Platinum Business Magazine - issue 61

THE LARGEST CIRCULATION REGIONAL BUSINESS PUBLICATION IN THE UK

ISSUE 61. JULY 2019

AMSTERDAM Canals and Commerce

Taking on the NIMBYs

Focus on EASTBOURNE

John Bercow

PARLIAMENT DEFENDER OR BREXIT BLOCKER?

Tackling stress at work The risk of employing freelancers

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CONTENTS 9

72

NEWS National, international and local news

BRIGHTON & HOVE BUSINESS AWARDS The 2019 finalists are announced!

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73

NATWEST ACCELERATOR Focus on June 2019’s Founder of the Month - Lil & Berry

THE BIG STORY Ian Trevett profiles the controversial and divisive Speaker of the House, John Bercow

20 dusted

DMH STALLARD GDPR is not all done and

22

KRESTON REEVES Five common mistakes in valuing start-ups

24

MHA CARPENTER BOX Employing contractors?

Beware!

26

ACUMEN BUSINESS LAW Interview with Penina Shepherd

27

DMH STALLARD Mergers & Acquisitions: Jonathan Grant on the state of the market

28 29 32 33

SHERRARDS Why diversity and equality is so important

46

SUSSEX INNOVATION CENTRE The importance of the workplace

49 50

LET’S DO BUSINESS A look back at this year’s expo

MOVERS & SHAKERS Who’s going where... Harvey John Recruitment tells us who is moving on in the world of Sussex commerce

52-63

FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE A quiet revolution is taking place in Eastbourne with new cultural, retail and commercial developments

74-77

PLATINUM TRAVEL Amsterdam – Canals and commerce

78-91

PLATINUM MOTORING Maarten Hoffmann reviews the Cupra and the Volvo V60

CHARITY NEWS Run for Chestnut Tree House

82

NATWEST The latest business survey

CHAMBERS LISTINGS Events at the Chambers of Commerce across Sussex

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS Dean Orgill on workplace bias

34

KEN BLANCHARD Why managers should look at the big picture

36-44

HEALTH & WELLBEING Platinum focuses on improving mental and physical wellbeing in the workplace, including ViiSana advice on avoiding workplace stress, plus a focus on mental health and agile working

98

ANGER MANAGEMENT Maarten Hoffmann has had enough of NIMBYs

64

DNA MD Tony Bunn on the logistics revolution

68

THE PLATINUM CLUB The region’s leading networking club

71

SOUTH EAST CONSTRUCTION EXPO Preview of the awards and expo in September

101-114

PLATINUM SPORT Laurence Elphick runs the rule over the latest sports news in Sussex and across the world, including an interview with Decathlon legend Daley Thompson, a preview of the Open, the Active Sussex conference, and the joy of paragliding

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WELCOME

Welcome W

e write this welcome on June 21st which is the longest day of the year and this, depressingly, indicates that it is all downhill from here into winter!

Sorry about that. Here we have another packed issue that gives you the scoop on everything that is happening in our region. We look at Eastbourne in our town focus and the active business scene in that region, we chat with Penina Shepherd and Tony Bloom about the Acumen Convention, Kreston Reeves discuss how to value your business and we celebrate the Best of British event in Brighton with a hilarious speech by Daley Thompson.

And while you’re here...

Not only do we have the largest number of print readers on planet Earth but you can also join our 468,000 online readers. If you can’t wait for the next issue then jump onto our social media platforms and join the conversation.

Maarten has kidnapped the Travel Section with a report on his trip to Amsterdam and then reviews the car he took with him, and Ian has been busy profiling the Squeaker of the House, John Bercow.

The summer event scene is about to kick off. The judges have compiled their shortlist on what is a record breaking year for the Brighton & Hove Business Awards, both the Sussex Business Awards (now in its 31st year) and the Surrey Business Awards are open for entries, and there is a raft of other great events in our area.

It is set to be a tremendous summer of business and events, so get involved.

The Platinum Team

@platbusmag Platinum Publishing Group www.platinumpublishing.co.uk

The Team

Maarten Hoffmann – Director

Lesley Alcock

Fiona Graves

maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk 07966 244046

Business Development Director

Events Director

Ian Trevett – Director ian@platinumpublishing.co.uk 07989 970804

Rose Dykins Travel Editor

Lydia Bunyard

Laurence Elphick

Events Executive

Head of Sport

Alan Wares

Kate Morton

Steve Elford

Head of Design

Copy Editor

Head of Web Development

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Sussex

news

Lewes is best for boutiques

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ewes has been voted sixth best high street in the UK according to a recent survey carried out by estate agency, Hamptons International.

Despite the high number of shops that have closed in the town in recent years, Lewes is made up of

65% independent retailers. Lewes Chamber President, Clare Crouch, said: “The fact that Lewes high street has come so high up is a testament to the work all the town’s retailers do in attracting both local shoppers and tourists.”

The weak can never forgive.

Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong BUSINESS WISDOM

Gain skills across Sussex

S A person who stands for nothing will fall for anything BUSINESS WISDOM

City gets street smart

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ast year, 1,055 young people approached Brighton & Hove City Council for help with their homelessness, an increase of 40% over two years. In addition, rough sleeping has increased in the city by 929% since 2010.

Brighton-based charity, Sussex Nightstop, has been working to decrease these statistics through its summer ‘Sleep Safe’ campaign.

Through its team of dedicated Volunteer Hosts – who offer their spare room on a night-by-night basis – Sussex Nightstop is providing the young homeless people of Brighton and Hove a safe

multi-million pound West Sussex harbour, The Lordship of the Manor of Bosham, has been put up for sale for the first time in nearly 100 years. In addition to Bosham Quay and other valuable waterfront

The courses, funded through the Education & Skills Funding Agency, will be offered all-year-round and have various start dates throughout the year.

For more information email sussexskillssolutions@escg.ac.uk

and secure space from which to work on rectifying their housing issues, helping to remove the worrisome risk of slipping into longterm homelessness or turning to the streets and hazardous rough sleeping.

For more information, please visit www.sussexnightstop.org.uk

Historical harbour set for international interest

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ussex Skills Solutions, the apprenticeship and skills training arm of East Sussex College, have launched a range of new courses specifically designed to help unemployed people get back into work. The courses will focus on developing three core elements: Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours, and will range from short, intensive ‘sector-based work academies’ to termlong courses to secure qualifications in English and maths.

land, the freehold estate includes the Old Mill, now home to Bosham Sailing Club, together with other associated property linked to the sailing club as well as more than 800 moorings in Chichester Harbour.

Jobs boost at seaside firm

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ifty-three new jobs have been created in Hastings by fast-growing financial services company, UTP Merchant Services. Supported by Locate East Sussex with funding through the East Sussex Invest Programme led by East Sussex County Council, UTP Merchant Services has expanded its sales operations and call centre in St. Leonards-on-Sea to create the new positions.

UTP provides a range of leading credit and debit card payment solutions to businesses within the UK. The company is the only provider in the UK offering a ‘Faster Processing’ service, where payments are processed to clients within hours rather than days.

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Sussex

news

Money masqueraders

S

ussex children’s charity Rockinghorse has announced details of its annual fundraising ball.

The charity will host its major fundraising event of the year at The Grand Hotel Brighton on Saturday 12th October.

The masqueradethemed ball will be sponsored by DMH Stallard and co-sponsored by Cardens Accountants, Potter Raper, and Gap Solutions.

Rockinghorse is best-known for its work with the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital (the Alex) and Trevor Mann Baby Unit (TMBU) in Brighton. The charity also supports the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) in Haywards Heath and many other children’s centres and paediatric services across Sussex.

Finance Chairman retires after 42 years

For further information call the charity on 01273 330044

The future belongs to those who prepare today BUSINESS WISDOM

Acquisition for Worthing agents

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orthing’s largest estate & letting agents ‘Michael Jones & Company’ has snapped up another independent agency, Curtis & Sons, which will now trade as ‘Michael Jones & Curtis’.

The acquisition comes off the back of the recent letting acquisition of Bacon & Co in 2017, which is pres-

ently integrated into the group as ‘Michael Jones & Bacon’.

Managing Director Mike Jones comments: “We are currently approaching our initial target of 2000 fully managed properties in lettings, and our recent acquisition will significantly strengthen the residential side of our group.”

Robot gets fruity on UK farm

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he first fruit-picking robot has gone on trial in a greenhouse at Hall Hunter farm near Chichester.

The robot has been developed in partnership with Hall Hunter, one of Britain’s main berry growers which supplies Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose.

Standing at 1.8 metres tall, the wheeled machine with its robotic arm is guided by sensors and 3D cameras, and has a gripper which zooms in on ripe fruit using machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence.

The final robot version, expected to go into production next year, will have four grippers all picking simultaneously, and will promise to raise productivity at a time when UK productivity growth is lagging behind other countries.

Clive Stevens (centre) with Nigel Fright (l) and Andrew Griggs

C

live Stevens, the long-serving chairman of accountants, business and financial advisers Kreston Reeves, has officially retired from the firm which he has been pivotal in expanding to be one the largest in the South East. Clive has been at the firm for 42 years. He joined the firm’s Sandwich office in 1977 and went on to become chairman of the firm in 2013 and for the past six years, under his chairmanship, the company has continued to grow to become a top 25 firm in the UK. Andrew Griggs, Senior Partner at Kreston Reeves, described Clive’s energy and drive as legendary; “he always pushes for action and gets things done.”

The successful warrior is the average man with laserlike focus BUSINESS WISDOM

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national

news BUSINESS SURVEY

Dishing the dirt

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K companies must brace themselves for the government to deliberately disrupt or phase out business areas that are unfit for a net zero-carbon economy, according to a report. The UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) has said many companies will face fundamental change, including the phasing out of the UK’s most polluting business activities.

On ya bike

D

espite the government pouring £1.2 billion into cycling, new research has revealed that it is still only a slim few who are cycling to work, with many citing nervousness about cycling in traffic as the reason.

Recent research by Decathlon of over 7,600 UK adults has revealed that

only 7% of the nation is commuting to work with a bike, with more than 1 in 4 believing it is still too dangerous to do so. 21% admitted that they are still too scared to cycle on the roads to work, while another 21% admit the distance to their work is too far.

The government is to begin “purposefully disrupting” industries to spur the move to a zero-carbon economy, after voting through the 2050 target this month. The sectors facing the biggest shake-up include heating, transport and construction, according to the report.

Chanel turn icy for fashion

A great person is always willing to be little BUSINESS WISDOM

Rain falls, fashion sales fall

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he biggest monthly drop in fashion sales in almost four years is being blamed on poor weather during May. Sales volumes contracted by 0.5% compared with April, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Some economists fear weaker consumer spending in both April and

May could inflict worse-than-expected damage on UK economic growth during the second quarter.

The ONS said clothing and footwear sales during May were 4.5% lower than in the previous month - the biggest drop since July 2015.

Three stripes ruled out

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court has ruled that the Adidas logo is not distinctive enough to be considered a trademark.

The General Court of the European Union ruled that the German company’s trademark was not valid. It stated: “The mark is not a pattern

mark composed of a series of regularly repetitive elements, but an ordinary figurative mark.” The court said Adidas had not proved the motif had acquired a “distinctive character” throughout the EU’s 28 member states that would qualify for legal protection.

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fter it was clarified that Chanel was not for sale last month, the family that owns the French luxury house has invested in Icelandic brand 66°North. Mousse Partners — a New York-based investment firm run by the same family that also owns Chanel — has joined the heritage Icelandic label as a “strategic investment partner” and will assist in its global expansion.

As well as announcing the new investor, 66°North has also announced the appointment of Matthew Woolsey — former managing director at Net-aPorter — as global president.

The greatest wealth is to live content with little

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national

news

Supermarket turns super swish Britain in Bloom fall by 3.5% and 4% respectively. hares in supermarkets have

S

fallen sharply after Tesco said it was considering plans for a new chain of high-end convenience stores. The proposal for a chain based on its Tesco Finest food range comes nine months after the supermarket giant opened discount retailer Jack’s.

Although Tesco has set no date for its latest venture, upmarket rivals Marks & Spencer and Ocado saw their shares

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: “Tesco Finest as a brand is one of the largest food brands in the country. We have a very high percentage of more upmarket customers.

“The opportunity to curate that range and bring new things in in a more convenient outlet is something that we have tested, and is something we’re interested in.”

All we are is the result of what we have thought BUSINESS WISDOM

Britain is best for unicorns

ritain is creating more $1billion technology companies than any other country apart from the US and China, a study has found.

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entrepreneurs have built 72 companies including 13 in the past year, that have topped the ten-figure threshold - known as “unicorns” in the tech industry.

Over the past two decades UK-based

That compares with 29 in Germany, Britain’s closest European rival, according to research for the government’s digital economy council published last month.

Investors have poured about $5billion into British tech start-ups since January, reinforcing the country’s status as Europe’s leading high-tech nation, the research said.

Energy supplier takes foot off gas

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entrica plans to axe 700 staff from its UK offices this summer as part of a total cut of 4,000. This latest blow to Centrica employees comes after the FTSE 100 energy firm reduced its workforce by 2,200 jobs last year and announced plans to cut another 500 in April. A Centrica spokesman said the jobs that may be affected are in “management layers

and back-office functions”.

Centrica has also revealed plans to “broaden its footprint in the US” with the £29m takeover of energy service firm SmartWatt.

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mall business insurer Simply Business has revealed an 88% surge in the number of independent garden centres, nurseries and flower stores across the UK. Last year 895 policies were taken out, 88% higher than the 180 provided in 2014.

The nationwide trend suggests that green-fingered city dwellers are on the up, with interest in the urban gardening movement gaining momentum.

Out of all regions of the UK, London saw the largest growth, with a 71% increase in the number of independent florists, garden centres, and nurseries between 2014-2018. This was closely followed by East Anglia (66%), and South West England and South East England (both 65%).

Large fines for large corps

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or the first time, large businesses could be fined for failing to pay smaller suppliers on time as part of a robust package of measures unveiled last month

by Small Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst. Company boards will now be held accountable for payment practices to small businesses in a drive to increase transparency and accountability on late payments. New powers could include compelling information and disclosure of payment terms and practices, imposing financial penalties or binding payment plans on large businesses found to have unfair payment practices.

If you judge people. you have no time to love them BUSINESS WISDOM

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JOHN BERCOW:

Is the Speaker a rigid defender of Parliament or a biased Brexit blocker?

By Ian Trevett

W

hatever you may think of the unfeasibly posh Jacob Rees-Mogg, no-one can dispute his in-depth knowledge of the constitution and the workings of Parliament. So it was praise indeed when Rees-Mogg gave his seal of approval to the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow. “His good qualities hugely outweigh his bad qualities”, declared Rees-Mogg, “I’m very much a supporter because he stands up for the Legislature against the Executive.”

Or in laymen’s terms, Bercow stands up for the will of Parliament even if at odds with the position of the Government - Parliament makes and amends the rules (the Legislature) and the Government enforces and enacts them (the Executive).

It should be noted that Rees-Mogg expressed this view long before the Brexit referendum, and is unlikely to

declare such support any more, even though Bercow’s defence of the legislature is more pronounced than ever.

Rees-Mogg is not the only Brexit supporter to fall out of love with Bercow.

When Prime Minister David Cameron was trying in vain to quell the noisy backbenchers demanding a Euro referendum, he was frustrated by the unshakeable speaker, who determined their voices should be heard.

Back in 2017, commentator Helen Lewis wrote in the New Statesman: “Bercow has a surprising number of backers among the Tory Awkward Squad, who recognise that he gave them room to talk about Brexit when David Cameron would have cheerfully squashed the issue. He allowed a third amendment on the Queen’s Speech in 2013, instead of the traditional two: John Baron’s cross-party motion regretting the absence of a EU referendum bill. This put more pressure on the government and contributed to Cameron’s decision to promise a referendum in his 2015 manifesto.”

But that was then. Now Brexit-backing MPs don’t even attempt to disguise their contempt of the speaker they believe is deliberately sabotaging the UK’s exit from Europe. His Remain credentials aren’t exactly a secret. After a speech to students at Reading University, he revealed he voted to remain.

And then there was the infamous car sticker. The right-wing political blogger Guido Fawkes published a photo of a car in the Speaker’s car parking space with a ‘Bollocks to Brexit’ car sticker. Bercow tried to sidestep the

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“Calls for Bercow’s dismissal are not a new phenomenon.

He’s heard it all before”

THE BIG STORY issue, dismissing it as the property of his wife Sally, who was entitled to her views as she was ‘not the chattel of her husband’.

The fury intensified in January of this year, when Theresa May was trying to get her Brexit deal through Parliament, and John Bercow allowed a vote on an amendment proposed by arch-remainer and Tory MP Dominic Grieve. Grieve won his vote, which resulted in a series of votes on all possibilities including a “Norway option” or second referendum (all of which failed). Brexiteers believed that Bercow broke with precedents by allowing the vote to even take place.

Reigate MP Crispin Blunt expressed the views succinctly when he declared the uncomfortable conclusion on the Tory benches was “an unshakeable conviction that the referee of our affairs is no longer neutral.”

Andrea Leadsom launched her Conservative leadership campaign by brandishing a placard with the simple message: “Bollocks to Bercow”.

Bercow out!

Calls for Bercow’s dismissal are not a new phenomenon. He’s heard it all before. In 2015, the final action of William Hague as Leader of the House, backed by his Chief Whip Michael Gove, was to instigate a vote to change the way the speaker is selected. He believed that if the speaker was elected by a secret ballot, he could oust Bercow. The motion was defeated, with the support of Bercow’s future enemies.

Again Jacob Rees-Mogg spoke in Bercow’s favour, saying he was deeply saddened that Hague “had put his name to a bit of parliamentary jiggery-pokery that has come about from some grudges that people bear to the Speaker”.

David Davis opposed the motion as: “This is a constitutional matter of some importance since it goes to the heart of the relationship between executive and parliament.”

Last year, he faced accusations of bullying and intimidating his former private secretaries Angus Sinclair and

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Kate Emms. An inquiry into the bullying allegations was blocked by the Commons standards committee.

Sinclair claimed Bercow had undermined him in front of other staff, shouted, swore and attempted to physically intimidate him.

His successor, Emms reported Bercow frequently shouted at her, and she was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Johnson could pursue a policy of proroguing - i.e. discontinuing a session of Parliament without dissolving it to deliver Brexit. Hannah White from the Institute of Government sees this as undemocratic: “Proroguing Parliament may seem like the easiest way for a prime minister to prevent Parliament from attempting to ‘interfere’ with their plan. But it would be

remain, I don’t believe this is his motive. The clues lie in the nature of his personality.

The Bercow Way

The Brexit car sticker and his obdurate frustration of the Government’s wishes, would suggest he is a Remainer warrior, but he is actually something entirely different.

Bercow admonished Michael Gove: “Mr Gove!

You really are a rather overexcited individual! You need to write out 1,000 times ‘I will behave myself at Prime Minister’s Questions’.”

The claims were disputed by The House of Commons’ sergeant at arms Kamal El-Hajji.

He told the House Magazine that allegations of bullying against Bercow were part of a witch-hunt by ‘disgruntled staff members’ who want to oust him. El-Hajji also that said he had been the victim of racism in the Commons and had relied on Bercow’s support.

undemocratic to prevent the normal operation of our key representative democratic institution simply because it might take an unwelcome decision.”

Bercow denied all claims and soon after presided in his typical outspoken manner on a commons debate – on bullying.

Proroguing may also mean requesting an intervention from the Queen, which would seem highly unlikely.

Boris, Brexit and the battle ahead

If Parliament can’t be overruled, what then?

If, as seems likely, Boris Johnson becomes PM, a constitutional battle is imminent as he is adamant that, whatever happens, the UK will leave the EU on October 31st.

The problems of getting a deal (or no deal) through Parliament have been well documented - cue a battle of wills to be fought out by Boris and Bercow.

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One thing is for sure - Bercow will fight tooth and nail to preserve the power of Parliament.

But what is Bercow’s motive? Will he fight the Government to ensure he gets his preferred outcome, ie no Brexit? Even though he is a believer of

He is just unbearably awkward.

He is the ultimate jobsworth, who leaves everyone around him fuming in impotent rage. He is the nightclub bouncer refusing entrance to a club, the steward at a football match or concert telling people to sit down, the pedantic health and safety officer, the traffic warden issuing a ticket a minute after the parking time expires - all rolled into one.

And he has the best job in the world - a role where he can happily search out ancient precedents and the most obscure laws to administer.

Back in 2014, when most Conservatives still respected Bercow (who was after all a Tory MP), Andrew Gimson at www.conservativehome.com wrote an entertaining and revealing profile of Bercow.

Gimson wrote: “At Finchley Manorhill, his north London comprehensive school, Bercow became the most unpopular boy in his year. He was plainly

THE BIG STORY very clever, but he wasn’t clever about the way he handled being clever. He often flaunted his superior ability.

