Platinum’s honest takedown of the orange baby looking to re-enter the
SURREY CHAMBERS
urrey Chamber News
A round up of Surrey Chambers
60 Brighton & Hove Business Awards
After far too long away, the BAHBAs are back for 2025
INTERVIEW
54 Pete Fitzboydon
As Sussex Cricket is enjoying its best season in over a decade, Maarten Hoffmann speaks to the club’s new
FINANCE
46 Kreston Reeves
When is the right time to wind down a solvent business?
EDUCATION
26 Sussex & Surrey IoT
The Institute of Technology’s new hub is under construction
LEGAL
28 Mayo Wynne Baxter
The airport launches the London
The rise of leadership development
MVP testing: how to validate your business idea without breaking the
Platinum’s amazing offer for anyone wishing to enrol in the University of
Modern offices to lease next to the 1st Central County Ground in Hove
Platinum marks the 160th anniversary
Tips on selling land for housing development
52 DMH Stallard
Leadership must prioritise the abolition of modern slavery
OPINION
66 Anger Management
‘The silent syndrome’ – the creeping social anxiety that is imposter syndrome
TRAVEL
68 Lainston House
Tucked away in the countryside outside Winchester is this serene hotel
MOTORING
70 Lamborghini Urus Performante Maarten is blown away by the Italian giant’s latest SUV
DELIVERING NEW EVENTS FOR SURREY MEMBERS
Following the summer break, our excellent Events and Marketing team has put together a programme, which is already receiving great uptake, with our first event seeing 50 young professionals demonstrating their driving skills (as in golf driving!!) at Top Golf in Addlestone. We then move into a very busy time delivering events covering everything from pure networking to technical International Trade training. We are always keen to hear what businesses would like us to be delivering and encourage you to call us or catch up with us at events.
ECONOMY AND POLICIES
Our Quarterly Economic survey is currently open for feedback on how the economic landscape is affecting businesses on the ground. This survey is the UK’s largest and most important private sector business survey and receives widespread local, national and international press coverage. It is also used extensively by the UK government and the Bank of England. As always, we encourage Surrey businesses to take five minutes to feed
❛❛ There is no question that recruitment can be very challenging currently, with many vacancies difficult to fill ❜❜
back so that the Surrey situation is recorded. The survey is quick and easy and can be found here.
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
There is no question that recruitment can be very challenging currently, with many vacancies difficult to fill. On the other hand, there are many people ready and willing to work but they find it difficult to navigate the recruitment process. Recent research we carried out with British Chambers of Commerce showed that 63% of businesses do not have a specific recruitment, training or retention plan for specific groups of workers like under 25s, over 50s, disabled or neurodiverse people, or diverse ethnicities.
Surrey Chambers, in conjunction with our Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) team and Surrey County Council, has put together an exciting event on November 14th, giving businesses an opportunity to look into a number of pools of untapped talent. Titled “Solving the recruitment conundrum,” we will be covering different ways to attract, support and retain employees, through various methods as well as sharing the many ways current staff can be upskilled and motivated. This promises to cover a vast array of opportunities and support for businesses, delivering a very timeeffective solution to recruitment and retention.
LSIP PROGRESS REPORT
We were very pleased to publish our Local Skills Improvement Plan Progress report, which helps to reflect the continued commitment and collaboration of our local employers, providers, and other stakeholders. Together, we are building a dynamic and responsive skills system that meets the needs of our vibrant economy. We are looking forward to continuing to work hand in hand to drive innovation, inclusivity, and growth across Surrey and beyond.
This comprehensive report showcases a year of achievements in the local skills landscape, driven by strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives. From steering training investments towards what employers need, to the coordination of networks and collaboration opportunities, the LSIP has been a catalyst to help align
❛❛ Together, we are building a dynamic and responsive skills system that meets the needs of our vibrant economy ❜❜
the skills system with the evolving needs of the local labour market. Enterprise M3 (including all of Surrey) LSIP Progress Report can be found here
Surrey Chambers of Commerce can be reached on 01483 735540, info@surrey-chambers.co.uk @surreychambers www.surrey-chambers.co.uk
Louise Punter CEO Surrey Chamber of Commerce
WHILE YOU’RE HERE...
Platinum Media Group enjoys the largest circulation of any business magazines in the UK, reaching over 720,000 readers across the South East and this includes 468,000 online readers. If you can’t wait for the next issue then jump onto our social media platforms and join the conversation.
CHAMBERS NEWS
CONSTRUCTION WORK BEGINS AT BROOKLANDS
Brooklands College has had as construction work starting to transform the college’s
Weybridge campus. A £45m investment into the redevelopment of the college will create a purpose built, secure and attractive learning environment which will greatly enhance student facilities. The comprehensive work across the campus will ensure students of all abilities are able to access the latest relevant facilities and training to secure their future.
be available through affordable tenures. The site’s historic Grade II-Listed Brooklands Mansion will also be regenerated to deliver 15 new apartments, restoring the historic mansion to its former residential use.
As part of the wider redevelopment, Cala Homes has also started construction work on the Brooklands Grove development consisting of 320 new homes, 40% of which will
Christine Ricketts, Principal of Brooklands College, commented, “This is an amazing project that will ensure Brooklands College continues to be at
MGI MIDGELEY SNELLING LLP ON DOUBLE ACCOLADE SHORTLISTS
Leading Surrey accountancy firm and founding member of MGI Worldwide, MGI Midgley Snelling LLP, has been shortlisted in two categories for the prestigious Accounting Excellence Awards.
The firm is a finalist for Progressive Audit Firm of the Year and International Firm of the Year, one of only five firms shortlisted in each category. Lauded for its international approach, specialist advice and collaboration with global members of
MGI Worldwide, the firm delivers a full range of audit, accounting, tax, and business advisory services to clients across the globe.
Sarah Squires, Partner at MGI Midgeley Snelling LLP, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have achieved this level of recognition from Accounting Excellence. The whole team wholeheartedly believes in our mission of delivering first-class auditing, accounting and business advisory services that support international collaboration and
the forefront of technical and professional education in the region. It will also see the development of an extensive range of new community facilities on our site, greatly enhancing the local area and bringing the community and the college even closer together.”
The first phase of the college redevelopment will see a new entrance and community-accessible facilities created, including a sports hall with four courts, a community hub, public access restaurant and café, and a new hair & beauty salon.
The construction work has been planned and phased over a two-andhalf-year period to ensure minimum impact on the students’ experience at the college.
expansion – so it’s an honour to have this acknowledged.
“I’m exceptionally grateful to everyone who has helped us to make the firm what it is today, and who works with us to deliver consistently excellent service for clients and build our community.
The awards will be presented in a glamorous celebration at the iconic Roundhouse in Camden, London on October 8th, welcoming nominees, guests and familiar faces from across the sector.
LAVENDER CATERING AWARDED SURREY HILLS’ GOLD TRADEMARK AWARD
Surrey Hills Enterprises recently hosted its Summer Gala. Among the highlights, Melanie Williams, founder of Lavender Catering, has been a shining example of what it means to be an active and dedicated member of Surrey Hills Enterprises. Lavender Catering is renowned for its commitment to local producers and sustainable practices.
The ‘25 Mile Radius Challenge,’ an initiative that focuses on sourcing produce within a 25-mile range of its Surrey Hills kitchen, underscores her dedication to supporting local suppliers. Melanie’s comprehensive sustainability policy, including zero food wastage and the use of sustainable and reusable products, has set a benchmark for other businesses to follow.
In addition to her business acumen, Melanie has demonstrated unwavering support for the community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she cooked thousands of meals for NHS staff, showcasing her commitment to helping others during challenging times. Her active engagement in royal visits and recent work with the Harry Edwards
Foundation further highlight her invaluable contributions to Surrey Hills.
The Summer Gala also marked a new chapter for Surrey Hills Enterprises with the introduction of Maggie Howell as the new CEO. Maggie brings a new energy and drive to the organisation, focused on continuing to promote sustainability, support local businesses, and enhance community engagement.
THE FINANCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF WRITING OFF DEBTS
The focus of discussions about debt write-offs often emphasises the negative impact on debtors, but it’s essential to consider the severe consequences for creditors, particularly smaller enterprises. Each year in the UK, around 30,000 SMEs are going out of business due to debt write-offs.
For creditors, especially SMEs, bad debt can have immediate and profound financial repercussions, eroding profit margins, disrupting cash flow, and weakening financial stability. This is particularly challenging for SMEs, which often operate on tighter margins and are more vulnerable to bad debt. The psychological impact on business owners and executives is also substantial, leading to stress, decreased morale, and uncertainty about the future.
To mitigate these risks, businesses must implement robust credit management strategies, including diligent processes to remind debtors of their obligations through regular communications and
The Summer Gala was a resounding success, bringing together members and partners to celebrate and recognise the outstanding achievements within the Surrey Hills community. The event was a testament to the vibrant and collaborative spirit that defines Surrey Hills Enterprises.
reminders. Initiating debt collection procedures promptly can be crucial, and employing professional debt collection services can help recover outstanding amounts while allowing the business to focus on its core activities.
Additionally, proactive measures such as credit checks, setting credit limits, and maintaining a diversified customer base are essential. Cultivating strong customer relationships and open communication can lead to more favourable repayment plans, reducing the likelihood of a complete write-off.
In conclusion, the ripple effect of debt write-offs on creditors, particularly SMEs, cannot be overlooked. Both, the financial and psychological strains can be devastating, underscoring the need for diligent credit management, strategic foresight, and effective debt recovery processes in business operations.
SURREY BUSINESS SCHOOL TO WORK CLOSER WITH BUSINESSES
Surrey Business School (SBS) has announced its plans to develop further ties with the business community in a strategy designed to ensure executive education remains meaningful and relevant. Through a series of collaborations, businesses will be involved in research, design and course delivery, ensuring tailored learning that better equips leaders for new challenges.
Deputy Associate Head of School, Constantin Ciachir, who is leading the strategy, aims to secure the School’s position as a key source of quality education and research excellence by building on relationships.
“SBS has been a partner of local businesses for many years. We aim to develop the partnership further by creating synergies between local businesses and the School’s research and teaching.” He commented. “The nature of the partnerships varies, from invitations to provide guest talks, mentor students, offer internships, commission bespoke executive education teaching, to seeking research expertise in addressing new and complex challenges.”
A Centre of Enterprise is currently being developed to create a formal department dedicated to external engagement,
and a business incubator for students, staff, and businesses. The Centre will provide businesses with access to world-leading academics and their research, as well as well-trained and highly skilled students.
“By taking a more hands-on approach with businesses, we can better identify how we can support their strategies. With an established external engagement department and a bigger team, we will be in a better position to actively consolidate the School’s local and regional impact. The business environment is no stranger to volatile disruptions, and forging mutually beneficial relationships helps businesses to be prepared for tomorrow. Businesses benefit by having access to the latest developments and research insights, as well as bespoke teaching tailored to suit their needs.”
An Executive in Residence programme, which has proved to be extremely beneficial in other schools within the wider university, is due to be launched later in the year. More executive education and development programmes will also be
produced over time, designed for SMEs as well as larger companies.
“The SBS strategy is to create positive change in individuals, businesses, and societies. Building and nurturing strong local relationships will enable the School to continue to provide relevant and meaningful teaching, as well as to support local businesses in navigating their challenges.” Caichir continued.
The School has also appointed Senior Lecturer, Will Lanham-New, as Director of Enterprise, Business Transformation and Commercialisation. Will brings a wealth of experience to the role, from Military, Space and Defence, as well as innovative technology start-ups and academic research.
“I believe I have a real grasp and understanding of the complex and fluid eco-system in which the Business School attempts to operate. This experience will be key for helping to further develop our strong networks, crafting innovative opportunities, maturing relationships and building ‘business’ reputation, both internally and externally,” said Lanham-New.
To find out more contact Will at w.lanham-new@surrey.ac.uk
Will Lanham-New
In
August, Surrey Chambers of Commerce published the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) Progress Report. Here
are some of its findings
LSIP Progress Report published
This report examines the work undertaken thus far, providing detailed case studies and showcasing the ways in which the LSIP project has helped to tackle employer skills gaps and furthered the relationships between employers and providers.
From steering training investments towards what employers need, to the coordination of networks, the LSIP has been a catalyst to help align the skills system with the evolving needs of the local labour market. This article gives insights into some of the activity that has taken place, linked to the four priorities from the LSIP report:
PRIORITY 1: IMPROVE INFORMATION ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
Colleges have used government funding to invest in more careers advisers; created 32 jobs and careers factsheets aimed at young people and developed a cross-college interactive ‘Careers Map’ showing 360° virtual tours of workplaces and new college facilities. These investments will help communicate messages to young people about some of the exciting opportunities across the area in key sectors and jobs, linked to education and training.
PRIORITY 2: FACILITATE RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE CURRICULA
Employers are keen to have their skills needs met and the LSIP has helped focus further investment in the Innovation South Virtual Campus (ISVC). This e-learning platform offers free access to over 30 different courses that cover topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Carbon Literacy, Digital Marketing, Employability Skills and Transforming Sales Results – all identified as priorities by local employers.
The LSIP has also helped to promote Skills Bootcamps to employers, helping individuals gain in-demand skills. Surrey County Council and Hampshire County Council secured government funding to support 380 learners (including a member of the LSIP team) through Skills Bootcamps in areas such as Digital Skills and Green Skills.
PRIORITY 3: COORDINATE NETWORKS AND COLLABORATION
Over the past 12 months, an informal group of business development professionals from providers across the LSIP area have come together to share best practice and hear about collaborative ways of engaging with employers. The group has met four times and has benefited from discussions on business-to-business sales techniques; attracting untapped talent to help solve skills gaps and exploring different ways to get businesses to offer more work experience opportunities.
PRIORITY 4: BUILD DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND PROVIDERS
A key priority for the LSIP area is to help build dynamic relationships between businesses and providers; relationships
that will facilitate and deliver new, innovative ways to address skills challenges. Multiple events and workshops, led by the LSIP team, have brought together businesses and providers with a focus on addressing skills gaps. For example, the Motor Vehicle Industry Skills Summit and two Future Skills Forums all convened employers and providers to work out specific skills needs and identify some workable solutions.
The report, and supporting documentation can be found here: Enterprise M3 (including all of Surrey) LSIP Progress Report: https://www.surrey-chambers. co.uk/report/em3-including-all-of-surrey-lsip-final-report/
To find out more about future webinars or to watch recorded versions of previous webinars, please visit www.surrey-chambers.co.uk/future-skills-hub/past-webinars or contact us at lsip@surrey-chambers.co.uk
Piers
Piers
NEW MEMBERS
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) recently unveiled its latest policy, ‘Every Sector, Every Size, Everywhere’ at its Annual Conference, focusing on five core areas.
LEADING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION
As executive sponsors of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce, FluidOne Business IT Camberley is proudly helping organisations addressing these areas.
FluidOne is at the forefront of the Digital Revolution, harnessing the power of AI and cyber security to deliver cutting-edge solutions. As a digital transformation partner, FluidOne Business IT Camberley is more than just a service provider; it is a partner in businesses’ digital journey. With expertise in AI, cyber security, and cloud solutions, FluidOne is dedicated to equipping businesses for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.
AI as a catalyst for change. At the heart of our digital transformation services is the adoption of AI technologies like Microsoft Copilot. Copilot is an AI-driven platform that integrates with Microsoft 365, empowering businesses to automate tasks, analyse data, and enhance productivity. It’s a tool that understands natural language, making it accessible and transformative for businesses of all sizes.
A top priority. Cyber Security is a critical priority as threats become more sophisticated, targeting businesses everywhere. FluidOne proactively addresses these challenges with comprehensive security assessments, ensuring systems are robust against cyber threats. By staying ahead of the curve with the latest security measures, FluidOne helps businesses maintain compliance and protect their digital infrastructure. This vigilant approach to cyber security provides companies with the assurance that their operations are secure in an increasingly vulnerable digital landscape.
The FluidOne connected cloud. This comprehensive suite of services has been designed to empower businesses with seamless IT, communications and cloud solutions, underpinned by Connectivity, fortified by Business Intelligence and AI, and all wrapped with cyber security. Together, it’s a unified platform that simplifies the complexities of modern IT infrastructure across the UK.
With FluidOne, companies can enjoy a streamlined experience that enhances collaboration, ensures data security, and supports growth. The Connected Cloud is a testament to FluidOne’s commitment to delivering innovative
solutions that meet the evolving needs of businesses in the digital age.
Your digital transformation partner. FluidOne Business IT Camberley is more than a service provider; we are a partner in your digital journey. FluidOne is offering a free consultation for Surrey Chambers of Commerce members, designed to align your IT with your business strategy, ensuring you remain compliant and secure in this ever-evolving world of regulations and cyber threats. With our expertise in AI, cyber security, and cloud solutions, we are dedicated to ensuring that your business is equipped for the challenges and opportunities as they evolve.
For more information, please contact FluidOne and take the first step towards a secure, compliant, and innovative future.
T: 01276 455466
E: camberleysales@fluidone.com
Member rate £190 + VAT
Golf day sponsor: Lester Aldridge Solicitors
Nearest the Pin sponsored by:
Member rate: £130 + VAT
Sponsored by Cintriq
BWiS Beginners Golf Day
Member rate: £175 + VAT Sponsored by Commtel Order of
SURREY CHAMBERS EVENT CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER 2024 ONWARDS...
BUSINESS BREAKFAST – GUILDFORD
September 10th – 08:00-10:00
De Vere – Horsley Estate, Horsley Park, Ockham Road South, East Horsley, KT24 6DU
Starting at 8am, our Business Breakfasts are hosted by a member of the Chambers team at a different venue, so expect some gorgeous locations and simulating conversations at these events. Feel free to bring banners and literature to these events, and don’t forget your business cards!
GET FLYING AND GROW YOUR INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
September 25th
Login Lounge, Camberley
International markets increase the complexity of your business, but you still face one fundamental challenge – where and how to grow. If you are feeling blocked, uncertain or just in need of a review, this session is a great way to start fast tracking your planning for the future. This workshop is ideal for those involved in sales and business development of businesses trading internationally.
Join us to hear from industry leaders on the challenges and opportunities within the commercial and residential sectors. This lunch is for anyone with an interest in property – commercial and residential, town planners, architects, surveyors, interior designers, sustainable construction etc. It’s an opportunity for you to meet and connect with other businesses in the property industry.
MEMBERS’ NETWORKING EVENING
September 26th – 18:00-20:00
Lythe Hill Hotel, Petworth Road, Haslemere, GU27 3BQ
Our Members’ Networking Evening is a monthly event where we invite our current members to join us to catch up on the happenings of the previous month’s business calendar.Members’ Networking Evenings are the perfect opportunity for an informal, relaxed gathering with members you already have relationships with and those you don’t.
BWIS BEGINNER’S GOLF DAY
October 3rd – All day
Chobham Golf Club, Knaphill, Woking, GU21 2TZ
Join us for a special Golf Day on October 3rd, designed exclusively for Business Women in Surrey! This event offers a fantastic opportunity to hone your golfing skills, network with like-minded professionals, and enjoy a day out in a beautiful setting!
Welcome to Business Bites - a networking lunch with a guest speaker and an interesting choice of topic. Dipping into our vast pool of members and all their knowledge, we have decided to present Business Bites, with various of our members presenting of a variety of business-related topics!
‘PROFIT ACCELERATION: WORKSHOP FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
October 4th – 09:30-11:00 Online
Not only will we share our many years’ experience in helping business owners build multi-million pound businesses, but you will be attending with a cross-section of your fellow business owners eager to share their real life experiences and successes so that we can all discover what IS working and what is NOT working locally.
MEMBERS’ NETWORKING EVENING
October 30th – 18:00-20:00
Inchcape Jaguar Land Rover, Ladymead, Guildford GU1 1DT
Our Members Networking Evenings are a monthly event where we invite our current members to join us to catch up on the happenings of the previous months business calendar. Running from 18:00 –20:00, Members Networking Evenings are the perfect opportunity for an informal, relaxed gathering with members you already have relationships with and those you don’t.
❛❛ THE PLATINUM CLUB IS A REALLY WELL ORGANISED NETWORKING GROUP, WITH THE HOSTS HELPING TO FACILITATE TO ENSURE WE ALWAYS MAKE USEFUL, NEW CONTACTS AT EACH EVENT ❜❜ LLOYDS BANK
Des Henderson, Account Executive, Jensten Insurance Brokers; Richard Zinzan, Director, archangels ARCHITECTS ; Martin Williams, Partner, Mayo Wynne Baxter ; Maribel Coles, Business Development Director, Nettl; Sonny Cutting, Founder, Sussex Business Show
Jonathan Grant, Partner, DMH Stallard; Maarten Hoffmann, Managing Director, Platinum Media Group; Emma Cleary, Founder & Director, Flexibility Matters; Richard Pollins, Managing Partner, DMH Stallard
ALL BUSINESS IS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS AND PLATINUM GIVES YOU THE PLATFORM TO CREATE THE MEANINGFUL HUMAN CONNECTIONS THAT MATTER ❜❜ BAILEY AND FRENCH
We meet once per month, excluding August. If you would like to attend an event, please get in touch info@platinummediagroup.co.uk
As annual membership is no longer required, we look forward to welcoming you to the most effective, enjoyable and lively networking group in the South
❛❛ WE SEE THE PLATINUM CLUB AS AN IMPORTANT AND INTEGRAL PART OF OUR BRAND AWARENESS STRATEGY, THROUGH INTERACTIONS WITH WELL CONNECTED BUSINESS PEOPLE AND OTHER INFLUENCERS. IT IS WELCOMING AND GREAT FUN TOO!
MATTIOLI WOODS
Stephanie Prior, Managing Director, Prior Media; Rosie Butler, COO, BN1 ARTS ; Mia Bird, CEO, BN1 ARTS ; Fiona Graves, Events Director, Platinum Media Group; Jamilla Sabo, Solicitor, Britton and Time Solicitors; Pippa Moyle, CEO, City Girl Network
Donna Holland, CEO, Rockinghorse; Alex Bailey, Global CEO and Co-Founder, Bailey & French; Emma Cleary, Founder & Director, Flexibility Matters
Simon Gregg , Associate, Fusion Business; Sophie Campbell-Adams , Solicitor and Director, Britton and Time Solicitors; Richard Pollins , Managing Partner, DMH Stallard
Jamie Servante, Business Advisory Director, Kreston Reeves; Alasdair Wilson, Corporate Finance Assistant Manager, Kreston Reeves; Alex Smith, Director, ForLoop Consulting
Craig Staddon, CEO, Plumpton Racecourse; Beth Warner Manager FRP Advisory; Geoff Davies, Founder, Pivotal Edge AI
Graham Gayler, Non Executive Director, Ridgeview Wine Estate; Paul Cannons, Senior Investment Manager, RBC Brewin Dolphin
Jennifer Anderson-Haysom, Managing Director, Anderson-Haysom Interiors; Mia Bird, CEO, BN1 ARTS
Sonny Cutting, Founder, Sussex Business Show ; Lee Mancini, Founder, Agility Films; Martin Williams, Partner, Mayo Wynne Baxter
WORKERS SET TO KEEP MORE TIPS
Tens of thousands of workers across the UK, especially café and restaurant workers are in for a rise in fortunes. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, which comes into effect in October, will make it unlawful for employers to withhold tips from workers.
Companies currently have the choice whether to keep tips made via card or pass them on to employees, while cash tips belong to staff. In 2021, the UK government said 80% of all tipping was taking place with a card, suggesting it had become easier for businesses to keep the money.
BANKNOTES FETCH WAY OVER THEIR FACE VALUE
Banknotes with a face value of £78,430 have raised more than eleven times that amount for charity following a series of auctions. New £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes featuring King Charles III entered circulation in June. He received a full set of the first issues - each with a serial number ending 000001 - but hundreds of other low serial numbered banknotes went under the hammer.
One single £10 note with the serial number HB01 000002 sold for £17,000 during bidding.
