Surrey Business Magazine issue 19

SURREY

BUSINESS THE OFFICIAL SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 19 OCTOBER 2019

9

WAYS TO STAY AHEAD IN BUSINESS

REVEALED

Carof the Decade The

FIVE Luxury ski escapes

The challenges of

THE FOXHILLS FAMILY Interview with MD

scaling up

Marc Hayton

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

Gatwick brings global trade opportunities closer

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CONTENTS 7

35

NEW MEMBERS Welcome to the Chambers’ new members

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THE CHIEF EXEC Louise Punter on the latest news within the Surrey Chambers of Commerce THE PRESIDENT President Steve Coburn ponders the difference between introverts and extroverts

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NEWS The latest from the chambers and the Surrey business scene

HEALTH & WELLBEING –VIISANA Better working practices by keeping active in the office DELIVERED SOCIAL Nine tips for staying ahead in business

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DMH STALLARD Is the Prompt Payment Code starting to bite?

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HART BROWN The dos and don’ts of professional mediation

24

KEN BLANCHARD How to be an emotionally aware leader

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ARENA BUSINESS CENTRES Providing the perfect workspaces across Surrey

29

THE BUSINESS SHOW Preview of the big event at the ExCeL centre in London

30

SURREY POLICE Looking ahead to Surrey Police’s recruitment drive

SURREY BUSINESS SCHOOL How ‘gamification’ is helping many areas of commerce

15

NATWEST The latest survey of business confidence.

H2I De-cluttering the language of insurance

40

HAINES WATTS The challenges of scaling up your business

CLEANKILL Dealing with winter pests in your working environment

HR DEPARTMENT Investing in your employees is investing in your business

MAZARS How Mazars has been unique for nearly 80 years WOKING MEANS BUSINESS A preview of possibly the last Woking Expo at th the HG Wells Centre

60-67

TRAVEL Find the finest places in The Maldives this winter, and the best ski escapes, courtesy of the experts at Go Bespoke Travel. Plus how Gatwick Airport benefits the local business community

49

TVISION Offering advice on effective solutions for inefficient business processes

50

SURREY TRANSLATION BUREAU Interview with Hannah Stacey, celebrating 10 years at the Bureau

53

COVER STORY Foxhills Managing Director Marc Hayton speaks to Molly Enser about running a successful family business

WOMEN IN BUSINESS EXPO Preview of the exhibition and trade show in Farnborough

68-75

MOTORING Maarten Hoffmann runs the rule over his favourite cars of the past 10 years – and reveals his Car of the Decade

78-82

SURREY CHAMBERS Events at the Chambers of Commerce across Surrey, how to sponsor a Chambers event, SC Golf Society, and why you should join the Chambers

SURREY BUSINESS

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A WORD FROM THE CEO

Will October be the month everything changes?

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t cannot have gone unnoticed that there has been a flurry of activity with informational events being run to help prepare businesses for leaving the EU on October 31st. With specific events for exporters as well as more general events for all businesses, Surrey Chambers is part of a group of Chambers aiming to cover all bases around what businesses need to do to ensure their success in the future. The strength of a Chamber of Commerce is that we are our own eco-system with different members being experts in one area whilst needing support from others. We will be bringing people together to make sure that everyone has the best information available.

Working with British Chambers

Because we are a strong network of Chambers with direct access to all government departments we continue to push for answers not yet supplied to our businesses. We have updated our Brexit Hub on our website to include a No-deal Guidance Dashboard and updated the Business Brexit Checklist. The Dashboard is an evaluation of the quality of official guidance available to firms to prepare for the UK’s departure from the EU, in a no-deal scenario, and identifies the areas where firms still lack the information they need to plan effectively.

showpiece events in the business calendar, recognising and promoting the best of British business through a series of regional heats, culminating in a Gala Awards Dinner, taking place in London on November 28th. We are particularly delighted that one of our Surrey Chambers members, Breathe, was selected as the South Regional winner for Employer of the Year and they will go on to the national finals. They have a great company culture as well as providing a first class cloud based software, ideal for all businesses to use to track Human Resources information. We will be keeping our fingers crossed in November.

Exciting launch of our brand new App

We were delighted to launch our Surrey Chambers App, Collude, which enables members to collaborate with each other by sharing opportunities with the rest of our network. They will be able to discuss topical issues in a secure environment whilst also gaining quick access to the latest news and programme of events. The face to face networking, which the Chamber is famous for, will continue to flourish but we are giving our members a simple tool to allow them to communicate easily between events. We look forward to some great stories and business done!

Surrey Chambers of Commerce can be reached on 01483 735540, info@surrey-chambers.co.uk, @surreychambers

Louise Punter

Congratulations to Breathe

CEO Surrey Chamber of Commerce

The British Chambers Business Awards is one of the

Maarten Hoffmann – Director maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Commercial Director

Commercial Manager

Nicole Kemble

Fiona Graves

Ian Trevett – Director

Kate Morton

Danielle Mason

Hanna Nicholson

ian@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Lesley Alcock

Features Editor

Sales Executive

Events Director

Travel Editor

Lydia Bunyard Events Executive

Alan Wares

Head of Design

Hannah Joslyn Chamber Editor

Steve Elford

Head of Web Development

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

SURREY BUSINESS

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

THE PRESIDENT’S VIEW

CAN YOU BE SHY AND

EXTROVERT?

by Steve Coburn

© Paul Judd Food

be the life and soul of a party or stand on stage presenting to a large audience.

C

Maybe an Extrovert is someone who, when they are feeling a bit low, need to surround themselves with other people, and they feed off of the social interaction with others.

But I’m not so sure that explains the whole story. Barack Obama is a wellknown Introvert – but you wouldn’t call him shy, and he’s certainly not lacking in confidence.

If I had to sit in a room by myself, reading a book, without human contact it would be exhausting for me. I would literally fall asleep. You can always tell if I’ve been by myself for a while – because, when we meet up, I won’t stop talking to you! Conversation and human connection revitalises me.

an people be simply defined as Extroverts or Introverts? The popular opinion is that someone who is shy and lacking confidence is an Introvert, whilst someone who is bubbly and super-confident must be an Extrovert.

I know quite a few Introverts who are perfectly capable of being very outgoing in social situations. And, I know many Introverts who are very confident indeed.

Likewise, I would consider myself to be an Extrovert – yet I’m quite shy in most social environments and can be very quiet sometimes.

Maybe the definition we use for Extroverts and Introverts is too simple?

Maybe an Introvert is someone who, when they are tired, retreat to a quiet room and read a book on their own.

They emerge fully recharged ready to

Yet the Introverts I know, on their journey home from a party or a networking event, feel absolutely drained. They were very sociable and spoke to lots of people but now they need to recover by hiding away from all the noise and movement.

As the modern office morphs into a social hub, we need to understand the needs of both types of people. We’ve been joined by some very talented individuals who left their previous organisations because their employer wrongly assumed that ‘everyone wants to work from home’. These people were craving interaction with others and left because they weren’t

getting what they needed. Yet, on the face of it, these quiet individuals didn’t fit the typical definition of an Extrovert, so it came as a surprise to their managers when they left.

And I can think of a few introverts in the office who are very chatty and perform well in group or team scenario.

But, they get very tired in the afternoon. Giving them a space to get away from the noise and bustle, means they can maintain their energy levels throughout the whole day, and are still happily contributing in group meetings late into the afternoon.

If you need to perform at your best throughout the day, it’s a good idea to work out what you need to do to maintain your energy levels.

If you’re responsible for individuals in your team, you need to work out what they need and not rely on stereotypes.

And, if you’re responsible for the whole organisation, you need to make sure the environment caters for everyone and gives them the energy they need to perform well.

If you want to discuss this in more detail, I’ll be the one in the pub after work (I won’t be the one taking a long walk in the park with my headphones on).

But, you’ll need to say hello to me – I’ll be too shy to say it first!

SURREY BUSINESS

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CHAMBERS

news

Freestyle IT’s dedication to delivering

The play’s the thing

G A

t the HPE Global Partner Summit in Las Vegas, on June 17th-19th, Freestyle IT was delighted to be presented with the HPE Rising Star Award for UK and Ireland 2019. As a Hewlett Packard Enterprise Partner, Freestyle IT has established a long-term collaboration to deliver IT infrastructure solutions, which are ‘more efficient, productive and secure’.

Guy Wright, Director, Owner and Partner at Freestyle IT, who accepted the award said: “We are very proud to accept this award. It’s great that the dedication of our team that continues to deliver exceptional customer service, has been recognised. Congratulations to everyone at Freestyle IT, who has contributed to making our company stand out and to achieve substantial growth in 2018/19.”

Aim low, reach your goals, and avoid disappointment BUSINESS WISDOM

The findings of Forest Bathing+

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he Forest Bathing Institute has reported the initial results from scientific studies into its work by the University of Derby. Analysis of feedback from participants at its events measured positive changes in the following areas...

“Participants scores improved on measures of safe and relaxed positive effect, compassion for others and from others, rumination on problems, nature connection and pro-environmental attitudes,

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and mood disturbance-notably depression, anger, tension, confusion and fatigue,” said Kirsten Mcewan, Senior Research Fellow at The University of Derby, Department of Psychology.

The physiological results from the study are to be released soon along with details of the UK’s first Forest Bathing+ centre to be opened next year in the Surrey Hills – so watch this space! tfb.institute

uildford Shakespeare Company has embarked on its second free-to-access tour to less-advantaged schools in Surrey. The tour will deliver the two most popular Shakespeare plays studied at GCSE, Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet. The project, made possible by funding from the Geoff Herrington Foundation, will visit ten schools with an above average number of students eligible for free school meals. Each school will receive its performance on site for an entire year group and will encourage pupils to interact with the plays through small pieces of audience interaction. The actors will then remain at the school to run workshops for smaller groups. Teachers will also gain new skills, which they can take forward in their work.

Surrey runs for fun Run Santa, run

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he Santa Fun Run for Princess Alice Hospice in Esher is a major fundraising event in the Hospice calendar, generating vital income to enable it to continue its outstanding end-oflife care across Surrey, parts of south west London and Middlesex. The first run takes place Painshill Park, Cobham on Saturday December 7th, followed by Bushy Park, Hampton on Sunday December 8th and 15th, with Richmond Park on Saturday December 14th.

All routes are 5k and you can run, jog, walk or just stroll, alongside the hundreds of fellow Santas expected to turn out to raise much-needed funds for the Hospice.

Runners are welcome in teams, as singles, or family groups and entry costs

£18 for 16s and over, £8 for five to 15s and under-fives free. Book by October 31st for a 20% Early Bird discount.

