAN GYM We offer an extensive range of luxurious spa treatments along with everyday beauty needs, including facials, manicures, pedicures and massages. Start 2019 in style with our ‘Make more time offer’. We might not be able to freeze time, but we can help you make more time to relax and revive. FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE VISIT: www.harbourhotels.co.uk/hotels/brighton 64 Kings Rd, Brighton 01273 323221
BOOK A TREATMENT, MONDAY TO THURSDAY, AND WE’LL ADD AN EXTRA 15 MINUTES FOR FREE. THAT’S 15 MINUTES MORE OF ‘ME TIME’ Book a 25 minute treatment and get 40 minutes Book a 40 minute treatment and get 55 minutes Book a 55 minute treatment and get 70 minutes
Exclusive for Platinum Business Magazine readers – quote ‘Platinum Business’ and enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbles on us
Health & Wellbeing
Motivation made easy By Robert Grim, Founder & Owner Revolution Personal Training Studios
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have been a personal trainer since 2001, and in that time, I have lost count of the number of people who have said that they either lack motivation to train or that they felt very motivated over the first month or two of training, before gradually feeling their interest slip. I’ve also spoken to many people who have moved from one big chain gym to another, tried Pilates or power plate sessions, or continually switched their personal trainer – all in the vain hope that this time things will be different. They hope that this new gym or this new exercise class will change their body and that they will be more motivated than ever. Very rarely does this prove to be true.
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Your goal must really excite you And I mean really excite you. Which is why it’s best to try to avoid setting goals such as to ‘tone up’ or ‘get fitter’. It can be very hard to get excited about something as generic as that. Your goal could be to have more energy when spending time with your children, family or friends. It could be to fit into
can be descriptive and use emotional and powerful words, the more motivated you will become. Be specific. Don’t say ‘I want to lose a bit of weight’, say exactly how much weight you want to lose and over what time frame. The combination of setting a goal which excites you and knowing exactly what you want to achieve will not only motivate you to train, but it will also help you to make the right nutritional and lifestyle choices - such as saying no to that packet of crisps, chocolate, biscuits or glass of wine.
“...regularly feeling motivated is much easier to achieve than most of us have been led to believe”
In fact, regularly feeling motivated is much easier to achieve than most of us have been led to believe. It is not some magical formula, but rather a simple process to follow:
a dress or a suit that you love, or to run a 5k event or another endurance event. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what your goal is – it just matters that you are excited about achieving your goal.
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Know exactly what you want When setting your fitness goals, this is no time to be vague. The more you
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Re-visit your goals on the days you don’t want to train Okay, so here’s the disclaimer – you won’t feel motivated before every single training session. That’s when you need to remind yourself of why you started training in the first place, and I make no apologies for revisiting point number one. Your training goal must be a compelling one! Your vision for how healthy you look and feel, and for achieving your goals, has to be right. At first, feeling motivated is vital because it’s what gets us started. However, motivation becomes less important and we can start to rely on the habits and routines which form over time. This means we can achieve our goals both in the short and long term. Good luck.
With studios in Brighton & Hove, and now open in Withdean for more details, visit www.Revolution-PTS.com
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Sussex Super Growth Awards 2019 We introduce three of the finalists from this year’s Sussex Super Growth Awards, a collaboration between asb law, Lloyds Bank and Kreston Reeves, which recognises and celebrates the success of the sixty fastest-growing privately-owned companies across the county
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t’s a busy time for the Sussex Super Growth Awards team who are currently meeting with business leaders from companies across the county to congratulate them on their success. By creating new markets, new jobs and new product lines, these businesses are leading the way in innovation and dynamic leadership. They are growing rapidly and add profit-
able revenues of over £2 billion to the regional economy. The full list of finalists and their growth rates will be published in a special Platinum Business Magazine feature following the Sussex Super Growth Awards breakfast, taking place at The Amex Stadium on Thursday 14th March. We are pleased to introduce three of this year’s finalists and provide some insight to their growth success.
Sussex Super Growth Awards Criteria •P rivately-owned business, trading and registered in Sussex •G rowth in turnover measured over a four-year accounting period based on full accounts information filed at Companies House •M inimum turnover of £2m in base year • Profitable growth in the period For further information about the Sussex Super Growth Awards, please contact: neil.gardner@asb-law.com
Quadrant Group Ltd Quadrant Group Ltd is a simulation and training business founded in 1994 and operating in both civil and military markets. Volume has just passed the £25 million mark in terms of revenues and is growing in all major business segments. The Training Centre at Burgess Hill is developing well and is now an approved Airline Training Organisation. Upgrades are being implemented on the 737NG and A320 full flight simulators and all briefing rooms and classrooms have been rebuilt and equipped with the latest smartboard technology. The Quadrant organisation based in Orlando is the world leader in Simulator Relocations and is looking forward to significant growth in 2019. The Air Traffic Control busi-
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ness based in Bournemouth is a leader in Air Traffic Control simulation and is moving strongly into 2019 with target bookings for the company fiscal year already achieved within seven months. The Military Flight Training business at RAF Waddington continues to deliver high quality training for E-3D AWACS crews. Jeff Sandiford, Group CEO, commented: “The market positioning and spread of business activity at Quadrant is good and when this is coupled with continued growth in the overall training and simulation market it creates significant oppor-
tunity for the company to grow and prosper” www.quadrantgrp.com
BUSINESS AWARDS Phase Electrical (Distributors) Ltd Phase Electrical Distributors Ltd was formed in 2002 with its first branch opening in Hastings. The company began trading with a team of three and the belief that it could offer a local service on a national scale, whilst still retaining the feel of a family-oriented business. The business continues to grow with that philosophy and has opened a further five branches across the South East, currently employing nearly 100 members of staff; seven of which are former apprentices. Phase Electrical ensures competitive pricing by being a member of Fegime UK, which has given it the
Phase Electrical has been recognised with a nomination every year since the launch of the Sussex Super Growth Awards, along with other accolades from within the electrical wholesale industry.
opportunity to form and cement important relationships with the major manufactures in the electrical industry. The company is also a member of and is proud to hold positions on the Board of both the EDA and Fegime UK.
Simon Millard, Director, explained: “We are delighted to see Phase Electrical recognised once again by the Sussex Super Growth Awards. The electrical wholesale sector continues to offer strong business growth opportunities for those companies that focus on stock availability, competitive pricing and strong customer relationships.” www.phase-electrical.co.uk
Sussex Turnery & Moulding Company Ltd (Stamco) Established in 1957, and celebrating over sixty years in business, Stamco is a privately-owned business with strong links to the Sussex community and offering excellent career opportunities across the county.
ers across the south east coast, with branches in Eastbourne, Hastings, Hove, Worthing and Rye.
Inspired Home Interiors has showrooms in Hastings, Eastbourne and Worthing and offers quality kitchens, bespoke bathrooms and beautiful bedrooms from leading brand names including Laura Ashley, Milano, Linear, Dansani and Urbano.
The company’s continued success is due to its dedicated workforce, quality products and services, and a loyal customer base. The company is made up of three core businesses: Stamco Building Supplies, Stamco Timber and Inspired Home Interiors. Stamco Building Supplies is an independent builders’ merchant, serving trade and retail custom-
ucts to merchants, construction companies and other manufacturers across the South of England.
Stamco Timber is an importing, manufacturing and wholesale distribution business that supplies a range of timber, boards and wood flooring prod-
Sussex Super Growth Awards Founding Sponsors
John Mannering, Commercial Director, said: ‘’We are delighted to be recognised once again by the prestigious Sussex Super Growth Awards. Stamco continues to go from strength to strength delivering significant growth over the last few years.’’ www.stamco.co.uk
Media Partner
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CITY PROFILE: BUSINESS BRIGHTONSURVEY & HOVE
ALL THINGS
BRIGHTON Beautiful With it’s elegant eccentricity and glorious charm, Brighton & Hove boasts a rich and diverse economy, a wealth of hidden gems, and prides itself on historical star attractions. Kate Morton discovers our love for the city.
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We are a Brighton based creative agency specialising in design, web and marketing. Founded by three passionate creatives.
whitespace.studio
Creators of the Platinum Publishing Group website
CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE
“Life on the Sussex Riviera is as sweet as its candy floss”
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rom its eclectic lifestyle, to its hedonistic ways and certain London je ne sais quoi, Brighton as a city is booming. It’s a city defined by its landscape, sitting proudly between the South Downs and the sea, and life on the Sussex Riviera is as sweet as its candy floss. Residents are happy here, apparently “very or fairly satisfied” with where they live, 85% higher than the national average, so it’s no wonder the city is beaming. It’s magnetic and addictive charm means you’ll keep coming back for more; or simply never leave (as is the case for many, including myself). Having taken the crown last November for “the best place to start a small business in the UK” (in a study conducted by Informi), you can build big businesses here; join a thriving creative arts scene; and sink your teeth into a successful digital community. In the study, Brighton had the fourth largest business stock, suggesting businesses have a captive audience with which to grow and thrive.
With over eight million visitors every summer spending over £69 million, Brighton has to be doing something right. Explore its myriad of intertwining lanes - head to the North Laine for vintage markets, high-end boutiques and coffee house heaven, and The Lanes for antiques, jewellery and fine-dining restaurants. Wander through Pavilion Gardens; ride the carousel on The Pier; see a performance at The Dome; catch the rays beachside at Yellow Wave’s Barefoot Cafe (a particular favourite with the kids), swim at Saltdean Lido - the UK’s only Grade II listed Art Deco lido - or head to St George’s Road, Kemptown for a bijou take on village life (pop in to Blanch House for a margarita whilst you’re there). So go on, lose yourself in its hedonistic lifestyle, escape the humdrum of everyday life, or get down to business in one of the UK’s fastest-growing business destinations.
Platinum’s Top Pastimes Maarten: A casual lunch at Browns, then onto cocktails at The Grand followed by watching the sun go down on the deck at Mal Maison. Ian: There is no better place to be than Brighton in May. When the Festival and Fringe are in full flow, the vibe in the city is electric. I’m already looking forward to cabaret at the Spiegeltent and the late outdoor bar at the Warren.
Fiona: A stroll along Hove seafront followed by an ice cream at Marrocco’s always takes me back to my childhood. Lesley: A morning spent at the Treatment Rooms, a wander around the boutiques, followed by lunch at The Ivy. Laurence: Kayaking off the beach during the summer… it’s hard work but it’s exhilarating and a lot of fun! Kate: A wander through the North Laine with a coffee, then onto Bincho for Japanese at the open grill, followed by late-night cocktails and good tunes at Plateau. Alan: Watching the sun set Brighton does sunsets like nowhere else in the world. Best Brighton memory? Fatboy Slim’s first ever Big Beach Boutique in 2001, one of Europe’s best free-to-attend beach parties on Brighton beach.
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Take your business to the beach
Looking for Brighton’s best corporate meeting rooms? Inspire your colleagues at British Airways i360, the most stunning venue on the south coast. From intimate board meetings to impressive banquet dinners, we’ve got the perfect space for you!
Book now! Prices starting from £30pp + VAT Contact us at BritishAirwaysi360.com/event-enquiry 58
CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE Top Places to visit British Airways i360 Take to the skies on a fully enclosed glass viewing pod and glide up 450ft to admire views across Brighton and the South coast. www.britishairwaysi360.com
Don’t miss out on Brighton Marathon - April 14th The 12th largest European marathon and one of the UK’s favourite 26.2 milers. Brighton Fringe - May 3rd-June 2nd A month long extravaganza of weird and wonderful performance, celebrating arts and culture. Brighton Festival - May 4th-26th One of the leading arts festivals celebrating music, theatre, dance, circus, art, film and literature. The Great Escape - May 9th-11th A three day festival of new music showcasing over 400 up and coming artists across 34 walkable venues.
Phileas Fogg’s World of Adventures Brighton’s brand new immersive theatrical experience. This amazing interactive walk through adventure will have you carrying out tasks for Mr Fogg in order to complete his mission and avoid the police. You’ll meet colourful characters, face obstacles along the way, and experience wonders from around the world. www. phileasfoggsworldofadventures. co.uk Rampion Wind Farm Go offshore and take a boat ride out to the wind farm. See all 116 turbines in full swing in this 2-3 hour tour whilst taking in panoramic views. www.rampionoffshore.com Royal Pavilion It was the glitzy oriental party pad for Prince Regent and forms part of Brighton’s heritage along with a bold nod towards the city’s eccentricity, attracting over 1.2 million visitors every year. www.brightonmuseums.org.uk Sea Life Centre This is the world’s oldest operating aquarium situated in a stunning Victorian setting. Take your children on a fascinating journey from the coast to the ocean depths, and see over 3,500 amazing creatures. www.visitsealife.com
Pride - August 2nd-4th A glittering three-day affair, hailed as the UK’s largest Pride event and the biggest event in the city’s calendar.
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We are an ambitious, global, Brighton-based technology company with over 30 years’ experience, specialising in security systems for smart buildings. We’re committed to developing our employees and are always looking for new talent to join our team.
Want to join our team?
Check out our latest vacancies at paxton.info/3728
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CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE
ON E TO WATC H FOR 2 019
Inspiring global business
with local roots
2018 was a busy year for Brighton-based technology company Paxton, the leading manufacturer of security systems for smart buildings. Here’s a few of their highlights... The Paxton Scholarship Investing in local talent
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axton are passionate about supporting their local community and developing talent in the local area. In 2017 they launched the Paxton Scholarship, which offers students from the University of Brighton and Sussex, studying technology and product design related courses, a scholarship worth £10,000 to help with their final year of study. It also includes a threemonth paid work placement and support on their final year project. The aim is to promote a career in technology in Brighton as an attractive option after students have graduated, helping to harness talent and encourage graduates to apply for jobs locally. Samson Mwita, student at University of Sussex who attended the recent scholarship open day, said: “I think it’s great that Paxton are offering students this opportunity and guidance with their studies. Hearing about the company’s journey directly from the CEO was really inspiring.” Commenting on the scholarship programme, Adam Stroud, Paxton’s Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted that we’re attracting so many students to apply for the scholarship. “Our partnerships with both University of Brighton and Sussex are going from strength to strength and the Paxton Scholarship is an initiative that we intend to build on each year.” The 2019 Paxton scholars will be an-
nounced in the next few months and Paxton are excited to welcome aboard their new recruits and develop the bright minds of the future.
An award-winning place to work
Last year, Paxton were ranked 49th in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work for 2018 list. Appearing in the Sunday Times list embodied Paxton’s ambition to be world-class in all that they do, not only with the products they manufacture but with their working environment as well. Results from the Sunday Times survey showed that 95% of staff agree that Paxton is run on strong values and principles. They work hard to develop positive company culture and to support their employees on each step of their career.
ops the team to hone their skills and reach their full potential. Paxton offer a range of benefits to help create a good work/life balance including flexitime and a subsidised café where employees can enjoy a variety healthy lunch options, play pool and chat with their colleagues. The Paxton Café was specially built at their head office in direct response to employee feedback. During 2019 Paxton will continue to invest in and encourage local talent, recruiting the best and the brightest to come and work with them.
