Platinum Business Magazine - issue 66 by Platinum Media Group

ISSUE 66. DECEMBER 2019

TONY BLOOM:

AN ALBION DECADE How to survive

THE PARTY SEASON

HOW TO MOVE YOUR OFFICE THE JOY & PAIN OF DRIVING THE

IS MANUFACTURING IN TERMINAL DECLINE? WHY THE

IS FIGHTING BACK

LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO

SUSSEX

TICKETS SOLD OUT!

AWARD CEREMONY DECEMBER 5th 2019 THE GRAND BRIGHTON

SEE NEXT MONTHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ISSUE FOR ALL THE WINNERS THE AWARDS ARE SPONSORED BY

THE RECRUITMENT BIG STORY

OUR SINCERE THANKS TO ALL THE JUDGES

Mike Herd, Chair of Judges

Emma Lane, Area Director at Allied Irish Bank

Nigel Lambe, Executive Director at Sussex Innovation Centre

Andrew Steer, Head of Business Banking at HSBC

Paula Aldridge, Community Engagement Manager at Gatwick Airport

Michael Pay, Director at EMC Corporate Finance

Carlene Jackson, CEO at Cloud9 Insight

Joe Brown, Director at Peopleforce Recruitment

Janella Merritt, Area Business Director at Global

Caroline Ward, Business Engagement Manager at University of Sussex Business School

Luke Mead, Managing Director at LMS Group

Jim Cunliffe, Sussex Area Leader at South East Apprenticeship Ambassador Network

Alistair Crombie, Operations Director at One Research

Rob Clare, Chairman at Sussex Chamber of Commerce

Paul Ollerton, Managing Director at Viisana

Mark Tulley, Sales Director at The Gemini Print Group

David Sheppard, Co-Founder at D-RisQ

2019 marks a record year for entries. With hundreds of applicants whittled down to just 65 finalists, this year is set to be the hottest contest ever to receive one or more of the 16 prestigious trophies!

Thinkers Challengers Innovators Leaders DISCOVER THE SUS SE X MBA

FIND OUT MORE

www.sussexmba.com

CONTENTS 9

NEWS National, international and local news GATWICK DIAMOND BUSINESS AWARDS A look ahead to the 2020 awards ceremony

DMH STALLARD Minimising the disruption of moving offices

KRESTON REEVES Manufacturing: Brexit doldrums or terminal decline?

NATWEST ACCELERATOR Jeremy McMinn, founder of Practice Hub

THE PLATINUM CLUB Who has been seen at the city’s most prestigious networking event? GLYNDEBOURNE The Homelink charity celebrates two decades in style

50-57

TRAVEL Find the best family travel escapes across the globe, courtesy of the experts at Go Bespoke Travel.

NATWEST The latest survey of business confidence

ROCKETMILL A year in reflection

GATWICK AIRPORT Celebrating the new Gatwick to Shanghai route, courtesy of Air China

SUSSEX INNOVATION CENTRE Advertise for the person, not the job

BEST OF BRITISH Highlights David Gower’s appearance at the Best of British luncheon in Gatwick

JAMES ROSS When collecting watches can be a hobby and an investment

Ian Trevett chronicles the ongoing puerile criticism levelled at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

70 73

THE BIG STORY

DMH STALLARD Looking at the Australian immigration system

MOTORING Maarten Hoffmann tests himself in a Lamborghini Huracan Evo, and gets nostalgic in a Mustang

MHA CARPENTER BOX A guide to understanding changes to retirement income

64-68

CHAMBER LISTINGS Events your local Chamber of Commerce is putting on

60 61

CHARITY NEWS Chestnut Tree House events

HURST SCHOOL Can entreprenuerialism be taught in school?

ANGER MANAGMENT Maarten Hoffmann challenges the cowards to stop the abuse of our public figures

THE ALBION ROAR An interview with Albion Chairman Tony Bloom, 10 years after taking over the club

SHOOT ME NOW A profile of Sussex professional photographer David Green

HEALTH & WELLBEING Improving mental and physical wellbeing in the workplace, with contributions from ViiSana and West Sussex County Council, and Health Editor Tess de Klerk

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

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS Taking care of the small things

Welcome

elcome to our last issue before the Christmas break – and the very last issue of the decade!

In this issue, Maarten lets rip in the all-new Lamborghini Huracan Evo and, to date, still has his driving licence, and then couldn’t resist the new Mustang which had a feature that really got him going. Ian has been busy with a profile of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Champagne socialist that is Ian, has suddenly become a Royalist! NatWest looks at the uncertainty that we have all been suffering due to political impotence, although by the time you read this, we will have a new (or old) government and we are not even going to attempt to predict that one. ViiSana run through the things not to do over Christmas and Gatwick Airport shout about their new China service.

to wish all our 700,000 readers a very warm and enjoyable Christmas.

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.

We all had a great afternoon with the Best of British event hosted by Rockinghorse Children’s Charity in the company of cricket legend David Gower and Anger Management actually advocates protection of MPs!!!!

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

There is a lot more in this packed issue so we hope you enjoy it and the entire team at Platinum Towers would like

Maarten Hoffmann – Director

Lesley Alcock

maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Commercial Director

Ian Trevett – Director ian@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Nicole Kemble Commercial Manager

Kate Morton

Hanna Nicholson

Features Editor

Travel Editor

Fiona Graves

Lydia Bunyard

Events Director

Events Executive

Alan Wares Head of Design

Platinum staff images courtesy of David Green, Shoot Me Now Photography shootmenow.co.uk

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Sussex

news CHRISTMAS VENUES

Voting opens for the best Sussex foodies

ublic voting is now open for the Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2020 and organisers are calling all food and drink lovers across the county to cast their vote at www.sussexfoodawards.biz before they close on January 18th 2020. The top ten finalists have been announced for Sussex Food Producer of the Year; Sussex Farmers Market of the Year; Sussex Butcher of the Year sponsored; Sussex Eating Experience of the Year; Sussex Food Shop of the Year; and Sussex Drink Producer of

the Year. The grand finalists will be invited to attend a BAFTA-style ceremony on April 29th 2020 at the Amex Stadium in Brighton.

BUSINESS WISDOM

Change programme to help Chichester’s youth

Law clinic launches at the University of Brighton new pro-bono law clinic at the University of Brighton will provide legal advice for members of the public on issues such as business, housing, and employment. The Brighton Legal Clinic, based in Mithras House, Moulsecombe, was launched by Brontie Ansell, Senior Lecturer in the Brighton Business School, and will see law students give free advice

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall

to clients under the supervision of Brontie, other academics and local lawyers. It is currently open on the last Tuesday of the month with plans to expand to once a week. Students on the third-year ‘Justice and Practice’ module will work in the clinic and be allocated clients, who they will then interview – under supervision – and provide advice to.

n inspirational programme to help local young people fulfil their potential and improve their employment opportunities launched last month at Fontwell Park, with over 100 school students from schools in the Chichester area. The Be the Change programme has been developed by LoveLocalJobs Foundation and Graham Moore of humanutopia to help 13 and 14 year-olds negotiate the gap between education and employment. The schools involved in the programme are Bourne Community College, Midhurst Rother College, The Academy Selsey, Bishop Luffa, The Weald, Ormiston Six Villages and Chichester Free School.

Children’s charity collaborates with Brighton attraction

ockinghorse children’s charity has announced its partnership with Phileas Fogg’s World of Adventures. As part of the partnership, a donation from every ticket sold for any of the attractions at Phileas Fogg’s will be gifted to Rockinghorse. In addition, a donation from

the total cost of all corporate bookings and Christmas parties with also be given to the charity. Debbie Owen, Phileas Fogg’s Managing Director, said: “We love the work that Rockinghorse children’s charity do. It has such a positive

impact on the children and their families, so we are really proud to know that we will be supporting them as they continue to deliver this amazing service across Brighton and Sussex.”

Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. BUSINESS WISDOM

OPENING...

29 | 11 | 2019 BRIGHTON SEAFRONT Follow @cyan.brighton now

Sussex

news CHRISTMAS VENUES

Norwegian posts record profits

orwegian Airlines has reported its best ever quarterly result with a profit before tax of NOK 2.2 billion (c. £186 million). Norwegian carries almost six million UK passengers each year from London Gatwick, Edinburgh and Manchester Airports to

30 destinations worldwide, and is the third largest airline at London Gatwick. Norwegian’s third quarter results are characterised by improved profitability, higher unit revenue, lower unit cost and reduced growth, in line with the strategy. Profit before

Churchill Square wins both green and gender awards

hurchill Square Shopping Centre in Brighton has won two awards for its efforts in the community and supporting gender-free fashion. Beating 500 other candidates, they scooped The Green World Award by The Green Organisation for its commitment to supporting the local environment in a glamorous ceremony in Vietnam. The award specifically recognised Churchill Square’s Community Days

initiative, which saw teams from the centre spend a day helping out with community causes. It also won an honorary certificate for social responsibility at the 2019 ICSC Solal Marketing Awards, which recognises the effect of the shopping centre’s Drop Your Perception Campaign - a campaign which included a series of gender-free fashion shows to help challenge traditional ideas about gender identity.

tax improved by 38% to NOK 2.2 billion compared to the same quarter last year. As Norwegian’s international foothold has continued to grow, the United States is now the largest market in terms of revenue, followed by Norway, Spain and the UK.

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on BUSINESS WISDOM

Sussex Brewery supports sea life project

If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough BUSINESS WISDOM

Accountancy firms scoops top accolade

ussex-based chartered accountancy firm MHA Carpenter Box has won a major industry accolade at the British Accountancy Awards. The practice, which has offices in Worthing, Gatwick and Brighton, received the Mid-Tier Innovation of the Year award (£3m and £25m turnover) for the success of its cloud accounting operations and the value delivered

to clients. MHA Carpenter Box has invested significantly in its cloud accounting team and is an acknowledged leader in this growing area of business. Managing Partner, Alan Edwards, commented: “We are thrilled to have won such a prestigious award and it is very satisfying to be recognised by our peers for the value we have created for our clients.”

ussex-based eco-friendly Bedlam Brewery were recently given the chance to support Project BioDiversity to help save sea turtles. The collaboration involved brewing a light and refreshing Pale Ale, aptly named ‘Turtle Recall’, which was created to bring back memories of sandy beaches. Bedlam has donated £5 from each cask and keg and 10p from each can sold to Project Biodiversity. As a result of their support a sea turtle nest was sponsored in the name of Bedlam Brewery, and out of 85 eggs that hatched, 72 baby turtles were released into the sea.

EVENTS

The great race Sunday 5th January is this year’s date for the Sky Sports Racing Sussex National - one of Plumpton’s biggest and favourite days

race steeped in history, with the first running in 2001, the 3 miles 4½ furlong contest is the longest Plumpton hosts all season and with 20 fences to negotiate it requires a great jumper and a thorough stayer to take the prize. A race worth over £31,000, it’s a coveted prize and one that so many local owners and trainers try and win to get their name on the illustrious roll of honour. However, with such a good pot of prize money it attracts runners from afar too and as such it is a spectacle not to be missed. Last year Two Amigos triumphed for trainer Nicky Martin, and he was the second winning favourite in a row, after 17 years without a winning favourite – who will win the 20th running of this great race?

The day as a whole offers prize money in excess of £80,000 and so the supporting card is a cracker, with last year showcasing one of Plumpton’s greatest ever races with a truly international flavour. We had

was a remarkable spectacle. We hope to see plenty more on show for this year’s running. With Hospitality and Restaurant spaces available, it’s a great way to blow away the Christmas Blues (or treat someone to as a present) and with advanced ticket discounts and U18’s going free when accompanied by an adult, the Sussex National is a day not to be missed.

the incredibly talented French trained Master Dino romp home in the Novice Chase, followed by the locally trained Knocknanuss and with grade 1 form in behind the other from Ireland in Glenloe and the West Country in Slate House – it

Sussex National RACEDAY Sunday 5th January

Gates Open

10:30am

First Race

12:40pm

Sussex National

2:40pm

Last Race

3:40pm

Race times are all subject to change, please ensure you check before travelling

• • • •

7 Quality Races Marquee Restaurant Live Music Children’s Entertainment

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

15244 Plumpton Racecourse Sussex National 185x130 (Landscape)_1.indd 1

12/11/2019 14:59

national

news

Eco Warrior Workforce

limate change awareness has never been stronger. As a result of this, commercial property agents SavoyStewart.co.uk surveyed 1,644 UK office workers to gauge opinions on workplaces’ ‘green’ efforts. The survey showed that over 50% of of-

fices don’t employ eco-friendly features; 79% of people said the most sought after green office features are energy efficient utilities and devices, whilst 29% of job applicants chose a role based on how eco-friendly the office is.

Tax advice goes global

he increasing global movement of people and businesses is driving a growing demand for international tax advice, according to leading financial experts, deVere Group. James Green, divisional manager at deVere Group, comments: “We’ve noted a year-on-year increase in international tax advice enquiries of more than a third. “This can be attributed, we believe,

to three key factors. First, is the increasing movement of people, whether driven by geopolitical, work or lifestyle reasons. Second, since the global financial crisis both individuals and companies have become more financially literate and aware of the importance of specialist financial advice. And third, the reporting and tax filing requirements are increasing in most jurisdictions.”