For details and to book, visit pah.org. uk/santafunrun

Run through the rainbow

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hyllis Tuckwell’s annual Dash of Colour fun run in August saw over 700 people complete a 5k route to raise money for this local Hospice Care charity, whilst being showered in colourful powder paint at Frimley Lodge Park.

“This year’s Dash was another huge success and we would like to thank everyone who came along to take part and raise money,” said Gemma Jones, Events Fundraising Manager at Phyllis Tuckwell.

“Supporting around 600 patients a year, our Living Well team cares for

patients who need help with every day activities, offering them therapies, advice and nursing care to help them cope with the symptoms of their illness and improve their quality of life.

Our thanks also go to our wonderful sponsors, Cane Adam, Branston Adams, DCSL Software, Fluor, The Patio Black Spot Removal Company and Projectfive, as well as to our fantastic volunteers who helped on the day.”

Phyllis Tuckwell provides supportive and end-of-life care to patients and families who are living with an advanced or terminal illness in West Surrey and North East Hampshire. To find out about other fundraising events that Phyllis Tuckwell has lined up, visit www.pth.org.uk/event-diary.

You never become a howling success by just howling BUSINESS WISDOM

Light Fantastic

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ince winning the Art Fund Prize Museum of the Year Award in 2008, The Lightbox has become widely recognised for its exemplar programme of exhibitions, events and creative sessions for all ages within the local community.

A new vision exploring art and its abil-

ity to promote wellbeing has been introduced by The Lightbox in order to improve the quality of life of its community and provide arts and heritage services to those that would not otherwise be able to access them.

The programme includes community workshops for those living with de-

mentia and their carers, those affected by mental health issues, those in local care homes and hospices and clients of the nearby York Road Project homeless shelter. The work will also contribute towards raising funds to support the charity’s community initiative, the Art and Wellbeing programme.

SURREY BUSINESS

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NATIONAL

news

Historical days out hit record high

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ational Trust membership has climbed above 5.5 million in a record-breaking year for conservation spending. The English heritage and historical charity announced in its annual report that its membership had increased in the past year by more than 300,000 to 5,600,000.

It also revealed that it had spent more than £148m on conservation and restoration projects in 2018/19. A total of 26.9m visits were made to the 780 miles of coastline, 248,000 hectares of land and more than 500 historic houses, gardens and parks that the National Trust looks after.

Employment and wage rates on the up

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fficial figures released by the Office of National Statistics reveal that UK wage growth is at its highest since 2008. Not only have payslip figures risen but the number of people working has seen a sharp increase with a record 32.81 million people in employment. Despite this wage growth, the gig economy, which currently

accounts for nearly five million workers in the UK is still blighted by late payments. Research from ETZ Payments unveils 25% of Brits cannot afford commitments such as weddings and holidays due to the freelance payment structure whilst 13% of freelancers regularly miss bill payments due to not being paid on time.

Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

BUSINESS WISDOM

A smarter way to watch TV

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ky’s advertising arm, Sky Media, has recently announced the results of its research into the addressable TV market via the report ‘AdSmart: 5 Years and Forward’. Addressable TV allows brands to target key groups based on specific attributes including post codes and Mosaic groups on the UK’s biggest chan-

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nels, making TV more relevant and affordable. 75% of the UK’s top advertisers have now used AdSmart, but also 1000 SMEs have now used TV for the first time because of the technology.

The research revealed that AdSmart is helping businesses grow, boosts ad engagement by up to 35% and cuts channel switching by 48%, proving a win for viewers and advertisers. AdSmart is now available in Virgin Media homes as well, meaning 40% of homes can be reached by addressable TV, allowing brands to reach audiences as small as 5000 and up to 30 million.

UK firms go Dutch

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rexit has lured almost 100 companies away from Britain and into the Netherlands, according to a Dutch government agency. 98 firms have so far set up shop in the Netherlands with a further 325 companies planning to move. Of the firms that have upped sticks are media companies Bloomberg and Discovery, and financial firms MarketAxess and Norinchukin. Other businesses attracted to the Netherlands because of Brexit are in the IT, advertising, life sciences and health sectors.

Apprenticeships v University

A

survey commissioned by the Chartered Management Institute found that 51% of parents would encourage their child to apply for an apprenticeship instead of university, and 59% of parents thought an apprenticeship provided better job prospects than a degree. The survey also found few people were aware of T Levels - a new technical study programme that will sit alongside apprenticeships and A Levels - due to launch in England next year.

Rob Wall, head of policy at the CMI, said raising awareness was “proving to be a real challenge”. “As parents are a major influencer in young people’s education and career choices, educating and informing parents will be key to making T-levels a success.”

The most popular laboursaving device is still money BUSINESS WISDOM

Never invest in anything that eats or needs repairing BUSINESS WISDOM

US newspaper pulls oil industry sponsorship

You want a side of plants with that?

V

egan food has become the UK’s fastest-growing takeaway order.

With 600,000 people believed to be vegan in the UK in 2018, and an increase in ‘flexitarians’ choosing to reduce their consumption of animal products, orders of vegan takeaways grew by 388% between 2016 and 2018

The Prince charms London Fashion Week

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ast month’s London Fashion Week saw a collaboration between sustainable fashion pioneers Vin + Omi and Prince Charles. The prince teamed up with the duo in a bid to design a sustainable fashion range made out of nettles from his Highgrove estate. The prince met representatives of the British design industry last year as part of the Positive Fashion initiative, which promotes sustainability, best social and environmental practice, equality and local production. The designers recruited a team of students from Oxford Brookes University to help harvest 3,000 nettle plants for the collection.

T

while vegetarian orders rose by 137%, according to research by the British Takeaway Campaign. The online delivery platform Deliveroo reported that vegan orders had quadrupled over the past two years and said that in the last year the number of vegan restaurants on the app increased by 168%.

he New York Times has scrapped plans to sponsor one of the world’s biggest oil industry conferences after pressure from climate campaigners including Extinction Rebellion. The conference is due to take place this month at the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane in London and will attract executives from the world’s biggest oil companies as well as senior Opec leaders and ministers from fossil fuel-rich Middle Eastern nations. A New York Times spokeswoman said the paper had “decided to end its relationship with the Oil and Money conference” because its subject matter “gives us cause for concern”.

Lego set to reach kids globally

T

he world’s largest toymaker by sales and profits is set to open another 160 new stores this year.

Lego is rapidly increasing the number of its own-brand stores and investing heavily into ecommerce as it draws lessons from the collapse of Toys R Us and the Nordic region’s biggest toy retailer Top Toy. The Dan-

ish toymaker is making a big push in Asia and is on track to have 140 stores in China in 35 different cities by the end of the year. Niels Christiansen, Lego’s chief executive, said: “We have the ambition of getting to as many kids as we can around the world, and getting to that means we have to keep gaining market share.”

The wheels are turning, but the hamsters are all dead BUSINESS WISDOM

SURREY BUSINESS

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FINANCE

THE CHALLENGES OF

SCALING UP

Five pitfalls you may face when scaling up your business by Dan Morgan, Partner, Haines Watts Esher

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ustaining the growth of your business requires a careful balance between taking risks and ensuring those risks reap rewards. Many of the businesses I work with face similar struggles when it comes to scaling their business and it is worth considering the following:

1

FUNDING A business looking to scale up may need funding for a variety of different things, from acquiring a company to expanding existing premises. Finding the right investor can be a tricky process to navigate. Banks are the obvious source of funding but don’t be too quick to reach for what you know as there are so many more options out there such as venture capitalists and private equity firms alongside alternative methods like crowdfunding. Each investor will have a different view of risks and opportunities, so it is important to look into the right option to suit your needs and circumstances.

RECRUITMENT Generally, as a business expands so does its workforce, but it is getting increasingly difficult to attract and retain skilled employees. The need to differentiate your company’s offering is vital. Beware a cultural mis-match when recruiting by taking time to consider your company’s culture and whether it will be the right fit for new employees.

3

YOUR BUSINESS PLAN Business owners are pulled in a thousand different directions when it comes to the running of their business and it is easy to get caught up in the day to day while longer-term ambitions and plans are left on the back burner. A business plan with clear goals, milestones and realistic timelines is vital to help you keep track of where your business is and where you are heading. It’s also an important tool that can help keep other stakeholders engaged.

4

PAYING THE RIGHT TAX It’s a good idea to periodically review your tax position. Often, there are areas in which you may be able to achieve tax savings which you can reinvest in the expansion of your business. Particular planning opportunities often exist, the key being your advisor having a detailed understanding of your long term goals, and items such as R&D tax credits and are well worth reviewing.

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SUSTAINING YOUR GROWTH It can be easy to assume that because your business is performing well now that this success will be maintained into the future. However, if an unexpected bump in the road were to occur would your business be ready to tackle it? Take time to think about what the drivers of success are in your business. Strike a balance between investing in increasing your performance in the short term while allowing space to create capability for the future.

There are many ways to grow a business and the phenomenal growth of certain start-ups can be a great inspiration for established businesses. Read more here www.hwca.com/ accountants-esher/grow-businesswhat-startups-teach-us/

Haines Watts offices in Godalming and Esher. Email: dmorgan@hwca.com Visit: www.hwca.com./accountants-esher

SURREY BUSINESS

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IS THE

PROMPT PAYMENT CODE

STARTING TO BITE?

A culture of late payments in the UK cripples many businesses and causes economic and human misery. Kelly Mills hopes that things are changing

Voluntary signatories to the Code, run held, but reports suggest that the supby the Chartered Institute of Credit plier didn’t even receive the statutory Management (CICM) on behalf of the minimum late payment interest due government, promise to pay 95% of from BUPA, let alone an apology! their invoices within 60 days. Sadly, this is all too often disregarded.

IF WE ARE TO SEE AN END TO THE UK’S

LATE PAYMENT CULTURE, SUPPLIERS

Kelly Mills

I

ntroduced more than a decade ago, the Prompt Payment Code has often been criticised for its ‘lack of teeth’ in tackling the culture of late payment of commercial debts. However recent developments suggest that there may be changes afoot; excellent news for SMEs in particular.

Research by the Federation of Small Businesses (2017) identified that the UK’s poor payment culture was costing the economy some £2.5billion each year, forcing a staggering number of small companies – more than 50,000 - out of business. The human cost is equally significant. Research undertaken last year on behalf of online payment ratings platform, The Prompt Payment Directory, found that over half of SME owners surveyed had suffered stress, depression and other mental health issues as a result of late payments.

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Carillion, for example, ignored its obligations under the Code MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT and actually inserted a 120- PERSISTENT OFFENDERS day payment term into supplier contracts; it collapsed owing suppliIf we are to see an end to the UK’s late ers £2bn, many of them small building, payment culture, suppliers must be electrical and engineering firms. encouraged to report persistent offenders – but they need to be protectRecently the CICM has taken a toughed and properly compensated without er approach by naming and shaming being fearful of being ‘punished’ with a number of large businesses which no more business. have failed to adhere to the Code.

