Platinum Business Magazine - issue 63

THE LARGEST CIRCULATION REGIONAL BUSINESS PUBLICATION IN THE UK

ISSUE 63. SEPTEMBER 2019

HIRING graduate talent ROCKET MEN

RocketMill is the toast of Brighton

GLOBAL

PR & Powerlifting How Aneela Rose became a World Champion

URSULA von der LEYEN

Finding winter sun with Go Bespoke

How to go

URSULA’S ARMY Will the new head of the European Commission create a Euro army?

SUSSEX AWARDS CEREMONY DECEMBER 5th 2019 | THE GRAND BRIGHTON

RECOGNISING THE MOST OUTSTANDING BUSINESSES IN SUSSEX DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES

SEPTEMBER 20th 2019 THE AWARDS ARE SPONSORED BY

Celebrating 31 years in 2019, the Sussex Business Awards are the most sought-after accolade by organisations of all sizes across the region

2019 CATEGORIES COMPANY OF THE YEAR LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SME BUSINESS OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR BUSINESS INNOVATION OF THE YEAR THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD NOT FOR PROFIT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR TOURIST ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR E-COMMERCE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR START-UP OF THE YEAR CSR EXCELLENCE AWARD

HOW TO ENTER • Visit www.sbawards.org.uk and review the categories • Download an entry form and answer the questions as fully as possible • Entries should not be more than four pages of A4 and less than 11pt size font • Save the entry as a PDF and upload online • Businesses can enter up to three categories and deadline for submissions is September 20th 2019

To discuss sponsorship opportunities, email sussex@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Businesses local to Gatwick are 50% more likely to export than the national average

Gatwick brings global trade opportunities closer

We’re more than just an airport

CONTENTS 9

40

16

42

18

KRESTON REEVES What to consider if you’re expanding overseas

43

20

44

NEWS National, international and local news

DMH STALLARD Their role in helping Horsham FC acquire their new home

MHA CARPENTER BOX Explaining the new Inheritance Tax legislation

22 team

KEN BLANCHARD Steps to building an effective

24

NATWEST The latest survey of business confidence

25

CARDENS What is all the fuss about Cloud accounting?

26

GATWICK DiAMOND BUSINESS AWARDS The 2020 Awards are announced

PLUMPTON RACECOURSE Interview with Chief Executive, Dan Thompson

DMH STALLARD Things business need to consider for Brexit

CHARITY NEWS Martlets Hospice is putting on the ‘Kapow’ event in Brighton ANEELA ROSE Interview with the PR guru and World Powerlifting Champion

47

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS Is it actually possible to plan?

DNA The logistics of gender equality

50-55

HEALTH & WELLBEING Improving mental and physical wellbeing in the workplace, with contributions from ViiSana, The Thrive Team and Hurst College

28

WINNER

56

SUSSEX INNOVATION CENTRE Hiring graduate talent: advice from the experts

32

58

38

60

THE BAHBAS WINNERS Highlighting some of the winners and finalists from this year’s ceremony NATWEST ACCELERATOR Founder of the Month - Anything Is Possible

TRAVEL Find the best places to soak up winter sun courtesy of the experts at Go Bespoke Travel. Plus Gatwick Airport has announced its masterplan for future growth

48

THE BIG STORY Ian Trevett profiles the incoming President of the European Commission, Urusla von der Leyen

BRIGHTON&HOVE

62-69

MOVERS & SHAKERS Who’s going where... Harvey John Recruitment tells us who is moving on in the world of Sussex commerce BUSINESSWOMEN EXCELLENCE AWARDS Announcing the 2020 Awards line ups

70-82

CHRISTMAS PARTY VENUES Showcasing the best spots around Sussex to host your work’s Christmas do

83

CHAMBERS LISTINGS What events are the various Sussex Chambers of Commerce hosting?

86

CHARITY NEWS Chestnut Tree House events

88-98

PLATINUM SPORT Laurence Elphick runs the rule over the latest sports news in Sussex and across the world, including part nine of the Platinum Challenge - the Kayak Race, Albion boss Graham Potter, the launch of the Sussex Sports Awards, and Andrew Hookway of Extech on why he loves calisthenics

5

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WELCOME

Welcome T

he holidays are over and it’s time to get back to business.

We are fortunate to work in the South East, the region which generates so much wealth for the UK, and our businesses are, as always, ignoring the news and carrying on doing what they do best.

Commission. Ursula von der Leyen starts the morning after we are due to leave the EU, which is some way to start a new job. It is very likely she will quickly make the headlines, especially as she is very keen to create a European army.

We are doing what we excel at – creating the highest circulation regional business magazine in the country. This issue is packed with news and expert advice on how to go global, how to build a great team, how to recruit graduates and so much more.

Enjoy the magazine.

We celebrate some of the region’s good news stories including profiles of some of the Brighton & Hove Business Awards winners, the sporting success of Aneela Rose who is now a World Champion and Horsham FC’s joy at moving into a brand new stadium.

This month we launch our brand new travel section, which focuses on leisure travel. If you already need a break, read Go Bespoke Travel’s tips on where to find some winter sun.

The Platinum Team

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.

Talking of holidays, Maarten has been so relaxed whilst away, that he hasn’t been enraged enough to write his Anger Management. Instead he has been concentrating on choosing his car of the decade. The big reveal will happen in next month’s magazine.

Ian has been breaking our usual rule of ignoring the B word, and has profiled the incoming President of the European

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

The Team

Maarten Hoffmann – Director

Lesley Alcock

Fiona Graves

maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk 07966 244046

Commercial Director

Events Director

Alan Wares Head of Design

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

Lydia Bunyard

Danielle Mason

Events Executive

Sales Executive

Kate Morton

Hanna Nicholson

Steve Elford

Copy Editor

Travel Editor

Head of Web Development

7

Having tomorrow’s conversations, today

Our thinking starts with you With our relationship led service, we look to understand the opportunities and challenges faced by you and your business. Our focus is always on client service, with open and honest relationships.

Switching to MHA Carpenter Box is easier than you think: we make it hassle-free from start to finish. Get in touch today for a free and informal consultation.

Call: 01903 234094 • Email: info@carpenterbox.com

www.carpenterbox.com

Now, for tomorrow

Sussex

news

Hickstead launches new events venue

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he All England Jumping Showground hosts the international show jumping competitions but Hickstead has much more to offer all year round. The launch of their new conference and events facility, The Beethoven, will take place on Friday September 27th at 5pm, with a themed Sparkling Canapé Reception.

The new facility is named after the first British horse ever to be crowned World Champion and owned by the

founder of Hickstead, Douglas Bunn.

Hickstead has partnered with local suppliers to showcase this event, including Maxwell’s caterers, Accordi String Quartet providing entertainment, and local florist, Stems of Southwater and To Have & To Hire, who are dressing the venue.

Email events@hickstead.co.uk or call 01273 837253 to be included on the guest list.

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.

BUSINESS WISDOM

Leap of Faith for charity

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en teams got together to compete in the gdb Charity Challenge at the Bowles Outdoor Centre, Tunbridge Wells on July 5th. The test involved competing teams launching themselves into mid-air from the top of a telegraph pole hoping to break their fall by grasping a trapeze swing. Nine of the teams were fielded by gdb member businesses whilst the tenth team comprised representatives from the charities themselves, generously sponsored

by PVL Ltd. Competing teams included Chestnut Tree House, Driver Hire Gatwick, Richard Place Dobson, DMH Stallard LLP, Charity Diamonds, Varian, Wildwood PR Ltd, Kingston Smith LLP, Gatwick Express, and the winners, 4D Data Centres.

Clear view for recruitment process

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ier Recruitment is enhancing the way we recruit through the use of video images. Pier View is a twoway interactive tool designed to take the place of a first stage interview, significantly reducing the time to hire, therefore reducing client costs.

55% of Pier Recruitment’s clients said that they would rather watch a

video than read a text whilst 80% said that the first stage interview is only to find out if the candidate can communicate properly. Potential employers are able to receive the short videos at the same time as the candidate’s CV and can watch on any device, allowing for a more streamlined and effective hiring process.

Sustainable seaside living

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new economic report has revealed the huge potential for Brighton to be one of the most environmentally sustainable cities in the UK. According to UK Powerhouse, a report by Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economic & Business Research, Brighton will be in the top 10 for

economic growth (GVA) during Q1 2021 - the quarter when the transition period in the UK’s current Withdrawal Agreement is set to have ended. Brighton was ranked fourth for having the lowest CO2 emissions per person, and fourth when it came to the share of population using low emission transport.

The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.

BUSINESS WISDOM

9

“Always a pleasure speaking with experienced technicians with a sense of humour�

Humanising IT

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

Sussex

news

Mercure Hotel’s magical transformation

M

ercure Brighton Seafront Hotel has undergone a £3 million transformation of its 116 guest rooms and communal spaces. Led by local Hove-based interior designer, Helen Hooper, the redesign of the nineteenth century hotel encapsulates the perfect blend of exquisite Regency splendour, with a dash of quirky Brighton charm. The lounge

has been transformed into an impressive gallery showcasing some of the finest creations from local artists, whilst the cocktail bar, restaurant and 16 sea view bedrooms have been given a bespoke refurbishment with modern decor throughout. In addition, a new food and drink menu has launched to include local culinary delights.

Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.

BUSINESS WISDOM

Innovation hub creates wellbeing mecca

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n average, people in the UK spend over 3,500 days of their life at work yet offices are often uninspiring places that hinder rather than help productivity. Olga Hopton, MD of Plus X Brighton, aims to change that by creating the healthiest work space in the city. Plus X Brighton is the new innovation hub opening

in January on Preston Barracks, Lewes Road. Everything about the building’s design and features has health and wellbeing in mind, from its locally sourced café and stylish ergonomic furniture and décor, to its roof terrace with edible planting and weekly yoga and meditation classes.

Crawley regeneration secures build contractor

A

n £8.35 million regeneration scheme for Crawley town centre has taken a large step forward with the appointment of a design and build contractor. Volker Fitzpatrick has been appointed to progress the Eastern Gateway project from design to construction stage, with construc-

tion programmed to begin in 2020.

County Council Leader Louise Goldsmith said: “The Eastern Gateway is a significant scheme within the Crawley Growth Programme and this excellent news marks the achievement of another key milestone within the Crawley Growth Programme.”

Brighton reaches boiling point

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he impact of a pressure-filled summer causes chronic workplace stress which was noticed by 57% of UK wide professionals, according to the second Wellbeing Index Report from Westfield Health. In Brighton, 19% have responded to work whilst on leave and 18% of holiday time is spent worrying about work. According to the report, financial strain and balancing friendships, relationships and work are the biggest causes of summer stress and anxiety in Brighton. David Capper, CEO of Westfield Health, commented: “Employees in Brighton are experiencing a vicious cycle of stress and anxiety that is having a detrimental impact on their wellbeing in the run up to, during and after they come back from their summer break, leaving them no time for vital recovery.”

There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed.

BUSINESS WISDOM

11

national

news BUSINESS SURVEY

Google Images lack women CEOs UK favourite to host UN summit 15 countries to see how many times ccording to statistics from the

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International Labour Organisation, women represent an average of 31.3% of the world’s senior business leaders, however just 11.9% of Google Image results for the search ‘CEO’ were of women.

Analysis conducted by Creditsafe looked at the top 25 Google Image results for the search term ‘CEO’ in

women were shown. With 34% of the UK’s business leaders being female, just 19% of its search results showcased women; Canada had the highest percentage of women in their results, whilst Colombia, Russia, Norway, Mexico and Japan were the only countries to have no female representation in the search results.

Business owners on brink of burnout

T

housands of SME owners are heading towards burnout, with some going without a holiday for as long as five years, according to figures released by Simply Business, one of the UK’s largest providers of SME insurance. Money is the number one worry with 62% admitting

that potential loss of earnings is the main issue that prevents them from taking time off work. 35% estimated that taking a holiday costs them at least £2,500 in lost earnings, while 8% estimate they’re losing out on a whopping £5,000 or more for every holiday they take.

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.

BUSINESS WISDOM

The gig economy is booming in Britain

B

ritain is the second most lucrative country in the world for the gig economy, having doubled from 2.3m workers to 4.7m since 2016.

According to a report, the UK has seen a 59% increase in freelance revenues in the past year, and with this expansion comes the advent of services specifically designed for freelancers, including banks

that have specific accounts to help freelancers, and a sharp increase in co-working office spaces. Nick Woodward, CEO of ETZ Payments, said: “The gig economy is growing exponentially and is likely to continue with more highly skilled workers opting to work in a freelance capacity to earn more money and achieve a better work/life balance.”

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major United Nations climate change summit will take place in Glasgow if a bid to attract the event to the UK is successful. The UK and Italy have lodged a joint bid to host the 26th Conference of the Parties, known as COP26. While Turkey is still in the running for the event, the UK is now seen as the clear favourite. If the bid is successful, the event would take place at Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus (SEC) at the end of 2020. A decision on the location for the UN conference, which has been described as the most important gathering on climate change since the Paris agreement was signed in 2015, is expected later this year.

Empowered or discouraged?

C

ontrary to headline news on women in the workplace, a new survey conducted by theknowledgeacademy. com has found that over half of women feel empowered in the workplace.

Results showed that 59% of respondents are offered training, while a further 65% are encouraged to attend training.

69% of women said their manager does provide the resources needed to succeed and 77% said their manager helps them to balance their work and personal demands. However, the findings also showed that 69% of women have been addressed in a less than professional way at work, and 77% feel they have had to prove their ability in the workplace.

Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.

BUSINESS WISDOM

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Knowing you.

Wherever your business takes you Businesses looking for new markets and suppliers beyond our shores need the support of advisers who are already helping other companies trade internationally.

Here at Kreston Reeves, our team can help you with your international ambitions, whether drawing from our experience of other companies who have done the same, or linking in with our Kreston international network.

With more than 200 member firms in over 125 countries the Kreston network can help you expand profitably and provides clients like you with access to international advice – wherever your ambitions take you.

For more information please contact Andrew Griggs, Senior Partner and Head of International using the contact details below.

For all your business, tax and wealth needs.

Call: +44 (0)330 124 1399 Email: enquiries@krestonreeves.com Visit: www.krestonreeves.com

national

news BUSINESS SURVEY

Sports empire becomes a Jack of all trades

S

ports Direct has won the bidding war for Jack Wills, adding yet another brand to Mike Ashley’s high street empire. Advisers at KPMG said Jack Wills had been put into administration and was immediately sold to Sports Direct

in a process known as a pre-pack administration. The sale, for which Sports Direct paid £12.75m, includes all 100 UK and Ireland stores and stock, as well as a distribution centre, along with all employees.

Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.

Eating their way to the street

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estaurants are eating into the nation’s high streets according to new research from Direct Line for Business. Shops are increasingly being replaced by restaurants and takeaways with retail outlets accounting for just a quarter of high street premises. Despite the difficulties suffered by many high profile restaurant chains in recent months, demand remains high for these premises. London, home to approximately 1,200 high streets, saw the highest number of applications for the change of use of business premises.

BUSINESS WISDOM

Apple takes next big bite

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pple’s latest creation has officially arrived. Their new titanium credit card, created with Goldman Sachs and Mastercard, is designed to work with your iPhone’s

wallet and promises no late fees, annual fees or over-the-limit fees. They say it’s the “only credit card designed to take advantage of the power of iPhone.”

Robots the future of the NHS

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he NHS in England is setting up a national artificial intelligence laboratory to enhance the care of patients and research. The Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said AI had “enormous power” to improve care, save lives and ensure doctors had more time to spend with patients. He has announced £250m will be spent

on boosting the role of AI within the health service. Clinical trials have proven AIs are as good as leading doctors at spotting lung cancer, skin cancer, and more than 50 eye conditions from scans. This has the potential to let doctors focus on the most urgent cases and rule out those that do not need treatment.

Scots on a quest to protect their produce

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cotch whisky and salmon must have the same protections after Brexit even if the UK leaves without a deal, Scotland’s Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has said. In a letter to his UK Government counterpart Theresa Villiers, Ewing called for “iconic” Scottish food and drink products to keep their protected status under EU rules. Geographical indications (GIs) are used to protect food and drink products including Scotch whisky, Scottish-farmed salmon and Ayrshire Earlies potatoes. The Scottish Government said it is worried about guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which it claims contradicts UK Government assurances about GIs once we leave the EU.

I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.

BUSINESS WISDOM

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LEGAL

Bringing the Hornets home Approved planning permission for a new home for Horsham Football Club was a dream come true thanks to DMH Stallard’s planning consultancy team who set out an inspiring vision for the team’s future Background

Horsham Football Club start the new season on the most momentous high in their 138-year history after moving into a fantastic new stadium complete with stunning new clubhouse and first class 3G pitches.

The club led a nomadic existence for 11 years without a ground of their own and during this time suffered a series of setbacks, on the field and off it.

The search for a new home With dated club facilities in desperate need of investment, Horsham Football Club played their last match at Queen Street in 2008 before the ground was sold for redevelopment.

The club invested the proceeds of the sale into The Holbrook Club – a local sports and social venue – with the intention of making it their new home. However, they were dealt a crushing blow when planning permission for the proposed new stadium was refused.

The decision heralded a turbulent period in The Hornets’ history, as they were forced into a series of ground shares at Worthing, Horsham YMCA and Lancing. HFC were hit by two relegations and dropped into the Sussex County League for the first time in 60 years.

The club turned its attention to land adjacent to Horsham Golf & Fitness Club in south Horsham and close to the park and ride facility; this would become fundamental to the travel planning case supporting the new ground. However, in January 2015 the

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Horsham FC playing their first match at the new ground against Crawley Town

first iteration of plans for the Hop Oast Ground was refused by Horsham District Council.

At this stage and in order to finance the ambitious project, the club entered into an agreement with Reside Developments for much-needed local homes to be built on around a third of land at The Holbrook Club, while retaining and investing in the sports, fitness and social facilities for people to continue to enjoy.

This agreement was dependent on planning permission being granted for the development.

DMH Stallard on the team

DMH Stallard’s planning consultancy is one of the largest teams of chartered planning consultants within a law firm anywhere in the UK and comes with a track record of success that very few others in the sector could match - the unique mix of planning consultants and solicitors allows the team to provide

a complete service to developers.

Working on behalf of Reside Developments and hand-in-hand with Horsham Football Club, the award-winning team brought forward modified plans that addressed earlier concerns and set out an inspiring vision for the future of a much-loved community asset, alongside the delivery of 58 new homes.

However, with the project becoming increasingly politicised, considered dialogue was required with local councillors and other key opinion formers to assure them of the advantages of the new scheme.

This comprehensive programme of consultation with stakeholders, including the local community, underpinned by the consultants’ extensive experience in project managing large

BUSINESS SURVEY

Katie Lamb, Director of Planning at DMH Stallard, said: “It’s inspiring to now see this incredible club prosper again in a permanent new home that offers so much to the local community. The benefits of the developments reach far and wide in this part of West Sussex, not least the contribution that 58 new homes, including affordable properties, will make to the local demand for housing.”

John Lines, Chairman of Horsham Football Club, said:

Image courtesy of ECE Architecture

“I am very proud to be a small part of bringing the club back home to the town. This is the start of an exciting new era for the club, and to top it all we have stepped up a league after being promoted at the end of last season.”

Steve O’Halloran, Land Director at Reside Developments, said:

The housing development was a key part of the proposed plans

scale developments and the most forensic understanding and knowledge of the planning system and related legislation, ensured that when the revised application came before the planning committee in March 2017 it was overwhelmingly approved.

The new ground has been named The Camping World Community Stadium following a multi-year partnership agreement with Camping World,

and provides: • A full-size FA grade 3G pitch and a second training pitch, both floodlit.

• Superb clubhouse facilities including a directors’ boardroom named in honour of Club President Frank King – who sadly passed away just before the opening of the new facility – a bar area and a function hall also for hire.

• A permanent home for grass roots football in the region.

“Having worked alongside the excellent people behind the scenes at Horsham Football Club and seen how passionate and committed they are to their club, I have no doubt that 2019 will come to be seen as watershed in the proud history of the club, with their greatest days yet to come.”

Katie Lamb is Director of Planning at DMH Stallard. Contact her at katie.lamb@dmhstallard.com, or call 03333 231580. dmhstallard.com

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Expanding How to take your company global and what to consider when trading abroad,

by Andrew Griggs, Senior Partner and Head of International at Kreston Reeves specific countries where it believes a market exists, to diversify, reduce costs or recruit new talent. Whatever the reasons, businesses should consider the following four points.

Understand the market and culture

T

he UK’s relationship with the EU has claimed yet another Conservative Prime Minister, adding a further twist to the tortious shape of our departure from Europe.