Perhaps trying to compensate for his size, Bercow would often try to humiliate bigger kids in his class. One in particular used to make mistakes with his reading and Bercow would write them down and recite them back to him. Incidents like these would certainly have contributed to the view that Bercow was ‘an odious little toad’.

“The young Bercow was the best under 12 tennis player in Middlesex, but got left behind when his opponents grew and he didn’t. His other passion was politics: his local MP was Margaret Thatcher and he delighted in defending her policies to hostile audiences. He joined not only the Young Conservatives but the Monday Club, where very soon he was promoting the voluntary repatriation of immigrants.

His admiration for Enoch Powell was unbounded. He began life with no influential connections, and with a thin skin which perhaps accounts for most of his rudeness, but with the energy, ambition and ability to go a long way.”

His flirtation with the right wing of the party was short-lived, switching to the other wing of the Conservative Party, supporting Ken Clarke in the 2005 Conservative leadership election.

Bercow apparently likes to refer to himself as “the Jewboy son of a taxi driver”, and he delighted in making digs at the upper class privileges of his colleagues. His tennis partner David Cameron was on the receiving end of Bercow’s caustic tongue: “In the modern world the combination of Eton, hunting, shooting and lunch at White’s is

not helpful when you are trying to appeal to millions of ordinary people.”

When campaigning to become speaker, he declared: “For far too long the House of Commons has been run as little more than a private club by and for gentleman amateurs.”

In his first stint as a backbench MP he made more speeches in the House than any other politician, and was also one of the most consistent hecklers, usually laced with spectacular rudeness.

It was perhaps his outspoken ways and the fact he was such a stickler for convention that saw him ushered in as a speaker. His predecessor, Michael Martin, was viewed as ineffective and lacking authority - culminating in the damaging expenses scandal which occurred under his watch. Bercow appealed as he takes no prisoners.

As a speaker he has been strict and officious, and happy to take the big egos down a peg or two, including the serving Prime Minister. More power has just meant he can get away with more, and his barbed insults have never relented.

He admonished Michael Gove: “Mr Gove! You really are a rather over-excited individual! You need to write out 1,000 times ‘I will behave myself at Prime Minister’s Questions’.”

Bercow told him off like naughty schoolboy: “Fiddling ostentatiously with an electronic device defies the established convention of the House that such devices should be used without impairing parliamentary decorum. They are impairing parliamentary decorum. It’s a point so blindingly obvious that only an extraordinarily clever and sophisticated person could fail to grasp it.”

No wonder, Conservative MP Sir Simon Burns, called him a “stupid, sanctimonious dwarf”.

Not that Bercow would care. Andrew Gimson hailed “Bercow’s willingness to fight his own corner, indeed his inability not to fight it.” And he noted Bercow is a “gifted outsider with a phenomenal memory, who could recall the name and birthday of everyone in the House.”

With his photographic memory, love of conflict, and obsession with rules, he is a formidable speaker. But when the Government (whether Hunt or Johnson) is so patently at odds with Parliament, a formidable speaker is a palpable obstacle to the execution of Brexit.

Undoubtedly, Bercow will defend the legislature against the executive with all his powers, no matter what chaos it might cause for the rest of the country.

When Jeremy Hunt paid too much attention to his phone,

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GDPR: one year on and counting…

GDPR is not all done and dusted, says John Yates, Partner and Head of Commercial at DMH Stallard

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nlike the Millennium bug, the introduction of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was not a one hit wonder: ongoing compliance is a key requirement. The majority of organisations paid heed to the introduction of GDPR in May 2018, but many seem to be struggling to keep on top of their ongoing compliance obligations.

We are seeing a number of recurring themes/issues including: Some organisations (mainly businesses) labouring under the illusion that GDPR does not apply to them They may be exempt from the requirement for a controller to pay a fee to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), or to have a Data Protection Officer (DPO) in place, but that doesn’t mean they’re exempt from the law; the ICO guidance makes it clear that organisations are still required to comply with their other obligations under GDPR.

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Lack of, or use of incorrect, documentation with regards to the processing or sharing of personal data Organisations often do not realise they should have written agreements in place with third party processors (eg. payroll service providers) that comply with GDPR’s requirements.

A l te r na ti ve l y, some organisations that have recognised the need for an agreement may have too readily assumed the recipient of personal data is a proc essor rather than a controller, which requires a data sharing agreement rather than a data processing agreement.

These issues take us back to the importance of understanding the fundamentals of being a controller or a processor, and to recognise the parties’ respective roles, so that the correct documentation can be put in place to manage the flow of data between them.

Concerns around Brexit, and what businesses should do if there is a ‘no deal’ Brexit

The only certainty at the time of writing is that if there is a true “no deal” Brexit, the UK will be deemed to be a “third country”, and transfers to and from the UK may require additional documentation – for example, use of the EU-approved Standard Contractual Clauses.

Many organisations are choosing to sit things out for now, but once matters are finally settled, they must be prepared to act quickly to address data transfers.

Inadequate privacy / fair processing notices Organisations may have uploaded a new privacy notice on their website but often they have neglected to consider:

LEGAL “In the UK, Facebook and Equifax share the top spot for the highest fines” • if that notice is appropriate • if the website is the best place for it • what other fair processing notices or other consents are required.

For example, have the pension trustees provided beneficiaries with a privacy notice, or have employers provided employees and prospective employees

people is difficult given a dearth of data protection professionals.

And what of those headline grabbing fines – at worst, the greater of €20,000,000 or 4% of global turnover? To date, fines have been nowhere near that level, though it would appear many European data protection agencies (DPAs) are just warming up: fines across Europe for data protection breaches total some €56m for GDPR breaches since May 2018, from more than 200,000 reported cases.

To give a flavour of the direction of travel, having never previously issued a fine, the Polish Data Protection Office imposed a €220,000 fine on a company in March this year for failing to provide data subjects with information about the processing of

with an appropriate updated privacy notice? Typically, organisations will require two or more privacy notices, depending on how they are structured and their business operations.

Why so many issues given the high profile introduction and coverage?

There is no doubt GDPR-compliance is costly in terms of financial and human resources, and finding the right

their personal data.

In the UK, Facebook and Equifax share the top spot for the highest fines. The £500,000 fines imposed sound like small beer under the new regime, but the offences were actually committed (and assessed) under the Data Protection 1998 - which capped fines at £500,000.

The ICO may be seeking to help businesses comply with enforcement notices or other specific guidance prior to a fine being issued, but going forwards we can expect to see more significant fines being imposed.

Of course, DPAs also have other sanctions available to them which can have a profound impact, such as requiring an organisation to temporarily or indefinitely suspend processing of personal data. The Maltese DPA exercised this sanction when it required the country’s national land register to temporarily suspend processing of personal data while the DPA investigated a data breach. Imagine how such a sanction may impact on data-reliant businesses.

The EU may have been the first to increase regulation of the collection and processing of personal data, but it will certainly not be the last. In our data-driven, internet connected world, many countries and states are looking to bolster laws relating to data subject rights, data breaches and accountability requirements with plans to increase regulation.

Given the need for continued compliance, the issues seen to date and the prospect of further regulation, there are plenty of organisations that still need some encouragement along the road to compliance – and to recognise that it’s a journey that’s unlikely to end.

Partner and head of the commercial team in the South East, John Yates has extensive experience of advising on all areas of commercial law and business matters, taking a particular interest in IT, IP rights, data protection and freedom of information issues. Contact John at john.yates@ dmhstallard.com or call 03333 231580 dmhstallard.com

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5

common mistakes when valuing a start-up business

by Tom Wacher, Partner in the Forensic Accounting and Business Valuation team at Kreston Reeves

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he BBC’s Dragons’ Den is now in its 16th season with the highs and lows of building a business remaining compelling viewing. It entertains and can be excruciating in equal measure, particularly when the Dragons roll their eyes following a wildly optimistic valuation of the hopeful’s business. So why is it so difficult to value a business? Here are some of the more common mistakes.

Mistake 1: unrealistic revenue and profit projections There are many ways to value a business, most of which are broadly based on multiples of revenue and/or profits.

With established businesses that have a trading record, determining this is a relatively straightforward exercise with years of historic data to draw upon.

That is not the case with startups or fast-growing businesses where the past is not representative of the future.

Mistake 2: underestimating the needs of working capital Growing businesses need working capital, and the more they grow the more capital is needed. Underestimating the need for future working capital can result in over-inflated free cash flows and can jeopardise the sustainability of the start-up.

A clear business plan will outline future cash flow projections including fixed, stepped and variable costs and, of course, future tax liabilities. It will also set out fixed asset purchases and working capital requirements including cash, debtor and stock levels. Higher levels of working capital

other assets, overheads and circumstances.

It is also worth keeping in mind that an established business with a similar turnover and profit to a younger business still in its rapid growth phase is likely to have a lower value. The comparison approach is only as good as the comparators used for the valuation.

“There are many different ways to value a business and many mistakes that can be easily made”

Ambitious start-ups and fast-growing businesses will often forecast rapid growth - the ‘hockey stick’ projection - but there are very obvious risks that those predictions will not be achieved.

Given that the business may be pre-revenue, projections need to be credible rather than overly aspirational.

In these circumstances, a valuation is likely to be based on cash flow projections, discounted for the risks associated with the industry sector, the size of the potential market, the company’s own management team and their track record, and its strategy to achieve that growth.

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will impact valuations, driving cash inflows down, but more importantly they can stunt growth and impact the chance of success for a start-up company.

Mistake 3: comparing your own business to others While finding a comparable business can be fundamental evidence of value, this is the classic mistake many business owners make, comparing their own business to that of an immediate or apparently similar competitor. It is a valuation based on assumptions that does not necessarily take into account differences in patents, property and

Mistake 4: defining what exactly is for sale Failing to define exactly what is for sale can also cause problems. It is not, for example, that uncommon for a business owner to decide to sell a business but keep hold of patents and other intellectual property to then discover the value of the business is less than expected.

Alternatively, the valuation may be required of company shares rather than just the underlying trade of the business, in which case it is necessary to consider any debt owed by, or any surplus property held in the company.

Consider and define first what it is you are actually looking to sell and what will be held back before valuing a business.

BUSINESS PLANNING

Mistake 5: the reason for a sale

Whilst this is perhaps less of a mistake made in valuing a business, the reason for and the timing of a sale may impact price.

Selling a business when the economy is depressed or when funding is scarce will inevitably depress valuations. So too may prices fall if it is a forced sale – for example if a husband and wife in a family run business are separating. Conversely, in some circumstances, significant premiums

may be achieved depending on the acquiror’s need.

There are many different ways to value a business and many mistakes that can be easily made. Choosing the right accountant or adviser to assist is critical in achieving the best and a fair valuation. They will typically value a business via two or three different models to arrive at an accurate valuation, together with drawing upon their experience of similar businesses in the same sector and geography.

Tom Wacher is a Partner in the Forensic Accounting and Business Valuation team at Kreston Reeves, accountants and business advisers. He can be reached by email: tom.wacher@ krestonreeves.com.

Visit www.krestonreeves.com.

Would your valuation match those of the Dragons?

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Employing the self-employed?

BEWARE!

Companies and contractors look out – IR35 is coming to the private sector warns Maurice Frost, a Business Services Director at MHA Carpenter Box What are the changes?

In short, the changes will push the determination and associated tax liabilities of whether an individual is an employee or self-employed onto ‘the client’. Broadly this is the end user of the individual’s services. This is a substantive shift from the current position and involves a consideration of the status of the individuals whether they are engaged through a company or as an individual.

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he recent case of Lorraine Kelly and her working arrangements has brought into focus the Government’s plans to expand the current rules regarding the clamp down on the status of consultants and contractors in the public sector to the private sector. The legislation, known as IR35, was strengthened for the public sector in 2017. The October 2018 Budget brought confirmation that the IR35 changes would come into force for ‘medium’ and ‘large’ private sector businesses from April 2020.

How does IR35 currently work?

Since April 2017, public sector organisations (such as NHS Trusts and the BBC) have been required to examine the arrangements they have with workers who supply their services through intermediaries. This includes agencies, partnerships and personal service companies (PSCs). Where, but for the existence of the intermediary, the arrangement would be one of employment, public sector engagers are required to operate PAYE on all amounts payable to the worker either directly or via an intermediary.

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pact on the use of flexible workforce solutions and the use of agency workers. This is because the legislation will impact on the arrangements where any intermediary is used to supply off-payroll workers.

The current proposals are to include businesses that have at least two of the following characteristics: • More than 50 employees • Turnover in excess of £10.2m • A balance sheet in excess of £5.1m For businesses that are required to undertake a statutory audit, as they will be responsible for determining the status of their workers, there is an increased risk of incurring additional PAYE, employees and employers’ national insurance if workers are deemed by HMRC to be employees but have not been treated as such.

There will also be interest and penalties to pay. Accordingly, self-employed workers deemed to be employees will find their tax liabilities dramatically increased. Getting it right is imperative but potentially quite tricky as identifying the status of some self-employed workers can be a grey area.

How will this impact businesses?

For medium and large businesses, this could impact on the use of off-payroll workers to support things like special projects where project managers, marketing specialists or other consultants are required. It may also im-

Lorraine Kelly won her IR35 tax case

TAXATION It does not apply where the off-payroll worker is genuinely self-employed.

Clearly this change represents an increase in the risk to large private sector businesses who want to engage self-employed individuals as they will be responsible for assessing the employment status of the individual. From the individuals’ perspective, there may well be reluctance from larger businesses to engage self-employed individuals and a move towards an employment relationship.

It is vital that businesses and agencies understand IR35 so they can help end-clients make accurate status decisions and protect themselves.

Start preparing now The private sector should benefit from the lessons learned from the public.

It is strongly recommended that any business paying workers through in-

termediaries should review their arrangements to assess those off-payroll workers that are: • Genuinely self-employed • Definitely caught by IR35 • Potentially less certain and require detailed review An early intervention to embark on a programme to identify those contracts that are at risk, plan how to manage any potential changes and ensure that steps are in place to make sure that PAYE is operated where appropriate from 6 April 2020, or introduce required changes, will be essential.

Experience suggests that private sector businesses are likely to require all of the extra time afforded to them to prepare for the change. Getting it wrong could result in significant liabilities to tax, national insurance, interest and penalties.

There is limited help available via the Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool supplied by HMRC that enables businesses to check if individuals are employees or self-employed.

However, a recent BBC documentary found the tool was unable to give definitive answers in around 50% of cases. We strongly advise businesses to avoid relying solely on CEST when making IR35 decisions.

How we can help If you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming IR35 changes, contact Maurice Frost and our friendly Business Services Team on 01293 227670 or visit www.carpenterbox.com

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BUSINESS CONVENTION

Expecting the unexpected The acumen business convention in May featured the trademark flashes of innovation. Platinum Business Magazine asked founder Penina Shepherd how a legal firm became synonymous with a quirky and entertaining convention Why did acumen business law start their own Business Convention? acumen business law is very proactive in the business community and is known for doing things differently.

It therefore wanted to put together a business event like no other for its business community that can only be attended in the City.

And that is why acumen business convention was conceived ten years ago in May 2009?

In the last decade, this prestigious event has hosted thousands of decision makers who get together to be inspired, entertained, educated and given a great opportunity to make meaningful connections. We have top local, national and international speakers giving exclusive insight to their business stories.

What does Acumen get out of organising such an event?

The Acumen ethos is that as a business you should be fully engaged in the business community, think how you can help it and truly care about it.

The automated result is that the community then cares about you, but this is the default outcome not the drive.

The acumen business convention is run as a not-for-profit event and it supports a different charity every year.

The entire Acumen team is involved in the running of the event and it is all done in-house.

So what Acumen ‘gets out of it’ is a great sense of pride by all its team members and gratitude from the local business community.

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Penina Shepherd with Brighton & Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom

How did it become so successful?

The event is successful because it is put together by an innovative team who truly cares and with great love!

As it attracts top decision makers, every year countless deals and connections are being struck on the day.

It is also a really fun and entertaining event. Besides having top speakers, there is a scrumptious lunch, live entertainment, interactive legal sessions, breakout Speakers Arena sessions (Ted Talk style), games, great networking opportunities and many other surprises.

From African drumming to zebra dancers - people know every year to expect the unexpected.

Do you imagine reaching 20 years of the acumen business convention?

Can you imagine a world without it?!

Thinking back on the last ten conventions and how many inspiring speakers, business connections and wonderful experiences have happened, to reach double that would be quite something.

The Acumen team that gets together each year constantly comes up with new and exciting ideas to bring dynamic elements that keep the event fresh and unique.

As long as the business community continues to come and enjoy the celebration of inspiring and innovative business revelations then we are very happy to host it!

To find out how to get involved next year and for more information contact creative@acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

The state of the South East M&A market Jonathan Grant, Head of Corporate at DMH Stallard, reports on the story so far in 2019 ket need to be well prepared and with strong advisory teams; of course you’d expect me to say that, but it really is the only effective way to deal with extended diligence processes and handling price negotiations after heads of terms have been signed. Assessing risk and making a judgement about whether a deal remains viable is best done with finance and legal advice operating closely together.

T

he good news is that for the first half of 2019 the market remains strong and deal values are rising. The same positive indicators we saw throughout 2018 are still in evidence: high levels of private equity money looking for investment, and larger companies with money to invest looking to buy and grow. Both investor groups see organic growth as challenging. Private high net worth money continues to look at investment opportunities, given lower stock market growth and less confidence in the property market.

Balancing the equation, there are some negatives including a general feeling that a market correction or slow down is over due and, of course, the yet to be resolved Brexit question.

The impact of these twin pressures is that deals have continued and values are rising, but a renewed focus on diligence in the last six months has extended some deal timetables. For some deals this is putting pressure on up-front cash, moving into earn out or deferred payment; for others financing pressure is impacting. There is a reluctance to admit that the Brexit question is causing any of these issues, which is interesting in itself.

We have also seen more deals with vendor diligence prepared in advance.

This creates an auction process, where you provide full information up front with a view to creating competition between buyers, and leading to faster deal completion once a price has been agreed; it’s one way to defeat the extended diligence risk/price renegotiation, but it does mean higher up-front costs for sellers.

MBOs continue to receive debt finance support at the sub £5m deal level, where the business relationship with the Bank is strong; partial or two stage exits remain popular as owners seek to de-risk and transition ownership.

The other trend fast gathering pace is warranty and indemnity insurance for deals over £10m. This product has been available for years but until recently has been used more in larger deals; essentially for a premium of 1-3% of cover, you can insure the risk of warranty claims and claims under the tax covenant.

Of course you have to decide on the level of cover and link to the sale agreement, but it is now far more accessible and attractive, particularly where family trusts or family holding companies are being created. The insurance market has developed to the point that processes are slicker and there is more choice in the market.

Jonathan Grant leads the DMH Stallard corporate team across the South East and in London; if you’re looking for advice on any corporate matter, contact Jonathan at jonathan.grant@ dmhstallard.com, or call 03333 231580. dmhstallard.com

Companies looking to come to mar-

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LEGAL

Equality and diversity Why is it so important?

The moral argument for building a fairer, diverse workplace is indisputable.

However, it is also necessary for the sustainability of businesses and economies, says Rachel Nicholas, Solicitor at Sherrards Employment Law and awareness of these different characteristics reduces the likelihood of discrimination arising, reduces the chance of possible employment tribunal claims and ultimately can therefore reduce costs in the workplace.

Moreover, awareness can greatly contribute to staff morale and employee wellbeing.

Rachel Nicholas

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egardless of our identity or background, we all deserve the opportunity to develop our skills and talents to our full potential, work in an inclusive and supportive environment and be fairly rewarded for our achievements.

Research undertaken by McKinsey & Co has indicated that businesses with a healthy balance of men and women are 15% more likely to outperform their competitors, while those with employees from a good mix of ethnic backgrounds are 35% more likely!

The words equality and diversity are often used but what do they mean?

Equality is about promoting and fostering everybody’s right to be different. Equality of opportunity is about ensuring everybody has an equal chance regardless of age, race, gender, class, sexual orientation, religion or belief and disability. Equality should not be viewed as ticking a box or a bureaucratic burden.

Promoting a greater understanding

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Diversity, on the other hand is about more than equality. It is about celebrating and valuing how different we are. If everyone thinks and acts the same within an organisation, how can it possibly continue to grow?

Evidence suggests that recruitment panels still favour candidates similar to themselves. Often employers will know how to tackle conscious bias in the workplace, however, the impact that unconscious bias can have should not be underestimated. Everybody has unconscious biases; they are social stereotypes about certain groups of people that are formed outside of any conscious awareness. They are simply the brain’s way of coping with and categorising all the information we receive daily. Our tendency to discriminate against a group or type of person may not be intentional, but we can still do something to change it. The more we expose ourselves to ideas, images and words that

challenge negative stereotypes, the less discriminatory we will be.