These businesses were suspended The Small Business Commissioner, from the Code as a result, but the negPaul Uppal apparently favours a more ative publicity appears to radical approach to making large busihave had the desired nesses more accountable, which may effect: almost all involve him taking over the running of subsequently put the Code and being given the power to plans in place to fine offending companies. meet the 60-day payment deadAfter 10 years, is it too much to hope line going forward that a prompt payment culture is finalaccording to the ly set to emerge?

CICM. Worth blowing the whistle?

Beyond recovering outstanding payments, however, there is currently little to incentivise small businesses to report persistent late payers. BUPA was recently named and shamed when a supplier complained to the Small Business Commissioner. The complaint was up-

Kelly Mills, Partner, heads DMH Stallard’s Debt & Leasehold Recovery team. Contact her at kelly.mills@dmhstallard.com or call 03333 231580. www.dmhstallard.com

PEST CONTROL

WINTER IS COMING...

AND SO ARE THE PESTS Look out for rats seeking warmth, says Cleankill’s Paul Bates grated pest control strategy. Effective proofing will restrict rather than be a complete ‘no entry’ as this is almost impossible. Bristle stripping the bottom of doors, especially external doors and riser cupboard doors, should restrict movement and keep the rodents out of the office areas.

Rat valves fitted into drains are very effective at stopping rodents entering premises through the drains.

Paul Bates

J

ust like humans, rats and mice much prefer to be indoors when it turns colder and heating systems start being fired up. They will try to get inside at any opportunity, particularly there is access to food, and can cause untold damage. Rodents, including rats, mice and squirrels love to chew through cables. This can cause havoc not just to your power but also your IT systems. Left unchecked, rodents can also cause fires when they gnaw through electrical wires to sharpen their teeth. Rats’ teeth are so strong that they can chew through lead, brick, mortar and aluminium.

Proofing against rodents should be looked at as part of the overall inte-

Heating being turned on can also mean an ingress of ants including the tricky to get rid of Pharaoh’s ants.

Fortunately these are fairly rare. More common are cockroaches, particularly if there are shops or restaurants on the ground floor of your office block.

Cooler Autumn weather can see annoying cluster flies on the upper floors which can hang around until early Spring if they are left.

A rat valve

Pest control is often considered a peripheral service but, if you get it wrong, the consequences can be very serious for your staff and customers. You could also face hefty fines from Environmental Health.

Normal contracts for standard premises will include a minimum of eight inspections a year. Factories producing high-risk food or manufacturing pharmaceuticals will require more frequent visits. The inspections should include all common areas such as: plant rooms, basements, riser cupboards, car parks and landscaped areas – all of the areas where pests could harbour and reproduce undisturbed.

Your contractor should belong to the British Pest Control Association, with all staff qualified to the RSPH Level Two in pest control. The company you choose should have written Health and Safety acceditations and insurance.

While many aspects of pest control are low-tech and haven’t changed for decades, forward-thinking companies like Cleankill are making sure they take advantage of products that can improve communication and efficiency. Electronic reporting is still fairly uncommon but is essential for those managing multi-site premises. Other innovations include remote sensor cameras which are particularly good for detecting pests below office floors.

For further information go to www. cleankill.co.uk or call 0800 056 5477.

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PRIVATE SECTOR OUTPUT STABILISES IN AUGUST

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rivate sector activity in the South East posted no change in August, following two months of consecutive deterioration, according to the latest NatWest PMI® data. This stabilisation occurred despite a sharp fall in overall new business, as firms continued to clear backlogs at an accelerated rate. Input prices rose sharply, as the rate of inflation reached the fastest since January. Meanwhile, output expectations were the second-lowest since future activity data were first compiled in 2012.

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

turing and service sectors – posted at the 50.0 neutral mark in August, rising from 49.7 in July. The latest figure signalled no change in private sector output, ending a two-month sequence of decline. Sector data indicated that the steadying of activity levels was due to a marginal increase in the service sector, as manufacturing production continued to decline.

The volume of new work received by private sector firms in the South East fell for the fourth consecutive month in August, with the rate of decline quickening to the fastest in over three years. The fall in overall new business was driven by a marked decline in the manufacturing sector,

KEY FINDINGS • New business falls at quickest pace for over three years • Input cost inflation at sharpest rate since January • Output expectations weaken

outweighing a marginal increase in the service sector.

Falling order volumes allowed private sector companies to cut their backlogs at a sharper rate in August. The fall in the level of outstanding business extended the current sequence of decline to 11 months, with the pace of backlog depletion the fastest in the current sequence.

A lack of incoming work and less pressure on capacity led private sector firms in the South East to cut workforce numbers for the first time since February, in August. The reduction was marginal overall.

The rate of input price inflation quickened in August, to the fastest since January. Moreover, it was above the UK average for the first time in six months, and

A LACK OF INCOMING WORK AND LESS PRESSURE ON CAPACITY LED PRIVATE SECTOR FIRMS IN THE SOUTH EAST TO CUT WORKFORCE NUMBERS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE FEBRUARY

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SURREY BUSINESS

The volume of new work received by private sector firms in the South East fell for the fourth consecutive month in August, with the rate of decline quickening to the fastest in over three years. The fall in overall new business was driven by a marked decline in the manufacturing sector, outweighing a marginal increase in the service sector.

the quickest of the 12 monitored UK regions.

Outlook

BUSINESS SURVEY

Expectations for business activity weakened in August, reportedly linked to political uncertainty. The level of sentiment was positive overall, but dipped to the second-lowest since the series began in mid-2012.

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

70 60 50 40 30 '97

'99

'01

'03

THE VOLUME OF NEW WORK RECEIVED BY PRIVATE SECTOR FIRMS IN THE SOUTH EAST FELL FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH IN AUGUST

markedly above the long-run series average.

Meanwhile, output prices continued to rise solidly. The rate of increase in selling prices was the sharpest for three months and among the quickest of the 12 monitored UK regions.

Expectations for business activity weakened in August, reportedly linked to political uncertainty. The level of sentiment was positive overall, but dipped to the second-lowest since the series began in mid-2012.

'05

'07

'09

'11

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COMMENT

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

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

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

Employment continued to increase, albeit only marginally.

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

Stuart Johnstone

METHODOLOGY The NatWest South East PMI® is compiled by IHS Markit from responses to questionnaires sent to South East companies that participate in IHS Markit’s UK manufacturing and services PMI surveys.

SURREY BUSINESS

19

WEALTH MANAGEMENT EXECUTED BEAUTIFULLY

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LEGAL

MEDIATION or MEDITATION When settling a dispute, Paul Grimwood, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at Hart Brown Solicitors explains the dos and don’ts of mediation themselves into corners. After all you may end up getting such good offers on four out of five issues that at the end of the day you may unexpectedly be prepared to move more on the fifth one in order to secure an overall deal.

Anyone who has ever haggled in a market on holiday knows that the threat of walking away without a purchase is often a powerful one if not the most powerful one. Is it ever wise to take that option off the table?

H

aving qualified as a mediator in 2001 I have a keen interest in how different people approach negotiating the settlement of disputes. A lot of the mediations I do are inheritance disputes between family members so there is not only the various legal claims and counterclaims but just as importantly the deeply held emotions.

In some situations it seems that the seeds of the current dispute have been sown many years before and have been simmering under the surface waiting for a seismic event such as the death of a parent to unleash the warring foes.

In this context it has been morbidly fascinating to see how different politicians of different persuasions have approached the issue of Brexit negotiations, whether by actual participation in the process or by providing seemingly minute-by-minute pitch-side analysis.

Above all I try to dissuade parties in mediations from using the dreaded ‘F word’ for as long as possible as in the phrase “and that’s my final offer”. As ‘F words’ go, maintaining flexibility is usually much more fruitful in terms of trying to find a final resolution.

In my litigation practice, I am often asked to advise whether we should just have a face-to-face negotiation with the other side or whether we should try mediation instead. I have lost count of the number of eminent QCs who have said words to the effect of “I do not need a mediator to show me how to negotiate”. Certainly with sufficiently experienced and specialist legal representatives on both sides it is difficult to say that the involvement of a mediator is essential in all disputes.

However, particularly in emotionally charged situations such as those involving families or small businesses where there may be considerable mistrust between the parties, it is often only the involvement of a specialist independent mediator which enables seemingly intractable disputes to be resolved on the day. Sometimes one or other of the parties, and often both of them, have totally unrealistic expectations going into the mediation which can only be revealed to them by being ‘reality tested’ by someone independent asking questions about what is really important to them and what is a realistic outcome.

I sometimes wonder whether if the Brexit negotiations had involved a team of experienced independent mediators such as Harvard law professors it would have resulted in a better outcome overall. Unfortunately we may now be beyond the stage where mediation can assist leaving only perhaps meditation or even emigration!

To speak with Paul about a potential legal dispute, please call 01483 887766 or email PJG@hartbrown.co.uk

For example, if there are a number of specific issues within an overall dispute is it wise for a party to that dispute to set out at the beginning a series of immovable red lines beyond which they will not in any circumstances go? In my mediations I try to discourage parties from painting

SURREY BUSINESS

23

HOW TO BE AN

EMOTIONALLY AWARE LEADER Building more effective teams by learning to balance candour and curiosity by author, Craig Weber

I

recently had a chance to visit The Ken Blanchard Companies to pilot content from my newest book, Influence in Action: How to Build Your Conversational Capacity, Do Meaningful Work, and Make a Powerful Difference. The premise of this new book is how to exercise more effective leadership—and find deeper purpose and meaning—by building your ability to engage in open, constructive, learning-focused dialogue when it counts.

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This content builds upon the work of my earlier book, Conversational Capacity — a portion of which is being used in The Ken Blanchard Companies’ new Team Leadership program.

In both the books and the new program, we look at practices leaders can use to increase their awareness, cultivate a new mindset, and hone new skills to increase their own conversational capacity and that of their team.

What is conversational capacity? It’s the ability to remain both candid and curious under pressure. It is in this “sweet spot,” where candour and curiosity are in balance that leaders can have the most influence and their teams are able to perform at their best.

One of the important things we teach is learning how to recognise when emotional reactions threaten to knock

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP way—even if no one knows what they’re doing. We can walk into a team meeting about a contentious decision, for example, and by knowing what to watch for and how to respond in more mindful ways, we can have a profound impact on the way the conversation unfolds and the decision gets made.

us off balance. After all, it’s really hard to stay in a sweet spot if we’re not even aware we’ve slipped out of it. This requires learners to become conscious of two defensive emotional reactions, grounded in the powerful fight-or-flight response, that trigger us out of the sweet spot: When the need to win (to be right, to get our way) triggers, we tend to drop curiosity. When the need to minimise the level of risk, tension, or discomfort triggers, we tend to drop candour.

building your conversational capacity is to get better at catching it, naming it, and taming it.