To find out more about Paxton and their current vacancies please visit: paxton.info/3729
Paxton aim to create a relaxed working environment that nurtures and devel-
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Expect the unexpected The special 10th Acumen Business Convention takes place on May 8th at The Grand Brighton
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ou can always expect the unexpected at the acumen business convention and this year, at its special edition tenth anniversary, it will top all others. The event will feature a special 10th Anniversary Guest Speaker Mr Tony Bloom, the man behind the phenomenal transformation of the Amex Stadium, the owner and Chair of the now Premier League Club, Brighton & Hove Albion. The keynote spot will feature Simon Woodroffe OBE, the Founder of YO! Sushi, a Dragons’ Den investor and the guest of TV shows such as Question Time and ITV’s Millionaire’s Club. New for this special tenth edition event is the three(!) Speakers Arenas (TED talk style) and an After Party! As always,
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there will be live entertainment, three speakers arenas, organised and freerange networking, link & learn sessions and a lot of Acumen surprises throughout the day. Since 2009, acumen business law has been making waves in Brighton by staging the acumen business convention, a unique annual event put on for the business community to promote, celebrate and learn from all aspects of the business world. This year marks a decade of this prestigious occasion with the special tenth year edition being held on May 8th at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. The convention has become an important event for the movers and shakers of the busi-
Tony Bloom, Chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion FC
ness scene in the South East. To celebrate, there will be some very special features ensuring that this event is not to be missed. Other guest speakers include Graham Moore, the co-founder of Humantopia,
CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE
“The event attracts in excess of 300 business decision makers and is now recognised as the most prestigious and professional business conference south of London” Tom Druitt founder of The Big Lemon, Nigel Lambe of Bold Decisions, Sarah Rudder of Ginger Dog Development, Janet Gordon of Bluestarfish Consulting and Neil Laughton of Laughton & Co.
one of the country’s leading speakers and authorities on improving wellbeing for students and staff in the workplace and Jules White, the entrepreneur’s sales coach and author of Live it Love it Sell it. Jules brings great experience to the conference having won investment in the Dragons’ Den from Peter Jones for her business ‘Truly Madly Baby’ - the reason she is known as the real dragon slayer! The Speakers Arenas will feature six fantastic arena sessions showcasing local success stories, these include: Anthony Prior founder of Bagleman,
The event has been inspiring the business leaders in the South East, as well as supporting local charities by ensuring the event supports a different charity every year. It attracts in excess of 300 business decision makers and is now recognised as the most prestigious and professional business conference south of London. Besides knowledge, inspiration and the latest business trends, it provides its audience with the perfect platform to endorse their business in front of leaders and decision makers of established businesses. The programme line up exceeds itself year on year and attendance is increasingly in demand; it’s definitely the place to be in May!
their tickets by the end of February and each year the event is sold out. With only limited places available in the Empress Suite at the Grand Hotel, make sure you secure your ticket today and take advantage of the early booking offer by visiting Acumen’s convention website on www.acumenbusinessconvention.co.uk. You can find all the information there and see the spectacular programme full of inspiration, knowledge and experiences that will be happening on the day. Of course, as with any acumen business convention, there will be more uncovered on the day with that special touch of Acumen magic.
Every year most delegates have secured Penina Shepherd, Founder & CEO, ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW
2019 Convention Partners: The Agora Clinic; The Missing Piece; ACUMEN PEOPLE; Brighton Cakes; Cooden Tax Consulting; Face Media Group; Hot Yoga South; MyTeamSafe®; Platinum Business Magazine; Revolution PTS; Search Seven; SRC Corporate Finance; Sussex Chamber of Commerce; The Sussex Sign Company; Watson Associates; xoomtalk
http://www. acumenbusinessconvention.co.uk
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CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE
Keeping
business travellers safe Q & A with Celine Murphy, Co-Founder and Managing Director Priavo Security Ltd
Why do global travellers need to consider security when they travel?
The current global climate is extremely challenging and global incidents are undermining the confidence in international travel. It’s important to understand that despite the threat from on-going global terrorism, the significant travel risks that require attention include geopolitical instability, natural disasters, petty crime, road traffic accidents, health and medical issues. All organisations have a legal and, more importantly, a moral obligation to keep their travellers safe.
Is the world becoming more dangerous?
I wouldn’t say the world is now more dangerous. We have seen an increased demand from organisations undertaking business in high-risk areas or emerging markets. As companies increase their global footprint, they increase exposure to risks and hazards, especially if they are exploring opportunities in complex environments.
Is the global travel security industry largely maledominated?
It is, perhaps understandably, male and military dominated. I co-founded Priavo with my husband and this combination of ‘male military’ and ‘female corporate’ knowledge benefits our client base and the growth of our company. Prior to setting up Priavo, in 2011, I worked on the board of a British Plc within a male dominated industry and
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In the last four months alone, we have successfully completed 861 operational movements in 118 global locations using 63 experienced security operatives. Employing a diverse logistics team, global security partners and highly qualified, time served security operatives has been essential for local ‘ground truth’, cultural etiquette and effective Travel Risk Management.
What are the challenges facing you in your new American office?
always found more opportunities than challenges. The key is to embrace female qualities and integrate these across your business practices. This entails investing heavily in your team, working closely with clients and suppliers, and really engaging with your stakeholders. Open, honest and regular communication takes time and dedication. Clear and cohesive objectives, mutual goals and regular reviews are fundamental. The bottom line will follow.
What have been your challenges as a female MD in the industry?
It’s not an easy industry to work in. Risks are varied, complex, constantly evolving and our clients’ knowledge of the security function can often be limited although their demands are high. I have worked hard to integrate ‘softer’ skills and ensure we work in partnership with our clients to gain a thorough understanding of their security needs. This is a constant challenge in a sector fraught with NDAs, confidentiality clauses and ‘trust’ issues.
New geographical markets are very important to continue positively contributing towards people’s safety. With Brexit looming and a predominantly American client base, a presence on the West Coast was inevitable for Priavo. The challenges will be expanding the ‘production and film’ sector state side. I see a lot of ‘Out Of Hours’ across multiple time zones ahead for team Priavo!
Priavo is a Sussex-based Security and Travel Risk Management company, serving a global clientele across the music, events, financial and corporate sector as well as high profile private individuals. Our purpose is to protect people, manage risk and secure assets by making a positive contribution to the improvement of people’s safety. Celine Murphy is responsible for Priavo’s commercial, client care, sales and marketing strategy. Priavosecurity.com
BUSINESS SURVEY
AT HILTON B RIGHTO N METRO PO LE Don’t be fooled by the charm of our famous façade, because ingeniously housed inside Hilton Brighton Metropole is the South’s largest residential conference centre. And by large, we mean 5,000 sq. metres of space with 33 function suites of varying sizes which can accommodate up to 3000 delegates. We’ve been perfecting the way we plan, organise and host events for the last 125 years.
To book a site visit or for more information contact us on
01273 720710 | hilton.com/brightonmet | enquiries.brightonmet@hilton.com HILTON BRIGHTON METROPOLE, KINGS ROAD, BRIGHTON, BN1 2FU FOLLOW US
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tees
us We are looking for tr
We recognise new talent and expertise is needed and you don’t have to be an expert in hospice care or have trustee experience to be part of the team. We recognise the enormous benefits of a diverse board and encourage applications from a range of backgrounds and experiences. Our trustee board is enriched by the wide mix of skills and perspectives. We are particularly interested in hearing from you if you have expertise of: Digital and/or IT capability Retail and/or charity fundraising Innovation, change and continuous improvement Health and social care operating environments and commissioning What to do next? For more information please see the trustee role description and download the recruitment pack at: www.themartlets.org.uk/trusteerecruitment
martletshospice
www.martlets.org.uk/trusteerecruitment Martlets Hospice, Wayfield Avenue Hove BN3 7LW Registered Charity No. 802145
CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE
Get on board Martlets are seeking unique individuals to join its board of trustees
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Can anyone apply?
he hospice team want interested people to get in touch to find out more about how their unique talents can make a real difference to a local charity. We hear from one board member, Emily McWhirter, on what it’s like to be a trustee at Martlets.
Yes, of course, all ages and backgrounds; we encourage diversity. You don’t need hospice, healthcare, board or director experience.
Do you need any training?
No formal training is required, you’ll have support and an induction from another trustee to help you get to know the leadership team, board members and requirements of role. You will be given the opportunity to go to Hospice UK events, local and national conferences and forums to help you understand the hospice sector.
How long have you been a trustee? For almost three years.
Why did you decide to join?
I saw an advert in The Argus for Martlets who were looking for trustees that had a clinical background and knowledge of governance. I’m a nurse, and at the time I was working as a Clinical Director, responsible for governance so it sounded like something I should do.
Can you sum up the work of the Board in three words?
Teamwork, commitment and rewarding. What surprised you about being a Martlets’ trustee? I’ve learnt a lot from my trustee colleagues and the leadership team. We all do different jobs, and work in very different industries, but we still have a lot in common and are completely united in wanting to do our best for Martlets.
What do you like about it?
I am using my skills to do something useful, not because I am paid to, but because I want to; and I really enjoy working with a great team. We all come from different professions and backgrounds and it’s great to be a small part of a big team. It’s good to know that the work that we do can have a real impact on the care patients receive.
Emily McWhirter
How would you describe the work you specifically do?
I attend board meetings six times a year, which last about two hours. I’m also part of the Clinical Governance Committee which meets every other month. We discuss clinical issues, challenges and monitor clinical safety, ensuring everything is in place to maintain a high-quality service. I also attend hospice events - supporting the wider hospice team wherever possible.
What are you most proud of achieving?
Being involved in both the Snow Dog
and the Snail campaigns. I loved them both.
What skills are you looking for?
The deadline for applications is February 25th 2019. For more information please see the trustee role description and download a recruitment pack at www. martlets.org.uk/trusteerecruitment You can also email trusteerecruitment@ martlets.org.uk to arrange a discussion with a Martlets’ trustee or the chairman. www.themartlets.org.uk
In particular we are looking for: Digital and/or IT capability; High street retail and/or charity fundraising; Innovation, Change and Continuous improvement; and Health and social care operating environments and commissioning. As well as judgement, drive, integrity, ambassadorial skills.
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A space to
grow
Sussex Innovation Centre offers flexible office space that is geared up for the next stages of growth for start-ups and beyond “I think we’ve moved offices four or maybe even five times since we’ve been at the Innovation Centre. It’s physically allowed us to grow and develop, and if we needed to shrink at any point that also would have been possible. Fortunately, it’s been about growth, but it’s given us that security, as well as supporting us throughout our development” - Duncan Smith, MD of Mindlab International and Sussex Innovation Centre tenant
“S
tart-up businesses tend to be unpredictable!” says Mike Herd, Executive Director of Sussex Innovation. “Growth almost never happens in a straight line, so we try to keep our office space as flexible as we can and ensure that our members always have a suitable space for their needs.”
“We’re just about to switch offices for the second time since moving in here,” says co-founder and CEO, Chris Giddins. Our new rooms are right next door to our current space, two of the largest rooms in the building. We plan to fill them fairly quickly – we’re hoping that we will have twenty staff by the end of the year.
Uniqodo is a software company that helps retailers to add advanced promotional code features to their eCommerce stores. In many respects the business is a model Sussex Innovation tenant. They moved into a small four-person office at Sussex Innovation Croydon in early 2016, and have rapidly grown over the intervening three years, becoming a big part of the community within the hub and taking advantage of the full range of support on offer.
“Sussex Innovation has offered us a bit of everything we need. We’ve brought talented young people into the team through their Catalyst programme, and worked closely with several of their inhouse support team, who are the kind of asset that you wouldn’t get in a serviced office. What really attracted me in the first place though - and keeps us pushing forward - is being around
Julius Somoye and Chris Giddins of Uniqodo
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other people who are going through a similar journey, creating something, making something happen.” Sussex Innovation’s goal is to help innovative start-ups like Uniqodo grow and create skilled jobs, supporting them through the growing pains of going from their first few staff up to 20-30 people. Once they have reached that sort of scale, most will start to look for their own premises and fly the nest. “It’s ironic that the better we do our job, the less money we make,” says Mike Herd. “The more successful our members are, the bigger they get – so when they move out they tend to take a sizeable chunk of the rent revenue with them.”
Working space at Sussex Innovation Centre, Falmer
CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE Uniqodo’s new space became available after it was vacated by Focal, a company that builds video and audio tools for the residential sales and letting industry. Formerly known as Audio Agent, the business moved into its own dedicated space in December 2018. Audio Agent moved their technology team into Sussex Innovation Croydon from an ‘office only’ rental space in the summer of 2016, looking for a more innovative and collaborative space to inspire new ideas. “Because we were growing, and we were already one of the larger companies here when we arrived, we needed less hands-on support than other members,” says co-founder and Technology Director, Matt Gates. “What was really great for us were the facilities and the flexibility – the willingness to sort things out for us whenever we spoke to anyone.” Last year, the business rebranded, moved their sales department into Croydon, acquired another company and made a huge number of new hires. Now, with nearly 120 staff, it was time to move everybody under one roof. The business retains a virtual membership with Sussex Innovation, giving it access to the networks and support available. “Ironically, I’ve actually looked a lot more at the support since we’ve moved out!” says Matt. “We’ve commissioned an insight project from Sussex Innovation’s research advisor, with market reports for the UK, Australia and the US. Our future strategy will be based on that, as it’s some of the best data we can access.” As with this example, any vacant space will ideally be ready to be filled by the next up-and-coming start-up,
Working space at Sussex Innovation Centre, Croydon
“What keeps us pushing forward is being around other people who are going through a similar journey, creating something, making something happen.” each company growing and upscaling from room to room during their time as tenants. But maintaining a constant pipeline of businesses is a logistical challenge. Any new arrivals must be equally ambitious about their growth, as well as bringing something to the innovative community around them. Justin Butler is the founder and MD of flood risk consultancy Ambiental, tenants at the organisation’s site in Falmer for several years. He values this selective ethos, saying: “I wasn’t really ever expecting to be interviewed
to take rental space in an office, but I was encouraged by it. The things that are worth doing and worth having will take a bit of work, and you have to prove yourself.” With the start of the new year, Sussex Innovation has a range of vacant office space available at its sites in Sussex and Croydon. If you’re an innovative, ambitious start-up looking to join an entrepreneurial community and scale your business, you can preview offices and arrange a visit at tiny.cc/ sincspace.
“Any new arrivals must be equally ambitious about their growth, as well as bringing something to the innovative community around them.”
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CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE
Cooperative learning
does it work? Neil Laughton, Director of Laughton & Co, discusses the theory of cooperative learning and ways in which it can help your business
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he famous Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton said; “Leadership is a fine thing but it has its penalties. And the greatest penalty is loneliness.” In 2018, there were 5.7 million private sector businesses in the UK, the vast majority being SMEs with just one or two registered company directors who are employing some 16 million people.
These company heads are having to manage their businesses and staff to the best of their ability using their skills, experience and gut instincts. But sadly the statistics for business failure is high. In the first quarter of 2017, some 109,000 businesses were dissolved. That is approximately 436,000 annually in the UK and I often wonder if these horrible statistics could be improved? I have been a company director for 25 years and I know full well the challenges of running a business and managing staff. Satisfying though it certainly is, there has been many times when I have thought; “what the hell should I do now?” There has been a variety of difficult situations including having to deal with a mem-
ber of staff whose drink and drugs habit was seriously affecting their safety and professional performance. I also survived a £220,000 bad debt and discovered a Sales Director falsifying records.
in the variety of strategic thinking. In the mid nineties they published the five elements of cooperative learning: problem solving, reasoning, decision making, planning and reflecting.
If you are the sole Founder/Director of your business, who do you turn to for assistance, advice or professional help? Some engage a business coach, consultant or mentor but many find this option too expensive, time consuming or awkward.