US President Trump’s visit to the UK in June may have given headline writers something different to focus on, but for those in business it will have been his comments on international trade that will have been most closely followed.

Yet, as our own research showed, published in our report Going for Growth, many UK businesses remain focused on domestic markets. So, what do businesses need to consider when looking to grow overseas?

Businesses may expand overseas for a variety of reasons – to build an international customer base targeting

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Expanding overseas can stretch a business to breaking point – it is often too much for just one person. Building and making the right connections in your chosen markets is essential.

Every country will have its own unique regulations, rules and challenges that need to be understood and met.

These might include particular product standards, restrictions on moving money in and out of the country, through to challenges around language.

Building relationships and making the right connections can take time and will involve having feet on the ground but will pay dividends. They will help navigate cultural sensitivities, find distributors, and open doors that may be closed to an outsider. For many businesses this may be all that is needed.

There are also geopolitical issues to consider. The US’s trade restrictions with Iran and tariffs on certain products or restrictions on particular companies – famously Huawei – will also have an impact.

As a business grows overseas having your own team on the ground may be the only option. This might mean moving a team from one country to another or hiring locally. Either way, there will be many things to consider including:

“Building and making the right connections in your chosen markets is essential”

One of the underlying promises behind our decision to leave the EU was the ability to trade freely around the world with the US a particularly attractive market.

Build the right connections and have the right team

And then there are cultural conside rations.

Many countries, for example, place great importance on building strong personal relationships that take time to nurture as a driver behind a commercial relationship.

All these need to be understood to ensure successful and profitable international growth.

• Company registrations and associated legal documentation • Employment law issues

FINANCE

overseas • Banking relationships • Payroll matters • Tax and VAT issues • Government assistance programs • Currency exchange rates All these need to be planned and prepared for beforehand.

Do not forget the tax implications

Whilst tax will not necessarily be a decision maker in deciding to expand internationally, it should not be ignored.

Areas to be considered include: • The tax regime in the local country • Structure of the overseas operation – will it be a permanent establishment in that country and, if so, a branch or new foreign company • Transfer pricing for goods and services between countries • Other taxes such as VAT, customs duties, payroll, income and corporate tax

Bring on board local assistance in that country

Just as you need the right team you will also need the right advisers guiding you through your overseas expansion. That team will include your bank, accountants, lawyers and government agencies (both in the UK, via the Department for International Trade (DIT), and the local country).

Those advisers need not only to understand your business but the peculiarities of the market and geography.

That can rarely be done by a firm sitting solely in the UK. Kreston Reeves works closely with member firms in the Kreston International network consisting of over 200 accountancy firms in 125 countries, bringing more than 25,000 professionals, helping businesses grow around the world. Our membership means that our UK clients expanding

overseas are in safe hands with local accountancy firms and advisers that share the same standards and values as ourselves. They will help you locally with your business needs.

Andrew Griggs is the Senior Partner and Head of International at Kreston Reeves, accountants and business advisers. He can be reached by email: andrew.griggs@krestonreeves.com www.krestonreeves.com

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Inheritance tax review

How could changes affect you and your family?

Phil Atherton, Director of Estate Planning at MHA Carpenter Box, offers some guidance on the main changes proposed to Inheritance Tax legislation gifts become exempt from IHT. This has been changed from seven to five years. The OTS say this seven-year rule creates difficulties as it is hard to trace back bank payments beyond six years.

The report also says that the current taper relief system is very complex, and it would be simpler to abolish it.

The OTS also called for the so-called ‘14-year rule’, which can affect estates where lifetime gifts have been made to both individuals and trusts, to be abolished.

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he Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) advises the government on simplifying the UK tax system. It recently undertook a consultation on Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules and has recommended a major shake-up of the current rules.

Inheritance Tax applies primarily on death, but also to gifts made to individuals within seven years of death, as well as to certain lifetime gifts.

So, what are the proposed changes, and how might they affect you if they are agreed to by government? A guide to the main points is outlined below.

Change from 7 to 5 years for Potentially Exempt Transfers

The most far-reaching proposal is reducing the number of years an individual has to live for before their

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Annual Exemptions

Major recommendations were made to the current IHT annual exemptions available to taxpayers. The annual exemptions have not risen since the late 1970s/early 80s and as such have lost their effectiveness over the years.

The recommended action is for the plethora and complexity of annual exemptions to be simplified with one higher allowance replacing them all.

The OTS recommends that the abolition of the exemption for regular gifts out of surplus income should also be part of the allowance replacement.

Of the 275,000 estates that submitted an IHT form in 2015-16, only 579 made a claim for this relief. More than 50% of those claims were for less than £25,000 of gifts.

FINANCE

Interaction of IHT reliefs with Capital Gains Tax

Furnished Holiday Lettings (FHLs)

Quite rightly, the OTS queried why the Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax treatments of FHLs are different from

Business Relief

The Business Relief rules were introduced in the 1970s to prevent family Worryingly the OTS has recommendfarms and businesses being split up to ed that where relief or exemption from pay IHT bills, by exempting the Inheritance Tax applies on death, there should be no “Of the 275,000 estates that value of the farm or business from IHT. capital gains uplift on the relevant asset. The result submitted an IHT form in is that the recipient will be Business Relief applies to 2015-16, only 579 made a treated as acquiring the asshares in unquoted trading set at the historic base cost claim for this relief. More than companies and as such certain of the person who has died.

AIM shares are also free from 50% of those claims were for IHT. If the government acceptless than £25,000 of gifts” ed this recommendation, The report questions whether it would particularly affect it is within the policy intent of families passing on farms and family Business Relief to extend the relief the IHT treatment and recommended businesses, where the recipient wishto AIM shares and other “non-famthat the rules should be the same for es to sell rather than continue to run ily” trading companies. If this were all taxes. This could mean an exempthe business. accepted, the loss of Business Relief tion from IHT for FHL owners – at last on AIM shares will likely necessitate some positive news for landlords! a wholesale review of High Net Worth Clients’ investment portfolios.

Your personal invitation to our next Estate Planning Seminar: Choice not Chance

Life Assurance

Finally, the OTS has recommended changes to the term life insurance death benefit system, so that there is no need for term life insurance to be written into a trust for it to be IHT exempt.

Summary

Planning for what will happen after your death can give you peace of mind and is one of the more important things you can do as you approach later life. If you have been putting it off, then our seminar is the perfect opportunity to find out what is involved.

A Will alone is not enough. Don’t leave it to chance.

Join Phil Atherton, Director of Es-

tate Planning at MHA Carpenter Box, as he takes you step-by-step through the maze of traps and pitfalls of Estate Planning.

We will be holding seminars throughout the day on September 26th at the Royal Eastbourne Golf Club, at 10am, 2pm and 7pm.

You can sign up for a session by visiting www.carpenterbox.com/ choice-not-chance.

These are only recommendations, as the OTS itself does not implement changes. However, this is the second review that the government has ordered into IHT, indicating that we can expect sweeping changes to what has been a reasonably stable tax system over the last few decades.

If have any concerns or think that any of these changes might affect you, then please contact our Tax Team on 01903 234094.

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Steps to building an effective team Are these common challenges derailing your work teams, asks skilled speaker and facilitator, Lael Good

I

n today’s fast-paced business environment, organisations need their teams to start fast and get productive quickly. That can be a challenge if you don’t have a common language and process in place to launch and accelerate the growth of a team through these four stages of development: Orientation, when a team is just starting out; Dissatisfaction, when

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conflict inevitably arises; Integration, as the team begins to learn how to work with each other; and Production, when the fine-tuned team is achieving its purpose and goals.

At the Orientation stage, a team needs clarity and alignment. Team members

are excited, but they also have a lot of questions. The team leader’s role is not only ensuring the team is aligned on its purpose, goals, and roles, but also providing clear objectives and norms around communication, accountability, and decision making.

Team members need to know what decisions the team can make and the process for making them, so that the team is able to move forward. Without a clear sense about where it is going and the process for getting there, a team can stall right at the beginning with an endless series of meetings designed for preparing to start.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP BUSINESS SURVEY What’s next for this team?”

The goal is to keep leveraging the team’s natural motivation to be a part of something bigger than team members’ individual agendas. If a team is not continually reengaging about why it exists, how it serves, and what it is doing, it can be hard to maintain cohesion and modify individual agendas for that bigger purpose.

Go slow to go fast The team also needs direction and discussion around problem solving. Team members need to decide how to solve problems together and how they will manage through some of the conflict that will occur. Having ground rules in place will help as the team moves into the latter stages of development.

At the Dissatisfaction stage, the team begins to experience conflict as team members present different ideas about how the team should work together. Conflict is a big derailer for typical work teams — many never progress to high performance because they can’t manage or communicate through that conflict.

At this stage, team members sometimes turn on each other — and even their leader. In response, leaders often revert to fight-or-flight behaviours, saying things like, “Knock this off, we’ve got to move forward,” or they ignore the conflict and hope it goes away on its own. In Blanchard’s Team Leadership program, leaders are taught how to approach conflict with an attitude of candour and curiosity.

Candour helps people say what must be said. Curiosity helps people keep an open mind.

At the Integration stage, things are beginning to improve, but the team needs to keep talking. We teach team members to voice their concerns and share with the team what they’re thinking and observing.

This is about learning how to say something to the effect of “You know, I’ve been observing in our meetings over the last three weeks that none

of us is offering any suggestions or options when questions come up. I’m wondering what we need to do so that people are more willing to share some of their ideas and solutions.”

If leaders are matching what the team needs at each given point in time, the team is going to accelerate through the stages of development. The more broadly that is understood in the organisation by both team members and team leaders, the more you’re going to create an organisation where team performance is going to be at the top

Sometimes it feels a little scary to say; “Here’s what I think, and here’s why I think it,” but when “We simply can’t you follow that with “What are your thoughts, and accomplish everything that how might you address needs to be done, or gain this?” you’re asking for enough skill or expertise to everyone’s help — and that do it, by ourselves” makes a big difference.

Accountability sometimes becomes an issue at this stage. We know teams are trust-based systems, not compliance-based systems. That means when a team has to accomplish something, a leader can’t just order the group to do it.

Instead, the team has to know that they can trust one another to get the results they are jointly responsible for.

This is where having clear agreements about objectives and norms at the front end helps. Now people can ask “How are we doing with our norms?”

This check-in process gives the team a way to openly talk about what’s happening and what might be getting in the way of the team’s ability to deliver results on time.

At the Production stage, the challenge is how to sustain high performance.

This is about keeping the team nourished and growing. Don’t take the team for granted. The team leader needs to ask “Are we demonstrating the team’s contribution to overall organisational goals? Have we recognised and appreciated each team member’s efforts?

level. And if it means going a little bit slower in the beginning, rest assured it will pay off with additional speed and better results in the long run.

The speed of change in our organisations today is such that no one person can go it alone. We simply can’t accomplish everything that needs to be done, or gain enough skill or expertise to do it, by ourselves. Well-structured teams with a common language and process allow organisations to leverage the diverse skillset and different approaches available when you bring a group of people together to address common goals.

If you wish to learn more about The Ken Blanchard Companies’ research on team leadership, please contact uk@kenblanchard.com or visit www.kenblanchard.com/Resources

Training the World’s Best Managers

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BUSINESS SURVEY

Activity continues to decline in July Drop in output reflects a downturn in business

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rivate sector output in the South East declined for the second consecutive month in July, according to the latest NatWest PMI® data. This marked the first back-to-back contraction in over seven years. The rate of decline remained only mild, but new business dropped for the third month running and backlogs fell sharply. Subsequently, growth of private sector employment slowed to a marginal pace and the 12-month outlook for business activity weakened from June’s 11-month high.

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 below the no-change mark of 50.0 in July and was unchanged from June at 49.7. These were the first back-to-back negative readings since October-November 2011, although signalled only a slight contraction in private sector output. In contrast, the UK as a whole registered a slight rebound in activity during the month.

Business activity was weighed down by a further decline in new work in July.

The volume of new business placed with private sector firms fell for the third month running, the longest sequence of contraction in a decade. That said, the rate of decline eased since June. Where growth was reported, panellists linked this to new contract wins and foreign sales due to sterling depreciation.

Although new business and output both declined in July, companies continued to expand their workforces. The current sequence of job creation was extended to five months, although the rate of expansion slowed to a marginal pace.

Sustained employment growth combined with falling new orders ex-

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plained a steeper drop in the volume of outstanding business in July. Backlogs declined at the fastest rate in three years.

Average input prices rose at the fastest rate in three months in July. Although stronger than the long-run survey average, the rate of inflation remained weaker than the trend shown over 2017, 2018 and the start of 2019.

With new business continuing to fall, private sector firms faced increasing pressure to price their goods and services competitively. Output charges rose since June, but at the slowest rate in three years.

Key Findings • Second successive drop in business activity, albeit weak • New business declines for third month running • Marginal increase in employment Private sector companies remained confident of growth of output over the next 12 months. That said, the strength of sentiment eased from June’s 11-month high to the weakest since April. A number of firms highlighted Brexit uncertainty as a key factor weighing on sentiment.

COMMENT

Stuart Johnstone, Managing Director, London & South East, Corporate & Commercial Banking “The South East registered another slight dip in private sector output in July, unlike the trend for the UK as a whole where growth resumed at a weak pace following June’s contraction.

crease in new work since October 2017 – may provide some stimulus to the South East in the coming months.”

“Both new and outstanding business fell in the South East at the start of the second half of the year.

Employment continued to increase, albeit only marginally.

“The outlook darkened in July as Brexit uncertainty remained, with 12-month expectations for output the weakest since April. More positively, London’s recovery in July – the capital saw the greatest in-

Stuart Johnstone

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.

FINANCE

What is all the fuss about Cloud accounting?

Accessing your data virtually and controlling your financials has never been easier says Carol Rigby, Partner at Cardens Accountants

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s a business owner you probably hear a lot of people raving about the “cloud” and wonder if this is something your business should be using (or you could be one of the people who is embracing this already). The cloud is completely changing how accountants work with their clients, so I thought this would be a great topic to chat about here.

Our clients utilise cloud accounts packages, which allows us to access their figures in real time and make changes to the live data. Traditionally, when desktop software was being used, information from clients would have to be requested, which would be out of date by the time it was received, which would result in asking clients to make necessary adjustments.

anything from tax planning to business expansion plans.

doing this when you are meant to be enjoying a family holiday).

Additionally, what is even more useful, is that clients are now utilising their accountants to train and support them on how to adopt the accounts software. This means that more business owners are now capable to do their own bookkeeping, which not only gives them efficient management decisions based on accurate figures, but also gives them a much greater visibility over their figures.

As you can probably tell by now, I’m a big fan of the developments in cloud accounting! If you want to know if it would work for your business or how we can help I’d love to talk to you.

For further information visit www.cardensaccountants.com

If you haven’t been sold already on adopting cloud software, another great benefit my clients love, is that they can do book“As long as you have a good keeping on the go or check the financials internet connection, you can whilst sat on a train to literally access your data London, for example, as long as you have a from anywhere (although I good internet connecdon’t recommend doing this tion, you can literally access your data from when you are meant to be anywhere (although enjoying a family holiday)” I don’t recommend

Cloud accounting now means that accountants can be much more pro-active than previously in the past. Now, data can be shared so that clients can do some of the bookkeeping and we can process the more complex transactions. I can also run off current information to discuss how well my client’s businesses are performing, giving them up to date advice on

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GATWICK DIAMOND AWARDS

The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2020 are on their way...

Chief Executive of Gatwick Diamond Business, Jeff Alexander, on the preparations for next year’s Awards ceremony

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he Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2019 were a great success – quite possibly our best ever celebration dinner and ceremony – and the quotes from the sponsors, judges and finalists speak for themselves.

This does not happen by accident, it takes months of planning. Indeed,

we are already hard at work preparing for GDBA 2020 even though the big night is not until March 19th. The 2019 Awards will be a hard act to follow, but we have exciting plans which we will reveal at our launch event in October.

This is when we bring together our headline sponsors, judges, and delivery partners.

Our Awards are very much a team effort, we are like a Premiership manager in the off-season bringing the team together to scale new heights.

We are very pleased with progress so far, loyal team members are sticking with us, but we are also making a few new signings to refresh the mix. We take great pride in the integrity of our

“Well done for an excellent evening of celebration!

So much energy, so much passion about our area, and a great atmosphere! Personal thanks to your team for putting the event together and executing it so professionally” Natalie Brahma-Pearl, Chief Executive of Crawley Borough Council

Awards and we work individually and collectively with our sponsors and judges to ensure the highest standards of objectivity and impartiality. That is of course essential in the run up to the big night, but then it is all about celebration, entertainment and fun.

This year’s host Shaun Williamson

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Jeff Alexander

All of this is of course dependent on the quality of entrants. We will not be announcing the award categories until our launch event in October but visit our website for information on last

year’s categories to get a good idea of what to expect.

Entries will need to be with us by November 22nd, and during October and November, we will be holding a series of “How to Win Awards Seminars” where potential entrants will have the chance to pick up valuable tips from previous winners and experienced judges – again it is this level of preparation that make our awards stand out.

So why enter business awards and why the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards in particular?

Our Awards are designed to be a journey with benefits for entrants at all stages – from preparing the entry, through to the judging process and right up to the big night itself. That is why we attach so much importance to all shortlisted entrants receiving a visit and feedback from our judges. We take pride in offering the opportunity for all entrants who are prepared to put in the undoubted effort to benefit, whether or not they end up as winners.

strategy and to engage the whole of your team, and ideally your customers, in the process. A well-chosen award category will align with your key targets and business goals. As importantly, it will develop and test your ability to communicate your ambition, commitment and stand-out qualities to others.

Winning the right award can undoubtedly enhance your reputation, open up new markets and help you to recruit the people you need. Indeed, research has shown that award-winning businesses are generally more profitable

than their competitors. But perhaps what has struck me the most is how preparing a successful entry brings the team together – just watch the winning teams on the stage collecting their awards!

At risk of taking the football analogy a bit too far, a key off-season signing for us is our celebrity host for the evening – he or she is the equivalent of our new star striker. We can’t wait to announce who it will be for 2020 and I am sure our choice will not disappoint!

“It was a fabulous evening – so much fun and so professionally run. It is THE must attend event in the region’s business year.”

Julie Kapsalis, Managing Director of Crawley College & the Chichester College Group

Headline sponsors

Entering respected awards is a good way to help develop your business

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Ursula’s Army is on its way?

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BUSINESS BIGSURVEY STORY Ian Trevett profiles Ursula von der Leyen, the incoming President of the European Commission: and a committed federalist and an advocate of a European Army

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hen you start a new job, it’s always nice to have a bit of time to settle into the new role, meet the team and have a calm, orderly handover from your predecessor. Ursula von der Leyen takes over as the President of the European Commission on Friday November 1st, starting the morning after “No ifs. No buts. We are leaving the EU on October 31st.”

“For me, London was the epitome of modernity: freedom, the joy of life, trying everything. This gave me an inner freedom that I have kept until today.

And another thing I have kept: the realisation that different cultures can get on together very well.”

build what I like to call the ‘army of the Europeans’. We maintain national armies, under the authority of sovereign states, but better coordinated and mutually reinforcing.” Again Farage exploded with self-righteous fury, labelling her a fanatic.

But is it fanaticism or pragmatism?

Airbus, which employs 14,000 in the UK, writes on its official website: “The EU is facing unprecedented challenges that endanger the safety and secuIf she adores London, she is just as What will she walk into? “Good mornrity of its citizens: Since 2015, a series enamoured with the European project ing Frau von der Leyen. Here’s your of terrorist attacks have taken place in and is known as a federalist and talks office. The bathroom is down the corFrance, Germany, Belgium, Spain and keenly of a European Army. ridor on the left. The kitchen is to the the UK. The strained relationship right. We just installed tariffs on UK imports, we have twenty “The UK, as represented between the EU and Russia has not yet recovered since the annexmile lorry jams on both sides

by Michael Fallon the ation of Crimea. Obviously, memof the channel, there’s now a States cannot handle these hard border in Ireland and a big then defence secretary, ber challenges on their own – and yet demonstration planned, and EU the defence landscape in Europe citizens have been stripped of declared in September is increasingly fragmented. For their legal status to stay in the 2017 that we would be example, according to the EuropeUK. How do you take your tea?” open to contributing to the an Commission, the EU-28 use 20 different fighter planes (six in the Who knows what will happen €5.5bn European defence US), 29 different frigates (four in on October 31st, but one is for the US) and 178 different weapon sure, von der Leyen will be hugefund after Brexit!” systems (30 in the US).” ly influential in how our future In 2011, she spoke abut the desirabilirelationship with the 27 remaining EU Writing in the Conservative-leaning ty of a “United States of Europe along nations is defined.