There is a power in being able to say; “I can feel my need to minimise starting to kick in. I’d better watch that or I’m at risk of dropping candour,” or “There’s my need to win gearing up. I need to be careful or I’ll leave the sweet spot.”

It allows you to take the next steps: First, refocusing on what matters in the conversation—learning, thinking

In Conversational Capacity, I share an example of a parent-teacher conference where the teacher is the only person in the meeting who knows these skills. The parents are extremely upset about what they believe is happening.

Yet the teacher is able to pull the entire conversation back into the sweet spot, where it should be: focusing on what matters—getting the parents, the school, and the teachers on the same page about what’s best for a young child’s education.

Conversational capacity is even more powerful when people on a team have a shared set of concepts and skills for how they’re going to communicate when something difficult is on the table. They can create, either formally or informally, what I refer to as a conversational code of conduct—a set of agreements for how team members behave with one another when something important is at stake.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT IF YOU CAN LABEL AN EMOTIONAL REACTION, IT GIVES YOU MORE CONTROL OVER IT

One simple tool that is helpful for increasing the ability to recognise when these defensive reactions threaten our balance is a trigger journal. In a trigger journal, we notice those moments in life when we leave the sweet spot—and then ask ourselves three questions: What was the trigger? How did it affect my behaviour? and What would be a better way to respond next time I catch it?

Each of us is triggered in distinct ways.

Our differing personalities, roles, cultural backgrounds, experiences, and many other factors guarantee it. For example, a situation that triggers you to shut down might prompt your colleague across the table to heat up.

The goal of a trigger journal isn’t necessarily to get in touch with all of your triggers—I doubt that’s even possible—but to get in the habit of noticing when you’re triggered so you can label it. Research shows that if you can label an emotional reaction, it gives you more control over it. So on the awareness front, the basic discipline in

more clearly, and working with others to make the most informed decisions possible; and then replacing your habitual behaviours with skills that will keep you in balance. When your need to minimise kicks in, you can employ two candour skills to stay in the sweet spot. When your need to win is triggered, two curiosity skills can help you stay balanced.

This is the power of conversational capacity. We are able to remain aware, focused on learning, and behaviourally balanced even in difficult moments.

And what’s beautiful about this discipline is that it is helpful at both the individual and the team level.

A single person can have a demonstrable impact on the way decisions are made in a meeting because they can use this framework to influence the conversation in a constructive

A core idea in my work is how, no matter your status or station, you can play a leading role in building healthier work relationships, teams, organisations, and communities. Building your conversational capacity, and that of your team, is the key to doing it.

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

Training the World’s Best Managers

SURREY BUSINESS

25

WORK SPACES

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Sharron Domanska, Director, Arena Business Centres, Natalie Harris-Briggs, VP of Marketing for Avocor, and Georgina Imison, Centre Manager, Arena Business Centres

Office provider Arena Business Centres celebrate their first successful month in Camberley

F

ollowing a successful launch, the team at Arena Business Centres are celebrating their first operational month at their new Camberley site. Arena Camberley opened on August 1st after a £4m refurbishment project to unveil premium workspaces and a collection of modern collaboration spaces for all clients to enjoy. This is the ninth Arena Business Centre, with another established centre situated in nearby Farnborough.

Since opening, Arena Camberley has attracted a host of new clients from a range of industries. One of the first companies to take occupancy was leading collaborative display brand Avocor. Speaking about their move, Natalie Harris-Briggs, VP of Marketing for Avocor commented: “We were looking to move to a new location that reflected the Avocor brand. We visited Arena Farnborough at the end of 2018 and decided – based on that centre and the professionalism of the Arena

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SURREY BUSINESS

Team – to choose the forthcoming Arena Camberley as our EMEA HQ.” Harris-Briggs continued: “The whole process, from signing contracts to moving in has been seamless and the new building is wonderful: very modern and equipped with everything you would need from a serviced office.”

Another early occupant was SONAS Aviation, an aircraft management and charter specialist. Despite first visiting the centre whilst it was still under construction with no internal walls, let alone furnishings, Commercial Director Andrew Hodgson of SONAS Aviation was impressed by Arena’s vision for the centre.

Of the finished product Hodgson remarked: “I have to say that the final results exceeded my expectations by some measure. We are delighted with the great offices that have been created – and the fantastic centre team!”

The centre team are delighted with the positive feedback that they have received from clients and visitors so far. Centre Manager, Georgina Imison commented: “It has been a real pleasure to reveal the finished centre and welcome our first clients to Arena Camberley. We have worked closely with our contractors, architects (Western Design Architects) and Interior Designers (Holmes Interiors) to deliver an aesthetically pleasing centre that is fully able to meet the needs of modern businesses. We look forward to welcoming additional clients to the centre!”

Following the completion of their Camberley centre, Arena are preparing to begin another ambitious refurbishment project in Basingstoke, due for completion in early 2020.

For further information visit www.arenabusinesscentres.com

ON THE RECORD

LEGAL

Employees may have the means to record a disciplinary or grievance meeting, but are they entitled to? Employment law specialist Greg Burgess offers some advice may be considered a reasonable adjustment.

Greg Burgess

M

ost of us carry a mobile phone that’s capable of recording a conversation; but do employers have to allow employees to digitally record a disciplinary or grievance meeting if asked? Employment partner Greg Burgess explains how employers should respond.

Can you refuse?

Yes; as long as you are confident that you are going to be able to produce an accurate minute or note of the meeting, then there is no reason to agree to allow the employee to record it.

An employee has the right to be accompanied to any such meeting by a colleague or trade union representative whose role, in part, should be to take a note of the meeting for the employee to refer back to. If the employee comes to the meeting unaccompanied, and asks instead to record the meeting, then you still are not obliged to allow them to record it - you might suggest allowing regular breaks to allow them to keep their own contemporaneous note.

vein, it was recently held in the case of Phoenix House Limited v Stockman that a Tribunal was right to reduce the employee’s compensation by 10% after she covertly recorded an internal meeting.

Can an employee who covertly records a meeting subsequently rely on the recording in a subsequent Tribunal claim?

Yes, potentially. Tribunals take a fairly employee-friendly approach here. If Can you, the employer, record the the recording contains evidence that meeting? is relevant to the claim before them, There is nothing to stop you recordthen it is quite possible the Tribunal ing the meeting yourself, provided you will agree to that recording being admitted as evi- IF THE EMPLOYEE COMES TO THE MEETING dence.

UNACCOMPANIED, AND ASKS INSTEAD TO RECORD THE MEETING, THEN YOU STILL ARE NOT OBLIGED TO ALLOW THEM TO RECORD IT

How can you pre-empt any request to record meetings?

It’s advisable to make it clear in your disciplinary policy that employees are not allowed to record internal meetings (including disciplinary and grievance meetings). You should also ask them to confirm at the start of the meeting that they are not recording it.

Can you take disciplinary action against an employee if they have covertly recorded a meeting?

Yes, particularly if you have made it clear in your disciplinary policy that no covert recordings should be made of any internal meetings. In a similar

make clear to the employee that they will be provided with a copy of the recording.

Greg Burgess is a Partner in DMH Stallard’s Employment team. Contact him at greg.burgess@dmhstallard. com, or call 01293 558547. www.dmhstallard.com

The only circumstance where it may be prudent to agree to the request might be if the employee has a medical condition which prevents them from taking a note for themselves, and where they have not been able to find a colleague to accompany them. This

SURREY BUSINESS

27

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BUSINESS EXPO

HOW TRADE SHOWS CAN HELP SMEs GROW AND DEVELOP The Business Show’s aim is to help and develop SMEs to succeed in their own business ventures…

A

t the start of 2018 there were 5.6 million small businesses in the UK. This number is continuing to fluctuate, but in recent years we are seeing more and more SMEs become successful and who are even starting to franchise. Still, one of the most popular franchises that has come out of the UK remains to be The Body Shop, who have gained massive international success with over 2,000 stores in 66 different markets. Here at The Business Show we love motivational stories of start-ups and seeing how far small businesses can come, and we know we can play a big part in helping them get there.

The very purpose of starting The Business Show was to provide the essential tools for the start-up of businesses and to encourage the growth and development of SMEs. The Business Show has been running for more than 20+ years, and with that the organisers, event managers and directors have gained great knowledge of what is needed to succeed in the business world.

The Business Show is Prysm Group’s flagship and longest-running event, and

the reason the show has been running for 20+ years is that it shows fantastic results – and we see lots of thriving businesses at the end of it. The Business Show provides the right platform to climb the ladder to your destination

of success. With business owners, entrepreneurs, and employees congregating at the ExCeL Centre in London in May 2019, the Business Show was again, an unprecedented success.

The Business Show is known for its industry-leading seminar programme, and this year it contained over 200 of the most influential speakers from across the sector. We were honoured to have Sian Gabbidon, winner of The Apprentice 2018 as one of our unrivalled

keynotes. Sian offered her invaluable experience and advice to entrepreneurs who look to follow in her footsteps and create a business from scratch.

One of the main highlights of this event is the speed networking area, which allows visitors to create more contacts in just one hour than others do in their whole career. Running alongside our seminar programme are 125 interactive masterclasses, which will provide even more insight into how other business professionals grow and expand their businesses while also reinforcing the knowledge you have already taken from the show.

On November 27th & 28th, The London ExCeL will see the 42nd edition of The Business Show take place. It is set to be the biggest and best show to date. Our keynote line-up already has amazing talent such as The CEO of Revolution Beauty, Adam Minto, as well as the Founder of Lad Bible, Alex Partridge and many more to be announced. We really hope you can come and join in with all that The Business Show has to offer. www.thebusinessshow.co.uk

SURREY BUSINESS

29

FOXHILLS

Marc Hayton followed in his parents’ footsteps when he took over as Managing Director at Foxhills and it is still very much a family business. Interview by Molly Enser.

F

oxhills is a family business and a family club, offering locals and visitors a place to escape. Just moments from the M3 and M25, a short drive from Heathrow and London, Foxhills is an oasis of tran-

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SURREY BUSINESS

quillity with the 19th century Manor House at the heart of the popular club and resort.

Originally heath and woodland owned by Chertsey Abbey in the Mid-

IN THE FAMILY BUSINESS INTERVIEW SURVEY

dle Ages, the land became part of the Botleys Park estate towards the end of the 17th Century.