NATIONAL NEWS
ELECTRICITY 'SUPERHIGHWAY' GIVEN GO AHEAD
Great Britain’s energy regulator, Ofgem, has given the green light to a £3.4bn low-carbon electricity “superhighway”, which will carry renewable power for more than 300 miles from north-east Scotland to the north of England.
The first phase of the Eastern Green Link sub-sea power cable will have the capacity to transmit enough renewable electricity from Scotland’s wind farms to power two million homes in England. Work is expected to begin on the project, which is being developed by SSE in partnership with National Grid, this year before transmitting power by 2029. A second, similar project, is expected to receive approval from the regulator within weeks.
❛❛ People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. ❜❜ Zig Zagler
POTHOLES ARE DRIVERS' BIGGEST BUGBEAR
In probably the UK’s least unexpected news, potholes damaging cars is the biggest bugbear among drivers in Britain, a motoring survey suggests.
The state of Britain's roads was the main concern for almost 60% of people in research by the RAC. It topped the
list of motoring complaints for the first time - ahead of insurance costs and fuel prices. Pothole damage cost drivers on average £460 - with punctures, wheel damage and broken suspension springs the most commonly reported in the past 12 months, RAC research suggested.
❛❛ It is useless to try
to hold a person to anything he says while he’s madly in love, drunk, or running for office ❜❜
Shirley MacLaine
AUSTRALIA DISCONNECTS
Australia is the latest country to bring in a "right to disconnect" rule. This allows people who previously felt forced to take calls or read messages from employers after they finish their day’s work to ignore them, without fear of being punished. More than 20 countries have similar rules. The
GROCERY INFLATION UP, ALONG WITH WINE SALES
Grocery price inflation has risen for the first time in more than a year - but this did not stop shoppers splashing out on booze to celebrate a summer of sport, new figures suggest.
Wine sales were up 35% on the day of the Olympic opening ceremony and £10m worth of beer was sold on the day of the European Championship football final, according to market research firm Kantar. That came despite a 1.8% rise in grocery price inflation in the four weeks to August, 0.2% higher than the prior four weeks.
LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL TURNS 60
London Business School celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The school was founded in 1964 under the name of the 'London Graduate School of Business Studies', with Dr. Arthur Earle as Dean. LBS’s inaugural student intake comprised just 36 students pursuing an MSc qualification..
law does not ban employers from contacting workers after hours. Instead, it gives staff the right not to reply unless their refusal is deemed unreasonable. The UK currently has no such law, although the government is seeking to introduce it as soon as possible.
THE RISING COST OF FISH & CHIPS
Fish and chips has seen the biggest price increase of some of the UK’s most popular takeaways, according to new figures. The average price for a portion of fish and chips rose more than 50% to nearly £10 in the five years to July – outpacing the increases in the cost of kebabs and pizzas.
Chip shop owners cite a "perfect storm" of costs in recent years, including soaring energy bills, tariffs on seafood imports and extreme weather hammering potato harvests.
These days, the School delivers 11 degree programmes across its London and Dubai campuses, while its Executive Education programmes and online courses reach more than 12,000 participants annually. The LBS alumni community now boasts more than 54,000 business leaders across the globe.
THE BIZARRE COINCIDENCE OF THE AUTONOMY CO-DEFENDANTS
Until a couple of months ago, the majority of the population was not familiar with the name ‘Mike Lynch’.
On June 6th this year, Lynch famously won a court case in the US where he and his colleague Stephen Chamberlain had been accused of fraud. The case went back to 2008, when Lynch sold his company, Autonomy, to the then-US computer giant Hewlett Packard (HP).
After the sale, HP felt they had been duped with the selling price, and sought retribution through the courts. The US courts. Even though Autonomy was a UK trading company, both Lynch and Chamberlain, along with Shushovan Hussain, who later pled guilty, were indicted for ‘corruption and wire fraud’.
After ten years of legal chicanery, HP could not prove its case, and Lynch was found ‘not guilty’. HP, it transpired, had failed to do its due diligence at the time of purchase.
Although released in the US, Lynch still faced civil proceedings in the UK, where it was widely thought he would be hit with costs running into millions.
So it is with profound shock when, a mere ten weeks after his acquittal, and six weeks after publishing, we heard of Lynch’s ‘superyacht’, the British-flagged 'Bayesian', capsizing in
a typhoon off the coast of Sicily. The event ultimately claimed the lives of seven people. Authorities in Italy are investigating the capsized yacht, and are questioning James Cutfield from New Zealand, with a view to possible manslaughter proceedings being brought.
The shock is compounded when news came out that, a few hours before the capsizing, Lynch’s co-defendant in the US trial, Stephen Chamberlain – a former VP of Finance at Autonomy –had been killed in a road accident while out for a run in Cambridgeshire.
In a statement released through Cambridgeshire police, Chamberlain’s family said: “Steve was a much-loved husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was an amazing individual whose only goal in life was to help others in any way possible. He made
a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be deeply missed but forever in the hearts of his loved ones.”
Broadcasters and print media have dedicated many hours and column inches to the story, from who Lynch was, through to how such a leviathan of the seas could so easily break in such a storm.
Sadly, and perhaps inevitably, the last – and lasting – words will almost certainly go to conspiracy theorists, who don’t believe in this level of coincidence. Unless the US has worked up a way of producing fatal, localised weather events, it must go down as an unfortunate and tragic circumstance.
Platinum covered the outcome of the trial in issue 123 – and you can read about it here
The Bayesian – out on the high seas
Buy a piece of local history
The owls have left Chichester and Arundel, but you now have the chance to own one of these beautiful sculptures - and support local children’s hospice care.
All Big Hoots and a selection of Little Hoots will be available to buy at our spectacular live auction in Chichester Cathedral.
Join us for a fun evening with Bargain Hunt’s Jonathan Pratt, who will be leading the bidding frenzy! Your bids will help us to be there for children and young people with life-limiting conditions – and their families –across Sussex and South East Hampshire.
To find out more and buy your tickets, email auction@thebighoot.co.uk www.thebighoot.co.uk/auction
Thursday 19 September 2024 6.45pm until late Chichester Cathedral, PO19 1PX
Eight pension myths –debunked
Pension rules can seem complex, and the details are often changing, which can leave savers feeling bewildered when it comes to their retirement plans. Here are some of the myths – and what you need to know.
Myth 1: The state will provide enough for me
The new state pension pays around £11,500 per year (£221.20 per week), which is unlikely to provide for even a modest standard of living.
Depending on your working history, you might not qualify for the full amount. Check your state pension entitlement at gov.uk/check-state-pension.
Myth 2: Annuities are dead
Income drawdown has grown in popularity in recent years, but annuities can still be valuable by providing a secure income to cover essentials.
Purchasing a guaranteed income for life in the form of an annuity could be invaluable for many people.
Myth 3: Tax-free cash is always 25% of your pension pot
The 25% tax-free amount is capped at £268,275 for most people. Some with older company pensions may have a greater amount of protected cash available. A financial adviser can help ensure you don’t lose valuable benefits.
Myth 4: Pensions are the only way to fund retirement
Your retirement income can come from several different sources, including cash savings, shares, ISAs, and property – all of which can complement pension income.
Myth 5: It won’t be beneficial to take my company pension before 65 because I will pay a penalty
Benefits taken before age 65 may be subject to a penalty, but it might be worth it. You may receive a lower pension, but for a longer period. This could, for example, place you in a lower rate tax bracket.
However, you might want to consider what other savings you could access first, such as ISAs.
Myth 6: I am OK because my pension is in a default lifestyle fund
Default lifestyle funds usually shift your money into lower-risk assets such as cash and bonds as you approach retirement. These funds may be unsuitable if you plan on income drawdown or semi-retirement.
Myth 7: My pension dies with me
Many pensions enable you to leave your remaining pot to a beneficiary. You can name your desired beneficiary to your provider by completing an expression of wish form.
If you die before age 75, pension benefits can usually be passed on tax-free.
Myth 8: I am in a workplace pension and so don’t need to worry
For a comfortable retirement, basic workplace pensions may well not be enough on their own.
Seeking financial advice can clarify your retirement strategy, and ensure your plan meets your individual needs.
I live and work local to you. I would be delighted to help you and your family achieve financial clarity and stability.
RBC Brewin Dolphin, First Point, Buckingham Gate, Gatwick Airport, RH6 0NT W: brewin.co.uk/gatwick
The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Neither simulated nor actual past performance are reliable indicators of future performance. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. Information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness. Forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future performance.
RBC Brewin Dolphin is a trading name of Brewin Dolphin Limited. Brewin Dolphin Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 124444) and regulated in Jersey by the Financial Services Commission. Registered Office; 12 Smithfield Street, London, EC1A 9BD. Registered in England and Wales company number: 2135876. RBCBDM5273_0724_1
The Sussex & Surrey Institute of Technology (IoT) launched in September 2023, and its new learning hub is now under construction, set to open in autumn of next year
Sussex & Surrey IoT – new hub underway
❛❛ The Sussex & Surrey IoT is a collaboration between universities, further education colleges, and leading industry partners across the region ❜❜
The new £15 million, four-storey, building is being built at Crawley College and will provide high-quality learning environments housing specialist, state-ofthe-art learning areas in construction, engineering and digital.
The Sussex & Surrey IoT is a collaboration between universities, further education colleges, and leading industry partners across the region, working together to help build the technical skills that employers are looking for to future-proof their business.
It offers a range of flexible learning options, including apprenticeships, part-time and full-time courses, online and blended learning as well as short courses and customised training programmes. This means that students and employers can tailor their experiences to suit their specific needs.
The institute works with some of the world's leading companies, including Gatwick Airport, Roche and NatWest. These partnerships provide students with unparalleled opportunities to gain industry experience, network with professionals, and learn about the latest developments in their field. It also works closely with local businesses and organisations to ensure that its programmes are relevant and responsive to the needs of the local economy.
Faye Long, Regional Director of NatWest, says, “We are delighted to be an anchor partner of the Sussex & Surrey Institute of Technology. At NatWest, we realise how important skills are to the local economy. Our aim is to connect the businesses that we support with the IoT, to help them develop the skills and talent they need to grow their businesses for the future.”
Institutes of Technology form a key part of the Government’s policy to increase higher technical education across the country, as it aims to encourage more people to continue studying as well as attracting people of all ages to upskill or retrain.
In particular, they are designed to spearhead the delivery of higher technical education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects, and to bring colleges and universities together with employers to equip local economies with a skilled workforce.
www.sussexsurreyiot.ac.uk
By Simon Baillie-Hamilton, Partner and Head of Rural Business and Property, Mayo Wynne Baxter
TIPS ON SELLING LAND FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
The Southeast has a chronic shortage of housing, and local authorities are under pressure to meet targets set by central government.
Landowners and farmers may have hidden development opportunities, often on larger greenfield sites. If so, they will need to navigate through the many different ways of unlocking their land’s development potential, maximising their own benefit. This may involve dealing with unsolicited
approaches from developers or their intermediaries, who will be motivated by their own financial gain. Inflation, reduction in government support and the cost-of-living crisis are squeezing margins, and any ways to generate new capital will obviously be welcome.
However, landowners and farmers should proceed with caution and seek expert professional advice when considering promoting and selling their land for housing development.
❛❛ Early involvement of suitable experienced professionals is essential ❜❜
THE SEARCH BEGINS
Housebuilders, development promoters, planning consultants and other assorted intermediaries are continually scouring the country, particularly the overpopulated southeastern England, for potential new development sites.
Many landowners will therefore inevitably be approached by developers and their intermediaries, who can find out who owns land through simple searches at the Land Registry. They will review land topography, its relationship to existing settlements and services, and local authority development plans to identify possible new development sites.
When any landowner is approached, it could well be an opportunity to get their land promoted for housing development at little or no initial cost or risk to them. Prudent landowners must however ensure they secure the most favourable deal available; developers and promoters are ultimately driven by profits, and any ‘first offer’ is unlikely to ever be the best deal for the landowner.
Intermediaries identify sites and can play a helpful role in bringing together the developers and landowners. But while they can be a useful catalyst, they are not independent, usually being engaged and paid by the developers, bringing about a strong potential for a conflict of interest, which they will often not recognise or acknowledge.
My strong advice to any landowner who wants to explore the potential development of their land or who is approached by a developer, is to consult a suitably qualified and experienced development surveyor at an early stage. They will be able to advise on and negotiate commercial terms and will usually be able to ensure that their fees are settled by the developer.
STRUCTURE OF DEALS
There are a number of possibilities, and the surveyor will be able to advise what is most suitable for each individual area of land and landowner, bearing in mind the specific circumstances. The two main ones will be:
• An option agreement: the developer takes on responsibility to promote the land through the planning system. If they are successful, they will then have the option to buy land, usually getting their costs of promotion reimbursed and often getting a discount on the open market value.
• A promotion agreement: the developer/promoter will carry out the first task to promote the land through the planning system. If successful, the land will then be sold on the open market and they will again be reimbursed their planning promotion costs, but instead of a discount on
❛❛ My strong advice to any landowner is to consult a suitable qualified and experienced development surveyor at an early stage ❜❜
market value, they will usually be paid a fee, being a percentage of the market price paid.
Under certain circumstances a conditional contract might be suggested which may be appropriate for smaller developments.
In both of these main structures, the developer/promoter will almost always take on all initial financial risk, paying professional fees for the landowner and all consultant fees and planning application costs. If they are successful, they will be well rewarded, but will have unlocked significant uplifts in value at no risk to the landowner.
For either type of deal, the initial pre-legal stage will involve the surveyor
putting together detailed Heads of Terms, which usually run to several pages, covering the rights and the duties of both parties. An overview from the landowner’s solicitor, if they have experience of such deals, can be useful at this stage.
Early involvement of suitably experienced professionals is essential. Tax advisors should definitely be consulted to check on the VAT and Capital Gains Tax/Income Tax implications of any such deals.
Selling some or all of your land for development may not be for you and your family, but there are certainly opportunities out there as well as associated pitfalls.
If you need further advice or help with your land, please contact Simon Baillie-Hamilton, sbhamilton@mayowynnebaxter.co.uk
£125 EACH OR £1,350 FOR A TABLE OF 12 (+VAT)
Tickets include a sparkling drinks reception, delicious three-course meal, entertainment and unrivalled networking opportunities AVAILABLE ONLINE
WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK
2024 HOST British comedian, writer and actor, the hilarious SUZI RUFFELL
THURSDAY NOVEMBER THURSDAY NOVEMBER
Airbus, easyJet, London Gatwick and Air Products - one of the world’s largest hydrogen producershave formed the London Gatwick Hydrogen Hub
LONDON GATWICK HYDROGEN HUB
An important first step toward possible zero-carbon flights
The partners will now work together to establish how infrastructure to supply hydrogen – including to fuel new types of aircraft – could be introduced across the airport in an important first step toward possible zero-carbon flights from London Gatwick.
Airbus launched the ‘Hydrogen Hub at Airports’ programme to jumpstart research into infrastructure requirements and low-carbon airport operations. The programme is a prerequisite to support the widespread scale-up and adoption
of zero emission hydrogen-powered aircraft, which Airbus aims to bring into commercial service from 2035.
Because early hydrogen-powered aircraft will initially focus on short-to-medium haul routes, London Gatwick’s position as the UK’s leading hub for these services, along with easyJet’s operational insight as a short haul carrier, makes the London Gatwick Hydrogen Hub an ideal testbed for research and development into this critical support infrastructure.
Under Airbus’ Hydrogen Hubs at Airports framework, the scope of work covers liquid hydrogen supply and storage at the airport, refuelling and ground handling of hydrogen aircraft, as well as the exploration of other, shorter-term opportunities for using hydrogen at London Gatwick.
London Gatwick is part of the VINCI Airports network, the world's leading private airport operator with over 70 airports in 14 countries. Following this announcement, London Gatwick, Lyon-Saint Exu -
pery, and Kansai have formed Hydrogen Hubs in partnership with Airbus, as part of the VINCI Airports’ decarbonisation strategy to develop carbon-free hydrogen infrastructure.
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive Officer, London Gatwick, said: “Alongside sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen stands out as having real potential to help us decarbonise Scope 3 emissions at the airport, particularly for the short haul aircraft that dominate London Gatwick’s operations. In parallel, we’ve accelerated our plans and aim to be net zero for the emissions we control –Scope 1 and 2 - ten years early, by 2030. We still have a long way to go and a lot of hard work to do, but this new, exciting partnership is an important early step toward reaching our net zero ambitions.”
Airbus Vice President ZEROe Project Glenn Llewellyn said: “Our licence to operate hinges on finding better ways to fly. We know hydrogen has the versatility to be an excellent fuel source for decarbonising the industry. We’ve set ambitious targets to fly on hydrogen by 2035 and this technology needs to be
❛❛ Hydrogen is going to play an important role in decarbonising aviation, so we need to lay the groundwork now to make that happen ❜❜
supported by reliable and tested infrastructure. Sharing knowledge and best practice at airports will be critical for building the right hydrogen ecosystem around the world, and we look forward to working with all consortium members to develop the support for the technology and end-to-end hydrogen supply chain that will power future flight.”
David Morgan, Chief Operating Officer, easyJet, said: “Hydrogen is going to play an important role in decarbonising aviation, so we need to lay the groundwork now to make that happen. The Gatwick hub is another positive signal and demonstrates the industry’s intent to both adapt and work together to reach the common goal of decarbonising aviation. Combined with support from regulators and policymakers, I’ve no doubt that projects like this will act as the building blocks to prepare UK airports for a hydrogen transition – something that will be critical to achieving our net zero ambitions.”
Suzanne Lowe, Vice President and General Manager, United Kingdom, Ireland, Israel and Italy, Air Products, said: “We’re incredibly pleased to contribute Air Products’ decades of experience producing and distributing hydrogen to this exciting project. The Hydrogen Hubs at Airports framework is an important milestone in paving the way for sustainable aviation and future proofing the UK economy. Air Products is committed to helping the UK become a global leader in low carbon hydrogen production. We look forward to collaborating with our partners and government leaders on this project and to unlock further investments in renewable hydrogen. These include our plans for a large-scale renewable hydrogen facility in Immingham.”
PIONEERING SUSTAINABLE AEROSPACE
London Gatwick’s Chief Technical Officer, Cédric Laurier (second from right), joined a panel of industry leaders at an Airbus press conference at the Farnborough International Airshow in July.
The panel was chaired by Julie Kitcher (centre), Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Airbus, and showcased several exciting global partnerships and innovations to scale up the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). These initiatives will support Airbus in its objective of enabling all its commercial and military aircraft to be able to operate on 100% SAF by 2030.
Cédric used the high-profile opportunity to discuss the details of the new London Gatwick Hydrogen Hub to an interested audience of journalists, government, and industry stakeholders.
LONDON GATWICK CHARITY FUNDING HELPS EAST SURREY HOSPITAL
A new outdoor space for cancer patients at East Surrey Hospital has opened, with help from funding secured by a London Gatwick colleague.
London Gatwick security officer, Scott Houghton, nominated SASH Charity (the charity for East Surrey Hospital and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust) to receive funding from the VINCI UK Foundation to build the summerhouse at the MacMillan Cancer Centre.
London Gatwick contributes to the VINCI UK Foundation each year, which supports projects that promote social cohesion and fight exclusion. The projects are nominated by colleagues as part of a wider VINCI network initiative to promote work in local communities.
The cancer centre at East Surrey Hospital provides a range of holistic support to people and their families from across Surrey and Sussex who are receiving cancer treatment. The new garden summerhouse will provide a quiet outdoor space away from a clinical setting to allow private conversations or quiet time in the garden.
The VINCI UK Foundation provided £5,000 of funding towards the summerhouse following Scott's nomination. He said: “My son previously received treatment at East Surrey Hospital and since then I have supported SASH with fundraising and recently with the support grant from the VINCI UK Foundation.
“The centre provides a vital bridge between the clinical care provided in hospitals and supporting people in the community. The new summerhouse will help the cancer centre team to use the centre’s spaces more flexibly, and to provide support in a new environment, as well as directly increasing the access available to the community for less formal meetings and support groups.”
❛❛ In 2023, London Gatwick donated more than £750,000 to local charities across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and beyond ❜❜
Andrew Bickerdike, Head of SASH Charity, said: “Here at London Gatwick’s local hospitals, we are incredibly grateful to Scott for nominating us for this grant. The links between the airport, the local hospitals and our local community are deep, and this support from the VINCI Foundation has made a really positive impact for people affected by cancer in our local area.”
London Gatwick contributed a further £20,000 to the VINCI UK Foundation for 2024, and the grants for the latest round of recipients have been announced. Crawley Film Initiative, a community film production company; Freeshop Crawley, a community hub for those facing poverty; Time4Children, free one-to-one emotional listening support for young children; and Learning Space, a children and young
people's mental health charity based in Surrey will all receive funding from the foundation following bids from airport colleagues.
Melanie Wrightson, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, London Gatwick said: “Helping the community is part of what we do at London Gatwick. We are so pleased to offer a helping hand through the VINCI UK Foundation, in addition to the London Gatwick Foundation Fund, the Gatwick Airport Community Trust and numerous staff initiatives and fundraising activities every year.
“In 2023, London Gatwick donated more than £750,000 to local charities across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and beyond, the highest ever amount in a single year.”
Find out more via www.gatwickairport.com
Register for our Autumn Budget webinar
Following the Budget announcement by the Chancellor, our panel of tax and business experts will be examining and discussing what these changes mean for you. They will also answer your questions in our live Q&A.
Join us on Friday 1 November, 09:30am - 10:30am.
Scan the QR code to register, or visit our website.
For more than accountancy, business and wealth advice.
Call: +44 (0)33 0124 1399
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Visit: www.krestonreeves.com/events
THE CULT OF DONALD TRUMP
Like Conservative supporters in the UK who saw Boris Johnson – this country's very own Donald Trump tribute act – deliver a thumping majority in the General Election in 2019, Republicans in the United States are turning the clocks back (as some wag put it – around 200 years) to see if they can return Trump to the White House.
If you think this doesn't matter as it’s ‘over there’ in the US, think again. If this deranged lunatic gets in, the entire world will feel the pain.
Alan Wares looks at these paragons of hatred, spite and entitlement, and considers why Americans, about to go to the polls, are even considering such an unpleasant individual again...
THE WARMTH, VISION AND CHARISMA OF DONALD TRUMP
Donald Trump has never been known for letting the truth come in the way of his playground boorishness. His version of 'truth', sadly, has very little in common with reality. A small selection...
Claim: “Kamala Harris has been meeting with Vladimir Putin”
Fact: Vice President Kamala Harris attended an annual security conference in Germany. She didn’t go to Russia, and there is no evidence she met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, contrary to an unsupported claim made by former President Donald Trump.
Claim: “Harris wants to forcibly compel doctors and nurses against their will to give chemical castration drugs to young children.”
Fact: The Republican National Committee spokesperson Anna Kelly provided no evidence supporting Trump’s claim.
Claim: “In California, you can rob a store of $950 and not get charged. Harris did that.”
Fact: You can’t. She didn’t.
Claim: “Biden wants to quadruple your taxes”
Fact: Biden’s plans amount to a 7% increase across the board, not 300%
ABORTION
Trump’s views on abortion have, over the past 25 years, violently swayed from extreme to absurd and back again. At a rally at the end of August, he sought to clarify his still-confused stance. He said that Florida’s six-week abortion ban is too short, and would overturn it if elected. The next day he stated the exact opposite.
That same day, he offered women a new incentive to vote for him: a promise for universal coverage of in-vitro fertilisation if he is elected. However, senators in his own party, including his running mate, JD Vance, had defeated a bill with a similar provision earlier this summer.
US MILITARY
In a textbook act of petulance, Donald Trump was accused on August 26th of disrespectful party politics at a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). The ceremony was filmed and put on social media, against ANC’s very strict rules on political campaigning. The incident included a member of the Trump entourage assaulting an employee of the ANC.
He's not overly sympathetic to US military personnel who lost their lives in battle, either.
“Losers” - the word Trump applies to Americans who died in the Second World War. He has also repeatedly insulted the intelligence of service members, and asked that wounded veterans be kept out of military parades. “Suckers” is the phrase he used for the 1,800 US Marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood, France in 1918.