How to reduce the unconscious bias in your workplace You can take steps to reduce the negative impact of unconscious bias in many ways: • Be aware of generalisations.

• Challenge your decision-making processes.

• Work beyond your comfort zone and with individuals who have different backgrounds.

• Implement training and communications campaigns which promote diversity.

• Take a test! Take an online test to discover your own tendencies then reflect on your personal biases so that you can reduce and eliminate bias from all of your actions and decisions.

Sherrards is running a popular half day seminar on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion with a focus on understanding Unconscious Bias on Monday July 15th in London. If you would like further information please contact the team on 01273 834120 or visit www.sherrardslaw.com

CHARITY NEWS

Could you run for Chestnut Tree House?

The Littlehampton 10k is back with a new 5k route!

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ast year, a record-breaking 1,461 people took part in the Littlehampton 10k, raising around £60,000 for Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice.

The sell-out event – now in its 16th year – was such a success, that this year it is returning as the Littlehampton 10k & 5k, with a new 5k route to encourage more people to get involved.

Taking place on Sunday September 8th on Littlehampton beach promenade, the 10k route passes through Littlehampton, Rustington and Mewsbrook Park. From keen runners pushing for a personal best to people taking part in fancy dress, it is an event for both experienced and first-time runners. And even more so in 2019, with a shorter 5k route on offer.

Andrew Battley, Events Fundraiser for Chestnut Tree House said: “The Littlehampton 10k is very special to Chestnut Tree House as it was our original fundraising event, which has been running as long as we have.

170-mile relay for Chestnut Tree House

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agnar, the world’s largest series of overnight running relays, will be setting up in Sussex for a third time in September this year. And, with general entries now closed, the only way to get a place is through one of their charity partners, including Chestnut Tree House.

Over the weekend of September 21st-22nd, teams of 10 will take on the 170-mile Reebok Ragnar White Cliffs relay. Starting in Sittingbourne (Kent), the runners will follow the south coast through the night on a route through Faversham, Ramsgate, Dover, Folkstone, Rye, and Hastings, before coming to the finish line in Brighton. Each teammate will take turns to run three times, with each 3-11 mile length varying in difficulty.

To run for Chestnut Tree House, registration is free, with each runner pledging to raise a minimum of £150 in sponsorship. Teams can find out more and apply for a charity place with Chestnut Tree House at www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/ragnar

“The event is in its 16th year now, and we wanted to try something new to see if we can get even more people involved. We hope that introducing a 5k option in addition to the existing 10k route, will appeal to first-time runners, or those who have been put off by the distance in previous years.”

Registration costs £18 per person for the 10k and £12 for the 5k. www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/10k

It costs Chestnut Tree House over £3.9 million every year to provide its specialist care services and less than 6% of that comes from central Government. All care is offered free of charge, so they rely heavily on the generosity of the local community.

For yourself. For local families. For living. For the Now. www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk.

Or get in touch on corporate@chestnut-tree-house.org.uk 01903 871846 / 01323 725095

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TECHNOLOGY LEGAL

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96% of people said they had a positive experience with Extech Cloud, based on over 3,000 IT support calls.

BUSINESS SURVEY

Muted growth in new business Private sector output growth weakens in May as new business falls

P

rivate sector output rose at a weaker pace across the South East in May as new business fell, according to the latest NatWest PMI® data. The rate of growth in total business activity was broadly in line with the muted average seen across the first five months of 2019. New business fell for the second time in five months, and firms cleared workloads at the fastest pace in nearly three years as a result.

More positively, business expectations were the strongest in seven months, but still below the long-run trend.

The headline NatWest South East Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – remained above the no-change mark of 50.0 in May, at 51.0, signalling higher private sector output. That said, it fell from April’s 51.7 and was well below its historic average of 54.9 (since 1997), suggesting that overall growth remained weak. This was a trend repeated across the UK as a whole (50.9).

Slower overall output growth reflected a slight contraction in services business activity and a weaker rise in manufacturing production. The latter was driven by backlog completion, however, as new orders at goods producers fell further. Total private sector new business declined for the first time since January, as new contracts at service providers also dipped slightly.

With fewer intakes of new orders, private sector firms in the South East were able to complete existing workloads at a faster rate in May. Backlogs declined at the strongest pace since July 2016, with manufacturers again posting a steeper contraction than service providers. The current eight-

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month sequence of decline is the longest observed in nearly six years.

Despite signs of spare capacity, private sector companies continued to expand their workforces in May. Job creation was registered for the third month running following declines in January and February, although the rate of growth remained modest.

Input price inflation slowed for the seventh time in eight months in May, to the lowest since June 2016. That said, the respective index remained above its long-run trend level since the series began in 1997, signalling strong overall cost pressures. Subsequently, companies increased their charges at a solid rate.

KEY FINDINGS • New orders decline for second time in 2019 so far • Slowest rise in input prices for nearly three years • Output expectations strongest in seven months Expectations for business activity over the next 12 months remained positive in May. Moreover, sentiment was the strongest since October 2018.

Firms linked confidence to new products, marketing and expectations that political uncertainty will have been reduced by this time next year.

COMMENT

Stuart Johnstone, Managing Director, London & South East, Corporate & Commercial Banking “A renewed drop in new business caused a loss of momentum in the South East private sector in May, with total activity rising at a weaker pace. New work has been broadly flat over 2019 so far, meaning that companies have increasingly relied on clearing backlogs to sustain overall growth of their businesses.

The drop in unfinished work in May was the fastest in nearly three years.

“As such, growth of output and employment look unlikely to be sustained in the coming months unless firms receive more new business.

Latest data for London provide some encouragement on this front, with activity and new work rebounding in the capital in May. June data will hopefully show some spill-over into the South East. Looking further ahead, firms were more confident regarding growth over the next 12 months.”

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.

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS

Diverse inclusion

By Dean Orgill, Chairman, Mayo Wynne Baxter

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ver the years that I have been writing for this column I have often included a disclaimer that I am by no means an expert on the topic on which I was about to muse. If you have read any of those previous columns you will no doubt have noted that the disclaimer was well warranted.

The same applies again for this month.

However, although I profess no great expertise on the various subjects what I do have is a curiosity on the topics plus a desire to learn more. Hopefully I can then reflect on what it is that I do not know, and perhaps really ought to know more about.

I was recently at an IoD briefing on such a topic which really made me think that there was so much more to reflect upon and learn. I am pleased

to say that the rest of those attending thought the same, and that we all felt that we could have spent twice as long there learning fascinating lessons both about the topic and ourselves.

recruit teams in their own image. After all, if a person has been successful in a role does it not make sense to seek to secure the succession with similar individuals?

The seminar was about how diversity and inclusivity, particularly in leadership groups, can help in strengthening our businesses in many different ways.

In short, probably not. Many factors will have lead to that person’s success and the wrong ones may be picked as the key elements. In any event the chances of the circumstances and environment around the people remaining exactly the same are next to nil. There will need to be reaction to different pressures, different markets and different customers and if there is no-one on your team that understands those how can you deal with them?

As a group we had previously heard a lot about such topics but had, perhaps ironically, formed a number of pre-conceptions about what it might mean. Ask yourself, as we did, what are the first words that spring to mind when the topics are mentioned? Do those words themselves reflect an unconscious bias or assumption if you subject them to a modicum of further analysis?

We were shown a very illuminating short video of age bias in perceptions.

Most interesting, from my perspective at least, was that it showed the preconceptions of capability and assumptions made incorrectly by 20 somethings in respect of those over 50. It is not just those of us who might be male, pale and stale that will make short-cut judgments based on preconceptions and group-think.

Furthermore a different perspective on the same issues will always help you, collectively, towards a stronger decision and more resilient decision. Including more perspectives to consider will give a wider range of options, and in a fast-changing environment that has to be a benefit to all.

Just a thought Does your team lack a perspective that would really beneďŹ t its outlook?

www.iod.com

But why should we care? Many, often successful, managers will happily

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Goal setting, mental toughness...

And the manager’s role Always keep the big picture AND the short term in mind, says business author and consultant Scott Blanchard My clients referred to what they call “mental toughness”: the ability to keep performing when things change, go sour, or take longer than planned.

Early in the process, teams are primed with the mindset that things aren’t always going to go smoothly—and they are given ways to respond in the moment to achieve the best possible result. Goal setting is not meant to be static. If the team is stuck or heading in the wrong direction, the manager works with them to restate the goal and make adjustments.

When a team is focusing on something new or challenging, frequent check-ins with the manager are essential. As the team gains confidence and demonstrates competence, these meetings can be scheduled further apart.

Ken Blanchard (left) with son Scott

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eaders who are the most effective at managing the performance of their people keep two things in mind:

The big picture — why we are doing it and what matters about it?

1 2

The short term — what do we need to do now to move forward toward the larger goal?

An example of this process

I just finished some work with a fairly large organisation that has sixteen general managers. I asked if I could interview two of the GMs who were achieving the best results.

Even though I interviewed them independently, their approach to goal setting was remarkably similar.

Both of these GMs set big goals and have clear expectations with their peo-

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ple that the goals will be met. They also stress the importance and discipline of a weekly Monday meeting to discuss with their team what’s in front of them this week, what they can handle, and what they need to do to accomplish the larger goal. They succeed in the long run by focusing on the short run and connecting the two. Successful goal setting is about resilience.

Rarely do things go exactly as planned.

But too often when things go awry, instead of talking about what can be done to get things back on track, people come to a full stop.

In both our SLII® and our First-time Manager programs we teach that once goals are set, managers need to check in with team members on a regular basis to remind them what they are trying to accomplish and why it matters. Managers also need to take opportunities to have praising conversations when things are going well and redirection conversations when things deviate from the plan.

Over time, as people become more confident and trusted, the manager can delegate more and pull back on the frequency and intensity of these con-

“Setting goals is a foundation for success and having clear agreements about performance expectations, with regular check-ins, is the process for getting there”

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP versations. As people become self-reliant, the manager can turn over the responsibility for achieving the goals to the individual or the team.

Partnerships in action

When people think about their best manager, it was most likely someone who truly listened, was flexible, acknowledged their work and contributions, and made them feel like they made a difference.

It’s about working side by side with people—providing direction and support in a way that lets them grow into their autonomy. For example, when a salesperson is working for a sales manager, their goals are interdependent. As the salesperson demonstrates an increased capacity to achieve the goal, the manager can direct a little less and use more of a coaching style.

Instead of telling, the manager is asking and listening.

All good performance starts with clear goals. They set people up for success, growth, and development. The goal should be written in a way that illustrates what a good job looks like, documents the milestones to mark progress, and stretches the individual beyond their current performance.

Clearly written goals give people a chance to succeed, while vague goals can lead to trouble.

Setting goals is a foundation for success and having clear agreements about performance expectations, with regular check-ins, is the process for getting there. Obstacles that can undermine relationships and results are a lack of clarity and a lack of clear agreement.

tive regard for his or her contribution are building the confidence of the people they manage. It’s important to separate the subject matter from the person. Expressing confidence allows a manager to preserve a good relationship regardless of the type of conversation being held. Expressing confidence in the person builds self-assurance and enthusiasm.

When things really matter, effective managers make the effort to ensure the team is crystal clear on goals and procedures. This takes extra time at the beginning of a project, but it will pay dividends in the long term. Plus, it sets a process in place that the team can use on future projects.

Want to learn more? Contact uk@kenblanchard.com or visit www.kenblanchard.com/Resources

People want to perform for a manager they know has confidence in them.

Managers who acknowledge the person and maintain a respectful, posi-

Training the World’s Best Managers

That’s a win-win for everybody.

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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 2019, 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.

36

HEALTH & WELLBEING Worker performance could increase by

20%

Alcohol sales in Scotland have fallen to their lowest level in 25 years after the introduction of price controls Guardian

Eating a cup of blueberries a day reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease according to a new study by the University of Anglia

if the fresh air supply, light and temperature control in offices and meeting rooms is improved, finds a new report workplaceinsight.net

“To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear” Buddha

Sciencedaily.com

People who work long hours have a higher risk of stroke, especially if they work those hours for 10 years or more, according to new research in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke

“I have always believed that exercise is the key to not only physical health but to peace of mind” Nelson Mandela

Medical Xpress

37

When workplace stress gets too much...

Stress is an experience most of us encounter throughout our lives, and let’s face it - a normal working environment will have times of ‘stress’.

By Paul Ollerton, Managing Director at ViiSana Ltd

Paul Ollerton

S

uccessful businesses seem to manage the fine line between creating a dynamic fast paced business, or one that burns its employees out.

The objective of this month’s article is to highlight the importance of supporting and managing the stress present within our workforce, in order to equip employees to cope with the demands placed on them at work.

What is ‘too much’?

Biologically, stress is what keeps us alert to danger, so stress isn’t always a bad thing – as it can help keep you focussed and able to meet a new challenge.

But in today’s workplace environment, with ever increasing demands, longer hours, and tighter deadlines, stress can leave our people feeling worried, drained and overwhelmed. It’s when sustained stress exceeds our ability to cope, it stops being helpful and starts causing physical and mental damage.

Showing the signs of stress

Spotting the signs of stress both at individual and team level is imperative to know when to intervene. Does any of the following sound familiar?

In individuals • Arriving for work late • Showing signs of nervousness / loss of confidence • Mood swings

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• Loss of motivation and commitment to work • Emotional responses – overly tearful, sensitive or aggressive Within teams • Increasing sickness absence • Higher than normal staff turnover • Lower productivity • More internal complaints and grievances • Inter/intra team arguments

Common workplace causes of stress

When looking at a typical workplace, there are common circumstances that

seem to contribute to the signs of a stressed workforce. It is important to consider these and understand that, if left unchecked or addressed, they may develop into a major problem for employees and the business.

A recent article published by the American Institute of Stress blames workload for the majority of stress in a workforce, but other commonly reported issues include: Increased working hours If you regularly rely on overtime to meet production of revenue targets, the short-term benefit of increased

HEALTH & WELLBEING earnings will eventually be overtaken by signs of stress. Equally, setting unrealistic targets, will lead to an expectation to work during the evenings and weekends regularly.

an optimum level – all the time! With no room for error or time to re-group and assess performance, it is not surprising that this causes stress across a business.

Uncertainty Fear of redundancy or lack of longerterm career prospects is a major cause of stress.

Tasks that do not engage or challenge It is sometimes unavoidable to create roles that follow a limited process or scope. These typically tend to be the roles that report higher levels of stress, due to lack of control the operator has on the outcome/output.

Pressure to perform It is now commonplace for a business to expect a workforce to perform at

Managers to the rescue Managing stress within the workplace centres around adopting a robust overall approach to health and wellbeing. Promoting good nutrition, and encouraging activity is absolutely key and has been covered in detail in previous issues. Where specific stress related issues have been identified at work, we would recommend the following tactics for organisations and their managers to help ease the pressure.

• Stay close. Ensure each team member has a good induction and knows exactly what is required of them. Have regular private 1-2-1s where any issue can be discussed and put health and wellbeing on the agenda at team meetings.

• Lead by example. Taking care of yourself as a manager is the best way to influence the cultural behaviours that are set. Visibly doing so shows your team that it’s ok for them to do the same. The obvious but often overlooked examples include staying at home if you’re unwell;

Contact us…

ViiSana specialises in implementing wellbeing programme through the implementation of company-wide Vitality Life and Health insurance. If you would like to discuss your company’s individual health concerns/challenges, or

trying not to email employees outside of work hours; respect people’s annual leave by not making any contact at all.

• Review regularly. It’s important to understand people’s individual workloads, duties and responsibilities – and to change them if they are unachievable. This can be as simple as watching out for people working excessive hours which might highlight where support or development is needed to work more effectively.

It’s far more productive to focus on the results, rather than a rigid environment. If you have lots of home workers, give them the opportunity to form relationships with their co-workers, or give those who work in a busy team occasional access to work in a quieter environment.

• Offer a flexible environment. If your people can achieve their objectives working from home once a fortnight, then let them! Or if a team member with young children would be less stressed if allowed to start early and leave to pick the children up once a week, let them!

if you would just like to discuss ideas for implementing a programme at your business, please get in touch: Email: paul.ollerton@viisana.com Phone: 0333 772 0761 Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn

39

Your mental health as an entrepreneur Shedding the light on mental health and entrepreneurship. Here’s how to look after your wellness as a business leader

M

Get a hobby. Due to the heightened risks of running your own business vs working for someone else, it can be difficult to switch off and put work aside outside working hours. Many successful entrepreneurs have a physical hobby completely unrelated to their business, allowing them to switch their mind from work to play and leave the stress behind when it gets too much.

ental health in the workplace is now a common theme, with many businesses incorporating employee wellness programmes and providing flexible working schemes. But what about entrepreneurs? From starting on their own with low resources to working with a small team, high pressures, and a lot of responsibility, it’s no surprise perhaps then that 58% of entrepreneurs suffer with mental health issues, that’s more than double compared to the general population.

Is it just a coincidence that the world’s greatest minds are sometimes the ones that struggle the most? It’s possible that mental illness and entrepreneurship are even more closely linked than we had thought. According to psychologists, people who are creative and motivated (traits commonly found in entrepreneurs) are more likely to have strong emotional states and therefore more likely to experience mental illness.

The very behaviours that make life seem unusually difficult sometimes are the same ones that tend to help entrepreneurs accelerate along their fast-paced journeys. In a way, the struggles of mental health may be incubating tremendous creativity that gives way to new ideas and solutions.

Practice mindfulness. Any successful business owner you speak to will tell you how important mindfulness is to maintaining a healthy mental state.

Whether it’s through meditation, yoga, or simply remembering to breathe or write down your thoughts - practicing some form of mindfulness can help you to step back see things from a fresh perspective. cope with mental health issues is getting worse. This brings us to consider how can we support people to understand their mental health better and in turn be able to cope with challenges better as they arise.

The NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator in Brighton has started a campaign to support mental health. To kick off their support, they are running an event in partnership with the Prince’s Trust and The Good Business Club where entrepreneurs from different walks of life will be sharing their inspirational stories of how they got to where they are today. In the hope that by bringing people together to share their stories and getting people talking about mental health they can raise awareness and create a sense of community for anyone who feels alone.

“Is it just a coincidence that the world’s greatest minds are sometimes the ones that struggle the most?”

According to Mind, the amount of people experiencing mental health concerns has stayed the same for a long time, however suicide rates and selfharm is on the rise, perhaps denoting that whilst mental health is a consistent issue in society, the way people

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So, what can you do as an entrepreneur to look after your mental health?

Join a community. Being an entrepreneur can be lonely, surrounding yourself with others who are on a similar journey can be really reassuring and ease the strain you feel from constant obstacles and challenges that are thrown your way as the founder of a business.

‘The stories that made us entrepreneurs’ event will be held in August, you can book via Eventbrite and all ticket sales will go to Mind Brighton & Hove Charity.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Meditation, mindfulness and a memorable experience Lesley Alcock reviews the launch of Minds Matter Now @ The Grand Brighton It sounds like my kind of group!

At the first event in June, we received a warm and friendly welcome from Paula as we were all introduced to one another and treated to a complimentary continental breakfast, while we studied the Wellness Day Itinerary and got to know each other.

The Women’s Wellness Day at the Spa at the Grand was a wonderful mix of meditation and mindfulness with Paula, yoga with Anna Sugarman and nutrition, health and fitness advice from Livia Francis.

A

fter successfully forging a career in the corporate world of PR and marketing, a family tragedy prompted Paula Seabourne to re-assess her priorities back in 2013.

She qualified in Stress Management and Mindfulness Teaching, and then launched Minds Matter Now. Her driving passion was to help people develop the resilience to deal with the stress and anxiety that most of us encounter in everyday life. The key, she believes, is to find the right balance and a sense of freedom in both work and home lives.

Her latest venture is to launch a female members club, located at the sumptuous spa in The Grand Brighton. Minds Matter Now @ The Grand Brighton is a member’s club for caring, passionate, like-minded ladies who desire the best for their wellbeing. It’s for women who realise that time out for themselves is not a luxury but a necessity; encompassing mind, body & spirit whilst supporting each other. It’s for women who want to be inspired, embrace life (or want to again!) and restore balance to their lives.

ception hosted by Jackie Knight, a registered nurse with over 20 years’ experience in the cosmetic surgery industry and owner of A New You. My verdict? This was a truly wonderful and memorable experience. Paula was the perfect hostess and worked tirelessly to ensure we had an amazing day.

There will be up to 16 female members per event and six events in total per year. This is a lovely event to look forward to and a ‘must’ to take time out of your busy schedule.

Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long before we were feeling rejuvenated, calm and very, very relaxed! We enjoyed a delightful two course lunch in the Conservatory which had been reserved exclusively for our group. There was plenty of free time for relaxation in the chill out room, and we had full use of the thermal spa and the sauna, as well as one of the wonderful spa treatments.