Foxhills features two Championship golf courses, one par three course (the first of its kind in Britain), 70 bedrooms, three restaurants, eleven tennis courts, three squash courts, three swimming pools, an award-winning health spa, conference and meeting facilities. Foxhills hosts a weekly cy-

cling club, capitalising on its status as official resort partner to the OVO Energy Tour of Britain and home to Team GB’s road race cycling team during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

ly ride with the Sunday morning cycle club. Marc strives to provide the Club’s members and guests with a unique Country Club experience, so that when you leave you feel better than when you arrived.

Managing Director Marc Hayton and his family have owned Foxhills Club & Resort for almost 35 years and you will spot Marc about the Club talking with members and enjoying a week-

Surrey Business Magazine caught up with Marc to discuss Foxhills and his time at the club and how they see their growth in the future.

>>

SURREY BUSINESS

31

What is the Foxhills backstory?

Foxhills is a club and resort in Ottershaw. In 1975, during the 70s recession and oil crisis, the Irish government who owned Aer Lingus, wanted to diversify into hotels and leisure and Foxhills was seen as a key opportunity. They converted the lovely 19th Century manor house with 400 acres into a golf club.

In 1983 my father then bought it having previously owned Pennyhill Park, and he developed it into a country club and then into a resort.

Foxhills is a family business, how have you enjoyed working as a family for so long?

My father passed away in 2010, and my mother is still very active in the business. I worked with my father for 15 years and that was a fantastic apprenticeship. I have been here since 1994.

We worked very closely and had a very good relationship. My mother was very good at making sure there was always family time. If we had any family dinners she would allow us to talk ‘work’ for a while and then promptly draw it to a close. As with any family business, the risk is the lines being completely blurred between work and home, so you do have to have some discipline.

My younger brother James, who is a property developer, lives abroad which means he can offer a different and objective perspective on the business.

My mother loves coming up to the club and is known by many of the members who always appreciate seeing her. The

to our members but also for visitors and business people too. All the investments we make, whether it’s in training, IT or facilities, are based on making people feel better when they leave. The current projects include a £7m build overlooking the walled garden and the Longcross golf course to replace the family facilities. We are keeping the current building open while construction is going on but when the new building opens in 2021 the old building will close.

Marc Hayton

team also enjoy her input as she brings a real warmth and that family feel. She is very much the beating heart of the club.

We have to use every competitive advantage we have and we compete with a lot of well-run corporate businesses in the leisure sector. We can’t match them in terms of scale and buying power, but what we can do is focus on that personal touch that comes from a longstanding family business.

What is your vision for Foxhills in 2020 and beyond?

We have a mission that has been consistent for the last 10 to 15 years which is simply, ‘When people leave they feel better than when they arrived.’ Everything we do is based around that. It’s particularly relevant

Foxhills was developed by my father as a family country club and we want to make sure the facilities are the best available for our members. We are working with the award-winning architect, Michalis Boyd. We’ll look at adding more bedrooms on the site of the existing family facilities.

Surrey has a thriving business community, and people are coming into the county for business and pleasure, and so a facility like Foxhills is very popular.

We are looking to add more bedrooms to accommodate that. There are also plans to extend our spa to provide more relaxation space and extend our restaurant too. We are trying to look at all aspects of Foxhills including parking – it’s more of a village than a club.

As a membership organisation, how do you come up with new member benefits?

The easiest way we do that is talking to our members. We are in daily touch with our members; we experiment a lot with things whether it’s new menus or new fitness timetables and I encourage the team to try new things.

Members will tell us which things they like, and they will also tell us what they don’t like!

It’s not a lightbulb moment, but it’s just about how we listen to our customers. We try and stay abreast of current trends, the team attend conferences across all sectors where we can take ideas to apply to Foxhills and our sister golf club, Farleigh.

One of the luxurious rooms at Foxhills

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How do you adapt to stay relevant in such a digital age?

I surround myself with young people.

I was once a copywriter and my back-

INTERVIEW and the way that the people get along with each other and the conversations that take place in pathways and corridors; these little interactions that take place make people feel better. If when they leave they are having a quick word with a friendly person, whether they are another member or a member of staff, it’s a special thing about the place.

The Foxhills cycling troupe

ground was all in print advertising and direct mail. We have a very bright marketing executive and when it comes to digital, the things he talks about often go way over my head. The other thing I have noticed is a lot of the new recruits are all graduates. Ten years ago that wouldn’t have been the case, so hospitality is attracting more professional people to the trade than perhaps 10 to 15 years ago. These are people who are interested and passionate about the industry and they keep the business relevant because they are interested in it. They want to innovate and take ownership of an idea.

One of our values is to make a difference, and that’s the way that you stay relevant. We never stop learning and we are encouraging young people to come up with new ideas. If we fail, we learn from it and come up with something else. It’s having the right culture where not only our members but colleagues feel safe and empowered to

comment. We want people to tell us when we are doing something well, but also come up with an idea and to be critical.

What is your favourite thing about Foxhills?

My office is my father’s offices and it overlooks the par three golf course and the car park and he liked those two views because the par three golf course is where he saw families playing a game that he started at Foxhills. He also liked to see a full car park as it reminded him he could pay the bills this month!

How can businesses interact with the club?

Our turnover is £13m and that allows us to provide the services that equate to that turnover. We are always keen to meet great local businesses that can supply the different arms of the business. Businesses can use the golf courses or the spa for entertaining clients or incentivising employees. It is perfect for meetings, conferences awards dinners and golf days, and our

OUR MISSION IS SIMPLY, ‘WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE THEY FEEL BETTER THAN WHEN THEY ARRIVED’

The buzz around the club is the thing that I love the most and that’s created by my colleagues and my members.

The interface between those groups of people is absolutely beautiful and it was a former colleague of mine that referred to Foxhills as a village – and he was spot on. It refers to the people

fantastic team of event co-ordinators can take the strain off the organisational side. We offer apprenticeships and lots of employment opportunities, as well as supporting charitable organisations.

And it’s not just here. We offer exactly the same support and quality of service at Farleigh. www.foxhills.co.uk

New plans for Foxhills

SURREY BUSINESS

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BCC_0617

BUSINESS SURVEY

NEW MEMBERS

Surrey Chambers of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies

BUSINESS SUPPORT

CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY

PUBLIC SECTOR

Balfour Beatty Living Places Arena Business Centre Ltd

Contact: Marc May

Tel: 01202 862444

www.balfourbeatty.com

Contact: Helen Deverill

www.arenabusinesscentres.com

Surrey Choices

Contact: Christina Earl

Tel: 07849 097189

Tel: 01483 806806 www.surreychoices.com

Millbrook Building Consultancy Contact: Matthew Blachford Tel: 07305 191516

Business Doctors

www.millbrookbuildingconsultancy.co.uk

Contact: Steve Jebson Tel: 07889 269573 www.businessdoctors.co.uk

Space Air Ltd Spacesworks

Contact: Shelley Walsh Tel: 01483 934600 www.spacesworks.com

Contact: Neil Afram Tel: 01483 478715 www.spaceair.co.uk

HOTELS/RESTAURANTS/VENUES

CHARITY Something2trade Limited Contact: Mandy Delaney Tel: 07982 629076 www.saveourshops.org

Kalm Kitchen Ltd Contact: Jen Middlehurst Tel: 01483 813360 www.kalmkitchen.co.uk

Princess Alice Hospice Trust Ltd Contact: Tim Iredale Tel: 01372 468811 www.pah.org.uk

SASH Charity

Contact: Andrew Bickerdike

Kalm Kitchen Ltd Contact: Zoe Richards Tel: 01483 813360 www.kalmkitchen.co.uk

MARKETING & PR

DirectColour Contact: Mark Attwater

Tel: 01737 768511

Tel: 02083 910011

www.sashcharity.org

www.directcolour.com

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hen you join Surrey Chambers of Commerce, your company details automatically get listed on this page alongside fellow new members. What a fantastic way to let the Surrey Business community know you are out there and ready to get those all-important connections.

If you are looking to join Surrey Chambers then please do get in touch with either: sarah.butcher@surrey-chambers.co.uk molly.enser@surrey-chambers.co.uk noah.pesci@surrey-chambers.co.uk or call 01483 735540.

We look forward to hearing from you!

SURREY BUSINESS

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Let’s get moving

By Paul Ollerton, Managing Director at ViiSana Ltd amounts of money, by implementing simple sustainable ideas.

The Benefits

Paul Ollerton

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hysical inactivity is commonly labelled as one of the most worrying and largest public health issues of the 21st century. It’s also accepted that being physically active is good for your mental and physical wellbeing.

BUT, we are faced with a situation where around four in five workers in the UK have a desk job and most of our work is sedentary. On average, desk workers are sitting up to nine and a half hours a day. Yes – you read that correctly - NINE AND A HALF HOURS PER DAY! As employers, we should clearly be taking responsibility to make a change through creating a more active-oriented work environment.

This month’s article focusses on how this can be achieved in a business of any size, without spending large

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First and foremost, physical activity is a natural mood elevator; studies show it relieves mild anxiety and depression, improves energy, and increases a general sense of wellbeing. It is therefore easy to make the natural assumption that companies whose workers are active both on and off the job will have a higher morale.

Couple this with the more obvious benefits of staying active such as a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, musculoskeletal problems and many other improvements (not to mention the cost to business that this brings), and you are left with a pretty compelling reason to take this seriously.

A recently published study in the USA, of more than one million people, identified that being physically active for one hour per working day would negative the increased health risks of sitting for more than eight hours per day.

The same study also suggested a link between the same hour of activity and a lower chance of developing mental health deterioration, including symptoms of depression and burnout, in comparison to those who remain physically inactive.

Don’t be a desk potato So here are the simple areas to consider to get your workforce moving: Make a stand • Give employees the option of standing desks throughout the day. Rather than buying one for all employees, consider setting up a “pod” of standing desks for people to use as they wish – and make sure everyone gets a turn if they wish to.

• Remove the chairs from a meeting room and make a no-chair policy for the room (then stick to it), or make standing at long meetings an acceptable option.

• Encourage telephone calls standing up – there is evidence that people can communicate more powerfully when standing.

Make a Move • I ntroduce walking meetings. These can be especially useful for 1:1s among managers and their employees for a less formal check-in.

•T ake the stairs not the lift. Put signs up in the lift to encourage people and make stairwells more appealing with artwork or motivational signage.

•M ove around the workspace. Encourage conversation rather than emailing or messaging – it might be worth considering office layout to encourage walking.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Think ‘desk’ • Consider hot desking as an alternative to standard seating. Many UK corporates have moved to having a more agile workplace. This means workers sit in a different seat every day, taking their belongings with them as they move around. This also helps to foster wider working relationships.