THE BAD ENGLISH OF TRUMP
Perhaps highlighting the point that an expensive education is no guarantee of excellence in academia, Donald Trump's incessant mangling of the English language has left many observers baffled
'BIG-LEAGUE'
Perhaps the most distinctive of all of Trump's turns of phrase has actually left people wondering whether he said 'bigly.' 'Big league' is usually used as an adjective. Trump, however, used it as an adverb, like when he said he would "cut taxes big-league." Trump put the confusion to bed in 2016 when he confirmed he was indeed saying 'big-league." Not that it made any more grammatical sense.
'covfefe'
A word in a tweet, posted by Donald Trump in May 2017. The full post read, 'Despite the constant negative press covfefe." It's highly probable he meant 'coverage', but the Tweet remained up for six hours, compounding the confusion.
'THE CYBER'
Trump raised some more eyebrows in 2016 when he made repeated references to "the cyber" at a presidential debate. His perplexing use of the term cyber led The New York Daily News to call the English language "the true loser of the presidential debate."
'THE BLACKS,' 'THE GAYS,' 'THE MUSLIMS' Trump aroused plenty of anger during the campaign when he frequently referred to certain minority groups as 'the blacks,' 'the gays,' 'the Muslims,' and 'the Hispanics.' The word 'the' seemed to make all the difference. As linguist Eric Acton told Business Insider, using the word 'the' in front of the name of a group allows people to distance themselves from the group in question while highlighting their differences.
'MY MILITARY,' 'MY GENERALS' Trump rankled members of the military by referring to them as "my military" and "my generals." Leon Panetta, the former defense secretary and director of the CIA, said he found the phrasing of fensive for suggesting a misguided sense of ownership over the armed forces. "When it comes to the military, the military belongs to the country," he said.
'NAMBIA'
In September, at an event with African leaders, Trump twice referred to the fictitious nation of "Nam bia." Observers assumed he was combining the names of two real African countries, Zambia and Namibia. The White House later clarified Trump was talking about Namibia.
'BAD HOMBRES'
'Spanglish' at its worst, and, many hispanics found, racially offensive.
The parallels are startling. Johnson and Trump, born of the same excessive helping of self-importance and self-entitlement, each with Gerald Ratner’s spoon in their mouths, and whose wasted expensive educations resulted in IQs which, if reduced any further, would have them re-classified as furniture.
Yet somehow, each found a way to appeal to the lowest common denominator in their respective countries and treat them as – pardon the vulgar US euphemism – suckers. Both are fundamentally untrustworthy, noted liars, uncaring for their respective populations, and both have Vladimir Putin laughing himself silly about how easy it was to manipulate these preening ponces.
The main difference between the two is that Johnson is finished. The parliamentary Conservative Party, (as opposed to the myriad local Conservative groups) still manages to find a way to load up both barrels and let their feet have it. But even they haven’t sunk so far as to allow Johnson back into the fold.
They blamed the Labour Party for getting rid of him through… whatever it was Labour did (nothing, in fact) when the truth was that Johnson’s exit was forced by his own party realising that their blind loyalties were being stretched beyond breaking point. So
Trump, on the other hand… well, he’s back. The concept of defeat is a mystery to him, and he won’t accept it, and he wants another go. That said, most words are a mystery to him, so he makes up new ones.
His behaviour after the Presidential Election of 2020 was embarrassing; the stuff you’d expect from any tinpot dictator of a Third World dumping ground. He is still - four years later - grizzling like the orange
nappy-wearing toddler that he presents himself to be, that he was cheated out of the victory.
He has been asked many times to provide evidence for this claim. Ah, ‘evidence’. Now there’s fake news – to him – if it ever showed itself. He has provided none, of course, apart from the gibberish his outbursts are usually made of.
The rest of the world – outside the USA – is both incredulous and terrified at the possibility of Trump making a return to the White House. At the time of writing, he is three points behind Kamala Harris in the polls. More fake news, obvs.
Britons who know the US are amazed that, however reluctantly, enough of its voters might again choose Trump to rule over them, even after the experience of 2017-21. Who are these Amer-
icans? How can they be so blind to his faults, with the law hounding him, gossip ridiculing him and commentators pouring scorn and derision on his every word?
The answer is that the Americans who support Trump are not those whom most Britons know. They are elderly and rural: they are often, but by no means solely, working class and/or non-graduates. But, above all, they love Trump because they, too, are hostile to the Americans that he purports to hate.
And the people he hates most in his homeland are the ones who made him
The first thing to happen if these two walked into a room is all women would cover their drinks
❛❛ The concept of defeat is a mystery to Trump, and he won’t accept it. That said, most words are a mystery to him ❜❜
Six
accusations Trump will level at Kamala Harris, in order of mounting insanity
Donald Trump, enraged by the the concept of 'a woman', is to make a series of claims about her that are progressively more detached from reality. Look out for these:
‘SHE’S VENEZUELAN’
Struggling with Harris’s biracial ability, which he thinks of as a mutant power akin to the X-Men, Trump hits on a brilliant solution: she is neither black nor Indian but a socialist Venezuelan hell-bent on opening the borders to all her countrymen. His supporters, inflamed by the V-word, cheer wildly so he sticks with it.
‘SHE DROVE BIDEN DEMENTED’
Still smarting at the unfairness of a new opponent, Trump’s unhinged mind hits on the perfect solution: 'she did it'. She destroyed Biden’s mind with dementia drugs so she could steal the presidency and she’s on stage laughing about it, with her crazy witch’s laugh. Rallies lap it up. Polls drop by three points.
‘SHE TRANSFORMS INTO A CAT’
Childless cat ladies are evil because they’re not wonderful Republican wives raising six children while baking pies. That’s a given. Kamala is a cat lady. Therefore she must be able to transmogrify into a cat and walk the States, purring poison into ears, stealing Trump votes. ‘And you know, she’s a hot cat,’ he announces on live television to silence.
‘HER CROWDS ARE SKELETONS, SUMMONED FROM THE EARTH’
Footage of Harris speaking to large crowds are puzzling because she cannot attract large crowds, because she isn’t Trump. The inspired answer comes mid-debate: she raises her hands, screams into the sky, and a horde of skeletons rises from the bare earth to applaud her with bone hands. ‘She’ll win Pennsylvania with illegal skeleton votes,’ he adds.
‘SHE’S POSSESSED MELANIA’
How is it Kamala and Melania look so similar? It can’t just be that they’re both women. No, Kamala has possessed Melania with her sorcery, turning her against Trump, making her laugh at Trump! She is a betrayer of Trump! He announces she will be exorcised by celebrity pastor Greg Locke at a rally in Tennessee. In the event she does not attend.
‘WE’RE IN THE WRONG MULTIVERSE. WE’RE IN THE EVIL MULTIVERSE’
Plummeting poll ratings and a latenight viewing of a Doctor Strange film convinces Trump of the truth: Kamala stole the 2020 election from him. She shifted reality, flipped America into an evil universe where his landslide victory never happened, and only he can see the country is in flames. ‘She’s in my head!’ he screams, narrowly losing the election.
Courtesy of The Daily Mash www.thedailymash.co.uk
rich in the first place – those who live down the east and west coasts of America. These are people who, according to him, are the ‘Elites’. He has never sought to explain this jibe; it merely sounds good, so he’s gone with it.
The other large group he really despises is… women. When in power, he effectively obliterated women’s rights to self-determination over their own bodies, placing them in the ownership of the government. Overturning Roe v Wade (the 1973 US Supreme Court ruling to allow all women the right to have an abortion) was an act of extreme pettiness, spite and overt misogyny.
Polls taken after Trump left office indicate that the majority of Americans oppose the repeal of Roe v Wade, which is of little bother to Trump and his supporters. There was an extremely unpleasant photo opportunity undertaken when the President signed the Bill of a group of seven elderly, white men (well, one was orange), looking smug as they arrogantly sought to be the sole arbiters of every woman’s body in the US.
There is now a powerful YouTube video in circulation ahead of the 2024 election featuring half a dozen 16-year-old girls, not yet eligible to vote, who are terrified of the continued threat to their civil rights as they move into adulthood under a second Trump administration. All they ask is, “When you vote, please think of us.”
The fact he is polling 44.9% of the vote (about 72 million people) is staggering. Obviously, some will vote Republican, no matter who is standing. As they say, you could stick a Republican rosette on a hyena, and people would vote for it. So they have.
He is the braggart of every bar-room brawl; the know-it-all (in his mind) gob shite who props up the bar and offloads
his fabricated anger at anyone who will listen, and then hides at the back when hostilities break out.
However, this doesn’t account for the many millions who hang on every utterance Trump makes. With that in mind, there are myriad YouTube channels of commentators, comedians, satirists and the like who interview Trump supporters – almost always bedecked in something reading ‘MAGA’ (‘Make America Great Again’ – what happened to make them not great? Was it electing a satsuma-faced racist in 2016?). And almost every one of these interviews, carried out in a vox pop style, will have the MAGA supporters falling over their own words with the simplest of queries to clarify their position.
set fire to the White House), with all its old-world, regressive attitudes to anyone neither male nor white.
There is an argument that one should never criticise the voters as they are supposed to believe and understand what a prospective politician – the President of the United States of America, in this instance – will do to make their lives better if elected. They are the boss, it is said.
However, everyone, everywhere has been pre-warned about this tangerine pervert, so voters should know better; this will be on them if he wins. He won the Electoral College vote in 2016 and lost (yes, really, Donny) in 2020. On both occasions, he also lost the popular vote.
The UK learned its lesson with its own philanderer, and his party rejected and ejected him. However, you know what they say – once a Trump, always a self-entitled, orange-hued, two-faced, toxic, lying, deluded, misogynistic, petulant, racist sex pest. His critics are less kind.
So the big question for November 5th is – will the USA do the same?
❛❛ He is the braggart of every bar-room brawl; the know-it-all gobshite who props up the bar, and then hides at the back when the hostilities begin... ❜❜
The kindest things you'll read about Donald Trump
"If Donald Trump is elected, in a kind of historical way it's exciting because he will be the last President of the United States as it just won't ever work again after that."
Johnny Depp
"Donald Trump is about the rise of right-wing extremism, not only in this country, but in Europe."
Jill Stein
“A large minority of people still confuse his arrogance for strength, his false bravado for accomplishment, and his superficial interest in them for charisma.”
Mary L. Trump
"He went back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole… or that he’s America’s Hitler.”
A former classmate of JD Vance
“Donald today is much as he was at three years old: incapable of growing, learning, or evolving, unable to regulate his emotions, moderate his responses, or take in and synthesise information.”
Mary L. Trump
“What he’s been saying is really totally crazy, ridiculous … he is totally nuts.”
Robert De Niro
For probably the best takedown of Donald Trump, at least from a British perspective –though this rang many bells in the US as well – I'll leave you to this superb essay by Nate White, written in February 2019, and first published in The Times
Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?
A few things spring to mind. Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem. For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed. So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.
Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever. I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman. But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.
Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers. And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults – he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.
There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface. Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront. Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul. And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist. Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that. He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat. He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.
And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully. That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead. There are unspoken rules to this stuff – the Queensberry rules of basic decency – and he breaks them all. He punches downwards – which a gentleman should, would, could never do – and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless – and he kicks them when they are down.
So the fact that a significant minority – perhaps a third – of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think ‘Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of
some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are. You don’t need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.
This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss. After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum. God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid. He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart. In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws – he would make a Trump.
And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish: ‘My God… what… have… I… created?’ If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set.”
AN UNHURRIED HUSTLE
Hustle House, founded in 2019 by Carolyn Cresswell and Fiona Allen, seeks to ‘enable people to discover, nurture and develop their untapped potential.’
Millie Green at MDHUB met with them, and the company's People Development Consultant, Liv McQuillan, to hear their story
The leadership development industry is a busy one. Still, Hustle House, celebrating its fifth anniversary, stands out from the crowd as 'the home of kick-ass leadership development.'
Hustle House’s growth has been purposefully slow and steady meeting the demands of its clients. Carolyn and Fiona knew quite early on that they wanted to surround themselves with similar people and build up the team. They also knew they would need to expand and curate a team of people with different skills, different backgrounds and different perspectives to deliver the very best training.
“It’s not easy to articulate what makes ‘a Hustle House person,’” Carolyn comments, “but key to us is finding people who match our style and approach; people who can deliver quality work with warmth, smartness and humour.” It is always important for Fiona and Carolyn to see people deliver training as this is at the core of their business. It has helped them to curate their team of associates and, more recently, appoint their first full-time hire, Liv.
Fiona found the thought of hiring someone full-time a bit daunting. “I realised we were going to be responsible for someone's livelihood - and that creates new pressure to make the business successful.”
Fiona and Carolyn invested in a recruitment agency to ensure they found the right person. Through the search, they found Liv. As Fiona put it, “A duo is great, but three is a bit of a magic number. It was a risk that we were ready to take, and we were delighted that we did. Liv’s
❛❛ We know the positive impact investing in people can have, not just on the individual themselves, but on overall business performance. So we want to equip and empower leaders, managers and teams with the skills and mindset they need to create high-performing and engaging environments that people love to work in. ❜❜
a phenomenal addition to the team, and I think, if anything, we wish we’d probably done it sooner.”
Hustle House is currently an entirely female organisation. This is not by design; it has just worked out that way as it recruited each associate. While Carolyn and Fiona initially worried this might restrict its client base, the organisation doesn’t solely attract all-women teams.
Fiona explained that a lot of their work is with corporate senior individuals. Often there are a lot of men who are on the executive team, and the reason they've decided to pick Hustle House is because the company is quite different to them and the way that it operates as a business. The client feels like they want something that might challenge them.
Many of Hustle House’s clients are wellknown, blue-chip organisations like GoCardless, Carers Trust and Informa. When asked about working with these big names, Carolyn admitted, “I feel we had a bit less fear in the early days. I think getting those early wins on the board, we were like, ‘yeah, we can do this.’”
Now it’s an established organisation, the pressure is greater but, as Fiona highlights, the priority is ensuring that whoever Hustle House is working with aligns with its values. They're committed and willing, and want to invest in their people. “A recognisable logo, while nice to put on the website, does not guarantee a good client relationship,” she concludes.
When Hustle House began operating in 2019, it had an exciting and successful first six months. Then the Covid-19 pandemic swept away its client base.
Carolyn and Fiona held tight and used their time to network and build the brand, using the shift to online to expand their client base beyond the UK.
Following a flurry of successful years, the pair decided the time was right to get external guidance to support their growth. It was at this point that a personal contact recommended MDHUB, and they began coaching with MDHUB’s Managing Director, Fi Shafer.
“We needed some accountability and a different voice. There's the voice of associates or an employee, but we also needed someone who's been there and
done that and can say, have you thought about this or that.” Carolyn comments.
As well as providing a sounding board, MDHUB has helped Carolyn and Fiona to prioritise their wellbeing within their business plan. While they knew that their own health was essential to running the business, they felt that someone telling them that every month was important.
Carolyn continues, “Fi Shafer has helped us to be kinder to ourselves, knowing that we need rest and we sometimes need to step back. If we want to show up as our best selves, we need to be able to switch off as well.” This focus on wellbeing has filtered down into Hustle House itself. Liv acts as the organisation’s wellbeing guardian, writing newsletters for the team and ensuring that personal health isn’t de-prioritised.
WHAT’S
NEXT FOR HUSTLE HOUSE?
At the start of the year, Hustle House decided that 2024 was going to be the year of experimenting. This led to the launch of its first open programme “The Leader as Coach,” a blended learning experience across six to eight weeks, focussed on supporting individuals to harness the skill of coaching to become better leaders and managers.
“We’ve brought people from different businesses together to enable a cross-pollination of ideas, experiences and learning. It’s been very exciting and we can’t wait to continue building it into a flagship programme for us.”
Everyone at MDHUB is excited to watch Hustle House’s journey unfold as its dynamic business team shifts with its growing experience and expertise.
https://hustlehouse.co/
www.mdhub.co.uk
Email MDHUB Directors: Fiona Shafer: fiona@mdhub.co.uk or Phil Green: phil.green@mdhub.co.uk
❛❛ Hustle House is currently an entirely female organisation. This is not by design; it just worked out that way ❜❜
L-R: Carolyn Cresswell, Fiona Allen, Liv McQullian
Plus X Innovation provides hands-on support and a powerful ecosystem to help founders innovate and accelerate hundreds of innovative products and services each year.
By Natasha Kingdon
MVP TESTING: How
to validate your business idea without breaking the bank
A successful business doesn’t just come from a great product, a successful business comes from delivering the kind of product that the market is hungry for.
However, many startups and founders begin with their own idea and simply focus on building the product that is in their head. They spend time and money trying to perfect the product without considering the needs of the customer they actually want to sell to. When they launch, and the demand isn’t there, it often transpires they never spoke to their ideal customers to understand if the product or service is something that was in demand.
If you don’t validate your business idea before committing, you end up running the risk of failing and wasting
WHAT DOES MVP MEAN?
significant resources - be that time, money, or effort.
So how do you know what the market is hungry for? How can you refine your offer so that you know it is more likely to be profitable and in demand? And how can you do it without breaking the bank?
ENTER THE LEAN STARTUP METHODOLOGY
A core part of the lean startup methodology, a tried and tested set of tools and processes used by successful founders across the globe, is the MVP.
MVP testing can drastically reduce the risk that comes alongside starting a business, and can help founders validate their ideas quickly and cost-effectively.
MVP stands for Minimum Viable Product. Think of it as a stripped-back version of the product that allows you to collect as much insight into your target audience as possible, with minimal cost and effort.
The purpose of an MVP is to test the idea or concept with real users, using only minimal investment to gather valuable insights and learnings about the customers and the market. This helps to validate any assumptions, refine your product, and gauge market demand - without the high costs to the founder.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO MVP TESTING?
There are many benefits to MVP testing. The key one for founders is being able to test a new idea without high cost. You can fail fast, but with less risk, and save a lot of money in the long run by avoiding the cost of failure, as well as high consultancy fees.
You can get fast, validated feedback from real users that will help improve your product and help you identify, with data, where pivoting in the development process would be more helpful.
HOW DO YOU BUILD AN EFFECTIVE MVP?
1. Identify the core problem your product is solving
Clearly identifying the core problem or pain point that your target audience is experiencing is critical. By honing in to this problem, you ensure that your product is addressing a genuine need in the market which, in turn, will also help you to communicate the value of your product to potential users and investors.
2. Develop a simple prototype or mockup
Being able to give a visual version of your product is invaluable for allowing potential users, investors, and team members to see what you’re envisioning and provide feedback based on something tangible. This step helps
❛❛
validate the concept and identify potential issues before investing in full development.
3. Set your MVP’s success metrics
To measure the effectiveness of your MVP, it’s crucial to set clear, measurable goals. These metrics will help you determine whether your MVP is resonating with your target audience and if your business idea has potential.
4. Get out there and test with your target audience
Getting out into the ‘wild’ and testing the waters with your target audience will provide you with critical insights into product demand, identify improvements, as well as validating any assumptions. This will ultimately help you to understand the viability of your idea and clarify your product-market fit.
WHAT’S YOUR NEXT STEP?
MVP testing helps the founder make informed decisions on their idea, without breaking the bank. By taking these first steps to creating your own effective MVP, you too could benefit from understanding market demand, customer needs, and scalability potential.
The lean startup methodology, customer discovery, and MVP testing is at the heart of the latest innovation programme at Plus X Innovation - Stage-One Pre-Accelerator, starting this September. Plus X provides the tools and support you need to drive innovation and growth, and help you with the first steps in your journey as a business founder.
Check out our website for more opportunities and innovation programmes that are designed to help you start and scale your business:
www.plusxinnovation.com/ programmes
By James Hopkirk, Restructuring Partner, Kreston Reeves
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO WIND DOWN A SOLVENT BUSINESS?
The trading conditions for ownermanaged businesses in the UK over the past four to five years have been amongst the most challenging ever seen. From the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, the Covid pandemic followed by soaring inflation, increased costs, a cost-of-living crisis and a stuttering economy, business owners have found it tough.
Many business owners will have seen trading conditions fail to return to pre-pandemic levels. Some industry sectors, notably retail and hospitality, have found it particularly hard, and that has a knock-on effect with numerous suppliers sharing that pain.
What can a business owner do if growth is not there, and the business is contracting? What are the trigger points
that might indicate that it is time to call it a day and wind down the business? And what exit strategies are available to a solvent business where a trade sale might not be an option?
TRIGGER POINTS OF BUSINESS CLOSURE
It is rarely an obvious or easy decision to decide that it is time to call it a day and wind down a business. It is also a process that cannot happen overnight, sometimes taking months – if not longer.
Whilst some business owners will instinctively know when the time is right to close up shop, for others it is often a slow realisation accompanied by several trigger points. These might include:
Falling sales. A temporary blip in sales is unlikely to be a significant worry, but
❛❛ Ideally, a business will have a pre-agreed exit strategy in place, but if this is not the case taking advice early from a restructuring specialist can make a huge difference ❜❜
when sales continue to fall and with little or no sign of their return, that should be a call to action.
Lease renewals. Landlords rarely seek the 20 or 25-year lease that was commonplace just a few years ago but will look for a five or possibly ten-year commitment. Is that a commitment you wish to make? Is it a commitment the business can afford?
Personal guarantees. Is your landlord, or are your other creditors, asking for personal guarantees, and are you reluctant to provide them?
CLOSING A LIMITED COMPANY
Winding down a business is not as straightforward as walking out the door and leaving a key with the landlord. It can take many months and sometimes longer. Business owners will need to consider the following:
Existing contracts. A business owner will need to consider any existing contracts it might have in place to supply goods or services. Most
business owners will not want to leave long-standing clients or customers in the lurch, but exiting those contracts may trigger penalties. It is often sensible to work towards a timeline to wind the business down when those contracts are up for renewal.
Redundancies. Most businesses will, at some point in their history, have had to make individuals redundant. It is never an easy thing to do. Business owners need to ask whether there is enough cash in the business to meet immediate and future redundancies.
Lease break clauses. Where a long lease remains, check for break clauses and the requirements to trigger any break.
Lease dilapidations . Exiting a lease may trigger dilapidation obligations, meaning the occupier must return the building to the condition in which it was first occupied. For some businesses that may have occupied a building for many years, and often decades, that can represent a significant expense. Does the business have the reserves to meet that obligation?
Finally, consider trading conditions. If trading is largely seasonal, it will make sense to see out that seasonal spike providing the funds needed to meet outstanding financial obligations.
USE A RESTRUCTURING SPECIALIST TO CLOSE YOUR BUSINESS
Running a business is for many individuals deeply personal, with a commitment made over years if not decades recognising that a business is struggling is challenging and never easy.
Ideally, a business will have a pre-agreed exit strategy in place, but if this is not the case taking advice early from a restructuring specialist can make a huge difference. They can help a business owner recognise and realise the value in the business. They can in some instances provide a pathway back to profitability. And, importantly, they can help you wind down and close the business in an orderly way, avoiding formal insolvency procedures.
Kreston Reeves LLP is a full-service accountancy and advisory practice
which can provide you with assistance throughout the process of formalising a business exit strategy and/or beginning a wind down to ensure that you maximise the ultimate return for the shareholders. Depending on the circumstances, this might include tax advice, negotiations with landlords or other potential creditors, assistance with managing communications with employees and dealing with the formal solvent wind down process if that is the most appropriate method of ultimately dissolving the company.
Business
Businessperson
Company
Creative
Employer
Gamechanger
International
Medium
Professional
Future
Small
Supporting businesses in Crawley
To mark Help to Grow: Management business course coming back to Crawley, we are celebrating other business support in the area
Manor Royal Business Improvement District (BID) is hugely important to the companies and businesses based there and works hard to promote and improve the area.
A BID is a defined geographical area, within which local businesses collaborate to invest in projects, services and initiatives that improve the environment in which they work. A BID is funded by businesses and organisations in the defined area, through an annual levy. Set up in 2013 Manor Royal is the UK’s largest industrial BID.