Spectator, Vernon Bogdanor wrote, the lines of federal states like Swit“There are four major power blocs in zerland, Germany or the US.” She has So who is Ursula von der Leyen? the world — the United States, Russia, moderated her stance in recent years, The good news is that she loves LonChina and the EU. Of these, only the clarifying it by saying: “It has become don. In 1978, she was studying ecoEU does not provide for its own demore mature and more realistic. In nomics at the University of Göttingen, fence and security. Remarkably, nearly the European Union we have unity in when her father, a leading European 75 years after the end of the second diversity. That is something different civil servant, was warned his family world war, Europe is still heavily deto federalism. I think that is the right could be a target of the Baader-Meinpendent upon the United States for path.” hof Group, a German left-wing terits defence. But it is hardly surprising rorist gang known for violent kidnapthat, in the Trump era, pressure has Unsurprisingly Brexit Party leader Nipings and assassinations. Ursula was grown for an autonomous European gel Farage threw his toys out of the quickly dispatched to the UK with a defence policy.” pram, and accused von der Leyen of new name and continued her studies wanting to build “a centralised, undemat the London School of Economics.

The EU is already pooling resources ocratic, updated form of communism She embraced her temporary home in 2017 The European Defence Fund where nation state parliaments will and some years later told the weekwas launched to coordinate spendcease to have any relevance at all.” ly newspaper, Die Zeit, “I lived much ing on defence research and the acmore than I studied. I immersed myquisition of military equipment. The Just as controversial has been her self for one year in this seething, interUK, as represented by Michael Fallon call for a European Army. In 2018, she national, colourful city. For me, comthe then defence secretary, declared said, “By giving birth to the European ing from the rather monotonous, white in September 2017 that we would be Defence Union, we have started to Germany, that was fascinating.

Whether her love of London withstands her first trip to Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street remains to be seen.

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open to contributing to the €5.5bn European defence fund after Brexit!

Ursula von der Leyen has extensive experience in defence matters having been Germany’s Defence Minister from 2013 until this July. She has by no means been regarded as an unqualified success. If you want a criticism of Von der Leyen then the Brexit party will never let you down. Brexit Party MEP (and Danish dentist?!) Henrik Overgaard-Nielsen dismissed a potential European Army under Von der Leyen as a joke, adding “We can see what she did to the German army - where none of their submarines can actually sail, where they had tests where she sent all the soldiers but they didn’t have any guns so they had broomsticks instead…”

Noah Gordon from The New Statesman, assessed her tenure more impartially: “The defence job has been viewed as a graveyard for ambitious politicians because of the German public’s wariness of foreign deployment and resistance to military spending. “…Von der Leyen spent much of her time managing a large government bureaucracy with cultural baggage. Evidence of extremist views in the Bundeswehr (the German armed forces) — a far-right lieutenant posing as a Syrian refugee and plotting terror attacks, Nazi memorabilia found in a barracks — drew a sharp response from von der Leyen, who alleged in 2017 that the military suffered from an “attitude problem” and a “weakness of leadership”. Some in the military hierarchy felt she went too far and resented the remarks.

“Von der Leyen is also under fire for awarding, without proper justification, lucrative defence ministry contracts to outside consultancies with which she had personal connections. A Bundestag committee is still investigating the matter.

“Many military analysts, however, take a positive view of her tenure, pointing out that she increased the defence budget after years of cuts, improved troops’ equipment, and enabled Ger-

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“The Economist’s Charlemagne characterises her as “less twinset and pearls than knuckle-dusters and caffeine pills.”” many to play a key role in both Nato missions and the establishment of EU initiatives such as the European Defence Fund. “…Her calls for an “army of Europeans” should be understood as a desire to make member state militaries more interoperable, rather than one to create a military juggernaut commanded from Brussels. In von der Leyen’s vision, national parliaments would still have the final say about deployment.”

The usual suspects among our populist-leaning press like to portray von der Leyen’s proposals of increased military co-operation among European nations as some kind of betrayal of the veterans of the WWII, which is dangerous nonsense. Sharing resources among liberal democracies and friendly nations is sensible and press-

ing, especially in an age when the support of the US depends on the whim of an unpredictable Donald Trump.

Von der Leyen’s views on defence can understandably dominate headlines, but she has equally strong political leanings when it comes to gender equality. After studying for a medical degree and practicing as a gynaecologist, The Guardian’s Daniel Boffey reports, “She only entered politics at 42.

A mother of seven, she has held government positions as labour and family affairs minister, driving forward key policies on gender quotas for company boards and improved maternity and paternity pay and rights.”

Her first battle was to change the policies of her own party, the centre-right Christian Democratic Union. Her biographer Daniel Goffart noted: “She has

BIG STORY an incredible amount of energy. You especially saw that in her bitter and protracted battle to modernise her party’s view on the role of the family.”

this she says is “A good agreement, which was negotiated properly in accordance with the red lines drawn by the British government.”

She is also preparing for a no deal, esUnder her watch, Germany introduced pecially with regards to Ireland, which a law guaranteeing every child over could be hit harder than any other na12 months of age a place at a daytion. Von der Leyen has said that a Eucare facility, and a paid parental leave ropean unemployment benefit reinsurscheme that includes at least two ance scheme, modelled on measures months of paid leave for fathers. She put in place in Germany to cushion forced Merkel to drop her opposition the blow of the world financial downto boardroom quotas for women, even turn a decade ago, could be rolled out though the policy was later defeated across the bloc in the Bunde“The future of the of 27 nations: stag. In 2017, she voted for same- planet is a matter of “Should an extershock such as sex marriage urgency, but the first nal a disorderly Brexit when her menitem in her inbox hit two or three tor Merkel voted countries particuagainst. will, inevitably be larly hard, for exBrexit.” ample, the unemVon der Leyen ployment reinsurance scheme could has pledged to bring in a “green deal” come into force.” It is clear that the EU investment programme for the contiunder her stewardship will do all it can nent in her first 100 days in office and to prevent Ireland being dragged down to ramp up environmental targets and by a British exit. write them into law.

The future of the planet is a matter of urgency, but the first item in her inbox will, inevitably be Brexit. She will be likely be a difficult opponent if the UK goes in too heavy-handed. The Economist’s Charlemagne characterises her as “less twinset and pearls than knuckle-dusters and caffeine pills.”

Von der Leyen will be loathe to renovate the current withdrawal agreement,

Yet she is also an Anglophile and like Angela Merkel, she desires a close and productive relationship between the UK and Germany, and indeed the EU. She says: “It would be wrong to see Brexit only as the end of something.

The way in which we carry out Brexit will determine our future relationship to our neighbour the United Kingdom.

For both sides it is of the highest interest that there is an orderly and good

beginning to our future relationships.”

In the crazy world we currently inhabit, predictions are impossible, but it is certainly safe to say that Ursula von der Leyen is about to become a very familiar figure in the UK - for better or worse.

The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is the second German to become the President of the European Commission, although Germany was the only EU nation not to back her nomination, a reflection of the tribal divides which can be found in domestic politics.

The tiny nation of Luxembourg has had three Presidents, more than any other nation, the latest being the present incumbent JeanClaude Juncker.

The UK has had one President – Roy Jenkins from 1977 to 1981.

The position of President has existed since 1967.

It is often, incorrectly, confused with being the President of the EU, a position which does not exist.

The Commission’s job is to develop laws for member states and enforce them.

Based in Brussels, it’s the only EU body that can draft laws. It employs more than 32,000 staff in total and its running costs this year are €3.6bn.

Ursula von der Leyen is the first woman to become President.

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Brighton & Hove Business Awards 2019

WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN!

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righton & Hove is a city where business excellence thrives, and the Brighton & Hove Business Awards (BAHBAs) is the ultimate celebration of the best companies and the most inspiring entrepreneurs.

In this issue, we hear from some of this year’s big success stories including interviews with Company of the Year, RocketMill, and winner of the CSR Excellence Award, Search Seven. We also get the low-down on what it means to win an award from some of this year’s winners and finalists including, Brighton & Hove’s Best Independent Retailer, Present in the Laine; One to Watch, Katherine Swift, founder of OMGTea; Start-up of the Year winner, Anything is Possible; MacConvilles Surveying, winner of the Professional Services Award; and Highly Commended in both SME Business of the Year and Best Independent Retailer, Velvet Stores.

Sit back and be inspired…

Anything is Possible

BRIGHTON&HOVE

BRIGHTON&HOVE

WINNER

FINALIST

Winner – Start-up of the Year Finalist – Company of the Year Please explain what your business does We are a media, creative and knowledge agency that helps businesses grow through better advertising. Our team are experts in media planning and buying across digital and offline, digital marketing services and creative production. We have built consultancy services that upskill clients and empowers them to be more effective at marketing.

What do you think impressed the judges about your company?

Anything is Possible is more than our brand, it’s a mindset that we all share. We’ve built a people first business that enables better working

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and smarter ideas that deliver better results for clients. Cutting-edge technology, transparent working processes and innovative commercial models

have fuelled our growth and enable us to work with a host of national and international brands who are all brought

in to better advertising. The marketing and advertising industries are ripe for change and we are here to make it better for everyone; the brands that advertise, the people who make them and the people who see them.

What does winning the award mean to your business?

We are absolutely delighted.

Brighton is an amazing city with a fantastic and diverse talent pool. We see this as the ideal location to build a world class media business.

We have a fantastic team who have helped us to where we are today and will be the platform for our future growth. To receive this recognition is a massive boost and a fantastic achievement.

BAHBAS FOCUS Velvet Stores

Highly Commended – SME Business of the Year Highly Commended – Best Independent Retailer

BRIGHTON&HOVE

BRIGHTON&HOVE

HIGHLY COMMENDED

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Please explain what your business does Velvet is 20 years old next year; it’s a large and beautiful independent retail store, occupying 2500 sqft over two floors and is full of wonderful fashion, homeware and lifestyle products.

We sell clothing, accessories, shoes, gifts, home interiors and stationery and also offer personal shopping, customer order services and host special events.

What do you think impressed the judges about your company?

Our complete passion for proper shop keeping, exceptional customer care, and a large, thriving and welcoming store. In January 2018, I worked on a new business plan for Velvet which included a new shop fit, new layout, large social media campaign, new buying strategy and development of

BRIGHTON&HOVE

ONE TO WATCH Please explain what your business does We are a specialist organic matcha green tea business. Our products are sourced from an award-winning producer in Kagoshima, a region known for its excellent organic farming, and are amongst the highest quality Japanese matcha you can find on the UK market.

What do you think impressed the judges about your company?

The story behind the brand is authentic; I started the business as a result of my mum being diagnosed with breast cancer and at the core of OMGTea is the desire to help people live healthier lives. Our business approach is ethical; for example, we may be small but that hasn’t stopped us from leading the way with scientific research to validate the health

the team and this has enabled our large growth over the last 18 months, a turnover up 30% and profits trebled.

With a huge local following we are completely bucking the high street trend!

What does winning the award mean to your business?

Receiving two Highly Commended categories means the world to us. Being recognised for being the second best business in Brighton and Hove feels great after nearly 20 years of being in business. We have survived and thrived and have big things planned for 2020. I have an amazing team of 12 who work very hard and have a huge amount of passion for the business and most importantly customer care.

We have had an amazing 18 months and to receive two highly commended BAHBAs is the icing on the cake!

Katherine Swift, OMGTea One to Watch – Businessperson of the Year

claims regarding matcha. We also support The Healthy Life Foundation, a charity which I founded in 2015 and that funds ground-breaking research into age-related disease.

I think they will have also recognised that we are a disruptor in the category, punching above our weight when it comes to innovation whilst still staying true to our values. With distribution in Ocado, Planet Organic, Daylesford, Infinity Foods, Harvey Nichols and Revital, the brand is in a strong position for continued growth.

What does winning the award mean to your business?

We are a very small team and we are very proud to be a part of the Brighton business community, so this award is a real honour and very exciting for us.

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Present in the Laine

BRIGHTON&HOVE

Winner - Best Independent Retailer Please explain what your business does Present in the Laine is a gift, accessories and fashion boutique selling a colourful and exciting mix of products in Brighton’s North Laine. We are proud to support local and independent suppliers, artists and makers through our mix of jewellery, clothing, women and men’s accessories, homewares, cards and art. We have become one of Brighton’s go-to shops for gifting and have now turned our attention online to providing curated gift sets and boxes for all occasions and are also branching out into corporate gifting.

What do you think impressed the judges about your company?

I think the judges were impressed by the product selection, atmosphere, customer service and of course our fantastic window displays. For a

BRIGHTON&HOVE

WINNER Please explain what your business does Established in 1938, MacConvilles have been proudly providing public and private sector clients with surveying and related professional services. We started life in Brighton as a Quantity Surveying firm and this expanded to include Building Surveying services and a number of specialisms including Project Management, Expert Witness, Sustainability, Party Wall Awards and CDM Advice.

What do you think impressed the judges about your company?

We hope the judges recognised how we add value, offer a quality service and take ownership of projects. We have

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WINNER

small space we pack a punch in terms of choice with new stock arriving weekly, and as a small independent we also go the extra mile for our customers whether its gift wrapping or contacting them personally when items are back in stock.

What does winning the award mean to your business?

Winning the award is a fantastic achievement and a pat on the back for me that I made the right decision when it felt like a big risk starting the business five years ago with some savings and a lot of courage and support from my husband and family. It is

Owner Caroline Clifton

also a wonderful testament to my team for all they do in supporting me and offering the same brilliant customer service. I hope they feel very proud to be working for Brighton’s Best Independnet Retailer, I’m certainly proud of us!

MacConvilles Surveying

Winner - Professional Services Award

successfully retained our ISO accreditations for 9001, 14001 and 18001 and were pioneers in achieving BS 76000 “Human Resources and Valuing People Management Systems”. We’re hugely committed to the community, working on local pro bono projects

that will make a difference to the area we live and work.

What does winning the award mean to your business?

We are really humbled to have won this award, it is a positive reinforcement of the culture of high-quality service that we foster in our team, and to see that recognised is incredibly empowering. The value of this award in our marketing is huge as we know locally it is a mark of quality that really resonates with businesses in the South East, therefore we will be shouting from the rooftops for all to hear! We truly believe the award will create unique opportunities for our business to flourish and we are excited to see where the journey takes us.

BAHBAS FOCUS

Magnificent Seven Purpose-driven focus is the force behind Search Seven’s success. We hear from Managing Director Gavin Willis, on why the company’s outstanding success at the BAHBAs means so much

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ot every company can claim that they pledge up to 7% of their profi t through fundraising donations yet Brighton-based digital marketing agency, Search Seven is one of them. If they fall short of their target, they also make up the difference. And last year they launched #share7, a year-long 2018 charity campaign, which raised over £20,000 for seven charities and the local community.

It’s no wonder that at this year’s BAHBAs Search Seven won the CSR Excellence Award, received Highly Commended in the Professional Services category, while Gavin Willis was a finalist for Businessperson of the Year.

Tell us a bit about yourself as a businessperson I’m passionate about great customer service and making a difference to my community - these are the two main drivers that get me going. I previously worked at Propellernet, a great local agency with a people first ethos. I managed a small team of my own with around 25 client accounts before an opportunity presented itself to me to continue working with those smaller

BRIGHTON&HOVE

BRIGHTON&HOVE

BRIGHTON&HOVE

WINNER

HIGHLY COMMENDED

FINALIST

Winner – CSR Excellence Highly Commended – Professional Services Finalist – Gavin Willis, Businessperson of the Year clients who were becoming too small for the agency. This was a big shift in direction for them but an opportunity for me to set up on my own.

How important is it to ‘make a difference’?

Massively important. I set up Search Seven to be a vehicle that makes a difference. I wanted something to drive and motivate the team and to make clients and partners more aligned to us and our CSR values. By the end of 2019 we will have helped to raise £50,000 for charity in our eight years to date. Getting to know the charities we support and seeing first hand the impact of where our fundraising goes is priceless.

Why did you decide to enter the awards?

We were planning to enter the Professional Services Award as we wanted

to shout about our great customer services and results. We’ve achieved a lot and I thought we should tell this story in our entry, however, we were then nominated for the CSR Excellence Award by Brighton Chamber and I was nominated by RISE (one of the charities we support) for Businessperson of the Year.

What does winning a BAHBA mean to you?

We were the only business to be up for all three awards that we entered so to receive this kind of recognition from the judges and the business community was fantastic. Winning an award provides reassurance that you are doing things right and gives the whole team confidence that they are helping to make a difference.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

The agency had a real turning point in 2018 when we moved to new offices and focused more on our operational services and CSR activities. Our team has more than doubled in the last 18 months and in five years’ time we would love to see the team and turnover double from where it is now. We hope to continue to host our own charity events, get involved in team building events and continue to have fun, putting purpose ahead of profit. Personally, it would be great to hit 100k in fundraising in the next five years and set a milestone of £77,000 by the end of 2021 to mark our tenth anniversary.

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Sam and Ben Garrity

Rocket Men We discover how RocketMill, ‘Company of the Year’ at this year’s BAHBAs has moved from servicing local MOT Centres to blue-chips, and what it’s like to work with your brother

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en years ago, brothers Sam and Ben Garrity created the beginnings of their multi-award winning agency aged just 31 and 24. Born from a desire to help small businesses grow by reaching their customers effectively, the essence of RocketMill remains the same today.

RocketMill is a full-service digital marketing agency that puts people first.

They help businesses implement the right technology, derive the right data from it, deliver strategies, and then activate campaigns via their creative and media teams. This model is trusted by some of the UK’s biggest brands and most ambitious SMEs, with retained

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clients including National Geographic, Dropbox, Kimberly-Clark and Gatwick Airport.

“We were recently placed 12th on The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For, have been recognised as one of Campaign’s 50 Best Places to Work, and featured as Number 15 in The Drum’s Top 100 Independent Agencies Census,” Sam beams.

“Winning Company of the Year at the BAHBAs on top of all of this felt both surreal and right. It rewarded 10 years of hard work for us and our team, but the icing on the cake was my children’s reactions the next day. I woke up to them reading the award aloud asking,

BRIGHTON&HOVE

WINNER

‘Daddy - you have won company of the year? You’re the best company in all of Brighton…and Hove? Even better than the Harry Potter shop?’, that gave me real perspective.”

They then opened the fizz at the office and celebrated with their team, attributing the success to them, “It’s all about them” states Sam. “Their talent attracts and retains the clients so this award is certainly for all the people at RocketMill.”

How the Rocket launched Sam and Ben started the business by identifying that the companies spending money on directories were behind the curve of their consumers’ needs.

BAHBAS FOCUS

“They were getting screwed,” said Ben – the brainchild behind RocketMill. “I started my career in sales and could see how businesses were spending money ineffectively. I wanted to help them market their business direct

pool winning the Champions League in 2005 and the birth of my daughter of course).”

Ben and Sam used their own money in the beginning, not taking a salary for over a year and today, with a few wrong turns and many proud moments en route, RocketMill is one of the largest independent agencies in the UK.

“In agreement that working with your brother is challenging, they declare their bond provides a shortcut in every discussion to the real truth.” to their customers so asked Sam to partner with me in modernising the approach by building websites for companies and marketing them on Google. We set up in the height of the credit crunch but succeeded because we are accountable and deliver measurable results.”

Their first sales are among their career highlights so far; Ben fell off his chair in a MOT garage pitch (it literally fell apart), and Sam presented on the dashboard of a builder’s van.

Cold-calling prospects from his sisters’ loft where he lived with his then heavily pregnant wife, Sam recalls, “I had three appointments set up. Two didn’t show and the third didn’t commit. I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders and slumped back into my car, but then heard a tap on the window. It was the owner of the business who said; ‘I’ve changed my mind. I trust you and believe in what you’re offering so I’m in and I’ll pay you one year fees upfront’ - that was a defining moment, I just knew everything was going to work out.”

Ben echoes that feeling; “The first bit of business was one of the happiest moments of my life (excluding Liver-

With Sam as CEO and Ben as Chief Revenue Officer, they have different strengths which combine to great effect and, though in agreement that working with your brother is challenging, they declare their bond provides a shortcut in every discussion to the real truth.

internal team; more of an investment than a cost,” they share. “We cherish the clients the big agencies neglect, optimising their business not just their marketing.”

“To achieve the success our clients’ needs, we’ve always chosen the best people from the get go. Some have been with us from the very beginning and we’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of their adventures; seeing their development, marriages, children, promotions. It’s a must and a pleasure for us to look after them.