Bristol plans to ban diesel

ristol is set to become the first UK city to ban diesel cars in a bid to improve air quality. Under the plans, all privately owned diesel vehicles will be barred from entering a clean air zone in the city centre every day between 7am and 3pm by March 2021. The proposals are subject to government approval and consultation with local residents and businesses. Mr Rees, the city’s Labour Mayor told the council: “We have a moral, we have an ecological and we have a legal duty to clean up the air we breathe.”

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. BUSINESS WISDOM

Fashion brand moves robots East

didas plans to close its hightech “robot” factories in Germany and the US, launched to bring production closer to customers, saying that deploying some of the technology in Asia would be more cost effective. The factories were part of a drive to meet demand for faster delivery of new styles to its major markets and to counter higher shipping costs. However, Adidas said that production at the two factories would be discontinued by April 2020. Martin Shankland, head of global operations, said the factories had helped the company improve its expertise in innovative man-

ufacturing, but applying what it had learnt with its suppliers would be “more flexible and economic”.

Living Wage on the rise

ore than 200,000 employees at major companies including Ikea, Aviva and Nationwide are in line for a pay rise after campaigners announced a rise in the voluntary UK Living Wage last month. The pay benchmark, which has been adopted by almost 6,000 companies, will rise from £9 to £9.30 per hour, with the London rate increasing by 20p. Participating employers have until next May to put the new pay rates in place, according to the Living Wage Foundation.

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. BUSINESS WISDOM

Going for Growth masterclass

Going for Growth masterclass - book your place People talk about Growth in so many ways but what is Growth truly about? Is it financial, is it our people, is it our purpose? How do we drive more sales through the door today, or is real Growth about increasing margins tomorrow? Join our Going for Growth masterclass designed to help you with your business growth goals. The masterclass will provide you with an insight into our full workshop which helps you to design, build, refresh and renovate your business growth plan based on the foundation of your core business assets.

Topics covered include:

Timings:

• Your brand asset for growth – understand your vision for growth

2:00pm: Registration 2:30pm: Masterclass commences 4:30pm: Masterclass closes

• Understand how to grow your business from the top-down, brand-led as opposed to the bottomup, sales-led • Understand how to make strategic brand choices • Purpose and profit • Explore your business core assets • Explore what you want to be known for and how you want to leave people feeling • What is your business today, tomorrow and in the future?

Date and location: Tuesday 11 February 2020 Bolney Wine Estate, Bolney How to book: To book your place, please contact Rachael Merritt via email at events@krestonreeves.com or visit www.krestonreeves.com/events

To register your interest in our Growth advisory service or workshops, please email enquiries@krestonreeves.com or phone Jake Standing on +44 (0)330 124 1399.

national

news

Brexit boost to London hotels

ore than 200 new hotels are planned for London with investors enticed by tourist numbers and the weaker pound, research has shown. Of the 210 hotels planned, almost a quarter are in the Westminster borough. Law firm Boodle Hatfield, which

compiled the data, said that the UK’s hotel market is one of the few sectors of the British economy to have benefited from the Brexit-related slump in sterling. This has made it cheaper for international tourists to visit and has encouraged more ‘staycations’.

In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years BUSINESS WISDOM

Greener inhaler, cleaner air

sthma sufferers should switch to ‘green’ inhalers to help the environment and save millions for the NHS, a study suggests. Research led by the University of Cambridge looked at the carbon footprint of inhalers, which account for almost 4% of the greenhouse gas emissions of the NHS.

Toxic tube

ollution levels in some London Underground stations are up to 10 times above guidelines, it has been revealed. The Central Line is by far the filthiest, with one stretch between Bond Street and Notting Hill Gate eight times worse than the city’s roadside average. Also among the most polluted for London’s 4.8

million tube passengers are the Victoria and Northern lines, according to the Financial Times. Breathing in tiny PM2.5 particles has been linked to strokes, lung cancer, heart disease and infertility. Research shows not one single part of the Zone 1 network had PM2.5 levels below the WHO guideline.

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up BUSINESS WISDOM

“Deck the Halls, Alexa”

mazon has released a $300 Alexa-compatible Christmas tree. Dubbed “Mr Christmas” the seven-foot Douglas fir is the first smart tree you can pair with your Alexa device. The tree has multiple voice functionalities and numerous voice-activated lighting options. It eliminates the need for a remote, and you can schedule the lights to turn on/off at the same time each day. With a user-friendly assembly including pre-wired pole connections and moveable flame retardant branches, you can command the lights to change colour and twinkle speed all through Alexa.

At the current prescription rates, replacing one in 10 metered-dose inhalers with the least expensive brands of dry powder equivalents would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 58,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, roughly the same as 180,000 return car journeys from London to Edinburgh, the researchers said. It could also reduce drug costs by £8.2 million annually.

Ooh La La LVMH

VMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE has become one of the most valuable companies in Europe. Its shares are worth more than Europe’s biggest auto maker, Volkswagen AG. Last month, LVMH’s market capitalisation topped €200 billion for the first time, making it almost as valuable as Europe’s biggest oil producer, Royal Dutch Shell PLC. LVMH, which owns 75 brands, has created a mass market for luxury by selling goods with a wide range of prices that can attract consumers who vary in age and income.

The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards

19th March 2020

Join us for a night of glitz and glam in the Millennium Suite of the Copthorne Effingham Park Hotel for a pre-dinner reception hosted by Norwegian, before taking your seat for a sumptuous three course dinner with wine. Our presenter for the evening will be writer, broadcaster, actor and former MP and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, Gyles Brandreth. Gyles is one of Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sought-after award ceremony hosts and after-dinner speakers. A star of Celebrity Gogglebox, a veteran of QI and Have I Got News For You, a reporter on The One Show and a regular on Just a Minute, his many books include The Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries and two recent best-sellers: The 7 Secrets of Happiness and his celebration of good English, punctuation, spelling and grammar: Have You Eaten Grandma? This Black Tie event will see the very best of the Gatwick Diamond Business community come together to celebrate the achievements of World-Class businesses in this World-Class region. 6.00pm

Evening starts with Pre-Dinner Reception Sponsored by Norwegian

6.45pm

Take your seats for Dinner

9.30pm

Gyles Brandreth

10.00pm

Presentation of the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards

11.00pm

After-Show Party

01.00am

Carriages

For more information and to download the booking form, visit:

WWW.GATWICKDIAMONDBUSINESSAWARDS.COM

@GDBIZAWARDS

BUSINESS AWARDS

Celebrating the best of the best Book your tickets for the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2020

ow in its 12th year, the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards have become one of the most prestigious business occasions, celebrating the best of the best across the Gatwick Diamond.

is one of Britain’s most sought-after award ceremony hosts and after-dinner speakers, and we are delighted to have him supporting us.

With the entry period now closed and tickets in high demand, we would encourage you to book soon to ensure your place at the region’s “must attend” business awards.

It would be impossible to stage an awards programme of the scale and prestige that our members and the wider Gatwick Diamond business community has come to expect from us, without the commitment of our headline and category sponsors and delivery partners.

Our presenter for the evening is writer, broadcaster, actor and former MP and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, Gyles Brandreth. Gyles

Our Headline Sponsors for the 2020 awards are Gatwick Airport Ltd, NatWest, Thakeham and Extech Cloud.

Headline Sponsors

www.gatwickairport.com/business-community

www.business.natwest.com

www.thakeham.com

extech.co.uk

Award Categories & Sponsors Business of the Year (Over £1m Turnover) – NatWest Business of the Year (Under £1m Turnover) – SHW Business Person of the Year – Richard Place Dobson New Business of the Year – University of Sussex Business School International Business of the Year - Gatwick Diamond Initiative The Award for Brighter Thinking – Menzies The Award for Developing People – Crawley College The Award for Innovation & Technology – University of Sussex Employer of the Year – Search Green Business of the Year – Britaniacrest Recycling Ltd Apprentice of the Year – Reigate & Banstead Borough Council The Award for the Place to Meet – Prowse Manufacturing Business of the Year – Kreston Reeves Professional Services of the Year – Crawley Borough Council The Award for Community Investment – Gatwick Airport Limited Growth Business of the Year – Red River

If you wish to learn more about The Ken Blanchard Companies’ research, please contact uk@kenblanchard.com To find out more about the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards and to be involved, or twitter visit kenblanchard.com/Resources visit www.gatwickdiamondbusinessawards.com or follow the awards on @gdbizawards

Time to move Relocating is a big step for any business, whatever its size. Specialist property lawyers Kristine Ng and Vanessa Joll consider the significant planning required to minimise the disruption - and costs - of moving

of buildings and/or change in use, planning consent will be required. The planning application procedure is often complex, and a specialist planning consultant will add value, ensuring you obtain all the consents you need to implement your plan.

here are any number of reasons why a business might relocate: it might be looking to grow or consolidate, improve working conditions or capitalise on transport links. Whatever the reason for the move, it will have taken into account its current needs and anticipated development. But near or far, implementing a move requires detailed planning, attention to key deadlines â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and time.

Location, location, location

Location is often the number one consideration for businesses. Access to transport, suppliers, markets and skilled staff are all key factors. In addition, government funding designed to help and encourage growth in a particular area could be used to help cover the cost of relocating your business. The idea of a move may be exciting, but what about your current premises? Your exit strategy will normally take six to 12 months to put into effect, so take early advice to avoid costly issues arising.

Owner occupiers

If you own the freehold of your existing premises, your options will be to sell, or redevelop or lease the space to tenants. That decision will most likely

be driven by your strategy and the financial considerations of relocation. Each route presents its own unique challenges and specialist advice may be required. For example, where property is to be redeveloped involving substantial changes in the structure and appearance

If you decide to lease your building, finding a tenant with good covenant strength will be key; it must be financially stable and profitable to be able to discharge its liabilities under the lease (eg. the payment of rent and liability for repairs) which will in turn preserve the value in your property investment. Consider this: a steady and guaranteed revenue stream could be far more valuable than a higher rent. Use your property agents and lawyers to find potential tenants, advise on their covenant strength, and negotiate the terms of the lease and associated documents.

LEGAL Leasehold tenants

As the occupier of premises with a lease, you will need to consider whether the lease can be transferred to another party, or whether there are any break clauses that allow you to end the lease early.

claim for damages if any covenants relating to the repair and condition of the premises have been breached. Such “dilapidations claims” can be a significant liability if legal and strategic advice is not sought; ideally you will leave

that everything is in place to complete the works before the big move. The landlord is likely to insist that be reinstated when you eventually leave – and that’s another potentially onerous agreement to be negotiated and documented.

Your exit strategy will normally

Transferring a lease to a else take six to 12 months to put into Everything third party often requires the Property is actually just one effect, so take early advice to (major) element of any relolandlord’s permission; they will want to ensure that the cation. A host of contracts avoid costly issues arising incoming occupier will be a will need to be agreed, tergood covenant strength, and may re- the premises as directed by your lease minated, moved or renegotiated bequire the outgoing occupier to provide – but remember to factor the time and fore you can step over the threshold, guarantees. It is important to under- cost required into your relocation plan. and the legal considerations in respect stand a landlord’s requirements - and of your most valuable asset – your also to identify where a landlord is act- If there is no break clause or assign- people – demand serious attention. ment isn’t an option, you will need to ing unreasonably. approach the landlord to negotiate Relocation is a long term project, and If you have a break option, check and agree to a surrender of the lease; preparation is key; doing your homewhether it is a fixed or rolling break the landlord may require a premium work and getting the right support date. A break clause will require a or guarantees to be given, and as the when necessary is the only way to entenant to comply with specific con- departing tenant you will need to un- sure that you minimise the risk to the ditions; failure to meet them could derstand the potential consequences continuous operation of your business. render the break ineffective, and you contained in any agreement. will remain bound by the lease for the remainder of the term. The potential Moving on risks involved in this scenario mean Whether you are buying or renting new that specialist advice to ensure a premises, advice on any new obligaKristine Ng and Vanessa Joll are spebreak option is exercised effectively is tions and liabilities you’re taking on cialist property dispute resolution crucial. would be wise. lawyers. You can contact them on 01293 605000 or by email at Kristine. When a lease ends or is terminated, If you need to carry out any fit out works, Ng@dmhstallard.com or Vanessa. a landlord may be entitled to bring a any agreement will need to ensure Joll@dmhstallard.com

19 19

departure from the EU on March 29th 2019 and was there to cater for the potential disruptions that could arise at our UK ports following a “no deal” Brexit. Indeed, many manufacturing companies experienced a surge in sales activity during this quarter as many customers were accelerating buying decisions for fear of the potential negative effects of a “no deal” Brexit.

uring the first eight months of 2019, the manufacturing sector enjoyed a rollercoaster ride with unprecedented levels of stock piling during the first quarter ended March 31st. Import activity increased by approximately 11%, output activity increased by 22% resulting in a one-third increase in demand for warehousing space! We know that this increase in activity was as a direct result of the pending