Manor Royal was originally named by Princess Elizabeth, who went on to
❛❛ Manor Royal BID has leveraged literally millions of pounds of new investment into the area by working with Government and Local Authorities. ❜❜
Steve Sawyer, Executive Director, Manor Royal BID
become Queen Elizabeth II, in 1950. There are almost 700 companies based there who collectively employ around 25,000 people. Despite representing just a fraction of the town’s landmass, Manor Royal accounts for approximately 25% of all Crawley jobs and over 60% of all of the town’s commercial floorspace.
The business mix is very diverse with everything from small printers, to car showrooms, a kidney dialysis centre, corporate office HQs and leading global medical companies. Aviation and pilot training is well-represented, alongside healthcare companies and transport and logistics.
Manor Royal also has one of the densest concentrations of commerce and, through the BID, is a self-sufficient, supported community of businesses with the ability to work together to effect change for the benefit of the companies and their staff. Just some of the improvements that Investment by the BID and its partners has funded are improved broadband, junction improvements, new facilities and outdoor spaces, area-wide security camera systems, new green spaces, additional security and maintenance, a dedicated events programme, free and discounted services.
“Manor Royal BID has leveraged literally millions of pounds of new investment into the area by working with Government and Local Authorities,” comments Steve Sawyer, Manor Royal BID.
Find out more about Manor Royal and the BID www.manorroyal.org
www.brighton.ac.uk/helptogrow
WHAT IS HELP TO GROW?
Help To Grow is a 12-week business training course for senior leaders run by experts at the University of Brighton is returning to Crawley in November to help businesses in the local area to grow.
The programme is taught face-to-face and online and includes your own one-to-one mentor to assist you in producing your own growth plan.
Modules on the programme include strategy, marketing, digital adoption, vision and values, leading change and winning new markets.
l 90% Government funded
l For leaders in businesses with five-249 staff
l Mini MBA style content
l Become a better leader
l Time away from work to invest in your business
l Networking with other local businesses
l Over 200 business leaders taken the course so far
❛❛ The advice has been easy to apply to my own business. I am making changes around AI marketing, lead generation, data, segmentation and several people initiatives. Do Help to Grow no matter what the size and shape of your business – you will learn so much. ❜❜
Emma Cleary, Flexibility Matters
To book your 50% discounted space in Crawley or Brighton sign up now quoting PLATINUM50 under other when asked where you heard about Help to Grow.
Email helptogrow@brighton.ac.uk if you have any questions.
Debbie Venn Rebecca Thornley-Gibson
By Debbie Venn and Rebecca Thornley-Gibson, DMH Stallard
LEADERSHIP MUST PRIORITISE MODERN SLAVERY
A call to action for businesses
Modern slavery is a critical issue that impacts millions globally, manifesting in forms such as forced labour, debt bondage, human trafficking, and child exploitation. In 2021, an estimated 50 million people were subjected to modern slavery, a stark increase from prior years.
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for business owners to take decisive action against modern slavery within their operations and supply chains. By demonstrating effective leadership and implementing strategic measures, businesses can play a pivotal role in combating this growing concern.
UNDERSTANDING MODERN SLAVERY
Modern slavery encompasses a range of exploitative practices that deprive individuals of their freedom and dignity. These practices include:
• Forced labour: Compelling individuals to work against their will under threat or coercion.
• Debt bondage: Forcing individuals to work to repay debts that are often impossible to settle.
• Human trafficking: Exploiting individuals through coercion, abduction, or fraud for labour or sexual purposes.
• Exploitation of children: Using children for labour, often in hazardous conditions, depriving them of their childhood and education.
Increasing scrutiny from legislators and stakeholders globally demands that organisations take concrete steps to address modern slavery. Legislation mandates organisations to report on their efforts to prevent slavery in their operations and supply chains but, notwithstanding legislative requirements, it is imperative for organisations to act responsibly and ethically in demonstrating their commitment to social responsibility.
LEADERSHIP’S ROLE IN COMBATING MODERN SLAVERY
Leadership plays a pivotal role in the fight against modern slavery. By prioritising this issue, leaders can set the tone for the entire organisation, fostering a culture of awareness and proactive engagement. Key strategies for leadership to effectively address modern slavery include:
❛❛ Modern slavery encompasses a range of exploitative practices that deprive individuals of their freedom and dignity ❜❜
• Implementing policies and procedures: Leadership must establish comprehensive policies and procedures to prevent and address modern slavery. This includes conducting thorough risk assessments, due diligence, and continuous monitoring to identify and mitigate risks. Clear policies should outline the organisation’s stance on modern slavery and the steps to be taken when potential cases are identified.
• Training and awareness programmes: Educating employees at all levels about the signs of modern slavery and how to
respond appropriately is crucial. Training programmes should be implemented to ensure that staff can recognise indicators such as dishevelled appearance, fear of eye contact, and other abnormal behaviours. Employees should be informed about reporting mechanisms and the importance of taking immediate action if they suspect exploitation.
• Engaging stakeholders: Leadership should actively engage with stakeholders, including customers, suppliers and partners to promote transparency and collaboration. Building strong relationships with suppliers and setting clear expectations regarding ethical practices can help ensure compliance throughout the supply chain. Regular communication and collaborative efforts are essential in fostering a culture of accountability and ethical business practices.
PRACTICAL STEPS FOR BUSINESSES
To effectively combat modern slavery, organisations should take the following practical steps:
• Conduct thorough due diligence: Organisations must perform rigorous due diligence on their supply chains. This includes financial checks, assessing operational practices, and understanding suppliers’ capacity to address modern slavery risks. Regular audits and assessments help identify vulnerabilities and areas requiring improvement.
Upcoming conference on Modern Slavery with Ardea International and DMH Stallard
We will be co-hosting a modern slavery conference with Ardea International in November 2024 at DMH Stallard’s London offices. The conference will look at the issues around modern slavery and forced labour risk and provide practical solutions to these risks for organisations. This will be a unique platform for thought leaders, industry experts, and change-makers to converge, exchange ideas, and collectively take strides in de-risking their organisations.
For more information please visit the Ardea event page –www.ardeainternational.com/education/modern-slavery-conference-2024
❛❛ Leadership plays a pivotal role in the fight against modern slavery ❜❜
• Monitor and review supply chains: Continuous monitoring of supply chains, including subcontractors, is essential. Organisations should implement clear contracts and codes of conduct, requiring suppliers to seek approval before subcontracting and ensuring compliance with modern slavery regulations. Regular reviews and audits help maintain control and accountability.
• Foster a strong ethical culture: A strong ethical culture, driven by leadership, is vital for addressing modern slavery. Leaders should demonstrate a commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making. Embedding these values within the organisation creates an environment where employees feel empowered to report concerns and uphold ethical standards.
• Leverage technology: Utilising technology to track and measure diversity and ethical metrics can enhance efforts to combat modern slavery. Tools and platforms can help organisations identify areas for improvement, ensure compliance, and hold themselves accountable for progress.
• Prioritise collaboration and communication: Collaboration across departments, including procurement, HR and compliance, is key to addressing modern slavery risks. By fostering open communication and sharing information, organisations can ensure that ethical practices are upheld throughout the supply chain.
CONCLUSION: TAKING PROACTIVE STEPS
Modern slavery demands immediate attention and action from organisations worldwide. Leadership must prioritise this issue by implementing robust policies and procedures; training employees; and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. By conducting due diligence, continuously monitoring supply chains, and engaging stakeholders, organisations can demonstrate their commitment to ethical business practices.
Addressing modern slavery is not only a legal and ethical imperative but also a strategic business priority. By taking proactive steps, businesses can contribute to reducing risks of exploitation and abuse, ensuring that all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. In doing so, organisations not only protect their reputation but also build a sustainable and socially responsible future. Our recent podcast discussion on this topic might be of interest to readers and is available to download.
www.dmhstallard.com
Pete Fitzboydon has been CEO of Sussex Cricket since February 2024. In that time, the fortunes of the team on the pitch have turned for the better in the County Championship. The club also finds itself in the quarter-final of of the Vitality Blast T20.
Maarten Hoffmann sat down with Pete to discuss life and work at such a cherished sporting institution
THE BIG INTERVIEW CEO, Sussex Cricket PETE FITZBOYDON
Maarten Hoffmann: I understand you used to be a spectator at Sussex a few years back. What are your memories of watching Sussex?
Peter Fitzboydon: Indeed, I was a regular at Hove from the late 2000s, when I was living locally in (ahem!) Kent. Little did I realise the significance of both that era of the men’s team, nor that I would be writing about it a decade or so later as the CEO! My abiding memory was not necessarily about the cricket itself, but the unique and welcoming ‘feel’ that Hove has. This is something that has endured, and we need to work hard to make sure we keep it as we work to evolve Sussex Cricket for future generations.
I actually grew up near Bath and my cricket-mad uncle took me as a tenyear-old to my first every County match to watch Somerset vs Kent at the Bath Recreation Ground. Bath was an outground where they ran a festival every year. This was a team with the alltime legends of Richards, Garner and Botham (rested for this match) and it inspired a lifelong love of the game. As a related aside, my own experience means I am keen to make professional cricket accessible to as many people in Sussex as possible, both through mak-
ing it easier to come to the 1st Central County Ground, as well as working to return some matches to our outgrounds.
MH: Previously, you were interim CEO of Cricket Scotland. What do you see as the main differences between that role and Sussex, apart from geography?
PF: Despite being a lifelong cricket fan and working in the sports industry for over 20 years, Cricket Scotland was my first time working in the sport. While the CEO job title may have been the same at both Cricket Scotland and Sussex Cricket, the situation could not be more different.
I flew up to take over Cricket Scotland with just two days’ notice, and headlong into a major crisis. A report had been published a few months before outlining the organisation as institutionally racist, with over 50 cases of alleged racism still to be looked into. The media, government, cricket community and both racism accusers and
accused were understandably pushing for answers.
Despite being the biggest challenge of my career bar none, I hold it up as perhaps my proudest career achievement, having led Cricket Scotland through the crisis to a place of stability despite what felt like daily ‘bumps in the road’. I will also always be grateful for the warm welcome from Scottish cricket – despite my Englishness – and for giving me exposure to the sport I love in a global setting.
Sussex Cricket, by comparison, is a lot simpler! There are challenges, of course, but we are starting from a place of relative stability. Doing nothing is not an option; we need to evolve to stay relevant and improve our financial footing to ensure we are still here for future generations of cricketers and Sussex supporters. But we are building on firm foundations, with positive results on the field helping to reinforce the sense of a new era for Sussex Cricket.
❛❛ I flew up to take over Cricket Scotland with just two days’ notice, and headlong into a major crisis... ❜❜
❛❛ I have been taken aback by how welcoming everyone has been, and that there is a fair bit of consensus on the way forward ❜❜
MH: Now your feet are under the table, what are the three top items on your ‘to do’ list?
PF: It was my very first day in the role when I realised the level of responsibility of the position. My name had been added to the honours board in the pavilion as the 35th CEO (Secretary as was) of Sussex Cricket; a list that dates back to 1838.
I see the CEO role as that of a trusted guardian, to nurture and pass on the institution in a better condition than you took it on. This is one of the reasons why I have spent the first few months listening to as many people as possible, and I am sure many supporters will have seen me walking around the ground to try to seek out anyone happy to share their stories and their views. I certainly get my 10,000 steps in on match days!
I have been taken aback by how welcoming everyone has been, and my summary of hundreds of conversations is that there is a fair bit of consensus on the way forward. Not everyone loves the same format of the game; not everyone agrees on the ‘whys and wherefores’ recent history; and not everyone watches for the same reasons.
But there’s a shared passion for Sussex Cricket where we want to get – back to the top of the sport for all of our teams and to grow the popularity of the sport at all levels in Sussex. Paul Farbrace and the wider coaching team are doing a fantastic job on the field, and I see my role as leading the organisation and enhancing our offfield performance to give them the resources and environment to flourish.
For me, there are three closely related priorities to help this happen:
A New Long-Term Strategy – an ambitious and exciting vision for Sussex Cricket, agreed upon by everyone, that gives everyone something to work towards whether it is staff,
supporters, sponsors or volunteers. This will bring together all parts of Sussex Cricket: the inspiring work of the Foundation; the outstanding league structure; the player development pathway; and the more visible elements of the elite end of the game; into one cohesive and joined-up strategy.
A slick and effective organisation – I have been taken aback by the dedication, knowledge and know-how of the staff team who make everything happen behind the scenes. But the lean and challenging financial times have had an effect, and it is remarkable how few people there are running things ‘behind the curtain’.
They need my support in developing an organisation with enough resources to deliver the ambitious strategy I’ve already mentioned. This isn’t simply a case of ‘throwing people and money at it’, as we also need to embed a new cul -
facilities, our squads and future player pathway. And what is more, I do not think it is right to continually ask our dedicated fans and members to foot the bill. This is why we need to think more creatively to increase our income, grow commercial income and use our Hove home better outside of match days.
MH: How much of a battle will it be to return the team to the first division of the County Championship?
Talking to our members and fans of the men’s team, a return to the top echelon of red ball cricket is everyone’s number-one wish, and that is what we have set out to do.
Paul Farbrace – and his team – have changed the mentality and culture into that of a winning team, and that is showing on the pitch. It is looking great so far, but there’s still work to do to finish the season as we started and return to where Sussex belongs.
We have a talented team, with a core of young talented cricketers. This is why we are already thinking beyond this year and have managed to sign many of our players on longer-term contracts, as we see them as central to a successful new era at Sussex Cricket. This is a testament to the culture the
coaching team have fostered, as the players want to stay and can see it is the place they can develop and flourish as a player.
MH: Women’s cricket is now a very important part of the cricket calendar. What’s the future of the SCCC women’s team?
PF: Sussex has an incredible history and heritage in the women’s game, developing some of the biggest names in the sport, and the current team has continued in a similar vein. This is why we were particularly disappointed to not be included in the top level (Tier 1) of women’s cricket in the new restructure of the women’s game, despite what we felt was an exceptional bid.
That said, being awarded Tier 2 status – and the resources it brings from the ECB – will still help bring about a step change for our women’s team. While it won’t be the fully professional side we strive for, we will be able to recruit a staff team and help support the team's development to the next level. We are staying true to many of the commitments we made in our Tier 1 bid, most importantly committing to parity with our men’s team.
The first step was handing overall leadership to Paul Farbrace, as we looked to unlock all the support resources available to the men’s side. As a result, we’ll also be seeing more of our women’s team playing at The 1st Central County
❛❛ Paul Farbrace – and his team – has changed the mentality and culture into that of a winning team ❜❜
Tom Alsop, on his way to 84 against Gloucestershire earlier this year
The Sussex players celebrate taking a wicket against Middlesex in this year's Vitality Blast T20
Ground in Hove, as we seek to raise the team’s profile, dominate Tier 2 and secure Tier 1 status at the earliest opportunity.
MH: Do you believe T20 is key to establishing cricket in new markets and engaging younger fans?
PF: One of the beauties of cricket is there is something for everyone. For many, nothing can ever match the skill and tactical complexity of the longer format of the game; something from a personal perspective I concur with.
However, it’s clear that new audiences struggle to go straight to the ‘fine wine’ version of our game, and something simpler and shorter has proven to be more successful at attracting new fans. It's plain to see the immense popularity of the shorter formats of the game, as we routinely sell out our home Vitality Blast T20 fixtures, with far lower attendances at County Championship games.
When I walk around the ground during games, I see different people at each format, with T20 typically younger and from a wider variety of backgrounds and having been to several Hundred games this year it is breaking into audiences new to cricket.
What we need to embrace as fans is that we don’t need everyone to love every format of the game, but we do need to make sure we have something for everyone. This is the only way to ensure the long-term survival of all formats, and shorter formats such as T20, the Hundred and even T10 are proven to bring in new audiences to the game we all love.
MH: SCCC is going well this season in the Championship and looking for promotion but the quarter-final T20 in September makes for exciting times at the club. How do you plan to maximise this?
PF: The number one focus this year for the men’s team was gaining promotion in the County Championship. I wouldn’t say the team’s outstanding success in the Vitality Blast T20 was a surprise, given the talent in the squad, but it was a very welcome bonus to our primary goal. The atmosphere at The 1st Central County Ground has been immense this year and helped reinforce the feeling of a new era for Sussex Cricket.
❛❛ What we need to embrace as fans is that we don’t need everyone to love every format of the game, but we do need to make sure we have something for everyone ❜❜
The fact that we sold out the quarter-final weeks ago shows the effect the team’s success has had, with great support from the community. The challenge from here is making this level of success the norm and building our fan base.
We are investing a lot in the staff team to make sure we capitalise on the onfield success, getting into a positive cycle of growth rather than the slightly stagnated picture I saw when I took over. On-field success does not guarantee off-field commercial growth – nor vice versa – but in the well-run organisation we are developing I am confident that the two will live off each other and help the club reach new heights.
MH: SCCC, like everyone else, has had to diversify in a myriad of inventive ways, to become a 365-day-a-year business. What is the board’s strategy to ensure financial stability for Sussex?
PF: Strangely, some of the opportunities I get most excited about have nothing to do with cricket. This may sound slightly perverse given my love of the sport, but we own an exceptional venue right in the middle of a fantastic community and have untapped potential to gain valuable income to invest back into cricket. Crucially for me, that means not asking our devoted fans for more and more money to support cricket, instead looking further afield.
We already hold many events that are really valued by the community, not least the annual fireworks display but also concerts, having welcomed music legends such as Sir Elton John, Lionel Richie, Michael Bublé, The Who and Sir Rod Stewart among many others.
Covid has hit the music industry and the viability of venues such as ours, but we are working very hard behind the scenes to bring concerts back to The 1st Central County ground, while also creating new high-quality events for our community all year round. Watch this space!
Cricket meets football #1: Sid the Shark with Gully at Hove
MH: Brighton & Hove now has a successful Premier League football club. Have you established a working relationship with them since starting your new role with SCCC?
PF: These links with the Albion go back way before I started work here. Our respective Foundations enjoy an outstanding partnership to help use the power of sport to benefit our communities.
I am sure many people will be aware of the existing ground development Master Plan. Phase One of Four is already complete which has provided a new pub, 37 new homes and three commercial offices, one of which is a new dental practice.
The next phases are critical to the longterm financial security of Sussex Cricket and we only get one shot at it. This is
why I am carrying out a final review to make sure the plans are optimal, both commercially and to make sure it will provide the new facilities that our local community wants.
However, we need to do all of this without losing what makes our Hove home so special; something I experienced from my first visits many years ago. Done right, the combination of new ground facilities and year-round community events can make Sussex Cricket sustainable for future generations; another reason why the ‘new era’ in our history is quite so exciting.
This partnership is beginning to grow into the commercial end of the organisations. I met with Paul Barber (Albion CEO) earlier this year – indeed I worked with him many years ago at The FA, when I was a fresh(er) faced Graduate Trainee – and we are keen for our teams to collaborate.
We are working in sports with big differences commercially, as I would dearly love to be able to make hundreds of millions from developing outstanding players! However, there are so many areas where we can work together to develop. Our staff teams are now getting to know each other, having recently established an annual Sussex Cricket vs Brighton & Hove Albion staff cricket match, hopefully followed by a football equivalent in the winter! Let’s see if we can get Jofra to open our staff team’s bowling attack…
❛❛ This partnership is beginning to grow into the commercial end of the organisations. I met with Paul Barber (Albion CEO) earlier this year, and we are keen for our teams to collaborate ❜❜
Where the magic happens: 1st Central County Ground, Hove – home to Sussex CCC for over 150 years
Cricket meets football #2: Albion's Jason Steele (left) and Solly March (green) meet with Jack Carson (2nd right) at the Sussex Sixes Club in Brighton
A unique opportunity to lease the final remaining office suite on the site of the home of Sussex Cricket in Hove is available immediately
MODERN OFFICES AVAILABLE FOR LEASE 1st Central County Ground
Two of the brand new three-storey office suites have already been handed over, with the final space available to be leased at once.
LOCATION
Positioned in the heart of Hove, the new office accommodation is situated at the main entrance to The 1st Central County Ground.
Hove has excellent transport links, with regular, direct train services to London Victoria (80 mins) and Gatwick (30 mins), as well as up to six trains per hour running to Worthing (16 mins), Portsmouth (60 mins) and Eastbourne (56 mins). The A27 and A23 are easily accessible by car and public transport links within the city are frequent and reliable.
FEATURES
n Excellent 3-storey new office / medical building (B1/D1 use)
n One of three floors available
n Located on a busy thoroughfare at the main entrance to the Sussex County Cricket Ground
n 3,443 sq ft (319m2)
n A total of 13 allocated on-site parking spaces (the Club reserves the right to reduce the parking spaces to four on match and event days)
n Contemporary, brand-new accommodation with a wide-aspect glass facade.
n Built to highly efficient, sustainable standards.
n A number of pay-and-display parking spaces available for customers within the vicinity of the site
n Part of the successful Phase One development comprises 37 residential apartments (all sold).
n Ground Floor public house/restaurant (pre-let) and a purpose-built 9,902 sq ft (920 m2) office building.
n Area to be further enhanced as part of a proposed master plan with purpose-built five-star conference facility and improved cricket facilities.
Joint agents Graves Jenkins and SHW have already completed two transactions on the site, with Act iii and Damira Dental taking up two of the three suites, located at the prestigious newly constructed Tate offices.
Phil Graves from Graves Jenkins commented: “it has been a success story for the scheme from the start with 37 residential units virtually sold off-plan, the public house leased to Indigo on a pre-let, and now the offices. The innovative design by ECE Architects and the quality of the build by Roffey Homes has made the scheme a great success and a delight to advise on throughout the project.”
Pete Fitzboydon, Chief Executive at Sussex Cricket added: “We have been delighted with the success of this scheme, with massive demand for the residential, public house and most recently, office spaces.
“This forms part of a wider modernisation of our historic Hove ground, to create a vibrant place to live, work and play all year around. We look forward to welcoming our final tenant over the coming months, to bring to a close a hugely successful phase of the development.”
If you are seeking high specification modern offices in Hove, please call Graves Jenkins on 01273 701070 or visit www.gravesjenkins.com
Established in 2004, the Brighton & Hove Business Awards (BAHBAs) are the most sought-after accolade by organisations from every sector in the City. It aims to celebrate the business community and support the local economy.
Previous winners of these awards include some of the city’s biggest and best loved names including Fatboy Slim, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, RocketMill, Gresham Blake, BrightonandHoveJobs, SpaBreaks, Rockwater, Bird & Blend Tea Co, Infinity Foods, Duke of York’s Picture House, Brighton Festival, Dockerills and Sussex University.
Sponsoring the awards offers a fantastic opportunity to position your brand alongside a well-established, prestigious, high-profile and comprehensively marketed event, forge contacts with other sponsors and meet the best businesses in the city.
The awards offer up to six months of intense marketing including significant support from the largest circulation regional business magazine in the UK, reaching 720,000 readers each month in addition to an engaging social media campaign and targeted direct emails.
Each sponsoring company puts forward the judge for their category, offering the opportunity to network with key influencers whilst enforcing your organisation’s
support for these all-important Awards and allowing you to achieve the following: to support the region’s business community, create awareness of your brand, widen your network for business development and creating new contacts and business leads throughout the region.
This 16th year of the BAHBAS is a must-attend exclusive ‘business event of the year’, bringing together hundreds of leaders in business, education and government along with VIPs and celebrities for one spectacular gala evening. They are the awards to win and the awards to promote your brand right across the South East.
KEY DATES
OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Monday September 30th
ENTRY DEADLINE
Wednesday January 8th
JUDGING
January 20th - February 14th
JUDGES’ MEETING
Tuesday February 25th
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Wednesday February 26th
CEREMONY Wednesday April 2nd
Sponsorship is a tremendous way to raise your company profile and support the local business community
LOCH ASSOCIATES
VENUE The magnificent St. Peters Church, Brighton
CATEGORIES
Large Business of the Year
SME Business of the Year
Future Talent of the Year
Best Customer Service Award
Best New Business Award
Retailer of the Year
Businessperson of the Year
Community Hero Award
Employer of the Year
Best Restaurant Award
Outstanding Brightonian
Professional Services Award
Diversity & Inclusion Award
Green Business of the Year
International Business of the Year
Property Business of the Year
Leisure and Tourism Excellence Award
Tech Excellence Award
Company of the Year
Celebrating 160 Years of THE GRAND BRIGHTON
The iconic Grand Hotel in Brighton is 160 years old – and we thought this deserved a celebration.