“After all, creating business value starts with creating value for people true for our team, our clients and their customers.”

So what does the future hold for this ambitious agency? “Our recipe for success remains the same, we will never stand still - we can’t go back so we will continue to move forward, putting our people first.”

While they remain steadfast in retaining clients and talent, they also want to attract new clients and talent, “Our clients see us as an extension of their

You can contact the RocketMill team on: T: 01273 916 600 W: rocketmill.co.uk Twitter: @RocketMill

RocketMill celebrate their success at this year’s BAHBAs along with Category Judge Yvonne Folkes (front row, third from the left)

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BUSINESS GROWTH

NatWest Accelerator

Founder of the Month – August 2019 Anything Is Possible

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nything is Possible is a media, creative and knowledge agency that delivers integrated media planning & buying and end-to-end creative services. Through client knowledge transfer and smart technology that gives control back to their client, they build close working partnerships that deliver award-winning work.

Their clients include Linda McCartney Foods, New Covent Garden Soup, Penguin Random House, Eastbourne College and Kew Gardens.

Q & A with Chief Executive Officer, Sam Fenton-Elstone Tell us about your journey into entrepreneurship?

Mark (co-founder) and I have always wanted to do something ourselves having worked together for 10 years.

I took a year out to go travelling with my wife for our honeymoon and it was on that trip that the core idea behind Anything is Possible was born.

After spending a couple of years at advertising agency VCCP, everything came together and it was the right time for the both of us. We launched the business in June 2018 based in the shed office we built in my garden.

Since then we have moved into the NatWest Accelerator Hub and grown to 16 people. We have been delighted with the response we’ve had, working with amazing clients and winning three awards in our first year, and in July being named Start-Up Of The Year at The Brighton & Hove Business Awards.

Where will you be in five years?

In five years, we will have rid the world of bad advertising. As a team there is a unifying approach that unites us all. We are a team of Possiblists. Op-

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timists would see their glass as half full, Pessimists as half empty. A Possiblist fills their glass right to the top.

We want more people in the world to believe that anything is possible. We want more Possiblists.

sions helped us to manage risk, rather than mitigate it. This, combined with flexible office space, has allowed us to grow at the rate we have and build the great team we have today.

In marketing we need a positive agenda to deliver better advertising. Unfortunately much of the advertising we see today is rubbish, intrusive and ineffective. We are closely involved with the Conscious Advertising Network working to promote the conscious choice advertisers can make to improve our industry and advertising as a whole.

What are you most excited about right now?

We have developed a number of tools that are game changers for advertisers, with all media campaigns fully logged on their blockchain platform, allowing advertisers to track every penny down to an impression level.

This empowers advertisers like never before through transparency, technology and performance.

How has the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator helped to accelerate you and your business?

Being part of the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator, we found the support and challenge in coaching ses-

hello@aip.media 0203 3130 4065

Each 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

“Friendly, patient, professional and highly efficient service, as always, from Extech Cloud�

Humanising IT

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

It’s Jump season As autumn draws in, the flat racing season gives way to the excitement of the Jump (National Hunt) season. Dan Thompson, Chief Executive of Plumpton Racecourse looks ahead to the new season. Interview by Ian Trevett

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tended by the racing die-hards - they racedays it is more a social occasion sked to describe Plumpton are also very popular with corporate and we have entertainment for the chilRacecourse, Chief Exec Dan groups, according to Dan: “The cordren as well as offering free entry for Thompson doesn’t hesitate porates tend to come to the midweek under-18s. Our challenge is to convert in replying “a hidden gem”. He’s not events - the weekends are more famithe social visitors into real racing fans.” wrong. Set at the foot of the South ly-orientated. We have nine hospitaliDowns, it is certainly a picturesque ty boxes and two restaurants, and for It is a big issue for all the racecourslocation to watch the sport of kings. big events we have the marquee open. es - how can you persuade the casual “One of the attractions for racing Clients have the hospitality box for the visitors who come along for a family fans,” says Dan, “is that the circuit is day and use it as an opportuonly just over a mile long.

This means you can follow “Racing is the second biggest nity to really get to know their clients. Lunch can be before or the race all the way round and spectator sport in the UK during the racing (depending you get a great view of the fiwith over six million coming on the time of the year). nal fence and the finishing post; you are really close to along each year; only football “A popular feature is the fact the action. You can stand in attracts bigger crowds” that the guests have their own the centre to see the horses tipster, ex-jockey, Dave Crosse, to talk festival or Ladies Day to attend less coming down the hill at top speed and the guest through the race card. Dave glamorous meetings? It is particularly the parade ring is very quaint. People will take his saddle and whip with him important for Plumpton as a National like the fact you can get up close.” and people are often amazed at how Hunt course, which operates during small the saddle is and also how soft the chilly winter months.

Dan has been at the helm at Plumpton the ‘whip’ is. He gets people really enfor two years (he started just days begaged which adds to the experience.”

“National Hunt starts in September, fore the start of the 2017/18 season) so the weather is a huge factor for us,” and is a man still clearly in love with Inevitably a key element of Dan’s job says Dan. “On the day of the family his job: “It is long hours but I have been is maximising the revenue from the meet in September last year we had a passionate about racing ever since my venue on days when there are no racfew storms which had a big impact. On first visit to a racecourse when I was es: “Every racecourse, or indeed every the other hand we had great weather 16. I found myself looking at how horsstadium, has to maximise the use of at Easter and had over 10,000 people es run - trying to work out why some the venue off-season. We have a great here. Our season is bookended with horses won races and others didn’t. facility for weddings and proms, as well events which attract a wider audience.”

I started to look at how horses were as corporate awaydays. We can use saddled up, the horses in the parade the centre of the course for pony clubs, It would, however, be wrong to say ring, how they trained and how a raceinflatable fun runs or It’s a Knockout’ that midweek events are solely atcourse works. Once you scratch the surface, you tumble down into wonderland as there is so much depth and so much to learn.”

Dan is not alone in his appreciation of racing and is keen to point out how popular it is: “Racing is the second biggest spectator sport in the UK with over six million coming along each year; only football attracts bigger crowds.

“The sport is enough for me, but now people want a bit extra. On the bigger

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BUSINESS INTERVIEW SURVEY events. We also have a motorbike stunt show in August. With the space we have available there is a wide variety of ways in which people use the location.

It is a nice setting for a company event with plenty of parking.

“Plumpton is an independent racecourse, and fortunately the owners are keen to invest in the facilities. Last summer we had a signifiant refurbishment of facilities for spectators, owners, trainers and horses. This year we have invested in the marquee where we have levelled the floor, laid a good quality carpet, installed comms and AV facilities, and also opened up better access.

“We are on a path of continued development. We are improving the customer facilities and also advancing the welfare of the horses.

“On the grandstand side, we can cater for up to 4,000 people, and if we also use the centre of the course this increases to 7,000. Our biggest room can hold up to 60, the restaurant has a capacity of 120 - and the marquee can host almost 400, so there are plenty of options.”

The facilities and location are undeniably enviable, but ultimately, Plumpton is all about going racing. On September 22nd Plumpton launches the season with the family raceday, one of the most popular meetings of the season.

Alongside a strong line-up of runners, there are a host of activities for all ages - and accompanied children get in for free. If you haven’t visited Plumpton, come along in September and discover exactly why it is so aptly described as a hidden gem.

www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk

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LEGAL

Tricky areas and practical guidance for employers Adam Williams and Phil Vallon of DMH Stallard’s Employment team highlight the issues businesses need to consider as they prepare for Brexit

Adam Williams

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rexit will bring an end to the right of EU citizens to move freely in and out of the UK, and comparing ‘deal’ and ‘no deal’ scenarios reveals that the consequences of each could be profoundly different when it comes to plugging future skills gaps.

Deal

Any agreement with the EU27 would likely have to include something akin to the citizenship rights elements of the Withdrawal Agreement, with EU citizens remaining free to enter and reside in the UK up to December 31st 2020, and to live and work here beyond that. Time spent in the UK would count towards the five years’ qualifying residence required to obtain ‘settled’ (essentially permanent residence) status: a relatively smooth process of transition towards the new UK immigration system due in 2021.

Phil Vallon

No Deal

By contrast a ‘no deal’ scenario would see free movement ending on the date of Brexit. Only EU citizens in the UK on or before that date would be potentially eligible to stay indefinitely, based on their pre-Brexit status; it had been thought that EU citizens coming to the UK after Brexit would be able to visit and work for up to three months without visa restrictions, and that longer stays would require a new ‘EU Temporary Leave to Remain’ visa. However at the time of writing those plans have been withdrawn – with no alternative suggested. Whatever the alternative that might emerge, a UK employer’s ability to attract talent from the EU in an environment where skills gaps already exist in sectors reliant on foreign labour is likely to be significantly impeded.

2021 and beyond

Some form of relief is likely to be

provided by the proposed, more open immigration system to be introduced in 2021, anticipated to involve no cap on inbound numbers, and a lower level of skill requirement than currently. However, carrying forward a minimum salary threshold of £30,000 would limit the helpfulness of other reforms. Consultations on the proposals continue, and many businesses will want to actively engage and lobby Government.

Taking action now

There are several strategies UK employers might adopt to anticipate and address the potential skills gaps. One is to become a licenced sponsor of Tier 2 (General) work visas, in order to access a global pool of talent with which to fill both shortage occupation and graduate level roles. Sponsorship could also open the door to the supporting UK based international graduates in a ‘switch’ to a Tier 2 work visa (without the need to ‘test’ the resident labour market first). Opportunities also arise under the current Tier 5 visa route, including the ‘Youth Mobility Scheme’ and ‘Government Authorised Exchange programme’ categories.

There also remains the possibility of training and upskilling the existing domestic workforce through targeted courses and apprenticeships.

With Brexit looming, planning how to attract talent in both the short and long term is an imperative for all employers.

For advice on business immigration or any employment matter, please call Adam or Phil on 03333 231580. www.dmhstallard.com

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BUSINESS CHARITYSURVEY EVENT

Be a Fundraising Superhero at Martlets KAPOW! up and jumping down the huge inflatables – if accompanied by a paying adult. Martlets Ambassador Norman Cook a.k.a Fatboy Slim has confirmed he will be taking part again this year as he had such great fun with his family last time.

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here’s still time to do your bit and join in some fundraising fun at Martlets KAPOW! their superhero-themed 5k inflatable obstacle course - taking place at 11am in Preston Park, Brighton on Saturday September 14th.

Kapow is an exhilarating, enjoyable way to support a Sussex charity – enter as a team or take on a personal challenge - there will be lots of fun and friends to be made on the way round.

Runners are encouraged to dress up as their favourite superhero and tackle ten enormous inflatables – from the ‘Stairs of Doom’ rope slide, through the Twisty Tunnels and the Mangle and ending up at the ‘Splat’ foam station. It’s impossible to do the course without a smile on your face!

Limited tickets are available at www. themartlets.org.uk/kapow19 or on 01273 747455 with a special 20% discount using code NORM2019 - which will be running from September 1st until the event on September 14th. Everyone taking part will be a fundraising superhero for Martlets helping to make a positive difference to the lives of people needing hospice care.

Martlets is a charity that cares for people living through a terminal illness.

It’s much more than a hospice and is working to change perceptions of hospice care. Most patients these days receive support in their own home in familiar surroundings. The Martlets hospice is a place where patients and

their families can use the therapeutic services, drop-in clinics, visit the in-patient unit, attend coffee mornings or meet and have a cup of tea in the café.

Martlets’ care is only free thanks to the generosity of local people; every donation will help them change lives. As a charity Martlets is only partially funded by the NHS and relies on community support to continue to provide care for patients and their families. There are many different ways to fundraise from abseils to coffee mornings, from open gardens to - of course - leaping over giant inflatables! There will be something for everyone and your support is invaluable.

For more information about Martlets Hospice visit www.themartlets.org.uk

KAPOW! is a family friendly event – anyone over 1.2m can enjoy climbing

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Power, PR & Aneela Rose, founder of Rose Media Group, is a successful business owner, a mother and a World Champion Powerlifter. In-between juggling her work, sport and home life, Aneela found time to tell Ian Trevett about a special anniversary “You’re looking at my arms!”

I had to admit Aneela was right - she had caught me red-handed, staring quizzically at her slender biceps. Chatting over lunch, she had just shown me a photo of her lifting a barbell with enormous weights that surely weighed far more than she did. It didn’t seem humanly possible and Aneela is hardly how I would perceive a weightlifter to look. But what do I know? For her bodyweight and age category, Aneela Rose is an AWPC World Champion Powerlifter.

Appearances are not always what they seem. A petite frame disguises the steely determination that has driven Aneela to build a successful PR agency and out-lift all her competitors. This year Aneela celebrates 15 years of running her own business and, typically, she is looking forward ambitiously.

“I like to reinvent the agency every few years,” says Aneela. I love bringing on board people who want to change the world and try something new as this keeps us fresh and interesting to our clients.

Photograph by Aslan Steel

“I’m not afraid of making decisions or making mistakes, it’s complacency that scares me. Within the next year we are forecasting our growth within the sectors we excel in such as manufacturing, engineering, construction and technology.

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“Known as a glamorous geek and with a PR background in flight simulation, I’m completely at home focusing on more technical campaigns.”

Passion

INTERVIEW

“We work with some very successful global companies in these sectors, and our evidence based marketing, or data-driven sleuthing as I like to call it, really hits the mark with generating results.”

“I went on my own in 2004,” recalls Aneela. “I was fed up with reporting to managers who didn’t know anything about my job. I was Head of PR at an IT company, but reported to a Sales Manager who didn’t understand PR - which so often happens.

Photograph by Aslan Steel

If the agency’s future is in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, Aneela’s biggest break and proudest moment in business was when she secured a highly sought-after PR contract in the luxury leisure sector.

“Initially I went into retail as my dream to understand the business and know good friend of mine told me that Amhad always been to have a shop with what they want to achieve. berley Castle’s PR Manager was leavmy name above the door. Graham, my ing, so I got in touch straight away. husband-to-be, was a Financial Direc“Within a few months I was picking tor at a local company at that time up new clients. My second client was “In the interview I was asked which and wanted to leave his job as well.

Kate’s Cakes followed by one of their hotels I was looking after, and I conHe always encouraged me to follow distributors, Southover Foods. Then I fessed I had no experience in the secmy dreams so we opened the Aneela was appointed by an orthodontic comtor, which I assumed would have ruled Rose Boutique in The Lanes in Brightpany, so within the first year I already me out. In fact, it was the opposite; on. Graham actually left his job before was building an eclectic client base the castle didn’t want any conflict of me and, for a while, ran the shop on his across a wide range of sectors.” own. I was working seven days a “I’m not afraid of making week - midweek as Head of PR Aneela’s business grew quickly and weekends at the shop. decisions or making from working as a freelancer with “The shop was brilliant fun, but mistakes, it’s complacency a desk in her bedroom: “I realised I was building a grown-up comwe didn’t make any money. One that scares me” pany. It was such an adrenalin morning, when it was very quiet, rush. From day one I had a mindset interest. We got on so well that they I wrote a press release for my friend’s that I would always be professional. appointed me on the spot. business. She paid me £200 and GraEven when working from my home, I’d ham commented that I had earned dress smartly and asked the same of “I immersed myself in Amberley Casmore money writing than we earned my staff too. tle and spent long hours really underin the shop that day. He suggested I standing the business. My lack of secset up a freelance PR business, which Her journey has had its ups and downs. tor experience didn’t really matter as I made sense as we had already built The lowest point was when Aneela understand PR and how it works, what up plenty of press contacts with the brought in someone to run the compamakes a good story and how to get shop. In 2004 I set up Aneela Rose PR. ny when she had her first child - which the story out there at the right time. I resulted in losing clients and staff. know how to build relationships with “Our first client was Amberley Castle ‘It was my biggest mistake,” reflects journalists and understand what they which was amazing, as I had no expeAneela. “My husband believed I should are looking for in a story. The key is rience in the hotel or luxury industry. A

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INTERVIEW

Photograph by Aslan Steel

have trusted my team to look after the business, and he was right. I would never make the same mistake again.”

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easier to watch TV. Her original passion was throwing the javelin, until one day a coach made the left-field suggestion that she might do well at powerlifting. It wasn’t a bad suggestion as The business recovered when Aneela she is now a world champion. To be returned and she set up Purple Rose precise Aneela is the AWPC (Amateur Digital at the time when digital marWorld Powerlifting Congress) World keting and social media began to take Powerlifting Champion 2018 and the off. “We were perceived as ‘just’ a PR ABPU (Amateur British Powerlifting company but not necessarily a digital Union) British Powerlifting Champion company. The important thing back & Record Holder 2019. In May, Aneethen was to make people aware that la broke two British we offered the whole “At the agency powerlifting records package: social media, email marketing, I always stress in the Masters 56kg bodyweight class.

PR, sales activity and that everyone events.” should have a life As well as the drive of competitive sport, The digital off-shoot outside work” the powerlifting has served its purpose, another therapeutic benefit for Aneela: but Aneela realised that running two “When I train for my lifting I surround companies was not the most efficient myself with people who know more proposition: “In 2016, we combined the about the sport than I do, and they tell PR and digital companies into Rose me what to do. At work I’m the leader, Media Group, which allows us to grow and home I am mum. In sport, the role the business and perhaps even look at is reversed and it is me who relies on some acquisitions. others, which is a welcome release for me.

“PR is still at the heart of what we do: it’s about memorable story-telling, but “At the agency I always stress that we also offer expert digital marketing everyone should have a life outside as part of the package, including SEO, work as it is important that people website design and build.” have a balance in their lives. I like to take an interest as it should never be Speaking to Aneela it is apparent that all about work. her business is a very important part of her life, but not her sole drive. Anee“I am very proud to be, I believe, the la explains how her life balance works: first British Asian female to win gold “The key elements of my life are like within this federation in my weight three circles or cogs: my family, my class. It is a male-dominated sport work and my sport. If I removed one and I am a physically small and older of these circles my life wouldn’t be as Asian female , which I hope will break smooth as they are all interlinked and down barriers and encourage others interact. I need all three. I want to be not to be scared of taking chances. I a businesswoman, a mother and to am planning to get more involved with be physically active. At the centre of local communities and schools and the cogs is my husband, not me. He is hold motivational talks.” involved in the business, at the centre of family life and encourages me in my After spending some time with Aneesport. Since I realised this it has made la, it is clear she is an incredibly motieverything make sense. vated individual who has been able to combine successfully a thriving busi“I’m successful and happy because I ness, family life and sporting achieverely on other people to help me rather ment. She passionately believes that than do it all on my own.” with a positive mindset and consistent action, you can achieve great things.

Knowing how interlinked her work, sport and family are drives Aneela www.rosemediagroup.co.uk to train even when it would be much

INSTITUTE BUSINESS OF DIRECTORS SURVEY

Planning or Failing

By Dean Orgill, Chair of Sussex IoD and Chairman of Mayo Wynne Baxter Is there any value in considering that given the extent of uncertainties in the world, and particularly the business world, at the moment there really is little point in planning ahead? No-one really knows what they will be dealing with in the next few months so why bother consulting, drafting, discussing, amending, finalising then presenting when the plan may well be ripped up a few days after its inception.

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he phrase “Failing to plan is planning to fail”, or some variation on that refrain, will be familiar to anyone and everyone reading these thoughts. Widely attributed to Benjamin Franklin, the aphorism has become virtually a cliché in discussions about strategy, especially in respect of business strategies.

However, like the best clichés, it has become popular because its central truth is unarguable – or is it?

It is often said that in life the only two certainties are death and taxes. To that I would add a third and that is that any economic forecast will be wrong, the only variable is the extent to which it will be inaccurate.

Given that, and the near impossibility of predicting the future political landscape, why spend the coffee and biscuit budget on planning meetings?

Business has been lobbying for certainty for years now, but can claim no real success for its efforts.

When the type of leadership that we want (?), or certainly are being given, in the western economies seems to focus more on rhetoric and dogma than clear planned policies shaping how to take a business forward, or even to hold its current position, seems a

more difficult task than ever. So why not see how things go and react accordingly once it is clearer which way the wind is blowing, and how strongly?

There may well be a few businesses thinking like that and acting (or rather not acting) accordingly. However, I doubt many of those are reading this magazine.

In reality the response to the questions posed above is that in such times planning becomes even more important, though it does become even more difficult. Instead of one linear plan going forward the well-run business is likely to have variations and options so that it will be in a position to adapt to whatever does come towards it, and thrive (or survive) in whatever environment it finds itself inhabiting.

Whilst it may be tempting to deal with whatever scenario develops and adapt accordingly, in reality such an approach is likely to mean that whatever the business does at that point is likely to come too late.