Economists have argued that this first quarter euphoria surrounding the sector was papering over the underlying reality of the negative effects that the US/China trade dispute was beginning to have on the worldwide economy. Effects of which only became manifest in the months following March 29th. Indeed, in subsequent months, first quarter gains were followed by a fundamental slump as manufacturers ran down surpluses previously built up. Significantly, export customer demand markedly decreased as overseas customers sought to access

alternative manufacturers in the EU rather than the UK which was due to the increasing fear of non-supply following a “no deal” scenario. Furthermore, domestic demand had also seen similar decreases and it is expected that both these indicators will continue to decline in the remaining months of 2019 and into 2020. Further worrying trends in this sector are the decline in employment intentions and most perplexing is the fact that investment and technology expenditures have now started to decrease for the first time since the third quarter of 2016. From an output and order point of view, the automotive industry is a subsector of manufacturing which is experiencing the most pain. Whether this is a direct result of the continuing Brexit uncertainties or a result of the accelerated requirement to change from diesel powered motor vehicles to an electric alternative is a debatable

Manufacturing:

Brexit doldrums or terminal decline? Rodney Sutton, Partner and Head of Manufacturing at Kreston Reeves, on how economic uncertainty is weighing on the UK’s production industries

FINANCE The UK remains the centre of new hires can be reversed especially when point. This will also be further affectproduct innovation and development. recruits are either part time, zero hours ed by a decline in the Chinese econCorporate taxes in the UK are one of contracts or contractors. However, omy as a result of the ongoing trade the lowest within the war with the US, and “The only light at the end of the G7 and UK financial inthe German economy makes it slipping into a technitunnel is represented in electronics frastructure an attractive place for cal recession. and electrical industries where output overseas business to and trade. The deterioration has continued to grow on the back of incorporate There is universal recfacing the metals inthe accelerating digital revolution” ognition that business dustry with the highly and the economy need publicised malaise certainty in order to plan and the conthis decision has driven up the cost surrounding British Steel and the metinuing uncertainty surrounding Brexit of employment in an already pinched chanical engineering subsector have needs urgent and decisive resolution. market and in no way allays the consimilar negative output figures. The tinuing decline in the UK productivity. only light at the end of the tunnel is represented in electronics and elecThe UK manufacturing sector cannot trical industries where output has continue to “mark time” amidst a clicontinued to grow on the back of the mate of continuing uncertainty. As we accelerating digital revolution and auare aware the South East could be in tomation taking place in this industry. the front line of disruption following a no deal Brexit. Despite this, many The most interesting statistic to arise business leaders remain confident Should you wish to discuss your manufrom the digital revolution is the fact and their companies continue to trade facturing business or your Brexit planthat larger companies are seeking to profitably - notwithstanding many of ning, please do not hesitate to contact embrace and invest in digital technolthe issues mentioned above. HowevRodney Sutton, Partner and Head of ogy whilst seeking to reduce their deer, there is an urgent need for small Manufacturing at Kreston Reeves, pendency on actual employees where and medium sized enterprises in paraccountants, business and financial there are fewer skilled employees due ticular to climb on the band wagon of advisers. He can be reached by email to the continuing return of EU citizens embracing technological and digital rodney.sutton@krestonreeves.com or back to their home countries. advancements. This will dramatically by telephone on +44 (0)330 124 1399. transform their competitive edge via SME manufacturers, however, are not increased efficiencies, margins and www.krestonreeves.com embracing the digital revolution and productivity. are still seeking to invest in employment rather than technology. Understandably, in the SME sector, employee

Pension freedoms and pension death benefits A guide to understanding changes to retirement income Tom Reed, Senior Financial Planning Manager at MHA Carpenter Box Wealth Management, explains the changes to pension death benefits and their tax treatment for your family It should not be forgotten that pensions are outside the scope of Inheritance Tax (IHT). This compares favourably to the rules before 2015 where funds remaining in drawdown on death were taxed at 55%. Defined benefits schemes offering spouse’s pensions on death have unchanged rules – for example, a widow’s scheme pensions remain taxable. Defined contribution schemes in accumulation before 2015 would pay-out tax-free lump sums.

pension is in an environment where no tax is due on investment income or growth. When that individual eventually passes away, they can leave behind them benefits either for a dependant of their own or a ‘successor’.

Dependant/Nominee Annuity Should the recipient require a he 2015 Pension Freedoms guaranteed income, the option rewere a turning point in penmains to purchase an annuity with the sion functionality and tax proceeds of the death benefit. Again, treatment. The compulsion for most to under Pension Freedoms, this no lonuse their pension pots by purchasing a ger needs to be a traditionlifetime income contract known as a ‘Compulsory “Pension Freedoms revolutionised al dependant. Purchase Annuity’ was removed. In effect, the how benefits are drawn during an Lump Sum Death BenTreasury now trusts citiefit individual’s lifetime, letting them zens to be wise enough to The recipient receives choose how much income they make their own decisions the value as a lump sum. about their retirement inWhilst this is the simplest need and when” come. outcome, it can provide challenges. All funds come Pension Freedoms revolutionised how immediately into the recipient’s estate Post-2015 Death Benefits benefits are drawn during an individufor IHT purposes. Many married couallowable under Freedoms al’s lifetime, letting them choose how ples utilise the inter-spousal exempmuch income they need and when. It tion to avoid paying Inheritance Tax on Dependant/Nominee Flexialso brought wholesale changes to the the first death. This is especially prevaAccess Drawdown death benefits available and the tax lent if they are in a position where they The new breed of drawdown post treatment of those benefits. are unlikely to spend all of the funds Freedoms allows flexible income to themselves. be drawn from an invested pot. The Funds that remain in defined con‘investment’ could be anything from tribution pension schemes at death There is also the question of general a bank account to Amazon shares. – either in accumulation (growth) or taxation when you remove the capital Although traditionally in pensions, income phase – will now be passed from a very efficient tax structure. If the the definition of dependant is quite on to beneficiaries with no income tax money is not needed to be spent in the narrow. Under Pensions Freedoms due on withdrawals if the death occurs short term on paying down debt or fulegislation, savers are no longer conunder the age of 75. When a death ocneral costs, often the beneficiary will be stricted and can designate ‘Nominees’ curs over 75, benefits are taxed at the looking to re-invest the capital for either to receive the benefits on their death. recipient’s marginal income tax rate. capital growth or additional income. Another major advantage is that the

FINANCE Goals they would likely have been able to achieve more tax and cost-efficiently by keeping the funds inside a pension environment to begin with. Availability You may think the government would have ensured Pensions Freedoms functionality was rolled out to all defined contribution pension schemes by now, but this isn’t the case. The large majority of pensions are not offering the full suite of Freedoms functionality in life or after the death of a member. There are hundreds of billions of pounds in schemes with old fashioned scheme rules which only offer the lump sum option on death. This can leave dependant’s or other beneficiaries with a paucity of choice at what can be a very testing time. Outcomes can be materially worse as the resultant tax exposure and practical requirements can often be much higher.

“There are hundreds of billions of pounds in schemes with old fashioned scheme rules which only offer the lump sum option on death” MHA Carpenter Box Wealth Management provides an integrated fi nancial and tax advice service. Our experienced financial advisers work very closely with our professional tax advisers at MHA Carpenter Box to provide a fully comprehensive wealth management solution. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Estate Planning.

For more information, get in touch with our friendly team of Independent Financial Advisers by calling 01903 534587 or visit our website: www. carpenterbox.com/wealth.

Get in touch A pension review is strongly recommended for those who have not had one since April 2015. This is essential for anybody looking to make the most of their pension savings for their own benefit of course, but also to optimise the utility of the funds for their nearest and dearest.

23 23

Private sector output falls as uncertainty persists P

rivate sector activity across the South East continued to decline in October, according to the latest NatWest PMI® data. This marked the second back-to-back contraction in five months, although the latest fall was only fractional and eased from September. Dragging on output was a sixth consecutive monthly fall in new business, with panellists reporting weak demand conditions. Meanwhile, backlogs fell moderately and firms cut workforce numbers for a third successive month. Despite falling business activity, expectations improved during the latest survey period, although remained subdued in the context of historical data.

ufacturing and service sectors – posted 49.5 in October, rising from 48.4 in September to signal only a marginal contraction in private sector output. Business activity has fallen in all but one of the last five months, with survey respondents linking the recent decline to continued political and economic uncertainty.

The headline NatWest South East Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the combined output of the region’s man-

With incoming new business falling in October, private sector companies continued to reduce their backlogs, stretching the current sequence of de-

Unfavourable demand conditions weighed on private sector output in the South East, as signalled by a sixth consecutive fall in new business. Panellists attributed the decline to client hesitancy amid continued Brexit uncertainty. That said, the pace of reduction eased to the softest since July.

Key Findings • Business activity declines for second consecutive month • New business falls amid weak client demand • Expectations remain historically subdued, despite strengthening cline to over a year. The rate of backlog deterioration eased to the slowest since February, however. Less pressure on capacity led firms to cut employment further during the latest survey period. The decline in workforce numbers was the third in successive months and mild overall. Input prices rose sharply in October, with a number of firms linking higher

Demand Unfavourable demand conditions weighed on private sector output in the South East, as signalled by a sixth consecutive fall in new business. Panellists attributed the decline to client hesitancy amid continued Brexit uncertainty. That said, the pace of reduction eased to the softest since July.

South East was the fastest across the 12 monitored UK regions.

Outlook BUSINESS

SURVEY

Expectations for business activity strengthened in October, with sentiment at its highest for three months. Optimism remained subdued in the context of historical data however, with some panellists noting continued Brexit uncertainty had weighed on expectations.

South East Business Activity Index sa, >50 = growth since previous month

70 60 50 40 30 '97

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cost burdens to greater wages and unfavourable exchange rates, which pushed up the price of imported goods. The rise was the slowest since June, however. In line with rising cost burdens, private sector firms in the South East continued to increase their output charges in October. The rise was moderate and the joint-quickest since April. Moreover, the rate of charge inflation in the South East was the fastest across the 12 monitored UK regions. Expectations for business activity strengthened in October, with sentiment at its highest for three months. Optimism remained subdued in the context of historical data however, with some panellists noting continued Brexit uncertainty had weighed on expectations.

“Panellists attributed the decline to client hesitancy amid continued Brexit uncertainty”

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COMMENT

Stuart Johnstone, Managing Director, London & South East, Corporate & Commercial Banking “The South East began the final quarter of 2019 on a weak footing, with a fractional contraction in private sector output in October. Weak demand conditions weighed on incoming new business and subsequently, on business activity, with further reports of client hesitancy as political uncertainty lingers.

continued Brexit uncertainty is weighing on expectations. A clearer outlook may induce the uptick in demand that is needed for operating conditions in the South East to rebound.”

“Meanwhile, private sector firms continued to cut workforce numbers for the third month in a row. The rate of job shedding eased and was only slight, however, with the South East reporting a softer fall than the UK as a whole. “Nonetheless, expectations strengthened in October with sentiment the highest in three months. That said, some panellists noted that

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.

Rocket fuel for success In order to accelerate the path to success for 2020, RocketMill’s Marketing Director, Bethanie Mardon reflects on this year’s highlights while sharing some of the secrets of their award-winning success be transparent, trust, and share the spoils with our team, they will do the finest work of their career for our clients, and then together we prioritise the customer of our client.

019 has been a pivotal year for RocketMill. Not only did this independent total performance agency win the BAHBAs prestigious Company of the Year award, they celebrated a decade in business, expanded their team and launched key partnerships that have shaped a prosperous future. Founded in 2009 by brothers Sam and Ben Garrity, RocketMill has come from very humble beginnings to standing today as one of the largest independent agencies in the UK, working with a host of like-minded, incredible brands. We’ve grown from partnering with mostly SMEs to blue chips including National Geographic, Dropbox and Kimberly-Clark. Our secret to this success lies in our philosophy - to put our people first. As our CEO Sam Garrity states, ‘an agency is nothing more than its people. Their talent defines our success. Their behaviour defines our culture’. That’s why we documented the behaviours of those that thrive here. Here’s a sample of some of those that we consistently exhibit to one another, our clients and their customers.

Trust and transparency

We know that if we inspire, educate,

As an agency, we share everything from the P&L to changes that might impact the way the company operates. The only thing we don’t know is what each other earn. No one works well in a fog and ultimately, trust is a product of these behaviours - building a sense that we’re in this together.

Become unrecognisable

People who thrive here evolve at pace resulting in growing professionally and being rewarded as a result. While RocketMill provides opportunity to spur people on to becoming unrecognisable, their energy, courage and curiosity in turn pushes the agency forward.

since I have to eke out the news from people due to their humility. Keeping my ear to the ground helps me unearth the award-winning news, trends and talent to create assets around, wrapping our list of target prospects in a bubble of relevant RocketMill content and leading to credibility, recognition, leads and sales. Developing and lauding our staff in this way empowers them to take the spotlight and enables me to showcase the best of them.

Embrace simplicity

Stupid people make things complicated in order to confuse others, hoping that they appear smart in the process.