Formal cooperative learning is normally structured, facilitated, and peer groups typically gather regularly over the long term (one or two years). For the past few years I have been travelling around the country and occasionally abroad to deliver business strategy workshops to some of the leading organisations specialising in this type of cooperative learning and development.
Cooperative learning theory was formally recognised before WW2 when it was discovered that group work was more effective and efficient in quantity, quality and overall productivity when compared to working alone. In other words, a number of people receiving knowledge by discussing information and answers in groups and engaging in the learning process together rather than being passive receivers of information. In recent decades David and Roger Johnson identified that cooperative learning promoted mutual trust, better communication, high levels of support and an increase
Does it work? I would summarise by saying that most business owners, CEOs and Directors enjoy the opportunity of attending these sessions with like-minded senior leaders who are enthusiastic about learning from industry guest experts, and benefit from strategically working on their business rather than in it. The benefits of social human interaction also cannot be underestimated. Some people do however struggle with the monthly full day commitment without much time to “check in” via their mobile devices. A new cooperative learning Business Support Group is being launched by Laughton & Co in March with some innovative differences. For those interested, contact: neil@laughton.co or call +44 (0) 7973 289552.
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The world’s Technical Solutions AV is one of UK’s fastest growing and most reliable event technology and events solutions companies
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stablished in 2006, the Shoreham-based business has produced events across the globe ranging from boardroom meetings to large-scale awards ceremonies, conferences, festivals and exhibitions. Its services range from audio visual solutions, event design, through to multimedia and content production and digital video. Every day is different and every project unique. Jason Brown, Founder of Technical Solution, commented: “The events industry is a dynamic, fast-paced sector offering opportunities to work on anything. I saw a gap in the market 12 years ago for a production company who did everything 100% without any cutting corners.
“We work closely with our clients to ensures the final product is tailor-made, on time and within budget.” Technical Solutions have worked for an array of high profile clients including Barclays, Tesco, Etihad Airways, National Geographic and Lego. In addition, they gave created the sets for a number of award ceremonies including the Brighton and Hove Business Awards, Sussex Business Awards and Surrey Business Awards.
What the event organisers have said… “Technical Solutions are responsive, knowledgeable and most importantly, honest and solution focussed. Nothing phases them; they remain calm and professional at all times. I always know when they’re involved in an event, it will be a success...” Brighton & Hove Bus & Coach Company & Metrobus
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CITY PROFILE: BUSINESS BRIGHTONSURVEY & HOVE
a stage Are you organising an event in 2019? Give Technical Solutions a call on 01273 455552.
What the event organisers have said… “Having Technical Solutions onboard ensured we delivered a first class event. They executed our designs and events with professionalism, creativity and most importantly, integrity…” Platinum Event Managment
CASE STUDY THE BRIGHTON & HOVE BUSINESS AWARDS (BAHBAS) Celebrating thirteen years in 2018, the Brighton and Hove Business Awards are supported by the city’s leading organisations and are firmly established as a benchmark for excellence in today’s competitive business environment. The awards were staged at Hilton Brighton Metropole on Saturday 14th July and attended by the city’s business leaders, judges and VIPs. The brief was to create a vintage circus theme complete with tents, acrobats and more. The room was
wrapped with drapes and festoon lights to give guests the sense they were inside a real circus tent. Video played a
starring role in the show and was enhanced further by the immersive theming created on the set.
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2005
Brighton Festival Best Event
2006 Sue Addis
Outstanding Brightonian
2009
Tony Bloom
Outstanding Brightonian
Introducing... Platinum Event Management are delighted to announce the launch of the
2019 Brighton & Hove Business Awards
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ast year saw the most successful event in the awards long history and we are going to ensure that the 2019 event raises the bar yet again. This event celebrates all that is great about the City and its thriving business scene. It is also a time for the sponsors to give something back to the business community and for us all to come together to celebrate success.
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2018 witnessed a full-blown circus with spinning gymnasts, a strange man in a giant balloon and one of the most memorable finales in its history. For 2019, we will be pushing the boat out again with a theme that will remain secret until the night. All the show business is just the entertaining package in which we wrap the most important aspect – the awards themselves. Along with
over 500 business leaders in attendance to enjoy a Champagne reception, a splendid 3-course dinner, fantastic entertainment and witness the best companies in Brighton being rewarded for all that hard work. The date for the diary is July 25th at the Brighton Hilton Metropole Hotel with entries being accepted from February 18th and tickets on sale shortly thereafter. If you miss this spectacular, you will regret it.
BAHBAS
2014
Sea Life Centre Best Place To Visit
2016
Brighton Gin
New Kids on the Block
2018
Paxton Access Company of the Year
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Let’s Do Business Innovation We’re delighted to announce the theme of this year’s 2019 Brighton Expo is... Innovation! The Innovation Zone – proudly sponsored by East Sussex College – will provide a dedicated platform for businesses to showcase interactive experiences and new technologies.
Thursday 13th June 2019 The Amex Stadium, Brighton
To find out more about the exhibition or to book a stand visit www.letsdobusiness.org/Platinum2019 info@letsdobusiness.org 01323 411044
In association with
CITY PROFILE: BRIGHTON & HOVE
The rise of
hot desking
The ability to work remotely is revolutionising modern business. Alison Edwards, Director of Sales at The Grand Brighton and Richmond Hill Hotel, tells us why hotel hot-desking is the future of flexible working
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few years ago, if you had asked your boss if you could ‘work remotely’ it would’ve been met with certain scepticism. Preconceived notions of you unenthusiastically replying to emails in your pyjamas whilst really watching daytime television would’ve seen your request swiftly and firmly denied. Luckily times have changed and the traditional 9 to 5 desk shackles have been loosened, creating a new wave of flexible working.
Now I’m not saying that we should all put our offices up for sale and set up base camp in the nearest café but it’s certainly important for companies to recognise the need for employees to have the opportunity to work remotely on occasion. Whether it’s to fit around childcare, a busy lifestyle or simply for a change of scenery, there are huge benefits to both employees and employers in encouraging a fluid workplace culture.
“Bookable meeting rooms offer privacy for meetings and small conferences”
We are living in an age of constant connectivity meaning that work can happen anywhere at any time and younger generations, most significantly millennials, grow up expecting flexible and remote work as a given rather than a perk. Remote working is a broad spectrum that ranges from freelancing from a beach in Thailand (I wish) to working from a coffee shop or even just answering emails on your commute; however you interpret it, there’s no escaping that there is certainly demand for less traditional office spaces.
Finding the perfect place to work remotely used to be a challenge; now with WiFi freely available almost everywhere, temporary office spots are ten a penny, but how conducive are they to productivity? Co-working spaces such as WeWork are providing an alternative option to third space working in coffee shops, perfect for start-ups and small companies however with a membership usually required, where do the occasional remote-workers go? The Grand Brighton are bridging this gap and aligning with the ethos and
energy of co-working spaces. Our lobbies are becoming an all-day destination for hot-desking. Bookable meeting rooms offer privacy for meetings and small conferences and no longer necessarily require a full DDR package, and private dry hire room rates are on offer which can be booked for as little or as long as needed, perfect for a oneoff presentation, meeting or last minute re-group. Obviously there is still a market for full day DDR packages but it’s vital to offer variety and adapt to the new cultural working norms being built by millennials. It’s time to say goodbye to the days of being chained to an office desk 40 hours a week and embrace the freedom of more intuitive working.
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One direction Picture Book Films are the award-winning video production team behind this year’s BAHBAs and Sussex Business Awards finalist films, as well as the post-event YouTube videos. Here we talk to the creator behind the camera, Director and Founder, James Johnson
James as a volunteer crew and navigator on the Newhaven Lifeboat
What made you want to become a director?
I sort of fell into it. I studied International Relations at university, which was a bit of a waste of time as I didn’t want to go into politics. I was really interested in human rights and naively thought TV would be a good way to make a difference! I left university and started off as a runner on the Channel 4 show The Fri-
day Night Project, making tea on set and worked my way up from there. I eventually ended up directing shows for the BBC, Channel 4 and Discovery International. It was great fun but also pretty stressful. Being a TV director is basically constant crisis management from the moment you get on set to the moment you wrap 16 hours later.
Describe Picture Book Films?
We’re a friendly and award-winning video production company which started in 2013. I left my career as a TV director and saw a gap in the market for high quality business videos. I started the company with my wife
Claire - she’s a TV executive for Channel 4 so also brings a huge amount of experience to the table. Our team now create videos and animation for companies, brands and charities in Sussex, London and across the South East. Our clients love using video as it’s an incredibly powerful way to engage customers and reach new markets. Video content we created for a property company resulted in a 180% increase in brand recognition.
What makes you unique?
The team is all former BBC producers and directors, and we can leverage that wealth of experience to
“Video created for a UK property company resulted in a 180% increase in brand recognition”
Filming the Tesla for an advert on Brighton seafront
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INTERVIEW
The team filming on location
Filming takes place at the i360 for this year’s BAHBAs
create high quality content which cuts through all the noise to reach the right people. Lots of our clients are unsure how to take their first steps into video and we aim to make that process as easy and successful as possible. We’re also an ethical company with a written code of ethics; this is really important to me and also reflects all the charity work that we do. It also means that we’re open and transparent about prices.
What has been the highlight of your career?
Who are your clients?
We work with lots of SMEs who are looking to increase their web presence, use video to explain what their services or products are, or reach new customers. Video is a brilliant way to engage people, and websites with video have astronomically higher click through and conversion rates.
scary RAF instructor sat next to you! I also like jumping out of planes and did about 70 skydives at university. I’m now a crew member on the Newhaven Lifeboat and have been volunteering for nearly four years. They are a great team of people and it certainly has its adrenaline filled moments, as well as some pretty tragic ones. We see some amazing and also terrible things on the boat - it puts everything else into perspective.
“By 2020, internet video traffic will account for 80% of all consumer traffic”
I’ve found myself in some pretty strange situations working in TV. Pulling Barbara Windsor’s bra off with invisible wire whilst stood on a stepladder was an experience; Kanye West thinking I was his security was another odd moment. The overall highlight of my career has been taking Picture Book Films from a small one man band to a thriving video production company with loads of happy clients.
And the most challenging project?
The early years of Picture Book Films were hard. I came from TV into business and had no business experience; I made a lot of mistakes along the way but learnt a lot too (you have to say that, don’t you?).
We also work a lot with the construction and property sector, law firms and high tech companies who have cutting edge IP. One of our strengths is the breadth of our client base, from local organisations like Network My Club, Brighton Marathon, and the University of Brighton through to multinationals such as Sony, Universal and Siemens.
You’re an adrenaline junkie and were awarded an RAF Flying Scholarship at 17. What’s it like piloting a plane?
What’s next for Picture Book Films?
I want to keep growing the team and also focusing on working with new clients in the South East and London. We also have some great links with charities and looking to strengthen these - they all give so much and it’s great to give a little back.
To contact James or any of the Picture Book Films team, please call 01273 921290 or e-mail james@picturebookfilms.co.uk www.picturebookfilms.co.uk
I’ve got a bit of an addiction to extreme sports. Flying a plane is good fun but lots to think about, especially with a
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MEMBERSHIP S NOW AVAIL ABL E The Platinum Club, now in its 10th year, is unique in offering extremely effective and highly enjoyable monthly networking events that attract many of the largest decision makers in Sussex. An evening of great conversation, news and views from across the region, bottomless fine Champagne, hand-made canapes and great conversation. Effective networking is all about building long-term relationships and this is the platform that Platinum provides, with professionally hosted networking parties in the luxurious surroundings of the Grand Hotel in Brighton, with a few exciting away-days thrown in. Historically, the Club has been by invitation only but new for 2019, we are accepting a raft of new member applications from all sectors. If you are interested in dramatically building your contacts and gaining more business, get in touch without delay: info@platinumpublishing.co.uk
The Platinum Team: Ian Trevett, Lesley Alcock, Maarten Hoffmann, Fiona Graves, Laurence Elphick.
“THERE IS NO OTHER NETWORKING EVENT QUITE LIKE PLATINUM. A ROOM FULL OF HIGH-LEVEL DECISION MAKERS THAT YOU RARELY SEE AT ANY OTHER EVENT. BRILLIANTLY HOSTED AND OPPORTUNITIES GALORE.” JOHN BURROUGHES, MANAGING DIRECTOR, UNIGLOBE TRAVEL
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KATIE GIBSON, MANAGING DIRECTOR, PIER RECRUITMENT
BUSINESS SURVEY
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“I MAKE SURE I NEVER MISS AN EVENT AND THOROUGHLY ENJOY IT” AS WE ALSO PUBLISH the most KEITH JACKMAN, MARKETING read, respected and widelyDIRECTOR, MERCEDES-BENZ distributed business magazine in the South East, we make editorial offers to Platinum members that “THE PLATINUM CLUB IS A FANTASTIC NETWORKING EVENT AND PRESENTS are not available outside of the EVERYTHING YOU WOULD EVER NEED FROM SUCH AN EVENT. THERE IS membership.
“I AM NO USUAL FORMULA ALWAYS SUCH A GREAT TURNOUT OF DIVERSE BUSINESSES AND IT IS HOSTED IS CERT IN SUCH A WAY THAT ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS RELAX AND WAIT TO BE INTROMembers such as NatWest Bank, Mercedes-Benz, Hilton HoDUCED TO EVERYONE IN THE ROOM. THE MOST IMPORTANT NETWORKINGNORMAL FOR tels, Lloyds Bank, Hastings Direct Insurance, KPMG, Uniglobe EVENT OF THE MONTH” IT E Travel, BMW, Gatwick Airport, Santander and Coast to Capital
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Frank Shake Hands in
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BUSINESS SURVEY TRAVEL
furt
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The German metropolis is preparing to welcome Brexit refugees and startups by boosting its lifestyle infrastructure. Rose Dykins reports
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he view from the 56th floor of Frankfurt’s 200-metre-high Main Tower lacks a little character. The satin ribbon of the River Main, and a few leafy spaces add some variety to the blanket of skyscrapers and neutral-toned rooftops. It’s the kind of cityscape you would expect from Germany’s financial powerhouse. It could have been a very different view if history had allowed. Frankfurt once boasted the largest medieval centre in the country before it was destroyed during the Second World War. Of the 1,500 wooden-framed buildings that existed, just 11 were still standing after the air raids. However, down on the ground, the city’s past has been resurrected. Last September, the reconstruction of 35 timber-framed buildings in Frankfurt’s historic quarter was completed – 15 of them are exact replicas built to the original blueprints, including the ornately carved, gold-gilded “house of the golden scales”. Housed inside them are a reconstructed butcher’s shop, pharmacy and “chicken market”, several boutiques and cafés and, above street level, 80 apartments, sold via a public lottery. Priced at a maximum of €8,000 per square metre, the apartments were snapped up four years ahead of their launch. Frankfurt’s attempts to restore its city centre to its former glory and make it more “liveable” for its citizens is an interesting architectural experiment, and has already worked wonders in terms of boosting tourism. It reflects the city’s focus on enhancing its life-
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style offering – particularly important at a time when it could be about to welcome a slew of new residents. According to recent reports, there are 19 high-rise buildings under construction in the city with 26 more being planned. These mixed-use developments are intended to make Frankfurt more competitive against the likes of Paris and Amsterdam as a covetable lifestyle destination – something that should
“Frankfurt’s attempts to restore its city centre to its former glory and make it more ‘liveable’ for its citizens is an interesting architectural experiment” not be underestimated when employers are trying to convince employees to up sticks from London. And while home to world-class museums and an underrated culinary scene, it’s fair to say Frankfurt isn’t somewhere most people dream of living. If Brexit goes ahead on schedule, according to one lobby group, the UK will lose up to £700 billion in assets to Frankfurt by next month. As banks reshuffle their operations before Brexit day, Frankfurt Main Finance forecasts that 30 financial heavyweights will make the German city their new EU headquarters – including Lloyds, Standard Chartered, Credit Suisse and Citigroup. It’s an in-
teresting time for Frankfurt, and such a mass-movement of wealth and people, gleaming new facilities and cultural enhancements could see it become a much more aspirational destination for international talent. Aside from the developments taking place, Frankfurt already has the clout of being a leading European business hub, and a destination for international meetings and events. Its airport is the best connected in Europe, and the fifth best connected in the world. The sprawling Frankfurt Messe is one of the largest convention centres on the planet. Its city centre is compact and walkable, with a healthy stock of stylish high-end
TRAVEL
TOP PL ACES
for a meeting or event
25 Hours by Levi’s
Located next to Frankfurt’s Main station, this edgy property, with eye-popping interiors partly designed by the clothing brand, has two event rooms that can be combined to host 100 people for intimate networking events. 25hours-hotels.com
Messe Frankfurt
hotels. The Rheingau wine region – producer of exquisite Reislings – is just 40km away, its rolling green landscape dotted with storybook castles. From a financial perspective Frankfurt is already home to the European Central bank, and the continent’s third-largest stock exchange. As with many banking hubs, this has spurned a thriving fintech scene, which in turn is cultivating a startup community that could eventually rival Berlin and Munich if things continue. Recent success stories include Farmako (farmako.de), a medical cannabis distributor that secured a seven-figure angel investment to fuel their growth across Europe (the European cannabis market is set to grow ten-fold over the next ten years, reaching a €55.2 billion). With so much in the pipeline, Frankfurt looks set to not only advance as a financial epicentre, but with boosted credentials as a cultural destination. If that’s the case, the city could be attracting new kinds of talented expats over the years to come.