Opened on July 21st 1864 and revered as a feat of Victorian architectural brilliance, celebrated as the original Palace By The Sea. Designed by celebrated architect John Whichcord Jr., it had the first ‘vertical omnibus' outside of London - that’s a lift to you and I.
All set around the magnificent sweeping staircase, the 201 bedrooms have seen an array of moments in history – from ABBA getting ready to wow the world at the Eurovision Song Contest, to the birth of a royal baby, to the attempted murder of the entire UK government and so much more. It has also been featured in too many films and TV shows to mention.
The original site of the hotel was actually the old West Battery, which was installed in 1793 and had several cannons facing the sea, although they were never fired in anger. The hotel cost an whopping £100,000 to build (£15 million today) and used 3.5 million bricks, 12,560 cubic feet of York & Portland stone, 30 miles of flooring and 450 tons of wrought and cast iron and was the tallest building in Brighton.
Today, the Grand Brighton is one of the most spectacular hotels in Sussex with 201 newly-renovated bedrooms, a superb restaurant, the fabulous Empress Suite and a level of service unbeaten to this day. The hotel also has a magnificent advocate in the General Manager, Andrew Mosley who is as much a part of the building as John Whichcord Jr.
Happy Birthday!
By Paul Bates, MD, Cleankill Pest Control
Where are all the wasps?
You can probably count on one hand the number of wasps you have seen this summer, which is good news for people who have a phobia of wasps, but not such good news for pest controllers who usually benefit from the extra business wasp nest removals brings in.
Spheksophobia – the persistent fear of wasps - is one of the more common phobias. The word is derived from Greek spheco meaning wasps and phobos the ‘Greek God of fear’ or dread.
People with spheksophobia experience extreme panic attacks at the sight or even thought of wasps. As a result, they go into a “flight or fight” mode which is nature’s way of preparing the body for danger. The fear may become so severe that anxiety about being stung can cause people to cancel invitations to outside social events and to keep their doors and windows closed on warm days.
aggressive due to their craving for sweet substances. This happens when they stop feeding the wasp larvae and are basically jobless. While they are bringing food such as greenfly/aphids for the larvae to feed on, they get a sweet reward from the skin of the larvae. But once the larvae have hatched, they stop getting their sugary treats and start looking around for other sugary substances to fulfil their craving. This is when they become a real nuisance.”
them very efficient natural pest controllers for insect pests in gardens like caterpillars, aphids and weevils. Adult wasps may be hunters, but they don’t eat the meat themselves. They find nutrition from nectar in flowers and, in doing so, they carry pollen from flower to flower.
Many small pest control companies rely on income from wasp call-outs, and have seen their profits severely dented this year. Larger companies like Cleankill Pest Control that mainly focus on business-to-business and facilities management contracts have not been affected as much.
Cleankill Pest Control has seen call outs to deal with wasp nests drop in 2024 by over 50% compared to 2023.
Experts believe that the wet Spring may have been to blame as there were fewer aphids for wasps to feed on. Cleankill Managing Director Paul Bates reminds us “not to get too excited over wasp-free picnics this year” as over his 40-plus years as a pest controller, he has seen wasp populations fluctuate from year to year – and they are likely to quickly recover next year. “We had a similar situation in 2012, which was caused by a few different things coinciding such as wet weather and soft fruit crops failing.”
“Wasp behaviour changes in late summer and they become much more
Despite the bad press, wasps are very important pollinators and beneficial to our ecosystem. So, if their location is not likely to present any real risk to humans, then probably best to just leave them alone. However, if they are entering your home and especially if a family member is allergic to stings, then it’s wise to have the nest professionally dealt with.
Wasps are hunters, usually of other insects, because their offspring require meat to develop into adults. This makes
Paul added: “This year has been a real contrast with last year. It’s good news for people who are allergic to wasps, but I do feel sorry for the smaller companies, some of which might struggle to stay in business because of the low wasp numbers this year.
“If we start to get some hot conditions at the end of the summer then people will start to see more wasps appearing.”
Cleankill has been solving pest problems for commercial and domestic customers for more than 30 years. Using the most up-to-date pest-control techniques and technology, the company keeps its customers pest free and makes sure it is at the forefront of the industry when it comes to the use of pesticides and non-toxic pest control methodology.
THE SILENT SYNDROME
By Maarten Hoffmann
DISCLAIMER: All views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this publication
I speak on the subject of Imposter Syndrome quite often, and mainly to female audiences. Women often suffer from this silent assassin but l can assure you that as many men suffer from it as women. Men, however, are better at blagging their way through it.
Now new research shows that the tide of this syndrome has surged by 96%according to the YouGov poll, One in six people suffer from it, ranging from the odd negative thought to a debilitating and crippling lack of self-confidence.
I hear it all the time from women but rarely do men admit to it. I have certainly suffered from this over the years – and for absolutely no reason. It just seems to rise up and grab you by the throat, usually at surprising times. We need more men to talk about this as knowing you are not alone is one of the first steps to curing it.
It is not easy to cure this syndromeakin to telling a manic depressive to pull themselves together! But there are things you can do:
Some of the most common causes of imposter syndrome are:
• Overemphasis on criticism: Focusing excessively on criticism while downplaying positive feedback can reinforce feelings of inadequacy. The tendency to remember and magnify negative comments can contribute to the belief that one is not truly competent
• Comparisons to others: Constantly measuring one's achievements against others can create a feeling of inadequacy, as individuals may perceive their accomplishments as inferior when compared to their peers.
• Lack of recognition: When individuals don't receive sufficient acknowledgment for their efforts and accomplishments, they may doubt their abilities and feel like they are not truly deserving of their successes.
• Social media pressure: The polished versions of success showcased on social media can create a sense of inadequacy, as individuals compare
❛❛ Turning to a colleague or mentor who understands one's feeling of insecurity can be advantageous ❜❜
ANGER MANAGEMENT
their real lives to the carefully curated images and achievements presented by others, fostering feelings of impostor syndrome.
Five top tips to help those that are struggling with imposter syndrome
• Accept praise and know your worth: Don’t shy away from praise and compliments. Accept your achievements and, if need be, write them down. When you try to talk yourself out of feeling confident in your role, all the proof is on paper. Knowing your worth means allowing your work to speak for itself and letting others see it too.
• Stop thinking like an imposter : Learn to recognise self-defeating thought patterns and replace them with more positive affirmations. The only way to stop feeling like an imposter is to stop thinking of yourself as one.
• Don’t seek perfection: Stop believing that if you don’t excel at every facet of your job that you’re a failure at all of it. Facing challenges and losses is a key
part of growth, so recognise that you don’t have to be good at everything.
• Know you are not alone : Imposter syndrome tends to be the domain of overachievers, while underachievers tend to internalise less when faced with failure. If you’re constantly worried about not being good enough, chances are you’re in good company – most successful people constantly overanalyse themselves!
Imposter syndrome was first documented in high-achieving women in the 1970s. While imposter syndrome is still more prevalent among women, and specifically women of colour, men are also susceptible to developing this mindset.
Imposter syndrome can be closely related to perfectionism, in which people feel pressure to perform at their absolute best, 100% of the time, and when they don’t, they feel incompetent and anxious. It’s helpful, although difficult, for people to change the way they view perfection to combat imposter syndrome.
❛❛ One in six people suffer from it, ranging from the odd negative thought to a debilitating and crippling lack of self-confidence ❜❜
In certain situations, turning to a colleague or mentor who understands one's feeling of insecurity can be advantageous. But research suggests that reaching out to people outside of one's academic or professional circle may be a better tool to combat imposterism. Those individuals can put the person's concerns into context, recalibrate their perspective, and offer support and love.
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT YOUR CHILD FROM DEVELOPING IMPOSTER SYNDROME?
Two types of messages can spark imposter syndrome in children: constant criticism, which makes them feel like they’ll never be good enough, and universal, superlative praise (“You’re the smartest kid in the world!”), which instills high expectations and pressure. Parents can prevent imposter syndrome by praising effort not outcome, and by helping children realistically understand their strengths and weaknesses.
This syndrome is fixable and sufferers should take the steps above and begin the path to full confidence.
LAINSTON HOUSE WINCHESTER
Another gem in the exclusive collection
Tucked away in the serene countryside of Winchester you’ll find a country hotel redefining the perception of ‘manor house old and stuffy. By Tess de Klerk
The handsome Lainston House with its delightful staff breathes life and joy into this 17th century property. There’s an air of laid-back excitement at Lainston – an oxymoron, I know. But it’s hard to describe, perhaps it’s a sense of possibility, as their website says; the feeling that you can be yourself, relax and have an adventure, that Lainston is progressive and inclusive, all while maintaining utter luxury and the highest level of service.
ACCOMMODATION
During our stay, we were fortunate enough to experience the Heritage Family Junior Suite. This suite was lovely, combining classic design with spacious comfort and elegant furnishings that harkened back to the hotel’s storied past. We had a fantastic night’s
slumber! And you can expect the same from all rooms at Lainston. So often entry-level accommodation lets a hotel down but here all rooms maintain a high standard, offering guests a luxurious experience regardless of the room category.
WINE & DINE
Dining at The Avenue, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant under the guidance of Chef Tom Hamblet, winner of ‘MasterChef: The Professionals 2023’, was a highlight of our stay. We loved the view of the majestic lime tree avenue while learning of the fascinating history of past landlords from our most knowledgeable server.
And the food, of course! We began our meal with a fresh tomato, fermented
❛❛ The staff at Lainston House are not only attentive and friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable about the property and its history ❜❜
tomato, lovage and cheese snow starter, which showcased the simplicity and purity of fresh, seasonal ingredients. It was a vibrant dish that set the tone for what was to come. For the main courses, I had perfectly cooked turbot with fish mousse, potato, baby leek and caviar complementing the delicate flavour of the fish while my companion’s dish was a celebration of beef – fillet, cheek, tartare balanced with oyster mushroom, lovage and a near-burnt grelot onion providing a deep smoky, sweet flavour.
Dessert was a chocolate peanut creation that was the perfect blend of indulgence and sophistication. The combination of rich chocolate and crunchy peanuts created a dessert that was as satisfying to eat as it was to look at.
It’s worth noting that many of the ingredients used across Lainston House come directly from their own kitchen garden. This commitment to homegrown produce shines through in every dish, adding a fresh, local dimension to the dining experience.
For a more informal dining experience you should visit The Wellhouse. It has a rustic charm that’s hard to resist. Focused on wood-fired cooking and a relaxed atmosphere, making it the perfect
spot for a laid-back meal that still feels special.
EVENTS AND WEDDINGS
Lainston House is an ideal setting for weddings and events, offering a variety of beautiful spaces that can accommodate anything from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations. The venue’s charm lies in its versatility—whether you’re planning a romantic wedding or a corporate event, the hotel provides everything you need to make it a success. The MICE facilities are modern and well-equipped, ensuring that every event runs smoothly.
A standout feature of Lainston House is the Season Cookery School, where guests can participate in cooking classes led by expert chefs. The wellequipped school is housed in a charming converted wellhouse and offers a range of courses for all skill levels. It’s a wonderful way to engage with the culinary world, whether you’re looking to improve your skills or just have some fun.
SERVICE
The staff at Lainston House truly enhance the experience. They are not only attentive and friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable about the property and its history. It’s clear that they take
❛❛ We had a fantastic night’s slumber! And you can expect the same from all rooms at Lainston ❜❜
pride in their work and in the hotel itself, which adds a personal touch to the stay. Whether answering questions about the menu or offering insights into the history of the house, the staff go above and beyond to make guests feel welcome.
Lainston offers a modern, unstuffy take on the traditional country house hotel. With its blend of historic charm and contemporary comforts, it provides a serene and luxurious escape that is as welcoming as it is refined. Whether you’re there to dine, relax, or celebrate, it won’t disappoint. This is a place where tradition is respected but not bound by convention, making it a truly special destination.
GOOD TO KNOW
• There are bedrooms accessible for wheelchair users
• Family-friendly
• Pets are allowed (dog-friendly rooms at a fee of £40)
• Bed & breakfast is from £221 during September
• Lainston House is B-Corp certified meaning that they (as well as the Exclusive Collection group as a whole) meet the highest standards of social and environmental impact.
www.exclusive.co.uk/lainston-house
LAMBORGHINI URUS
URUS PERFORMANTE
❛❛ We should all look on with pride that the human race is capable of producing such automotive works of art. ❜❜
By Maarten Hoffmann, Platinum Motoring Editor
I reviewed the Urus a few years back –and then drove it again, in the snow, on a Lambo Drive trip in Denmark last year. Whilst in Copenhagen, the PR guys kept banging on about driving the Performante variant, so here we are, as the monster sits in my driveway.
I can hear you screaming “Ridiculous, who can afford a quarter-million pound car?” But that, ladies and gentlemen, is not the point. The point being that we should all look on with pride that the human race is capable of producing such automotive works of art. After all, very few of us went on Concorde, but who didn’t look up into the sky and say “Wow, look what we humans can do”?
I like the Urus and, as Lamborghini’s first SUV they have made a damn good fist of it. A 2,150kg / 2.5 ton supercar is no mean feat but it has been a stupendous success for the company, with 21,000 sold since its launch in 2018. The company is in the midst of a £1.8 billion investment programme, which will yield a Hybrid Aventador, a Huracan successor and, in 2028, the first fully electric Lamborghini – and the Urus is mainly responsible for this investment. So, back to the first question “Who can afford a quarter-million pound car?” Well, 21,000 people can!
So what are the changes? It sits 20mm lower than the standard Urus, and has a wider front and rear track, the eightspeed gearbox is far more aggressive. There is active torque vectoring and some aero revisions, such as the rear
PLATINUM
❛❛ What’s it like to drive? Well, it’s astonishing. The performance in just about every gear at all speeds is remarkable ❜❜
spoiler which generates 38% more downforce on the rear. The new Akrapovis sports exhaust gives you bass frequencies to die for. The overall weight reduction is 47kg and at this level of performance, every ounce helps.
The 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 has an increased output of 657bhp, with very hard working turbos, offering 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds, and a top speed of 190mph. In a high riding 2.5 ton SUV, this is deeply impressive and, if you don’t hang on and get ready for it, bloody terrifying. If you get the squits, the superb carbon ceramic brakes will haul you to a stop in quick time.
TECH STUFF
MODEL TESTED:
Lamborghini Urus Performante
ENGINE : 4.0-litre, V8 twin turbo
SPEED: 0-62 3.3 seconds
TOP: 190mph
ECONOMY: 20mpg
PRICE FROM: £209,000
❛❛The 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 offer 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds, and a top speed of 190mph. If you get the squits, the superb carbon ceramic brakes will haul you to a stop in quick time. ❜❜
Enough of the stats, what’s it like to drive? Well, it’s astonishing. The performance in just about every gear at all speeds is remarkable, with no dead zone in the acceleration thanks to those turbos slaving away and filling in any lag problems. It feels like it weighs ten ounces as, even in high speed corners, there is so little lean or roll that the temptation is to keep pushing – even with this mass. So l did. I pushed up to 160mph (off-road, of course!) and hit several sharpish corners with not a wobble, hardly a roll, and certainly no concern on my face. All l wanted to do was push on and on and on…
Then there is Rally Mode for when you find yourself off-road (as if) and Track mode - but as that turns off all driving aids, l thought better than using it as it is always nice to have the car in one piece when they come to collect it!
Inside, there are acres of Nero Cosmos black Alcantara, new seat trim and great bolstered seats. The 10.1-inch touchscreen is easy and responsive. There is a touch of overkill on the satnav screens - one on the dash, one on the 10.1-inch touchscreen, and one on the HUD display. The only annoying thing l
could find is the speed limit warning that flashes up on the dash and the HUD. l really do not need to be told every single time l go 2mph over the speed limit (mainly as l spent 99% of my time over that very frustrating limit).
It also has a huge boot that l had no interest in testing until two of my daughters announced they needed things for their new Uni houses – so off to IKEA we went. Normally, that is purgatory for me but the drive there and back picked me up. Then to see six boxes, a boxed wardrobe and various other items get swallowed up into the boot, l was very impressed. The long skinny wardrobe box wouldn’t fit at first, then l popped open the hole between the rear seats and hey presto, it slid through and the boot closed. Very impressive.
Then the Dynamic Motoring Editor, Fiona Shafer and l did a trip to the press day of the British Motor Show in Farnborough, and both agreed that we’d arrived in something more impressive than almost everything else on show.
So, you have £209,000 knocking around (entry price) and want a piece of automotive history, what’s the competition?
Only two really - the Aston Martin DBX 707 that l reviewed last month, and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT. The Porsche is blown away, therefore between the Urus or the Aston – and for my money, it’s the Urus Performante every time.
Now available to test drive at smart of Epsom.
Sometimes a trip is about the journey, sometimes the destination. Who you’re bringing, what you’re packing, where you’re headed: every day is different. So you need a car as flexible as you are.
With a maximum range of 273 miles for the #1 (WLTP)* and 283 miles for the #3 (WLTP)** and with a less-than-30-minute charging time^, you’ll always be quickly and confidently on your way back home, or off to your next adventure.
To
Women@Work
TRAVEL
Namibia –untamed beauty
Health data
Avoiding productivity monitoring
FEATURE
Business borrowing in an uncertain market
Alison Jones and David Pettit of Kreston Reeves offer the best advice as to when to borrow for your business, and what kind of loans you can take out 8
BIG
STORY
Kamala Harris
Now facing off against Donald Trump for the US Presidency, the current vice-President has it within her grasp to make history on many different levels
Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth.
Julie Andrews
WELLBEING
What is 'Health Data'?
And how is it used for research? There are many concerns over how our personal and medical data is used. Monica Fletcher reveals how this information is gathered and used
The growth in the number of women-owned businesses in the US over the past 20 years 114%
PLATINUM MEDIA GROUP
REGULARS
News
6 Upfront: The top international news stories involving women in business
20 In the Right Direction: Good news stories from around the world
Spotlight
24 Mia Bird
The journey of, among other things, the founder of BN1 Arts
25 Iris Jackson
The recipient of this year's Dynamic Businesswoman of the Year, and Director of OG Kicks
Wellbeing
28 SK:N
The abrupt closure of SK:N has left many patients in a difficult situation
32 Period mapping
Work with your body by menstrual cycle mapping
Further Reading
34 Caragh Medlicott is the coauthor of ‘The Focus Fix: Finding clarity, creativity and resilience in an overwhelming world’
Art Scene
36 Kellie Miller discusses the work of artist, Jessie Mooy
Fine Dining
46 Lunch at The Bull, Ditchling
What’s On
48 A brief snapshot of art and culture cross Sussex and Surrey
MOTORING
42 GIRL TORQUE: The British Motoring Show
Fiona Shafer visited Farnborough for this annual show. A few things raised her eyebrows, others less so. Read up on her day...
❛
❛ We are here, not because we are lawbreakers; we are here in our efforts to be law-makers.
Emmeline Pankhurat
TRAVEL
38 Namibia
Tess de Klerk explores a place where the desert meets the ocean, where ancient cultures thrive and nature always reigns supreme
HEAD OF DESIGN / SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk
EDITOR’S NOTE
A warm welcome to Dynamic.
This month we joyfully revisit Kamala Harris in our Big Story. She is a beacon of hope for diversity and inclusivity on the world stage and, crucially, another example of obstacles crumbling in the face of female power. We wish her success.
Success is very much a word we associate with both Iris Jackson and Mia Bird who feature in Spotlight this month; success achieved through grit and determination - in spite of the many hurdles they’ve faced.
Unfortunately, many women still face too many fundamental challenges in their careers, as laid out in this year’s Deloitte Women@Work Global Report on page 20, but the good news is that the number of leaders who focus on Gender Equality within the workplace is on the increase globally.
In Wellbeing, we explore period tracking as a way to empower us to live in alignment with the natural ebb and flow of our natural biorhythms, while Monica Fletcher explains the power of our health data in contributing to medical research.
As always, we bring you more. We present thought-provoking art from Kellie Miller’s gallery, inspirational travel all the way from Namibia this month, and plenty of ideas to fill your days and nights from across the South East.
The UK has become a “significantly more entrepreneurial society” in the 21st century with a marked increase in female entrepreneurship, a new Aston University report has shown. The latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) UK report, produced in partnership with NatWest, has analysed the past 25 years of economic activity in the UK as businesses navigate challenges from the credit crunch and financial crisis to Brexit and the pandemic.
The latest report shows nearly 30% of working-age individuals in 2023 intended to start a business within three years, were actively trying to start a business, or were running their own business.
EQUAL PAY VICTORY AT NEXT
More than 3,500 current and former workers at Next have won the final stage of a six-year legal battle for equal pay. An employment tribunal said store staff, who are predominantly women, should not have been paid at lower rates than employees in warehouses, where just over half the staff are male.
Lawyers for the shop staff described the judgement as “hugely significant” and the amount of back-pay owed could amount to more than £30m. However, Next said it would appeal against the ruling.
UPFRONT
THE LATEST BULLETINS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
EE ADVISES PARENTS NOT TO GIVE SMARTPHONES TO CHILDREN
One of the UK’s largest mobile network providers is advising parents not to give primary school-aged children their own smartphone. EE, which is owned by BT, said it aims to improve children’s “digital wellbeing” after receiving increasing requests for guidance from parents. It said that under-11s should be given “non-smart” devices that
have similar capabilities as old brick phones.
The recommendation - announced for the start of the new school yearcomes amid growing concern about the effects of smartphone and internet usage on children’s mental health and behaviour.
UK ENERGY PRICE CAP RISES
❛ ❛ Expect the unexpected, and whenever possible, be the unexpected
Lynda Berry
A typical household’s annual energy bill will rise by £149 in October under the new price cap. People using an average amount of gas and electricity will pay £1,717 a year, a 10% rise compared with now.
The cap, set by the energy regulator Ofgem, affects the price paid for each unit of gas and electricity used in 27 million homes in England, Wales and Scotland. Although prices are still lower than last winter, the rise in bills comes as some support for bills has been withdrawn, and the new government has announced it will halt winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners in England and Wales.
Plus ça change.
❛ ❛
EQUAL NUMER OF MALE AND FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS IN SCOTLAND
Women in Scotland have reached a “landmark moment” in business, with the number of female entrepreneurs matching the number of men for the first time. A report has found that women were starting and running new businesses at virtually the same rate as men last year. The global entrepreneurship monitor
People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it
Simon Sinek
WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS MORE CONFIDENT THAN MEN
After decades of research into empowering women in business, a PNC survey reveals that the number of women who feel confident in running their business outnumbers that of men. According to PNC’s most recent Economic Outlook Survey, women in the US are claiming to be more confident about running their businesses compared to men. Survey results showed that while 69% of women and 73 % of men were hopeful towards their business prospects when it comes to confidence towards running a business, women outranked men.
TRIBUTES TO JUDY BLOOMER
Tributes have been paid to the family of Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy following their deaths in the sinking of a Mike Lynch’s luxury yacht in Sicily. In a statement paying tribute to the couple, they said: “We are grieving for our loved ones and all of those affected by the tragedy.
“Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren. Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now.”
(GEM), an annual measure of entrepreneurship, found 8.6% of working-age women in Scotland were running or setting up a new business in 2023 compared with 9.8% of men, something the report describes as “statistical parity”. This compares with 7.2% of women and 10.5% of men in 2022.
BBC DRAGON NAMED AVON INSPIRATION OFFICER
Avon UK has named Sara Davies MBE, renowned entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor, as its new Chief Inspiration Officer.
The appointment aims to bolster efforts to help more women launch and grow their own businesses. Avon’s recent research reveals highlights that 33% of women feel the business landscape favours men, and 23% believe they have fewer opportunities compared to their male counterparts.
As Chief Inspiration Officer, Davies will host masterclasses and mentoring sessions to provide Avon Representatives (Reps) with the guidance and support needed to overcome these challenges.