The pace of change in scenarios in most sectors now means that the businesses that will continue and prosper will be those that adapt the quickest, and exploit any changes whilst their competitors are formulating how to react. So instead of creating one plan that may become redundant you are likely to need to create many that certainly will, but the one that is utilised will be your lifeline.

Just a thought Do you need to work through more scenarios in your plans? www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk www.iod.com

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The logistics of gender equality The haulage industry can be regarded as a male-dominated industry, but that has not been the experience of Danielle Bunn, Co-owner and Director at DNA Platinum Business Magazine: Is it unusual for a woman to be a coowner or director in the logistics/ transportation industry?

Danielle Bunn: No I don’t believe so, it may be a lower percentage but women do hold senior positions within the industry, after all it was in fact Hilary Devey who started one of the most recognised companies within the pallet network industry.

and staff on merit, however it’s only natural that for some they prefer to deal with a woman.

PBM: How does your professional relationship work as part of a husband and wife team?

DB: As you can imagine it can be interesting at times particularly when we don’t necessarily share the same view.

PBM: Have you faced any sexism or people who unwittingly treat you as an employee?

DB: I wouldn’t say sexism however there can be a few surprised faces when I start unloading their vehicles with a forklift or when I leave the yard in an 18-ton lorry. We have built the business from the ground up so there is nothing that I would expect someone to do if I hadn’t done it myself.

knowledge between them for them to come in and run the business! We do our best to take time out to relax but DNA will always be at the forefront of our minds.

PBM: What advice would you offer to young women starting in the industry?

DB: Go for it! It’s a very interesting and diverse industry and seldom a dull moment! I have got to where I am in the industry through hard work and dedication as well as determination in offering our clients the very best service and our staff the very best opportunities possible.

It is a constant challenge given the various hurdles that everyday brings but it is ultimately satisfying when you stop for a minute to look at what you have achieved.

PBM: What are the challenges that face a woman in a largely male-dominated industry?

DB: I guess that women may feel somewhat intimidated at first but as I have grown up around the haulage industry, I don’t give it a second thought. I think that a newfound respect is gained when people learn of the skills that I have developed and that I do know what I am talking about.

However, we have learned to respect each other and moreover we have the same values so generally we reach the same conclusions together.

PBM: What are your personal and business ambitions?

DB: Being on a hot sunny beach!

Seriously, to continue doing what we do. We have seen significant growth over the last couple of years and with the recent acquisition of Lancing Driver Training, which is now part of the Aloto Group, I can’t see us slowing down any time soon. There are so many interesting elements to our business which makes it exciting as to what the future may hold.

PBM: Do you think having a female director allows DNA to offer a different perspective?

DB: I think it allows the business to be less one dimensional. Whilst I am of the mind that we are all equal it can lend itself well to certain staff situations or client negotiations. Don’t get me wrong, we win and retain business

PBM: Do you switch off at home or are you always talking about the business?

DB: It’s difficult to switch off as we run a 24/7 operation and of course when your business plays such an important part in your life it becomes part of the family. I feel sure that by now my two children would have enough

DNA offers business delivery solutions across Europe.

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

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INTERVIEW

49

Financial wellbeing

By Paul Ollerton, Managing Director at ViiSana Ltd

cial freedom to make choices that allow you to enjoy life (CABA.Org.Uk).

What the statistics say

In a recently published research article by Thomsons Online Benefits, statistics quoted included:

Paul Ollerton

I

n this month’s issue we are focusing on an area that is often overlooked as being part of ‘wellness’ – the ‘financial wellness’ of our people.

It’s fairly well documented that stress is one of the primary drivers of sickness related absence. You may be surprised to hear that a recent study by the CIPD highlights the number one cause of stress in the UK as being money related worries – at a staggering 22% (and rising). To put this into context, that equates to over two million working days lost each year.

Numbers of this magnitude cannot go on unchecked – particularly because newer generations have less money in ‘real’ terms than any other generation in living memory. Millennials simply won’t have enough money to retire as things stand, and snowflakes struggle to get onto the housing market.

So, from an organisational point of view, responsible employers cannot simply ignore the issue, either from a duty of care standpoint, or from optimising business productivity.

What is Financial Wellness?

Financial wellness can be described as having a sense of financial security and feeling as though you have enough money to meet your needs.

It’s about being in control of your dayto-day finances and having the finan-

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£40k of debt • The average deposit required for a first time buyer across the UK is £33k • The average UK adult has £29,675 of unsecured debt (or in more sobering terms, 113% of the average UK annual earnings)

With the above numbers in mind, it is •6 5% of employees cited financial hardly surprising that financial stress planning support as important to is on the rise, and it is clear from the them figures that UK employers are not ad• 97% of employers were providing dressing the issue with support where pension contributions (mainly via auit is needed. to-enrolment) • Only 7% of employers were “According to research by the giving any kind of financial or retirement planning Social Market Foundation and support Neyber, almost 50% of employees • The average student was are not putting money aside for entering the employment market with more than anything beyond regular bills”

HEALTH & WELLBEING

at work What can you do as an employer to help?

There are many simple things that can be done to help ease the burden of financial stress for employees. These include:

Ask

Add the topic to 121s or send a simple survey out to staff. It is common place now to hear that companies are quick to install table football stations (which don’t get used after the first couple of weeks), when what their employees really want is some help to clarify how to prepare for the big life events (marriage/ children/retirement etc).

Provide a clear view of the full benefits package

It is fairly common place for ‘total reward statements’ to be offered to

employees, which outline every aspect of their financial and employee benefit available. This allows employees to make objective decisions about their package and any associated costs, and to understand the impact of any benefit in kind liability they may incur.

Implement a financial wellbeing educational programme

Providing employees with access to financial information, guidance and advice in the workplace can be provided in a variety of ways: information packs, online tools, training seminars, webinars, benefits portals or email communications. This equips employees with the right knowledge about loans, pensions, saving schemes, money/debt management, salary sacrifice schemes and employee discount schemes.

Consider workplace loans and savings schemes

According to research by the Social

Market Foundation and Neyber, almost 50% of employees are not putting money aside for anything beyond regular bills. The study also shows that one-third of workers have no savings or investments.

Offering a workplace savings plan, like a corporate ISA where investment capital is taken directly from salaries, can kick-start someone’s saving mentality and help them to build a financial safety net.

Provide access to free advice and consultation

It is easy to set up a quarterly freeof-charge clinic with a local financial services firm, who can provide advice and access to the myriad of complex financial services products available. Using a sole point of contact to balance mortgage/debt/ investment/pension and financial insurance can really help to ease the burden on employees and can help to build a financial plan that considers an employee’s short, medium and long term financial goals.

Contact Us ViiSana specialises in implementing wellness programmes using Vitality Life and Health insurance as the back bone of the approach. If you would like to discuss your company’s individual health concerns/challenges, or if you would just like to discuss ideas for implementing a programme at your business, please get in touch: Email: enquiries@viisana.com Tel: 0333 7720761 Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn

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First aid for mental health

How to introduce mental health first aiders into your organisation are mental ill health (59%) and stress (54%) but presenteeism (working when unwell) and leavism (using annual leave to work or working outside contracted hours) is on the increase.

These behaviours can adversely affect employees’ health and have a greater impact on long-term physical and mental health and organisational productivity.

It’s understandable then why more workplaces are introducing Mental Health First Aiders as part of their wellbeing strategy.

The Thrive Team’s co-founder Ali Trodd, has delivered 50 Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses and trained c 1000 in MHFA and mental health awareness skills. In this article she gives tips on introducing Mental health First Aiders into the workplace.

E

very workplace is familiar with the first aider. They’re there to provide immediate assistance to a person suffering from illness or injury. They focus on physical health and are taught to: • Preserve life • Prevent the condition from worsening • Promote recovery But what about the 1 in 6 workers experiencing depression, anxiety or problems relating to stress at any one time? Their symptoms are often hidden, unspoken, due to the stigma of mental ill health.

The top two reasons for long-term sickness absence in the CIPD Health and Well-being at Work Survey 2019

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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a training course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who might be experiencing a mental health issue. Those who train in MHFA learn to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis. By learning to recognise warning signs of mental ill health and develop skills and confidence to approach and support someone, they learn skills to keep the individual safe and may even prevent a crisis occurring. They learn how to empower someone to access the (professional and self-help) support they might need for recovery.

Like any new initiative, successful implementation comes down to planning. These are the areas you should consider before deciding to introduce MHFA into your workplace.

A whole organisation approach

Employee wellbeing affects everyone and is everyone’s business. If workplace conversations about mental health (Issue 60) aren’t common, it’s advisable to start raising awareness through team briefing and lunch and learn sessions for all staff.

Senior leadership teams who consider mental health as important as physical health are crucial so start with educating them. Line managers should understand their responsibilities in relation to wellbeing and feel they are supported in their own wellbeing.

Policies, working practices and behaviours should reflect the importance of mental health and wellbeing across the organisation and at all stages of the employee lifecycle.

Evaluate current support

Consider what you already have in place to support the wellbeing of your workforce. If you have occupational health provision or an employee assistance programme, what’s the take up?

Do you have wellbeing champions?

Are your wellbeing noticeboards accessible to everyone? If you don’t provide in house services do you signpost to others (Mind, Samaritans)?

HEALTH & WELLBEING Be clear on the Mental Health First Aider role

A written role description and policy around MHFA provides clarity about what the role is (listening and signposting) and what the role isn’t (therapist or counsellor). Include details of: • Who’s leading the initiative •S pecific responsibilities and how these fit with job duties • Confidentiality • Safeguarding and escalation processes •H ow to confidentially log support conversations •A nticipated time commitments • Support for Mental Health First Aiders and their wellbeing • Opportunities to opt out

Find out more about our search, selection, coaching and mental health training offering at www.thethriveteam.co.uk Tel: 01243 957667 Email: ali@thethriveteam.co.uk Follow us on Twitter: @TheThriveTeam1 LinkedIn: The Thrive Team

Select your Mental Health First Aiders Unlike physical first aiders there is currently no legal requirement for workplace mental health first aiders but the Health and Safety Executive are clear that businesses should: “Consider ways to manage mental health in your workplace which are appropriate for your business” this includes “providing training for managers and employees” and “appointing mental health trained first aiders”.

stands your workplace and working environment.

Communicate Once you’ve trained mental health first aiders be sure to communicate who they are and their role. Consider adding details to your Health and Safety noticeboard, posters in common areas, features in staff newsletters and new starter packs.

Consider how many you need, availability across locations, shift patterns and a range of job roles.

Selection should be based on motivation to undertake the role (voluntary, a desire to learn more about mental health and support others) and ability to maintain confidentiality which should be tested out through an informal interview.

Support and develop Supporting your Mental Health First Aiders is vital to the success of the implementation. Consider creating a MHFA network for peer to peer support. Keep skills and knowledge updated through regular refresher sessions, provide options to opt out of duties and encourage self care, and have a rolling training programme to replace leavers.

Choose a reputable training provider Instructors are accredited by MHFA England. Open courses are often run locally or you may prefer to have a course delivered in house.

It’s helpful if your instructor under-

Monitor Measure the MHFA initiative’s impact on your business through short and long-term absence rates, anonymous details from MHFA conversations, uptake of support and attraction and retention rates.

“A senior leadership team who consider mental health as important as physical health is crucial, so start with educating them”

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A healthy culture This month our Health & Wellbeing series looks at how staff and pupils are looked after at one of the region’s leading independent schools. Ian Trevett interviews Hurst College Headmaster Tim Manly “We simply want the children to achieve the best they can, and to be happy with that. We are working with students to recognise what they are capable of rather than leave it all up to their own neuroses. We can’t all run faster than an Olympian or be brighter than Einstein. We want to know we are doing as well as we can and to be recognised for this fact.

S

chooldays should be among the happiest days of our life, but the pressures on our young people are immense. The intense need to fit in and the fear of failure can weigh heavily on today’s students, perhaps more than ever before.

Although the intensity has amplified, the good news is that educational institutions have never been more aware about their responsibility to look after the welfare of students, and indeed the staff.

The health and wellbeing of the Hurst community is a priority for Headmaster Tim Manly, who is all too aware of potential stresses for staff and pupils alike.

The pupils “Our year has real peak pressure points, notably leading up to and during the exam season,” says Mr Manly.

“What happens in the exams is critical for the school, but more importantly for the pupils, so we are playing for high stakes. This is especially the case for A-levels, where students need certain grades to be accepted at the universities they have set their hearts on.

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“The classic stereotype is the very hard-working girl (as opposed to the stereotype of the boy who spends too much time on the X-Box) who puts a huge amount of pressure upon herself. It’s not always good if someone works ‘too hard’ and worries too much. If they can relax a bit they become more efficient.

With a lifetime in education, Mr Manly has an understanding of what children worry about and when these issues come to the fore. “The key ages are around 11-15,” observes Mr Manly.

“When you are a child you are spontaneous and you then reach an age where it is common to be anxious about conforming to the social norm of a particular group. They worry if they are liked or not liked, but they don’t realise that the most likeable characteristics are those of warmth, confidence, openness and friendliness. It takes a while to work this out. They are terrified

“The health and wellbeing of the Hurst community is a priority for Headmaster Tim Manly”

“For us it is about avoiding that dog fight about who comes out on top.

You should not value yourself based on whom you beat. Not everyone can win at sport, so it is important to remember that taking part in sport is fun. It’s about how you make the most of what you have and how you treat others around you.”

of being classed as a loser (or whatever the current terminology is). You have to have a culture that counteracts that idea of winners and losers.

“Children are far too worried about what other people think. The vast majority of children require structure, encouragement and to feel valued. If they are coached, supported and never left to feel vulnerable, isolated or like a failure - then they’ll fly.”

HEALTH & WELLBEING

at Hurst It seems that schools are more aware than they used to be. Mr Manly concurs: “For some time it has been common to have someone in a school who is there for safeguarding vulnerable children or those who have special needs. However, for most children there has, historically, been very little support. Now there is more awareness of a school’s responsibility to help children develop a resilience and a sense of being able to look after themselves. We are helping children to be able to navigate the world they are in.

moan to when you are sitting at the college bar. It’s someone who you can say to: ‘It’s all getting a bit tough at the moment,’ and be listened to.

“Mike Lamb, the Director of Staff and Pupil Wellbeing runs forums and makes sure we take time to exercise, have a swim, do some yoga, look out for ourselves, and he’ll organise social events. He tries to ensure that everybody has the right balance. This is vital when it becomes very pressured

leading up to the end of term, and the work/life balance goes out of the window, even if it is just temporarily.”

Hurst College launched its inaugural Wellbeing Conference earlier this year to share ideas and best practice with other local schools in supporting students through transition periods – especially from Prep to Senior School.

www.hppc.co.uk

“The danger is it doesn’t go too far to create a generation with an overblown sense of entitlement. The next few years for all of us will be about navigating through an uncertain world.

Our challenge is to help children be ready to adapt to that challenging and changing environment.

“It is often hyped that if you come to a school like this you will leave as a possibly overconfident young person.

Actually the important thing is to leave with a well-grounded sense of selfworth. If a young person doesn’t have that, then they can be vulnerable in life.”

The staff Alongside the welfare of pupils, there is far more support for the staff as well as Mr Manly explains: “There is no doubt that if your employees are mentally healthy or happy, they will be more productive and committed.

“This is now recognised as a responsibility of the employer, which is very different from 10 or 20 years ago. There is a greater sense that to function in a healthy and productive way, we need our staff to thrive.

“We have a counsellor who is there for any member of staff. I wanted something in between the full-on counsellor and someone you can have a bit of a

55

The Catalyst Team from the top - Amy Maginnis, Eleanor Clapp, Oliver Taylor, Jamie-Lee Atkinson, Arthur Jones and Kelly Chan

HIRING GRADUATE TALENT:

Advice from the experts The Catalyst programme, a placement scheme run by SINC to support University of Sussex graduates, is entering its sixth year. Project Manager Eva Poliszczuk, a former Catalyst Team member, shares some of the lessons she’s learned about what to look for, from both sides of the table

H

iring a graduate is an effective way of energising and shaking up a business. Here in the Catalyst team, we get to see bright young graduates’ vocational (and personal) transformations during their year with us, and the effect they have on the start-ups they work with.

goals, meaning that generally, they’re open to trying new things. This ‘cando’ attitude is especially important to us due to the variety of our work.

We don’t always hire based on expe-

rience, but rather a keen interest to learn about different start-up industries, working environments and job roles. We look for people with diverse passions as this shows an element of

Graduates often come under fire for being lazy and entitled, unprepared for the realities of work. But among this group saddled with a ‘snowflake’ reputation is rising talent desperate for their chance. That ‘fire’ is the first thing you need to look for; an eagerness to transfer their academic skills and knowledge into business.

People move more freely between professions nowadays and most graduates are still working out their career

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Arthur Jones, Amy Maginnis - Catalyst Team, and Eva Poliszczuk, Catalyst Project Manager

SUSSEX INNOVATION CENTRE “I would go as far to say that without Catalyst’s support we would not have got to where we are today.”

Phil Hawkins, Director, Colour Me Social drive, and that they didn’t go to university just for the social experience!

The Catalyst team was created responding to the needs of businesses looking for a flexible and reliable resource at a competitive rate. For our graduates, the programme has developed into a brilliant scheme with rare and transformational opportunities.

Due to the richness and variety of their experience, they leave us with a greater understanding of their career goals or path and some are hired full time by their clients.

Team members might work with up to 30 companies during their year with us, doing a variety of work from insight and market research, to marketing and customer-facing projects and more. Some are one-off projects and others are longer-term roles, spending a few days per week with a client over months.

To ensure that we have a diverse team to take on practically any challenge, we hire from a wide range of schools across the University. Some businesses might be put off hiring someone whose degree doesn’t ‘match’ the role, but we’ve seen time and again that History students can have excellent research skills, a Literature student

CASE STUDY: Mark Davies, MoWork Mark Davies was a graduate of the University of Sussex’s Physics school and joined the second Catalyst team in 2015-16. During his time on the programme, his projects included social media marketing for an e-commerce platform and putting on events around the launch of Sussex Innovation’s Croydon workspace.

For several months of his placement, Mark worked on a market research project for the founder of a new employee rewards product called Thanksbox, interviewing HR directors for insights that would guide the platform’s development.

At the end of his time with Catalyst, the founder asked Mark to become his first employee. Three years on, the business has rebranded as Mo.Work, receiving significant investment and expanding to more than 20 staff. Mark is now Head of Customers, with responsibility for his own small team.

might have an eye for design, and Physics degrees often involve a lot of coding experience.

The most essential thing you can do for new starters is show that there’s no limit to how many questions they can ask. Part of the onboarding process that our new team are going through right now is guidance on aspects of work that we sometimes take for granted after spending a few years in an office environment, such as organising and prioritising projects and emails.

We throw our graduates into several different kinds of projects in their first few weeks, helping them work out their strengths, what they like doing,

“I’ve always enjoyed picking up new things, but before Catalyst I’d not really had a chance to show that I could do that in a business context.

I got to learn how sales and marketing works, along with research, design and writing skills – some of the tools I learnt to use aren’t things I use all the time in my job, but it’s useful to have that broad understanding. Most of all, it left me more confident about connecting with new people and presenting a business proposition to them.”

and what they don’t. As the year goes on, this helps us match them with clients and projects. That’s why so many of our clients are loyal to Catalyst, we look after the onboarding and training, and they see a bright, enthusiastic and skilled graduate.

Visit www.catalyst.sinc.co.uk

www.sinc.co.uk

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Eric Evison has been appointed Health Insurance Specialist at ViiSana. Eric joins the team with a wealth of experience and will be working with businesses of all sizes to review their existing policies, or implement new schemes. His focus is to deliver cost savings, service enhancements and impro vements in a market that is traditionally complex.

Georgia joins the team as Key Acco unt Manager and comes directly from Vitality, where she work ed in a similar capacity. Georgia’s role is to manage the ever- growing list of Key Accounts at ViiSana, making sure that members unloc k the full potential of the benefits of their policies.

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Experienced and commer cially focuse professional, d business Lesley Alcock development , has been pr Director at the omoted to Co Platinum Publi mmercial shing Group.

At a time of ex pansion at on e of the region’s companies, Le leading media sley has over and events 20 years expe industry havin rience working g worked at bo in the media th The London Observer, and Evening Standa running the cre rd and The ative partnersh ips team at Ca pital Radio.

Lesley said; “P latinum Busin ess Magazine business leade is essential rea rs whilst our Aw ding for ards celebrate and entrepren the hotbed of eurship that ex innovation ists in the regio be part of the n, and I am de company at su lighted to ch an exciting time.”