With 400,000 sqm of event space spread across 11 halls, plus 59,500 sqm of outdoor space, this gargantuan venue is said to have hosted the oldest world trade fair on record in the year 1150. messefrankfurt.com
The Westin Grand Frankfurt
Situated just ten minutes from Frankfurt Messe by S-Bahn, this business-friendly 371-room property has 13 meeting spaces of its own, the largest of which can host 700 people for a reception.
Grandhotel Hessischer Hof
Furnished with antiques and sumptuous fabrics, this elegant fivestar property with 11 meeting venues has a beautiful “Winter Garden” lounge, a great spot for a coffee meeting. grandhotel-hessischerhof.com
marriott.com
Sheraton Offenbach Hotel
A 15-minute taxi ride from the airport, this modern property has 12 spaces for meetings and events. These include an 18th-century palace directly connected to the hotel, which can accommodate 450 people. marriott.com
Jumeirah Frankfurt
This contemporary five-star hotel is moments from the Zeil shopping street in the heart of the city centre. It has 218 high-tech rooms and its Crystal Ballroom has more than 105,000 crystals embedded in its ceiling. jumeirah.com
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check-in Month-to-month changes shaping your travel, by Rose Dykins
Garuda commences direct route from Heathrow to Bali
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ndonesian airline Garuda is now flying direct from Heathrow to Bali instead of its capital, Jakarta. From January 22nd, the airline was set to change the ultimate destination of its non-stop London-Jakarta service to Denpasar Bali.
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ollowing disruptive incidents with drones at the two London airports, both Gatwick and Heathrow are investing millions of pounds in equipment to prevent future incidents.
The service will operate three times a week, with a flight time of 15 hours and 35 minutes. From Bali, travellers can connect to key business hubs in Australia and Southeast Asia, including Jakarta.
Singapore Airlines launches productivity podcast
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ingapore Airlines has created a podcast to help business travellers increase their productivity while on the road. Available on iTunes and Podbean, the podcast “Make Your Productivity Fly” features insights and tips that will help enhance travellers’ work output dur-
Gatwick and Heathrow to invest in antidrone systems
ing different stages of their business trip, including during their flight. Singapore Airlines’ General Manager for the UK and Ireland, Sheldon Hee said: “This podcast is part of our offering to corporate travellers and we hope that people find the hints and tips on how to enhance productivity whilst flying both useful and interesting.
A Gatwick spokesperson confirmed that it had purchased new equipment worth “several millions” that will provide “an equivalent level of capability” to the technology deployed by the military in December, when reports of drone sightings led to the closure of its runway for three days. A spokesperson for Heathrow said they would also be investing millions in anti-drone technology, adding: “The safety of our passengers and colleagues remains our top priority. Working closely with relevant authorities including the Met Police, we are constantly looking at the best technologies that help remove the threat of drones.”
Supersonic aircraft will take off in 2019
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prototype of a supersonic plane is set to take flight this year, following a £79 million investment. Nicknamed the “Son of Concorde”, the final iteration of the Overture jet will travel at 1,688 milesper-hour, with a range of 5,180 miles. A flight from New York to London would take less than four hours with the Overture – better than half the time of conventional jets. According to its creators, Boom Technology, the model is: “the fastest civil aircraft ever built”. The company also claims the jet will be “at least 30 times quieter than Concorde,” although it remains to be seen whether the jet will comply with current landing and take-off noise standards.
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Businesses local to Gatwick are 50% more likely to export than the national average
BUSINESS SURVEY
Gatwick brings global trade opportunities closer
We’re more than just an airport 87
Panama BUCKET LIST:
As its capital turns 500 years old, the Central American nation is attracting the attention of culturally-minded, wildlife-loving travellers. Rose Dykins reports
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uriosity about Panama has been building over the past three years, ever since the completion of a nine-year megaproject that doubled the Panama Canal System in size. The delicate curve of land connecting North and South America – the Isthmus of Panama – forms a natural barrier between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. In 1914, the Panama Canal system was built, transforming the face of global trade. Since its remodelling in 2016,
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travel writers have been waxing lyrical about this fast-evolving, ecologically-rich Central American destination, and Panama has made its way onto many a Bucket List.
ed colonial buildings of Casco Viejo, to the densely-packed skyscrapers of the central business district – side-by-side with rainforest that flourishes with endemic wildlife.
This year, Panama City will celebrate its 500th birthday in style, with public events and festivities honouring the contribution of the city’s melting pot of ethnic groups – including Native Panamanian, African and Spanish. The striking diversity of the capital is reflected in its cityscape – from the sherbet-hu-
Eco Circuitos (ecocircuitos.com) offers an aptly named six day cruise, “Escape the Winter: The Panama Canal Experience”. Travellers soak up the history and vibrancy of the capital before sailing along the iconic waterway to discover the biodiversity of its surrounding national parks and cloud fore-
BUSINESS LUXURY SURVEY TRAVEL
sts, where rainbow-billed toucans, adorable sloths and shimmering-winged butterflies hang out. Panama’s bountiful islands with high-end, environmentally conscious accommodation are the perfect choice for nature-loving honeymooners looking to go off the beaten track. A major launch for Panama this year is the opening of Islas Secas Reserve and Panama Lodge (islassecas.com). Set to debut last month, this luxury eco-retreat occupies its own 14-island archipelago along Pa-
”Since its remodelling in 2016, travel writers have been waxing lyrical about this fast-evolving, ecologically-rich Central American destination” nama’s Pacific Coast, welcomes just 18 guests at a time and is powered entirely by natural energy. Its wooden shuttered “casitas” are designed to let the outside in, and create the feeling of being on your own private island. The resort focuses on immersing guests in the ma-
gnificent natural surroundings through activities such as bird watching, whale watching and diving at nearby Coiba National Marine Park, where you’ll find second-largest coral reef in the Eastern Pacific, a fiercely protected entity, with UNESCO Heritage status.
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IN 2019
THE PLATINUM PUBLISHING GROUP
PLATINUM BUSINESS MAGAZINE Introducing the new Health & Wellbeing section THE LUXURY ISSUE IN APRIL 2019
SURREY CHAMBERS MAGAZINE Launching a new Surrey office WE ARE GOING MONTHLY FROM MARCH 2019!
To get involved contact: Sussex - lesley@platinumpublishing.co.uk Surrey - sarah@platinumpublishing.co.uk Events - maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk
PLATINUM EVENT MANAGEMENT SUSSEX BUSINESS AWARDS
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SURREY BUSINESS AWARDS
IN 2019:
BRIGHTON & HOVE BUSINESS AWARDS
LEWES DISTRICT BUSINESS AWARDS
BRIGHTON TOURISM AWARDS SOUTH EAST NEW HOMES AWARDS AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED
WORTHING BUSINESS SURVEY & ADUR
Worthing... ...you make my heart sing In this interview with the President of the Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce, and Carpenter Box Partner Chris Coopey, Platinum Editor Ian Trevett asks why Worthing? years I came to realise just how much potential there was in the area and the challenges and opportunities that went with that.”
Chris Coopey
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t’s true” says Chris “Worthing absolutely makes my heart sing because it’s just such a fantastic place to do business.” Chris knows what he is talking about. As a Partner at MHA Carpenter Box he’s helped to build an award-winning accountancy practice which in its Worthing office alone has a headcount of over 140 (with a further 30+ in the Crawley office). “When I arrived in the town I had but a little understanding of the business dynamic here. All I knew was that I was joining an accountancy practice with ambition. Over the months and
Worthing itself is surrounded by a horseshoe of business and industrial parks choked full of great businesses – this in addition to the retail, tourist and hospitality side. Next door in Adur, there is also a good retail and leisure offering with the port and the airport full of great businesses too. Chris continues: “Even now, I am constantly surprised by what pops up. I love Brighton and live in Hove but believe me, the opportunities here are amazing. Whether I wear my Chamber of Commerce President’s Chain or my Partner’s hat, Worthing and Adur are great places to do business. Of course, there are challenges, especially for retail, but we’re no different to anywhere else in that respect. The A27 can also be a nightmare, but I put the solution to that firmly at the feet of Government and they absolutely need to sort it out for the long term as opposed to re-opening their box of sticking plasters.” What there is in the area are some wonderful opportunities. After a very long
wait, a number of prime sites are up for redevelopment in Worthing including Teville Gate and Union Place whilst to the east the Monks Farm project has received planning permission with the airport piggybacking off that to provide some much needed additional industrial and commercial space. Chris enthuses: “As well as a strong Chamber of Commerce helping businesses of all sizes to grow through Peer Mentoring, networking and the Wise Up programme, we have the brilliant Better Business Show coming up in February.” Interestingly, there has also been what has been termed ‘the long shore drift’ of younger professionals, many with families relocating from Brighton and Hove west to Shoreham, Worthing and its environs. This has helped the development of a vibrant music scene, some great theatre, better restaurants and a real vision for the future of culture. (By the way, you can blame the headline here on Brighton legend and entertainer extraordinaire, Terry Garoghan. He adapted the Troggs’ hit ‘Wild Thing’ substituting Worthing – you can catch that and a lot of other local references if you hunt him down on YouTube).
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BEE PART OF THE BIZ BUZZ Worthing Town Hall
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Kathy Caton
Chris White
exhibitor stands Explore local opportunities
Breakfast Networking Enjoy some networking over a hearty breakfast
Free business support From business experts in various fields and industries
New skills for the digital world
Info Zone
A hive of info for start-ups to established businesses
FREE ENTRY
Meet the buyers
From local larger companies and Adur & Worthing Council
Lunch Box
Heritage and Philanthropy
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Founder and MD
Brighton Gin
Cyber Crime Specialist
South East region Organised Crime Unit
...network and mingle
#betterbiz2019
Don’t miss out – register now! www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk SHOW PARTNERS
MAIN SPONSOR
design: yoohoocreative.com
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Andrew Ball
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
At the show...
SPECIALIST SPEAKER
Wed 13th February • 10am - 4pm
WORTHING & ADUR
Getting better with time Having started as a small business showcase held on the balcony of the Town Hall eight years ago, the Better Business show has certainly grown with the times
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orthing & Adur has most definitely got the business buzz and the Better Business Show is THE place to find that out for yourself. From the pre-show breakfast at 8am to the closing bell at 4pm the day is going to be jam packed with speakers, exhibitors and networking opportunities. If you have recently started a business or are thinking of doing so head for the Info Zone. You will find all sorts of help to point you in the right direction. There will be just as much there for established businesses too! With a strong focus on ‘Buy Local’, this event is a ‘must’ in the 2019 business calendar for ALL businesses in Worthing & Adur, both large and small. Bee part of the buzz at The Better Business Show! • B2B Exhibition – With over 90 stands, meet, network and introduce your business. You’ll find everything from local manufacturing companies, a wide range of professional services, construction companies, health and fitness providers, and caterers offering a great lunch!
• Info Zone – A hive of information for start-ups, growing and established businesses including information about grants and finance. Come along and meet the Coast to Capital Growth Hub team and find out what’s on offer. • Growth – Opportunities to meet buying teams and some of our area’s larger companies.
From the earliest days, the Better Business Show has gone from strength to strength
• Be Inspired – Don’t miss the Keynote speakers, they will be sharing their journeys to success. – Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Heritage and Philanthropy, will share the history of this prestigious brand we all love - RollsRoyce Motor Cars. – Kathy Caton, Founder and MD of Brighton Gin, Brighton’s first (legal!) distillery, talks about taking the multiple award-winning super-premium Brighton Gin to the city and beyond.
through the cyber frauds and scams. • Connect – Enjoy some networking over a tasty breakfast or a light lunch and a chance to meet and mingle at the Lunch Box. • Promote – Meet, network and share experiences at the B2B Exhibition with both new and established businesses. Who knows, you could even pick up some new clients! • Digital Masterclasses – Top tips on Social Media Strategy and Digital Marketing – trust us, you don’t want to miss these! Make the most of the day, network at the B2B exhibition, learn from the experts, be inspired by the speakers, connect with the local business community, snap up the show offers and leave with a wealth of information and those all-important connections to build your business for 2019.
Better Business Show Kathy Caton
• Be Informed – Keep up-to-date with the latest cyber-crime trends, threats and vulnerabilities. Keynote Speaker Chris White, Police Cyber Security Advisor for the South East Region Organised Crime Unit will guide you
February 13th 2019. 10am – 4pm. Worthing Town Hall and Assembly Hall An event not to be missed and FREE to attend. Register Now at www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk This event is collaboratively delivered by Worthing and Adur Chamber, and Adur & Worthing Business Partnership.
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Small works,
big vision Warnes Projects can handle commissions of all sizes
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arnes Projects have built an enviable reputation in the fit-out and refurbishment industry since forming in 2005. Growth continues, with existing customers coming back for more and an increase in new customer enquires.
professionals, the Warnes small works service is exactly what you’re looking for. What’s more, you can be sure the quality of the work is to the same level as the large fit-out and refurbishment
After working on many large fit-out and refurbishment projects over the years it became apparent that customer’s requirements don’t always fall into the large category. Rather than leave customers to take a chance on someone they don’t know, Warnes came up with the perfect solution, develop the delivery of their own small works service.
Why use Warnes?
Often, small maintenance jobs get left. Perhaps you intend to do it yourself but you’re so busy running your business that it just doesn’t get done. And let’s face it, your time is better spent on the important work in your business. So, if a job needs doing and you want it done quickly by a team of skilled
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Having carried out major fit-out and refurbishment projects in the past for Worthing College, Warnes was asked to look at some maintenance work on the sports hall building. The building is old and looked dilapidated, so the small works team took on the job of giving it a new lease of life.