• S wap some of your chairs for stability balls for those workers who wish to use them. They do help to build core strength but need to be carefully considered if a worker is prone to lower back problems.

Technology to the help • Invest/subsidise in wearable technology or pedometers. Some health and wellbeing providers (like Vitality) will provide these at low cost to help kick start a project. The gadgets can be set to give timely reminders to move, and groups/teams can enter

online leagues for fun to see who can move the most.

• Small devices such as a portable pedal machine can counter some of the harmful effects of sedentary working, according to a small study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Encourage all the time • Put a simple A4 poster at workstations reminding workers of the benefits of moving.

•A dopt the ‘5 in 55’ rule. Every 55 minutes get up and MOVE. Encourage workers to take brief, two to three minute fitness breaks throughout the day for brisk walking, stretching, or stair climbing.

• Introduce an active lunch break programme – ban eating at the desk and organise lunchtime walking, running, cycling, or yoga groups.

Contact us ViiSana specialises in implementing wellbeing programmes through the implementation of company-wide Vitality Life and Health insurance. If you would like to discuss your company’s individual health concerns/challenges, or if you would just like to discuss ideas for implementing a programme at your business, please get in touch: Email: paul.ollerton@viisana.com Phone: 0333 772 0761 Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/ LinkedIn

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9

TIPS FOR STAYING AHEAD IN BUSINESS

With uncertainty for the future, here are nine actionable tips your business can put in place to make sure you’re heading in the right direction, by Jonathan Bird, CEO of Delivered Social

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Look at your staff Take a closer look at your Human Resources. What’s working for them and your business, and what isn’t?

What direction are you heading in and what part do your staff play? What can you all do to make things better? Asking yourself these questions will help your business move forward faster.

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here’s no doubt that the future is a bit uncertain at the moment. You might be worried about what this means for you and your business. By preparing and putting the right steps in place, there’s no reason why you can’t keep moving in the right direction. Here are nine actionable tips that you can start putting in place today.

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Be social on social media Make sure that you have at least one social media account – but preferably more! Simply having an account is not enough anymore. You need to keep active, relevant and engaging to help get your name out and stay relevant in discussions.

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You can never have enough client acquisition How do you attract clients to your business? Whatever it is that you’re doing, you can probably do more. Hone your client acquisition strategy, or create one by researching online and speaking to others who have done the same.

Remember, the more clients you have knocking on your door, the better.

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Smooth things out Make a list of things that are annoying you about your business. How can you change them? If you’re constantly annoyed about fixable things, you won’t move forward – so come up with a plan!

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Use Google My Business to propel your rankings Another great tool you should be using alongside your social media profiles is Google My Business. Ensure all your details are kept up to date and that you are posting on it weekly to make the most of this free space to shout about your business!

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Use the power of reviews and book in with us!

At Delivered Social, we offer totally free social clinics to help businesses that aren’t sure if they’re doing the right thing with their social media and websites. Reviews matter for a business (seriously, check ours out) and if you don’t have a review strategy lets figure one out. Don’t worry, there’s absolutely no sales pitch!

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Plan constantly. Target often.

How are you going to move forward

DIGITAL MARKETING if you don’t know where you’re going?

Always be planning your next move to stay ahead. Sit down once a month or so to plan for both the long and short term and see what a difference it makes.

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Why? Think about why you have this business and why you want to move forward. Do you want to sell a great product, help people, or build the ideal life for yourself? Having a true purpose will keep you motivated. Tailor your growth strategy in that direction and you’ll go far.

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Know your market You might need to carry out some market research, but you should always know exactly who your market is and what they want or need from you.

Then, you can modify your business or products to suit them. Expect their needs to change as the economy fluctuates. Always be prepared to adapt!

With some hard work and a few changes, your business should be more than prepared to head in the right direction, even when things are precarious. You can put most of these tips in place by yourself. However, don’t ignore any free

help or resources that might be found in your local area or beyond. Take advantage of the expertise of others to help you build your business and you’re sure to keep moving forward.

You can find more helpful tips and advice at www.deliveredsocial.com

Jonathan Bird is a proven business owner, international speaker and dedicated marketer. He is the CEO of Delivered Social, a digital marketing agency based in Guildford. He uses his vast knowledge of social media platforms to deliver expert business advice to high-profile clients in various major sectors. Jonathan has spoken on digital marketing and social media at conferences and events both in the UK and overseas.

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KEEPING THE GAME

Gamification is serious business; Surrey Research Park reveal how they are supporting this new wave of games innovation

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he UK games sector has boomed over the past few decades and is now worth £3 billion to the British economy. Employing over 47,000 people up and down the country, the UK is listed as the fifth-largest video game market in the world. There are now a reported 37 million gamers across the nation.

Gaming has been huge in Guildford since the 1980s. Peter Molyneux, founder of Lionhead Studios at Surrey Research Park, paved the way for success as it was acquired by Microsoft in 2006 for its creative studio. Other successes in the area followed and led to today’s concentration of creative and programming talent centred on Guildford, with over 1,000 games developers working in some 70 studios.

Rocketdesk, the specialist creative industry workspace located at the Surrey Research Park, is very much at the epicentre of UK gaming. Utilising

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the Park’s connection to the University of Surrey with links into the 5G research program and its Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP), Rocketdesk has helped establish a pioneering 5G-enabled games hub.

Guildford has been called the Hollywood of British gaming and this cluster of Surrey expertise is supporting a new wave of games innovation. The University’s Centre for Vision, Speech and Signal Processing (CVSSP) joined in partnership to launch the Galvanising Guildford Games Group. Forums like this, linking the University’s tech experts to local games gurus, are so critical in pushing the boundaries of technology development and applica-

tions, and one such area that is gaining momentum at Surrey Research Park is gamification.

Gamification, a buzzword that has gained momentum within the last decade, is the notion of making non-gaming processes, experiences or interactions more engaging through gaming tactics. The approach is utilised by brands across the globe for a range of applications and continues to have a wealth of potential.

Features such as points, badges, progress charts and leaderboards – engagement approaches that have been used in gaming for many years and are no doubt embedded in apps and sites we’re using every day – are intended to

GUILDFORD HAS BEEN CALLED THE HOLLYWOOD OF BRITISH GAMING AND THIS CLUSTER OF SURREY EXPERTISE IS SUPPORTING A NEW WAVE OF GAMES INNOVATION

ALIVE

improve the user experience, encourage loyalty and in many cases help us retain messages or information.

“The two crucial elements of gamification that have been inspired by games are usability and retention,” said Nathan Baseley, Senior Producer at gaming developers 22 Cans. “When developing games, we work to remove friction or barriers to entry for players, so that they can get to the fun as quickly as possible and understand what to do, as well as keeping them engaged in the game loop, to ensure the health of our business.

SURREYBUSINESS RESEARCH SURVEY PARK

UK multi-national pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) commissioned Surrey Research Park based, Diverse Interactive, a technology innovator of immersive experiences for brands working in the augmented and virtual reality, to create a learning resource app that would educate a young target audience about Flonase, an allergy relief nasal spray.

members by helping them achieve something together, or inspire a community to tackle climate issues? As gaming principles are fundamentally based on human needs such as mastery and attainment, the future of gamification will be a success as long as it continues to fulfil this emotional need”.

The app enabled users to schedule reminders for repeat purchases, watch animations about the medication and how to take it, as well as a chance to see the allergy symptoms on their own faces using AR face filters. Gamifying a monotonous process helped the young audience engage with the concept to understand and retain medication information better.

Surrey Research Park Email: sales@surrey.ac.uk Tel: 01483 579693

“Different industries are utilising gamification in a variety of ways to make experiences simpler, clearer or more enjoyable for customers, and to retain them as ongoing users of their product or brand.

It’s clear that gamification is creating new and creative opportunities for brands to engage and improve experiences for their customers. Nathan from 22Cans speculates that the potential of gamification could go further still.

“Points of playfulness are at the heart of gamification. These points of playfulness can be as simple as providing sound effects when selecting an option on a ticket machine, making the experience more enjoyable and understandable, and result in the user wanting to interact with the product again”.

“In gaming we look at satisfying users’ emotional needs, and gamification is so often about visualising abstract concepts like progress or achievement.

With that in mind, there could be a place for it in society around other, sometimes complex, abstract concepts.

Whether it’s a loyalty programme in your local coffee shop for a free coffee, or a personalised training course that gives you medals for completing modules, brands are making the most of the engagement opportunities that gamification offers.

“What if gaming principles could bring together disengaged family

The healthcare technology is an area that has seen significant growth over the last decade, and gamification has played its part in that.

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

“Annual returns of 12%+ per annum”

LIQUID GOLD

Has Whiskey become a better investment than Gold, Property and Stocks? Find out the answers...

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his headline is likely to ruffle a few feathers from avid investors in gold, property and stocks, but casks of whiskey are fast becoming the go-to investment for people looking to hedge against inflation and the uncertainties of the financial markets.

Knight Frank has included whiskey in its wealth report for the first time in 2019; a key indicator that this asset class is favourable with HNWI & UHNWI who are securing their wealth by owning casks of whiskey.

This is not about being speculative and buying rare bottles of whiskey in the hope they go up in price. That style of investing requires skill and knowledge of the market while still being a gamble. This article is specifically about owning casks of whiskey.

HOW IT WORKS You can purchase casks of whiskey straight off the still. Because the whiskey is brand new, it hasn’t aged and therefore is far most cost effective. Whiskey must be at least three years old to be bottled and sold, and most would agree at least five+ years old to be desirable and palatable enough to drink. The cost of maturation over five years can hurt distilleries, as it is quite a capitalintensive model.

Some distilleries, therefore, opt to sell a small percentage of their whiskey right off the stills. They do this to cover running costs while the rest of their production matures over five years or longer. This opens up a great opportunity for investors to buy off the stills and hold for those five years, then releasing at a profit.

WHY IS WHISKEY BECOMING FAVOURABLE WITH INVESTORS? Unlike most commodities, whiskey increases in quality and value as it matures. Its price increase is inevitable over time. It doesn’t tend to suffer the highs and lows of financial markets and it’s also a major exported product, where demand significantly outstrips supply.

The Irish variety is the fastestgrowing, brown spirit in the world.

The International Wine & Spirit Record (IWSR), which is the global benchmark for alcohol data and intelligence, shows the growth of Irish whiskey will continue to outstrip that of Scotch and Bourbon for at least another ten years. What’s more, it has been outperforming both for the last twenty years. The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) echoes the same data and statistics and predicts the rise to continue, as Irish whiskey comes back to where it once was on a global stage. So, Irish whiskey specifically offers a mix of stability and huge growth upside.

The Whiskey industry in Ireland is set to soar above €1 billion euros per annum — which is predicted to double again by 2030. There simply isn’t enough mature Irish whiskey available to supply the demands of the market today — and especially not in five or ten years time.