Welcome to our fifth 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

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WOMEN IN BUSINESS

A female force

The Business Women Excellence Awards – Sussex is back!

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usiness Women Excellence Awards – Sussex Edition 2019 will be celebrating its fourth year by holding the gala awards at the magnificent Grand Hotel Brighton. The awards are the creation of Faiza Shafeek, Managing Director of Carrot Events, an entrepreneur who has a huge and insatiable passion for business and for promoting women in all forms of business.

She knows first-hand what a huge impact winning a business award can be and believes that the accolade endorsing one’s achievements and of course the exceptional marketing and PR opportunities that winning an award offers is immeasurable.

enhance your own or their reputation, instil trust, attract new business and ultimately make you or your nominee more profitable. In short, it will prove

More and more women are climbing through the ranks of the corporate world and more female entrepreneurs are being recognised. It is an amazing time to be a woman. Sussex is full of talented and dedicated business women and female entrepreneurs who not only run successful businesses but, in many cases, also juggle the needs of their families. The Business Women Excellence Awards – Sussex Edition are designed to recognise the achievement of these women across a wide range of innovative business categories, that have been designed to truly cover all aspects of the business world.

you are better than your competitors.

So why not enter or nominate other business women and their amazing businesses. It’s easy to enter or nominate and there is no cost attached apart from some of your time.

Winning a business award will raise your profile or your nominees’ profile,

Sponsoring events such as trade shows, business awards and exhibitions

can have an incredible return on investment. A carefully selected sponsorship agreement can give you a lot of bang for your marketing buck, boost your brand reach and supplement your print and online marketing efforts.

Research has found that around 81% of the attendees to an event that you sponsor have buying authority and 67% of all attendees represent a new prospect and potential customer for companies. This means your company has a fantastic opportunity to showcase and sell your product to a highly engaged target market. More money is being spent on sponsorship worldwide as technology advances and the events themselves can now give sponsors even more data and insight into their target market.

Organised by

The closing date for entries and nominations is October 31st 2019 with the glamorous black tie Gala Awards taking place on November 21st at the Grand Hotel Brighton.

Why not become one of the 2019 Business Women Excellence Awards VIP sponsors?

For more information about becoming one of the 2019 Awards sponsors contact us at info@carrotevents.co.uk or call Faiza on 01323 461298 / 07540 406685. www.businesswomenexcellenceawards.co.uk

S P O N S O RS & PA R TN E RS

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26th September 2019 South East Construction Expo

The

Silka Element Challenge

Construction of an Apartment in a Day

1DAY Watch MFS build a whole apartment in just one day using the Xella Silka Element System and Lissmac Cranes.

A LIVE construction demonstration at the South East Construction Expo on the 26th Sept 2019.

The speed of construction has to be seen to be believed!

MFS will complete the structural walls of a one bedroom apartment, during the event, laying each Xella Silka large-format masonry block using the Lissmac mini-cranes in about six minutes per block!

Everyone is invited to visit the ‘Xella Lounge’ for the Xella VR experience and watch the MFS team hard at work.

Venue: South of England Event Centre, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, RH17 6TH

constructionexpouk.co.uk | xella.co.uk | masonryframesystems.co.uk | lissmac.com/en/

The Silka Element Challenge > Made by Xella > Built by MFS > Cranes by Lissmac

Travel ...done beautifully

Introducing Go Bespoke Travel

We are proud to welcome our new travel section in association with Go Bespoke Travel. Over the coming issues, the travel experts at Go Bespoke will offer advice on everything from the the most luxurious spas to the finest skiing resorts. This month they recommend where to go for winter sun and the hippest London bars.

O

ver the past two decades, the number of luxury hotels, resorts and cruise-liners has grown at an absolutely astonishing rate, bringing even more choice to familiar destinations, and assuring luxury travellers that a five-star experience can be enjoyed throughout their ventures, even when traversing more diverse locations. Add to this the airlines that have spent millions on enhancing their in-air amenities: from fine-dining whenever the mood takes you, fabulous Frette linen-laden flat-beds and shower spas, to first-class suites– and in some cases your own private apartment – and the choice can be overwhelming.

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This is where an independent travel agent like Go Bespoke is of enormous value. Founded in 2013, Go Bespoke is a boutique, luxury travel agent based in a lovely seaside office in Hove, East Sussex. The small team of four, headed up by Director Louisa Tubman, is incredibly experienced in all aspects of travel, for both individuals and businesses.

Partnering with an impressive Little Black Book of suppliers, the knowledgeable team ensures that every detail of a trip is tailor-made, from the travel arrangements to the concierge requirements at your

destination. From stunning villas in Europe, to ultra chic honeymoon getaways, to fully staffed chalets, off the beaten track retreats and leading boutique hotels, there is no end to the stylish and unforgettable experiences on offer. Indeed, Director Louisa is also an interior designer so you can expect to be wow-ed by beautiful styling, attention to detail and design when you travel with Go Bespoke.

Meeting with clients and offering a really personal service is at the heart of the business, down to handdelivering travel documents or being on call to book last minute

BUSINESS SURVEY TRAVEL

restaurants or activities during a client’s holiday. Given the team’s excellent relationships with suppliers, Go Bespoke is in the know when it comes to the latest openings and offers. In this day and age of impersonal online booking systems, using an independent agent also means all sorts of perks or added little extras can be arranged directly, making a trip truly memorable.

‘Most of our clients are just as price conscious as us and want the best deal for their money, and we have worked hard to make sure all our suppliers are the best in the business, and the most competitive’.

Be inspired online at www.gobespoketravel.com Follow on Instagram: instagram.com/gobespoketravel

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Where to go for...

WINTER SUN

In this first feature from the team at Go Bespoke, the team has hand-picked some of their top recommendations for ‘Where to Go’ for some restorative winter sun over the next few months.

ST BART’S When to go: December. St Bart’s is the original discreet-A-lister’s sunny paradise of choice and it is especially buzzing in December. With postcard-perfect beaches, restaurants, hotels and villas, it’s certainly a glamorous destination at this festive time of year. Make sure you book well in advance though to avoid off-the-charts FOMO since mid December is considered peak season but it’s well worth the forward-planning.

Climate Averages: Average maximum daytime temperatures of 30°C/84°F - due to it’s location within the North of the Caribbean, the island itself experiences welcome trade winds and endless blue skies which truly enhance the tropical experience.

Go Bespoke recommends: Eden Rock (pictured) Eden Rock is a gem that has been transformed into a paradise of sophisticated style and is considered one of the finest hotels on the island.

Boasting colourful works of art, contemporary furniture and innovative design, Eden Rock is an ideal destination for families, providing them with a variety of fun games and activities from bodyboarding to sandcastle-building. Located on a rocky promontory surrounded by white sandy beaches, gin clear sea and amazing coral reefs full of colorful wild sea life.

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TRAVEL NEW ZEALAND When to go: November. With most tourists arriving in December, November gives you a major head start on sampling all of the countries epic attractions. Days are getting longer, NZ is greener than ever, and there’s never been a better time to enjoy South Island’s adrenalin-fuelled adventures, or North’s hot springs and beaches.

Climate Averages: Average maximum daytime temperatures of 20°C/68°F (Auckland), no humidity, and around 6 hours of sunshine daily.

Go Bespoke recommends: Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses (pictured). Hapuku Lodge & Tree Houses provides luxurious accommodation on Kaikoura’s rugged coastline. A place for guests to relax in its indoor/outdoor setting and a place from which they can explore the larger maritime landscape of Kaikoura, one of the world’s premier eco-marine tourism destinations. Go on one of the local walks with a picnic basket, take an ocean fishing trip or experience the wondrous sight of baby seals frolicking in the Oahu waterfall just a short drive up the highway.

DUBAI When to go: November. Where else can you wrap-up all your Christmas shopping and bag yourself a festive A-list tan?

Cooler temperatures make sightseeing, beach-lounging and desert adventures a breeze at this time of year.

Climate Averages: Average maximum daytime temperatures of 26°C/79°F with low heat and humidity, and around 8 hours of sunshine daily.

Go Bespoke recommends: The Bulgari. Bringing elegant Italian style to the Middle East, this private island retreat just off the Dubai coast is the antidote to the city’s ubiquitous skyscraper hotels with a low-rise. It boasts 101 rooms and suites, as well as 20 Bvlgari villas with sea views and a state-of-the-art 1,700 square-metre luxurious spa and a hammam.

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Leading independent luxury travel agent Â

Travel done beautifully Designing tailor-made holidays since 2013 +44 (0) 20 8935 5779 // info@gobespoketravel.com // www.gobespoketravel.com

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Where to go for...

WINTER SUN

MOROCCO When to go: October. The best time to visit Morocco is in the shoulder-season (September to October) or during spring (mid-March to May). The weather is warm but pleasant, the perfect temperature to explore the bustling medinas comfortably, as well as hike in the mountains. October is also date season in the desert region, which is when Skoura, Erfoud and the surrounding valleys are at their most lush and vibrant.

Climate Averages: Average maximum daytime temperatures of 22°C/71°F with no humidity, and around 8 hours of sunshine daily.

MEXICO When to go: December. Fun and festive, extraordinary and energetic, vibrant and diverse, Mexico is full of surprises. Desert landscapes, porcelain-white beaches, cerulean sea, spectacular diving, historical haciendas and Mayan ruins are just a few reasons to go… and December is the perfect time.

Climate Averages: Average maximum daytime temperatures of 28°C/82°F with moderate heat and humidity, and around 6 hours of sunshine daily.

Go Bespoke recommends: Mandarin Oriental Marrakech. Lying in 20 hectares of fragrant gardens and olive groves, Mandarin Oriental Marrakech is a five-star luxury resort just minutes from the Medina and with the Atlas Mountains as its backdrop. With excellent facilities and world-class dining, accommodation comprises a selection of beautiful guest suites and villas, each featuring design influences from the local Berber community and many offering private gardens and pools. Perfect for a romantic getaway!

THE HOTTEST BARS THIS WINTER > London

Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square

Overlooking Tower Bridge, Ten Trinity Square is great for after-work drinks, a pre-dinner aperitivo or a more informal client meeting.

The Rotunda Bar has live music sessions every Tuesday to Saturday, plus there’s an impressive menu of creative cocktails from Head Bartender, Harry Nikolaou. Discover the pop-up rooftop bar, ‘The Residence’, for a great view of some of the City’s most iconic landmarks.

The Ned

With eight restaurants and bars to choose from, there is something for everyone at The Ned. Set amidst the historic 3,000 sq.m. former banking hall, the interiors are grand with a distinctly cool vibe and it’s clear to see how Soho House & Co’s founder Nick Jones is behind this development.

There’s a rooftop bar overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral which is not to be missed!

The Mandrake

Go Bespoke recommends: Hotel Esencia. A majestic 50-acre estate between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, boasting 40 rooms decorated with sumptuous bathrooms and private terraces, great for honeymooners and those seeking total privacy. This ultra cool boutique hotel is ideally located on one of the only remaining undeveloped pristine shores of the Riviera Maya in the immaculate bay of Xpu-Ha – a haven where each year sea turtles make their nests. The restaurants are some of Mexico’s best from a Michelin-star winning culinary team.

With its own glasshouse apothecary, this awardwinning luxury boutique hotel in Fitzrovia, has a bespoke art collection that includes works from Salvador Dalí and Francesco Clemente. The 34room hotel also boasts a three-storey-high living wall of Jasmine and Passionflowers at Jurema.

Enjoy this little sanctuary with a feel-good cocktail or two and Mexicaninspired dishes.

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Gatwick’ s GROWTH PLANS Our international airport has produced an innovative plan to enhance the UK’s global connectivity and boost trade

G

atwick has just announced its master plan which maps out the airport’s ongoing development and growth into the early 2030s. The plan sets out the airport’s latest thinking on how it can meet the increasing demand for air travel and provide Britain with enhanced global connectivity and new economic opportunities and jobs across the region for generations to come.

The master plan sets out how Gatwick could develop to meet demand in the most sustainable way over the next 15 years. It is also a direct response to the Government’s recent call for UK airports to look at ‘making best use of their existing runways’ and explores how Gatwick could grow across three scenarios: 1 Using new technology to build capacity and resilience on the main runway 2 Bringing the existing standby runway into routine use for departures only by the mid 2020s

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3 Recommending planning policies to safeguard land for an additional runway Strong public support Following the publication of the draft master plan late in 2018, a 12-week period of public consultation took place to gather feedback and views on the three scenarios which included: • Eight consultation events across the local region attended by over 2,500 people • Over 5,000 responses from local residents, community groups, businesses, airlines, local and national politicians and other key partners • 66% of respondents supporting Gatwick making best use of existing runways in line with Government policy, including the innovative plan to bring the existing standby runway into routine use alongside the main runway • 59% of respondents supporting the continued safeguarding of land for an additional runway should it be required in the future

Taking forward the innovative plan to use the standby runway will deliver additional capacity. Taking forward the innovative plan to use the standby runway to deliver additional capacity, the airport will bring forward plans that balance: • Operational resilience: unlocking extra capacity will help Gatwick to continue to provide good operational performance for passengers and airlines.

• Sustainable growth: building on Gatwick’s strong track record, work will be carried out to ensure environmen-

tal impacts are appropriately managed and mitigated, and incremental growth is delivered in a sustainable way.

In addition, the scheme would aim to deliver:

BUSINESS SURVEY TRAVEL

• Enhanced competition: building on the positive impact that competition has made to the passenger experience, additional capacity will provide further opportunities for airline innovation and passenger choice.

• Economic growth: investment will deliver more global connections, new opportunities for the local economy,

and jobs for generations to come.

• Similar noise footprint: the extra capacity will be balanced by the airport’s noise footprint remaining broadly similar to today’s levels, mainly because of the introduction

of new, quieter aircraft technology which have already made a signifi cant difference.

• Minimal disruption: the standby runway plans will be a privately financed, low-impact and low-cost development resulting in a highly productive scheme. No compulsory purchase of residential properties would be required.

will see Gatwick carry out surveys and preparation of detailed environmental information on the standby runway plans later this year. This information, together with further details on the plans, will then be subject to a period of public consultation to allow local residents, councils, businesses, community groups and other key parties to have a say on the plans, potentially next year.

Next steps In order to gain planning permission to routinely use the standby runway plan, Gatwick will follow the Development Consent Order (DCO) process that culminates in a final decision by the Secretary of State, following a recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate.

The first stages in the DCO process

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’Tis the season to be planning...

It may feel slightly surreal, but taking the time in the summer months to book your Christmas party will mean you’ll have a slick, well-organised, festive celebration Here are our six top tips to help you get ahead of the game:

1

Planning ahead is key: the best venues, and even the best deals, can be snapped up with an early booking. It also allows you to spread the cost if you are paying some of the bill up front.

It’s a daunting prospect sifting through the hundreds of venues and menus and finding the right one for your company. Ask your staff, get a feel for what your colleagues would like. You can’t please everyone, but you can work with a general consensus. You might be surprised by some inventive suggestions.

2

Setting the date early is a good way of ensuring most people are available to attend. Check out the consensus on a few possible dates with staff first and go with the majority for maximum attendance. Sending a

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‘save the date’ email out early will help to ensure a good turn-out.

3

Work out your budget and stick to it. If the budget is tight, you might want to consider venues offering shared parties. A table at a bigger event may be a good way of offering some entertainment without blowing the budget.

Maybe you can buddy up with other companies in the same building to create a bigger event with a shared cost. It’s always good to save a bit of the budget for any unexpected costs.

Consider the food and drinks bill. Be clear about what is included. Is there free wine with a meal and a pay bar after that? Make sure staff know, and

remember that a big part of the offering is a thank-you to staff for their hard work throughout the year. It won’t boost morale if you ask for a contribution. It’s better to do something less fancy, but cover the cost.

4

Food and drink: Festive drinks to get your crew in the party spirit are a great way to kick-start the evening. If you are worried about a certain con-

CHRISTMAS VENUES tingency using up the drinks budget with excessive rounds of Jäger bombs from the off, consider drinks vouchers, or limit freebies to wine and beers.

Food is usually expected at the Christmas do, so do organise a menu tasting prior to booking so you can sample the quality of the food on offer. Consult with the chefs and your staff to ensure there are vegetarian options and that other dietary requirements can be catered for. The food is an important part of the event, so making sure the venue is used to catering for large numbers is another must. There’s nothing worse than the whole evening falling flat because the food and/or service is awful.

5

Entertainment can make or break your event, so some carefully planned surprises can lift your

teams’ spirits and add to the party atmosphere, plus it’s a great way of ironing out any awkward small talk. Musicians or magicians working the room, circus acts, casino tables and giant games are but a few of the many options for adding some entertaining sparkle to your event. You’ll want to consider music, too. A small dance floor is always a plus.

6

Thank-you speeches and awards: The Christmas party is a great time to let your staff know how well they’ve been doing. Pick some serious and funny awards to present to staff to let them know how much they are appreciated.

FESTIVE PACKAGES AT RENDEZVOUS SHARER PARTIES Available at £35 per person and includes: Drink on Arrival, Three-Course Festive Dinner and Live Entertainment.

FESTIVE DINING Wine and dine your family and friends in our Waterside Restaurant.

Lunch service every Saturday and Sunday from 1pm with dinner service from 6pm every night. Dining options start from as little as £16.50 per person.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PACKAGE Available at £45 per person and includes: Three-Course Dinner, Glass of Fizz at Midnight, Ibiza Club Tribute and DJ. The Rendezvous Brighton casino is the perfect place for shared parties this festive season.

Call in today 01273 605602 or email infobrighton@caesars.co.uk for more information or to book.

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a m s t s i r h C e Celebrat m a e t r u with yo Festive Fun Raceday – Monday 2nd December

Christmas Raceday – Monday 16th December Dine in the course-side Marquee Restaurant with welcome drink, three-course lunch and racing for just £65 per person inc. VAT.

Book now to avoid disappointment!

ADVANCE GRANDSTAND & PADDOCK Group Tickets (10+): £14 ADVANCE GRANDSTAND & PADDOCK Tickets: £15

Tel. 01273 890383 | racing@plumptonracecourse.co.uk www.plumptonracecourse.co.uk

DECKED OUT CHRISTMAS PARTIES AT BRIGHTON HARBOUR HOTEL With packages starting from ÂŁ30

Our Christmas parties are perfect for a team night out or a gathering of friends, as you enjoy delicious dishes and a great festive atmosphere.

Our private event space can be hired exclusively for your Christmas party. Just ask a member of our team for more information. We have two wonderful private event rooms for you to choose from, both available from the 22nd November 2019.

Quote 'Platinum Business Magazine' to receive a complimentary arrival drinks reception and an upgrade to a half bottle of wine from a glass of wine per person* Subject to availability & T&C’s apply.

*

Call 01273 916425 or email brighton.events@harbourhotels.co.uk to learn more. www.harbourhotels.co.uk/brighton

JOIN OUR GLOBAL LOYALTY PROGRAM AT ACCORHOTELS.COM

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Corporate Christmas parties!

Fridays: 6th | 13th | 20th December

£595 +VAT FOR A GROUP OF 12*

Arrive from 3pm and enjoy a tasty pizza buffet and drink as well as…

•

immersive Phileas Fogg team building experience

•

authentically Jack the Ripper Tour (2 groups)

•

and karaoke!

£59.50 pp for individuals for Phileas Fogg & Jack the Ripper, buffet and drink *Please get in touch about party bookings for groups of more than 12. Limited spaces available.

Drinks included: beer, wine or soft drink. Additional drinks can be ordered at the bar.

Fully licensed bar | Extra food or drink packages available For availability and more information please contact the events team on 01273 007799 or email info@foggsadventures.co.uk

CHRISTMAS VENUES

The Star of the show

Host a private event, entertain your corporate guests, and celebrate in style at the historical All England Jumping Course, Hickstead

S

teeped in national sporting history, Hickstead offers a unique venue set in over a hundred acres of beautiful Sussex countryside. The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, was the dream of one man - Douglas Bunn. Still run by the Bunn family, the showground remains one of the premier equestrian venues in the world. Almost every great show jumper, horse and rider, has competed at Hickstead since it first opened its doors in 1960.

In 2020, The All England Jumping Course will celebrate its 60th anniversary as the home of international showjumping in Great Britain. In the last 10 years it has undergone £1 million-worth of refurbishment works, including the complete renovation of the famous International Arena.

Ideally situated on the A23 between Gatwick and Brighton, with ample onsite parking, and hotel accommodation only minutes away, Hickstead provides a refreshing alternative to yet another hotel function. With all suites offering a superb and exclusive view of the four acre Longines International

Arena, you and your guests cannot fail to be impressed by this unique setting.