The sponsors for the day were ‘A New You’, an independent and CQC registered cosmetic surgery clinic based in the centre of Brighton, and Electric Hairdressing who have six leading salons across the country. Created by award-winning British hairdresser Mark Woolley, it has been hailed as the UK’s most exciting hairdressing brand. Paula and her sponsors treated us all to a fabulous goody bag.

To close the day there was a fizz re-

For membership information please visit www.mindsmatternow.co.uk.

Also check out: www.annasugarmanyoga.com www.fitfreedom.co.uk www.electric-hair.com www.a-newyou.co.uk

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Will agile working be the new norm?

A

t the moment we talk about agile working as an appealing alternative to standard 9-5 office life. But in the future agile working may well be the standard. Will we need to talk about flexible working as a perk, or will a greater level of freedom simply be expected? And if so, how do we keep our workers safe, healthy and productive when they’re out of sight and out of typical work set-ups?

that from well-publicised research, and inflexible policies and micromanagement can create a tense working environment.

Agile working is all about having the freedom to choose how, when and

benefits. People want to work for them and stay working for them.

Staff feel valued, trusted and loyal.

Everyone enjoys a better work-life balance, which alleviates stress and, if the extra time is spent wisely, can enhance physical health. Time once spent sitting in a traffic jam can now be spent in the gym, or on a dog walk, or taking the children to school. The key is to instigate agile working properly, with thought, planning and appropriate infrastructure. You can’t take away employees’ workstations, give them a laptop and expect them to be happy with it. Agile working is about making informed choices. What works for one person might not work for another — and this applies to hot-desking and home-working too. Not everyone thrives when they’re left to their own devices so it’s important to support staff as individuals. Communicate with and involve employees in the decisions that affect them.

“92% of Millennials identify flexibility as a top priority when hunting for a job”

The move to agile isn’t just a myth: it’s really happening. According to one recruitment survey, 92% of Millennials identify flexibility as a top priority when hunting for a job. It doesn’t take a study to know that people typically enjoy having a say in how they spend their daily lives. Sitting all day is bad for us — we already know

where we work — not just to make the working day more enjoyable, but to noticeably enhance performance and boost organisational productivity. After all the happier the worker, the higher the quality of work produced.

Agile organisations are noticing the

Our job at Posturite is to give people the tools to make healthy choices about work. This is a broad description of what we do, but it tends to involve the provision of ergonomic equipment, workstation assessments, training, and the dispensing of expert advice through our consulting service.

Our recently launched e-learning course WorkRite Agile shows agile workers how to incorporate healthy

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

behaviours into their everyday working lives, from identifying health and safety hazards in a range of environments, to working more physical activity into the day.

How often should we get up to move around? How can we reduce the risk of developing back pain or RSI when we work at a desk, or in a cafe, or on a train? These are the small but signifi cant elements of our working lives that we all too often ignore, and which can result in costly injury and time off sick.

E-learning is the perfect format for agile workers because it takes place online in a single system managed by admin members (either someone in your company, or by our own WorkRite support team). Training data is collected and stored securely for easy reporting. Automated emails are sent to remind staff to complete their training.

The course itself is a game-changer in terms of usability, taking users on an interactive and personalised journey through their most common working environments, including:

We know that training staff, especially staff who may not always be in the same place, can be a massive challenge.

• In the office (including hot-desking) • At home • On-the-go

If your employees are working in agile ways - perhaps occasionally working from home, or checking emails on the train, then ask them to complete WorkRite Agile. They will learn about suitable ergonomic positioning, posture and healthy working habits so that they can protect themselves from the work-related MSDs and other health issues that cost companies millions each year.

If you are interested in seeing WorkRite Agile for yourself then we would love to arrange a free demo for you. Simply contact our team at support@ workrite.co.uk and they will set you up with a no-obligation account.

Agile working is still in its infancy but over time, with younger generations joining the workforce with new expectations, it’s bound to become standard. Make sure you’re prepared for the risks with WorkRite Agile.

Find out more at www.posturite. co.uk/workrite/workrite-agile/

43

Health &WELLBEING Be at one with nature

‘F

orest bathing’ for just two hours a week may be a “crucial threshold” for promoting physical health and mental wellbeing, according to a large-scale study led by British scientists.

Research, led by Exeter University, shows that people who spend at least 120 minutes in nature a week are

news

“significantly more likely” to report good health and higher psychological wellbeing than those who don’t visit nature at all during an average week.

But no such benefits were found for people who visited natural settings such as town parks, woodlands, country parks and beaches for less than two hours a week.

Gender plays a role in memory

A

person’s biological sex may play a role in the ability to recall episodic memories, according to new research from the Karolinska Institutet in Solna, Sweden. The findings, indicate that women are better at remembering certain types of episodic memories than men. Specifically, women appear to be better at remembering speech, where they left an object, and what happened in a movie and they are also more apt at remembering faces and sensory images. Men, on the other hand, seem to be better at recalling abstract information and navigational data.

Source: Medical News Today

Bursting the ‘diet’ bubble

N

ew research suggests fizzy diet drinks could increase your risk of stroke, heart disease and even early death. The large study, involving more than 80,000 women in the US, found that drinking two or more diet drinks a day increased the risk of stroke by 23%.

Compared with women who consumed diet drinks less than once a week or not at all, women who consumed two or more artificially sweetened drinks per day were also 29% more likely to develop heart disease and 16% more likely to die from any cause.

Source: Huffington Post

Work less to boost the brain

T

he benefits of employment on mental health might be gained from just one day’s work a week, research suggests. Unemployment has been linked to poorer mental health, with experts suggesting part of the reason could be that work offers benefits including time structure, social contacts and a sense of identity. However, Brendan Burchell, a co-author of the research from the University of

The cherries are on top

I

t’s the season of the cherry. Not only are they delicious and highly nutritious, they are also packed full of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds with powerful health effects. They contain an array of powerful plant compounds that can help reduce inflammation, and eating them may improve sleep,

44

boost heart health, and speed recovery after exercise.

Their high antioxidant content may help combat oxidative stress, a condition that is linked to multiple chronic diseases and premature aging.

Source: Healthline

Cambridge, said: “Nobody seemed to have said how much of it you need to get those benefits.”

Now researchers say they have found a positive impact on mental health on moving from unemployment to a paid job, and that this boost is gained from working just eight hours a week, and there is no extra mental health benefit from working longer than this.

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T What does your office mean to you?

Daisy Wood and Sam Beard, from the Sussex Innovation Facilities and Community team look at how they have had to adapt their offering to match the changing expectations of workspace through the years

Co-founders of Inset Online, Sarah Windsor and John Burton

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he importance of a physical space to the business based in it has historically been overlooked. From ease of communication through to mental well-being it can have a surprisingly dramatic effect on performance. As an incubator and innovation centre that has provided working spaces and offices for more than two decades, the Sussex Innovation Centre has seen a lot of change in the needs of businesses and the market.

Back in the far-off land of 1996 when the Innovation Centre first opened, the physical environment for many companies in the South East was almost unrecognisable from today. Without modern wireless and cloud-based technologies, offices were full of large desktop computers and CRT monitors, expanses of filing cabinets, phones

SUSSEX INNOVATION CENTRE and fax machines. Nowadays much of this space is saved and that computing capability has been squeezed into our mobile phones!

Due to wireless technologies and the internet, the need to be chained to a desk in a specific location declined, and flexibility in the workplace became popular. While not a new concept, hot-desking and ‘barrier-free’ workplaces are now more prevalent, meaning employees can rock up with a laptop and get on with work almost wherever they are.

Businesses expressing an identity has also become increasingly important over the years, with ‘statement offices’ that shout about the occupants’ personality and values becoming more common.

Some organisations sought out interesting or quirky buildings to help them put across a unique image, while others capitalised on practical and utilitarian industrial spaces available at a much lower cost. Some gravitated towards the competitive inner-city environment, while others moved into an out-of-town ‘business park’ setting.

We’ve become more aware of this contrast since opening our sister site in the heart of Croydon in 2015. Becoming part of this vibrant up-and-coming tech community gave us more insight into the start-up ecosystem with its wealth of co-working spaces. Our new office space offering had to be positioned differently, and this has in turn informed how our Sussex hub has evolved.

We’re somewhere between these two worlds in our ‘out of town’ setting, a few miles outside the bustling Brighton city centre, nestled on the edge of the South Downs on the University of Sussex campus. Being based at a university has an impact on the personality of our building, as does its age. It was built in the early ‘90s and extended in the early ‘00s – when ‘innovation space’ was a

new concept, and providing space for multiple computers was futuristic thinking. We’ve had to continually adapt and transform the framework we have into an environment that fits today’s needs.

Our offices come in all shapes and sizes but are essentially a blank canvas, empty rooms on to which each company can imprint their own image.

They can create meeting areas, chillout zones - even music studios - to suit the company and its employees.

One of the biggest recent changes to our working environment has been the refurbishment of our reception area.

Our front of house is our members’

opportunity for knowledge sharing, collaboration and mutual support; we’re learning that just holding a networking event isn’t always enough.

Feedback we’ve received in a recent member survey shows that going along to an event on your own, even if it’s just along the corridor, can be quite daunting. We’re now trialling a more casual, no-pressure approach.

Our recent drop-in members’ breakfast proved far more popular than past events marketed as networking opportunities. Social events on a theme also work well, such as our International Women’s Day lunch last year which brought together the women (and

“People’s expectations of workplaces have got higher. Space needs to be functional and fashionable, open and collaborative but with areas for deep concentration” front of house and we have a duty to represent them as well as ourselves.

With the wide array of companies based at the Centre - innovation and ambition are the only constants - it’s been essential to maintain an element of neutrality. While a fireman’s pole into reception might convey the feeling of fun that a games developer may want to portray, it might not be so fitting for the drug discovery company down the corridor.

The transformation took place last year; we modernised the space to create a professional impression for visitors, but more importantly, a useful space for our members. With the addition of high benches, meeting tables, charging points, TV screens and privacy booths, the space can be used for break times, informal meetings, presentations and events.

men) of the Centre in support of the #BalanceforBetter campaign. Uniting people with a common passion, business related or not, can facilitate potential business opportunities.

It’s undeniable that people’s expectations of workplaces have got higher. Space needs to be functional and fashionable, open and collaborative but with areas for deep concentration. AI, AR and VR are going to have a huge impact on working styles in the near future, with virtual meetings replacing video conference calls and automation meaning even less physical presence is necessary. It’s hard to say what demands these changes will make of workspace but we will be ready to adapt once again. www.sinc.co.uk

Creating communal spaces encourages collaboration, fitting with the working practices that businesses want. Fostering that collaboration isn’t always easy, even if the space is designed for it. The main appeal of Innovation Centre membership is the

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BUSINESS EVENTS

An innovative day Business innovation is thriving in Brighton at the Let’s Do Business Exhibition

New for 2019 was the addition of two panel discussions as part of the popular seminar line up. The panels featured representatives from funding initiatives and local businesses discussing funding innovation and accessing innovation support. Other speakers on the day included Garry James of Switchplane who discussed the future of social media and Mark Bellinger of Showstorm discussing virtual and augmented reality. This year saw hundreds of visitors pre-register for the exhibition as well as further delegates arriving on the day.

The launch of Clean Growth UK, an initiative involving the University of Brighton

L

et’s Do Business Brighton, in association with PRG Marketing Communications, took place at the Amex Stadium in June, and this year featured an exciting innovation zone.

Exhibitors and visitors from across Sussex, Gatwick and Kent were wowed by demonstrations of the latest in cutting edge technology in the zone, which was sponsored by East Sussex College Group.

These included leading VR and augmented reality company Showstorm launching their All Senses Immersion virtual reality and the University of Sussex showcasing Quantum: the computer that could change our lives. There were interactive experiences for guests on the day including RFID wristbands, an interactive discount rickshaw and a 3d printer. There were also experts on hand all day to discuss everything from innovation in education, innovation in the workplace and innovation for tackling a timely issue; climate change.

by three universities including the University of Brighton, and aims to help businesses tackle climate change.

Zoe Osmond, Director of Green Growth Platform also spoke about innovation and climate change at the exhibition as part of the accessing innovation panel discussion.

Leading business advisory firm and headline sponsor Quantuma had business experts on hand to discuss

Let’s Do Busines Revolut

Sean Dennis, Deputy Chief Executive at the Let’s Do Business Group said ‘This year we once again collaborated with PRG Marketing Communications to bring the Let’s Do Business Brighton exhibition back to the AMEX Stadium. The theme of innovation this year proved to be very apt and we are glad the expo represented the diversity and Secure your spot among some of the innovation demonstrated by businesses in Sussex, Gatwick and the South forward thinking businesses in the are East.

Benefits include access to key decision

‘The panel and discussions to this fromnew Sussex the South East, the ch year’s seminar proved explore the latest innovations and to p a popular and thought your business to the best in Brighton! provoking addition to the event.

We’d like to thank all of our sponsors, speakers, exhibitors and visitors for once again making this year’s Let’s Do Business Brighton event a success.’

“Over 80 exhibitors were on hand on the day to meet key decision makers from the region”

The expo also featured the launch of Clean Growth UK, one of the show’s headline sponsors. The initiative is led

maximising business value, and Adrian Howells, Quantuma’s Director of Corporate Finance chaired the panel discussion on funding innovation. The theme of innovation ran throughout the exhibition exploring encouraging innovation in the workplace and streamlining processes.

Thursday 13th June 2019 The Amex Stadium, Brighton

To find out more about the Let’s Do Business Group, please visit www.letsdobusinessgroup.co.uk

Over 80 exhibitors were on hand on the day to meet key decision makers from the region. The all new exhibition also featured a work zone, enabling visitors to keep in touch with the office throughout the day.

Quote Platinum2019 for an exclusive 5% d stand bookings. To learn more and book a s

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Sam works wi thin the med ia and enter ta tax and busin inment secto ess advice to r providing social influenc creators. He no ers and onlin w heads the fir e content m’s new Brigh ton office in Sh ip Street.

MOVERS BUSINESS & SHAKERS SURVEY

&

LAUR A DA N D Acumen Law

ess. A senior Dand to the busin st s welcomed Laura at a top speciali ce en eri Acumen Law ha exp of ent tor with years mily Law departm Fa w ne Family Law Solici the ing is spearhead ce working with London firm; Laura rticular experien le. Laura has pa covering matters rs, ne ow at Acumen Peop ess sin ividuals and bu l provisions, high net worth ind ns, the financia of onship breakdow ers. Laura is one ord nt me relating to relati ge an ons and child arr siness expands bu the as m property implicati tea en ions to the Acum several new addit npeople.co.uk. ered www.acume on the ser vices off

Shakers

ALIS ON KI N N ER

Mayo Wynne Baxte r

SL EY / GR AN T

PA RK ER

Mayo Wynne Ba xter has welcome d two new Partn Kinnersley and Gra ers. Alison nt Parker have join ed the MWB tea the merger with Crawley based so m following licitors Russell & Alison has cons Co in May 2019. iderable experien ce and is a formi She also speciali dable litigator. ses in wills and trusts, tax plann administration of ing and the estates.

Grant’s focus is Family Law an d deals with ca separation, divorc ses involving e and cohabitation breakdown. He als in advising and o specialises representing clie nts where there violence allegatio are domestic ns.

Welcome to our third instalment of the latest business appointments and promotions across the business world; see who’s doing what and where, including those ones to watch How do you cut through the white noise of recruitment? You lower the volume.

At Harvey John, recruitment is far from a transactional service.

It’s about fostering long-term partnerships within our core markets. Quality over quantity.

Specialising in Accountancy, Tax, and Legal since 2004, Harvey John are an international recruitment firm with two offices in the heart of Brighton and a team of 15 individual skill-sets, each united by a shared vision of how recruitment should be.

By immersing ourselves in every corner of these markets, we maintain an incredibly niche expertise, enabling us to simplify the most complex of searches. And whether that assignment takes us across Sussex, London, Europe, Asia, or the Americas, our deep sector knowledge - paired with our multi-faceted methodology means that we provide local solutions on a global scale.

And so, by lowering the volume, we strip ourselves from unnecessary pressures and, in turn, become a trusted partner to companies worldwide.

Contact us Tel: 01273 820808 Email: info@harveyjohn.com www.harveyjohn.com

GR AHAM

Brighton &

P OT T E R

Hove Albion

FC

Graham join ed the Seag ulls as Hea previous ye d Coach in ar at Swan May having sea City. H managemen spent the e first cam t at Östersun e to notice d in Sweden the Four th to in football , where he to the First Divi ok the club sion, winning European cl from ub competit the Swedis ion all in the h FA Cup an d into space of ei gh t years.

Potter, who has yet to m anage in th his entire ba e Premier Le ckroom coac ag ue, also brou hing team w his place in ith him to th the dugout ght for the first e Amex, an d takes time in Augu st away at W atford.

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The

Eastbourne REVOLUTION

The Eastbourne landscape is undergoing a quiet revolution, with hundreds of millions being invested in key projects

T

he Arndale Shopping Centre has been successfully extended and rejuvenated, with a fresh new rebrand, the Devonshire Quarter project has created a cultural destination hub and another shopping centre has also benefited from an injection of new shopping units and a 24-hour gym.

Over the following pages we take a closer look at these exciting projects - all of which represent a huge vote of confidence in the town.

The Beacon shines bright

The face of shopping in Eastbourne has been transformed with the opening of the £85 million extension of newly rebranded shopping centre, The Beacon.

This month, the state-of-the-art eight screen Cineworld is due to open in the extension on July 12th, in time for the highly anticipated live action adaption of Disney’s The Lion King.

New signings just announced for the first floor of the extension were Taylor’s Restaurant and Sports Bar and The Bok Shop, a gourmet fried chicken restaurant.

Both restaurants are independents.

Taylor’s will be run by Mark Taylor, son of Colin and Sharon Taylor, who own well-known restaurant Shades in The Beacon. The Bok Shop, is a Brighton-based business run by Howard

52

Kaye and Jamie O’Mara, and Eastbourne will be their second restaurant.

The first phase of the extension was opened just before Christmas with the arrival of H & M, Next, FatFace, Schuh, Jack Wills, New Look, Flying Tiger and Paperchase. Their opening also marked the switchover of the former Eastbourne Arndale Centre to The Beacon with the launch of a brandnew website and the changeover of all social media channels and signage.

Earlier this year saw the opening of Nando’s, the first restaurant on the extension’s first floor and further stores included the UK’s leading parent and baby retailer Jo Jo Maman Bébé and worldwide fashion jewellery brand Lovisa.

The 170,000 sq ft extension is being funded by Legal & General. The offi cial two-day launch of the new Centre, with a packed programme of exciting attractions, will be held in the summer.

Andrew Rice, Fund Manager at Legal & General, said: “Eastbourne is really bucking the trend in the UK with this development. Local people have been waiting for a long time for this and we were delighted to open the first part of the extension before Christmas and now look forward to the opening of Cineworld in July that will bring an exciting night-time economy to the town.”

“We continue to work hard behind the scenes to bring more stores to Eastbourne and expect to announce new names soon.”

FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE The Devonshire Quarter project

T

he £54million Devonshire Quarter project is almost complete and is set to put Eastbourne on the map as a top cultural, sporting and conference destination.

Eastbourne Borough Council’s ambitious transformation has encompassed major improvements to the international tennis centre at Devonshire Park, the beautiful listed theatre buildings and a new Welcome Building providing superb conferencing facilities.

Newly opened in time to be a support venue for last month’s tennis international tennis tournament, the Welcome Building provides conference halls, break out and hospitality areas, the site’s central box office, and a fully accessible entrance to the Congress Theatre and Winter Garden. It also boasts a café with views across the lawns opening this month.

The building has been designed to maximise natural lighting and the roof is fitted with photovoltaic solar panels as part of the town’s commitment to drive down CO2 emissions.

A two-year renovation of the Congress Theatre was completed in March and the Grade II* listed building was re-opened with a spectacular sell-out show by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The new players’ village is part of major improvements to Devonshire Park’s tennis offer

There has been much acclaim for the attention to detail in bringing the building back to the glory of its first opening in 1963, while visitors also enjoyed modern enhancements such

undergone internal and exterior refurbishments, including structural repairs to the tower, repairs to the roof, windows and doors, heating improvements and full redecoration.

This work has made the visiting experience even better for theatre-goers.

Work will start later this year on the Grade II listed Winter Garden.

Working in partnership with English Heritage, the historic character of the 1875-built Winter Garden will be enhanced by the reinstatement of its original features and architecture.

The newly-opened Congress Theatre

as new heating and air conditioning.

Other behind-the-scenes improvements include a new state-of-the-art lighting bridge and replacement of old electrical equipment.