Join a number of Surrey Business Magazine subscribers who are choosing to secure their wealth with Whiskey & Wealth Club. Based in the centre of Richmond the club offers private clients the opportunity to invest in casks of Irish, Scotch or Bourbon Whiskey. The casks mature and increase in value over time, while safely secured in governmentcontrolled bonded warehouses. Investors

are seeing returns above 12% per annum with little downside risk as all casks are fully insured against fire, theft, etc.

Single casks of Irish whiskey are being sold for between €5,500 and €7,850 by competitors. The model at Whiskey & Wealth Club is based on small margin, high volume. For an equivalent cask from the same distilleries, it buys in bulk and can sell to its clients for only €2,900 a cask. However, it requires a purchase of at least one pallet (6 casks) or more.

This includes five years of storage and bonded warehousing fees, plus five years of insurance. Annual returns are being achieved above 12% and as high as 54.5% a year, depending on an investor’s chosen exit strategy.

WE HAVE VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE To receive a prospectus and a deeper understanding of this opportunity, please call today on 0203 129 9739 and quote ‘Surrey Business Magazine’. Ask to speak to Senior Wealth Manager, Gary Schroeder, for this exclusive offer. Gary is always happy to meet face-to-face with investors to discuss the investment and answer any questions you have. With clients who come onboard having seen this advertisment, they shall recieve a complimentary bottle of “The Whistler Blue Note” from our current distillery we are partnered with who won “The Best Single Malt In The World Under 12 Years” in 2017 for this Whiskey.

Whiskey & Wealth Club Gary Schroeder, Senior Wealth Manager 51A George Street Richmond TW9 1HJ 020 3129 9739 g.schroeder@whiskeywealthclub.com

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

THE PACE OF CHANGE Global accounting firm Mazars believe that innovation, diversity and ethics are more important than ever. We hear from Mike Bailey, Partner, on how entrepreneurs can embrace change in our rapidly changing world Working with clients of all sizes, from start-ups and entrepreneurial business to global players, we offer a different perspective and aren’t afraid to challenge. We are committed to providing valuable insights, high quality services and developing enduring relationships.

How long has Mazars been established?

Mazars bears the name of its original founder, Robert Mazars, who started his practice near Rouen, in western France, in 1940. The firm quickly grew to establish itself as a highly reputable practice, rapidly acquiring new clients and becoming well-known for its focus on technical excellence and quality of service.

We believe that a societal approach to business and ethical behaviour is more important than ever. Our Business, For Good® initiative encourages business leaders to ‘think and act long-term’ in order to enhance business performance and pursue profit responsibly for the benefit of companies, their stakeholders and wider society.

How has the landscape for entrepreneurial businesses changed over recent years?

Business has become so much faster in recent years. The rate of innovation has increased dramatically and innovations become the norm far quicker.

This has brought opportunities for those who can embrace disruptive innovation but has spelt doom for those who can’t.

THE MOVE TOWARD GREATER INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS IS GATHERING PACE

In the UK, Mazars merged with Neville Russell in 1998. Neville Russell traces its history back to 1900, when Charles Neville Russell set up his own business bookkeeping for Lloyd’s underwriting syndicates in the heart of the City of London. Mazars is now an integrated partnership in 89 countries across the globe, with over 23,000 professionals.

What makes you stand out from the rest?

We’re a positively different firm. We have strong values, where innovation and collaboration are encouraged and diversity embraced – we are committed to building for the future.

The move toward greater inclusivity and diversity in business is gathering pace with implications for engagement with both a company’s workforce and its customer base.

There is a growing pressure on businesses of all sizes to demonstrate a more ethical approach to business, whether that’s in relation to procurement, employee behaviour, business decisions, environmental impact or workers’ rights. And businesses that fall short of what society sees as

acceptable are called out on social media sometimes within hours of their transgression.

What positive steps can businesses take to stay ahead of the game in what seems an unstable future?

Businesses must balance the need for a short-term focus with the need for informed, long-term strategies.

Every business is different but there are some positive steps all companies can consider: • However hard it may be, focus on the future instead of prioritising the here and now. As part of Mazars Optimize approach we help you to clarify your strategic vision and assess whether you need to realign your objectives to achieve this • Always look for ways to use technology to streamline your business processes. Embrace the digital era. An enhanced digital presence can open new markets and provides a better understanding of your customers’ needs •V alue and develop your workforce.

Workforce planning involves understanding your current and future labour markets to identify where your workforce is coming from. With Brexit looming, companies who get on top of this will be ahead of the game.

Contact Mazars Mike Bailey and his team can help you spend time on your business, not in your business. Contact Mike at mike. bailey@mazars.co.uk

SURREY BUSINESS

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R325M Result Soft padded safety jacket

71351 Helly Hansen Aker winter jacket in black

FD23310 Dickies Medway super safety boot

DS25 Dennys Unisex waistcoat

At Delf we specialise in supplying workwear, uniforms and promotional clothing to customer and clients from all business sectors. We have been one of Surrey’s leading suppliers for nearly 40 years providing both off the shelf and bespoke designs.

We can both supply and manufacture workwear and uniforms to complement your company image and to cope with the rigours of your working environment.

All our garments can be personalised with your company logo, with either embroidery or printing and we can also provide PPE for workplace safety. The industries we supply are construction, engineering, railways, logistics and transport, painters and decorators, security, catering and hospitality, and schools and sports clubs.

All our clients have all trusted Delf with their

DS25 Dennys Unisex waistcoat

requirements as we provide products and customer services that exceeds expectations.

Our journey began when we launched our successful low temperature clothing, which eventually diversified into business clothing solutions firm.

Our products are manufactured both here in the UK and abroad.

At Delf we aim to keep people protected and comfortable in exceptional clothing. Our second generation family-owned business is committed to delivering that mission through our core values.

If you would like to discuss your company’s requirements, then please call John or Claire on 020 8941 2802 or email hello@delf.co 71351 Helly Hansen Aker winter jacket in royal

SPONSORSHIP

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Sponsor a CHAMBER EVENT

urrey Chambers of Commerce holds over 100 events a year spread across the county. We host regular breakfast meetings, industry specific forums and corporate dinners perfect for entertaining clients. These events are designed to give you the chance to enhance your

business network, find new customers and local suppliers, and meet other dynamic business people.

Sponsoring a Surrey Chambers event allows you to raise your profile and brand awareness within the county and showcase your expertise as

a company. By sponsoring an event you can take advantage of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce database and reach your target audience. It’s the perfect opportunity to make new connections and be seen to be leading and influencing.

Option 1: £300+VAT

Option 2: £750 +VAT

Option 3: £1500 +VAT

PRE-EVENT •M arketing flyers - the words ‘sponsored by’ and your company logo on event flyer.

•C ompany logo on Surrey Chambers website against sponsored event of your choice.

• I ncluded in weekly newsletter promotion of the event.

PRE-EVENT •M arketing flyers - the words ‘sponsored by’ and your company logo on event flyer.

•C ompany logo on Surrey Chambers website against sponsored event of your choice.

• I ncluded in weekly newsletter promotion of the event.

•H yperlink on the respective Surrey Chambers website page, through to your own website.

PRE-EVENT •M arketing flyers - the words ‘sponsored by’ and your company logo on event flyer.

•C ompany logo on Surrey Chambers website against sponsored event of your choice.

• I ncluded in weekly newsletter promotion of the event.

•H yperlink on the respective Surrey Chambers website page, through to your own website.

AT EVENT • Two complimentary places.

•E vent ‘sponsored by’ and company logo on delegate list; copy for each attendee.

• Logo on delegate badges.

•O pportunity to display corporate banner and literature.

•A cknowledgement by Chamber representative for sponsorship at event.

•O pportunity to speak briefly at event (up to 10 minutes).

•T agged on Twitter/Instagram social media platforms.

AT EVENT •U p to 10 complimentary places / table of 10.

•E vent ‘sponsored by’ and company logo on delegate list.

Copy for each attendee.

•L ogo on delegate badges.

•S hort bio and accompanying photos in event programme.

•O pportunity to display corporate banner and literature.

•A cknowledgement by Chamber CEO for sponsorship at event.

•O pportunity to speak briefly at event (up to 15 minutes).

•T agged on Twitter/Instagram social media platforms.

AT EVENT • One complimentary place.

•E vent ‘sponsored by’ and company logo on delegate list.

Copy for each attendee.

•O pportunity to display corporate banner and literature.

•A cknowledgement by Chamber representative for sponsorship at event.

•T agged on Twitter/Instagram social media platforms.

POST EVENT •L ogo included in post-event email to attendees.

If you are interested in sponsoring a Surrey Chambers of Commerce event, please contact: Emily.Stanton@surrey-chambers.co.uk or call 01483 735540

POST EVENT •L ogo included in post-event email to attendees.

•S pecial thanks featured in post-event write-up article for next issue of Surrey Business Magazine, along with logo and accompanying photo.

SURREY BUSINESS

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BUSINESS EXPO

WOKING SHOW SAYS FAREWELL TO HG WELLS the business hub town for Surrey with its amazing road and rail links and the influx of new businesses.

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fter 16 successful years running the Woking Means Business Expo at the H.G. Wells Conference & Events Centre in Woking, it seems almost certain that this will be the last time the event runs at this venue. With the major regeneration project in Woking due to finish in 2020, there are other redevelopment pro-

jects on the cards and this part of the town is likely to be one of them.

The towers are up, a new 4-star Hilton and a roof top restaurant will be in place along with hundreds of new apartments, office space and retail outlets including a 50,000 sq.ft Marks & Spencer. Woking is fast becoming

Woking Means Business is probably the longest-established business-to-business expo in Surrey and provides the perfect platform for companies wishing to take advantage of all that this enterprising town has to offer. It might not be the prettiest place to live and work, but it certainly is the most progressive and the most dynamic. For those wishing to get right up to date with developments in Woking, they can attend the free Woking Borough Council Breakfast Forum at 7.45am immediately prior to the show opening. The Chief Executive and the Council Leader, along with impressive guest speakers, will be giving delegates the very latest information about developments in the town.

Anyone wishing to attend can do so if they register at www.wokingmeansbusiness.com/seminars and clicks on the Eventbrite link. Pre-booking is essential as this event is always oversubscribed.

Exhibitors are still signing up by the day and the show will be full when we open the doors on Wednesday October 16th at 9.30am. There will be a fascinating range of products and services on show.

The three excellent speakers will all add tremendous value to the event as well. All three will be talking about different but essential aspects of running a successful business. Places can be booked at the same seminar hyperlink mentioned above.