The rotten and warped plyboard in place had been painted many times in the past. Warnes suggested screwing back ply-board where necessary and cladding it with a maintenance-free PVC board. Warnes completed the project in time and on budget, meeting all the requirements of Worthing College.
What are small works?
It can be a one-man plumbing or electrical maintenance job, decorating or perhaps replacing all the office doors. However, small works doesn’t mean insignificant, it also covers bigger jobs where you might need a team of skilled professionals to deliver quality work, quickly and efficiently, such as recladding exterior fascia panels of a large building.
A recent small works project
How can we help you?
projects that Warnes takes on. Often, the team can be with you the next day, leaving you to get on with running your core business. Small works can be quite varied. We’ve removed and replaced glass panels for an accident repair business in Barnham; we’ve redecorated for a digital communications company in London; and we’ve replaced doors for a financial services firm in Worthing. We’ve received positive reports on the quality of the work we’ve carried out and received numerous requests for repeat projects.
If you have a small works project you need assistance with we’d be delighted to discuss your requirements. Please get in touch with the small works manager, Tony Baguley, at Warnes Projects Head Office in Ford on 01243 558570 or email tony@warnesprojects.co.uk
Warnes welcome enquiries about more comprehensive projects. Call 01243 558570 Email info@warnesprojects.co.uk or visit www.warnesprojects.co.uk
WORTHING & ADUR
Business Personality winner, Chris Coopey, Carpenter Box
Small Business winner, ViiSana Ltd
Start-Up winner, The Georgi Fin Micropub
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Innovation winner, ColourFull Kitchens Ltd
The Adur & Worthing Business Awards 2018
ast month we revealed the winners of the Adur & Worthing Business Awards which took place last November. The awards are run by a committee of successful local business people from organisations including Electronic Temperature Instruments Ltd, JSPC Computer Ser-
Entertainment from Encore Entertainment
vices, Seagull Travel, Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce and Adur & Worthing Council. Here we celebrate these prestigious awards with some highlights from the evening. Photographer: Martin Bloomfield/ Seaside Creative
Young Achiever Henry King, HG King Funeral Services
The tables all set for the night
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Form an orderly
Q
I would need a bucket full of superlatives to fully explain the tech in this range topper from Audi as they have crammed it to the hilt with every bit of tech they could find. By Maarten Hoffmann
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BUSINESS MOTORING SURVEY
“The clever thing here is that they have managed to make a huge car feel quite compact, even on the massive 22 inch wheels”
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here is a big SUV trend lately to make them look like coupes – take a look at the BMW X6 and the Mercedes GLE Coupe and the Q8 apes that look with a sloping roof line, very cool frameless doors, massive wheel arches, five seats and a boot that would carry half your house. The exterior is very sexy and looks a lot smaller than it actually is inside, which is an art in itself. There are three engines available, with the 50TDI (286bhp), 45 TDI (228bhp) and a cracking 55TSI V6 (335bhp) coming soon along with an RS version. My review car is a little disingenuous as with a badge that says 50TDI, one would immediately believe it is a 5-litre whereby it is actually 3-litre. Still, Mercedes have been getting away with the 6.3-litre badge on a 6.2-litre car for years. It comes loaded with dynamic allwheel steer, Matrix LED lighting, climate and their brilliant Virtual Cockpit that shows speed and satnav info across the main MMI screen, the dash
screen and in the head up display. Get lost in this car and you really would feel a total idiot. The leather seats are superb, the dash layout intuitive and the general finish as good as it gets. I am not a great fan of the touch screen required for just about every single function. You need to give it quite a hefty push and to ensure you have your finger on the right button, you have to take your eyes off the road. The Bang & Olufsen sound system is excellent and the double glazing keeps most road noise at bay. The clever thing here is that they have managed to make a huge car feel quite compact and even on the massive 22 inch wheels, it’s stable in corners and is a superb long-distance cruiser. It’s not a very exciting drive and l certainly felt the turbo lag, with hesitation each time the throttle is mashed as if it is thinking about whether to obey your foot’s instructions. There are seven drive modes of which comfort and sport are really all you need. As ever, the all-wheel drive is clever and subtle,
with torque-vectoring on the rear axle, and a torque split that can shove up to 70% to the front or 85% to the rear, depending on conditions. One might expect that the turning circle would be a mile and a half but with the aid of the four-wheel-steering, it is remarkably tiny for this size of car. It is reasonably swift with 60mph coming in 6.3 seconds although l would suggest that the smaller engine model would be a tad turgid when carrying the same weight. The brakes are fantastic should you ever need to exercise them fully. Full-bore stops from 70mph are over sooner than even Porsche’s latest Cayenne Turbo can manage, despite that car having 10-piston front calipers. I have always been quite a fan of the Q range since l first tested the Q5 3-litre a few years back. I went on a trip to Bath and found it engaging, smooth and uber comfortable. Since then, l think l have reviewed the entire range and the only one that did not quite hit the spot for me was the lumbering hunk Q7. Too fat, too big and in town, virtually impossible to thread through the traffic or park. This Q8 just pops under that description and offers all the size and power without the drawback.
TECH STUFF Model tested: Q8 50 TDI Quattro Vorsprung tiptonic Engine: 3.0-litre V6 diesel Power: 286bhp Speed: 0-62mph 6.3 seconds Top: 152mph Economy: 41.5mpg combined Price from: £81,115 As tested: £84,690
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Spaced out Do we really need a slightly stretched version of the mass-selling Tiguan - actually, yes we do. By Maarten Hoffmann, Motoring Editor
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he Volkswagen Tiguan has been with us since 2007 and has sold by the truck load. The word Tiguan comes from a portmanteau of the German words for Tiger and Iguana and was so named after a competition in Germany’s largest motoring magazines, Auto Bild. Of course, if you had left it to the Brits it would have been Cary McCar Face!
increasing from 1655 litres to 1775 litres which is enough for most families. The advent of seven-seats in many cars is a joy. They fold flat when you don’t need them but pop up and allow families to take one car rather than two when friends join in on the journey.
You have a choice of engines from the 1.4-litre petrol (148bhp) to the range I liked the original Tiguan when l retopping 2-litre BiTDI offering 236bhp. viewed it a few years back and here l It is important to remember that with have the AllSpace version, essentially a 7-seater, the difference between the same car but driver only and the longer by 109mm weight of a full “As far as passengers are house often dicthus allowing for a third row of seats, the larger concerned, a 6’2” adult will tates making this a full engine if you are 7-seater. There are to avoid a turgid fit perfectly well in the also changes to the drive. front end, a tall- middle row but the third row er radiator grill, a The drive is as higher bonnet and really is designed for kids good as you they have slightwould expect for or dwarves” ly stretched the VW. The steering rear doors. The inresponse is a tad crease in the wheelbase allows for the slow but it is accurate and very steady new seats but also offers a larger load when cornering. In the wet, the 4Moarea when the seats are folded down, tion all-wheel drive system works very
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well, controlling the rear axle through slippery bends and affording greater confidence. VW does offer adaptive dampers under the guise of Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), complete with the obligatory Comfort, Normal and Sport settings. However, in reality Comfort and Normal modes are just too soft and wallowing, resulting in a somewhat traditional SUV that has your head tossing from side to side whenever the road surface deteriorates. Putting the car into Sport mode cures some of this, but makes the ride fidgety at lower speeds. The interior is a tad soulless although superbly put together and this has
MOTORING always been the problem with monolithic manufacturers that make several brands as they need to mark the difference between the model and the price tags. With VW owning Audi, they try hard to differentiate the cars therefore they cannot uplift the VW without harming sales of Audis. This leads the VW’s to be a tad basic but perfectly functional and comfortable. Visibility is good, and so while the Allspace never feels anything less than a large SUV, you do at least get a reasonable view over your shoulder when switching lanes on the motorway, and all models come with front and rear parking sensors. As far as passengers are concerned, a 6’2” adult will fit perfectly well in the middle row but the third row really is designed for kids or dwarves. Having said that, they love being back there and my
kids would head for the back row every time even if l am the only other person in the car. Perhaps l should check the strength of my deodorant! The VW Group competition here is the Skoda Kodiaq that l reviewed two months ago. A perfectly good car but now you have the Allspace in the mix, to me, there is no competition – the Allspace would win hands down.
TECH STUFF Model tested: Allspace 2.0 TDI Engine: 2.0-litre 4Motion Power: 148bhp Speed: 0-62mph in 9.9 seconds Top: 123mph Economy: 47.6mpg combined Price: £35,235
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CHARITY NEWS
Join Team Chestnut in 2019 Running, cycling, skydiving or trekking, 2019 is the year to optimise your fitness levels whilst raising vital funds for charity
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hestnut Tree House has been caring for life-limited children in Sussex and South East Hampshire since 2003. Over the years, hundreds of businesses have raised thousands of pounds for the charity, enabling them to continue providing the specialist care that is vital to so many children and young people in the local area. And it has never been easier to get involved. From events and activities, to small actions that make a big difference. Choose a challenge for 2019 and help Chestnut Tree House make every Now count for local life-limited children and their families.
Here are a few ways you can join Team Chestnut:
RUN…
Brighton Half Marathon, February 24th One of the major running events on the half marathon calendar, this beautiful seafront course takes in the best of the city of Brighton. Join Team Chestnut and you’re guaranteed picturesque views and amazing crowd support.
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ADRENALINE…
event yet will take place in Dorking, Surrey, and is not for the faint-hearted! With over 60 challenging obstacles, Operation MUD is held on a gruelling course, crowned as the toughest and muddiest 5km military-style course in the UK.
Skydive, May 5th Looking for an exhilarating challenge? Jump in a group skydive from either 10,000 or 15,000 feet for a truly breath-taking experience, and raise vital funds for Chestnut Tree House.
TREK…
CYCLE…
If running, trekking, cycling and skydiving aren’t your thing, Chestnut Tree House are always looking for volunteers to help out at the hospice, in their charity shops and at fundraising events.
OBSTACLE…
To find out how you and your business can support Chestnut Tree House, visit www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk. email corporate@chestnut-treehouse.org.uk or call 01903 871846 / 01323 725095.
Hit the Downs MTB, May 12th Blaze the trail in Chestnut Tree House’s annual off-road 30 or 60km cycling event across the South Downs. The 2019 event includes a brand new start/finish venue and routes.
Operation MUD, July 13th An ideal team-building exercise, Chestnut Tree House’s muddiest
Inca Trail Trek, October 2nd-11th 2020 Join a group of intrepid trekkers on one of the world’s most iconic trails through the Andes Mountains to reach Machu Picchu.
BUSINESS SURVEY
SAVE THE DATES DINNER: 3RD JULY CONFERENCE: 4TH JULY THE MOST IMPORTANT AND INFORMATIVE CONFERENCE YOU WILL ATTEND THIS YEAR
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The ‘Brandwatch journey’ Lunch Date: Wednesday 27th February Time: 12pm-2:30pm Venue: Malmaison, 11 Mermaid Walk, Brighton
Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce www.businessinbrighton.org.uk
Join us for lunch and a glass of wine and hear from our guest speaker, Giles Palmer, founder and CEO of leading social intelligence company, Brandwatch.
Bite-sized Learning: 10 tips to make sure you get paid Date: Thursday 7th February Time: 9:30am-11:30am Venue: The 1st Central County Ground, Eaton Road, Hove In this workshop from one of Sussex’s top legal specialists Helix Law, you’ll learn the easy steps you can take to get paid and protect your business.
Chamber wine tasting social Date: Tuesday 19th February Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm Venue: Fourth & Church, 84 Church Road, Hove A tasting of natural and biodynamic wines from small producers and a great way to forge new business contacts for a couple of hours.
Bite-sized Learning: Ensure your employment contracts protect your business Date: Thursday 21st February Time: 9:30am-11:30am Venue: The 1st Central County Ground, Eaton Road, Hove This workshop will explain what legally needs to be in place for your employees, and the knowledge and confidence to approach any employment issue that might arise.
Chamber Breakfast February 2019 Date: Friday 22nd February Time: 7:45am-9:30am Venue: Carluccio’s, 1 Jubilee Street, Brighton Our guest speaker Jon Orrell, MD of HOP Consulting – a structural, civil and marine engineering consultancy – will be sharing his business journey and his passion for nurturing the next generation of talent.
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Chichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry Networking Chamber Monthly Meeting Date: Monday 11th February Time: 6pm–8:15pm Venue: Basepoint, Chichester Enterprise Centre, Terminus Road, Chichester Price: Free Take this opportunity to come along to an informal evening with drinks and refreshments and a chance to have a tour of the facilities at the Chichester Enterprise Centre. Network with fellow CCCI members and visitors.
The Chichester Business Breakfast in conjunction with Chichester College Date: Wednesday 13th February Time: 7.30am–9am Venue: Chichester College, Westgate Fields, Chichester Price: Members: £13.50 | Non-members: £15.00 This monthly breakfast (includes full English) provides a friendly, relaxed and informative environment for local businesses to network and improve their business profile locally, with a guest speaker.
Sage House Seminar for Trustees and Managers Date: Tuesday 19th February Venue: Sage House, Dementia Support, City Fields Way, Tangmere, Chichester Time: 8am-11.30am Price: £15 (a contribution will be made to Dementia Support)
chambers BUSINESS SURVEY
CCCI in conjunction with Stackhouse Poland Ltd and Moore Stephens will be hosting a breakfast seminar for the benefit of trustees and managers from the charities and not-forprofit sector. All places for events must be booked via www.chichestercci.org.uk
Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce www.eastbourneunltd.co.uk
Late Breakfast Networking
and strategic demands including tomorrow’s workforce and the skills they will arrive with via the UK’s education system.
Edeal First Friday business networking Date: Friday 1st March Time: 12.30pm Venue: The Cavendish Hotel, 38 Grand Parade, Eastbourne Price: Free to attend The First Friday Network is a monthly free to attend business networking event. An informal gathering in a welcoming environment where people feel relaxed and are free to present a 60 second elevator pitch.
Date: Wednesday 13th February Time: 9am Venue: DC1 Café & Gallery, 67-69 Seaside Road, Eastbourne Price: £11 A popular late networking breakfast meeting. This unique venue provides an informal environment for attendees to make new business connections or catch up with existing contacts.
Chamber Breakfast Date: Tuesday 19th February Time: 9am Venue: The Lansdowne Hotel, King Edwards Parade, Eastbourne Price: £11 Members are invited to attend this popular networking event and promote their business services and products over breakfast. This is a great opportunity to meet with other local business people and showcase your business.
Joint skills networking breakfast with Sussex Chamber of Commerce and East Sussex County Council –
Finding and Retaining Talent in a Post-Brexit World Date: Tuesday 26th February Time: 8.30am-11.30am Venue: Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club, 3 Harbour Quay, Eastbourne Price: £12 inc VAT
Sussex Chamber of Commerce www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
Manufacturing & Engineering Forum Date: Wednesday 6th February Time: 8am-10:30am Venue: Ricardo, Shoreham Price: Members: £25 | Non-members: £35 +VAT Join us for a presentation and a tour of Ricardo. Our speakers will provide updates on the latest developments in the industry.
Finding & Retaining Talent in a post Brexit world Date: Tuesday 26th February Time: 8am-11am Venue: Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club, Eastbourne Price: Members and Non-members: £10 +VAT In association with Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, we will explore how to find and retain local talent. Our guest speakers are from various companies and include MarshallTufflex Ltd, TalkativeOnline, Costain Group, Sussex Council of Training Providers and Youth Employability Service.