The Devonshire Park Theatre has

Meanwhile, tennis facilities both on and off court have seen considerable improvements including the building of a new players’ village, a new show court and state-of-the-art irrigation system.

In addition, extra practice courts have been seeded and will be ready for the next international tournament in 2020.

Delivered in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), these extensive enhancements were pivotal in confirming the venue for the flagship Eastbourne International Tennis event until at least 2026.

Inside the Grade II* listed Congress Theatre

Outside, a new plaza has been created to provide an attractive gateway into the theatres, conference facilities and Towner Art Gallery, and ensure that Devonshire Quarter is fully accessible to all visitors.

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A view of the centre before the building work started

Lift off for Langney

The exciting year-long building project includes the creation of 13 new shops, a 24-hour gym, resurfacing of the car park and an improved layout.

members worldwide and Costa Coffee has been voted the country’s top coffee shop for nine years running.

The centre isn’t just about retail – it’s also home to the local library. The centre management team stepped in to help rescue it after East Sussex

A number of jobs will be created as a result of the scheme at the popular district shopping centre in Kingfisher Drive when it opens in September.

The centre is already home Centre Manager Neil Avis (sitting) with Chris Willans from the centre’s asset managers Vale Real Estate to more than 30 retailers including Tesco, Poundland, County Council axed a number of loIceland, Peacocks, Card Factory and cal libraries to save money. A band The Works. Outdoor markets every of volunteers formed the Langney Tuesday and Saturday also pull in Community Library CIO (Charitable the crowds.

Incorporated Organisation), which is run by a group of trustees, and cenNew stores already confirmed for the tre managers provided a unit rent extension include Home Bargains, free.

Costa Coffee and Snap Fitness gym.

Home Bargains sells top brands at As well as book lending, the library low prices and is the highest rankhas laptops and offers a printing and ing discount retailer in the UK, while photocopying service. The dedicatSnap Fitness has 2,000 gyms in 27 ed volunteers are also developing countries with more than a million

A CGI of how it is expected to look when completed

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a community hub for hire by local groups.

Centre manager, Neil Avis, said: “It’s a tricky time in retail across the country at the moment but we’re confident that by investing in our shopping centre and diversifying into other community ventures such as the library, we’ll have plenty to keep our customers coming back.

EASTBOURNE HERALD

M

eanwhile, a short drive from Eastbourne town centre, work is nearing completion at Langney Shopping Centre’s £6.5 million extension.

“The builders have done an excellent job and are expected to hand over the completed structure to the individual shops ready for them to fit out in August. We’re all looking forward to seeing the finished extension soon after that,” he added.

Langney Shopping Centre first opened its doors in 1973 and is thought to be the first district shopping centre of its kind in the UK. The extension will add an additional 35,000 sq ft to the original structure, taking the total area up to 115,000 sq ft.

Talks are already underway for the next phase of improvements at the centre which could include a new health centre.

FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE

True supporters of Eastbourne

By Dan Arnott, Truebyte

T

From businesses of 1 to 200, everyone receives the same proactive and professional support.

ruebyte have 17 years of proven experience in providing IT support services and software development, including website design, for a wide range of clients. The firm are located across three key locations: Bath, London and Eastbourne.

The headquarters in Eastbourne serves the local business community from the heart of the town-centre. The Truebyte team can be found participating in a range of local networking events, raising the company profile and connecting with interesting and dynamic businesses. Strong links have already been forged including taking on new IT support contracts.

jargon when delivering support and instead choose to focus on customer care with clear, supportive communication. Truebyte tailor their service to specific business requirements, whether this be remote or onsite helpdesk support.

Truebyte mixes technical excellence with empathy to ensure long lasting business relationships can be built.

The team of experts avoid complicated

The company provides support to a wide range of businesses including the legal, architectural, financial, retail, hospitality and marketing sectors.

The software development team has created several successful medical web-applications, serving millions of patients nationwide. The website development service has also continued to grow, providing affordable and elegantly designed responsive websites for a range of SME clients.

Truebyte are targeting growth in 2019 and plan to further establish themselves as a trusted supplier in the Eastbourne area.

For more information please contact Head of IT Services Dan Arnott on 01323 33 22 11 or email hello@ truebyte.co.uk

IT SUPPORT YOU CAN TRUST Call today for a free consultation 01323 33 22 11 hello@truebyte.co.uk www.truebyte.co.uk 68 Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4UH

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FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE

Business in Eastbourne

by Christina Ewbank, Chief Executive of Eastbourne unLtd Chamber of Commerce

W

ell, what a busy few months for the Eastbourne unLtd Chamber of Commerce! May saw us present the Best4Biz Conference in Uckfield for all the Chambers of Commerce in East Sussex supported by East Sussex County Council and Rix & Kay solicitors.

Over 230 business leaders came together with local authority leaders to see a wide variety of excellent speakers and panellists talking about scaling-up business. Conversations included mental wellbeing at work, overcoming barriers to business, improving the A27, Gatwick expansion plans, funding and, most importantly, how to achieve growth by creating a high performing team of people who deliver world class customer service.

We were fortunate to hear from Andrew McMillan, the executive responsible for developing the “Customer Experience” at John Lewis, Tim Norwood the architect of the Master Plan at

Gatwick Airport, Lord Lucas on regenerating seaside towns, Huw Merriman MP and Transport Select Committee Member, Ian Fletcher-Price of Posturite, Nikki Gatenby of Propellernet, Michael Dale of Firebrand, Joel Fielder of Switchplane, Mark Bridgland of BMW & Mini and Eastbourne MP, Stephen Lloyd.

The conference started with an excellent Mental Wellbeing at Work networking breakfast with over 95 business people. This was a precursor to the Mental Wellbeing Conference in Eastbourne on October 16th at the Devonshire Park Welcome Centre. We learnt that three out of five people suffer mental health issues brought on by work so join us in October and find out how to reduce these numbers.

B

ack in Eastbourne we held the first Bike Nite in Terminus Road in April.

We close the road at the seafront end on the last Wednesday of every

month, provide live entertainment and welcome up to 300 motor bikes to the town. More information here: https:// en-gb.facebook.com/EastbourneBikeNites/ We have also run several business networking events including a business breakfast with a theatrical excerpt of Shell Shock at The View Hotel and a speed networking event with Crowborough, Uckfield, Hailsham, Seaford and Sussex Chambers of Commerce. Over 95 business people from across the county attended the speed networking and several said “this is the best networking event I’ve ever attended!”

Finally, cyber security remains a concern as we learnt of an email breach while we were setting up the Best4Biz Conference from our advisers, the turremgroup. They told us that one of our email addresses had appeared on the dark web with passwords and personal data, so we shut it down immediately.

It was therefore timely that our member Southern IT ran another Cyber Security Seminar in May to help members tighten up their cyber security.

Matt Harquail

If you would like to know what’s happening in Eastbourne join Eastbourne Chamber from as little as £59.00 per year plus VAT.

56

Andrew McMillan

www.eastbourneunltd.co.uk/how-to-join

Matt Harquail

BUSINESS SURVEY

Best4Biz 2019 review

By Emma Pearce

T

he eagerly awaited Best4Biz conference took place in May and over 230 business leaders attended.

The event is one of the leading business conferences in East Sussex. It has a reputation for excellent speakers and panel discussions with key council decision makers, MPs and business support organisations.

health at work conference Eastbourne’ on Eventbrite to find out more.)

The main conference highlight for everyone was the respected international speaker, Andrew McMillan. He talked about ‘Growth through World Class Customer Service’. As former Head of Customer Service at John Lewis, along with being a consultant in employee engagement and customer experience for global brands, he shared many valuable insights.

The theme of this year’s event was scaling up your business and how to overcome barriers to growth.

• Estimates suggest poor mental health costs employers £1,205£1,560 per year per employee They also advised about a Mental Health at Work Conference on October 16th in Eastbourne. It’s free to attend and will include excellent advice on how to spot warning signs of mental health concerns, support your staff and much more. (Search ‘mental

• Find your Why? – What is it that you do that makes a difference to your customers in terms of customer service?

• Excellent customer service - Can you empower your staff and enable them to respond quickly? Can they do what they think is right to give a good experience? You will need “structure to have spontaneity.” It’s all about “brilliant basics” and “magic touches” – it’s simple in some ways, but not always easy to execute.

The entrepreneur panel added further ideas for staff engagement including having fun with staff through social and sporting activities, ‘walking the floor’ to regularly be seen and chat to staff, a ‘no bullshit’ policy, giving time to staff to learn new skills and personalised special rewards.

Stephen Lloyd, MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon, opened the pre-conference breakfast workshop on mental health in the workplace. The County Council’s Public Health team went on to reveal some serious statistics about mental health including: • Three out of every five employees report experiencing mental health issues because of work

help determine if that person will fit

Key takeaways were: • Employees before customers – give your team members a fabulous experience and that will reflect out to the customer experience they provide to your clients. At John Lewis this included making staff shareholders and regularly listening to them and implementing their ideas • Hire by attitude – employ people by design. Ensure job descriptions reinforce your values. Be clear on the personality of your business and the customer experience you strive to provide. Use interview questions to

The event was hosted by ACES – the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex and had several sponsors including East Sussex County Council and Rix & Kay Solicitors LLP. The management of the day was undertaken by Carrot Events who delivered a slick conference programme of speakers and panellists on the stage. www.acesalliance.org Emma Pearce is a marketing consultant specialising in marketing planning, outsourced marketing services and social media training www.pearcemarketing.co.uk

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FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE

Plastic-free champion helps educate the next generation

G

Emma said: “The books we have dooplasticpallets.com – The Renated all carry a very important messponsible Plastic Pallet Comsage. We hope they help inspire the pany – has teamed up with next generation to take responsibility Plastic Free Eastbourne campaigners for the single-use plastic items they and donated a selection of engaging recycling-themed books and teaching resources to every one of the 22 state primary schools in the town. This will help educate pupils about the impact of plastics on ocean ecosystems, and ultimately encourage them to reduce and recycle the single-use plastic items they have to use.

Ben Bowles, James Farrell, Emma Hall, Oliver Sterno,

use and make sure they are recycled in a sustainable way.”

Earlier this year, Goplasticpallets.com made a very important pledge to its customers to recycle every plastic pallet and plastic box it supplies. In the first two months, six new customers have taken the pledge allowing Goplasticpallets.com to recycle approximately 2,700 plastic pallets, as well as a full trailer load of mixed plastic pallets and trays, totalling just over 43 tonnes of plastic waste.

Goplasticpallets.com prides itself on being an environmentally-conscious business and was recently awarded

Find out more about Goplasticpallets. com’s recycling initiatives here: www. goplasticpallets.com

Gill Mattock, David Stopp and Christina Ewbank

Emma Hall, Office Manager for Goplasticpallets.com recently presented the books to Langney Primary School. At the event, David Stopp, local singer/songwriter entertained and inspired everyone with his campaigning song “Journey of Love”.

the accolade of ‘Plastic Free Champion’ by Surfers Against Sewage, which is campaigning for Plastic Free Communities.

Find out more: +44 (0)1323 744057 sales@goplasticpallets.com

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We need your help to develop these exciting new pathways so that we can train and shape your future workforce!

You will be able to help steer what our students learn, giving them the skills required for your business... helping to ease your workload You can offer placements that fit around a time of year to suit your business You will be able to help ensure that students will be work-ready and competent There will also be an opportunity for your current staff to develop their mentoring and management skills

What are T-Levels?

A new technical qualification, equivalent to three A-Levels! Taken over two years, the courses will have a three-month industry placement built-in.

If you can offer industry work placements for our students and would like to have a say in the skills they learn in your industry, then let’s

talk!

Get in touch with Kate Edwards, Work Experience & Industrial Placements, on 030 300 39217 or email kate.edwards@sussexdowns.ac.uk

FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE

Pioneering education The world of education is changing and East Sussex College (ESC) is leading the way with pioneering courses Focusing on the light vehicle area of the automotive sector, IMI Accreditation gives employees in the motor vehicle industry the chance to achieve a highly regarded qualification.

Accreditation typically takes just one day to achieve and individuals are assessed against industry-agreed standards. Once secured, the accreditation can offer multiple career development options.

F

rom September 2020, the education sector will see one of the biggest shake-ups in generations, with the introduction of the brand new T-Level qualifications.

ESC has been backed by the government to be one of the first colleges to pilot T-Levels, which are technical qualifications equivalent to three A-Levels.

Initially ESC will launch three subject pathways in Construction, Digital, and Education and Healthcare. The twoyear courses will equip students with all the technical knowledge, skills, and behaviours they need to progress directly into work – and hit the ground running!

They will have the opportunity to put their learning into practice during a three-month industry placement within their chosen industry.

ESC is one of the only local providers in the South East to offer these new two-year qualifications, so competition for places will be high.

What this means for employers ESC is currently looking to work with SMEs, micro businesses and large businesses to help shape what the course structure might look like. You can have a direct influence on what the students are learning so that they are ready to work for your business.

There is also an opportunity to work with ESC to offer industry placements.

ESC will be holding a T-Level launch event this September, open to Year 10, 11 and 12 students, parents and industry professionals. To register your interest, please email simon.vincent@ sussexdowns.ac.uk But that’s not all - the educational offer is growing further and it’s happening now!

The Automotive Crash Repair Training Centre at the Eastbourne campus has always had a great reputation for body repair, but now that reputation has been enhanced further after becoming an approved centre for IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) Senior Paint Accreditation and Reaccreditation.

The IMI Accreditation was launched this June at the Eastbourne campus with John Hay, IMI Business Development Manager, in attendance. John discussed the accreditation routes available, which currently includes Paint at ESC and will aim to be extended to include Panel, MET, Air Conditioning and Electric Vehicles. The college welcomed leading industry names to the launch including spray gun supplier SATA; paint manufacturer PPG/Max Meyer, and body shop equipment suppliers Stanners, who demonstrated their latest technology and equipment.

Michael Poil, from ESC Eastbourne’s Motor Vehicle department, says, “There are around 300 body shops who would benefit from using us as we are within easy reach, offering advantageous cost savings. Other sites will often require candidates to travel and pay for accommodation.”

Employers looking to use East Sussex College for IMI accreditation and apprenticeships are encouraged to get in touch.

Contact East Sussex College for more information on new T-Level courses and the IMI Accreditation on 030 300 39699.

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Commercial acumen local knowledge The Commercial Law team at Gaby Hardwicke Solicitors continues to grow

Tracing its roots back some 130 years, Gaby Hardwicke Solicitors has a longstanding reputation for the provision of fast, effective legal advice.

D

espite chalking up 130 years of legal services this year, Gaby Hardwicke remains a forward-looking business committed to growth. It’s Eastbourne Head Office houses one of the largest Commercial Law teams in the county, and has recently been strengthened by the arrival of new recruits in its Commercial Property, Employment Law, and Commercial Dispute Resolution teams.

The firm’s Corporate Finance team has had one of its busiest years acting for buyers, sellers and lenders in a range of business transactions, and is also set for further growth in the coming

62

months. To read about the kind of transactions undertaken by the firm’s corporate team see the “Cases and Deals” section of the firm’s website at www.gabyhardwicke.co.uk.

Learning and Development Gaby Hardwicke’s commitment to the on-going learning and development of all its people was recognised by the Law Society of England and Wales at its Excellence Awards last autumn.

The firm was Highly Commended for its weekly “Lunch and Learn” sessions in which everyone in the firm is encouraged to learn from each other in delivering best practice to the firm’s clients.

Gabys Goes Green In the last few months the firm has launched a green initiative to promote recycling and reduce waste, including the launch of a policy to encourage virtual meetings where travelling for a face-to-face meeting isn’t essential.

Branded re-useable cups and bags for life are in use around the firm’s 5 offices across Eastbourne, Hailsham, Bexhill and Hastings.

Business and Personal Gaby Hardwicke can help with almost any business law matter, but doesn’t forget that businesses are made up of people. The firm’s expertise in wills,

FOCUS ON EASTBOURNE GABY HARDWICKE IN NUMBERS •S trength in depth Over 60 fee-earners •S table and established 129 years and counting with almost 150 staff

To learn more about Gaby Hardwicke or make contact visit www.gabyhardwicke.co.uk As an expanding firm Gaby Hardwicke is actively recruiting talented lawyers.

Prospective candidates should visit www.gabyhardwicke.co.uk/careers

‘‘

• Trusted and in demand over 8,000 new matters each year

‘‘

trusts, estate planning and family law is just as great as its expertise in business matters, making it the ideal law firm for business owners who need joined-up advice covering their business and personal affairs.

•L ocal knowledge 5 offices in 4 of the largest East Sussex towns

I feel I made a good decision to use your firm as everyone has been great and I appreciate very much the fact that you all have commercial experience

Paul Salmon, David Salmon Furnishers

Services for Your Business Corporate Transactions •¢Employment Commercial Agreements & Disputes Intellectual Property •¢Commercial Property Charity Law •¢Insolvency

Services for You Moving House • Wills and Estate Planning Tax and Trust Services • Probate and Estates Powers of Attorney • Personal Injury • Family Law Elderly Affairs Management

Eastbourne - 01323 435900 Hailsham - 01323 449552 Bexhill - 01424 735000 Hastings - 01424 457500 www.gabyhardwicke.co.uk info@gabyhardwicke.co.uk

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The logistics Tony Bunn, Group Managing Director of DNA, explains the impact of technological innovation on the logistics industry How has technology impacted the transport/logistics industry?

The impact has been massive. The whole process is now very transparent and easier to manage thanks to integrators systems, Transport Management Systems, tracking, scanning, route optimisation and Warehouse Management Systems. Without these technologies we would never keep up today.

The investments in technology and the integration of different platforms are hugely important and we see continued evolution to be the best strategy. The innovations never cease to amaze. I placed an order in a store through the shop’s online portal on a Sunday afternoon due to a lack of stock and it was on my doorstep by the following morning! What more could you want or need? If you order through Amazon on a Monday morn-

64

ing and it could be delivered to you a few hours later.

When most Networks strive for 100% success ratios, you have to be granular in detail to improve your performance margins and position in the market place.

In which ways do you see artificial intelligence being used in your industry?

Artificial intelligence is constantly improving companies’ efficiencies, particularly in respect of predictive demand and network planning. We are far better informed of clients’ daily volumes, which enables us to deploy our fleet appropriately to match the demand, rather than suddenly increasing the fleet for ad hoc and seasonal changes in business needs. Of course, this helps keep costs in check as well as allowing a reduction of our carbon footprint

INTERVIEW

revolution Have client expectations increased with the speed of companies such as Amazon?

Definitely, and in certain sectors the expectations are particularly high. As consumers we have become used to a ‘click for immediacy’ culture. As networks follow suit to adapt to this, the USP can easily become diluted.

Progress has been amazingly rapid over the last 15 to 20 years and it’s still changing quickly. The first business to develop systems giving an immediate service with a real name and the human touch will be the pioneers of the future. We see some clients returning to sameday services for particular solutions, as they want to speak to someone that knows them and takes the time to understand the needs of their business rather than treating them as ‘just another number’.

How does DNA meet such expectations?

With huge surge of energy and enthusiasm day in, day out! It takes constant focus and planning to achieve a high end service every day. It’s when the

unexpected happens you have to keep the team’s focus and have default positions to return to. As rare as it is, systems can, and on occasion do, go down, and you can’t stand there with your arms folded. Customers are relying on your efforts to help keep their business running.

One of your specialties is event logistics. How do you co-ordinate the needs of a large-scale event such as a festival?

It’s all about communication with our clients and staff. It’s about listening and fully understanding the client’s complete needs. We will often ask questions that they hadn’t thought of, particularly if they are new to a venue.

It is essential to have clear communication to staff and always plan for the unexpected. Being ahead of delivery schedules is essential, so we can allow for any possible interruptions such as traffic, onsite delays and the sheer mass of onsite contractors at large events. It can become overwhelming for a client as they have so much riding on an event, so a calm professional approach is essential.

With your fleet regularly crossing borders, you will be in the front line when Brexit finally happens.

How will Brexit impact vital logistics? And what planning have you put in place ready for such eventualities?

I hope you aren’t expecting me to hold the answers to Brexit because you are asking the wrong person!

Sadly, we are all frustrated with the lack of clear decisions, direction and guidance. Irrespective of your personal opinions on the subject, Brexit brings significant concerns to any company of any scale. How do you plan for the unknown? Thankfully we have strong European partnerships of our own and through our network, ultimately business will always find a way to succeed.

DNA, Iain Stewart Centre, City Place, Gatwick RH6 0PB www.dna2b.com

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From charity dinners to annual socials, banquets, private dining and launch parties, our unique spaces and innovative menus offer the perfect backdrop for any event.

For a great value celebration, ask us about Friday nights in The Albert Suite.

grandbrighton.co.uk/meetings

The Platinum Club is the foremost Director level networking forum in the region and meets each month in the luxurious surroundings of the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Now celebrating its tenth year, the Club goes from strength to strength.