The venue is suitable for groups of 8-250, with various styles of seating and full catering facilities, making Hickstead ideal for complex multi-room conferencing and events. A conference planning team, staging, equipment and technical support are also all available.

Additional venues are available to hire for more intimate gatherings of 30-100 guests, including the Polo Club House and Champagne Bar. The private

hospitality boxes are ideal for meeting or seminar rooms of up to 30 delegates, with all facilities within close walking distance of each other, ensuring your event runs seamlessly.

Our dedicated events team, with years of expertise in event planning, can assist with as much or as little of your event as required. Hickstead understands that the winning formula to your next corporate event is a combination of delicious food, fine wines and unforgettable entertainment.

Their onsite caterers can create a bespoke menu, adapted to your requirements and function. From a formal sit down meal, to a hog roast in the garden or a champagne and canapé reception, Hickstead partner with a number of entertainers to add that wow factor to your event.

The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, West Sussex RH17 5NU Tel: +44 1273 837253 Email: Events@Hickstead.co.uk www.hickstead.co.uk

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BUSINESS SURVEY

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL OFFER

FREE CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION* *Free Champagne reception for up to 100 guests for bookings made by 4th October 2019

Christmas & New Year Bookings: November 2019 - February 2020

Snowflake Christmas Package Champagne Drinks Reception Festive Decoration Package 3 Course Meal Half Bottle of Wine Coffee, Teas & Mince Pies DJ & Late Bar until 1am (min 85, max 240 person)

£49 per person £39 per person *for bookings made before 4th October 2019 To book your Christmas & New Year celebration please contact our events team Tel: 01273 837253 Email: events@hickstead.co.uk (a deposit payment will be required on booking) The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead

www.Hickstead.co.uk

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Make The Grand exclusively yours with private dinners, Christmas parties and annual social events.

Our unique spaces and innovative menus offer the perfect backdrop for end of year celebrations.

grandbrighton.co.uk/Christmas

CHRISTMAS VENUES

Plan your Christmas party

..like a pro

The Grand Brighton’s Sales Director, Alison Edwards, shares her top tips on planning your 2019 Christmas party.

C

hristmas parties can be the highlight of the year for many employees. They’re a chance for teams, often working in different departments or geographic locations, to finally get together and have a good catch up, mingle with old and new colleagues and look forward to another year of business.

At The Grand Brighton, we dedi-

Choose somewhere memorable

An epic location on the seafront, a historical venue or somewhere known for its quality service and delivery - your chosen venue will really set the scene for your party.

cate the whole month of December to throwing parties for offices and businesses from Sussex and beyond. Shared joiner parties take all the effort out of planning and can be a great way for smaller teams to network with other local businesses from a variety of industries. And for larger companies or businesses looking for an exclusive event dedicated to their end of year celebrations, big

parties can be hassle-free too. Here’s just a few tips and tricks to help you plan your end of year do.

Set the budget

Send invitations out early

When picking your venue, set the budget with the organisers - you’d be surprised how flexible most hotels and venues will be to offer the right dates and dinner or party packages to work within your ideal spend.

Go on a ‘recce’

The majority of venues will invite you to explore the space and meet the staff that will be helping you ahead of the party day. At The Grand, we strongly encourage guest organisers to visit our hotel in advance as it’s a great way of visualising lighting, decorations and theming for your event.

Pick a theme

Christmas parties with a theme always go down well with guests!

From frosty winter wonderland scenes to a Great Gatsby inspired fair, match up your decorations with a festive theme your guests can dress up for.

To find out more about exclusive event hire and Christmas joiner parties at The Grand Brighton visit www. grandbrighton.co.uk/Christmas

Make sure to send your invitations out early to ensure your party date fits in conveniently around your employees’ busy festive plans. Let them know what the theme is in advance so they can plan a show-stopping outfit.

Serve a speciality cocktail

Food and drink are always top of the list on party planning priorities, and your venue will be able to help you organise the perfect platter to suit all tastes. But why not also ask for a specialty cocktail for your event? Our bartenders will be able to whip up a tipple suited to your theme.

Create a playlist

Send your venue a pre-made playlist ahead of your party date. If you need help with curating music to set the tone for your event, our organisers have a range of pre-made party playlists available for the occasion or we can help organise DJs or live band for your party.

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Festive Events COME AND CELEBRATE WITH US

Christmas Rocks New Year’sEve PARTY NIGHTS

PARTY

Includes 3 Course Meal Half a Bottle of Wine per person DJ & Disco 6 & 20 December

4 Course Dinner Half a Bottle of Wine per person Dodgems, DJ & Disco

£44.95 per person

£94.95 per adult

7, 13 & 14 December

£50 per child 10, 11 & 12 years

Christmas Day

Festive Jazz Lunch

£49.95 per person

JOIN US FOR A SUMPTUOUS CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH AND ENJOY LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, GREAT HOSPITALITY ALL CAREFULLY CRAFTED WITH SEASONAL FLAVOURS AND PLENTY OF FESTIVE CHEER

25 December 1890 AT THE MET

£99.95 per adult

£50 per child 5-12, under 5’s £30

ENJOY A FESTIVE THREE-COURSE BUFFET CARVERY LUNCH WITH UNLIMITED FIZZ WHILST BEING ENTERTAINED BY OUR RESIDENT JAZZ BAND

17, 19 & 20 December

REGENCY SUITE FAMILY CHRISTMAS £89.95 per adult £45 per child 5-12, under 5’s £30

1890 AT THE MET

£34.95 per adult

(Unlimited fizz for 60 minutes from time of seating)

For more information or to book

call 01273 720710 or email enquiries.brightonmet@hilton.com

HILTON BRIGHTON METROPOLE, KINGS ROAD, BRIGHTON, BN1 2FU

@brightonmet

@hilton.b.metropole

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A Night Out with a Difference No matter what the occasion, you can be sure of an experience like no other at Genting Casino.

Our casino floor is packed with the best live gaming, including American Roulette, Blackjack as well as Slots machines with jackpots up to £10,000.

Open from 12pm until 5am every day, Genting Casino is Brighton’s boutique casino.

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chambers listings Bite-sized Learning: Make your competition irrelevant with disruptive marketing

BrightonChamber

www.brightonchamber.co.uk

The ‘World of Books journey’ Lunch Date: Wednesday 11th September Time: 12pm-2:30pm Venue: The Grand Hotel, 97-99 King’s Road, Brighton Join us for lunch and hear the fascinating story of this circular economy business. There’ll plenty of opportunities for networking and questions with CEO Stephen Boobyer.

High Growth - the future of sales, marketing and influencers is here

Date: Thursday 26th September Time: 9:30am-11:30am Venue: NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator, 149 Preston Road, Brighton This Bite-sized session will show you how to use disruptive marketing to build momentum, grow your audience and become the obvious choice in your market.

The ‘Philosophical’ Breakfast Date: Friday 27th September Time: 7:45am-9:30am Venue: Carluccio’s, 1 Jubilee Street, Brighton James Dempster, co-founder and MD of Cobb Digital, insists that modern businesses can learn a lot from the Ancient Greeks. Hear why at the September Chamber breakfast.

Date: Thursday 19th September Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm Venue: PLATF9RM, Hove Town Hall, Church Road, Hove Join our panel to discuss what the future of sales and marketing looks like, exploring the role of content, resourcing, influencers and purpose.

Behind the Scenes: Take Shelter! at Downs Junior School (members only) Date: Tuesday 24th September Time: 5pm-7:30pm Venue: Downs Junior School, Rugby Road, Brighton Join Take Shelter! and visit an original WW2 Air Raid Shelter, experiencing what life was like for children in Brighton during the war years.

Bite-sized Learning: Using research to convert your audience Date: Wednesday 25th September Time: 9:30am-11:30am Venue: Werks Central, 15-17 Middle Street, Brighton Learn step-by-step how to achieve quality feedback from customers, the importance of objective analysis, and how to make research an integral part of your business.

Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce

A monthly free to attend business networking event in a welcoming environment where people feel relaxed and are free to present a 60-second elevator pitch.

Late Breakfast Networking Date: Wednesday 11th September Time: 9am Venue: The Art House, 34 Grove Road, Eastbourne Price: Members: £11 I Non-Members: £16 (Includes VAT)

A 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 with Giovanna Grandoni from The Girl’s Network Date: Tuesday 17th September Time: 7am Venue: The Hydro Hotel, Mount Road Price: Members: £11 I Non-Members: £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.

www.eastbourneunltd.co.uk

Chamber Breakfast with Anne-Marie Smith of MW Solicitors Date: Wednesday 4th September Time: 7am Venue: Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club, Harbour Quay Price: Members: £11 I Non-Members: £16 (Includes VAT) Members are invited to attend this popular networking event and promote their business services over breakfast.

A great opportunity to meet with other local business people and showcase your business.

Edeal First Friday business networking Date: Friday 6th September Time: 12.30pm Venue: The Cavendish Hotel, 38 Grand Parade Price: Free to attend

www.gatwickdiamondbusiness.com

Bank of England Business Briefing Date: Tuesday 10th September Time: 8.30am-10am Venue: Grant Thornton, 2nd Floor, St John’s House, Crawley Price: Free for Members only

Wakehurst Corporate Showcase

Date: Tuesday 10th September Time: 4pm-6pm Venue: Wakehurst, Selsfield Road, Haywards Heath Price: Free for Members only ‘What’s the Point???’

Date: Tuesday 17th September Time: 5.15pm-6.30pm

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chambers listings Venue: Basepoint Business Centre Price: Free for new members and nonmembers

Networking at Ease

Date: Friday 20th September Time: 12pm-2.30pm Venue: Sofitel London Gatwick Price: gdb Members: £35+VAT I NonMembers: £45+VAT

Members Meeting

Date: Friday 27th September Time: 11am - Educational Seminar 12pm-2.30pm - Members meeting Venue: Hartsfield Manor Price: Free for gdb members I £25+VAT guest fee To attend any of the above events, please visit www.gatwickdiamondbusiness.com

Sussex Chamber of Commerce

www.sussexchamberofcommerce. co.uk

Grow Your Connections Date: Thursday 5th September Time: 4pm-6pm Venue: LEAP Chichester Price: Members only: £10 (excludes VAT) 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.

Going for Growth: UK Company Growth Strategies Date: Wednesday 18th September Time: 12pm- 2.30pm Venue: Buxted Park, Buxted Price: Members: £25 I Non-Members: £50 (excludes VAT) Join us for our networking lunch with guest speaker, Jake Standing from Kreston Reeves. Understand the primary barriers to growth, plan and prepare for future uncertainties, and identify local, national and international opportunities.

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Construction Forum

Chamber Hub

Date: Thursday 26th September Time: 6.45am-9am Venue: Ardingly Showground, Haywards Heath Price: Member and Non-Member price: £25 (excludes VAT)

Date: Friday 20th September Time: 12:30pm-2pm Venue: Impulse Leisure, Lancing BN15 0PH Price: Free

Construction forum with guest speakers Tim Norwood from Gatwick Airport and Michaela Wain, BBC Apprentice Runner Up 2017 and Owner of Design and Build UK, Vantage Utility Connections.

Enjoy 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.

Grow Your Connections Date: Wednesday 23rd October Time: 6pm–7.30pm Venue: Jaguar Harwoods Land Rover, Manor Royal Price: Members only: Free I NonMembers: by invitation These events are designed to give you a regular opportunity to meet other businesses, grow your connections and widen your own network of customers and suppliers.

Business Networking Breakfast

Networking breakfast Date: Friday 27th September Time: 7:30am-9am Venue: Price: Members: £14+VAT | NonMembers: £18+VAT This is our most formal event with a keynote speaker such as local MP’s, Council leaders and officers, County Councillors and local business leaders.

Chamber Hub

Date: Tuesday 29th October Time: 8am-10.30am Venue: The Mercure Hotel, Brighton Price: Members: £18 I Non-Members: £40 (excludes VAT)

Date: Friday 11th October Time: 12:30pm-2pm Venue: Impulse Leisure, Lancing BN15 0PH Price: Free

Our speaker for this event will be our Chief Executive, Ana Christie, who will provide economic and business updates with opportunities to raise any business concerns and network with other like-minded businesses.

Enjoy 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.

Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce

www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

Better Business Summit Date: Wednesday 11th September Time: 12pm-6pm Venue: Field Place Manor House & Barns, Worthing BN13 1NP Price: Members: £59+VAT | NonMembers: £99+VAT An inspirational afternoon packed with a host of business specialists who are all encouraging a productive, efficient and healthy workplace.

How digitally safe are you?

Cyber Security Networking Breakfast Date: Friday 25th October Time: 7:30am-9am Venue: Worthing Golf Club, Links Road, Worthing Price: Members: £14+VAT | Nonmembers: £18+VAT Join us for a networking breakfast with Barclays and the Surrey & Sussex Cyber Crime Unit who will provide an overview of cyber security and what it means for businesses.

To book any of these events or for more information please visit www. worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

JOIN HOMELINK FOR

BUSINESS SURVEY

A UNIQUE COMMUNITY GALA at GLYNDEBOURNE OPERA HOUSE on 17 November

to mark 20 years of preventing homelessness in Sussex BOOK TICKETS AT www.glyndebourne.com

© Glyndebourne Productions Ltd. Photo: Leigh Simpson

Presented by

K ATIE DE RH AM and other VIP hosts Performers include:

BRIGHTON’S CHOIR WITH NO NAME HOMELESSNESS CHOIR GLYNDEBOURNE CLASSICAL SOPRANO DAME FELICITY LOTT BBC CHOIR OF THE YEAR WINNERS, LEWES SINGS GOSPEL GUITAR VIRTUOSO RICHARD DURRANT SPECIAL ONE-OFF PERFORMANCE FROM HMP LEWES STAFF CHOIR AWARD WINNING STREETFUNK HIP HOP DANCE GROUP VIP Packages available for corporate sponsors Find out more about our work at www.leweshomelink.org.uk To discuss how you can support our future work please contact us at homelink.lewes@gmail.com

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@HomelinkSussex #homes4homeless

CHARITY NEWS

Make a Will and Walk Tall From Wills to mountain treks, there are so many ways you can support Chestnut Tree House this year, and beyond

October is Make a Will month

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hroughout October, local solicitors are offering appointments to write or update Wills in return for a donation to Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice for Sussex and South East Hampshire.

costs £116.79 per hour to provide all of Chestnut Tree House’s community services, which allow children with life-shortening conditions and their families to receive care in their own home, so the suggested donations of £110 for a single will and £160 for a joint Will could make a real difference.”

A number of local solicitors have signed up to the scheme, generThe charity also hopes it will ously waiving their Will-writing prompt people to consider leavfees for appointments in October. ing a charitable Instead of paying gift in their Will. the solicitor for and make a e c Chestnut Tree their professional differen House currently advice, they are cares for around asking for a sug300 life-limited gested donation children; the care to Chestnut Tree provided to 1 in 4 House. of these children Write or update your Will during October 2019 and support your local children’s hospice. Make A Will Month is generously supported by local solicitors offering their is made possible According to reservices in return for a donation to Chestnut Tree House.* thanks to gifts in search from earWills. lier this year, over half of UK adults Solicitors across (54%) don’t have a the region are taking part. Anybody Will, meaning their loved ones may who would like to take advantage not be provided for when they pass of this offer can contact their choaway. sen solicitor any time from the beginning of September and book an “Having a Will is crucial to ensure appointment to take place in Octothat your property is distributed in ber, quoting ‘Chestnut Tree House the way you want, so we hope that Make a Will Month’. people will be prompted to make or update their Will during OctoMore information, including the ber,” says Rosie Last, Developfull list of participating solicitors, ment Fundraiser at Chestnut Tree is available at www.chestnut-treeHouse. house.org.uk /makeawillmonth or you can contact the charity on “We are really grateful for the sup01903 706351 or wills@chestnutport of local solicitors in providing tree-house.org.uk appointments during October. It

Make a Will

Sign up for Chestnut’s Inca Trail Challenge 2020

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ake on one of the world’s most iconic trekking trails with Chestnut Tree House from October 2nd–11th 2020 and witness one of the new seven wonders of the world. The Inca Trail in Peru encompasses three high mountain passes – the highest at 4,200m – and trekkers will be hiking through sub-tropical vegetation, cloud forest and summiting snow-capped peaks.

It will be tough, but worth it when you reach the unforgettable sight of Machu Picchu. You will also be taking on the challenge knowing that you are raising vital funds for local life-limited children and their families.

Find out more and register your place at www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/inca

*Suggested minimum donations: £110 single Will or £160 for a joint Will.

www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/makeawillmonth 01903 706351 Registered charity no 256789 wills@chestnut-tree-house.org.uk

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To find out more about upcoming events, and how you or your business can help Chestnut Tree House support local life-limited children, visit www.chestnuttree-house.org.uk, or get in touch on corporate@chestnut-treehouse.org.uk or 01903 871846 / 01323 725095.

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SPORT | FOOTBALL

The magic of Potter With Graham Potter now in charge at the Seagulls, it’s time to start enjoying the football again!

Chairman Tony Bloom certainly surprised everyone. Many thought that Hughton would remain at the helm, because IF the Seagulls were relegated, there would be no-one better to gain promotion again. His record at Newcastle and Norwich were testament to that.

attractive playing style, fierce determination and a strong collective spirit.”

Albion fans can perhaps look forward to a more attractive style of football then and with the arrival of record signings Adam Webster from Bristol City and Neil Maupay from Brentford, as well as holding onto captain Lewis Dunk, the outlook is certainly very exciting. The opening day 3-0 win away at last season’s FA Cup finalists, Watford, sparked people into believing again.

After a season of watching a seemingly

The Seagulls don’t simply want to survive each season, there needs to be progress, and Bloom probably felt Hughton had done all he could.

negative and boring brand of football, Potter was impressive in replacing two strikers with two new ones, rather than attempting to defend a 1-0 lead!

Unquestionably, everyone needs to give Potter and his troops time to adapt. There will be defeats, some heavy, along the way there’s no doubt.

But for now, let’s enjoy the ride. The future certainly has the potential to be more magical than anyone imagined four months ago… apart perhaps, from Bloom himself, who may well have conjured up another masterstroke.

“The Seagulls don’t just want to survive season after season, there needs to be progress”

Step forward Graham Potter. Unproven at the highest level, was this a sensible gamble? Potter had only joined Swansea last summer, where he guided them to a 10th-place finish in the Championship. Prior to that, he had won three promotions with Östersunds in Sweden, and steered them into the Europa League. Bloom said, “Graham Potter has an excellent record of developing teams with an

UPCOMING BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION FIXTURES PREMIER LEAGUE at The Amex Stadium

BARCLAYS WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE at The People’s Pension Stadium, Crawley

Sat 14 Sep – Burnley Sat 5 Oct – Tottenham Hotspur Sat 26 Oct – Everton Sat 2 Nov – Norwich City Sat 23 Nov – Leicester City

Sun 15 Sep – Chelsea Sun 13 Oct – West Ham United Sun 17 Nov – Birmingham City

To book your hospitality at upcoming fi xtures, please visit www.BrightonAndHoveAlbion.com or call the hospitality team on 01273 878 278 or email hospitality@brightonandhovealbion.com

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Images: Paul Hazlewood, Club Photographer, Brighton & Hove Albion

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nly four months ago, Brighton & Hove Albion parted company with Chris Hughton after a four-and-a-half year love affair that saw the ‘nicest man in football’ stave off relegation to League One, gain promotion to the promised land of the Premier League, stay there, AND reach the FA Cup semi-final.

SPORT | POLO

A thrilling climax to the 2019 King Power Gold Cup VS King Power team and Dubai contested the Final at Cowdray Park on July 21st.

By Liz Higgins

V

S King Power added VS to the team’s name in memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who lost his life in a helicopter crash at Leicester City’s stadium last year.

Vichai’s son ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha played at number 1 with Polito Pieres taking the number 2 slot, Marcos di Paola at 3 and Juan Martin Zubia playing at Back. Dubai fielded 16-year-old Camilo Castagnola at 1, Rashid Albwardy at 2, Bartolomé Castagnola at 3 and Ignacio du Plessis at Back.

Chukka 1 opened with Pieres immediately on the attack for VS King Power and after a few minutes of frenetic action, a penalty was awarded with Camilo Castagnola converting from 30 yards to score the opening goal for Dubai. A lovely steal by Pieres produced the equaliser, with Zubia picking up the ball and sending it between the posts. Pieres then won the ball from the throw-in and ran all the way to Dubai’s goal to put VS King Power 2-1 as the first chukka ended.