I was sat in SLT meetings hearing lots of positive things about our Paid Media Director, Mat. Sam praised his achievements and how he is consistently gunning it for us and our clients. This all led to the internal mantra ‘be more Mat’ when referring to working hard and getting results. It might have started as a joke but we meant it. So when a person and their work is outstanding, I make it my business. I put them front and centre. Recording his story, drive and career path gave us collateral to enter Mat into Campaign and Media Weeks 30 under 30. He won. Great for him, great for our brand, and it creates a feel good factor within the agency.

Be humble

We believe your humility will create a hunger to improve. Though my role is Marketing Director, I see myself as more of an Investigative Journalist

Travis Eyles of RocketMill’s Planet First team (l) presenting CEO, Sam Garrity with a wooden plaque as the team planted 10 trees to commemorate 10 years in business

DIGITAL MARKETING Our people are intelligent. We have no need for complexity. You only have to check out our RocketMill Moments video playlist on YouTube to see that we don’t fluff our words and that same no BS, honest approach is why our clients see us as an extension of their own team. Be kind Kindness to colleagues, clients, the person on the front desk, and our environment all make the day better for everyone and you see pockets of kindness throughout the day, every day at RocketMill. If we don’t start to be more human in business by putting people and the planet first, both will suffer. So it’s a real joy for me to see one of our team, Travis express his passion in life and have this evolve into a key driver for the business. Travis wants to raise awareness of climate change and had the idea to

help evolve us into a business that is more sustainable. We listened and have funded this idea, growing it into a company-wide initiative, Planet First led by Travis, Catrin and Joe.

Agency Census for the second year. RocketMill is now also named one of the Top 100 UK Agencies by Econsultancy; and this was our first time entering.

This sees us make more sustainable choices, get stuck into local events for the environment such as Brighton Beach Cleans and has proudly formed a new partnership with World Land Trust.

Profit is a result of all of this. It’s the result of doing everything else right. Because we believe that creating value for businesses starts with creating value for people.

We’re thrilled to announce that, for every new client win, colleague hire or quarterly bonus achieved, RocketMill protects up to 10 acres through WLTs Protect an Acre programme. We aim to set an example for other agencies to follow by tying our business success with the protection of the planet. Our people first approach unites our agency and has won us awards. This year alone RocketMill has been crowned one of Campaign’s 50 Best Places to Work, and reached the top 15 in The Drum’s Top 100 Independent

Wishing you many more successful years to come from us all at RocketMill.

RocketMill Ltd YT: RocketMill Digital Marketing t: @RocketMill I: @rocketmill_ W: Rocketmill.co.uk LI: @RocketMill T: 01273 916 600

“If we don’t start to be more human in business by putting people and the planet first, both will suffer”

With Prince Harry taking legal action against The Sun and The Mirror for phone-hacking and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, launching a separate legal action against the Mail on Sunday for alleged breach of privacy and copyright infringement, the young royals are signalling their fight back against media intrusion and criticism. Does their action risk betraying the royal familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation of keeping a stiff upper lip and avoiding controversy? Or is such stoicism a thing of the past? Either way, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are redefining the future of the monarchy in the UK. By Ian Trevett

The Royal Rebels 28

BUSINESS THE BIGSURVEY STORY “The younger royals have pushed the boundaries by discussing their mental health, but raw, unfiltered emotion is still regarded as suspiciously bad for business.”

s the 2019 election campaign reaches its climax, the ageold old political allegiances have been swept away. The Conservatives are eying up rock-solid Labour seats in the north while worrying about losing the leafy suburbs of London. Political identity is now forged by age and national identity as much as social class. The tectonic movements in social attitudes are being felt just as keenly by the Royal Family as entrenched attitudes on monarchy and republicanism tumble into chaos. It used to be so simple. During the Silver Jubilee in 1977, you knew where you stood. The nation was awash with Union Jacks, patriotism and street parties, and dissent was not tolerated. For many young people, and those with anti-establishment leanings, the Royal Family was stuffy and outdated, and the Sex Pistols rode the wave of disenchantment with a desultory sneer. The BBC banned the Pistols’ God Save the Queen, with its deliberately inflammatory line “in her fascist regime”, for the crime of “gross bad taste.” Woolworths and others refused to stock the single, and inevitably the record flew to number two. The BBC

Nigel Farage: “He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years. And then he met Meghan Markle, and it’s fallen off a cliff.” left a blank on the pop chart between number one and number three, in fear of being seen as unpatriotic. The papers called for the band to be flogged and charged with treason. The Royal Family was the establishment, and criticism or ridicule was not tolerated in the media. Few dared to speak out, aside notable exceptions such as Labour MP Willie Hamilton, who declared, “One day the monarchy and all its prostituted entourage would be dumped in the garbage can of history”. He also called the family “gold-plated scroungers”, the Queen a “Clockwork Doll”, and Prince Charles “a twerp”.

Farage often uses Wokeness as a term of derision, and the implication was clear; the Duke of Sussex is insincere and fake in his support of social causes.

all male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem. And then, a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan. He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years. And then he met Meghan Markle, and it’s fallen off a cliff.”

“Here was Harry,” said Farage. “Here he was this young, brave, boisterous,

Some might say that Harry has just grown up. But that doesn’t fit into

Urban Dictionary, namely: ‘The act of being very pretentious about how much you care about a social issue’.

Hamilton was, unsurprisingly, slaughtered by the right-wing press, and was only saved the same fate suffered by Guy Fawkes, by the relaxation of treason laws and punishments since the days of King James I. Simple days indeed. In the 70s and 80s, the arch-monarchists were found at The Sun, Express, Mail and Telegraph, and the critics could be found amongst liberals, the left, anarchists and the young. Now, the opinions on monarchy are blurred and confused, and seemingly based on the personality of individual royals.

The Prince of Purpose - or Prince of Wokeness

Nigel Farage was playing to the gallery when he addressed Sydney’s Conservative Political Action Conference back in August, sarcastically dubbing Harry the ‘Prince of Wokeness’. Wokeness is defined as ‘an embrace of positive virtues, such as tolerance, fairness and awareness, and being alert to injustice in society, especially racism’. It has also been cynically subverted along the lines of the definition in the

“It’s hard to fathom why Meghan has attracted so much personal abuse, both in the traditional media and through social media.”

THE BIG STORY Farage’s agenda. Farage and the usual baying mob of outraged commentators despise Meghan Markle, for reasons that are not entirely clear. Of course, it can’t be racism! The Spectator’s Rod Liddle refutes such accusation by writing, “Truth be told, her skin colour is the least objectionable thing about the woman.” Does this mean that skin colour is only slightly objectionable? The same newspapers (The Sun, Mail, Express etc) that called for critics of the Royal Family to be tried for treason are now the journals which love to stick the boot in. Meanwhile, the columnists in The Guardian and Observer write in support of the young royals. The world is truly turning upside down.

The treatment of Duchess of Sussex is a national shame, but Farage and co are incorrect in saying that Harry’s campaigning is purely down to his wife’s influence. The brothers’ support of mental health charities is obviously sincere and from the heart, driven by the emotional scars of their own childhoods.

to the intense gaze of the world and the huge crowds of mourners.

The brothers have spoken about how much they missed their mother when she was travelling the world, often communicating only by phone. And then they lost her at the age when they needed her most. In an act of unthinkable cruelty, the 12-year-old Harry and 15-year-old William were obliged to march stiffly through central London behind their mother’s coffin, exposed

“I can safely say that losing my mum at the age of 12, and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years, has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life but my work as well,” he said. “The experience I have had is that once you start talking about it, you realise that actually you’re part of quite a big club.”

Harry opened up in 2017 to Bryony Gordon in a podcast for Heads Together, a charity which promotes good mental well-being spearheaded by William, Kate, Harry and Meghan.

The passion to support mental health charities comes from the brothers’ personal experiences, not the malign interference of a meddling foreigner. Writing in The Guardian, Gaby Hinsliff, stated: “The royal family does not much go in for the vulgarity of emotion. Princess Diana was expected to tolerate her husband’s infidelity in dignified silence, not go crying to Panorama. Her children would, in turn, be expected to walk dry-eyed behind her coffin. The family still mostly takes its lead from the Queen’s constitutional obligation to conceal her feelings… “The younger royals have pushed the boundaries by discussing their mental health, but raw, unfiltered emotion is still regarded as suspiciously bad for business. Imagine the concern, then, at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s insistence on showing some.” Like all Royals, Wills and Harry spend a great deal of time supporting charities, but Heads Together feels like much more of a personal project, and is much more about the pair of them cutting ribbons and shaking hands. THE PERSECUTION OF MEGHAN It’s hard to fathom why Meghan has attracted so much personal abuse, both in the traditional media and through social media. Ella Alexander in Harpers Bazaar, is just as bemused. In a piece entitled

away. Trump could use him to help craft some of his nonsensical tweets. High on Harry and Meghan’s supposed crime sheet is the desire for some privacy, which has outraged commentators such as The Daily Mail’s Jan Moir, who wrote, “Never in the course of royal history has so much public goodwill been squandered so quickly and so thoughtlessly, amid the suspicion that H&M are just not that interested in the dopes back home who paid for their £5,000 copper bath, their fixtures and their fittings.”

1997: 15 year-old Prince William, 12 year-old Prince Harry, with Prince Charles and Viscount Althorp made to parade at the Princess of Wales’ funeral

“Can we all stop attacking the Duchess of Sussex now?” Alexander listed a depressing collection of social media nastiness criticising everything from how Meghan cradled her bump when she was pregnant to how she held her baby, along with how ‘sloppily’ she dressed as a new mum. Alexander stuggled to understand “the level

pression that if Meghan Markle were to close the gender gap, end world hunger, stop wars or cure deadly diseases, a certain malevolent pocket of the internet would be like, “yeah, well, she’s so smug about it”. Internet trolls are a curse of the modern world, but the spite is not restricted

“The last female royal to be hounded in such a way was his mother, and we all know where that finished.” of vitriol that this criticism has now reached – a screeching, acidic and nasty collective trolling that spans both the press and public.” The Guardian’s Emma Brockes added: “The fact that the focus of negative coverage has been on Meghan, not Harry, doesn’t smell quite right. Some of this is evidently to do with race. But there is also a class factor: who does she think she is, trying to exert PR control over royal coverage?” In the Irish Times, Tanya Sweeney brilliantly concluded, “One gets the im-

to cowardly and anonymous keyboard warriors (see Maarten Hoffmann’s excellent piece on internet hate on page 74). You can find the hate in respectable newspapers and journals as well. Leading the baying mob, predictably, is Rod Liddle, the former member of the Socialist Workers’ Party who crossed the political divide to the hard right. In the launch of the US version of The Spectator, he wrote a lengthy and vitriolic poison pen letter to Meghan Markle, urging America to take her back before we decide to become a republic. If only the US could take Liddle

I feel ashamed at the way our country has treated a young woman who made the terrible mistake of falling in love with with a member of our Royal Family. Prince Harry is rightly furious and unsurprisingly afraid. The last female royal to be hounded in such a way was his mother, and we all know where that finished.

How Harry & Wills will save the monarchy

When I think of the royals I am reminded of my mum who loved them dearly, would not hear a word against them and was part of a generation which looked up to them in utter deference. Deference is an outdated concept, and it’s hard to imagine Millennials or Gen Zedders doffing their caps to anyone, although that does not mean there is a particular desire to kick The Queen out of Buckingham Palace. Many of the Harry and Meghan detractors compare and contrast their personas with the Queen, predicting that everything Her Majesty has worked for will wither and die once the crown is passed on. Jan Moir believes the actions of the young royals is undermining the very institution of the monarchy: “There is a feeling that, while the Queen deserves our respect, certain other members of her family should try harder. Much harder. These miscreants could do worse than follow the example of the Queen…” The Queen has dedicated her life to

THE BIG STORY servitude and her devotion has been the prime reason why the monarchy has survived and thrived. But times have changed. The monarchy needs new figureheads that inspire and engage the younger generations. In William and Harry, we have struck lucky. They have been raised by the Royal Family to understand duty and responsibility, but they have also inherited their mother’s empathy and passion to make the world a better place. The danger is that our increasingly

bitter, angry and divided society may drive them away. Who would blame either brother if they were step away from the crown? In times gone by the monarch was regarded as God’s representative on earth, and thankfully those days are over. But giving our royals (or their wives) a good kicking for no particular reason does not reflect well on modern day UK. William, Kate, Harry and Meghan can bring a much-needed modernity to the monarchy, and in doing so secure its very future. As long, that is, they can keep Prince Andrew off the TV.

“The monarchy needs new figureheads that inspire and engage the younger generations”

My fear of history repeating itself Excerpts from Prince Harry’s statement when launching legal action against the press after the couple’s African tour. During the travels through the continent, the couple had seemingly got on well with the accompanying press pack, so the statement came as a surprise, and provoked criticism. But as Prince Harry made clear, it was the twofaced approach of the press which was especially hard to swallow… “My wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son. “…The positive coverage of the past week from these same publications exposes the double standards of this specific press pack that has vilified her almost daily for the past nine months; they have been able to create lie after lie at her expense simply because she has not been visible while on maternity leave. “…There comes a point when the only thing to do is to stand up to this behaviour, because it destroys people and destroys lives. Put simply, it is bullying, which scares and silences people. We all know this isn’t acceptable, at any level. We won’t and can’t believe in a world where there is no accountability for this.