Attendance is by invitation only and applications for membership should be sent to: info@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Alan Harber (Regional Director, Lloyds Bank), Maarten Hoffmann (MD, Platinum), Luke Tuvey (Regional Director, Remus UK), Esme Wadsworth (Property Manager, Remus UK)

Ian Trevett (Director, Platinum Publishing), Mark Gibson (MD, Travel Counsellors), Mark Tulley (Director, Gemini Print) being photobombed by Sonny Cutting of Net XP

“I MAKE SURE I NEVER MISS AN EVENT AND THOROUGHLY ENJOY IT” KEITH JACKMAN, MARKETING DIRECTOR, MERCEDES-BENZ

HHHHH “I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE PLATINUM CUB FOR A FEW YEARS NOW AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN FRUITFUL AND HIGHLY ENJOYABLE. IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE ROOM YOU DON’T KNOW WHEN YOU ARRIVE, YOU CERTAINLY WILL BY THE TIME YOU LEAVE. I WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO INCREASE THEIR BUSINESS CONTACTS” CHRIS MANSFIELD, MANAGING DIRECTOR, DAVENPORT INVESTMENTS

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Emma Cleary (MD, Flexibility Matters)

Maarten Hoffmann (Platinum MD), Alan Harber (Regional Director, Lloyds Bank)

George Clayson (Knill James), Fiona Graves (Platinum Events)

Noel Preston (MD, Preston Insurance), Karen Lord (Healys), David Martin (Partner, Knill James), Adrian Alexander (Partner, FRP Advisory)

“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.” CARALINE BROWN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, MIDNIGHT COMMUNICATIONS

Alex Bailey (Bailey & French), Shane Saidy (Health Cheque), Tracey & Derek Evans (Juno Wealth)

Lukasz Kalinowski, GM of Genting Casino in conversation with Stacy Croucher of Clearline Recruitment

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SUPPORTED BY

IN PARTNERSHIP

The premier event for construction professionals Thursday 26 September 9.00am - 4.00pm FREE Conference and Exhibition Masses of FREE parking

Some of our leading industry focused speakers…

Heathrow Airport talking about their ongoing expansion plans

Outlook for the UK economy Off-the-record briefing Florence Hubert Bank of England

What you can look forward to …

• • • • • • • • •

How to capitalise on projects worth £billions Receive updates on major development and regeneration projects Building a digital future for the construction industry FREE ‘Meet the Buyer’ appointments – up to 600 Innovations within the construction industry Building a sustainable future for construction Health and safety Masterclasses with Google Plus, 20 industry focussed workshops

Award winning Duncan Baker Brown – who designed Kevin McCloud’s house

Review of new construction contracts Neil Edwards, CEO Builders’ Conference

Simon Lawrence from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, Cabinet Office speaking about the construction pipeline

What are the main challenges facing the construction sector?

The Big Debate Chaired by Allan Wilen, Glenigan

ORBIS sharing latest opportunities including their FM tender and how to work with them

The Future of Construction LIVE Watch us build an apartment in 1 day using the Xella Silka Element system

Future trends in the Construction Industry What developers want from construction in the future

Construction Forum Breakfast

Willmott Dixon Construction Dinner

DINNER SPONSOR

7.00am - 9.00am Sit down 7 pm Close 10 pm The perfect chance to network and promote your business to leaders in your industry.

Michaela Wain BBC Apprentice Runner Up 2017

David Meade David’s entertainment is not just interactive, he interprets body language to reveal pin numbers and his performances are always a sell out.

Price £49.50+VAT, tables of 10 £490+VAT

London Gatwick Price £25+VAT, tables of 10 £250+VAT

Plus join us to celebrate the winners of the South East Construction Awards

You can book your breakfast or dinner place/s at www.constructionexpouk.co.uk Sponsors and partners IN PARTNERSHIP

GOLD SPONSOR

DINNER SPONSOR

VIP RECEPTION SPONSOR

EXCLUSIVE MEDIA PARTNER

PR PARTNER

SOCIAL MEDIA PARTNER

VIDEO AND DRONE PARTNER

EXHIBITION DISPLAY GRAPHICS SIGNAGE PARTNER

Breakfast Sponsors

Book your FREE place today

W: constructionexpouk.co.uk E: info@constructionexpouk.co.uk T: 01732 758530

CONSTRUCTION EVENT

South East Construction Expo 2019

The premier concentration of construction professionals

I

n a year when the construction industry is facing heightened levels of uncertainty, on the back of one of the biggest growth periods in several decades, leading lights in the industry will sharing their expertise and insights into how to tackle the challenges ahead for the industry.

South East Construction Expo 2019 will be held at the South of England Event Centre in Ardingly on September 26th.

Last year, over 2,000 leaders from the region’s construction industry met buyers, explored new projects, networked with other businesses and sampled the industry’s latest technology.

This year’s trade show is bigger and better than ever and will showcase the region’s largest range of construction products and services. It is a ‘must visit’ for anyone in development, property and construction.

The day will kick off with the Construction Breakfast Forum with the Sussex Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by the leading SME main contractors in Sussex: Cheesmur, Sunninghill, Westridge and W.Stirland. The perfect chance to network and promote your business to industry leaders, it will feature two speakers including Michaela Wain, BBC Apprentice Runner Up 2017 and owner of Design and Build UK; and a representative from Gatwick Airport.

An exciting programme of speakers includes Florence Hubert from the Bank of England giving an ‘off-the-record’ briefing on the outlook for the UK economy followed by a Q&A session.

Other speakers include architect Duncan Baker Brown and Simon Lawrence from the Infrastructure and Projects Authority at the Cabinet Office. Heathrow Airport will also be speaking about their expansion and opportunities for construction companies.

In a live showcase called The Future

of Construction, Masonry Frame Systems will build an apartment live at the show for the first time ever, demonstrating the latest technology in fast, efficient build methods, with the Xella Silka Element system.

Not to be missed is the free Meet the Buyer appointments - over 600 - with the top construction companies in the country.

Big name businesses already involved include Balfour Beatty, Glenigan, Builders Conference, Willmott Dixon, Galliford Try, Sunninghill, Logan Construction and Westridge Construction Ltd. The day will end with a dinner, sponsored by Willmott Dixon, with TV celebrity David Meade as guest speaker.

Businesses in the sector wishing to get involved in the Expo and the Awards as a sponsor, trade stand holder, delegate on the day or to enter the awards can find out more and register for details at: www.constructionexpouk.co.uk Twitter @ConstructExpo Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/ groups/4530020/

SOUTH EAST CONSTRUCTION AWARDS 2019 This year, the Expo is also hosting the South East Construction Awards and is open for entries, which will be celebrated at the Expo dinner.

The Award Categories • Women in Construction • Best Construction Project • Best Architectural Design • Best Construction Contractor • Best Supplier • Best Apprentice Why not enter NOW? The form is quick and easy to complete www.constructionexpoawards. co.uk

South East Construction Expo 2019 will take place at South of England Event Centre, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, Thursday September 26th 8.30am - 4pm.

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BRIGHTON&HOVE FINALISTS REVEALED The list of finalists for the Brighton & Hove Business Awards has been announced! 2019 marks a record year for entries.

With hundreds of applicants whittled down to just 56 finalists, this year is set to be hotly contested to receive one of the prestigious trophies. Judges reviewed all the entries to produce to a longlist of finalists. Candidates then went through a rigorous judging system, including phone, face to face and panel interviews.

THE PANEL OF JUDGES

Fiona Shafer

CEO of MDHUB

Phil Green

Director, MDHUB

Lesley Alcock

Alison Addy

Head of Community Engagement, Gatwick Airport

Amanda Menahem

Development Director, The Platinum Group

Janella Merritt Area Business Director, Global

representing Picture Book Films

Sponsored by Kreston Reeves

LoveLocalJobs.com Legal and General Search Seven The Float Spa

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter

• • • •

Clarity Environmental Mooncup MRL Consulting The Grand Brighton

representing The Gemini Print Group

Luke Soper

Sponsored by University of Sussex

• • • •

Bailey and French Body Rocket Make Real Percept Imagery

NOT FOR PROFIT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by MDHUB

• Active Sussex • Brighton & Hove Food Partnership • Martlets Hospice • Rockinghorse

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Director, Churchill Square

Jake Standing

Head of Research, EMC

Partner, Kreston Reeves

Barry Carden

Gary Chown

Managing Partner, Carden Accountants

Commercial Director, NatWest

Jill Woolf

Martin Williams

Kate Thorpe

Deputy Head of Business Engagement, University of Sussex

representing Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce

Partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter

SME BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by The Platinum Group

THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

Sponsored by Picture Book Films

Sponsored by Global

• • • •

• • • •

always possible MacConvilles Surveying Search Seven UnitedUs

Clearline Recruitment Domestic & General Oliver's Brighton Paxton Access

START-UP OF THE YEAR

BEST INDEPENDENT RETAILER

• Anything is Possible • Make (Good) Trouble • Phileas Fogg’s World of Adventures • Pier Pressure

Sponsored by Churchill Square

TOURIST ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Gemini Print

Sponsored by EMC

• Brighton Marina • British Airways i360 • Phileas Fogg’s World of Adventures • Pier Pressure

• Brunswick Fine Wines & Spirits • China Travel Outbound • Oban International • Peopleforce Recruitment

Sponsored by B&H Chamber

INNOVATION IN BUSINESS

Mark Buchanan-Smith

2019 FINALISTS

CSR EXCELLENCE AWARD • • • •

Caraline Brown

• • • •

Oliver's Brighton Present in the Laine The Book Nook Velvet Stores

• • • •

Acre Landscapes Clearleft Velvet Stores Platf9rm

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by NatWest

• • • •

Pure360 Peopleforce Recruitment SpaBreaks.com TrustedHousesitters

COMPANY OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Gatwick Airport

• Finalists to be announced July 5th BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Carden Accountants

• Gary Peters, LoveLocalJobs.com • Gavin Willis, Search Seven • James Dempster, Cobb Digital • Katherine Swift, OMGTea

BUSINESS GROWTH

NatWest Accelerator

Founder of the Month – June 2019 Dr Miri Zilka of Lil & Berry

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ou might not think of innovation and potty training as two things that go hand in hand, but Physicist Miri Zilka has developed something that is about to disrupt the diapers market and help parents and children deal with those night time mishaps.

Lil & Berry is a company that creates winwin-win solutions for families. They take into consideration the parent’s needs, the child’s needs, and the environment.

Their first attempt in doing this is in creating pyjamas that are leak proof, absorbent, and re-usable. The product gives parents the opportunity to feel more in control about the situation when their kids are training to stay dry at night.

“For me, it’s really about helping parents,” says Miri. Lil & Berry pyjamas help contain the mess in a practical sense whilst also helping to remove the shame and stigma of wetting the bed. Plus, it’s helping the environment by reducing waste from diapers.

After spending three years as a visiting researcher at Oxford University and completing her PhD, Miri was looking for her next adventure. The idea originated when Miri was visiting her friend, soon to be co-founder, in Israel who had just given birth.

Her friend told her she had an idea for diaper pyjamas and that she believed it could change the world. After a few months of trying to develop the product including asking a seamstress to sew a towel to the inside of pyjama bottoms, her friend was struggling to find a good solution that was leak proof. With Miri’s expertise in R&D, her friend asked her to develop the product and so the journey of Lil & Berry’s new product began.

“I am not a parent and don’t know much about potty training but the

more I spoke to people the more I realised that there are a lot of emotions surrounding the subject of wanting to be a really good parent. I became passionate about how you can introduce people to a practical solution that is actually relieving much deeper emotional pains, I wanted to start something that used innovation to relieve tension points and make families closer.”

tually testing the product, which was really exciting but also nerve-racking.”

Miri has worked hard to develop the perfect product. First, she spent a lot of time creating a good prototype: coming up with the design, solving technical issues, and testing different fabrics. Once she had a prototype, she needed to find a manufacturer, which was another big challenge because it’s a very technical garment and most factories in textiles don’t know anything about how to make them leak proof.

It’s clear that Miri possesses the traits of a successful entrepreneur, and has a lot to offer to this industry that is desperately in need of disruption. We can’t wait to see what she does next!

Miri believes that her success to date is down to her confidence. “I just go for it and I’m not afraid to fail. I didn’t know anything about textiles, I didn’t know anything about fashion, I didn’t know anything about potty training – I just learnt as I went along.”

www.lilanberry.com

“Then,” she says, “we had children acEach month the leadership team at Brighton’s NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator select a founder of the month to recognise the individuals that have demonstrated a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to overcome challenges and accelerate the growth of their business in a short space of time.

To find out more about the Accelerator hub, email kristina.pereckaite@ NatWest.com

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Shake Hands in...

Amsterdam

I love Amsterdam - a city of canals, boats and very chilled out people. The only time l am happy to declare myself half Dutch. By Maarten Hoffmann

W

ith Holland being the home country of my Father, l rarely miss an opportunity to pop over to one of the prettiest cities in Europe. After the war, Rotterdam was reduced to rubble but Amsterdam suffered only limited damage and therefore the beautiful canal side houses survived intact and it is one of those cities that just begs to be walked around.

there as it makes side trips so much easier. Once on the French side of the Channel Tunnel, it is but a 3-hour drive right into the heart of the city.

Amsterdam is the capital city of Holland although it is not the seat of government as that is the Hague.

The city’s name originates from Amstelredamme that was originally a small fishing village in the late 12th century and became one the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age. As a commercial centre, Amsterdam is one of the top financial centres in Europe and is home to the HQ’s for the likes of Philips, ING and TomTom and the Eu-

“The 298 rooms are all fresh and contemporary in style with stylish bathrooms” I combined my trip with a motoring review of the new Cupra (more on that later) and although driving around the city is a nightmare, l do like to drive over

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ropean base of Uber, Netflix and Tesla.

The city is ranked as the second best city to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit and the fifth location in the world in which to locate an international business.

Hotel

We stayed at the Victoria Park Plaza, right opposite the main station and superbly located for everything one might wish to see. The 298 rooms are all fresh and contemporary in style with stylish bathrooms, air conditioning, free wifi, flat screen TV, coffee maker and a desk workspace. The hotel also offers a fitness centre, sauna, solarium and an indoor pool. In-room massage is available and my partner partook of this and stated that it was one of the best massages she had ever experienced.

For corporate visits, the hotel boasts six meeting rooms, up to 130 delegates theatre style, and the layout and configuration is very well designed.

TRAVEL

The service is second to none and they cannot do enough for their guests.

The hotel restaurant is called Carstens, a brasserie with a strong focus on Dutch products. The Chef, Mark Kuijpers is a master of his craft and we had a splendid meal that l cannot fault in any way. We enjoyed a starter of Yellow Beetroot that was thinly sliced like carpaccio and Steak Tartare with sour pickles and chives. Both were superb and came with a bread basket of some of the finest sourdough bread l have ever tasted - and made by Maarten the baker.

Good man, good name!

that. My partner enjoyed Mullet with sauce made from traditional Dutch hotpot and was superb and beautifully cooked. This all came with Dutch Spinach pan-fried with garlic, and cauliflower with brown butter and goat quark. We then asked for the cocktail list and this comprised the bartender coming over to discuss what we would like - a novel bespoke cocktail service that l could really get used to.

boats that take you in every direction and this really is the way to see the city. There are boats to set locations and then the hop on, hop off, therefore allowing you to use it like a bus to get around the city.

The organisation of this system really could be better. No obvious signs of where to go, which boat goes where and, annoyingly, you only find out you

“The steak was great and the Stamppot was stupendous”

This was followed by Tournedos, tenderloin from the Simmentaler cow accompanied by Stamppot, a traditional dutch mashed potato dish with sour cream and tarragon. The steak was great and the Stamppot was stupendous - worth going back for just for

He knew his stuff too and possibly we shouldn’t have just kept ordering them my head told me the next day! A totally fabulous meal with fabulous service throughout. www.carstensbrasserie.nl/ www.parkplaza.com One further advantage of the hotel’s location is that it is directly opposite the loading site for all the canal tour

are in the wrong queue when you get to the ticket seller. Very annoying.

I would recommend all visitors buy the I Amsterdam City Card (IACC) as this gives you discounts all over the place and free entry to many attractions. The main office for this card, and all other tourist board related information, can be found behind the main station. www.iamsterdam.com

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WHAT TO DO...

est peaked was six pieces by an artiste in the basement, called Daniel Arsham. Such original work always gets my attention and the image below shows how it looks as if someone has placed the subject into the wall - you have to see it in person to understand.

Cool stuff.

➤

➤

RIJKSMUSEUM This stunning building in the centre of town exhibits works by the likes of Vermeer, Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. 8,000 objects in 80 galleries could keep you busy all day but don’t let it as there is far too much to see.

EVENING CANAL CRUISES There are numerous such cruises and you can book the dinner cruise, allowing you to sit still whilst the scenery moves. You can get burger cruises, crepe cruises and much more.

MOCO MUSEUM This small boutique museum is opposite the Rijksmuseum and offers ever changing displays of contemporary artists such as Banksy, Warhol and Lichtenstein. I was lucky enough to arrive whilst the Banksy show was on and it was great to see many of his original works but what got my inter-

➤

RED LIGHT TOUR Always a hoot with a smidgeon of distaste as women ply their trade from small red lit windows on either side of the canal. Lots of drunk men, and women, staggering around but it is surrounded by some very good restaurants.

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➤

➤ ➤

VAN GOGH MUSEUM This venue attracts over a million visitors a year and exhibits 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 750 letters by the master.

HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE A must visit for all beer lovers. Gerard Adrianna Heineken established the brewery in 1867 on this very spot and you can tour the building, learn how to pour the perfect pint and drink the lot, if you are so inclined.

TRAVEL

TOP PL ACES

for a meeting or event

RAI Amsterdam

With a total of 106,500 sq m of exhibition space and 12 multifunctional halls this is one of the largest in the country. Room capacity up to 1,750 delegates and a ballroom measuring 1,985 sq m, this venue will handle the largest exhibitions and conferences. www.rai.nl

➤

ANNE FRANK HOUSE This famous building has to be a must visit and as it was the set text for me when l was at school, it always brings a tear to my eyes visiting the house itself. Gird your loins and go – history forgotten is history repeated.

With 14 meeting rooms offering a capacity of 1,200 delegates and an abundance of rooms from smaller meetings. They also offer delegate Brainfood for those meeting breaks aimed at keeping the delegates alert. https://www.postillionhotels.com/nl-nl/postillionamsterdam

➤

COFFEE SHOPS Well what to say here. Good coffee seems an understatement as people don’t go here for the coffee but for the weed. I had to visit one of course to ensure l offered you, my dear readers, a fully comprehensive view of the city.

I visited Abraxas, one of the very best l am assured, a funky place that resembles a tree house over three floors and offers a vast range of coffee, tea and weed. I tried it all but unfortunately have absolutely no recollection of what happened next - or for the next 24 hours! www.abraxas.amsterdam

Postilion Hotel & Conference Centre

NH Collection Barbizon Palace

St Olof’s Chapel is connected to this hotel via an underground tunnel and is a beautiful venue.

The chapel was built in the 15th century and is the oldest such in the entire city. Superb for dinners and gala presentations, it will seat 260 people in a banquet setting and is unforgettable. https://www.nh-hotels.com/ social-events/olofs

Pathe Tuschinski Theatre

This stunning art deco cinema has been fully restored and is available for hire. Great for product launches and major speaker events. It is also ideal for photo shoots, video production and anything else that would benefit from one of the most beautiful cinemas in the world. http://www.tuschinski.nl

Het Sheepvaartmuseum

This is the national Maritime Museum with various highly original areas available for rental. For dinners up to 30 guests, there is the Admiralty Boardroom from where famous Dutch maritime heroes such as Van Heemskerk and De Ruyter planned their travels and battles. For large events, the Open Courtyard can seat up to 700 with its hundreds of lights illuminating the glass roof like a star canopy. https://www.hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl/

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Cupra

By Maarten Hoffmann

W

hilst deciding which car to take to Amsterdam, l was rather spoilt for choice.

You might think this car an odd choice when one considers everything else on offer but then you would be wrong.

Badged Cupra, this is a souped up version of the SEAT Ateca. On paper, it’s not looking good, but in the flesh, a fabulous call. This is an SUV on steroids. All of a sudden this is no longer a SEAT but a model in its own right with its very own badge. It gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine making 296bhp and 295lb ft. It does 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds and its top speed is 152mph. It also gets all-wheel drive, a DSG automatic gearbox, adaptive suspension, a bespoke exhaust and optional four-piston Brembo brakes.