With guest speaker Steve Baldry, HR Manager at MarshallTufflex. Steve’s role encompasses a range of employment
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chambers Connect with Sussex Chamber
Better Business Show 2019
Date: Wednesday 27th February Time: 9am-11am Venue: Jubilee Community Centre, East Grinstead Price: Free - non-members only
Date: Wednesday 13th February Time: 10am-4pm Venue: Worthing Town Hall and Assembly Rooms Price: Free to attend
Meet one of our Membership Executive Team members and explore the benefits of membership.
With over 90 exhibitors this event is a ‘must’ in the 2019 business calendar for ALL businesses in Worthing & Adur. Hear from keynote speakers from Rolls-Royce, Brighton Gin and The South East Organised Crime Unit.
Construction Forum Date: Tuesday 5th March Time: 7:45am-10:30am Venue: Crowne Plaza, Felbridge Price: Members: £25 | Non-members: £35 +VAT The theme is the Environment and Sustainability in the Construction industry.
Business Networking Lunch Date: Thursday 14th March Time: 12pm-2pm Venue: TBC (Crawley/Gatwick area) Price: TBC Making Tax Digital is a key part of the government’s plans to make it easier for individuals and businesses to get their tax right. Listen to the experts to ensure you are making the fundamental changes required to your business.
Chamber Hub Date: Friday 15th February Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm Venue: Impulse Leisure, Lancing Price: Free Spend your lunchtime enjoying some informal networking with like-minded business people, Chamber Hub is a wellestablished, popular networking event which attracts a vast selection of local businesses.
Breakfast Chat Date: Tuesday 26th February Time: 7:30am-9am Venue: Arundel Restaurant, GB MET, Durrington Price: £8 + VAT Join us for our informal monthly networking breakfast. No speakers, no agenda just the chance to promote your business to a room full of like-minded business people.
Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce
www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk
Better Business Pre-show networking breakfast Date: Wednesday 13th February Time: 7.45am-9:45am Venue: Committee Rooms, Worthing Town Hall Price: £7.50 Looking to meet like-minded local business people? Come along to our networking breakfast before the Better Business Show. All profits from this breakfast are donated to Guildcare. You will be finished in time to visit the Better Business Show at 10am.
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Communication and teamwork WiseUp2 training Date: Thursday 28th February Time: 9:30am-12:30pm Venue: Centre For Leadership, GB MET, Broadwater Road, Worthing Price: Members: £35 + VAT | Non-members: £75 + VAT An interactive look at communication methods and styles and how communication skills can impact on the success of a team. We will also have a brief look at Team Theory, Dynamics and Roles as well as the characteristics of a High Performing Team.
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Start-Up SURGERY
Welcome to Start-up Surgery, offering advice and information, plus profiles of new businesses in the South East. Edited and compiled by David Tewkesbury
NETWORKING
Why, where and how Networking not Noworking!
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etworking is an absolute essential for the majority of new business. It’s a way of sharing the news about your business, talking to potential clients and suppliers, and getting yourself known in the area that you work. As important as it is, many people find it a real challenge, and you can often see people waiting outside rooms full of people getting themselves ready to step into the unknown.
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Be prepared Know where you are going, what you are going for and who you want to talk to. Many events send out the attendee lists beforehand, and I’ve even known some people who have done forensic research and have pictures of the people they want to talk to.
“...enjoy it, it’s supposed to be fun!”
I recently had the pleasure of sharing my Networking Do’s and Don’ts to business students at Brighton University and thought it would be useful to share it here. So here it is, my five steps to networking success.
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Decide what you want to get out of the event. Do you want to meet clients? Do you want to spread the word about your business? Do you want new suppliers? Decide your Why!
long staircases, I mean enter the room with purpose. Hold your head high, be confident and walk in. You’ll probably be met by a greeter to check you in and give you your name badge, then it’s off to get a coffee. Take the opportunity to say hello to the people in the queue. Perfect your greeting A good greeting is about three things: the handshake, the mouth and the eyes. Make your handshake strong and confident with one up and down ‘thrust’, remember strong doesn’t mean a bonecrusher! Smile when you are doing it and say hello and maintain eye contact. If you are nervous, look at the spot just above the top of peoples nose, focus there and it won’t look like a staring competiton.
Five steps to networking success
Make an entrance By this, I don’t mean fanfares and
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Have your openers ready Prepare some questions so you
START-UPS
Five steps to following up
“Hold your head high, be confident and walk in” can start the conversation. Things like: ‘Hello I’m David, nice to meet you. Did you travel far today?’ ‘Hi I’m David. How are you. I’ve not been here before, what’s the format?
Or ‘I’ve loved talking to you. Thank you. I’m going to talk to some other people, so let’s speak soon. Then, follow up. Have a look at the sidebar for top five follow up rules. Oh, and enjoy it, it’s supposed to be fun!
‘Hi, good to meet you, I’m David. Have you been to many of these events?’ Have something that’s general, friendly and engaging. Start the conversation but remember it should be more about them, than you. Listen first, talk later.
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Politely disengage Once you’ve had a good conversation, it’s good to talk to other people. You’re there to network after all aren’t you rather than have one long conversation. People will understand this so be honest. Something like: ‘It’s been really good to talk to you, I’m going to chat to a few other people, let’s catch up again later.’
Get involved. Send your business questions to davidtewkesbury@merranti.com. Or if you would like your start-up profiled, email David for details.
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Swap Business Cards – When you’re given a card, say thank you, look at it and read it before putting in your pocket. And give yours in return. It’s a good idea to ask people if you can email them afterwards (a little bit of GDPR!) Add them on LinkedIn – Always find people on LinkedIn after an event and send them a message with the invitation saying how you met; build your audience.
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Complete your actions – If you said you’d do something for them, do it! Whether it be send a brochure, email them a price list, or anything else. Do it and do it quick. That way you will stay in their memory.
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If you want to add them to your email list, don’t forget to be GDPR compliant and ask permission. Mailchimp and other tools help you do this.
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Keep the conversation going. Don’t just add, email and leave it. Stay in touch, you never know how you can help each other.
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CROSSING THE LINE
Everyone has the right to protest and be angry. NOBODY has the right to attempt to close down debate, threaten, bully and commercially damage their opponents. By Maarten Hoffmann
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n a recent column (issue 54), l spoke of the need to rein in minority activist groups from taking control of events, then on the topic of the editor of the Waitrose food magazine. When a handful of vegans complained about his comments, he was fired. There are 3.5 million vegans in the UK meaning that the remaining 61 million are in the clear majority but he was fired based on the tiny vocal mi-
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nority who were upset and the fear that a few vegans would stop shopping at the store. Ironically, this month l find myself in this exact situation with an activist group calling for my head because they did not like the fact that l had the temerity to disagree with their views. The difference – l own the magazine so cannot be fired and this publication does not, and will never, bow to pressure exerted by a tiny majority
of NIMBYs (not in my back yard). But these people have gone much further than that and crossed the line into morally bankrupt activities – bordering on illegal, and currently subject to legal action. This magazine is a vocal supporter of the expansion of Gatwick Airport as is our right under the Freedom of Speech Act. We have been backing it since the expansion debate began and strongly believe that Gatwick should be expanded for the economic prosperity of the South East. Of course, this will cause huge inconvenience to
ANGER MANAGEMENT
ANGER MANAGEMENT
the people living under the flight path but the few cannot rule over the many, and many of these people purchased their homes in the full knowledge that there was an airport nearby. We can all understand and sympathise with their plight but are we to stop all development in this country if it inconveniences a small group of people? If so, we would not have moved on from the dark ages. Over Christmas, Gatwick was shut down due to the drone incident. This stranded over 40,000 people (mostly Sussex residents) just days before Christmas, split families asunder, cancelled long-held plans for vacations, halted all airfreight movement, caused untold stress to the overworked Gatwick staff, resulted in gridlock on the roads, damaged income for those hourly workers who were told not to go into work, caused massive lost income to the airport and all the airlines and generally devastated the plans of thousands of people just days before Christmas.
first ever plane trip to see Santa in Lapland. They were uncontrollably hysterical when told they were not going and had to return to the minibus. Just two of thousands of awful, heart wrenching stories of anger, pain and sorrow. Right in the middle of this horror, the activist group CAGNE (Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emission), Chaired by one Sally Pavey, who are hell-bent on halting any expansion decided in their divine wisdom to issue a tweet stating how happy they were that the airport was closed as their gardens were lovely and quiet. Insensi-
hearing that my family had read this tweet, as it just compounded their pain. This caused CAGNE to show their true colours. They decided that l must be silenced at all costs and started a campaign of intimidation, threats, innuendo and an appalling attempt to damage this company, demonstrating that there are no lengths to which they will not stoop to get their way. I was threatened that l would get my ‘just deserts’ and that this publication, the largest circulation and most respected business magazine in the UK, was only useful as toilet paper. Considering we print on 100gsm coated paper, it would be about as absorbent as a sheet of glass but nevertheless, we were attacked on all sides by this merry bunch of NIMBYs. Then they stepped over the line in dramatic style – they spent days going through every page of the magazine and wrote to every single client suggesting that they should stop working with us! In short, they have attempted to commercially damage this company because we do not agree with their views. Fortunately, we have not had a single client pay heed to them as our clients are with us specifically because of our bold editorial stand and secondly, many know this bunch from old and are aware of their underhand ways.
“Aircraft produce 2% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and 100% of the noise over flightpath homes
and these new aircraft will remove 100% of the emissions and 90% of the noise"
Personally, l had extended family members at the airport trying to get to their sick father in Italy. Distraught and anxious, during the interminable delay they heard that their father had died, all alone in a foreign hospital, whilst they were stuck at the airport. In addition, there were a group of special educational needs kids, so excited to go on their
tive is not the word for it and it caused utter fury amongst thousands of people with nothing better to do than wait at the airport and the tweet went viral around both terminals, and the county, and resulted in an avalanche of angry, rude, furious replies pertaining to exactly where these insensitive creatures could stick their smug satisfaction. Then the news broke that the Police were investigating this group, and others, about any possible involvement in the drone debacle. I joined the furious barrage as l was so angry after
They did not just cross the line by this action, they completely erased the line
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CEO of Gatwick has suffered years of abuse from this bunch as has anyone who dares to disagree with their narrow view. They care not for the fact that with Gatwick closed, most regional airports were granted dispensation to fly throughout the night to help clear the backlog, therefore causing misery to the folk under those flightpaths, nor do they give a frig about the people under Heathrow’s flightpath as they push for that expansion over Gatwick’s. They have one goal – limit the flights over their acreage by hook or by crook, and damn anyone this might inconvenience in the process.
and obviously work on the basis that they can bully, damage, threaten, insult and financially ruin anyone who gets in their way. Sorry to tell you chaps but you picked the wrong target. In 2016, the then CEO of Gatwick Diamond Business, Jeremy Taylor stated, after a thorough survey of GDB members, that the majority were in favour
of the expansion. CAGNE’s response – get him fired. Despite their best efforts, he was not of course, as the GDB committee comprises sane individuals who know this activist group from old. Rosemary French OBE, the magnificent Executive Director of Gatwick Diamond Initiative stated that most businesses were in favour and she received a barrage of abuse. Stewart Wingate, the
In recent press releases, they bang on about Gatwick having foreign owners as if this is some type of crime. They state themselves that any expansion would create 12,000 new jobs and then moan that Sussex does not have the staff to fill them. They state that airports bring economic benefits by way of ‘direct employment, improved communication and dependant business opportunities’ – but of course we
“CAGNE will never win this fight for the reasons mentioned but in addition, community groups such as this that use nasty, underhand, vicious, bullying techniques do not deserve to win and do a great disservice to all those honest people attached to the cause"
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ANGER MANAGEMENT should not allow it as the planes will fly on their gardens. I repeat, l sincerely sympathise with their plight and have no doubt that l would not be at all happy were l living under the flightpath but if l moved into my home post 1933, when commercial flights first started, l would understand that the airport was there before me. I would understand that a major airport will inevitably grow and develop for the economic prosperity of the South East and the nation. As with the plastic garbage nightmare the world finds itself in, we should all be using less plastic and be keenly aware of what we dispose of. But, this will only touch the tip of the iceberg. The real change comes as the industry is forced, by public and political pressure, to develop new plastics that break down. The same thing applies to aircraft noise and emissions. The public will not put up with our foul air for much longer and governments
For a full list of the organisations that support expansion, go to the news on page 9.
around the world are now taking action. Car emissions are the current top item on the agenda and the automotive industry is suffering horrendous pain as they try to clear out their stocks of diesel cars and race to develop electric models. Aircraft are in that category as manufacturers rush to produce eco-friendly planes. Rolls-Royce have a project called Accel (Accelerating the Electrification of Flight) and aim to be at the forefront of electric aircraft. Airbus and Boeing have announced their own plans and they are all racing to be the first. EasyJet are currently working with an American firm, Wright Electric on a fullsize electric aircraft that hopes to fly by 2025, flying up to 310 miles on a single charge. The Rolls-Royce project expects to have an aircraft that will fly 200 miles at 300mph by the end of 2020.
CAGNE will never win this fight. The thousands of homes that must be demolished to make way for the HS2 project have not won and l could name another hundred activist groups that have lost due to the overwhelming and unstoppable progress that this world demands. You might not agree with it but you will never stop it. Technology will remove the problem of Gatwick’s expansion, it just needs a little time to develop. As mentioned, CAGNE will never win this fight for the reasons mentioned but in addition, community groups that use nasty, underhand, vicious, bullying techniques do not deserve to win and do a great disservice to all those honest people attached to the cause.
Aircraft produce 2% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions and 100% of the noise over flightpath homes and these new aircraft will remove 100% of the emissions and 90% of the noise. This is the answer. Not stopping all development. Not threatening and bullying opponents. Not trying to commercially damage any company that doesn’t agree with their views.
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INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS
The value of
International markets
By Alistair Elder, Sussex Branch Ambassador for International Trade and Managing Partner of SGI Partners
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usinesses across Sussex recognise the value of international markets for future revenues and profits. Continued success will rely on our ability to manage the range of challenges and opportunities that exist. We should look at our strategies, priorities and behaviours to support our businesses as we look to extend or secure an international presence. We are embarking on a new trade journey seeking better and bigger business across global markets. UK capability is well-respected and while it won’t guarantee sales, our association with quality and innovation is a key strength in the offering. Individual businesses need to prepare and plan for the offering to be successful. Some of us are new to exporting, others more experienced and we need to ensure our offering hits the right market at the right time. Defining target markets and clients sounds straightforward but when you look at your offering and how it became successful in the UK, you will probably see potential in dozens of markets. How many have the time and
money to run multiple campaigns? Defining your offering and developing an international strategy helps prioritise markets and clients. Client culture and buyer behaviour varies and it is important to treat each as unique and prepare your approach accordingly. Another key element is ensuring the infrastructure is in place to ensure the product or service can be delivered to expectations. Your first customer shouldn’t be your last. Many businesses are owner managed and that passion in the product and the focus on quality stands us in good stead overseas. Most businesses I meet are current exporters and it is fascinating to hear about future plans and markets, building on good foundations developed across several continents. There are key elements to running a successful export business: • Understanding of your target markets, buyers, distributors and end-users • Products and services of value to those markets
• A clearly defined strategy and engagement plan that drives your growth You will all recognise these as critical to your UK success too. The IoD Policy team held a Brexit webinar recently. The team has some fantastic insights and I have signed up to Policy Voice https://policyvoice.iod. com/hub. I am sure you are preparing your businesses for Brexit and some key messages that I took from the webinar are: • A sponsorship licence may allow you to continue to employ EU citizens • Sterling expected to remain at current rates if there is a smooth transition •R eview if you have to register for VAT in Europe as well as other regulatory provisions • Review purchase orders and invoices to assess any no deal/Brexit impact • Communicate with suppliers and customers, preferential payment terms might be an idea • Ensure continued access to markets, back-up plans, stockpiling inventory, increase output • Access to funding should there be a cashflow hit in supply/delivery/order process Thanks for reading, let me know if you have any thoughts on this or articles you would like to see from me in future. Alistair.Elder@SGIPartners. co.uk www.iod.com
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PLATINUM
SPORT HISTORY OF BRIGHTON RUGBY CLUB • GOLF’S FUTURE STAR • WORST JANUARY PREMIER SIGNINGS
Their club is your club
LEWES FC
MAKE OR BREAK FOR EUBANK? WHEN MEETS
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news BUSINESS SURVEY
SPORT DARTS
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he PDC World Championship was won for a third time by number one seed Michael van Gerwen with a 7-3 victory over Englishman and 10th seed Michael Smith at Alexandra Palace, winning a cheque for £500,000 in the process.