By ALISON JONES, Partner and DAVID PETITT, Accounts Manager at Kreston Reeves
BUSINESS BORROWING IN AN UNCERTAIN MARKET
When is the right time for a business to borrow? It’s a question we’re regularly asked, and it’s not always easy to answer. This is especially difficult now with so many changes happening in the world this year including the election in the US, the ongoing situation with Ukraine and Russia as well as our own new government.
There is some way to go before the cost of borrowing returns to what many people would deem to be a ‘normal level’
to lend to businesses with a strong business plan that can demonstrate growth and opportunity.
Businesses have, until recently, been able to access relatively easy and affordable borrowing. However, since autumn 2022, the base interest rate has climbed, before reducing to 5% (August).
Whilst the drop in inflation has begun to filter through into interest rates, there is some way to go before the cost of borrowing returns to what many people would deem to be a ‘normal level’. There is also the uncertainty of the impact of the October Budget. All of which leaves businesses asking whether they should borrow now or wait and see the impact of all these factors.
BORROWING FOR GROWTH
Borrowing might at first be considered a high cost to the business, but considering borrowing through the lens of cost alone would be a mistake. Borrowing must be viewed through the lens of business opportunity. Businesses should always ask why they are borrowing and what will the cash injection be used for.
The most compelling reason for borrowing now is to fund an opportunity for growth. Where a business has identified a strategic or tactical opportunity that might give it a competitive edge, borrowing might be the most sensible and practical way to unlock growth. Lenders are still willing
The cost of borrowing needs to be factored into those plans. And those plans will need to include the opportunity cost of acting now against delaying, in the hope of falling interest rates. Businesses should ask whether opportunity value outweighs the opportunity cost.
Businesses need also to consider corporation tax. Interest on borrowing is tax deductible, reducing the amount of corporation tax paid.
BUSINESS CREDIT SCORE
It may surprise you to know that borrowing will help a business build a positive credit score, making it easier to access future borrowing should it be needed or if you need to expand trading facilities with your suppliers. Businesses with little or no credit score can find it tough to access affordable borrowing or to open new supplier accounts.
Credit scores are determined by the financial results of the company and certain behavioural traits. Do they, for example, file their financial statements on time? Do they pay suppliers within agreed payment terms? They are a valuable indicator of creditworthiness and can help a business make informed decisions around the financial relationship they wish to have with a particular business.
The most compelling reason for borrowing now is to fund an opportunity for growth
+ FUNDING OPTIONS
BOUNCE BACK LOANS
You may have taken out a Bounce Back Loan during Covid under the ‘pay as you grow’ scheme. You can now extend the loan term from six years to ten, at the same fixed interest rate of 2.5%.
There is also the option to take one six-month repayment holiday or reduce payments for six months by paying interest only (available up to three times during the term of your loan). In theory you can access all three of these options and any of these options could be useful for managing your cashflow.
THE GROWTH GUARANTEE SCHEME
The Growth Guarantee Scheme is the successor to the Recovery Loan Scheme. Launched in July, it is designed to support access to finance for UK smaller businesses (up to £45m turnover) as they look to invest and grow. A wide range of products are available, and this could include term loans, overdrafts and assetbased lending.
Finance up to £2m can be accessed via this scheme, and the lender is provided with a 70% governmentbacked guarantee. Businesses can use the finance for any legitimate business purpose – including managing cashflow and investment.
GETTING READY FOR BORROWING
If you are looking for new funding, refinancing existing facilities or would like to review your credit score, you are likely to need the following things in place:
• Latest set of full accounts
• Six months bank statements
• Latest management accounts
• Cashflow forecasts/budgets
• Business case explaining the business purpose and plan
There are also other funding options that you might want to consider as there are several grants available for all types of business and in some instances match funding is available for training.
CONCLUSIONS
Businesses should focus on maintaining stability, and perhaps wait for the outcome of the budget on October 30th to find out if their business or personal wealth might be affected by further tax changes. But don’t let yourself be too cautious and miss out on that golden opportunity.
To fully understand the lending landscape and the impact and opportunity borrowing might have for your business, please get in touch with Alison Jones, Partner or David Petitt, Accounts Manager:
Call: +44 (0)33 0124 1399
Email: alison.jones@krestonreeves.com or david.petitt@krestonreeves.com
Visit: www.krestonreeves.com
Vice-President KAMALA HARRIS
The highest ranking woman in US history
There is no hyperbole in that headline. Kamala Harris, in serving the past four years as vice-President of the United States of America, has achieved a status no woman in that country has ever done.
With the withdrawal of President Biden from the Presidential Election, she has now accepted the Democrat nomination, and faces off against Donald Trump, the former President who has no understanding of the word ‘defeat’. Nor an understanding of most other words.
Alan Wares re-visits Kamala Harris’ rise – from being voted in as vice-President of the US in 2020, to her leading the polls ahead of the 2024 election
In November 2020, Dynamic’s sister magazine, Platinum ran the rule over the vice-President-elect of the United States of America, Kamala Harris. It opened with the line, “Should many of the pundits be correct in the assertion that Biden will not see out the first four years, whether from age, illness or choice, Kamala Harris will make history in too many ways to count.”
Biden will indeed see out his first four years in office – just. However, on July 21st, he withdrew his candidacy for a second four years at the White House. His statements had drawn much criticism as they had been as largely indecipherable and error-strewn as anything mumbled by Donald Trump, the man he was supposed to be running against.
It was not a time for celebration – more one of relief. It also left the path open for vice-President Kamala Harris to take her shot at the top job. Although not exactly a coronation into that role, Kamala was, given the relative lack of time available, just about the only name who could have possibly replaced Biden on the Democrat ticket.
FOUR YEARS AGO
Kamala Harris savoured the moment she became the first woman, and the first black and Asian American, to be vice President-elect, with a very hearty laugh. The smile that greeted the nation on her investiture as vice-President went around the world in no time.
In a video posted to her social media, she shared the news with then-President-elect Joe Biden: “We did it, we did it, Joe. You’re going to be the next President of the United States!” Her words are about him but the history of the moment is hers.
A COLOURFUL WOMAN
“We know that, being descendants of enslaved people and people of colour coming out of colonisation, that we have a special role and having an education gives us a special position in society to help effect change,” she explains – it was a philosophy and a call to action that was part of the university experience Ms Harris lived.
She returned to address students at Howard in 2017 and took them on a journey from the Ferguson race protests of 2014 to the halls of Capitol Hill in just one sentence: “You students have joined the fight for justice - you protested. From the streets of
“She has always had that laugh, she has always had a sense of humour too, she had a sense of wit to get those points across.”
Just over a year previously, as the senator from California hoping to win the Democratic nomination for Presidency, she launched a potent attack on Joe Biden over race during a debate. Many thought it inflicted a serious blow on his ambitions. But by the end of the year, her campaign was dead and it was Mr Biden who returned the 56-year-old to the national spotlight by putting her on his ticket.
“It is a big reversal of fortune for Kamala Harris,” says Gil Duran, a communications director for Ms Harris in 2013 and who has critiqued her run for the presidential nomination.
“Many people didn’t think she had the discipline and focus to ascend to a position in the White House so quickly... although people knew she had ambition and star potential. It was always clear that she had the raw talent.” What she has demonstrated from the moment she took the national stage with her pitch for the presidency – is grit.
Four
years – and Biden’s time was up
Ferguson to the halls of the United States Congress, you have lived the words of James Baldwin, ‘There is never a time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment, the time is always now.’
But Ms Harris also operates with ease in predominantly white communities. Her early years included a brief period in Canada. When her mother took a job teaching at McGill University, Ms Harris and her younger sister Maya went with her, attending school in Montreal for five years.
Ms Harris says she’s always been comfortable with her identity and simply describes herself as an “American”.
She told the Washington Post in 2019, that politicians should not have to fit into compartments because of their colour or background. “My point was: I am who I am. I’m good with it. You might need to figure it out, but I’m fine with it,” she said. In 2014, Senator Harris married lawyer Doug Emhoff – now a fixture at her campaign stops – and became stepmother to his two children.
In 2019, she wrote an article for Elle magazine about the experience of becoming a stepmother and unveiled the name that would then come to dominate many headlines that followed.
“When Doug and I got married, Cole, Ella, and I agreed that we didn’t like the term ‘stepmom’. Instead, they came up with the name ‘Momala’.”
They were portrayed as the epitome of the modern American 'blended' family, an image the media took to and one that occupied many column inches about how we talk about female politicians.
In a bizarre twist, Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 Presidential Elections, the hitherto unheard-of JD Vance, offered up a critique that Harris is never going to be fit for Presidency due to her not being a mother. He chose to call her ‘a childless cat lady’ for good measure. This month’s Platinum Business Magazine highlights some equally vacuous statements from the Lunar twins
On becoming vice-President-elect, many argued she should also be seen and recognised as the descendant of another kind
of family and that is the inheritor of generations of black female activists.
But from the very earliest, as her friend Ms RosarioRichardson attests, she showed the skills that allowed her to be one of few women to break through barriers. “That is what attracted me to get her to join the debate team at Howard University, a fearlessness.”
AS A PERSON
Wit and humour are part of that armoury. The laugh she greeted Joe Biden with upon his election victory, when making that first momentous phone call, was one her friend recognised immediately and intimately.
“It clearly shows her personality, even in the short time she has been on the campaign trail. She has always had that laugh, she has always had a sense of humour too, she had a sense of wit - even in the context of a university debate - to get those points across,” remarked Duran.
The ability to deliver zingers to her opponents in a live debate was very much part of the momentum behind the start of her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. She wasn’t afraid of confrontation as in this Twitter exchange with Donald Trump Jr last October.
“Why is @KamalaHarris the only person that laughs at her jokes... always way too long and way too hard?” Mr Trump’s son asked.
“You wouldn’t know a joke if one raised you,” she wrote back.
A simple burn on social media, but a popular shorthand for the kind of skills that meant a career in law and politics was a natural fit. Although her career as a prosecutor is what made her a politician, it brought with it political benefits and risks.
“The childless cat lady”
Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance’s take on Kamala Harris, adding nothing to the debate
Kamala Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz
KAMALA AS VICE-PRESIDENT
It’s often extremely difficult for the time served as a vice-President to be judged, especially by the public. They may be No.2 to the most powerful person in the land – maybe even the world – but their role isn’t one of being a ‘near-equal’.
It is not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work. According to the New York Times, “Harris’ critics and detractors alike acknowledge that the vice presidency is intended to be a supporting role. Many of her predecessors have laboured to make themselves relevant, as well.”
Put it this way, how many VPs that didn’t ultimately make it to the top job can one name?
But she struggled to achieve broad appeal among Americans. Despite leftward leanings on issues like gay marriage and the death penalty, she faced repeated attacks for not being progressive enough for some Democratic voters. “Kamala is a cop” was a common refrain on the 2020 campaign trail.
Mr Biden also called upon Ms Harris to lead efforts addressing the root causes of migration as a record number of immigrants fled to the US-Mexico border.
Her track record as a vice-President will be put under even more intense scrutiny now that she has secured the Democratic nomination
Even so, her track record as a vice-President will be put under even more intense scrutiny now that she has secured the Democratic nomination. Over the last four years, Harris has taken the lead on several critical issues while Biden focused his efforts elsewhere.
She launched a nationwide “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, highlighting the harm caused by abortion bans. She called on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v Wade after the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022.
Ms Harris set a new record for the most tie-breaking votes cast by a vice-President in the history of the Senate. Her vote helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act and the American Rescue Plan, which provided Covid relief funds including stimulus payments.
+UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL TITLE
For the sake of formal protocol, every living former president of the United States is referred to as ‘President…’. In more informal instances, or where there may be confusion, any previous president may be referred to as ‘former President…’. This is seen as a sign of dignity and courtesy in the States, and across other countries.
The title of ‘Governor’ or ‘Senator’ offered carries similar protocol, whether that person is a current or previous dignitary.
It is an issue opponents point to as one where she hasn’t made enough progress, and she was criticised by Republicans and some Democrats for taking six months to plan a trip to the border after entering office.
While border crossings have fallen dramatically this year, it remains to be seen if she can turn that success to her advantage in the presidential election.
DEMOCRAT NOMINATION
On August 22nd, Kamala Harris officially accepted the Democrat presidential nomination at the party’s national congress, becoming the first woman of colour to become a major party’s presidential nominee. She has nominated the Governor of Minnesota, the
“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man,” she said. “But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”
60-year-old Tim Walz as her running mate – a role he immediately accepted.
The conservative media didn’t take long to pile into him –or rather, his family, after his son was overcome with emotion upon his nomination. Far-right political commentator Ann Coulter was forced to take down a post – after an onslaught of criticism, including from her own side – mocking his family, a post that went against the long-held tradition within the US media that presidential candidates’ families are not ‘fair game’.
She made her keynote address to the congress that night. She had already secured the support of President Biden and President Obama, and the strong backing of Michelle Obama, with whom Harris had performed a knockabout tag-team takedown of their Republican opponent, Donald Trump, two days earlier.
“In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man,” she said. “But the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.” She brought up the January 6th attack on the US Capitol by Trump supporters, and mentioned his criminal convictions.
She also hit what has become a favourite Democratic punching bag, the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 blueprint for a Republican presidency. Although former President Trump has disavowed the plan, she noted that it was written by his advisers and it sought to “pull our country back into the past.
The congress has been commented upon by many political diarists and writers as a strong one for the Democrats in every way that Trump is struggling on his side with the Republicans.
The ‘future v the past’ contrast has been a central theme of the Harris campaign so far, as it was in her nomination acceptance speech. It’s one of the ways the vice-President has been able to draw a distinction not only from her current Republican opponent, but from the unpopular aspects of her boss, Joe Biden, who just a few weeks ago was the presumptive Democratic nominee.
HARRIS V TRUMP
Many, if not most, political commentators believe Harris has a better chance of beating Trump in the November elections than Biden would have had. Two old men, barely making sense, while presiding over the future of the planet’s one superpower would not have made for a gratifying spectacle.
Then one has to consider Trump’s expected petulant behaviour should - and this is a real possibility given the state of the polls – be defeated by Harris. Losing two elections in a row – three if you consider he didn’t win the popular vote when he won the Presidential College Vote system in 2016 – isn’t something his colossal, yet vast ego can handle.
It’s now up to the electorate in the US – 300 million people that the rest of the world wearily shakes its head at – to deliver us from orange, and into the right kind of historical outcome.
Now in its fourth edition, Deloitte Global’s Women @ Work: A Global Outlook report explores key workplace and societal elements that shape women’s career trajectories
DELOITTE WOMEN@WORK A Global Outlook
The report draws insights from 5,000 women across ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States) to understand their workplace experiences and how aspects of their personal lives influence these experiences. Below is a summary of the findings.
INCREASED STRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA
This year’s survey reveals that half of the women reported higher stress levels than a year ago, with a similar number expressing concern or significant concern about their mental health. Two-thirds do not feel comfortable discussing mental health at work or disclosing it as the reason for taking time off. While workplace culture may contribute to this reluctance, it is not the sole reason; many women fear discrimination or redundancy, and one in ten have had negative experiences when discussing mental health at work in the past.
The findings also show a correlation between working hours and mental health. While half of the women who work only their contracted hours describe their mental health as good, this figure drops to 23% for those who frequently work additional hours.
WORKING THROUGH PAIN
More than a quarter (27%) of women reported challenges related to menstruation, menopause, or fertility. Over 40% of women who experience severe menstrual pain said they work through it without taking time off, a similar figure to 2023. Additionally, 39% of those experiencing pain or discomfort due to menopause work through it, nearly double the percentage from 2023.
Fewer women feel comfortable discussing these health challenges with their managers compared to last year, and more report that their careers have been negatively impacted by raising these issues at work. Women with fertility-related health challenges report similar trends – three in ten stated they have not taken time off despite experiencing severe pain or symptoms, and nearly two in ten have taken time off but did not disclose the true reason. A similar proportion indicated that discussing these issues in the past had adversely affected their careers.
Among women who regularly work overtime, only 23% say their mental wellbeing is good and 22% say their physical health is good
UNEQUAL CAREGIVING RESPONSIBILITIES
This year, half of the women who live with a partner and have children at home reported bearing the majority of childcare responsibilities, up from 46% last year. This compares to 12% who said their partner takes the lead and 26% who said they share childcare responsibilities equally with their partner.
Nearly 60% of women involved in caring for another adult said they take the greatest responsibility for this, a significant increase from the 44% who reported this in 2023. Only 5% said this responsibility falls to their partner, a decrease from last year.
One-fifth of women in this year’s survey identified as the primary earner in their household. Of these, nearly half still bear most of the childcare responsibilities; only 19% said their partners carry the most responsibility. Affordable childcare options remain out of reach for some women, leading them to make difficult career decisions. Two in ten women believe that the lack of affordable childcare may force them to quit their jobs or slow down their careers.
The survey also highlights the impact of domestic responsibilities on mental health: women who bear the greatest share of household responsibilities are far less likely to report good mental health than those who do not.
FLEXIBILITY AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE ARE CRUCIAL FOR RETENTION
Women who are currently looking to leave their employer for another organisation cite poor work-life balance and a lack of flexibility regarding working hours among the top reasons. Women who have left their employer in the past year cited inadequate pay, work-life balance, and a lack of flexibility among the main reasons. Conversely, those who plan to stay with their organisation for five or more years cited the ability to manage work-life balance and personal responsibilities alongside their careers as one of the top reasons for staying.
Despite this, fewer women than last year feel supported by their employers in balancing work responsibilities with commitments outside of work. Only one in ten
feel they can openly discuss work-life balance at work. Nearly all women (95%) believe that requesting or taking advantage of flexible working opportunities will negatively impact their chances of promotion, and 93% do not believe their workload would be adjusted accordingly if they requested flexible work options.
HYBRID WORK EXPERIENCES AND RETURN-TO-OFFICE POLICIES
This year, there has been an improvement in women’s experiences of hybrid working, particularly regarding exclusion, predictability, and flexibility. However, about three in ten women working in a hybrid way still experience exclusion from meetings, a lack of predictability in their working pattern, and a lack of flexibility. Additionally, 27% of these women reported being expected to go into the workplace despite messages to the contrary. The same proportion said that the hybrid model has reduced their exposure to senior leaders.
More than 40% of women in the survey said their employer has recently implemented a return-to-office policy, requiring them to be on-site either full-time or on certain days. Nearly four in ten women who were recently asked to return on-site full-time said they have requested a reduction in working hours following the policy’s introduction, and three in ten said they have needed to relocate. A quarter said their mental health has been negatively impacted, and a fifth said it has made them less productive.
SAFETY CONCERNS AND NON-INCLUSIVE BEHAVIOURS
Nearly half of all respondents are concerned about their personal safety in the workplace or while commuting or travelling for work. Of these women, one in ten reported being harassed while travelling for work, and a similar number said they had been sexually harassed by a colleague. Additionally, 16% deal with customers or clients who have harassed them or made them feel uncomfortable.
The number of women who reported experiencing non-inclusive behaviours such as harassment or microaggressions at work has decreased since last year, but 43% of women still reported experiencing one or more of these behaviours in the past year. A quarter of women experienced inappropriate comments or actions from senior figures in their organisation. Among those who left an employer in the past year, 16% said that one of the main reasons was their experience of harassment or microaggressions.
However, these behaviours often go unreported. More than a third of the women who experienced sexual harassment did not report it to their organisation, and over 40% who experienced microaggressions also chose not to report them. The most frequently cited reason for this was the belief that the behaviour was not serious enough to report. However, 14% of women were concerned that the behaviour would worsen if they reported it, and about one in ten worried that reporting it would damage their career.
GENDER EQUALITY LEADERS REMAIN UNCOMMON
As in previous years, the survey identified a small number of organisations referred to as Gender Equality Leaders. Only 6% of the women in the survey work for one of these organisations.
Women who don’t regularly work overtime are more than twice as likely to report good mental well-being (50%) and good physical health (59%)
FAMILY CHILDCARE SPLIT
The
Deloitte report highlights the pressing need for employers to create supportive, inclusive workplaces that understand and address the unique challenges women face
These women feel safer, are more comfortable discussing their mental health at work, and are more confident that they can work flexibly without harming their careers. They also report higher levels of loyalty towards their employer, as well as greater productivity and motivation at work.
Women working for Gender Equality Leaders are more optimistic about their career prospects and are less likely to experience inappropriate behaviours or comments from senior leaders. They are also less likely to have experienced non-inclusive behaviours, experience lower stress levels, and are less likely to have taken time off due to mental health challenges.
Women working for these organisations are also significantly more likely to plan to stay with their employer for longer and view it as a place where they want to advance their careers. More than 60% of women working for Gender Equality Leaders plan to stay with their employer for more than three years, compared to 41% of the rest of the sample. Furthermore, 92% of women working for Gender Equality Leaders aspire to progress to a senior leadership position within their organisation.
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM DELOITTE
To address these issues, Deloitte offers several recommendations:
• Address workplace stress: Organisations must go beyond recognising the importance of mental health by understanding the drivers of workplace stress and taking action to mitigate them. This includes addressing workplace stigma and fostering a culture where women can openly discuss mental health without fear of penalty.
• Reflect the importance of women’s health in policies: Organisations should normalise conversations about women’s health, addressing the stigma that remains, and ensure women can access the workplace support they need. This may involve providing training for leaders and revising policies to support women encountering health challenges.
• Ensure safety in the workplace: Employers should address women’s concerns about safety by reinforcing policies that protect their rights, even when customers and clients are involved, and providing clear reporting and support routes.
• Embed family-friendly policies and benefits: Employers should implement family-friendly policies and benefits, such as parental leave and emergency care options, to help women succeed at work alongside their commitments outside work. This also includes offering flexible working options that leaders actively encourage employees to use without fear of stigma.
• Evaluate return-to-office policies: Employers should assess the impact of return-to-office policies on women, considering effects on mental health, earning power, and productivity, and finding a balance that meets business needs without adversely affecting women’s ability to succeed.
• Address non-inclusive behaviours: Employers must focus on creating an inclusive culture where women feel empowered to report non-inclusive behaviours without fear of adverse impact.
• Be a Gender Equality Leader: Organisations that focus on culture, work/life balance, and meaningful career development for women will see positive outcomes in attraction, retention, and overall employee satisfaction.
The Deloitte report highlights the pressing need for employers to create supportive, inclusive workplaces that understand and address the unique challenges women face. Implementing the recommended actions could significantly improve women’s experiences at work, leading to greater retention, productivity, and career satisfaction.
www.deloitte.com/womenatwork
What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful and your voice matters
Kamala Harris
USA GETTING ON BOARD
In a significant policy shift, the U.S. has announced its support for a global treaty aimed at reducing plastic production. Previously, the USA, one of the world’s largest plastic producers, had resisted such efforts. According to the Financial Times, US officials now indicate backing for the treaty, which the UN aims to finalise by year’s end. This change could greatly enhance the treaty’s prospects.
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
TRANSFORMING DIABETES TREATMENT
Researchers are working on a new class of ‘smart’ insulins that could revolutionise Type 1 diabetes treatment. These innovative insulins automatically adjust to blood sugar fluctuations, potentially reducing the need for daily injections to just once a week. A £2.7 million grant was recently awarded to accelerate the development of these ‘glucose-responsive’ insulins as part of the Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge. If successful, these treatments could represent a significant breakthrough in diabetes care.
AFGHAN WOMEN TO STUDY IN SCOTLAND
Nineteen Afghan women medical students, barred from education under the Taliban regime, arrived in Scotland in August to resume their studies. After the Taliban seized control three years ago and restricted women’s rights, these students were forced to abandon their education. The Linda
Norgrove Foundation, established by the parents of a Scottish charity worker killed in Afghanistan, facilitated their safe passage and student visas. “After 1,000 days of suffering, we’re finally free,” said Omulbanin Sultani, one of the students. “We’ve gone from hell to paradise.”
CHILDREN WILL BE TAUGHT TO SPOT FAKE INFORMATION
Children in England will soon receive education on how to identify fake news as part of a major curriculum update announced by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. This decision comes in the wake of the recent far-right riots, which were fuelled by misinformation. Phillipson emphasised the importance of equipping young people with the
skills to critically evaluate online content, stating that the curriculum review aims to integrate these essential skills into everyday lessons.