You’ll also notice wider front intakes, glossy black grilles, quad exit pipes (real ones), a rear spoiler and Cupra wheels in copper or silver – 19’s are the biggest the Ateca can accommodate, leaving a lot of fresh air between tyre and body. Topped off with FWD, this is a lot of car for the money. OK, a lot of money for a SEAT but then this is no ordinary SEAT. We will leave the Cupra name out of this – after all, where is the connection to a chthonic fertility goddess of the ancient pre-Roman population of the Piceni... OK, let’s give up on the name but l have to say, l like this car.

makes it the fastest crossover hatchback in its sector. Inside, it is all pretty much VW but that’s no bad thing and the seats are comfortable and supportive, and you can switch the dial arrangement on the dash to suit your driving style.

Everything is pretty straight forward and the Cupra gets an extra turbo boost pressure gauge and a g-force gauge. The 8-inch centre screen also allows the driver to choose from comfort, sport and Cupra. This last setting is the one you want as even with the excellent DSG auto box, it lets you explore the depths of the power in a very satisfying way. It beats the pants off the new 5.0-litre Mustang Bullitt and that boasts a hulking great V8 block.

Outside, it looks quite pretty in the vein of the VW Tiguan but not quite as ergonomically smooth as the Audi Q3.

On a long journey, such as mine from Brighton to Amsterdam, it is helpful that the 55-litre full tank will carry me over 350 miles and at 70mph, the engine is turning around 2000rpm, therefore it keeps road noise at bay.

Pop this thing on a track and the chassis shows its failings but this is not how 99.99% of us will use it. On the road, it is refined, fast, well-mannered, quiet, comfortable and, ultimately, surprising. And l do like being surprised.

TECH STUFF

It flies along the motorway and B roads with just a smidgeon of roll in the corners but boot it, and it hunkers down and lets rip. For the uneducated drivers, seeing a SEAT SUV take off like a scalded cat is stonking good fun - and the Dutch were ever so slightly bemused.

Model tested: Cupra 2.0 TSI DSG

This comes with the same engine as will appear in the 2019 Golf R and that

Price from: £35,900

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Engine: 2.0-litre turbo Power: 296bhp Speed: 0-62 – 5.2 seconds Top: 153mph Economy: 35mpg combined

MOTORING

“On a long journey, such as mine from Brighton to Amsterdam, it is helpful that the 55-litre full tank will carry me over 350 miles”

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Volvo V60

By Maarten Hoffmann

V

olvo have really been knocking it out of the park recently with some great new models since the Chinese company Geely took ownership in 2010 from Ford. Pumping in billions of pounds has really paid off.

Geely also own Lotus, Proton and the London Electric Vehicle Company.

The V60 they have just delivered to me is one model in a long line of great new cars that are rivalling the German in terms of build quality, style and residual values.

With an increase in size over the previous model, this one is 4.8m long with a 10cm longer wheelbase, therefore slightly longer than the spacious Mercedes C-Class and the Audi A4 estates. More leg room, more luggage space and loaded with safety equip-

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ment that will keep you safe in all but the biggest shunt.

They all come with the 2.0-litre four pot engines with two diesels offering 150bhp and the T5 R-Design Pro petrol, that l have under my bottom, gives you a good push with 250bhp. The progression will not blow your mind but it is smooth and refined and certainly quick enough. The 8-speed gearbox is a tad hesitant and, when pulling away, you do feel that there is a little Swedish man in there rummaging around to locate the right gear for you. The com-

pany states a 0-60 of 6.4 seconds but others have tested this and rarely manage that but this will depend greatly on what tyres are fitted.

It cannot be called an exhilarating drive in terms of outright performance but it is refined, sure-footed and has an undeniable feeling of luxury and l didn’t miss the extra shove in any way.

As has come to be expected from Volvo, the V60 is kitted out with a veritable arsenal of active and passive safety features.

Standard features include lane keep as-

“As has come to be expected from Volvo, the V60 is kitted out with a veritable arsenal of active and passive safety features�

MOTORING

sist, pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection (the small ones are screwed) and fully automatic emergency braking.

Inside, all is well. The Nappa leather seats are tremendous and a tad like a comfy armchair and all dials are at hand and easy to use. The digital dash can be varied and the satnav can be brought up there which really does help to have the map right in your eye-line.

The engine start is a tad odd as it is a twist knob by the gear selector. There is acres of space with five full seats and a 60/40 split in the back seat and a powered tailgate. You can also order powered rear seats if that’s your thing.

The only thing that drives me mad is the key. It is a large flat key fob and then they have buried the open buttons in the side of the fob which is incredi-

bly difficult to use without looking. In the dark, you are wandering round like an idiot looking for some light to spot the tiny little buttons. Why - there is an acre of space on the flat side and that is where everyone else has placed it and for good reason?

It is a good looking car, well proportioned and with a slight rise to the waistline as it runs to the rear that affords it a slightly aggressive stance.

The ‘Thors Hammer” headlights are cool and the L shape of the rear lights is something we are all used to if you have stared at the rear in traffic. I reckon you could see it brake from space!

The shout has long been ‘The Germans are coming’. Could the new shout be ‘The Swedes are coming’? Not quite the same ring but bravo to Volvo.

“The only thing that drives me mad is the key”

TECH STUFF Model tested: V60 T5 R-Design Pro Engine: 2.0-litre Power: 250bhp Speed: 0-62 – 6.4 seconds Top: 145mph Economy: 38.7mpg combined Price from: £32,410 As tested: £46,870

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chambers listings Slo-mo networking Date: Tuesday 23rd July Time: 9:00am-11:00am Venue: Hotel du Vin Brighton, 2 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AD

Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce www.businessinbrighton.org.uk

Bite-sized Learning: Ensure your employment contracts protect your business Date: Tuesday 9th July Time: 9:30am-11:30am Venue: The Projects, 8-9 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AD This workshop will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to approach any employment issue that might arise in your business.

Bite-sized Learning: How to turn your content into customers Date: Tuesday 16th July Time: 9:30am-11:30am Venue: The 1st Central County Ground, Eaton Road, Hove BN3 3AN You’ll learn how to map your content to your goals and audiences, create and nurture leads, and get more customers.

Do you like the concept of speed networking but find it a bit too, well… speedy? Join us for Slo-mo networking.

It’s a perfect way to build your network efficiently.

The ‘Designer’ Breakfast Date: Friday 26th July Time: 7:45am-9:30am Venue: Carluccio’s, 1 Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE At our July breakfast Mat Hunter, a former Chief Design Officer at the Design Council, will talk about how designers try to make an impact.

Save the date! Brighton Summit: Crack on Date: Friday 11th October Bringing together 400 businesses and entrepreneurs from our city’s diverse business community, it’s a day for strengthening relationships and forging new ones. You’ll get inspiring speakers, expert-led workshops and energising discussions, with plenty of time for networking built in at every turn.

Visit https://brightonsummit.com/ to find out more.

Grow your business faster and smarter – Catch the Wave Date: Wednesday 17th July Time: 9:30am-16:30pm Venue: Barclays Eagle Labs, 1 Preston Road, Brighton BN1 4QU This workshop is for start-ups and young businesses in their first couple of years who want to consider their goals and gain a deeper understanding of what they need to thrive.

The ‘RubyMoon’ Pop-up Breakfast Date: Thursday 18th July Time: 9:00am-10:45am Venue: Moshimo, Bartholomew Square, Brighton BN1 1JS Join us for our next Pop-up Breakfast at Moshimo, and hear from Jo Godden, founder of sustainable and ethical swimwear brand, RubyMoon.

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Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce

Late Breakfast Networking hosted by Truebyte Date: Wednesday 10th July Time: 9.00am Venue: Unit 2, 68 Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4UH Price: Members £11, Non-Member £16 (Includes VAT)

Join us for our popular late breakfast networking event with catering provided

by Nelson’s Coffee. This unique venue provides an informal environment for attendees to make new business connections or catch up with existing contacts.

Chamber Breakfast Date: Tuesday 16th July Time: 7.00am Venue: The Hydro Hotel, Mount Road, BN20 7HZ Price: Members £11, Non-Member £16 (Includes VAT) Promote your business services and products over a delicious breakfast.

This is a great opportunity to meet with local businesses in an informal setting.

A choice of full English or Continental breakfast.

Edeal First Friday business networking Date: Friday 2nd August Time: 12.30pm Venue: The Cavendish Hotel, 38 Grand Parade, BN21 4DH 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.

www.eastbourneunltd.co.uk

Summer BBQ Date: Friday 5th July Time: 12.30pm Venue: The Hydro Hotel, Eastbourne Price: Member’s £27.50, Non-Member £32.50 (Includes VAT) Join us for a delicious BBQ on a warm and sunny day (hopefully) in the beautiful gardens of The Hydro Hotel. With live entertainment from The Jive Aces and a summer cocktail on arrival, we can’t think of a better way to end the week.

Sussex Chamber of Commerce

www.sussexchamberofcommerce. co.uk

Cyber Security Forum Date: Tuesday 9th July: Time: 8.00am – 10:30am Venue: Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne Price: £25.00 Member £35.00 Non-

CHAMBERS LISTINGS

Member (excludes VAT) The continuing and indeed growing Cyber Security threat poses significant risk to businesses of all sizes across Sussex. The role of the forum is to share information and challenges, raise concerns and get advice from an independent trusted advisor.

Business Networking Lunch Date: Tuesday 16th July Time: 12:00pm – 14:30pm Venue: Tottington Manor, Henfield Price: £25.00 Member £35.00 NonMember (excludes VAT) Save the date. Our guest speaker for this event will be announced shortly.

Speed Networking with the Neighbours Date: Wednesday 7th August Time: 12:00pm – 14:30pm Venue: Hilton Avisford Park, Arundel Price: £24.00 Member £30.00 NonMember (excludes VAT) Make new contacts quickly, expand your business, have fun! Always a hit and back by popular demand. A cross-Chamber event which offers networking with a difference with Sussex Chamber, Brighton Chamber, Chichester Chamber and Adur & Worthing Chambers.

Business Networking Breakfast Date: Wednesday 28th August Time: 8:00am – 10:30am Venue: Chichester Yacht Club, Chichester Price: £18.00 Member £23.00 NonMember (excludes VAT) Save the date. Our guest speaker for this event will be announced shortly.

The Hilton Avisford Park Hotel

Grow Your Connections Date: Thursday 5th September Time: 16.00pm – 18.00pm Venue: LEAP Chichester Price: £10.00 Member (excludes VAT) Join us at this informal networking event. These events are designed to give you a regular opportunity to meet other businesses, share best practice, grow your connections and widen your own network of customers and suppliers.

Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce www.worthingandadurchamber. co.uk

USP’s, your target audience and finding new leads WiseUp2 Date: Tuesday 9th July Time: 9:30am – 11:30am Venue: Centre For Leadership, GB MET, Broadwater Road, Worthing BN14 8HJ Price: Members £35+VAT, Nonmembers £75+VAT Come and join this workshop to learn how to define your Unique Selling Points to stand out from the crowd and win new business. Then perfect your elevator pitch to promote these USP’s and make sure you maximise every opportunity at networking events!

Chamber Hub Date: Friday 12th July 2019 Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm Venue: Impulse Leisure, Lancing BN15 0PH Price: Free

Spend your lunchtime enjoying some informal networking with like-minded business people. The Chamber Hub is a well-established, popular networking event which attracts a vast selection of local businesses.

Xero & Making Tax Digital WiseUp2 Date: Tuesday 16th July Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm Venue: Centre For Leadership, GB MET, Broadwater Road, Worthing BN14 8HJ Price: Members £35+VAT, Nonmembers £75+VAT You will learn techniques such as automated bank transaction matching, branded financial document creation, and an overview on how to run effective reports.

Content writing – how to make it relevant, engaging and impactful WiseUp2 Date: Wednesday 17th July Time: 9:30am – 11:30am Venue: Centre For Leadership, GB MET, Broadwater Road, Worthing BN14 8HJ Price: Members £35+VAT, Nonmembers £75+VAT This course will ensure you know how to adapt your story to make your written content social savvy and create engagement among your followers.

Speed Networking with our neighbours Date: Wednesday 7th August 2019 Time: 12:00pm – 2:30pm Venue: The Hilton Avisford Park Hotel, Yapton, Arundel BN18 0LS Price: Members £24 + VAT, Nonmembers £30 + VAT To include a buffet lunch Come along to this cross-Chamber event which offers networking with a difference. Brighton Chamber, Chichester Chamber, Sussex Chamber and Worthing and Adur Chamber are bringing together companies from all sectors to enable them to explore new business opportunities and gain many new contacts using an innovative format of seated 3-way targeted speed networking.

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THE WORLD OF NIMBYS

By Maarten Hoffmann

W

e are all aware of the massive problem with rising birth rates, immigration and oldies living longer that places huge pressure on the UK’s housing stock. This leads to pressure on jobs, schools, hospitals etc etc. It’s a tough dilemma and one that is cured by either shooting half the population or building more homes. I hear it is illegal to shoot people therefore we MUST build more homes.

sion, all hell breaks loose and the locals mobilise with their pitchforks in a way that would have won us the war years earlier than 1945 if the Germans wound them up as much as a few homes in a field close to their house.

Trouble is that these people seem to have picked a time in history – around 1827 – and want everything to stay the same, forever. They want more money, jobs for their brood, easy airport access for their holidays and local shops but fail to recognise that this all comes at a cost. The cost is progress and a bit of inconvenience.

Take Goodwood House. When it was first mooted in 1697, there were complaints to the local sheriff, saying it would spoil views and create more cart traffic. Now people come from all over the world and it has put West Sussex on the map and is now listed and regarded as a national treasure.

To supply jobs for this rising population, we also need to create more businesses, encour- “Trouble is that these people age firms to expand and ensure seem to have picked a time that corporate growth is easier, with profits remaining in the UK in history - around 1827 - and and not being syphoned off to want everything to stay the Ireland where most American Another case in point would tech companies have their Eusame, forever” be a field in Oxfordshire purropean HQ’s, benefitting from chased recently by an American phia lower corporation tax rate and the lanthropist, who applied for planning Any new commercial development ability to claim zero profit and suck all permission to build an architecturally creates jobs and this is good for the the cash back to the US. beautiful car museum. This would be entire local economy. More business open to the public and to schools for for local hotels, restaurants, the dying And yet, every single time there is a educational visits. The local yokels High Street and of course, more cash vague suggestion of a new developwent nuts and 249 of them recruited into the local economy. ment, a new factory or airport exten-

Goodwood House – scene of 17th Century NIMBY protests

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ANGER MANAGEMENT

attitude of ‘as long as it’s not near my the Starship Enterprise Captain, Sir The same happens when a develophouse, l don’t care’. So, when Gatwick Patrick Stewart. He and this merry er, encouraged by the government to came up with a halfway solution of group banded together and, by using build, build, build, finds a site within bringing their emergency runway into nimby noises and hyperbole, created 5,000 miles of an existing house and, use to give themselves some more cathe image of a super-rich car nut havafter a fight that probably costs his pacity, off they go again. One Director ing a 2,000-decibel rev-offs with his firm many thousands, gives up and at the airport told me that he receives billionaire mates every Sunday morngoes away. ing (no cars would ever run, this was a static museum). It would “I hear it is illegal to shoot All these ventures bring wealth have employed 100 local people and jobs – the twin pillars of reand attracted thousands of tour- people therefore we MUST juvenation and what makes the ists to the area. economy turn. Not cheap houses build more homes” build from spit and sawdust. Not over 50 letters a day – from the same As a result, the local council gave in – tacky charity shops. Not a ban on Lonperson and he is verbally abused at losod the jobs and the money injected doners owning second homes. Just cal meetings and across social media. into the community. We would much money and jobs.

These same people want jobs for their prefer people to be fighting in the street kids, cheap flights from their local airover the one job on offer from whatevTo the NIMBYs, l say shut up and go port and a thriving community. You reer charity shop had opened in the town home and stop trying to hinder the deally couldn’t make this up. that week and that was the end of that. velopment and progress of the United A year later that same group are comKingdom. We need that far more than The airport campus employs 21,000 plaining of a lack of investment in their we need you. people with a further 10,000 in airport dearea, dwindling local tax receipts and pendant ancillary companies, and conare protesting. Honestly, you couldn’t tribute over £2 billion to the South East make it up. economy. It is the busiest single runway airport in the world. Extend it and it could Take the expansion of Gatwick Airport. employ another 5,000 folk but because The protesters won and LGW was rethe planes might fly over a swathe of fused the second runway with no MANAGEMENT homes, there have been protests on the concern about the residents around scale of global nuclear disarmament.

Heathrow who will now be blighted - an

ANGER

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H THE PLATINUM PAUL (Dev Assist) ADDISON v

PART 6 & 7 - ‘The Axe Throwing and Go-Karting Challenges’ What’s the difference between axe throwing and go-karting…? absolutely nothing if you keep finishing last!

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yself, Paul and the film crew headed six miles back up the A23 to Q Leisure for our next two challenges – a spot of axe throwing followed by some go-karting and time to enjoy being out of the office... again! Now I’d seen Paul go-karting before and he’s got balls of steel on four wheels, whereas I errrr... don’t! So, I felt my chances lay with the medieval style challenge. After all, my name is original Anglo Saxon, so I should be good at this.

The range was set well away from the other activities and upon reaching the designated area it became apparent that for everyone’s safety, there were several six to eight-foot-high fenc-

”..all I can remember is that most of my throws missed the target completely or bounced out”

Axe throwing… an opportunity to express our tribal instincts and you never know when learning this skill might come in handy!

es surrounding the large dart board esq targets, presumably in case our throws went array!

on how to throw a tomahawk and a hatchet, and where to aim, we both stepped up for some practice throwing at the target 12 feet away.

There is a technique to how you throw each axe and each type is different – it’s mainly about where you hold the handle and where you release on the throw which effectively determines where the axe lands. Despite several of my throws missing the target completely and hitting the fence behind, I felt the practice went well and looking across at Paul I was having more joy hitting the wooden bullseye than he was. At least, I was until the competition started!

Following our brief but detailed lesson With the adrenaline pumping, we had five throws for each axe and the highest number of points determined the winner. Long story short, I crumbled under the pressure of competition (who’s idea was this!?) I’ve no recollection of the score, all I can remember is that most of my throws missed the target completely or bounced out, and the more this happened the more frus-

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SPORT | PLATINUM CHALLENGE

CHALLENGE H

LAURENCE (Platinum) ELPHICK trated I became, which only helped to exacerbate my obvious lack of skill at this particular sport! Similar to my ineffective performance at archery several months ago, let’s just say I hope I never have to rely on axe throwing to survive. Tomahawk or hatchet, I might as well have been throwing fruit.

After this crushing defeat, it was off to the go-karting. The track looked spectacular, having had a makeover not too long ago, to produce 800 metres of winding corners, slick turns and several exceptionally fast straights.

Q Leisure boasts that this is one of the best outdoor karting tracks in the south with their karts able to reach speeds of up to 50mph, quicker than any indoor karting track! My chance to live the F1 dream then - isn’t this how Lewis Hamilton started?

After changing into our overalls and donning the compulsory helmet, we sat down to watch a 5-minute video explaining all the do’s and don’ts, PLUS advice on what lines to take and when/where to accelerate.

The two of us lined up on the grid behind each other in our 270cc Sodi RT8 karts, the fastest ones available, for half a dozen practice laps where I set off first. I knew I was in for a difficult challenge when Paul accelerated past me before the first lap had even ended! But it was to get worse! I’m embarrassed to admit that after only four laps not only did Paul go past me again, but I came over a little bit unwell – a case of motion sickness which must have been caused by my Top Gear slides and drifts at each corner!!? Back in the

pits, I stepped out of the kart all hot & sweaty, apparently looking a tad unsteady on my legs; I’d gone green according to cameraman James!

Suffice it to say, I just couldn’t continue, so James, eager to have a go, quickly changed and we switched roles. The race was to be 10 laps around the circuit and as expected, Paul shot off like a rocket and, unsurprisingly, proceeded to win by a handsome margin. Despite the finishing distance between him and James, they both remarked what a brilliant experience they had… for three laps at least, I could say the same, despite everything and losing, again, it was exhilarating.

I noted they also do Fire Walking & Glass Walking workshops. Maybe next time. Despite the disappointment of losing both challenges (Well done Paul!), It was a lot of fun and being in Sussex, Q leisure should definitely be worth a visit again soon.

Q Leisure, London Road, Albourne, West Sussex BN6 9BQ. Phone: 01273 834403. www.qleisure.co.uk

The Platinum Challenge – helping to raise funds for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity. If you can help, all donations will be very much appreciated www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/platinumchallenge10

SCORE SCORE AFTER AFTER SEVEN ONE EVENT: EVENTS: PAUL PAUL 1-0 5-2 LAURENCE LAURENCE

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SPORT | GOLF

Golf – The British Open The 2019 Open Championship is being played in Northern Ireland for only the second time. Can Rory McIlroy win – back where it all started?