Brothers Camilo and Bartolomé Castagnola produced three goals in chukka 2 and with just one from Pieres for VS King Power, Dubai were ahead at 4-3. A fast, tough chukka 3 saw a

spot penalty awarded to VS King Power in front of Dubai’s goal with Pieres levelling things up, before Bartolomé answered with two goals to put Dubai 6-4 in front at half time.

With the fourth chukka underway, excellent play saw Pieres leave the ball for Zubia who obliged with a huge lofted shot to score for VS King Power and when Top scored, the sides were level at 6-6. Another fantastic strike from Top, followed by a 30-yard penalty just as the chukka was ending extended VS King Power’s lead to 8-6.

A frantic fifth chukka saw both sides score spot penalties before a long range shot from distance and a 60yard penalty from Pieres put VS King Power 11-7 ahead. Dubai won the next throw-in and while Bartolomé was challenged by Pieres, his younger brother coolly slipped through to pull one back. Chukka 6 opened with swift goals from the Castagnola brothers and it was 11-10. A scramble in front of VS King Power’s goal resulted in a foul and Bartolomé calmly sent the ball through the posts from 60 yards

to make it 11-11. When Pieres scored again, taking VS King Power back into the lead, the excitement in the crowd was palpable, but Bartolomé found a way through for Dubai and levelled the scores at 12-12 before the whistle blew to end the chukka.

With the match now entering its seventh chukka, Top made a great clearance from du Plessis at one end, and Zubia raced away for VS King Power, only to send the ball agonisingly wide.

When the ball came back in, Dubai’s Bartolomé raced away to combine effectively with his brother Camilo who dived forward to score and secure victory for Dubai at 13-12!

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SPORT | NETWORKING

Network My Club partner with the home of England rugby Network My Club announce a new partnership, this time with the home of England rugby, Twickenham Stadium, which will see the launch of the Twickenham Business Club

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aunching in September 2019, the Business Club will bring together leading businesses and decision makers from the South West London region through monthly networking events hosted at the iconic home of England rugby, Twickenham Stadium, while providing a host of exclusive benefits and opportunities for companies as members.

Bradley Hatchett, Managing Director of Network My Club, said “We are delighted to team up with Twickenham Stadium, arguably one of the most prestigious and well-known sporting stadiums in the world.

“The South West London region is rife with flourishing business communities, so teaming up with Twickenham Stadium provides a recognised, accessible world-class venue for us to bring together these businesses.

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“With the Network My Club group covering the South East and London, expanding into the South West London area compliments this thoroughly as we aim to connect businesses not just locally but from outside the area from across our growing network.

“We can’t wait to start meeting lots of businesses, supporting them as members whilst delivering exclusive membership benefits, all whilst showcasing the enormous potential that association with the venue presents.”

Johanna Byrane, Head of Business Development at Twickenham Stadium added, “We are really looking forward to Network My Club hosting the monthly business club at the stadium. It is a great opportunity for us to welcome local businesses to Twickenham in an informal setting and showcase our amazing facilities that are available on both non-match days and for match day hospitality.”

To register your interest, learn more about the Business Club (including an early bird joining offer for businesses) and keep up to date regarding the inaugural networking event on Friday September 20th, visit www.networkmyclub.co.uk.

SPORT | ACTIVE SUSSEX

Nominations are open for the

Sussex Sports Awards 2019 The glitzy awards are back to celebrate Sussex sport and physical activity and the phenomenal heroines and heroes who have contributed at all levels, across all walks of life.

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Active Sussex want to hear your heart-warming and inspiring stories, so if you know someone that deserves to be recognised then nominate them for a Sussex Sports Award!

Famous faces from across the world of sport will be in attendance for the star-studded ceremony, hosted by revered BBC radio presenter Danny Pike, for the tenth consecutive year, and a very special VIP sporting guest speaker for the evening, who will be announced later this month.

Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards was the star cohost of the Sussex Sports Awards 2018

Photo credit Stephen Lawrence

Sadie Mason MBE, Active Sussex’s Chief Executive said: “The awards provide the perfect stage to reward dedicated and inspiring individuals and organisations whose work behind the scenes is so crucial to the devel-

Photo credit Stephen Lawrence

osted by Active Sussex, the black-tie event, in its 17th year, will be held at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Friday November 22nd.

Nominations are now open to find people who have gone the extra mile, whether that’s to achieve their own personal goals, or for helping others achieve theirs. They could be young or old, a selfless volunteer or someone who’s triumphed against adversity.

Brighton Table Tennis Club won the Active Sussex Special Recognition Award

opment of sport from grassroots level right through to elite.”

Award nominations close at noon on Friday October 11th.

Last year’s awards British sporting legend Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards wowed as host guest, with the awards receiving a record number of nominations from across the county.

“I was honoured to have the chance to meet and speak to the next generation of UK’s sports stars; it was a wonderful chance to address these talented teams and individuals,” said Eddie.

Winners included Brighton Table Tennis Club, the UK’S first Club of Sanctuary, who collaborated with social services, schools and prisons as well as refugee and migrant communities, and Rob Cross, who completed a stunning rise to stardom last year by winning the PDC World Darts Championship on his first appearance at the sport’s flagship event.

Sponsorship Active Sussex believes that sponsoring an award not only helps celebrate and

promote the county’s sporting success stories, it also creates strong links amongst Sussex sports stars of the future and local business communities.

Remaining award categories available for sponsorship at the Sussex Sports Awards 2019 are: • Young Volunteer of the Year • Community Impact Award • Club of the Year There is also a limited number of Top Table Sponsorships available which includes seats on a table with our special guest co-host.

Tickets Corporate Tickets: £75+VAT Corporate Tables: £675+VAT. Corporate tickets include a drinks reception, a three-course meal with wine, tea/ coffee, entertainment throughout the evening, front row seats for the awards ceremony, stories from the special VIP sporting star and an after-show party.

For more information please contact Ed Bartram, Active Sussex’s Events Officer, E: ebartram@activesussex. org / T: 01273 644103.

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SPORT | CRICKET

Are the Sharks blasting their way to T20 glory?

After going eight matches unbeaten in the T20 Vitality Blast, Laurence Elphick believes 2019 is the Sussex Sharks’ year

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ver half way through the T20 Vitality Blast, Sussex were top of the league and heading for the quarter finals. With the top four from each of the southern and northern groups to play in the last eight ahead of Finals day on September 21st at Edgbaston, Luke Wright’s team look a good bet to bring back some silverware to the South Coast. At a recent charity golf day yours truly hosted, I said that I believe Sussex will win this year, especially after coming so close losing to Worcestershire last season.

Next up was a three-wicket victory over Gloucestershire with two balls remaining as Delray Rawlins hit a superb unbeaten 35; the hosts had incurred a six-run penalty for a slow over-rate, leaving Sussex to score seven off the final over. Left arm spinner Danny Briggs had extra cause to celebrate after he became the all-time leading wicket-taker in English domestic T20 cricket following his 1 for 28 off four overs

Sussex opener Phil Salt hits another boundary

Image courtesy of Sussex Cricket

Sussex’s T20 campaign began late in July with an abandoned match versus Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl, but since then, there have been some terrific performances from the men in light blue.

Phil Salt’s unbeaten 63 from 44 balls included six fours and two sixes.

Glamorgan were then trounced at Hove by nine wickets after openers Phil Salt and captain Luke Wright hit an astonishing 130 for the first wicket before the Sharks secured victory with six overs still to play, while Ollie Robinson’s 4 for 13 eased Sussex to a four wicket win over Middlesex to keep Sussex top of the pile.

Reece Topley enjoyed a Sussex debut to remember after leaving Hampshire at “Danny Briggs had extra cause the end of last season, with to celebrate after he became four wickets - three of them Despite defeat by Surrey the all-time leading wicketin four balls - as the Sharks ending their unbeaten run, taker in English domestic beat Hampshire by 15 runs the Sharks should at the very at The 1st Central County least have made it through T20 cricket” Ground. Opener Phil Salt, to the quarter finals and Sharks debut with a brilliant 78 to set who was called into England’s T20 hopefully Finals day at Edgbaston too, up a 13-run victory over Somerset at squad earlier this year, led the way with where fingers crossed, they go one Taunton.

73 off 46 balls while David Wiese hit better and win.

44 not out and Rashid Khan smashed 22 off seven balls.

There followed a nine-wicket win over My only other request? After his Kent, who lost their 100% record when shocking display in the mascot race Laurie Evans hit 65* from 35 deliveries, A thrilling tie with Surrey was followed last year, I only hope Sid the Shark puts including six fours and three sixes, while

by Australian Alex Carey marking his in a performance to match his team.

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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

SPORT | BOUNDARY CLUB

Sussex networking for Sussex business Where business meets cricket, a perfect way to network this summer

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uly saw an excellent attendance at the hugely successful Boundary Club networking lunch, held at the home of Sussex Cricket in Hove, where guests from across the business community come together to network over a delicious three-course lunch with wine.

Many of the county’s business owners and leaders always look forward to this event each month because it’s one of the most successful networking events in Sussex. Regularly attended by 120 plus people each month, the food is always top notch and a celebrity special guest is always in attendance to entertain the assembled audience. The July gathering saw the turn of radio presenter, Welsh tenor and the Go Compare man, Wynne Evans, with the lunch preceding the opening match of the T20 Vitality Blast, where all the members and guests were able to stay and watch the Sussex Sharks beat Hampshire.

After the meal, Evans began by announcing that as anyone who had followed his career would know, he’d literally do anything for money, quickly followed by a very brief burst of “Go Compare!”

What followed was a hilarious look at his life as an opera singer around the world through a series of highly

amusing anecdotes, where he regularly poked fun at himself and his experiences, together with what he described as his greatest moment singing ‘Cwm Rhondda (Bread of Heaven)’ at the Principality Stadium, before Wales versus New Zealand. Despite the ill-fitting Lycra rugby top he had to wear during the performance, Evans anticipated nothing but favourable headlines the next day, only to read one in the Sun which unflatteringly said..’They give us the haka..we give them a fat bloke with a flag!’

The BBC Radio Wales presenter then revealed how the Go Compare opportunity came about, his surreal meeting with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and how the Facebook hates for the Go Compare man stands at 2.75 million compared with the man he thought was more hated, Nick Griffin, who only has 75,000!!

Last month’s Boundary Club lunch featured BBC South Today news presenter John Young, while this month you can look forward to seeing former Nottingham Forest captain, John McGovern talk about his time as a double European Cup winner in 1979 and 1980.

If you need to justify your networking either to yourself or your boss, then the Boundary Club events should always be in your diary, as you will be guaranteed to not only catch up with familiar faces and have fun, but you’ll always make new contacts too.

There are only three Boundary Club events left in 2019, so be sure to make a note in your diary.

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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B E S T

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SPONSORED BY

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Danny Pike

Featuring Special Guest Speaker:

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MEDIA SPONSOR

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Tables of 10

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SPORT | GOLF

James Ross Charity Golf Day

A record-breaking year, 2019 proved the best event yet, raising over £10,000!

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une 28th, 2019 saw the eighth annual James Ross Charity Golf Day take place at West Hove Golf Club, raising money for three amazing charities; Teenage Cancer Trust, St Barnabas House and Prostate Cancer UK. Despite the threat of potential thunderstorms, 24 teams took part in what turned out to be a glorious day of sunshine to support James, including teams from Porsche Centre Mid Sussex, Portslade Panelworks, Parafix, Fizz Creations and Loud shirt Brewery.

Former Sussex cricket captain Chris Adams played the course as part of the Moore Stephens team while Sussex cricket women’s captain Georgia Adams joined forces with head coach Alexia Walker and team mates Paige Schofield and Freya Kemp. Additionally, former Brighton & Hove Albion boss Mark McGhee teamed up with former captain Paul ‘Dodge’ Rogers as part of the Rivervale Cars team.

While there were prizes for ‘nearest the pin’, the ‘longest drive’ and whoever could ‘beat the Pro’, congratulations must go to the KSD Group who won the men’s and the Ladies Sussex Cricket Club who won the women’s competition.

While yours truly spent the afternoon whizzing around the course in a golf buggy with the official photographer, Nick Ford, taking the necessary snaps and delivering much the needed libations, I somehow managed to lose my glasses! Despite retracing my steps, I didn’t retrieve them so if you do come across them, please let me know!

James Ross in full flow

The evening’s entertainment included a delicious three course meal followed by a charity auction, silent auction

After a record-breaking year last year, I’m delighted to report that with everyone’s support and generosity, 2019 proved the best event yet, raising over £10,000!

A tremendous day was had by all and every year this event seems to get bigger and better. Thank you to everyone that took part and helped to make the day so successful and in particular, a special mention must go to Noel Preston Insurance Brokers who sponsored the balls. Special thanks also to Georgia Adams celebrates sinking a putt! the hard work of Terry Pierce without whom the event wouldn’t run as smoothly as it did and of course, Nick Ford who and raffle where some great prizes again took some amazing pics, despite were won, including hospitality at the encountering the odd grumpy golfer recent T20 match Sussex v Surrey who was trying to concentrate! James (kindly donated by Andy Lang at Lanis already looking forward to seeing guard Alarms), a Porsche experience, everyone in 2020. wine tasting, signed Brighton & Hove Albion shirts and a two-night stay in Images courtesy of Nick Ford Photograthe Algarve resort of Monte Da Quinphy, 19 Oxford Street, Brighton BN1 4LA ta donated by James Bryan from Golf www.nickfordphotography.co.uk Escapes.

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H THE PLATINUM PAUL (Dev Assist) ADDISON v PART 9 - ‘The Kayaking Race’ A chance to spend time in the water has got to be better than being in the office hasn’t it?

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s I write this in August, the weather outside is utterly miserable and most definitely has a ‘summer has ended’ feel to it.

It’s also particularly reminiscent of the conditions that Paul and I experienced for our latest challenge – sea kayaking.

I’ve been meaning to arrange this all summer, where we’ve had some gloriously sunny days when ordinarily, I hoped to be reporting back on how we made the most of the beautiful calm seas and not a cloud in the sky! Sadly, this wasn’t the case as the Monday morning we’d arranged for messing about on the water, (sorry race!) was bleak, overcast and it rained pretty much all day. Despite both of us thinking that it might be sensible to rearrange our next challenge, we decided that the worst of the elements that had battered Brighton a few days earlier had passed, and headed down to the seafront to meet the guys at Brighton Watersports.

After the necessary introductions and safety briefing, we pulled on the even more necessary wetsuit and lifejacket that was provided. Despite being reassured the water wasn’t as cold as it looked, I insisted, anyway Paul had brought his own and I remembered how cold I was when we were paddle boarding! The instructions were to keep between the buoys between the Palace and West

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Piers and we signed a disclaimer to say that we could tread water for 30 seconds and swim 25 metres.

Mindful of the stony beach and that we would be dragging our relatively light kayaks down to the water by ourselves, I’d planned ahead with a pair of sandals, while Paul purchased a pair of flip flops.

As we approached the water, the sea

was noticeably ‘choppier’ than it had looked at first glance; the first objective was to push out through the waves that were breaking on the beach in order to successfully get astride the kayak and start paddling. With my first attempt came the realisation this wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought. As I strode confidently forward, the wave forced the kayak back, slamming side on into my ankles which only served to knock me over where I floundered in the surf like a beached whale. I eventually got back up, and then – BANG - down I went again… and again… and again! This happened a few more times and by now my ankles were really hurting, my left sandal had split and come off and my Tourette’s had kicked in again!

Thankfully there wasn’t anyone around to witness this debacle, except a bemused Paul, who’d made it out on the first attempt and sat there wondering what the hell I was up to!

Eventually I made it out and joined him. The kayaks were just right for the conditions, sturdy and light in equal measure, where we were sat in them with our legs extended in front of us, therefore making it easier if one of us toppled off or capsized, thankfully we did neither.

After pottering around about 150-200 metres from the shore and with the waves more up and down than we’d anticipated, we

SPORT | PLATINUM CHALLENGE

CHALLENGE H

LAURENCE (Platinum) ELPHICK quickly decided that a Pier to Pier race in these conditions was going to be potentially problematic. On the other hand, crashing headlong through the waves as they broke over the bow of my kayak at my own pace was tremendously exhilarating. The water was surprisingly warmer than we thought it would be, and whilst I dangled my leg in the deep, I was glad I hadn’t watched any recent shark movies!!

(Jaws has got a lot to answer for!)

As time passed, and realising this was supposed to be a challenge, we decided to have a little 50-metre sprint to a buoy, which Paul won, just. He brought his own kayak about three months ago and had kayaked in the sea before. Me – I had kayaked with my family in Turkey about 15 years ago, a time when I was a great deal younger, fitter and more able. However, we agreed that we should have a proper race on a sunnier calmer day, after all it only costs £15 for an hour.

When time was up, we made our way back to the shore and dragged our kayaks up the beach. Let me tell you…

“Thankfully there wasn’t anyone around to witness this debacle, except a bemused Paul, who’d made it out on the first attempt and sat there wondering what the hell I was up to!”

only having one sandal made this a painful experience on the stones, coupled with the fact that I was completely knackered. But a huge thank you to Sarah, Jo and Nick at Brighton Watersports. We had a lot of fun and what a perfect way to spend a Monday morning – despite the weather, it was infinitely better than being in the office and an experience I can’t wait to repeat soon!

The Brighton Watersports 185 Kings Road Arches, Brighton seafront BN1 1NB Email: info@thebrightonwatersports. co.uk. 01273 323160

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 ONE NINEEVENT: EVENTS: PAUL PAUL 1-07–2 LAURENCE LAURENCE

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SPORT | WHEN BUSINESS MEETS SPORT

WHY I

LOVE

CALISTHENICS

Q&A IS THIS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN OR WITH OTHER PEOPLE?

Andrew Hookway, Managing Director at Extech Cloud tells us about how much he enjoys Calisthenics as long as there’s more pull-overs than pull-ups involved!

You do it in groups between 8-10 people. The group sessions add a bit of camaraderie. It’s the first time I’ve enjoyed physical exercise.

C

HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN PART IN COMPETITIONS AROUND CALISTHENICS?

alisthenics is physical exercise without the use of weights and, instead, using your body strength. It’s a bit like gymnastics.

No. However, calisthenics does build up to obstacle course challenges, such as the Spartan races. I am doing my first one in October.

One of the reasons I enjoy it is because I do it with others, we all set ourselves a personal goal, and everyone encourages each other.

In week one, you may be unable to do a pull-up and then all of a sudden, you’re doing two, three or four pull-ups a few weeks later. What’s nice about it is that it’s progressive. It’s all about your strength and incremental improvements week on week until you can achieve certain moves. You do what your body can do. My goal is to achieve a muscle up!

I also do a bit of weightlifting to compliment the calisthenics. It’s about finding weaknesses in your body and improving them. It makes day-to-day work, such as gardening, much easier. My stature and posture have improved too.

There’s an endless amount of exercises. Once you’ve mastered one exercise,

you can modify it and make it harder.

I had a neck and shoulder injury ten years ago from running, and a wrist injury from skiing, which required me to see a physio every few weeks. However, the strengthening has sorted these issues out.

Extech Cloud, 2nd Floor , Greenacre Court, Station Road, Burgess Hill, RH15 9DS 01444 443200 www.extechcloud.com

THE WIKIPEDIA DEFINITION OF CALISTHENICS IS ‘THE ART OF USING ONE’S BODY WEIGHT AS RESISTANCE TO DEVELOP PHYSIQUE’, WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE AND LEAST FAVOURITE EXERCISE ROUTINES? I hate pull-ups! However, I know I need to improve to do a muscleup. My favourite exercise at the moment is something called a pull-over, which is when you do a pull-up, then swing your legs over the other way, so you rotate around the bar and end up on top of the bar. Then you can do dips!

WHO WAS YOUR SPORTING IDOL GROWING UP AND WHY? I was into long-distance running.

I used to do cross country, so my idol was Steve Cram. My nan used to say I looked like him!

WHICH SPORTSPERSON DO YOU MOST ADMIRE TODAY AND WHY? My son! I could only ever run; however, he can play cricket, rugby, football, hockey… He’s very good at golf, and he can run! He even got a sports scholarship at school.

98

£750* PER PERSON + VA T

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Guarantee a seat for some of the biggest matches at the Amex this season • Premium seating • Three-course meal • Inclusive drinks

BrightonAndHoveAlbion.com/hospitality For more information, please call the hospitality team on 01273 878 278 or email hospitality@brightonandhovealbion.com *Includes 1 x category A+ or A, 1 x category B, 2 x category C. Category A/A+: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur. Category B: Aston Villa, Everton, Leicester City, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Category C: AFC Bournemouth, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Sheffield United, Watford