Harry, Kate and William, together with Meghan have a major role to play in the future modernisation of the British monarchy, in spite of the tabloids’ sniping

“Though this action may not be the safe one, it is the right one. Because my deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”

LEGAL

G’day!

How does an ‘Australian-style’ immigration system differ from the UK’s current scheme? ‘How to manage immigration’ hasn’t moved from the political agenda in decades; employment expert Phil Vallon looks at an alternative scheme under consideration the highest number of points based on these attributes to submit a visa application. Australia allows people to migrate without a job offer; other countries with a PBS either require or prioritise job offers.

he Australian-style points based system (PBS) for immigration gained profile again recently when Home Secretary Priti Patel offered it as a post-Brexit policy proposal. So how does it differ from the current UK system – and would it work? In simple terms, a PBS ranks applicants for visas based on attributes such as language skills, education and work experience. The Australian system invites candidates with

The UK technically has a PBS too, but effectively in name only: it assigns points to different criteria, but there is no flexibility as to how to meet them. Candidates for Tier 2 (General) visas must earn 70 points to qualify, but the only way to do that is to meet all the criteria.

Demand driven or government driven?

There are significant differences between our current system and other PBSs. The UK system is best described as demand driven: employers determine the best candidate for the job and look to sponsor them if possible. The Australian system is government driven: decisions about the numbers of migrants and the attributes they need are determined centrally. The UK system has historically sought to reduce the number of migrants who might apply, whilst the Australian system was developed to

maximise the number of migrants who might be attracted to apply. Recent comments by both Boris Johnson and Priti Patel indicate that they prefer a system that requires a firm job offer prior to a visa being granted - which would be more of an Austrian than an Australian-style PBS. Might we be heading for a blend of the two systems (if the current government continues)? Priti Patel has gone as far as to suggest that the new system will favour those who accept jobs outside London, though details of that particular proposal are sketchy. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has been asked to look at the introduction of an Australian-style PBS to the UK and is expected to report in January 2020. The new system, whatever its form, will need to make up for the anticipated labour and skills-gaps that are set to widen with the reduction of EU migrants moving freely to the UK. It is certainly not clear that a PBS with a requirement for a job offer would fulfil that requirement.

For advice on business immigration or any employment matter, please call Phil Vallon on 01293 605000 or email him at Phillip.Vallon@ dmhstallard.com

Advertise for the person...

...not the job By Joseph Bradfield, Sussex Innovation

here’s a famous (and possibly apocryphal) story about Ernest Shackleton’s famous mission to Antarctica. The story goes that several months before Shackleton and his crew set off on the voyage that would make them famous, a small ad appeared in one of the London newspapers. It read:

for one quality only – personality. The kind of character that would hear the call to adventure and jump aboard.

What’s more, by creating long lists of requirements for the role, you’re often actively putting talented people off. A survey by Harvard Business Review a few years ago found that in nearly two-thirds of cases where a candidate didn’t apply for a job, it was because they didn’t fulfil all the requirements, even though most were confident that they could perform the role well. The effect is particularly pronounced in women, many of whom will only reply to a job ad for which they tick every box.

“MEN WANTED for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, honour and recognition in case of success. Ernest Shackleton, 4 Burlington St.” Setting aside the historical provenance of this job ad, the story raises an interesting point: why do we advertise jobs the way we do? There was no past experience that would have prepared any crew member to sail to the most remote and dangerous part of the world. Instead of a checklist of skills, the Shackleton advert is looking

interviews, whichever side of the table you’re on, is whether you can see yourself enjoying working with the other person.

Research shows that cultural fit is one of the biggest indicators of success in any job, with more than half of new hires leaving because their working style doesn’t match their employer’s. Any HR professional can tell you that the key thing to determine in

We’ve been thinking about this a lot at Sussex Innovation as we prepare to recruit several new members of staff in the coming months. Historically, we’ve always posted long, detailed job specifications – but as anybody who’s joined our support team will tell you,

SUSSEX INNOVATION CENTRE they’ve ended up doing a hundred different things while working here that they would never have predicted when they applied. Our team tends to grow more organically than that. We find out what makes people tick, what they’re passionate about and talented at – and the role takes shape around them. So rather than continuing to pretend any different, we’re experimenting with putting out an open call for people. People who share our vision, values and culture, who love the idea of working with a different growing business every day of the week, and aren’t afraid to roll their sleeves up and get stuck into something new…

It’s a chance to make your mark, work collaboratively with smart, thoughtful people, and build the job role that you’ve always wanted.

• Business coaching experience at any and all stages of the business life cycle and the ability to execute a growth plan.

Don’t want to be stuck in an office? Our team spend most of their time out and about meeting businesses, and we’re happy to offer flexible working options – all we ask is that you can access our sites in Sussex and Croydon regularly to deliver workshops and coaching sessions.

• Specialist coaching experience (including product development, commercial strategy, performance and accountability, marketing, sales, leadership, people, culture, processes, finance, raising investment) and the ability to show evidence of results.

“Research shows that cultural fit is one of the biggest indicators of success in any job”

“PEOPLE WANTED for entrepreneurial journey, decent wages, hard work, long months of mentoring business owners, constant learning experience, inquisitive mind essential, personal satisfaction in bringing others success. Sussex Innovation, University of Sussex.”

Sussex Innovation is looking for talented, supportive, collaborative people of every stripe to join our team of coaches, mentors and advisors – drawing on all your skills and experience to do stimulating creative and varied work, driving forward great ideas that deserve to be heard. We’re looking for personality and passion, rather than someone to fit a predetermined role. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We’re particularly interested to hear from you if you have any one of the following: • Intimate experience of what it’s like to run a small business; empathy for the highs and lows, hard graft, anxieties and pressures involved.

• Experience of engaging with entrepreneurs, networking, creating and driving a sales process/ CRM development to sell products and services. • Creating and driving a marketing plan, across multiple products and services in a similar setting, i.e. a business accelerator, business support programme, business training or courses.

• Experience in monitoring business success metrics and capturing data for analytics.

• Experience in programme innovation, especially in an entrepreneurial setting and can work with our team to test and drive customer engagement. • Experience in project managing a business support programme and the ability to create robust reporting systems and manage external stakeholders.

Visit www.info.sinc.co.uk/work-withus to tell us more about yourself.

Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs to solve the big challenges of our time, from education, to health and wellbeing, and using emerging technologies for good. We want to energise the most ambitious businesses in the south east to achieve purposeful growth and create meaningful work. If that sounds like something you want to be a part of, we want to hear from you. As a member of our support team, you’ll be directly involved in helping to define our organisational strategy and the way we deliver on that aim.

Camera connections We hear from portrait and headshot photographer, David Green of Shoot Me Now, on life behind the lens Were you formally trained in photography, or are you self-taught? A bit of both. Although I didn’t study photography in higher education, I’ve been lucky enough over the years to have been mentored by some great professional photographers who specialise in my chosen field – portrait and headshot photography. But I think, like most things, the most valuable lessons you can learn in photography are those that you learn on the job rather than in a classroom. And one of the most rewarding things

David on location

about photography as a career is that you never stop learning, either in terms of developing your own style or keeping up with the changing technology. Describe a typical day on set I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but every day is different. One day I might be on location at a corporate client’s office, setting up the mobile studio to shoot team headshots for large volumes of staff, and the next I’ll just have couple of sessions with actors, where we’ll spend two or three hours in my studio and various locations outside to get a se-

lection of looks for different castings. What are the challenges of professional headshot photography? I’m continually surprised by how self-deprecating people are when they’re having their photograph taken; regardless of what they do, how experienced they are in their field, or how outwardly confident they seem, one of the first things that most clients will tell me is what they don’t like about their appearance. So the biggest challenge is invariably

INTERVIEW to make people feel comfortable enough to get a shot that they feel both represents not only the ‘real them’, but also a version of them that they really like! How do you capture the right shot? David Bailey once said that portrait photography is 90% conversation and 10% taking pictures and I think that’s the key. It can be a bit of challenge when you’ve got to photograph 50 people or more in a day as I often do for my corporate clients, but no matter how little time you have, it’s crucial to make your sitter feel as if you are completely engaged with them and genuinely interested in who they are as a person. If you don’t establish some kind of authentic connection, you’re not going to capture the real person you’re photographing – and in headshot photography, authenticity is everything.

Have you photographed anyone famous? Shortly after David Bowie died, a friend of mine put together a cancer fundraising tribute show, featuring some well-known names including Suggs, Sophie Ellis-Baxter and Jimmy Somerville, singing Bowie covers, all of whom I got to photograph. And like any self-respecting Brighton photographer I’ve got few snaps of Norman Cook on the decks at various local events. But I’ve never had a household name in the studio as yet. Mind you, I suspect that might change sometime soon, as one of my favourite acting clients, Sharon Rose, has just landed the lead role of Eliza in Hamilton in the West End. I reckon she’s destined for great things. Who would be your dream client? As you can probably already guess, it would make an interesting change to have a client bound into the studio, full of confidence in the way they look, and unable to suppress their desire to have their photograph taken. But I suspect that might also be quite irritating. I honestly can’t think of a single company or individual that I would rather photograph over all others, but if I

Barking Mad; working with canines is David’s other passion

things, be mastered with enough dedication and effort. And secondly: specialise. There are a million and one photographers out there who do a bit of everything, but if you can get recognised for doing one thing, and doing it well, you’re most of the way there. We hear you’ve started photographing dogs; who’s easier to work with, animals or humans? On the plus side with dogs, I’ve yet to meet one who’s told me how much they hate having their photograph taken, or who has asked me to Photoshop

“Like any self-respecting Brighton photographer I’ve got few snaps of Norman Cook on the decks at various local events” could invent a job that I would give my right arm for (although that wouldn’t make much sense as a photographer) it would be in-house portrait photographer at the National Geographic. What advice would you give to an aspiring photographer? First and foremost: shoot, shoot and shoot some more. Even when you’re not working for money, get out there and shoot personal projects. Whilst I think it’s certainly true that some people have more of a natural eye than others, I also firmly believe that photography is a craft that can, like most

out their double chin. As for humans, a cup of tea generally keeps them happy during a shoot, whereas dogs require a bewildering array of bones, biscuits and squeaky toys to keep them from wandering off. To be perfectly honest, I’m equally happy photographing either, particularly as its given me the opportunity to have separate companies called Barking Mad and Shoot Me Now. I’m easily pleased. Get in touch with David at www.shootmenow.co.uk www.barkingmadphotography.com

Avoiding the nightmare before Christmas

By Paul Ollerton, Managing Director at ViiSana Ltd

managed properly, can cause unwanted problems at work through the physical and mental problems that can potentially arise. The purpose of this month’s article is to try and give some pointers for having a happy, healthy Christmas.

Paul Ollerton

Staying physically healthy against the odds

One of the biggest problems with Christmas is that almost every aspect of the celebrations involves eating unhealthy food, drinking alcohol, or being sedentary. Here’s a few tips to counter balance the scales:

Whilst the holidays can offer the chance to recharge the batteries, the overindulgence can create more downsides than upsides – and if not

•M ake an active effort to get out for a walk every day after your meals to aid digestion. Or if you can figure out how to build the kids’ new bikes – make sure they use them!

ith Christmas fast-approaching, employers across the country brace themselves for the ups and downs that the festive season can bring.

•P ace the booze. It’s easy to get carried away with drinking in the morning, at lunch and dinner – try keeping tabs on things and intersperse alcoholic drinks with soft ones. •W atch the calories. It’s estimated that an average Christmas lunch contains more calories than an average male needs in an entire day. Rather than going back for seconds, take a break and come back for more if you’re really still hungry. This will give your brain enough time to register that your belly is full. •K eep the vitamin levels high – the cold weather mixed with lots of visitors means that the spread of colds and flu is rife. Minimise your risk by eating plenty of fruit (chocolate orange does not count) and try to get a good night’s sleep.

HEALTH & WELLBEING Protecting your mental health

The festive cheer that many enjoy is not always the case for some. Christmas brings obvious financial pressure, as well as the reality of family feuds and in many examples, the difficulty of facing the festive period alone (sometimes for the first time if bereaved or recently separated). Protecting your mental health during what can be a stressful time for many can be helped with the following tips: • Be selective with your time – you can’t please all of the people all of the time. My tip would be to only attend the events that really mean something to you, or make you feel good. • Make time for ‘you’. A night in alone with a movie or an early night will do you the world of good. Why not book a day just for you, veto the family errands or last minute shopping and spend a day doing what relaxes you. • Catch up over coffee, not beer. Although it’s easy to have every interaction in the pub, why not meet for lunch or have a dry day instead. It’s no secret that over drinking can lead to depression, anxiety, worsen sleep and intensify negative emotions.