HORSE RACING
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he Cheltenham Festival takes place from March 12-15 culminating in the Gold Cup, following some recent controversy surrounding a report into the deaths of six horses at the showpiece meeting. The review warned welfare issues threaten the future of the sport if they’re not addressed. Extra veterinary checks, alterations to some race conditions and a major project to study faller rates were among 17 recommendations from the review.
Michael van Gerwen
PENNY FARTHING CYCLING
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n June 15th last year, endurance athlete and world record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont set a new British record of 21 miles 918 yards in an hour. In August Mark and his team will attempt a new indoor world record for 1 hour and then in October, they will travel to Massachusetts and attempt to secure the original historic world record for the UK. Patriotic project partners and sponsors are required to enable these iconic and newsworthy records to be challenged, so for more information on how to get involved visit una@markbeaumontonline.com
FORMULA ONE
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ext month the new season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 17th followed a fortnight later by the Bahrain Grand Prix. BBC Sports Personality of the Year runner up, Lewis Hamilton will be seeking his 6th title and will start as favourite after the best season of his career in 2018. But do expect his nearest rivals to be Ferrari’s new partnership of Sebastian Vettel and 21-year-old Charle Le
Clerc who has all the hallmarks of a very special talent. One of Hamilton’s biggest challengers from last year Daniel Ricardo has left Red Bull to join Renault, while at McLaren, 19-year-old Lando Norris joins Spain’s Carlos Sainz, following the departure of Fernando Alonso. Red Bull have teamed up with Honda as their new engine partner, so you can expect an exciting season from their talisman Max Verstappen.
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A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.” – Billie Jean King
CRICKET
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head of this year’s 50 over World Cup in England and Wales this June and the cricket season getting underway in April, this year’s Big Bash League Down Under has seen Sussex’s Jofra Archer feature with top of the table Hobart Hurricanes and Sussex Coach Jason Gillespie’s Adelaide Strikers. Meanwhile Sussex’s Laurie Evans has signed a contract extension beyond 2019, reward for being Sussex’s leading run scorer in last year’s Vitality Blast, making seven scores over fifty as the Sharks reached the final.
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BUSINESS SURVEY SPORT | GOLF
A star for the future
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“I am 13 years old & love golf!” Why Lille-Beau is one to watch!
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hey say the younger you start learning a sport the better and there are many examples of stars across the world who picked up their first bat or tennis racquet, or even swing their first golf club at an early age. Tiger Woods springs to mind of course.
One such example in Sussex is Cowdray Park junior member, the fantastically named Lille-Beau Thorpe, who has just graduated into the England Regional Under 18s squad at the age of just 13. She’s the youngest in the team, having recently stepped up from the Under 16s and over the coming year she will be expected to attend over 40 coaching, strength & conditioning and fitness sessions.
Lille-Beau won the Cowdray Ladies Club Championship for the second time last year and remains the youngest ever winner in the club’s history.
From Easebourne, Lille-Beau goes to school at Seaford College and discovered golf when she started accompanying her dad Justin to
way she eagled the fifth hole and as a team they shot five under. In August, she played three rounds on the Pine Needles course which had previously hosted the Women’s US Open, coming an impressive ninth over the three days. When she was 11, she beat a field of twelve ladies to take the title of 2016 Cowdray Golf Ladies Champion following her part in the World Junior Championships in the US where she finished 12th out of a 100.
Lille-Beau Thorpe
Cowdray Park Golf Club. She reportedly counts among her inspirations, Luke Donald whom she once met at Wentworth.
In 2013, at just eight years of age, Lille-Beau was ranked sixth in her age group in Europe and ninth in the world! She competed in the Scottish Girls’ Open Championships that year and in July, Lille-Beau, along with her granddad Steve White, won her age group at the Parent/Child World championships in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Along the
At 13, she is still the youngest member of the England Golf’s South East Region squad with a current handicap of 7 and spent last winter attending various training camps. As a member of the Cowdray Park Junior Academy, Lille-Beau continues to receive support and advice, and according to her mother, apparently she never gets nervous before a round, but actually thrives on it. A post on her twitter feed referring to Justin Rose, says “Missed 21 cuts in a row after turning pro and now the best golfer on the planet. The path to success is not a smooth one.” Whether or not the path is a smooth one, Lille-Beau Thorpe is one for the future… remember the name!
“In 2013, at just eight years of age, Lille-Beau was ranked sixth in her age group in Europe and ninth in the world!
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Make or break
for the Brighton & Hove born boxer? Time for the trash talking to stop and the fighting to begin as Chris Eubank Jr promises hiring a new full time coach will take him to the next level! same dizzy heights as his father, however, he has provided a level of credibility by winning the IBO belt in the same weight division that his father competed at, after defeating Australia’s Renold Quinlan in 10 rounds back in February 2017.
F
ormer IBO Super Middleweight World Champion Chris Eubank Jr gets back in the ring for an eagerly anticipated bout against the 2008 Olympic Gold medallist James DeGale MBE at the O2 Arena on Saturday February 23rd. De Gale has reportedly suggested that whoever loses, it will be the end of their respective careers. Eubank states that contrary to what will happen if he loses, he’s thought more about what he’s going to do to win and believes the different mindsets will help his corner. Eubank’s ambitions have been demonstrated by the appointment of Nate Vasquez as his new trainer from Team Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas.. Eubank’s father, Chris Eubank Sr is one of the most recognisable characters in the sport and was regarded as one of the finest fighters of his generation, winning the WBO world title at super-middleweight. ‘Next Gen’ as Eubank Jr is known, has yet to reach the
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Both DeGale and Eubank Jr share a loss on their record to the same fighter, George Groves. DeGale avenged his only previous defeat to Caleb Traux, whilst Eubank Jr has yet to have a rematch with his only other defeat, against Billy Joe Saunders. Eubank Jr made his professional debut in 2011, stopping Lithuanian Kirilas Psonko inside four rounds in Manchester. His career shows 29 bouts, 21 knockouts and two defeats, to Groves in Feb 2018, and Billy Joe Saunders in November 2014.
Just like his dad driving around Brighton & Hove in his American Peterbilt 379 lorry cab, Eubank Jr can often be seen in his personalised two toned Bentley complete with the same number plate ‘1 KO’. His upbringing has not been a smooth ride though and in the past, it was reported that Eubank Jr knocked out a man when he was only 15, after he demanded the youngster paid him £2,000. Apparently, the drunk man had asked to be reimbursed after losing a bet on his dad and pushed the young Eubank one time too many. His school years saw him educated at Brighton College, where he represented the rugby first XV on the wing and he also excelled in athletics, swimming and badminton. He was excluded on several occasions... predominantly for fighting!
SPORT | PROFILE:BUSINESS CHRIS EUBANK JR SURVEY He managed to gain some publicity during his early years when he appeared on the reality TV show “At Home with the Eubanks” and when he was 16, he went to America with his brother, Sebastian, to live with a guardian. Their mother later explained that this was done so both boys would have dual citizenship, and to give them a better chance of success in professional sports. Eubank started his amateur boxing career shortly after getting to the US, where he became Nevada’s Amateur Golden Glove Champion after having only eight amateur fights. Eubank Jr concluded his amateur career back in England by winning the prestigious International Haringey Cup in June 2011. In total, he’d had 26 amateur bouts and lost just twice.
Eubank lost via a split decision, with two judges having Saunders ahead by one point. Three months later, he bounced back with a dominant victory over Dmitry Chudinov for the WBA interim middleweight title, which was followed by two more victories that year. His next fight was against Nick Blackwell for the British middleweight championship, with the fight being remembered across the world because of what happened inside and outside the ring. While
After victory against Tom Doran, Eubank Jr moved up a division to beat Renold Quinlan for his IBO super middleweight title. This was followed by a points victory over Arthur Abraham, which had been preceded by an announcement that the winner would enter the World Boxing Super Series at Super Middleweight. After impressing in his defeat of Avni Yildirim, in October 2017, victory meant an all British semi-final against George Groves in Manchester in February last year. Eubank’s defeat on the scorecard again only served to draw criticisms of his training methods and ability to box at the highest level. After losing to Groves, Eubank Jr returned to the ring with victory over JJ McDonagh last September.
“De Gale has reportedly suggested that whoever loses, it will be the end of their respective careers”
After turning pro in 2011, he quickly built up a winning streak fighting in England, Ireland and Denmark and three out of his first five wins went down to the scorecards, as he consistently demonstrated power and athleticism in his fights. His streak of eighteen wins earned him his first title fight versus Billy Joe Saunders, who had boxed in the 2008 Olympics. The fight was for Saunders’ European, British and Commonwealth middleweight titles, and it was also a title-eliminator fight for WBO world middleweight title. Unfortunately, Saunders’ big fight experience was key, and
Eubank dominated the fight from the outset, with Blackwell clearly outclassed, it became apparent that Blackwell could get badly hurt. Eubank Sr instructed his son to hit Blackwell to the body instead of the head, in an attempt to a) stop him more quickly and b) to prevent further serious damage since the referee seemed reluctant to stop the fight. Eventually the fight was stopped in the 10th round, with Blackwell needing to go to hospital. Subsequent tests showed that he had bleeding in his brain, whereupon he was put into a medically-induced coma. Images of the infamous Eubank Sr v Michael Watson fight in 1991 sprung to mind, but fortunately, Blackwell did make a full recovery, though his injuries forced him to retire.
Despite the criticism, Eubank Jr has shown he has speed and power and possesses excellent technical skills with the added benefit of his father’s wealth of experience. So, what can we expect then from this month’s bitter battle in the ring between these two British rivals? With both fighters twice having tasted defeat, the winner will likely have a shot at a world title fight, but one thing is for sure – defeat is unthinkable for both fighters.
TALE OF THE TAPE Age: 29 Date Of Birth: September 18th 1989 Debut: November 12th 2011 Total Bouts: 29 Wins: 27 KO’s: 21 Losses: 2 Nickname: ‘Next Gen’ Stance: Orthodox Height: 5’11” Reach: 72½″
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BUSINESS SURVEY SPORT | FOOTBALL
TOP 5
MY
WORST...
January transfer signings in the Premier League
Managers hate them and fans love them, but January transfers can often make or break a season for a football club. Not all work out well...
I
t’s generally known as the panic part of the season and many are willing to spend over-theodds to make it happen.
No doubt some of you will either be dancing for joy or still shaking your head in disbelief at some of the signings that joined your Club last month, but in my opinion here are the worst five January signings in the Premiership ever made since this window opened in 2002/3.
FERNANDO TORRES Liverpool to Chelsea £50 million in 2011
There were already signs that Torres wasn’t himself having been injured before Christmas but that didn’t stop Roman Abramovich forking out in the hope of being better than Manchester United. However, the return on investment was a miserly twenty league goals in three and a half seasons.
ANDY CARROLL Newcastle to Liverpool £35 million in 2011
Following Torres’ departure, Liverpool had a lot of cash and very little time to spend it. After signing Luis Suarez, manager Kenny Dalglish turned his attention to Andy Carroll with Liverpool handing over £35 million for the then 22-year-old just
minutes before the transfer deadline. Carroll only managed eleven goals in two injury-plagued seasons at Anfield.
AFONSO ALVES Heerenveen to Middlesbrough £12.5 million in 2008
It’s easy to see why Boro signed the forward, after he scored 48 goals in 50 games in the Dutch top-flight, including four hat-tricks. However, at the Riverside the Brazilian only managed ten goals in forty-one games under Gareth Southgate as the Teesiders were relegated the following season.
GEORGIOS SAMARAS Heerenveen to Manchester City £6 million in 2006
2012, 2013 and 2014, totalling 74 goals in 249 competitive games.
SAVIO NSEREKO Brescia to West Ham £9 million in 2009
The Uganda-born German striker was playing in Italy’s second division when West Ham broke their transfer record for the forward. At the time it was seen as a substantial amount for a teenager who hadn’t played any top tier football and the doubters were proved correct when he failed to get in the team ahead of Carlton Cole and David Di Michele. He was sold a few months later at a significant loss and is reportedly best remembered for faking his own kidnapping in an attempt to ransom money from his own family.
This was a record fee for a Greek player but the International only managed eight league goals in 59 games. The Daily Mirror described Samaras as looking like a “fish out of water” as he struggled to adapt to the different style of play in England and he subsequently fell out of favour under Sven-Goran Eriksson. After signing for Celtic in 2008, Samaras went on to win Scottish league championships in 2008,
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BUSINESS SURVEY SPORT | PERSONAL TRAINING
WELCOME TO THE
revolution
Personal Training is the way forward? Everyone’s doing it, so Laurence has agreed to see what all the fuss is about!
I
n my mid 20’s I lived and worked in London where my life revolved around socialising and partying. One morning upon waking up coughing and thinking I needed to change my life style to get fit, I joined the nearest gym to work. After a hard day at the office, I dragged myself down there for a session and an hour later, I felt good. I’d run, rowed, pushed, pulled and even pumped and feeling a sense of satisfaction, stepped back out in to the cold February air. Now I had to pass a public house on the way to the tube station, and unfortunately, four pints of cask conditioned cider, half a pack of cigarettes and a few packets of crisps later, I stumbled home realising what an utter waste of time that was. 25 years later I’ve convinced myself to give it another go but decided this time it would help to utilise the attentions of a personal trainer.
cilities the first half of my session was finding out all about me; assessing what I was looking for and why and tak-
equipment I was going to be using over the next three months. Over the last few years my exercise has only been walking the dog and a very limited level of cycling, so warming up on the Spin bike, followed by some reps on a variety of the resistance machines was ideal on day one. My eye did catch the punch bag in the corner so If I have a bad day rest assured the bags going to get it!
Whilst I’ve never been one to adhere to a strict fitness regime, I’m one of those people that’s always wanted to be ‘buff’
With studios in Brighton and Hove, I’d been recommended to join Revolution (and not the bar on West Street I might add!) so with some trepidation I booked up my free first hour taster session. Whilst I’ve never been one to adhere to a strict fitness regime, I’m one of those people that’s always wanted to be ‘buff’ but needs to have some control around me to make it happen. I was greeted by Tyler my PT and he immediately made me feel welcome. After a brief tour of the fa-
ing the time to understand what I wanted to achieve, specifically in 12 weeks. Simple! I want to be fitter, healthier and more toned. We even discussed my eating habits and how nutritional advice was going to help. While Tyler took measurements of my arms, chest, thighs, waist and hips, I felt completely at ease and began to realise this was the way forward – why hadn’t I done this before!?