In Finland, media literacy is already a key part of the curriculum, helping students recognise propaganda and misinformation.
❛ ❛ Behind every great woman –is another great woman
Kate Hodges
COUNTERACTING THE HATRED
In response to the recent far-right anti-immigrant unrest in the UK, refugees and asylum seekers have received messages of support and welcome. These messages are part of a ‘love’ campaign launched by Brighton-based NGO Conversations Over Borders (COB), which encouraged the public to send words of “support and solidarity” to newcomers in the UK.
“We wanted to counter the hate with love,” said COB founder Colette Batten-Turner in an interview with the BBC. The campaign garnered over 1,000 submissions in its first 24 hours.
“The racist, far-right voices are a loud minority,” Batten-Turner noted, “They don’t reflect the views of most people in the UK.”
PARKINSON’S TREATMENT IMPROVING
A new brain implant that adjusts electrical stimulation in real-time could offer Parkinson’s patients better symptom control, according to a recent clinical trial. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a common treatment for Parkinson’s, helping to reduce symptoms like tremors by delivering constant electrical signals to movement-controlling areas of the brain. However, this stimulation is usually set at a fixed level, regardless of a patient’s immediate needs. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco have tested a new version of DBS that adapts in real-time, cutting motor symptoms by half compared to conventional DBS. Although only four patients participated, the results are promising. Parkinson’s UK call the research a significant advancement.
THE STATE OF OUR WATER
In response to growing public outrage over the dire condition of the UK’s rivers and seas, the water regulator Ofwat has imposed unprecedented fines on major polluters. Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water have been hit with a collective £168 million penalty for their frequent discharges of sewage into waterways, which have harmed both the environment and their
customers. Alongside these fines, Ofwat is considering new regulations requiring the companies to implement necessary upgrades.
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) hailed this as a victory for environmental activists, with CEO Giles Bristow emphasising the importance of ensuring customers are not charged for these penalties or the additional maintenance.
By Tess de Klerk
Evading workplace productivity monitoring
The advent of digital technology has significantly altered how businesses can monitor employee productivity. With the increase in remote work and the proliferation of productivity monitoring software, companies can now track virtually every move their employees make online.
From keystroke logging and screen recording to time-tracking software, the tools for monitoring productivity are more advanced than ever. However, as businesses enhance their ability to monitor, employees are increasingly turning to ‘skiving’ tech – tools designed to help them evade these surveillance measures and maintain control over their work time.
WHAT IS SKIVING TECH?
‘Skiving’ tech refers to a range of software, apps, and devices that employees use to bypass or trick workplace productivity monitoring systems. Skiving tech allows employees to engage in personal activities, take breaks, or simply manage their time more freely without the fear of repercussions from employers who rely on digital monitoring tools.
TYPES OF SKIVING TECH
• Mouse jigglers and macro tools: Mouse jigglers are small devices or software that simulate mouse movement on a computer, making it appear as though the employee is actively working. These tools are particularly effective against timetracking software that monitors idle time based on mouse or keyboard activity. Similarly, macro tools can be programmed to perform repetitive tasks automatically, such as moving the mouse cursor or typing predefined text at intervals, further simulating continuous activity.
• Browser extensions: Browser extensions like “Undetectable” or “IdleTime” are designed to
obscure or manipulate online activity. These extensions can block certain tracking scripts, alter browsing history, or even create fake activity logs. This allows employees to browse non-workrelated websites or take breaks without triggering monitoring alerts.
• VPNs and proxy servers: Virtual private networks (VPNs) and proxy servers are commonly used to hide a user’s true IP address and encrypt their internet traffic. While typically associated with security and privacy, these tools also allow employees to evade network-based monitoring systems that track their online activities. By masking their digital footprint, workers can engage in personal browsing or access restricted sites without being detected.
• Anti-surveillance software: Anti-surveillance software is specifically designed to block or scramble the data collected by monitoring tools. These programmes can disable screen recording, prevent keystroke logging, and even detect when monitoring software is active. Some advanced versions can create fake activity reports, showing that the employee was busy during periods when they were not.
• Automated task simulators: These tools are more sophisticated and can simulate entire workflows. For example, they can automatically generate emails, open documents, or run specific applications at pre-set times. This creates the appearance of ongoing work, making it difficult for monitoring software to distinguish between genuine and simulated activity.
‘Skiving’ tech refers to a range of software that employees use to bypass or trick workplace productivity monitoring systems
By using these tools, they can take breaks, manage their time more flexibly, or simply avoid the stress of being constantly monitored
THE MOTIVATION BEHIND SKIVING
The use of skiving tech is often driven by a combination of privacy concerns, the need for work-life balance, and resistance to micromanagement. In many cases, employees feel that productivity monitoring tools are overly intrusive, encroaching on their personal lives and creating a work environment where they are under constant surveillance. This feeling is particularly pronounced in remote work settings, where the boundaries between work and personal time are already blurred.
For some employees, skiving tech provides a way to reclaim their autonomy. By using these tools, they can take breaks, manage their time more flexibly, or simply avoid the stress of being constantly monitored. In a sense, skiving tech can be seen as a form of resistance against a work culture that prioritises productivity over well-being.
+
WHO USES ‘SKIVING TECH’ MOST?
Hove workers are nearly 40% more likely to use skiving software than the UK average, ranking fifth nationwide. London workers are the least likely to use these tools. Reading leads the list, followed by Preston and Wakefield. These findings come from tech expert QR Code Generator, based on Google searches for software that simulates activity.
Moreover, the rise of skiving tech highlights the growing tension between employers’ desire to ensure productivity and employees’ need for privacy. While businesses have legitimate reasons to monitor work performance, especially in environments where direct supervision is not possible, employees often feel that such measures undermine trust and create a climate of surveillance.
THE ETHICAL AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS
The growing use of skiving tech highlights critical ethical issues around trust, autonomy, and workplace surveillance. Employers need to ensure their employees fulfil responsibilities, particularly in remote work settings where oversight is challenging. However, employees also deserve privacy and should not feel constantly monitored.
The ethical dilemma intensifies when considering the potential impact on workplace culture. If employees turn to skiving tech, it may signal deeper organisational issues, such as mistrust or overly controlling management. In this light, skiving tech becomes a symptom of a broader problem, not just the issue itself.
Practically, skiving tech complicates matters for employers, making it harder to distinguish genuine activity from simulated efforts, potentially leading to inefficiencies and inaccurate performance assessments. Ultimately, the rise of skiving tech reflects the ongoing struggle to balance productivity and privacy, calling for a more balanced approach to workplace monitoring that respects employees’ rights and fosters trust.
In our exclusive Spotlight feature, we highlight women who are doing good things in their community. They’re not always seen but we think they should be
SP OTLIGH T
Mia Bird
Mia Bird founded Brighton’s BN1 Arts. Here we hear her story and what keeps her going.
Mia Bird is the ultimate creative entrepreneur, blending her passion for the arts with a sharp business sense. At just 16, she kickstarted her first business, selling vintage clothing and vinyl records to fund her drama school training. Her big break came in 1995 with her West End debut in ‘Sunset Boulevard’, and from there, she went on to play lead roles in numerous shows, plays and TV productions whilst also catching the attention of Universal Music which led her to become part of a multi-label songwriting network.
Parallel to her performing career, Mia delved into further business ventures and developed a strong interest in training and education. Over 25 years, Mia founded many creative academies across London and the UK, including more recently in Brighton including Bird Studios, BRICTT and the Institute for Contemporary Theatre.
This experience gave Mia a unique insight into the unlevel playing field there appeared to be in this elitist pathway. She soon set about rewriting the rule book.
Mia opened BN1 Arts in response to cuts in funded creative training in Brighton, seemingly doing the impossible and actualising a college for 100 happy young people in just four months.
One year later, BN1 Arts has gone on from strength to strength, and is looking forward to enrolling a further 100
BN1 Arts has gone from strength to strength, and is looking forward to enrolling a further 100 talented young people to study
talented young people to study fully-funded Diplomas for 16-18 year olds in music and performing arts.
Another passion of Mia’s is ensuring the availability of creative arts to a culturally diverse audience. She had a vision of opening an Arts Centre that would act as a hub for our whole community – no matter what the background.
This dream has materialised as BN1 Arts Centre CIC, which recently received Arts Council funding, enabling free and subsidised classes and workshops in everything from Afro House dance to Over 50s Contemporary.
There have certainly been challenges along the way – none more so than the lack of governmental financial support for colleges and schools leaving creative subjects like music and performing arts at risk.
This led Mia to create the campaign “Keep Creative Arts Education Free!” With such backers as Hove & Portslade MP Peter Kyle, and leading players from the entertainment industry, no one is more determined to ensure the creative arts truly are accessible to all and to spread the word that “Art really does matter.”
www.bn1arts.co.uk
Iris Jackson
Iris is Dynamic’s Businesswoman of the Year, and Director of Et Cetera at OG Kicks. Here, she shares some of her memorable career experiences
I hope to inspire young businesswomen by showing that hard work pays off and anything is possible
After completing a media studies degree at Goldsmiths College, my first job was as a publicity manager for a ski holiday company. One of my worst professional experiences occurred during a series of VIP promotional events I organised. At the first event, a technical glitch led to a disastrous presentation where images of ski chalet toilets were paired with audio about ski lessons. The audience mocked, the refreshments ran out, and the sponsor nearly withdrew. It was humiliating, but I survived the ordeal.
At 30, I started a marketing agency and, competing against large London agencies, secured a major campaign for BT. Despite initial doubts about our ability to handle the project, we delivered successfully. Another significant achievement in the ‘90s was producing accommodation guides for the national tourist board. This project was a massive undertaking, involving over 20,000 advertisers. Upon completion, the client gifted me a French commemorative medal featuring Nike, the goddess of victory, a symbol that would later become significant in my life.
be helping to run a £4m+ business. Retail was a new industry for me, and I took on various roles, from operations to finance, marketing and more.
Working on the government’s Great Britain campaign, which aimed to promote Britain’s education, business, and tourism opportunities, was another career highlight. Meetings at 10 Downing Street were nerve-wracking, but I was proud to challenge myself in my late 50s.
I intended to retire after this project, but unexpected personal circumstances required me to continue working. My son, Ryan Jackson, started selling second-hand trainers, and when OG Kicks launched in 2019, I offered to help with the business. I never expected that five years later, I’d
Working with Ryan, an exceptional young entrepreneur, has been fulfilling. Watching him and his team, all under 26, develop has been rewarding. Although I may not fit the typical Businesswoman of the Year mould, I’m grateful for the recognition. I admire those who give back to the community, invent something useful, or fulfil a need. I hope to inspire young businesswomen by showing that hard work pays off and anything is possible. Don’t be afraid to punch above your weight, and be willing to adapt and learn continuously. It will keep you motivated, fulfilled, and young at heart.
THE ONLY AWARDS EXCLUSIVELY
THURSDAY
MAY
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The abrupt closure of SK:N, a leading name in the cosmetic surgery industry, has left many patients in a difficult situation, underscoring the importance of careful research when choosing a provider
CLOSURE OF SK:N HAS LEFT PEOPLE AT RISK AND OUT OF POCKET
The shutdown has particularly affected patients who had recently undergone procedures at The Harley Medical Group (HMG), another wellknown entity in the field. With the sudden closure, many patients found themselves without access to their surgeons or support staff for critical follow-up care.
This lack of professional guidance has raised serious concerns about patient safety, especially for those experiencing post-surgery complications. Additionally, the closure has created uncertainty for patients who had prepaid for treatments or were scheduled for upcoming procedures, leaving them in financial and emotional distress.
little notice and were left to turn away clients who showed up for appointments. This chaotic and secretive handling of the closure has only added to the anxieties of those affected.
Annabelle Baugh, founder of the Cosmetic Surgery Advancements (CSA) website and Consultant Directory, highlighted The Harley Medical Group as an example of the risks within the cosmetic surgery industry. She criticised the group for prioritising profits over patient care, pointing to their use of PIP implants, which were cheaper but later found to contain substandard materials.
This chaotic and secretive handling of the closure has only added to the anxieties of those affected
One of the most troubling aspects of this situation is the lack of communication from SK:N to both its staff and patients. An anonymous HMG practitioner expressed frustration, revealing that staff were informed of the closure with
These implants, eventually banned, were known to be unsafe by reputable plastic surgeons long before the scandal broke, illustrating the dangers of financial motivations in the industry.
Her own journey into cosmetic surgery advocacy began after discovering her Allergan breast implants were recalled due to
their association with Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare cancer recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Motivated by her own experience, Annabelle created the CSA site and consultant directory as a reliable resource for women facing similar risks. She also co-authored “The Beginner’s Guide to Cosmetic Breast Surgery” with Mr. Douglas McGeorge, providing practical insights into choosing reputable surgeons and managing expectations throughout the surgical process. However, she remains deeply concerned about lax regulations, especially since some leading cosmetic surgery websites allow any surgeon to market themselves as cosmetic surgeons, regardless of qualifications.
Mr. Douglas McGeorge FRCS (Plast), a director of his own cosmetic and plastic surgery clinic, supported Annabelle’s mission to challenge profit-driven websites promoting inadequately trained cosmetic surgeons. He warned that the appeal of cosmetic surgery should not overshadow the importance of thorough research, emphasising that choosing a provider based solely on reputation can have serious consequences.
In an official statement, SK:N acknowledged the impact of its closure but offered little reassurance to those affected. This lack of a clear exit strategy highlights the problematic nature of an industry where financial stability and ethical practices are not always guaranteed. The absence of stringent regulatory oversight allows companies like SK:N to operate with significant autonomy, often at the expense of patient safety.
** Since the closure of SK:N and The Harley Medical Group, Cosmetics Holdings SPV Limited have completed the acquisition of both. They provide contact details for patients with immediate enquiries.
Tel: 0333 240 7070
Email: patientinformation@skngroup.co.uk
+ STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
By following these steps, patients can protect their rights, seek appropriate care, and potentially recover financial losses. For patients affected by such closures, there are several steps to take for help:
• Contact Regulatory Bodies: Report concerns to the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which can investigate the situation and uphold patient safety standards.
• Seek Legal Advice: Consult a solicitor specialising in medical negligence or consumer rights to explore compensation or recover prepaid funds.
• Consult Another Qualified Surgeon: Seek follow-up care from a vetted surgeon, using platforms like the CSA Consultant Directory to find qualified professionals.
• Contact Financial Institutions: If treatments were paid for via credit card, initiate a chargeback or refund process. Contact insurers if applicable.
• Join Support Groups: Engage with online forums and advocacy groups for emotional support and practical advice.
• Report to the Media: In cases of significant malpractice, sharing the story with the media can raise awareness and pressure regulatory bodies to take action.
• File a Complaint: Even if the company has closed, filing an official complaint can be useful for legal proceedings or recovering funds.
• Stay Informed: Keep track of updates from regulatory bodies, clinic administrators, or legal advisers to take timely action.
By Monica Fletcher OBE
WHAT IS ‘HEALTH DATA’?
And how is it currently used for research?
Scientists and academics collect facts and statistics for research and analysis, and this is commonly called ‘data’. Data comes from a range of sources. Some from specific research studies, which are set up to generate data, but increasingly from day-to-day data often referred to as ‘real world evidence’ – that is generated for various reasons; weather, finance, education and so forth.
Have you ever considered how much data we generate about our health during our lifetime? Data will be collected every time we visit our GP, have a vaccination, attend a hospital appointment, when a prescription is dispensed, blood taken, scan results released – the list goes on. Even the data generated from our fitness devices is unique data about ourselves. If this could be linked together and aggregated to larger scale populations, with linkages to where we live, our demographics, census data, and eventually our cause of death, just think how useful that information could be to medical science.
Your health data is not only important for your personalised care, management and prevention of diseases, but also to improve healthcare for everyone. Good quality data enable rapid and transformative advances in healthcare. We could also map what interventions work for both individuals and populations, and improve health care and services across the NHS.
and health conditions – for example, understanding their causes and symptoms and knowing how many people are affected. It provides new ways of identifying people most at risk of becoming ill, diagnosing diseases earlier, and providing better care and treatment. And it helps health services to run more efficiently and effectively, so everyone can get the care that they need.
So, there is huge potential to make better use of information that can be obtained from individual patient records. Every day, large amounts of health-related data are generated by the NHS and other health and care services
Health data research is a rapidly expanding and developing area. It combines maths, statistics, and technology to
“Organisations such as your GP practice or hospital, which holds your data, are referred to as data custodians and are responsible for keeping your data safe”
manage and analyse very large amounts of different health data sets across our health and care systems. It is a way of gathering, analysing and linking information about people and their health.
If data from many different patients are linked up and pooled, researchers and medical professionals can look for patterns in the data, helping them develop new ways of predicting or diagnosing illness, and identify ways to improve clinical care.
Using health data in research helps us understand diseases
An example of how improved knowledge helped solve a challenging problem is COVID-19. Combatting the pandemic depended upon the ability to collect, link, access and use health data for research. It allowed the NHS to identify and protect millions of people at high risk of COVID-19, to deliver and monitor the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccinations programme, and to identify
life-saving treatments for COVID-19 and to rapidly track new variants of the virus.
Despite all the potential benefits for the use of health data, many members of the public rightly remain concerned about their personal health data being used in this manner, without their explicit consent. After all, your health data often contains sensitive information about you that not even your close relatives may be aware of. Data privacy and confidentiality is therefore incredibly important in health data research.
It is true that researchers can apply to access health data for research and innovation. However, there are strict controls and governance processes on how it can be accessed. The purpose must be approved before anyone can use the data, and they are only granted access to the minimum amount of data necessary.
Organisations such as your GP practice or hospital, which holds your data, are referred to as data custodians and are responsible for keeping your data safe. Every member of staff who works for these organisations has a legal obligation to keep information about you confidential. Where systems have been set up to collect data from the data custodians, for example by NHS Digital, the organisations collecting the data have responsibility for it. Once it has been collected, unless permissions have already been granted – your informed consent – the data is de-identified, so any traceable
Have you ever considered how much data we generate about our health during our lifetime?
+ ABOUT MONICA FLETCHER OBE
Monica Fletcher is an Honorary Research Fellow University of Edinburgh; an Advocacy Lead Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research (AUKCAR) , Partnerships & Sustainability Lead HDRUK Respiratory datahub BREATHE.
She was appointed as a Global Respiratory Medical Expert by GSK in 2017 following 17 years as Chief Executive of Education for Health – an international medical education charity with a focus on respiratory health.
She is an associate of the Center for Managing Chronic Disease, University of Michigan, and Director of MonFletch Consulting.
information such as names are removed before being released for research. You should understand how your data will be used, who will access it, and for what purposes. Balancing consent with the need for research can be complex.
Health data research has huge potential to transform healthcare, both today and increasingly in the future. I am currently involved in a large National Institute Health Research (NIHR) programme, which is using a wide range of nationally available health datasets and deploying AI techniques to study multiple long-term conditions – from prevention through to early diagnosis and prediction of the success of possible interventions.
The benefits are potentially rapid and could be game changing. However, as this is a fast-moving new approach to health research, we need to remain vigilant and to keep ethical concerns and personal data protection front of mind.
www.understandingpatientdata.org.uk
Many of us view menstruation as an inconvenience that must be endured.
But what if we shifted this perspective and used our hormonal changes to our advantage?
Work with your body by menstrual cycle mapping
This approach, known as menstrual cycle mapping, involves making lifestyle adjustments based on the different phases of the menstrual cycle. Understanding the different phases of the cycle and how they impact not just reproductive health, but also emotional wellbeing, physical performance, and chronic disease risk can empower us to live in alignment with the natural ebb and flow of our natural bio rhythms.
In this article, we use the average cycle length of 28 days. However, it’s important to note that regular cycles can range from 21 to 40 days, according to the NHS, and may vary over time. Therefore, your phases might be slightly shorter or longer.
THE MENSTRUAL PHASE (DAYS 1-5):
Reflect and rest
The menstrual phase begins with the shedding of the uterine lining and the onset of your period. This phase is not only a signal that you are not pregnant but also a reflection of your nutritional status and stress levels. Heavy or painful periods may indicate issues such as fibroids or endometriosis, while light or absent periods can suggest nutritional deficiencies or high levels of physical or emotional stress.
This phase is an ideal time for rest and reflection. It’s natural to experience lower energy levels, so prioritise self-care and consider engaging in gentle activities like yoga or walking. Use this period to assess your diet and ensure you’re replenishing nutrients lost through bleeding, particularly iron.
THE FOLLICULAR PHASE (DAYS 5-13):
Energise and engage
The follicular phase starts on the first day of your period and continues until ovulation. During this time, rising oestrogen levels lead to increased energy, wellbeing, and libido as your body prepares for a potential pregnancy.
This is a great time for new beginnings and tackling challenging tasks, both physically and mentally. The surge in oestrogen can also enhance pain tolerance and muscle recovery, making it an optimal period for intense workouts or starting new fitness routines. Here, you have the most access to creative energy that you will have the entire month. Hormones are at a low point and your body is starting to increase oestrogen in particular. You are open and ready to try new things. This is a good time to start new projects at work. Plan the month ahead, do some project management, break out the excel document an brainstorm with people in meetings.
Track your cycle by recording the days that you start and finish your period on a calendar
OVULATION (DAYS 14-17):
Peak performance and social interaction
Ovulation marks the peak of your menstrual cycle when an egg is released from the ovary. High oestrogen levels during this phase can lead to peak physical and mental performance. You may find yourself more socially outgoing and possessing a sharper memory.
Communication and collaboration skills are at the highest all month. The brain chemistry you have during this phase heightens your verbal skills. This is a great time to have important conversations.
Consistent ovulation is generally a sign of balanced hormones, while frequent missed ovulations could indicate health issues such as PCOS or hypothalamic amenorrhea.
THE LUTEAL PHASE (DAYS 18-28):
Prepare and maintain
Following ovulation, the luteal phase begins, characterised by a rise in progesterone as your body prepares for a potential pregnancy. Progesterone can promote feelings of calm and centeredness, but is also responsible for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms that some women experience.
This is the phase for getting things done. You are most task oriented and focus is at its easiest. It is a good time to wrap up projects, do admin, expense reports etc.
During this phase, maintaining a balanced diet is crucial as your metabolism increases slightly, often leading to increased hunger. Some women might experience bloating or mood swings due to progesterone’s effects, which can signal hormone imbalances or sensitivities. Monitoring sleep quality is also important during the luteal phase, as some women may find it more challenging to sleep.
Understanding the different phases of the cycle can empower us to live in alignment with the natural ebb and flow of our natural bio rhythms
WAYS TO TRACK YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Track your cycle by recording the days that you start and finish your period on a calendar. From there it becomes relatively simple to understand where you are on a daily basis.
You could also use a basal thermometer (this shows you the temperature in tenths of a degree, so is faster and more exact than a regular thermometer), which can help you track when you’re ovulating – helpful even if you’re not trying to conceive.
Use apps such as the pre-set health apps on your devices or subscribe to specifically designed ones. There are plenty of them, some are paid for while others are free (with ads).
Menstrual cycle mapping can help us be aware of natural hormonal changes while helping us work with our bodies, rather than against it. Ovulating? Why not book that HIIT class? Worrying about feeling tired? That may be a perfectly natural part of your cycle.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/periods
FURTHER READING… DOING LESS TO ACHIEVE MORE
HOW TO FIND FOCUS IN A DISTRACTING WORLD
Caragh Medlicott is the co-author of ‘The Focus Fix: Finding clarity, creativity and resilience in an overwhelming world’ with Chris Griffiths (published by Kogan Page).
In our modern moment, does boredom still exist? With devices galore and the whole of the internet in our back pocket, entertainment abounds and distractions frequently proliferate. It’s rare, today, that we experience the aching drag of tedium that many of us associate with the grey, rainy days of our childhood.
Instead, with our phones in our pockets, it seems that there is always a group chat to catch up on, emails to check, and a newsfeed to scroll. Certainly, this isn’t all negative – but when it comes to the resilience of our attention spans, the cost of ongoing distraction can be pricey indeed.