• Be realistic about family gatherings. Family conflict at Christmas is common but can lead to long-lasting mental health issues. If it’s getting too much, go for a walk, listen to music (or read some of the books your long lost Aunt bought you for Christmas).

• Use the downtime to reﬂect – and perhaps set some realistic goals for the coming year.

Give a helping hand

There are some very easy things that can be done to give something back during the holiday season. These include: • Volunteering. Whether it’s helping at your local homeless shelter, or packing presents for underprivileged children, there are many ways to get involved in your local community. National charities like the Samaritans always look for help at Christmas. • Donate instead of sending cards. It’s now possible to make a donation for the money you would have spent on Christmas cards. Not only

does this help worthy causes but it also helps to cut down on unnecessary paper usage. • Buy ethically. It’s easy to look out for ethically sourced food and gifts. The RSPCA and Red Tractor both certify ethically sourced foods, making it easy for you to buy responsibly. • Help the lonely. Another way of volunteering is to visit an old people’s home, or an elderly person who lives alone. A lot of elderly people have nowhere to go over the festive period and it can end up being extremely lonesome for them. If you have elderly neighbours who find it hard to get out on their own, why not take them for a festive day out or invite them to join you for a Christmas dinner? Helping just one person for a few hours this Christmas could make all the difference. • It’s easy to take what we have for granted but remember that not everyone is going to be treated this Christmas. It’s more important than ever to give unused tins to your local food bank or donate toiletries, sanitary items and clothes to your local homeless shelter.

“Whilst the holidays can offer the chance to recharge the batteries, the overindulgence can create more downsides than upsides” Contact us ViiSana specialises in implementing wellbeing programmes through the implementation of company-wide Vitality Life and Health insurance. If you would like to discuss your company’s individual health concerns/challenges, or if you would just like to discuss ideas for implementing a programme at your business, please get in touch: Email: paul.ollerton@viisana.com Phone: 0333 772 0761

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Super-charging your exercise

in just 20 minutes! Electro muscle stimulation training is making waves for being the swiftest of workout options. But does it work? Health Editor Tess de Klerk tries out Electro Muscle Stimulation

HEALTH & WELLBEING “My aim was not to lose weight but to tone and build muscle which I feel was achieved”

he technology of deep electrical muscle stimulation itself isn’t new – physiotherapists have used it for decades to tackle sports injuries and in aiding rehabilitation - but it’s becoming more widely used as a way to build strength, lose weight and increase fitness.

choose to work certain muscle groups harder than others. Ideal.

I was made aware of the EMS studio, Bodystreet by an avid fitness fanatic after complaining, like so many of us, that I just couldn’t find time for the gym. He confessed that he was hardly stepping foot in a gym these days but managed to stay in shape by going for regular 20 minute personal training sessions at his local EMS studio. Only 20 minutes a week! That l could I find time for!

My aim was not to lose weight but to tone and build muscle which I feel was achieved. I found the option of excluding certain muscles, in my case, my tight lower back, helpful as that is something I often found difficult to do with exercise such as yoga or strength training at the gym. I did miss the cardio aspect of ordinary training and EMS alone is probably not a sufficient cardio substitute. Contrary to my expectations, I enjoyed my workouts and I appreciated how time-efficient it all was.

Having booked my initial consultation, I was warmly welcomed by Diana and Charlie at their Worthing Bodystreet branch. An informative body scan to determine factors such as muscle mass, hydration levels and metabolic age plus an analysis of the results is followed by questions and advice regarding my diet and lifestyle. Charlie clearly knows his stuff and I vow to consider changing some of my deleterious ways! Next I’m fitted with a specially designed training bodysuit containing electrodes. The suit has been sprayed with warm water to aid conductivity and I expect it to be uncomfortable but Charlie adjusts it to fit snugly. A cable is plugged into my bodysuit, connecting to a stand with a small screen. At this point I’m feeling decidedly nervous – am I about to be shocked into oblivion? Diana is my personal trainer for the session and for the next 20 minutes I’m expertly guided through various exercises such as squats and lunges. The electrical impulses start lightly and Diana checks with me before increasing stimulation. At first it all feels a bit odd but I soon get used to it and I ask her to crank it up. Since different body areas are covered by separate electrodes within the suit, one can

After 20 minutes I feel as if I’ve been through a strenuous workout equivalent to countless miles on the treadmill, and a few circuits of strength training at the gym.

Bodystreet Worthing, 14 Chapel Road, Worthing, BN11 1BJ, 01903 930 910.

Time saving indeed but what does the science say? EMS training reaches more muscle fibres than are normally activated during regular exercise and all major muscle groups can be worked at the same time. When combined with deliberate muscle activation exercises during personal training sessions, muscle contractions are stronger and more intense resulting in muscles working harder. Involuntary muscles are also stimulated and EMS is safe for joints and ligaments. A Korean randomised controlled trial conducted in 2015 exploring whether EMS therapy could reduce abdominal fat in young women concluded that, without modifying exercise or diet, EMS caused significant effects in decreasing waist circumference, subcutaneous fat mass and body fat percentage. Sign me up.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Review by Health Editor Tess de Klerk

cuba divers will be familiar with the function of hyperbaric chambers but have you heard of their use in the health and wellness world? As it is used by professional athletes, footballers, long-distance runners and jockeys, l thought l should investigate. Those in the know profess numerous benefits in using Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as an alternative health aid in treating various conditions and this therapy has become popular as an anti-ageing and bio-hacking tool. The premise of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in functional medicine is based on the fact that oxygen is vital for life and that higher oxygen levels in the body will translate to better health and increased vitality. HBOT increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry. So far so good. During an HBOT session, one enters a chamber in which air pressure is increased by up to three times higher than the norm. Under these conditions, the lungs take in 10-15 times more oxygen than usual and this oxygen is then diffused into the

blood. Blood carries oxygen to our cells where cellular respiration allows cells to harness energy to perform vital functions. After hearing of HBOT and exploring the science behind it I decided to contact Dr Robert Pender of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Centre in London. Dr Pender, a trained physiotherapist, has a long and impressive history within Hyperbaric Medicine and has been involved in the rehabilitation of, amongst others, elite sports professionals. After speaking with him though, it was clear to me that he is most proud of his achievements in helping ordinary people on their journey to improve and restore health and wellbeing. The Therapy Centre in South Molton street is inviting and my nerves were soon settled as Dr Pender listened intently and answered all of my questions. During an initial consultation medical history is taken and the number of sessions suggested, depending on a client’s needs. My main concerns were persistent, low energy levels and frequent infections. Dr Pender suggested 10 sessions

“It was after the fifth session that I can undoubtedly say that I felt energised”

HEALTH & WELLBEING

and I decided to have my first session there and then. Initially, I was afraid that the oxygen chamber might feel claustrophobic but it was spacious and calming. As the air pressure was increased my ears popped and the feeling was akin to being on a plane during ascent and descent. It equalised soon enough and I found myself lying in a comfortable chamber with nothing to do but relax! It wasn’t long before I dozed off and in what felt like no time at all, the chamber was opened and my session was over. During succeeding sessions, I had my phone with me in the chamber but still found myself relaxing so deeply that I chose not to open my inbox! I felt quite tired after my first session, which I was assured was normal. Following each of my next three sessions I felt rested but, of course, that would be the case after taking time out of my day for a nap in a calming environment. It was after the fifth session that I can undoubtedly say that I felt energised, not only immediately after the session but continuing into the days after.

I continued with my prescribed number of sessions and I am pleased to report an increase in energy and vitality, continuing months after completing my therapy. I have had only one light cold, down from several over similar time periods during the last few years. My complexion also looks more pleasing to me, which would make sense considering how vital an ample supply of oxygen is to skin health. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy does not come cheap but it is a simple, painfree and non-invasive therapy which l found very effective.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 58 South Molton Street Mayfair, London, W1K 5SL

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Cutting alcohol with a DrinkCoach Could DrinkCoach help you sleep better and lose weight, from the comfort of your own home?

t can be easy to get into the habit of using alcohol to unwind at the end of a long and busy day, but even a couple of drinks can affect the quality of your sleep. Alcohol is also highly calorific (with seven calories per gram, almost as much as pure fat), and disrupts natural sleep cycles so while you may drop off quickly after a glass or two, you may wake up feeling less than refreshed. If you’re drinking more heavily, you may wake feeling as though you’ve had no rest at all and it can be easy to turn to comfort food to get you through the day, before repeating the same process the next evening. Having more drink-free days and drinking less overall can result in big improvements in quality of sleep, as well as weight loss and a host of other benefits. This was certainly the experience of Joe*, a 50 year old male who made contact with DrinkCoach after seeing a social media advert on Facebook. DrinkCoach offers one-to-one coaching sessions, via Skype, for anyone looking to change their drinking habits. DrinkCoach sessions are free for people living or working in West Sussex. Joe was drinking five bottles of 5% lager (660ml) every evening, when he contacted DrinkCoach, which equated to 116 units per week. This pattern had begun when he was working in London, as his workplace had a heavy drinking culture. Over time, heavy drinking had become a habit. Joe was concerned about the long term impact of his drinking on his health and felt

that alcohol was the main contributor to him being overweight. This prompted him to contact DrinkCoach. Joe had four sessions with his DrinkCoach, Lucy, and with her support reduced his drinking from 116 to 23 units per week, with a number of alcohol free days.

DrinkCoach sessions are free for people living or working in West Sussex. As the sessions are via Skype they can be done from anywhere with internet access, so can be done in total privacy. Sessions are available at evenings and weekend, as well as during the working week, making it easy to fit around busy lives.

As a result of these changes, Joe experienced improvements in his physical health (including improvements to his blood pressure), his psychological health and his overall wellbeing. The most positive benefit Joe experienced was an improvement in the quality of his sleep, and this became his biggest motivation to maintain his changes. Hot on the heels of his success, Joe’s wife also managed to also reduce her drinking, and she too reported improvements in energy levels and sleep.

To book an appointment or find out more, visit DrinkCoach.org.uk and enter the code ‘PLATINUM’ to get your sessions for free.

BUSINESS GROWTH

NatWest Accelerator Entrepreneur of the Month – November 2019 Jeremy McMinn, Founder of PracticeHub had no capital to fall back on, my focus was to set very high standards for customer service, as well as being obsessive in my pursuit of constantly improving the product based on feedback from customers. It took me a year to get my first customer, and another year to get my next five. Seeing something grow from nothing has been my biggest achievement and I can’t wait to see where the next five years takes me.

Tell us about yourself… I have no formal education. I dropped out of high school and had a fairly underwhelming career path before starting PracticeHub. When I started out, I had no experience of building or running a SaaS and had to teach myself how to code. Fortunately, I’ve always had an interest in computers, and a passion for learning and problem solving by nature, so although challenging I loved the process. What does PracticeHub do? PracticeHub is a cloud-based platform that makes it easy for chiropractors and chiropractic clinics to manage, automate and grow their businesses through our scheduling, billing, clinical note-taking and patient retention tools. We have customers ranging from individuals with no receptionist to large clinic groups with many multiple locations and are used in over 25 countries. What have been the highlights so far? Growing a profitable SaaS business with no funding or investment to a customer base all over Europe. As I

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced? Lack of finances and resources in the initial phases. It puts a huge amount of pressure on you when you need to provide for a family, and are trying to build a business with no financial resources. Learning how to code. I’ve picked up all sorts of bad habits along the way, but I’m still learning something new every single day.

away from my goals for the business?” It helps keep me on track and once you do it enough, bad time-wasting habits start to drop off automatically.