I left with my own personal training starter pack which both Tyler and I will keep up to date because evaluating my progress over the next 12 weeks is as important as my motivation to achieve my goals. I’ve agreed to train once a week and I’m looking forward to sharing the results with you. I welcome you to join me on my PT journey – welcome to the Revolution! For more details, visit www.Revolution-PTS.com
The second half of my lesson was to familiarise myself with some of the
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Their club is your club! Why are the Rooks such a different football club? Laurence Elphick meets Director Jon Ruben to find out more You’ve been at the Club as a Director since November 2017, how long have you been a supporter of Lewes FC?
You say the owners, these are the fans because Lewes FC is owned by the fans. How does this work?
It’s six years since my first game on Boxing day against Bognor Regis at the Dripping Pan. The weather was awful, but I remember I was sat at home and my whole family were ill, when my neighbour knocked on the door and asked if I fancied going. Looking around at the runny noses and sniffly faces it didn’t take me long to say yes. Because the weather was so appalling, everybody was crammed underneath the stand behind one of the goals.
What swayed it that day for you to become a regular at Lewes?
That you could take a pint on to the terraces, there was very little segregation and normally at half time you swop ends and go behind the goal your team is attacking! Being able to stand was a bonus. Because of the weather, both sets of fans were congregated under one area and the atmosphere was very noisy - there was good rivalry and banter and to cap it off Lewes scored in the last five minutes to win 1-0. From then on, I was hooked (or Rooked!..Ed)
Who did you support growing up?
Birmingham City, I used to follow them all around the country, and Europe as well after they won the Carling Cup.
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But it was expensive, I was getting fed up with the cost and away fans were always treated badly, so once I got hooked at Lewes, I preferred to travel 25 minutes to Lewes on a Saturday than traipse up to Birmingham.
How does a fan become a director?
We have quite a few fans that travel together to every game and I was one. We were playing away at Walton Casuals a few years ago and on the way back existing director, Charlie Dobres told me there was an election coming up for the board in the next few weeks, and he suggested I stand, so I did. No directors get paid at Lewes and to get in you must be an owner and be proposed by two other owners.
In 2010, Lewes FC became a 100% fanowned, democratic football club. Currently, we are just under 1600 owners and some of these are abroad. In fact, we have an increasing number of people in America signing up because they like the idea of being a part owner of an English football club. Our objective in the next three years is to increase the number of owners to 5000. This idea came about because the club was going bankrupt and half a dozen or so fans got together (called the Rooks 125), paid off the VAT bill and decided this would never happen again. The cost of being an owner is only £30 per year and nobody can own more than one share. Therefore, the club is not in the hands of one individual whose financial status can affect it. Two of those original fans are still directors Charlie Dobres and Eddie Ramsden
Lewes FC remain the only club in the world where the men and women’s teams are paid the same, known as Equality FC. Can you tell me more?
It was one of the things that attracted me to be director. I have three daughters so why should their gender determine how much they are paid? This was the brainchild of Charlie and Ed and the push they’ve given the wom-
SPORT | INTERVIEW BUSINESS SURVEY en’s team has really helped – we had 2000 spectators to watch a recent game against Manchester United. The women’s matches have more of a carnival atmosphere as well with more families watching. As a result, it’s easier to attract talent to the club because they know they’re going to be looked after and it helps when the women are playing teams like Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa. The quality of football is undoubtedly higher than it’s ever been before.
Tell me why I should come to watch Lewes FC?
The Dripping Pan’s been around for well over a hundred years and was listed in the Huffington Post as one of the top 10 European football experiences, alongside Dortmund and Barcelona! It has great views of the Downs and you can have a pint on the terraces. Opposing fans consistently vote Lewes as the best away day in the divison. The men’s team are playing good attacking football under Darren Freeman and pushing for promotion to the National League South. What does the future hold for Lewes FC? On the pitch, realistically with our budgets a comfortable National League South position for the men and a comfortable Championship position for the women. I’m excited by the future
“...if you can’t sponsor us, own us! £30 a year will give you ownership of one of England’s most forward-thinking football clubs” because we’re popular in the town and our media exposure is fantastic. Off the pitch we want to increase both our sponsorship and the number of owners. The income will go straight back in to the club and will help us towards complete sustainability.
If you had a message for our readers what would it be?
If you’re a fan of equality in the work place and supporting a club that believes in doing things the right way get in touch with us to see if we can help each other. We’ve recently brokered a three-year deal with Kappa, who have
told us that what we give them in terms of social media, we are only slightly behind what they get from Leeds United who have six full time employees in their marketing department! If your business becomes a sponsor, we will treat you like royalty! And if you can’t sponsor us, own us! £30 a year will give you ownership of one of England’s most forward-thinking football clubs.
Lewes FC, The Dripping Pan, Mountfield Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2XA Tel: 01273 470820 www.lewesfc. com/owners or email jr@lewesfc.com
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SPORT | MOTOR SPORT
THE GREEN HELL The Green Hell, better know as the Nurburgring, is an internationally famous racetrack in the forests of the Eifel Mountains in West Germany. By Maarten Hoffmann, Motoring Editor
F
amous for many things but above all, the only racetrack in the world that was designated as too dangerous for Formula One. Now the entire area is a 150,000 capacity motorsports complex where petrolheads can really let rip. There are two ways to run the track, the 7.7km Sudschleife (South Loop) and the irresistible 22km Nordschleife (North Loop). The North Loop is called the Green Hell as it is an unrelenting 17 miles of utter concentration and laser focus to prevent dying as you carve through the forest. The bends comes fast and furious, there are other cars either over or undertaking and every corner is a surprise, no matter how well you think you know the track. I was there last year, for this magazine of course, with a factory fresh Audi R8 plus, Jaguar F-Type SVR and an Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio – three semi-supercars that should have been born to run this track. And they were, were it not for the incompetent lumps of lard sitting in the drivers seats.
One also has to remember, preferably not whilst driving it, that the average death rate here is 200 per year and each day the track is closed an average of 3/4 times whilst they clear debris and repair the arnco barriers (at your cost).
every room is named after a famous driver, there is a Porsche GT2 in the lobby and the bar has one of the best racing game machines l have ever played. Oh, and there is a roller coaster on the roof. The GP track still hosts many races including the DTM Series, a 24-hour race and occasional World Touring Car Championships. There are other non-motoring events such as the Rock am Ring, Germany’s largest rock music festival and occasionally the track is closed when manufacturers use it to test their new models. The track was sold in 2014 to the Dusseldorf-based company Capricorn Developments for 77 million Euros with a remit to keep the track open for all to enjoy.
“...it is addictive and if you love driving, go. You will not regret it - if you live”
The course record was set in 1961 by Phil Hill in a Ferrari ‘Sharknose’ F1 car in a time of 8 minutes 55 seconds (8.55) - a time that is still rarely beaten even with today road going supercars without a pro driver behind the wheel. The current race lap record is a Porsche 919 Hybrid Eco in an astonishing 5.19. The fastest road car record stands at 6.44 in a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. My best lap time was in the Jaguar SVR at 9.12 which took every ounce of talent l have and left me full of admiration for the previous times - and bathed in sweat.
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The huge attraction of this track is that it is open to all-comers. Listed as a ‘one-way toll road’, therefore removing the requirement of a race licence, anyone can rock up, pay the 5 euros per lap and go. Whilst l was there, l saw a VW Camper van, a 40 year old Morris Minor and an idiot towing a caravan. The pits were also full of race cars, souped up with everything and, like us, a few supercars trying their luck. Whilst there, we stayed at the Linder Congress Motorsports Hotel where
Beware - it is addictive and if you love driving, go. You will not regret it - if you live.
BUSINESS SURVEY SPORT | ACTIVE SUSSEX
COUNTDOWN BEGINS
for the
ACTIVE SUSSEX NETWORK 2019
W
e are now less than a month away from one of the county’s most eagerly anticipated annual networking events – the Active Sussex Network 2019. Hosted by Active Sussex, the fantastic biannual event will take place on Thursday 28th February 2019, at Buxted Park Hotel. About The Active Sussex Network 2019 will bring together partners from local authorities, leisure trusts, national governing bodies of sport, health agencies, education and community organisations and provides an opportunity to learn, share and network.
This year’s programme is designed to explore the different approaches and outcomes of key partners across Sussex, sharing successes, challenges and learnings. This will be a great chance to develop new ideas throughout the day through presentations, workshops and discussions. Meet the Keynote Speaker Professor Jim McKenna, Professor of Physical Activity and Health at
Leeds Beckett University, has over 30 years of experience in Higher Education in roles focused on sports delivery, coach education, academic teaching and research leadership. The inspirational speaker will deliver his motivating presentation - ‘Simplexity of Sport and Physical Activity’ where he will challenge delegates to focus their attention on how they can make an impact. “I will send people away energised about the potential they have to make changes and a difference. Everyone in the room is a ‘change agent’ and I will provide mind and thinking tools for them to use,” commented Jim. Jim’s key interest lies in behaviour change - particularly physical activity-related or sport-related, although some recent work has focused on education-related issues.
“An area of my expertise is how to deliver better physical activity programmes especially for those designed for people who aren’t motivated. This includes looking at what type of behaviour you want to encourage, gender specific interventions, steps to habit breaking and habit building, new and effective ways to promote programmes, and how to evaluate findings and results,” the award winning teacher and researcher said. Jim has also coached at elite level in sport, working at both Gloucester and Bristol rugby union clubs and is currently working with colleagues from across Leeds Beckett University evaluating the Premier League Health for young men, which is being run through the Football Premier League in England. Booking? Registration is still open for this event! Places are limited and afternoon workshops will be booked on a first come, first served basis. Buy your ticket by going to www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/activesussex-network-2019registration-54286778215
Professor Jim McKenna
To see the Active Sussex Network 2019 full programme, please visit: www.activesussex.org/news-events/ active-sussex-network For more information about the networking event, please contact Ed Bartram, Active Sussex’s Event Officer: E: ebartram@activesussex.org T: 01273 644103
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SPORT | RUGBY
A BRIEF HISTORY OF
BRIGHTON FOOTBALL CLUB RFU Have we got the Blues! Or are we 150 years old and stronger than ever?
T
he oldest club in rugby history? Well almost. 2018 saw the ‘Brighton Blues’ celebrate 150 years, having been founded as a Football Club in 1868 by three gentleman, W Stuckey (Major V.D.), F.C.Parsons (Lieutenant-Col T.D.), and Colonel Sir Charles Boxhall, hot on the heels of the formation of ‘Brighton Wasps Football Club’ and the ‘Wick Football Club’. The original name of the Club was the “Shoo-Flies” but it was changed in 1874, and Brighton Football Club was properly established.
The Rugby Football Union was only established in 1871 so prior to this, football clubs such as Harlequins, Wasps, Blackheath and Brighton played to their own sets of rules (Brighton F.C. played “Rugby Modified” rules.) To counteract the confusion this caused the rules were agreed before each encounter and in 1871, twenty-one clubs got together to form a “Union”. All clubs formed after 1871 registered with the ‘Union’ and are affiliated as R.F.C. (Rugby Football Club). According to the Brighton website, in December 1902, Brighton became the first English Rugby Club to tour France
under the Rugby Union regulations where we met Stade Francais at the Parc de St Cloud (now Parc de Princes), and were defeated 9-3. The interim years brought special memories and mixed successes as well as many different home grounds including the Withdean Stadium before settling in at Waterhall. At the start of the millennium, Brighton were struggling to get out a full team and so a decision was taken to inject new blood into the mix, in the shape of Neil McGovern. Neil set about bringing in some fresh local talent to the squad and under his guidance, the club rose through the ranks from Sussex One eventually reaching London 1 South. During this period Brighton equalled the record held by Hartpury College in being the only teams to win the
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Junior Vase in May 2009 after a 3220 victory over tough Cornish outfit Liskeard-Looe, the Senior Vase in May 2010 after beating Coventry side Dunlop 32-3, and the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup in May 2013, following their 30-22 victory over Bridlington, when all three finals were played at Twickenham. Unfortunately in January last year Neil moved on from Brighton after a decade with the club, but he has certainly left a lasting legacy and the club ethos of nurturing home grown players has paid dividends with several internationals coming through the Mini and Youth ranks including Jon Searle and Marcus Smith. Looking ahead into 2019, Brighton have had a great season so far, under the stewardship of Frank Taggart, but need to hold tight as everyone is keen to topple their current position at the top of the table. It would be a fantastic achievement in this 150th year to reach National level rugby, so it’s all to play for here at Waterhall.
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SPORT | WHEN BUSINESS MEETS SPORT
WHY I
LOVE
GOLF
Phil Graves, Director of Graves Jenkins tells us why golf has made him honest and well mannered... as long as there’s a cold beer at the end of the walk!
Q&A WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLAYER? An easy one to answer, Severiano Ballesteros. The swashbuckling Spanish champion golfer who entertained the crowds and became an iconic figure both on and off the golf course.
in their standard of play, but it gave me great pleasure to hear that they were good company and well mannered. I truly believe some of life’s lessons can be gained playing golf.
G
olf is a game that you love and hate at the same time. After a stretch of bad play and soul searching, one decent shot makes you fall back in love - that’s just the nature of the sport.
Once the bastion of the wealthy and male dominated, golf is a sport which is open to all and the typical profile of a modern golf club would start from the junior section, the intermediate groups, to the ladies, men’s and senior sections. You could realistically have players from 8 to 80. Few other sports could bring together three generations as it did in the case of the Graves family. I spent many an hour on the golf course with my father when he was alive and do so now with my twin sons who started at East Brighton Golf Club at the age of eight. When my sons started to play, they also learnt the etiquette of golf, both on and off the course. When speaking with their playing partners after a round, I wasn’t necessarily interested
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It’s sociable and brings together a community and club spirit, lost to some sectors of general living. The balance is the exercise that you gain whilst playing. Depending on your standard of play (higher handicappers swinging more and walking longer distances!), you walk in excess of 5 miles each time, often across the beautiful countryside and some fantastic locations around the world. It provides a great opportunity to travel. Golf can be an individual, or a team challenge and you only need to look at the passion and competitive spirit that the Ryder Cup offers. Each week you challenge yourself to improve your game, shoot a lower score and reduce your handicap. It is probably the only sport whereby different standards of ability can play competitively due to the science behind the handicapping system. The final point and probably the most important, is that the game is played with honesty, integrity and basic good manners. Players will complement each other on their play, even though they are in competition with each other. On the professional circuit with high financial rewards on offer, a player has been known to call a foul on themselves if they are in breach of the rules and in some cases, it can lead to disqualification. Can you really imagine these insanely highly paid footballers doing the same? Move aside Neymar, professional golfers should be the new icons in sport.
WHO IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD IN YOUR OPINION? The rankings don’t lie so it has to be Justin Rose, but I would love to see Tiger Woods back up there again – GOAT (Greatest of All Time) WHAT’S THE BEST COURSE YOU’VE EVER PLAYED ON? I’m pleased to say there are many, but St Andrews Old, the home of golf, has to be the one. Wentworth and Sunningdale come a close second though. YOUR GREATEST EVER ROUND? Strangely, the round that I had a St Andrews. Not because its my best score, but simply that I was walking a course that every great golfer ever had walked before. YOUR FAVOURITE 19TH TIPPLE? A cold beer on the terrace at La Cala golf course in Mijas after a decent round takes some beating.
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Seaford • Lewes • Newhaven • Peacehaven *Based on a MAX Membership. Terms and Conditions apply.
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