Both psychological and neurological research makes clear that multi-tasking is not meaningfully possible. And even
DO
HARD
THINGS:
WHY WE GET RESILIENCE WRONG AND THE SURPRISING SCIENCE OF REAL TOUGHNESS by Steve Magness HarperOne (2022)
Toughness has long been held as the key to overcoming a challenge and achieving greatness. Yet, the prevailing model has promoted a mentality based on fear, false bravado, and hiding weakness. In short, the old model of toughness has failed us. Steve Magness, a performance scientist who coaches Olympic athletes, rebuilds our broken model of resilience with one grounded in the latest science and psychology. In Do Hard Things, he teaches us how we can work with our body – how experiencing discomfort, leaning in, paying attention, and taking thoughtful action can be the true indications of cultivating inner strength.
if you don’t multitask, you’re likely still guilty of what I call “task-fragmenting”. That is, breaking away from the task you’re working on to respond to something else. When you consider it takes the average person 23 minutes to refocus after a distraction, it’s not hard to see the pitfalls of this reactive mindset.
This is where doing less can ultimately help you achieve more. Research from Microsoft has shown via brainwave monitoring that non-stop work causes stress to build up in the brain, while regular breaks help to prevent this pile-up of neurological stress. Still, when I talk about doing less, I don’t just mean taking more breaks, but also how you spend those breaks.
THE 5 RESETS:
REWIRE YOUR BRAIN AND BODY FOR LESS STRESS AND MORE RESILIENCE by Dr Aditi Nerurkar Thorsons (2024)
From Harvard stress expert, Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, comes a reimagined approach to overcoming your stress and burnout using five small mindset shifts. Dr. Nerurkar shows why our everyday attempts at being ‘resilient’ – like multitasking, sleeping less, and lifestyle overhauls – aren’t beneficial to our stressed brains. Instead, she prescribes practical solutions for modern-day perils that are time efficient, free, and can be applied to anyone, including following the Resilience Rule of Two (making no more than two changes at a time; doing more is unsustainable), accepting that multitasking is a myth, and adopting her Bookend Method (creating boundaries).
Because of our culture of constant neuro-stimulation, even when off-task, we’re rarely giving our brains real respite. Scrolling Instagram, for better or worse, still requires you to sustain your attention. The same goes for other pastimes like streaming your favourite show or listening to a podcast.
Really, we’re only truly offering some rest for our focussed mind when we daydream. It’s obvious when you think
When it comes to the resilience of our attention spans, the cost of ongoing distraction can be pricey
ALCHEMY: THE MAGIC OF ORIGINAL THINKING IN A WORLD OF MIND-NUMBING CONFORMITY by Rory Sutherland WH Allen (2021)
Why is Red Bull so popular – even though everyone hates the taste? Why do countdown boards on platforms take away the pain of train delays? Discover the alchemy behind original thinking, as Ogilvy advertising guru Rory Sutherland reveals why abandoning logic is the best way to solve any problem. In this book, he blends behavioural science, stories and a touch of branding on his mission to turn us all into ‘idea alchemists’. He shows how we are not rational creatures who make logical decisions based on evidence. Instead, the big problems we face every day, whether as an individual or in society, could very well be solved by thinking less logically.
about it – attention is the act of applying ongoing focus on a topic or task, while mind wandering is the exact opposite, allowing your thoughts to roam where they may.
This is exactly why daydreaming is actually good for us. Despite its denigration as something that’s time-wasting, neuro-brain imaging has revealed it’s actually a crucial neurological process that can bring a whole range of benefits – from improving our problem solving skills to boosting our creativity. What’s more, it’s the perfect way to give your time away from work some extra restorative ‘oomph!’, so you can return to your desk with fresh eyes and sharpened focus.
CLEAR THINKING: TURNING ORDINARY MOMENTS INTO EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS by Shane Parrish Cornerstone Press (2023)
This New York Times bestseller argues that we all want to see the world clearly but are never taught how. Join Shane Parrish for a masterclass in the art of clear thinking. Drawing on examples ranging from the evolutionary origins of our ‘emotion default’ to the secret history of the Challenger disaster, Parrish offers powerful mental models to make sense of any situation. And he reveals a simple, actionable method for smarter decision-making, starting today. Along the way, he shows that the secret to mental clarity lies not in how we approach the most high-stakes moments - but in our tiniest, most everyday decisions.
By KELLIE MILLER
GODDESSES, EARTHMOTHERS AND MADONNAS THE WORKS OF JESSIE MOOY
Jessie Mooy has an empathetic relationship with all animals. Through her art, she wants to bring awareness to those who are abused, exploited, and on the brink of extinction. She also wants to keep the conversation about our climate emergency alive.
Jessie’s sculptural figures depict strong archetypical females with animals. The animals and the women have a close bond, which respects them as sentient beings. She refers to the female artforms as Goddesses, Earthmothers and Madonnas of Justice, whose essential role is protecting, renewing, and nurturing.
Jessie explains, ”My sculptures revere all beasts and celebrate the archetype of the earthmother or female who guards them and tries to come to their rescue. Today, however, she herself needs care, so everything is very fragile and delicate with these mothers made from the earth itself.”
The decision to produce her sculptures in clay is no coincidence, it is a powerful material that supports her values of conservation. Ceramics require all the elements, earth, wind, fire and water, to come to being. She is passionate about safeguarding our planet and uses the dramatic Japanese firing technique of Raku, where low-fired ceramics are placed with combustible materials when very hot. The method starves the piece of oxygen, often creating metallic
glaze finishes and cracks. For Jessie, the cracks in her works are symbolic and illustrate how precarious life can be.
Because of her long career creating, she witnesses recurring themes, motifs, and symbols surfacing in her pieces. These further demonstrate how these critical climate issues need to be addressed. They urge us to question what is righteous and morally correct and to reflect on themes like humanity, love, compassion, duty, and justice towards all life forms.
Her work also evokes author Philip Pullman’s trilogy of fantasy novels, which follow two children as they come of age. Pullman’s dæmons are animal forms representing an individual’s inner self, almost soul. The idea is that each person is born with an animal spirit that can transform into different animals from childhood to adolescence when it settles into its final form. His inspiration for the dæmon came from paintings showing animals as companions, particularly Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine.
Although her art contains strong messages, it also includes folk law, fairy tales, and theatre elements that celebrate our profound relationship with nature and creatures.
Kellie Miller is an artist, curator, critic and gallery owner. www.kelliemillerarts.com
The decision to produce her sculptures in clay is no coincidence. Ceramics require all the elements, earth, wind, fire and water, to come to being
Although her art contains strong messages, it also includes folk law, fairy tales, and theatre elements
Land of untamed beauty
Namibia, with its dramatic beauty and serenity is one of my most beloved destinations. As a child it gave my imagination endless space to roam; as an adult it filters through my dreams. It is a place where the desert meets the ocean, where ancient cultures thrive and nature always reigns supreme. By Tess de Klerk
OTHERWORLDLY LANDSCAPES
At the heart of Namibia’s allure lies the Namib Desert, the oldest in the world. Its vast, ochre sands stretch endlessly towards the horizon, creating something as magical as it is desolate. In the southern part of this magnificent desert you’ll find Sossusvlei, a white salt and clay pan amongst the red dunes, the contrasting colours showing the desert at its most striking.
Climbing to the top of Dune 45 at sunrise offers a spectacle of light and shadow that transforms the landscape into a living painting. The sense of isolation is profound, yet it is here, in this seemingly barren wilderness, that life endures. The hardy oryx and the elusive desert-adapted elephants illustrate nature’s ability to thrive in a land that appears so unforgiving. If you get the opportunity to climb Dune 45 at sunrise – do it. The landscape is transformed into something ethereal and completely unforgettable.
On Namibia’s western flank lies the Skeleton Coast, where the Namib Desert meets the Atlantic Ocean in a hauntingly beautiful confluence. Named for the shipwrecks that litter its shores, this remote, utterly untamed coastline is often shrouded in fog, adding to its eerie allure. The stark contrast between
the relentless crashing waves and the towering dunes creates an almost otherworldly atmosphere, befitting a Star Wars planet. Surely, only a few places on earth can illicit such a sense of isolation and realisation of our tininess in the vastness of this universe. Here you are guaranteed to experience nature in its rawest form.
If
you get the opportunity to climb Dune 45 at sunrise – do it. The landscape is transformed into something ethereal and completely unforgettable
Damaraland is another of Namibia’s treasures, a northwestern region where the landscape shifts dramatically from rugged mountains to expansive valleys and rolling plains that feel unchanged since the dawn of time. Damaraland’s untamed beauty is highlighted by its incredible geological formations and ancient rock art, reminders of the rich history and culture of the indigenous peoples who called this land home for millennia.
NATURE, CULTURE AND ADVENTURE
Namibia’s appeal extends beyond its landscapes to its rich biodiversity. Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s premier wildlife reserves, is just one example. The park’s expansive salt pan, visible even from space, provides a unique backdrop for wildlife viewing. Lions, elephants, rhinos, and many other species roam freely, reminding visitors of Africa’s ancient heartbeat. Across the park, waterholes become
Elephants roaming free in the Etosha National Park
Moonrise over the Sossusvlei salt pan
stages where the drama of life and death unfolds daily, with predators and prey engaged in their timeless struggle for survival.
Walking safaris are an especially intimate way to experience wildlife, providing the opportunity to track desert-adapted elephants, rhinos, and even lions on foot. Namibia is also home to the largest population of free-roaming black rhinos in Africa, a sign of the country’s commitment to conservation. Tracking these magnificent creatures in the wild is exhilarating and humbling.
For the adventurous traveller, Namibia is a playground like no other. The dunes of Swakopmund, a quirky town that feels like a little piece of Germany transplanted to the African coast, offers plenty of adventure including some of the world’s best sandboarding while the Fish River Canyon, the second largest in the world, is a hiker’s paradise. A short distance south lies Walvis Bay, where a catamaran cruise is a great choice for a chance to see dolphins and whales.
For those seeking a more serene experience, a hot air balloon ride over the Namib Desert provides a perspective that is exhilarating and meditative.
stepping back in time, offering a glimpse into a way of life that has remained unchanged for centuries.
In Namibia, the ancient and the modern coexist in a delicate balance, creating a country as diverse as it is vast
The cultural tapestry of Namibia is as rich as its natural beauty. The Himba people, with their ochre-painted skin and intricate hairstyles, are perhaps the most iconic of Namibia’s indigenous groups. Living in the arid regions of Kunene, the Himba have maintained their traditional lifestyle despite the encroachment of modernity. Visiting a Himba village is like
In contrast, the capital city of Windhoek represents Namibia’s modern aspirations. A vibrant blend of African and European influences, Windhoek is a city where colonial architecture meets contemporary culture. Here, you can explore lively markets, dine in stylish restaurants, and experience the dynamic energy of a nation on the rise.
In Namibia, the ancient and the modern coexist in a delicate balance, creating a country as diverse as it is vast. Whether you are drawn by the magic of her deserts, the richness of her wildlife, or the vibrancy of her cultures, Namibia offers an experience that is profound and unforgettable.
+ WHEN TO GO
When to go: Namibia can be visited throughout the year. November to April is the summer rainy season but downpours are short and unlikely to interrupt your plans. During years with high rainfall, the desert explodes into bloom in August! Winter, May to October, sees sunny, warm days and cold nights. These dry winter months are ideal for wildlife viewing as animals tend to gather around water holes making them easy to observe.
German architecture in the desert: the city of Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast
Ugab valley and terraces, Damaraland
FROM FERRARI TO FANGWANG
A DAY OUT AT THE BRITISH MOTOR SHOW
by Fiona Shafer, MD, MDHUB
I love good surprises on a Monday morning, especially in the lazy month of August. So when Maarten extended a last-minute invite to join him at the Press Day at the British Motor show at Farnborough in a Lamborghini, I was delighted to accept. It was an opportunity to spend a rare day with my lovely Publisher, though there was one caveat –please could we park somewhere discreet so that I could exit the vehicle elegantly? You know, without kissing the tarmac with my bum in the air. It’s a first-world problem, I know –but it’s my first-world problem.
I need not have worried as Maarten was transporting me in Lamborghini’s slightly ungainly-named Urus Performante SUV. It’s named after the Urus, a large and wild ancestor of today’s domestic cattle which, with a top speed of 194 mph and 0 – 62 in 3.3s, you would not want to be chased by.
The new MG Cyberster GT stood loud and proud, and made us both smile. It’s quite a design departure from the traditional MG...
The alcantara interior was so gorgeous inside that I even found myself stroking the soft ceiling within five minutes of getting in the car which I have never, ever done before. It’s a perk of being in the passenger seat for a change and not having to concentrate on the road ahead.
It was an excellent start to a slightly underwhelming day for both of us. Once Maarten had recovered from having
Alpine A290
FANGWANG
to park in a field about two miles away and get a bus to the show. (How l wish l had a picture of Maarten on a bus!) We still managed to have fun – of course we did !
The organisation and logistics for the show left a lot to be desired compared to previous shows, especially alongside the incomparable Goodwood, but for a family day out it is probably worth it. For very serious petrol heads, less so as most of the big manufacturers were not in town for this particular show!
So, what did turn our heads? How time has moved on since my first review of an electric car in February 2020. I enjoyed meeting the team at EV Experts, a used electric car specialist based in Surrey and Hampshire, who had a really cool two year-old, four-seater Volkswagen e – up!
Of course, I just had to pronounce in a Yorkshire accent. It’s priced at £13,700 or CP at £196. It’s battery state of health after 13,800 miles was 98% (target for a car this age is 97%). It is
MG Cyberster
The ‘ridiculous’ Citroën Ami
ULEZ-compliant and vehicle tax / congestion charge-free until 2025. It has that nice, understated VW style, rounded off by a really well designed set of funky rear lights. A very nice, cross generational EV and we had a great conversation about the used EV market. It’s very healthy apparently.
The new MG Cyberster GT stood loud and proud, and made us both smile. It’s quite a design departure from the traditional MG; a rather sexy looking (which is absolutely what a good sports car should be ), fully electric, two-seater sports car with leather seats. I never thought I would use those two adjectives in the same sentence but there is a first time for everything and a sign of the times.
With 0 – 62 mph in 3.2 secs, a top speed of 125 mph, fully electric fabric hood and a starting price of £54,995, I would definitely add it to your Christmas list. You heard it here first.
Citroën had their ridiculous tiny clown car there, the Ami, which Maarten insisted l sit in and then managed
The team at EV Experts had a Volkswagen e–up! Of course, I just had to pronounce in a Yorkshire accent
A classic turns electric – Ford Capri
The YangWang U9 is a shameless rip-off of the McLaren (why can’t the Chinese come up with their own designs?)
What turned our heads – for all the wrong reasons –was the Tesla Cybertruck
to get a giant yellow duck in the shot, Ford presented the reincarnation of that famous marque, the Capri that has so divided opinion, McLaren must be furious at the Chinese YangWang U9, which is such a shameless rip off that l am surprised there are no lawsuits flying around. Meanwhile, the new Alpine A290 is cute as a button.
We also had a really interesting conversation with Michelle Brevitt, one of the founders of www.womendriveelectric. co.uk which has created a really useful platform for women to come together to share their experiences and learnings with EVs, with the aim of helping more women confidently transition to EVs. A great idea so do go and have a look and sign up.
What turned our heads – for all the wrong reasons – was the Tesla Cybertruck, which I have decided should take up residency as a Bond villain in its own right in a desert, in a faraway land until the battery runs out.
Maarten agreed but his comments about it cannot be printed! The burnt orange and black YangWang U8 SUV also caused quite a stir with its amazing upholstery and futuristic design – so much so that children seemed to be constantly clambering all over it, like bees drawn to a delicious honey pot. But do you want to drive a YangWang?
The classic cars likely saved the day for both Maarten and me. I got to purr over several beautiful Aston Martins whilst Maarten got to wistfully admire the only McLaren he has not yet driven – the McLaren PI. This is actually not a terrible surprise as it’s out of production, and valued at over £2m.
The rest of the Classics ranged from the most beautiful Ferrari Dino, to Cadillacs, Citroens, Austin Morris butchers’ vans to name just a few. It’s a glorious reminder of the impact and heritage of unique individual designs. This is highlighted all the more with the homogenisation of many of today’s vehicles.
In all, compared to the original Motor Show at Earls Court, which has every manufacturer launching their glitzy new models on rotating turntables in a blaze of celebrity driven publicity, this ‘new’ show was a bit of a damp squib.
+THE BRITISH MOTOR SHOW 2025
Thursday August 14th - Sunday August 17th 10.00am-6.00pm
The Bull is right at the heart of the charming little village of Ditchling – but don’t worry, the pub has plenty of parking! It is a great choice for sunny days with plenty of outdoor seating space, a play area for kids and an overall elegant pub vibe. Indoors is nice too, with a contemporary dining sector as well as a more traditional pub area.
One of the main draws of The Bull is its diverse and well thought-out menu, which caters to a wide range of dietary
preferences. Whether you’re a meat lover, a vegan, or in need of gluten-free options, the pub has something to offer. This inclusivity is commendable, and it’s clear that the kitchen takes care in ensuring that everyone can find something to enjoy. The menu features a good number of dishes, providing enough variety without being overwhelming, which is a balance that not all establishments manage to achieve.
Our party sampled a few dishes from the Sunday menu, starting with the Sunday roast, the dish that many consider a true test of a pub’s culinary prowess. The roast was good, if not exceptional. The beef was cooked to a satisfactory level, retaining its juiciness, and the accompanying vegetables were nicely roasted, providing a comforting meal that
The wine list is extensive and well-curated, offering a variety of choices that cater to different palates and preferences
ticked most of the boxes. However, while the dish was certainly enjoyable, it lacked that extra touch that elevates a meal from good to outstanding.
My choice for the main course was the pan-fried chalk stream trout, which turned out to be the highlight of the meal. The trout was excellently prepared, with a perfectly crispy skin that gave way to tender, flavourful flesh. The dish was paired with roasted artichoke, potatoes, samphire, and a delicate white wine sauce. The combination of these elements worked well together, creating a dish that was both well-balanced and satisfying. The only slight downside was the roasted artichoke, which I found to be undercooked for my taste, lacking the softness that would have made it truly enjoyable. Despite this flaw, the dish overall was delicious and showcased the kitchen’s ability to prepare fish dishes with finesse.
One of the main draws of The Bull is its diverse and well thought-out menu, which caters to a wide range of dietary preferences
crème anglaise felt watered down, lacking the richness that would have made the dessert more satisfying. It wasn’t bad by any means, but it fell short of what one might hope for in a classic pudding.
For dessert, we decided to share the rhubarb and apple crumble, a comforting end to the meal. The crumble itself was well-made, with the tartness of the rhubarb complementing the sweetness of the apple. However, the accompanying crème anglaise was a bit of a let down. I prefer a thick, creamy custard to go with a crumble, but the
One of the standout aspects of The Bull is its drinks selection. The wine list is extensive and well-curated, offering a variety of choices that cater to different palates and preferences. Whether you’re in the mood for a crisp white, a robust red, or something sparkling, there’s likely a wine that will suit your taste. In addition to the wine, The Bull also has a nice summer cocktail menu, which we were eager to try. Unfortunately, the cocktails we sampled didn’t quite live up to expectations, as they tasted a bit watered down. It was a slight disappointment, especially given the otherwise strong showing in terms of drink offerings.
The Bull is a solid choice for a meal, the atmosphere is friendly and the menu caters to diverse dietary needs with particularly good selection of wines. While there were a few minor shortcomings in some of the dishes and drinks, overall, it’s a great spot to enjoy a meal with family or friends, especially with children and on sunny days.
££
The Bull, High Street, Ditchling, East Sussex, BN6 8TA
BRIGHTON GIN & RUM FESTIVAL
Discover a unique experience that celebrates the best of Gin and Rum and promises the party of the year! If you’re thirsty for knowledge or just want to party the night away, the Gin & Rum Festival is for you! Treat yourself at our themed Gin and Rum bars, and let your hair down with friends whilst enjoying music from our award-winning DJ and live entertainment.
The Dome, Brighton September 14th https://ginandrumfestival.com/
BOGNOR REGIS SOUTHDOWNS MUSIC FESTIVAL
Centred around Bognor Regis town centre and seafront, the Southdowns Music Festival aims to build on the big success of previous years. This fantastic festival celebrates folk music in all its styles, with evening concerts, ukulele music, Irish music, folk dancing, shanty showdowns, a Beer & Cider Festival, children’s activities and more.
Around Bognor Regis September 20th-22nd https://lovebognorregis.co.uk/whats-on/southdowns-musicfestival-2024/
WHAT’S ON...
A brief snapshot of art and culture in Sussex and Surrey
HAYWARDS
HEATH
SPECIALIST
AUTUMN PLANT FAIR
The ever-popular Specialist Autumn Plant Fair returns to Borde Hill on Sunday 15th September from 10am to 3pm. Hosted by the Plant Fairs Roadshow, a collective of independent specialist nurseries, visitors can expect an extraordinary lineup of locally grown, garden-worthy and unusual plants from leading growers from across the South East, including several RHS exhibitors, in a series of beautiful stalls on the Azalea Ring.
Borde Hill Garden, Haywards Heath September 15th https://bordehill.co.uk/
MIDHURST HELI HIKE IN SUSSEX
Lace up your hiking boots, grab your friends and family. It’s time for Heli Hike in Sussex. Hike around the stunning Cowdray Estate, stride for the skies, and support Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, your local air ambulance charity. This year, we’re excited to introduce a fantastic Family Fun Day. During this event, you can meet other emergency services, have fun with your loved ones, and learn about our lifesaving work before and after your hike.
Head to Albourne vineyard, West Sussex this autumn and make the most of the last of summer with the tasty Friday Night Supper club events. These ‘pop-up’ dining events are supplied by some of our favourite local chefs and street food vendors. Pre-booking is required. The Tasting Room will be open from 4pm to 9pm serving drinks and food will be served from approximately 5pm to 8pm. A great way to get together with friends and celebrate summer.
Albourne Estate, Albourne Every Friday in September https://albourneestate.co.uk/visit-us/friday-night-supperclub/
GRAVETYE MANOR
Head Florist Sharon Coote’s workshops will be held in our oak framed Gazebo in our Little Garden. Group sizes will be kept small to ensure maximum attention. Gathering at 9.30am and finishing at approximately 1.30pm. £155.00 per person, tea/coffee and biscuits on arrival, 2 course lunch, wine, and workshop inclusive. Please note that although the Gazebo is heated, if the weather is inclement, we recommend warm clothing to be worn on the day. Lunch will be served on a shared table.
Gravetye Manor, West Hoathly October 9th-11th www.gravetyemanor.co.uk/events/whats-on/flowerworkshops-2024
SINGLETON MADE BY HAND –HERITAGE CRAFTS & SKILLS
Help keep our heritage crafts alive! Did you know that many heritage crafts are at risk of being lost forever? Join the Weald & Downland Living Museum as they explore heritage crafts & skills from past to present, and learn about how we can conserve these skills for our future. Over the weekend they will be demonstrating some of the many rural crafts and skills practiced at the Museum alongside visiting members of the Heritage Craft Association, who will showcase crafts from the Red List of Historic Endangered Crafts. They will also have demonstrations from some of the Museum’s resident craftspeople, regular demonstrators and course providers.
Weald & Downland Living Museum, Singleton Nr. Chichester September 14th-15th www.wealddown.co.uk/events/made-by-hand-heritage-crafts
WORTHING WORTHING ROCK CHOIR
The Worthing Rock Choir is led by local musician Emma Steele. People who have already joined the choir, who hail from Worthing and further afield in West Sussex often have never sung before or had any vocal tuition. Once you join the choir you will find you learn the songs by rote from a brilliant set of resources and you will be amazed how quickly you go from ‘not sure’ to ‘performance ready’. The songs are uniquely arranged by Rock Choir founder Caroline Redman Lusher to make songs easy to sing yet still challenge you in places.
Vale School, Worthing October 24th www.rockchoir.com