The last and only previous time the Open was played outside England and Scotland was back in 1951, when Max Faulkner won at Portrush, with only two players finishing under par.

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fter last month’s US Open, July is the month for the third most prestigious tournament of the year in men’s golf, the Open Championship, also known as the British Open and for only the second time, golf’s oldest major championship will be played in Northern Ireland at Royal Portrush Golf Club.

variable weather is the main external factor to influence a player’s score. In fact, the greens at Open venues tend to be set up to play more slowly than those of normal tour courses and in windy conditions, a course with fast greens can become unplayable because the wind could affect how the balls rest.

Last year’s British Open was won by Italian Francesco Molinari, the first time an Italian has won one of the four major tournaments and 2019 will see the 148th Open Championship get underway on July 18th.

While there had been some debate as to whether the British Open would return to Northern Ireland until at least 2020, former major champions and Northern Irishmen Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell had been lobbying on Portrush’s behalf.

Established in 1860, the Open Championship usually takes place on one of nine courses in Scotland and England, however 2019 will see the famous stretch of land situated on Antrim’s north coast provide a serious challenge, as it’s regarded as one of the toughest courses in Britain. British Open courses are classed as “links” courses, which means that they tend to be near the coast with few trees, but can be quite challenging because of strong winds, deep sand bunkers and very tall, thick grass that make up the “rough” areas.

The British Open is respected for maintaining the tradition of links play where the course is generally not altered to make it more difficult, meaning the

At Royal Portrush back in 2005, a then 16-year-old Rory McIlroy produced an incredible round of 61 in the Northern Ireland Championship with a score consisting of nine birdies and one eagle. He has since won four Ryder Cups, a US Open and two US PGA Championships, but his career highlight was probably in 2014 when he secured victory in the 143rd Open at Royal Liverpool. Can McIlroy win it in 2019? This year, he will be playing for the Claret Jug for an 11th time, back where it all started so well for him.

At the time of the announcement McDowell said “I’m very proud of where I grew up. I’m very proud of the tradition and history there, and to bring an Open Championship back to Northern Ireland is very special. It speaks volumes about how far the country has come.”

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The ultimate athlete Laurence Elphick caught up with Daley Thompson CBE before the Best of British lunch where he spoke to over 500 guests at The Grand Brighton

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aley Thompson CBE was the special guest and speaker at the 11th Best of British lunch in Brighton. Many consider Daley to be the greatest athlete of all time, and he didn’t disappoint during a lively and entertaining Q&A. Laurence Elphick caught up with Daley to ask him about his memories as a Double Olympic Decathlon Champion.

You won your second Olympic gold medal back in 1984, does it feel like 35 years ago?

Absolutely, it seems like I was a different person back then and I don’t really have any huge detailed memories of it. In fact, before the 2012 Olympics in London, there were all these ‘200 days to go’ parties in cities that had hosted the Olympic games and Alan Wells

– who won the 100m Gold in 1980 – and I went back to Moscow. When we returned to the stadium, Alan remembered where people were sitting, and even the colour of the seats, but I didn’t even know we were in the right stadium! I only knew I’d been there because of a plaque on the wall outside listing the winners.

You won gold in 1980 and 1984, which one gave you the most satisfaction?

Both were different feelings; to win my first gold medal was brilliant, it didn’t matter what the score was. But in terms of a competition, it has to be Los Angeles. It was a lot closer and more dramatic against my nearest rival, the West German Jurgen Hingsen – there were moments when he had the chance to win.

“Both gold medals were different feelings; to win my first gold medal was brilliant.

But in terms of a competition, it has to be Los Angeles” You were strongest in the 100m and the long/high jump, but which discipline were you least confident about, was it the pole vault?

The discus was the most difficult. I spent more time practicing this to make sure I could at least stay in touch with the better competitors. Pole vault is a lot easier than it looks and at the time I was one of the best around.

When your coach recommended you do the decathlon, wouldn’t you have preferred just one discipline?

Absolutely, I was the British junior

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SPORT | INTERVIEW 100m champion and if I could get away with doing one, why would I want to do 10?! But I wanted to keep my coach happy and after I’d done one I thought, I’m going to be the best at this! It was a good decision.

What are your memories of the 1984 Olympics?

My two best memories are during the opening ceremony when they had two guys flying around on jet packs, which I remember was the most unbelievable thing I’d ever seen at the time – very James Bond! In the competition I guess it was the discus; I’d had two bad throws and I wasn’t going to win a medal at that stage. You only get three throws, so it was only about frame of mind then. I kept telling myself, “don’t think about it, just go and do it”.

I’d probably had 12 or 13,000 throws that year and I’d never thrown three bad ones in a row, so why should I now? So, I didn’t think about it anymore, went in and then threw a personal best. That was the greatest moment in my entire athletics career.

What does it mean to you to be the guest speaker at this year’s Best of British raising money for Rockinghorse?

It’s a real privilege and I’m still warmed that people take an interest in what I did 35 years ago.

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events, explained: “For many young people, this will be the next step on their road to recovery from mental illness. We hope this opportunity will help fulfil renewed hopes and dreams as part of an overall happy and healthy future for those supported through the programme.

We are so very grateful to those who helped make the event possible today, including our headline sponsors, Daley Thompson with Ryan Heal Overline, and of course to everyone who so very generously donated, thank you.”

est of British is all about raising funds for Rockinghorse children’s charity and this year’s annual event again provided an impressive three-course lunch followed by an entertaining question and answer session with Daley, hosted by MC and comedian Aaron James.

A series of fundraising initiatives during the afternoon, including a raffle and auction, raised an incredible £38,500 for the charity, enabling Rockinghorse to make a difference to the lives of young The Best of British people with mental lunch will return health illnesses. with two events latWorking with the Bang & Olufsen’s Mike Sparkes er in the year. The Sussex Partnership has his print signed first will take place NHS Trust, and the at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne on Love Local Jobs Foundation, fundFriday September 13th with rugby ing such as this will benefit young legend Rob Andrew, and the second, people who’ll experience a series at the Hilton London Gatwick Airof life-changing trips to Snowdonia port Hotel on Friday November 8th, National Park, for up to 20 children welcoming cricket star David Gower. at a time.

Ryan Heal, Rockinghorse CEO and organiser of the Best of British

To find out more, visit www.rockinghorse.org.uk

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SPORT | RYAN FENWICK GOLF ACADEMY

Coaching for all abilities, from beginners to touring pros Ryan Fenwick mentors and coaches several tournament pros.

Laurence Elphick caught up with one of them, South African Justin Walters

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yan Fenwick began his role as Head PGA Professional at West Hove Golf Club four years ago this month and now runs the ‘Ryan Fenwick Golf Academy’ there.

A former England International who turned Professional in 2000, Ryan was in the same England Squad as Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Paul Casey.

He also holds five course records, is a twice winner of the Sussex Open and a Sussex PGA Champion. As the former Sussex County Lead Coach and England Regional Coach, Ryan also mentors and coaches several tournament professionals on both the men’s and ladies’ tour and has a great reputation for developing golfers at all levels.

Ryan’s Golf Academy can help golfers of all abilities with coaching and equipment fitting and is open seven days a week, from 8am – 7pm, where they use Trackman technology to help you understand your golf swing tendencies and recommend improvements.

The Academy team can also custom

fit Callaway, Titleist, Srixon and Ping clubs and help identify the correct equipment for you.

Ryan regularly coaches a regular on the European Tour, 38-year-old South African Justin Walters, who qualified for his first US Open at the start of last month, and made the cut, beating former world number ones, Jordan Speith and Laurence with Justin Walters Luke Donald in the process! at West Hove Golf Club I’d previously caught up with Justin when he was at West Hove for some practice with Ryan, so I asked him...

that can make or break a round so you need someone who’s aware of these subtleties – Ryan has certainly helped me play better and smarter. The game has such small margins that make the difference, particularly at the top level.

Why Ryan?

My agent suggested I take on someone who helps me identify the strengths and weaknesses to improve my game.

What are your strengths and what Ryan fits that bill, did Ryan identiwhere his role fy that could be “I take on someone is more about tweaked? who helps me identify I’m a good driver the strategy, the the strengths and planning and anaof the ball, I can lysing my game. hit it pretty far weaknesses to There’s not a and straight and improve my game. huge amount we had some inof people who Ryan fits that bill...” tense training on do that! He was hitting certain a Pro; he knows what we go through yardages as that’s an area I need to and I wanted someone who’d been clean up a bit. there and done that. I’ve always been quite strict about the people around What’s your main objective? me who give advice. It’s not an easy I’ve been close a few times, but to win a game and there’s many subtle things tournament by the time I’m 40!

To find out more about Ryan’s Golf Academy, visit www.ryanfenwickgolf. com - use the code ‘Platinum19’ and get 50% off a custom fitting session.

Or for new clients, get 50% off a 50-minute golf lesson and if you’re a golf novice, why not try a ‘Get into Golf’ session from only £29.00, which includes four lessons!

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SPORT | MOTOR SPORT

Enjoy motorsport the classic way This month sees the return of the Silverstone Classic, described as the world’s biggest and most historic classic motor racing festival, which takes place on July 26-28th

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he Silverstone Classic 2019 will feature the very best of historic racing action from Formula One, Sports Cars, GT and Touring Car grids with over 20 races and demonstrations, and over 1,000 race entries.

One of the most influential cars in automotive history, Mini, will be celebrating it’s 60th birthday and part of the weekend’s highlights will be the Mini Celebration Trophy where two 20-minute scheduled races will feature what is anticipated to be the world’s largest ever field of racing Minis to appear on a single grid, with more than 50 pre1966 models expected to take part.

Founded in 1990 and dubbed the ‘Glastonbury of motorsport’, this year’s Silverstone Classic will also commemorate other significant motoring landmarks, including Bentley’s centenary and 50 years of the Ford Capri. In addition, there will be a Twilight Tribute to Le Mans with three grids of sportscar racing on the Saturday evening.

Grand Prix racing’s heritage will also be celebrated, with two rounds of the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship, plus this summer’s Classic will welcome for the very first time a never-seen-before retro of Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 3 single-seater racing cars.

In addition, there will be the opportunity to witness pre 1963 classic car racing in the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars, where you can expect to see such classics as Austin Healey, Aston Martin, Jaguar E-type, Lotus Elite, MG, and Porsche.

’…dubbed the Glastonbury of motorsport…’

This year’s Classic will be raising funds for the Race Against Dementia Fellowships, an initiative founded by three-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart, who will be attending this summer’s Classic, half a century on from his first World Championship triumph and British Grand Prix victory at Silverstone in 1969.

For fans of two wheeled fun, this year you will be able to see the World GP Bike Legends with an enlarged motorcycle showcase featuring multiple world champions such as Australia’s Wayne Gardner and Freddie Spencer from the USA. As well as the new

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bike zone, MotoWorld, visitors will be treated to a stunning spectacle where some of the most beautiful racing bikes in the world will blast around the circuit, ridden by some of the sport’s top names from the past.

MotoWorld will also be home to an exciting new Ride Live feature where participating motorcycle manufacturers will offer visitors an opportunity to test ride their latest showroom models. Also represented will be the flattrack motorbike festival, DirtQuake, which will be taking place at Arlington Stadium near Eastbourne on August 9-10th.

The racing itself will be supplemented by live music in the evenings with a special homage to Woodstock; this year celebrating its 50th anniversary with the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Sly and the Family Stone, Ten Years After and The Who being performed across Friday and Saturday evenings.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, for full details of all packages visit www.silverstoneclassic.com

SPORT | ACTIVE SUSSEX

SAVE THE DATE for the Active Sussex Conference 2019 Bringing the Sussex physical activity and sporting community together

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t’s not long now until one of the county’s most eagerly anticipated networking events – the Active Sussex Conference & AGM 2019.

Hosted by Active Sussex, the fantastic biannual event will take place on Thursday September 19th, 2019, at the Amex Stadium, Falmer.

About A must attend networking event for organisations and partners who deliver physical activity and sport in Sussex.

The Active Sussex Conference will bring together partners from local authorities, leisure trusts, education and community organisations, and health care professionals, while providing a fantastic opportunity to learn, share and network.

Programme This year’s programme is designed to explore the different approaches and outcomes of engaging inactive audiences, in-line with our Active Sussex Strategy priority groups: • Children & young people • Older people • People with a long-term condition or disability • People living in deprived areas with high rates of inactivity This will be a great opportunity to be inspired and develop new ideas through presentations, best practice, case studies, workshops and networking.

Meet the Keynote Speaker Born Barikor is the founder and CEO of Our Parks, a visionary initiative that brings group exercise classes to all ages and ability levels. Led by experienced, fully qualified instructors in city parks within 18 London boroughs, in partnership with local authorities and

The Active Sussex team will host the biannual networking event

having expanded into Central Bedfordshire, the long-term plan is to get a firm foothold in every major city in England.

Established in 2013, the classes are all free, a mandatory component from day one – hence the Our Parks slogan: ‘Turn Up, Tone Up. Get Fit For Free’.

His goal was to establish a programme that offers easy access to exercise for everyone in the community, resulting in fitter and healthier residents.

Bookings Registration is open for this event!

Places are limited and afternoon workshops will be booked on a first come, first served basis. Buy your ticket by visiting our social media channels.

Born Barikor, founder and CEO of Our Parks

Born grew up in the East London borough of Tower Hamlets, one of the poorest areas in the country, and observing poverty and deprivation on a daily basis fuelled his burning desire to provide exercise for free. His passion for sport, as a former athlete who trained with Hackney-born, four-time British high jump champion Dalton Grant, was another motivating factor behind his dream to devise a pioneering programme that he could pitch to local authorities.

For more information about the Active Sussex Conference, please contact Ed Bartram, Events Officer: E: ebartram@activesussex.org T: 01273 644103

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SPORT | CRICKET

A sizzling summer of cricket still to come The Ashes series is fast approaching, for both the women and the men, while Sussex are in action on two fronts

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mid the excitement of the men’s World Cup, last month England women completed a 3-0 series whitewash in the One Day Internationals against the West Indies.

Warwickshire’s Amy Jones led the way in the batting after her 91 in the first match was followed up with 80 in the third. Pace bowler, Kate Cross was the key bowler with five wickets.

Following a three match Twenty20 series against the West Indies, next up for the women is the Ashes series in July, as England women take on Australia women. Unlike the Men’s Ashes, the Women’s Ashes will be decided by all formats of the game. The teams will earn four points for a win and two for a draw in the Test, with two points for a win in all the limited-overs games. First up is a three match One Day International Series, followed by a one-off Test Match and ending with three Twenty20 matches, the second of which will be played at The 1st Central County Ground in Hove on Sunday July 28th.

Sussex v The Australians, Hove 2009

Sussex visitors will have the chance to watch the likes of not only the aforementioned Jones and Cross, but also the talents of Anya Shrubsole, whose bowling figures of 6-46 effectively won the World Cup back in 2017 against India, Natalie Sciver whose 51 laid the platform for that historic win, as well as Georgia Elwiss, Captain Heather Knight and Sussex all-rounder Danni Wyatt.

Australia are the holders, having won the trophy in England in 2015 and having retained it after the 2017 series down under was a draw.

Danni Wyatt in form for England

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Platinum Cricket sponsored by Extech Cloud, Greenacre Court, Burgess Hill RH15 9DS 01444 443200 Email: hello@extech.co.uk www.extechcloud.com

Next month sees the Men’s Ashes, with the first of five Test matches getting underway on August 1st at Edgbaston.

Speaking of the men and while Sussex’s Jofra Archer continues to star in the World Cup, his county team mates will be off and running in the Vitality Blast aiming to reach finals day for a second consecutive season. In the County Championship division two, Sussex managed two wins and three draws in their first six games putting them third at that stage of the season.

Highlights so far have included a century from Phil Salt and Ben Brown in the draw against Glamorgan, a 5 for in the same match from Luke Wells, while Salt continued his good form with 122 runs away at Northamptonshire before he was injured. Captain Brown hit 156 in the same match, while the home of cricket, Lord’s, witnessed 5-26 from David Weise in the first innings, 173 from Stiaan Van Zyl, 107 from Brown, and bowler Ollie Robinson claiming a 10-wicket match haul to lead Sussex to an innings victory against Middlesex.

SPORT | BOUNDARY CLUB

Sussex networking for Sussex business Where business meets cricket, a perfect way to network this summer

T

he third Boundary Club event of 2019 took place on Wednesday May 29th with another full house of guests from across the business community enjoying the delights of Sussex cricket hospitality at Cow Corner.

optional!) several alcoholic libations.

The guest speaker, Jim Tavare, once described as HRH Prince Charles’s favourite comedian and who starred as Tom the Innkeeper in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, regaled the audience by combining his usual blend of silliness (complete with ‘Bassie’ his double bass sidekick), coupled with a story about how his life changed after a near fatal car accident just a couple of years ago.

Membership to the Boundary Club includes attending this year’s remaining five events with many taking place to the backdrop of a Sussex CCC fixture. The PLUS membership includes two Executive Passes, which allows admission to the SO Legal Executive Suite to watch all home games at The 1st Central County Ground, including the T20 Vitality Blast group matches which get under way this month.

Sussex Cricket’s very own unique networking Club never fails to deliver the perfect mix of business and pleasure and this month was no exception, giving like-minded businesses the opportunity to make new contacts as well as to renew old acquaintances whilst discussing opportunities for working together. All over a delicious three course lunch, supplemented by (and purely

Future events include a range of speakers from the business and en-

June’s Boundary Club continued with the comedy theme by welcoming hilarious Hove based comedian Simon Evans as the guest speaker…more to follow in next month’s Platinum Sport.

tertainment world so make sure you make a note in your diary.

• Wednesday July 24th – Welsh tenor and the Go Compare Man, Wynne Evans • Tuesday August 20th – BBC news presenter, John Young • Monday September 23rd – Double European Cup winning Captain of Nottingham Forest, John McGovern • Thursday October 24th – Double amputee and Invictus Games athlete, Murray Hambro • Wednesday December 11th – Boundary Club Christmas Party

For more information about how to become a member, call 0844 264 0201 or email the boundaryclub@ sussexcricket.co.uk

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SPORT | WHEN BUSINESS MEETS SPORT

WHY I

LOVE

PARAGLIDING

Paul Addison, Managing Director at DevAssist tells us he likes the adrenaline rush… as long as he ends up back at his car!

I

Since I was a child, skiing has been a big part of my life, but of course it is very seasonal. Paragliding gives me an alternative activity that I can do all year without the long travel. We are very lucky to have the South Downs on our doorstep and there are many

“My knee was badly twisted.

I was very brave and didn’t cry”

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I THOUGHT YOU WERE SCARED OF HEIGHTS!?

I am! Sounds a rather a silly choice doesn’t it. I think it’s because it makes me face my fears and I get an extra adrenalin rush that makes it a thrilling sport.

THE WORLD RECORD IS REPORTEDLY 350.6 MILES, WHAT’S THE FURTHEST YOU’VE FLOWN? Lots of the pilots like cross country flying. Personally, I like to end up where I started as that’s where I left the car.

was on my way to pick up my daughter from a festival and her bus was late arriving in Brighton.

I needed to kill time and was driving past Flysussex just outside Lewes. It was as spontaneous as that.

I had in the past done a tandem flight in Austria which I found truly exhilarating and had always dreamed of learning.

I didn’t think it was an obtainable skill but the wonderful team of instructors at Flysussex proved how wrong I was.

They have a very progressive teaching method that will get you off the ground on day one. After that you are hooked.

Q&A

flying sites available through the local club. It also a completely engaging sport that requires no distractions as you need to keep focused on what you are doing. It allows me to temporarily forget about other issues like running my business.

WHAT’S THE MOST DANGEROUS PART? Take-off and landing and everything in between! If you follow everything you have been taught and continue to learn, it can be made very safe. Most of the time it’s just good judgement that will keep me in one piece.

HAVE YOU EVER CRASHED AND BEEN INJURED?

DevAssist Ltd, Crown House, 37 High Street, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3AF Tel: 01342 890010 Web: www.devassist.co.uk

I was once practicing some ground handling and my right leg went down a rabbit hole. My knee was badly twisted. I was very brave and didn’t cry.

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO TAKE OFF AND LAND? I’m not as small as I once was so I have to try harder than my son, who is the size I used to be. Once you can ground handle it makes take off so much easier. Like any sport you are only as good as the instruction you have received.

Before you see the big hills, you have to be prepared with the little ones first.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN WEATHER IS RIGHT FOR FLYING? The local club is made up of some very experienced pilots and instructors as well as the low airtime flyers like myself.

They are a very sharing bunch who are always on hand to share their experience with you. There is a WhatsApp group that lets members know where is flyable and advises low airtime pilots like me when its best to stay at home.

Gatwick Airport connects you directly to over 120 stations

You’d have to go a long way to beat that

We’re more than just an airport