What tips or advice would you share with other budding entrepreneurs? Be obsessively focused on your customers. Talk to them as often as you can. Find out their pain points and put yourself in their shoes literally and metaphorically - find out what they need to solve the challenges in their life or business. Use this knowledge to continually build and improve your product/service. As cliched as it sounds, be laser-focused on your end goal, make sacrifices and put in the work. Building a business is demanding but hugely rewarding and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

What tools, techniques or resources have you found useful? There is so much information available that at times it can cause paralysis in the face of action. As a result, I try not to consume too much and instead focus on what I can do to move closer to my goals. A useful strategy is to ask myself: “Is this going to move me closer or further

practicehub.io

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 BrightonAccelerator@natwest.com

The Platinum Club is the foremost Director level networking forum in the region and meets each month in the luxurious surroundings of the Grand Hotel in Brighton. Now celebrating its tenth year, the Club goes from strength to strength. Attendance is by invitation only and applications for membership should be sent to: info@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Chris Mansfield (Director, The Network Exposure Group) and Andrew Stenning (Director, Clearline Recruitment)

Lesley Alcock (The Platinum Group), Gemma King (Owner, Vivid Marketing), Fiona Graves (Platinum Event Management), Katie Gibson (Managing Director at Pier Recruitment)

“Having attended most networking events in Brighton, The Platinum Club is the standout event for business professionals. No presentations, no formalities, freedom to work the room and all done with a glass of Champagne in your hand! Maarten is a great host and not only makes you feel comfortable if you’re new to networking but will ensure that you’re introduced to the guests you want to be introduced to!” DAVID WADDELL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, HARVEY JOHN RECRUITMENT

David Sheppard (Director, D-Risq) chatting to Maarten Hoffmann (CEO, The Platinum Group)

Elliot Brown (Director, Lloyds Bank), Mike Pay (Director, EMC Corporate Finance), Barry Carden (Director, Carden Accountants), Alan Harber (Regional Director, Lloyds Bank)

CHARITY NEWS

L-R: Steve Coogan, Eddie Izzard, Katie Derham, Toby Stephens, Sophie Okonedo

Glyndebourne gala night The Homelink charity celebrates two decades in style

latinum was delighted to be the media partner for a spectacular 20th anniversary gala concert on November 17th at Glyndebourne on behalf of Homelink. Lewes-based Homelink do remarkable work helping the homeless right across the region with a dedicated and highly professional team of caring

individuals. This volunteer-led charity offer practical solutions to one of the biggest challenges of our time. The concert featured celebrities such as Steve Coogan, Eddie Izzard, Simon Fanshawe and Katie Derham each introducing a diverse range of acts, such as the Lewes Prison Staff choir, soprano Dame Felicity Lott, guitarist

Richard Durrant and the Streetfunk Kriticool Crew. It was diverse as it was entertaining and the packed audience enjoyed every minute of it. To get involved with this worthy charity, contact info@leweshomelink.org. uk or call 01273 479541

The presenters, with staff from Homelink

BUSINESS SURVEY TRAVEL

Family travel

Discover exclusive luxury holidays for all the family with Go Bespoke’s guide to worldwide adventures your kids will never forget

hoosing the right destination when it comes to a family holiday is as important as it is for the parents as it is for the children. Quality time spent with the family is precious and a luxury family holiday is decided by the way you spend time together. In this feature, Go Bespoke

hand-picks six destinations that excel at family experiences, whether it’s adventure-packed resorts, active holidays or private, low-key locations where parents have space to relax and children have space to play. Never has holidaying with the kids been more innovative, educational and fun.

FOGO ISLAND, CANADA Fogo Island Inn sits atop jagged rocks on north Fogo Island, off the coast of Newfoundland. Each one of its 29 Scandinavian-inﬂuenced guest rooms and suites has dramatic ﬂoor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the subarctic, see-it-to-believe it landscape. The award-winning Inn is built on the principles of sustainability with 100% of operating surpluses reinvested into the community - this is the place where simplicity is key. From foraging for edible plants, to hiking coastlines normally only frequented by animal life, most guided excursions here are included. Kids aged 12 and under stay free with an adult on Full Board basis. Last minute availability: welcome 2020 with a three night stay for the island’s New Year celebrations.

TRAVEL DAIOS COVE, CRETE Daios Cove is an outstanding under-the-radar kids’ resort on its own secluded cove on the island of Crete. Childcare is a key part of the Daios family holiday experience and the resort offers children an entertaining and safe environment in which to play, have fun and let off steam. Babies and toddlers (4 months – 4 years) are supervised in the Crèche Club whilst the Children’s Club runs several sessions throughout the day for kids up to 12 years. Teens can enjoy their very own dedicated Games Room and activities for the whole family include a fantastic range of watersports. The hotel also expertly caters for young families by providing essential paraphenalia like bottle sterilisers, baby monitors and prams in your room. Accommodation is stylish and ultra comfortable, designed to feel like a real home away from home. Early Booking Offer: save up to 35% off 2020 stays including free Half Board and airport transfers.

SUBLIME COMPORTA, PORTUGAL Ranked among the Best 100 Hotels in the World, Sublime Comporta is nestled on a stunning 17-hectare estate just an hour from Lisbon. Surrounded by undulating umbrella pines, cork trees, wild sand dunes and over 60km of pristine, white-sand beaches, it is a magical, unspoiled spot for a family getaway. The

accommodation for families includes two, three, four and five bedroom spacious villas with private pools, fully equipped kitchens and a full hotel service. There are lots of family friendly activities to enjoy including riding, cycling, tennis lessons, picnics on the beach or visiting the nearby Sado estuary with its Roman ruins.

The hotel’s restaurants all use local produce and the wine cellar is also a hit with parents. And if you’re lucky, you may catch sight of the pod of dolphins that live just off the coast! Prices from £350 per night based on a family of four in a Guest Suite.

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

BUSINESS SURVEY

Gatwick brings global trade opportunities closer

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more than just an airport 53

GARA ROCK, UK Situated near Salcombe and hugging unspoiled South Devon coastline, Gara Rock is the ultimate playground for children and adults alike. Formerly the site of the local coastguards’ cottages, it is a key landmark on the South West Coastal Path overlooking Bolt Head. Families can enjoy surfing lessons, deep-sea fishing, foraging trails, yoga classes for all ages, foodie masterclasses and picnics or BBQs on the nearby beach.

Facilities also include indoor and cliff-top pools, spa treatment rooms and the hotel’s own Land Rover to take you for a potter around Salcombe. After days filled with old-fashioned fun in the seaside air, cosy up by the fire in The Lounge room and play one of the hotel’s board games or take over the private cinema room for a family movie night. Prices from £200 per night including breakfast.

SANI RESORTS, GREECE The privately owned Sani Resort is set in a 1,000 acre ecological reserve on the coastline of the Halkidiki Peninsula in northern Greece. Home to five award-winning luxury hotels including Sani Club and Porto Sani, the resort stretches across fragrant

pine forests, golden sands and crystal clear waters with plenty of activities to keep the whole family occupied. Thrill seekers can enjoy the new Adventure Park which offers exhilarating zip lines and challenge bridges between tree platforms – plus other activities

include PADI diving, the Rafa Nadal Tennis and Chelsea FCF Football academies. Children under 12 stay free in three of the five hotels.

TRAVEL

BOSCHENDAL, SOUTH AFRICA Dating back to 1685, Boschendal is South Africa’s second oldest wine farm and is now a magnificent, bio-diverse environment offering the perfect escape for families. Located near the Franschhoek Valley deep inside the Cape’s Floral Kingdom, it is a place where over 600 species of fynbos and 1,000 hectares of protected nature reserve intertwine with fruit orchards. With beautifully restored farm cottages scattered across the land, guests can immerse themselves in farm living where grass-fed Angus cattle, forest-fed pigs and free range chickens work alongside the farmers to grow exquisite bio-dynamic produce for the farm’s two restaurants. Swim in dams, pick fruit from the orchards and explore this magical place by mountain bike, or by horse. A truly authentic farm experience, children aged 4-14 years can also access the new edu-play centre, The Tree House, where activities include outdoor cooking and art classes. Prices from £442 per night based on a family of four.

Go Bespoke is delighted to offer Platinum readers £500 off their first booking*. Quote ‘Platinum’ when making your enquiry. *Ts & Cs apply - offer valid on bookings over £5,000.

Travel SNIPPETS Anantara opens in Dublin

Gatwick trials speedy boarding

ritain’s second-biggest airport, which serves 46m passengers a year, is working with Easyjet on plans to get passengers on planes more eﬃciently. Screens at boarding gate 101 at Gatwick will show passengers how to get on board their plane, and will trial several sequences over the two-month test period. One method will involve boarding passengers in window seats first, working from the back seats of the plane to the front. Gatwick said the techniques may shave off a tenth of the amount of time it takes to board a plane. Passengers who have booked priority boarding – or those who require special assistance or are travelling with young families – will still board first during the trial.

nantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas will make its Ireland début in the coming months with the rebranding of The Marker Hotel in Dublin. The addition of the property in Dublin will represent the expansion of the luxury brand’s footprint into northwest Europe for the first time, and also

the first urban Anantara hotel in Europe. With a futuristic design and 187 contemporary guestrooms plus a spa named Irish Tatler Dublin Spa of the year, the hotel is located in the heart of the Silicon Docks which is emerging as one of the most vibrant and modern parts of the city.

Last minute New Year

Everyone’s talking about...

ew hotspot restaurant Amazónico has just opened its doors at Mayfair’s 10 Berkeley Square. The menu is curated by husband and wife team, Sandro Silva and Marta Seco - two of Madrid’s best-known restauranteurs – and features a collection of Latin American cuisines and all their inﬂuences, from traditional Brazilian dishes and cachaça cocktails, to Peruvian sushi. With nightly live jazz and a resident DJ, the lush décor is jungle-inspired including model peacocks and abundant tropical plants. The 20-person rainforest-

themed private dining room is also available to hire for a party or dinner. Amazónico, 10 Berkeley Square, London W1J 6BR

f you haven’t got a plan yet for New Year, the ultimate country house getaway, Coworth Park, still has availability including a complimentary dinner for two in The Barn restaurant. Just 45 minutes from London, picture long winter strolls, cream teas in the Drawing Room, exquisite dinners and celebratory fireworks. Stay two nights from either December 30th or 31st, or three nights from December 30th. Contact Go Bespoke for more information.

Connecting Shanghai What the new links between Gatwick and China mean for the region

ith eleven weekly flights, capacity to Shanghai from Gatwick is now growing faster than from any other airport in Europe. The city airport is one of the world’s most important business destinations and the capacity increase at Gatwick reflects rocketing demand with trips abroad by Chinese visitors doubling in just six years. It also reflects Department for Transport predictions that China will become the world’s largest aviation market in just three years, by 2022. Air China is the latest airline to fly to Shanghai from Gatwick and their four

services a week compliment the service by China Eastern Airlines, which recently went daily. By negotiating these new routes, Gatwick is playing its part helping to make the UK a firstchoice destination for these visitors, in the face of competition from other European destinations. These new long-haul routes also help to support more trade for local and national businesses, as most cargo goes in the hold of passenger services and not in bespoke cargo planes. China is the UK’s sixth largest export market and is the fourth largest source of imports. These fast, direct routes mean that the region is now

better able to tap into a whole range of vital Chinese markets. They will also encourage investment by opening new business opportunities – in both directions – between China and the South East of England. But it is not just about China. The region’s local airport now offers well over 60 long-haul routes to the US, Asia, the Middle East and high-growth global economies in South America. Gatwick continues to compete successfully with other airports to win new routes that, in turn, help the region to grow trade and investment with the UK’s key trading partners. It is easy however to get carried away with glamorous destinations – and international trade and investment – and forget about what they mean for people living and working in the region.

TRAVEL

Gatwick recently launched their new Shanghai to Gatwick service

“More inbound visitors from China would be good news for the region too as UK expenditure from Chinese tourists last year was £759 million”

Overseas visitors to the region who arrive via Gatwick spend around £1.2 billion a year and 9.7 million nights in the South East. This provides a significant boost to local hotels, visitor attractions, restaurants, shops and, crucially, this tourism supports over 22,000 local jobs. More inbound visitors from China would be good news for the region too as UK expenditure from Chinese tourists last year was £759 million, up 35% on the previous year alone. So the new Shanghai services are a great opportunity to grow the region’s share of this lucrative market and the new jobs it might support.

because of the success of these important routes.

For example, Gatwick Gateway recently produced a series of new guides recommending where the international tourists who travel through Gatwick could visit, even if they have only a few hours to spare in the area. Jobs related to tourism are only part of the story, however. One in twelve of all jobs across the Gatwick Diamond area rely on the airport.

Whether it is local jobs supported by overseas tourists, by businesses securing international trade deals, or by firms that supply the aviation, retail, engineering and logistics industries that surround the airport – they all have one thing in common. They all depend on the airport’s continuing success.

A range of programmes are in place to encourage continued job creation and to promote job opportunities for local people. The 1000 local jobs on offer at this winter’s Gatwick Jobs Fair may seem far removed from the airport’s exotic long-haul destinations, but many of these jobs exist

A growing Gatwick means a thriving region and as the airport continues to be transformed – with new routes to China or other long-haul destinations – the ripple effect will be felt across all corners of the region.

...to Crawley



To help boost local visitor numbers, the airport is also working with local tourism partners through a body called the Gatwick Gateway to show-

case the region’s unrivalled attractions to the rest of the world.

CHARITY NEWS

The Snowman™ Spectacular Christmas Appeal 2019 £35.70. A gift from you this Christmas could allow another child, another family, to have precious moments together. Moments that will become the most treasured memories.

We hear from a parent who will be part of a fundraising campaign to support Chestnut Tree House over the Christmas period.

ur son Theo lived for six weeks and two days – and we spent the last month of his short life together at Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice. It felt like home. There were no sterilised corridors, no tubes, no machines beeping. We were greeted by a lovely nurse who gave Theo a brand new cot and a blue teddy bear to put next to him. Chestnut showed us how to care for Theo – and thanks to them we can remember the times we fed him, changed him, sang songs, took him to the zoo. Every day at Chestnut became a precious memory.

Today I’d like to ask for your help in bringing a spectacular, magical Christmas to all the children this wonderful local charity will be caring for this Christmas. This year, Raymond Briggs’ beloved character The Snowman™ is once again leading the fundraising campaign to find the £116,450 Chestnut will spend on care for children like Theo over the holidays. One hour’s nursing care for a child like him costs

Please, support Chestnut Tree House, your local children’s hospice. Because like The Snowman did in Raymond Briggs’s famous story, your donation could transform a child’s life this Christmas. With every best wish to you and your family, Chantelle. To donate online visit: www.justgiving.com/Chestnut-Christmas -2019

The Snowman Spectacular Appeal 2019 TM

for Chestnut Tree House

Chestnut Tree House – your local children’s hospice – is a special place where families spend their days making precious memories that will last a lifetime. It costs £35.70 to pay for one hour’s nursing care for a life-limited child.

Please make a gift this Christmas. Because, just like The Snowman, your gift will bring wonderful moments into a child’s life. Thank you. To donate online visit: www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk/christmas1 Registered charity No 256789

EDUCATION

Can entrepreneurialism be taught in school? By Brian Schofield, Head of Higher Education & Head of Politics at Hurst College student with a messy folder is actually a national wakeboarding champion; or that a shy girl you taught in Year 8 has, by Year 13, turned into a militant feminist Insta-poet with more followers than Justin Bieber. Utterly disproving the stereotypes of young people today doing nothing but stare at their phones, these statements often leave me reflecting on how much of my own teenage years I indolently frittered away, watching the lunch-time episode and tea-time repeat of both Home and Away and Neighbours.

so much as an entrepreneurial metatarsal. My parents were the same, and theirs before. And it’s most intriguing to note that the majority of those statements that do demonstrate the spirit of enterprise come from students whose parents are themselves business owners. Is entrepreneurialism an inherited trait, then? Or can it be taught?

At Hurst we are certainly trying. We take our Young Enterprise team as seriously as any sports side, and have won the Mid-Sussex title seven out of the last 10 years; our award-winning Careers Department organises ‘skills his is perhaps the most infor business’ training for all Sixth spiring and gratifying time of Formers; and it’s pleasing to note But the statements I find most fasciyear to be a teacher, for ‘tis the that much of the growth in Business nating – and, in a way, intimidating – season to be reading personal stateA-level students in the past few ments, those all-important letters of self-recommendation “I have come to accept that years has been down to our efforts to persuade more girls to our Upper Sixth students write I am a natural salaryman, consider the subject. And of all as they apply to university. At lacking so much as an the guest speakers our Sixth first, our pupils tend to show a very British disinclination entrepreneurial metatarsal” Formers hear, it’s hard to think of one who gets a better recepto blow their own trumpets tion than Jimmy Cregan, the hipster are from those students who, in their in these missives - but once they’ve millionaire who founded Jimmy’s Iced spare time, have opened a business. warmed up, it’s simply remarkable Coffee from a bedsit in Dorset. how much they have achieved in their Some upcycle clothes, others organise birthday parties, nowadays there’s short lives, often with an absolute minBut perhaps we could, and should, be always one a year with an App for sale. imum of fuss. doing more. Today’s young people are Such enterprise would never have ocsurely bored of being harangued with curred to me – indeed, to be honest, it Reading these documents, you often the fact that most of the jobs they’ll still doesn’t, for I have come to accept discover that a young man you know be doing in their adult lives haven’t that I am a natural salaryman, lacking only as moderately interested history been invented yet. Perhaps we should spend more time pointing out the upside – that they, if they wish, have the opportunity to go out there and invent those new jobs themselves.

www.hppc.co.uk

LIA M M U L VE E

PDT Solicito rs

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SA M A NTH A DMH Stallard

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MOVERS & SHAKERS BUSINESS SURVEY

CA L LU M M

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A N DY W R IG H

Active Sussex

Andy Wright ha s joined the tea m at Active Su of Strategic Re ssex, taking on lationship Man the role ger for Childre Andy will lea d on Sussex n and Young ’s Satellite clu People. England Lotte b programm ry funded prog e, the Spor t ramme which for young pe ople from all provides oppo backgrounds rtunities spor t and ph aged 14 -19 to ysical activity take part in by enhancing community sp links between or t. school and Andy will als o oversee th e annual Su volunteering, ssex School Active Lives Games, DfE and education spor tsman stu programs. Th died Spor t e keen & Exercise University and Science at moves to Activ St. Mar y’s e Sussex af ter Foundation. nine years with The Golf

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

B IA N CA

RocketMill

M AY

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Mustang Fastback By Maarten Hoffmann

ith the majority of American cars today being total garbage, hence you see none on the roads of Europe, it is always a surprise when l am offered one to review. Why do the yanks make such terrible cars that not a single first world country will import them? I don’t know the answer but a fascinating question. The only yank muscle we see on the UK roads is the new Mustang. I have reviewed this twice now, hardtop and drop top, both 5-litre and both automatic. I like it but you do need to accept its limitations such as remarkably little poke from a thumping great V8, sub standard trim and finishing especially noticeable if you are used to driving German cars and of course,

the Ford badge that does little to scream style and class. I guess the boys at Ford are determined to change my mind as they dropped a GT on the drive and asked me to give it another go. I really like the look of the GT, or Fastback as we used to know it. Now, l need to explain that l am no spring chicken and in the 70’s and 80’s l had a love affair with yank muscle. They were cheap, crazy as hell, fast and furious and no one else had one. We had to import them at great cost until David Overoff opened his yank showroom in Kingston, Surrey and the market cracked open. My favourite of all time was my Mustang Mach 1. I owned two of them in my time and just loved them - l could

spin the back wheels in any gear and at any speed such was the unbridled power and it just looked sublime on tiny British roads. Like most old muscle cars, they could rarely go around a corner without a visit with a tree but in a straight line, they were unrivalled. So what’s so different about this thing in front of me? It’s manual. A real life manual stick on the floor. Oh lordy lordy, this changes everything. It takes me right back to ye olde days when you actually had to drive a car. None of these fancy computers and driver aids, just you and the car. Mess it up and into the tree you go. It all came flooding back. Clutch control is of utmost importance

“A bit like Heidi Klum’s head on Ena Sharples body. Just wrong.”

BUSINESS MOTORING SURVEY “A real life manual stick on the ﬂoor. Oh lordy lordy, this changes everything.” as release it too fast, with too many revs, and the back wheels are spinning. Put 20% turn on the steering wheel and let the clutch out and the rear end is whipping back and forth screaming ‘come on then pussy, control me’. What a blast. I might have pulled away from the Grand Hotel a tad too fast and they were relaying the paving bricks for the next three days. The earth actually moved. They have fiddled with the facelift model a tad such as new LED headlights, more power from the lump (up to 444bhp now), improved suspension and new safety equipment - mainly driven by the poor safety score in the Euro NCAP tests. They have wisely not fiddled with the overall shape but we do have hood scoops, a new front splitter, all-new instruments and a 10-speed auto box. The V8 is both hero and villain here. It sounds unutterably wonderful and goes like the clappers once you build the revs beyond 2,500rpm, but it’s a hefty donkey of an engine to have stuck

out over the front wheels when you’ve got tight corners to deal with. It does not take well to our winding, twisting British roads and you need to constantly adjust to get it anywhere safely on our B roads. Power or precision - with the yanks you cannot have both. The drive modes are normal, sport and drag - seriously, there is a drag strip mode that allows you to do a standing quarter mile with a timer. I didn’t do it of course - much! The interior is average at best with a lot of plastic and shiny trim that l suspect in a few years will rattle around and wear terribly but at £37,000, you have to accept you get what you pay for. And what you are paying for is that glorious burbling V8 and a large dollop of redneck attitude. There is a 2.3 Ecoboost engine but who the hell cares - can you imagine buying a Mustang with an Ecoboost engine. A bit like Heidi Klum’s head on Ena Sharples body. Just wrong.

And Ford will be getting a surprise from me as l actually request the next Mustang - the fire-breathing Bullitt model as a homage to Steve McQueen - yes please - in manual. I really really like this car but in manual ONLY. A real blast from the past and a reminder of what driving used to be like - seat of your pants, fire breathing, screaming good fun. I miss those days.

TECH STUFF Model tested: Mustang GT Fastback Engine: 5-litre V8 Power: 444bhp Speed: 0-62 4.6 seconds Top: 155mph Economy: 22.8mpg Price from: £37,435

Lamborghini Huracan Evo By Maarten Hoffmann

he word Lamborghini has always conjured up evocative thoughts of eroticism, drama, Monaco and movie stars - oh, and death. Death because that is how many people ended up if they were not paying very keen, laser like focus on their driving at all times. The Lambo was never easy to drive, never relaxing, always on the ragged edge and that is why we admired them but rarely ever bought them - just too much in a busy 21st century life. The old tractor maker that is Lamborghini remained on that path until the company was purchased by the VW group and placed under Audi control back in 1998. The Germans of course do not like killing their customers as it is very bad for repeat business and they took to smoothing out the wrinkles and producing cars that can actually be driven. Their current

line-up is the V12 Aventador, the V10 Huracan and the all-new FWD Urus. I reviewed the Urus back in April and the Aventador is in the garage for next week so l will concentrate my focus on the new Huracan Evo. Anything the company does has to square up to its natural enemies - Ferrari and McLaren. The step change here over the original Huracan is what they call Lamborghini Dynamic Veicolo Integrata or LDVI, a super computer that controls everything including your ability to kill yourself. LDVI rules over everything on the car from the chassis to the powertrain and includes a predictive element. They claim the Evo model has seven times more aero effi ciency than the previous model.

In addition, there’s a set of accelerators and gyroscope sensors positioned at the heart of the car’s centre of gravity, which provide real-time monitoring of lateral, longitudinal and vertical loads, as well as body roll, pitch and yaw. The suspension’s magnetic damping is also part of the equation, as is the traction control, the Evo’s all-wheel drive, torque vectoring, dynamic steering, and the active rear axle. So what of it? Mightily impressive is all l can say and if l hadn’t written it l wouldn’t know that all that computer jazz was going on - and l don’t care.

MOTORING

“I don’t drive these type of cars for what you think but for what l think – l love em and could drive them all day long but this beast might be one step too far” Like most drivers, l just want the driving experience of a car that makes me a better driver than l am. Here it is ladies and gentlemen. The beautiful howling naturally aspirated 5.2 litre V10 at the back of your head, produces 613bhp and is good for 60mph in 2.9 seconds and tops out at 201mph. So pretty is the pow-

er plant that they have covered it with perspex for all to see. So far so good but can l keep it on the road? Apparently, my kids like having me around so it is a concern. The answer very much depends on what mode you pop it into. Strada (road) will allow your granny to drive it - really, it is a sweet little poppet and will poodle around town all day. Sport sees it all sharpen up and get a

tad louder and Corsa (track) sees your life flash before you and produces the kind of focus that l would imagine is required to fly Challenger to the moon. The tyre shredding track mode turns almost everything off and this little darling will drift with ease, turn in to corners is incredibly accurate enabled by the four-wheel steering, there is zero understeer helped by four-wheel drive and fast sweeping corners are such a joy that it can often take over an hour to get the smile off your face. Oh, and of course, the Evo computer is

MOTORING

never really turned off hence even the average driver really can feel like some kind of superhero. Forward progression is all well and good but stopping is kinda important and the carbon ceramic brakes do that job very well although under a hard foot, there is a bit of squirrelling going on. It whips through the seven-speed box with ease and if you really feel like it, you can take over with the paddle shift and feel like you’re shifting but you are not - push too far through the gear and the computer takes over and changes for you so really, don’t bother unless you are on a track.

stance, the interior is very cool and fits like a glove and that engine is a work of art that makes you never ever want a turbo ever again and at a start price of £206,000, it is well priced for this sector. It will go up against the Ferrari

engineering that is a constant marvel, it really says ‘l have made it and you have not’. It is such a statement that it starts to work in reverse. It’s too showy, too brash for British roads. Bel Air, Monaco and Portofino are its natural habitats but on British roads, it just makes you look slightly ridiculous.

“So pretty is the power plant that they have covered it with perspex for all to see”

The interior has had a makeover too with a great 8.4in central screen with bespoke graphics and multi-finger gesture control and of course, it will keep you up to date with what the LDVI is up to. The seats lock you in beautifully and everything is at your finger tips. They are very keen on personalisation, therefore a buyer can select from hundreds of interior options for just about everything and of course, each comes with a price but as the saying goes, if you have to ask how much you probably can’t afford it. It looks beautiful and has a grand

488GTB and the McLaren 720S and they are both magical supercars and for me, the McLaren is the one to beat and will take some beating if you read my review last year. Do you feel a but coming? I felt a total prat driving it. They don’t offer a colour that does not look like a crazed 70’s porn star (mine was such a bright orange that it looks like l’ve been tango’d), it is loud enough that everyone hears you coming and the selection of public reactions range from thumbs up to a great car to looks denoting that you are a complete knob. I pulled up at traffic lights in Brighton to look across at three homeless guys on a bench. Something snapped and l realised quite what these cars represent. Over and above the super human

I don’t drive these type of cars for what you think but for what l think - l love em and could drive them all day long but this beast might be one step too far.

Now, as they remove the Huracan Evo from my sweaty hands and drop the V12 Aventador onto the drive, me thinks l have another week of this. Bitter sweet.

TECH STUFF Model tested: Lamborghini Huracan Evo Engine: 5.2 litre V10 Power: 613bhp Speed: 0-60 2.9 seconds Top: 201mph Economy: who cares? Price from: £206,000

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