Promotion of the event is now

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going into overdrive. A large six-metre banner is up at the exit to the town’s main car park, posters are in place on the Barclays Bank and Christ Church Rooms buildings overlooking Jubilee Square, the social media programme is well underway and our media partners Eagle Radio and Woking News & Mail will be playing their part – quite apart from the superb exposure the show has had in this excellent magazine and the constant activity of the show promoter, Woking Chamber of Commerce.

more leads, more opportunities All info about the show can be found on www.wokingmeansbusiness.com or by contacting Paul Webster at paul@websterconsultancy.co.uk

H.G.Wells Conference & Events Centre, 16 October 2019

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HERE TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS PROCESSES SIMPLER

TVision

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Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

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Easier reporting, financial management, better business agility

3 Cloud 3 Integration 3 Support 3 Training TVision provides local, national and international organisations with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, the business software that transforms the way you work, driving down inefficiency, improving transparency and supporting growth.

Contact us now for a FREE demo or visit our Woking office on Church Street West.

Call us on: 01483 751888 Or email: hello@tvisiontech.co.uk www.tvisiontech.co.uk

WOKING IN BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY AT ITS BEST Pippa Odell, Managing Director of Woking-based TVision Technology advises on effective solutions for inefficient business processes

Please describe what TVision does We are an IT consultancy working in partnership with our clients to help solve their business problems. It could be issues experienced during day-to-day processing, new innovation needed to drive growth, or a lack of business data that is holding their business back.

Organisations often find they need to streamline internal processes, and struggle to provide accurate informed answers to business questions. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a software platform that can pull information together from across your entire business, from supply chain and stock management through to accounting, human resources and customer management – giving you a complete, end-to-end view of your business’s performance. You can find everything you need in one place at the click of a button. How much easier would life be for the CEO, your Finance Director or the senior leadership team if they could do this?

Which industry sectors can you support?

We have clients across a huge variety of business sectors, but what they all have in common is their need for a top class finance system to help their businesses thrive in the digital age.

Many of our clients also roll out Business Central’s extensive functionality across their businesses, helping operations to evolve and improve. We can cater for companies that have complex financial hierarchies and structures, as well as those in different geographies using different currencies.

Although we have a specialised knowledge of the drinks industry with our ‘Bevica’ solution, and ‘Agency Time’ for the recruitment and staffing industry, we also support financial services, professional services, many distribution and other varied business types.

What makes your business special?

We know that your company has very specific needs relating to how you do business, and that buying and deploying a new core business system can be risky and take many months before you see a return on your investment. Choosing TVision will help you minimise risk whilst benefitting from best practise processes.

Our in-house team have over 270 years’ direct product experience and 200+ successful implementations. We make sure the solution fits your business needs and we can integrate with other systems or offer suitable add-ons to ensure business continuity. Talk to us today to find out how we can help and we’ll show you a no obligation demo of exactly what Dynamics 365 Business Central could do for you.

How long have you been in Woking?

TVision Technology has always been a Surrey-based business with our HQ office based in Woking for the last five years. This means we have always had a focus of accessible local support but with global availability and reach to support UK clients with offices situated both nationally and internationally.

Contact TVision Technology 01483 751888 www.tvisiontech.co.uk @tvisiontech

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SURREY BUSINESS

Contact demo or office on

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS AT SURREY TRANSLATION BUREAU Interview with Head of Translation Operations, Hannah Stacey for a Faculty Dean. I loved the combination of research and study, and using my language skills in that way was both motivating and challenging. That led onto my signing up for more study and an MA in Translation and Linguistics at Westminster.

I joined Surrey Translation Bureau as a Project Manager at back in 2009.

When I joined the company there were just three Project Managers, now there are nine, so the company and I have grown and evolved together.

Since 2013 I’ve been in my current role as Head of Translation Operations.

H

ead of Translation Operations, Hannah Stacey, has just reached a fantastic milestone at Surrey Translation Bureau, having been at the company for 10 years! When August was celebrated as Women in Translation month, Surrey Business Magazine took the opportunity to ask her about her career growth, her thoughts on industry changes and if she had any secrets for success…

What prompted you to join the translation industry?

Entering into the language industry was an easy choice for me – from the word go, I was fascinated by other languages and puzzle-solving. I think the geek in me always saw translation as code-cracking! Pure enjoyment of modern languages at school led to a BA in French and Italian, with German on the side.

I spent a year working in Sydney and fell into a role translating documents on Venetian Renaissance architecture

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What has been your biggest professional challenge?

Remaining ambitious and maintaining drive – you have to be patient in a small business environment! Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say, and spreading out expenditure plays a huge part in strategic decisions.

What has been your experience as a woman in the translation industry?

My experience has always been that women are in the majority in the language industry and as such I’ve never felt like my personal development, growth, position or place has been limited or threatened. That said, I haven’t ever felt that I needed to stand out to be heard, as I’ve never been afraid to say what’s on my mind or call others out if needed. I think the industry as a whole is perfectly set up to complement the life of a working mum, what with freelancers choosing hours to suit, the ability to work around different time zones to match your working preferences, and remote work being so dominant.

On returning to work from maternity leave I put together a proposal that

worked for the company and for me and my new priorities. I have heard awful stories about how women are mistreated in returning to work, but I’m pleased to say it has not been my personal experience. That said I’d advise any women to be prepared to fight for what they want from life and if they are in the right company, things will work for you.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

What would you consider your biggest achievement professionally?

I’m not sure I could put my finger on one thing specifically, but when I attend freelancer-focussed events and our extended team tell us we’re doing something right, I’m pretty proud.

There’s not many translation agencies out there that see all translators as such a highly valued part of the production chain. Perhaps it’s because our company make-up stems from qualified language degrees, or perhaps it’s our family-focussed management, either way, I think it makes us stand out from the crowd and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

What’s next for the Bureau?

This year we presented at the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting) Conference on post-editing, won a Corporate Member award and implemented a translation management software, Plunet BusinessManager, to streamline efficiency, so we have a lot to build on.

We have our first ever international presentation coming up at Meet Central Europe in Prague in October and a rebrand in the making, so we have some aces up our sleeves. You could say we’ve stacked the deck for success. hello@surreytranslation.co.uk 01252 730014

International Trade – how the chambers can help As per the norm, it has been an incredibly busy few months for the International Trade department here at Surrey Chambers.

Our International Trade section of our website has had a much needed overhaul which has been designed to provide useful information and support to businesses trading international. If you haven’t already seen it, take a look at www.surrey-chambers.co.uk.

Our International Trade Export Documentation Service continues to grow stronger and stronger. We are able to provide support to Surrey businesses in obtaining their export documentation needed to get their goods to their overseas clients and there may be added demand if it becomes a requirement for Certificates of Origin to accompany shipments into the EU after Brexit. Please do get in touch with my team to find how we can help your business with your export documents.

Whilst the politicians have been debating and arguing in Parliament, we have continued to support businesses with their preparations for Brexit. We continue to build upon our work with a range of partners to help deliver events, workshops and helpful information to business to aid with their No-deal preparations.

Our Brexit Checklist and Risk Register is regularly updated and really has become a useful tool for Surrey businesses. Crucially, we have built up some good links with key figures within government departments so if any business have any questions/issues/challenges that the government technical notices haven’t covered, then please do get in touch with me.

Gary Hayes - International Trade Manager

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16-17 OCTOBER FARNBOROUGH REGISTER FREE NOW

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BUSINESS EXPO

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TRANSFORM YOUR CAREER PATH M

aking changes in your professional life is never easy. Whether it is seeking a different role, returning to work or starting a new business – it takes a great deal of time, effort and energy. A luxury many of us don’t have juggling with life’s daily demands. For women who want to realise their career ambitions, staying put is probably not the best option. Instead of wasting numerous hours on research and networking, you can now get the support you need in a single day – at the new Women in Business Expo 2019, October 16th-17th, Farnborough.

Think of it as the ultimate form of career self-help as the event will have all of the right resources and advice to support professional females. There will be a huge network of experts to help turn around flagging careers or turn light bulb moments into real-life businesses. Some of the most successful global companies will offer genuine recruitment opportunities and a range of selected specialist companies will provide practical services for start-ups.

Women in Business Expo will provide both information and inspiration, with headline speakers Karren Brady, Michelle Mone and Caprice Bourret sharing stories of their professional journeys at the pinnacle of British business.

A fitting tribute to the calibre of the event, Karren Brady is one of the UK’s most high-profile businesswomen and has won numerous awards for services to business. Karren will give an invaluable insight into her wealth of experience and passion for supporting entrepreneurs and business. She is a champion for women and is sure to inspire visitors with a topical talk on the burning issues facing females in the workplace.

IN 24 HOURS

Michelle Mone, also one of Britain’s most influential business women, is a renowned entrepreneur and a strong advocate for equality in business.

Michelle’s multiple businesses have gone from strength-to-strength, developing beyond the original umbrella of her own Ultimo brand to encompass 15 different patented inventions.

Caprice Bourret will present a similar tale of professional success, discussing how she started from nothing and manged to build various businesses

by playing to her strengths. Caprice will cover everything from women in the workplace, to small business start-ups and the impact of operating in a volatile economy.

Many leading recruiters suggest that people looking to make a career transition need to spend seven to eight hours per week for several weeks to prepare, research and network.

Attending Women in Business Expo 2019 means taking just one day out of your schedule. Allow yourself some valuable career me-time and you could finally seal your professional future in less than 24 hours.

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DEVELOPING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE Our HR solutions provide organisations with the means to develop in the key areas that are important to them. Supported by our assessment tools and professional development series, we help you to deliver on your organisation’s initiatives.

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RECRUITMENT

INVESTING IN YOUR EMPLOYEES IS INVESTING IN YOUR BUSINESS Says Martine Robins, Director of The HR Dept Woking and Guildford

T

raining and development for employees can be regarded as expensive or time consuming and not a priority. But if it’s done well it can provide a significant return on investment, whilst building both the trainee and the business.

velopment should be in any successful people management strategy.

Here are two suggestions when considering training and development for your employees:

You may ask “But what happens if I train them and they leave?” Whilst this is a genuine concern perhaps you should ask yourself “What if I don’t train them and they stay?”.

Define learning needs If an eager employee is asking to attend a super duper week-long course to better their abilities, their enthusiasm should be well received, but is it relevant to their role and your business?

Recent research has revealed that unproductive employees cost British businesses around £22 billion annually boredom was listed as a top five distraction which suggests that training and de-

Protect your investment Ensure that the knowledge gained is retained within your business so you can measure the ROI to protect it. Some courses that give recognised qualifica-

tions are extremely expensive. You do not want to pay out only for the employee to take the new qualifications to a competitor six months later.

Martine Robins is the Director of The HR Dept Woking and Guildford. You can contact her on 01483 603001 or 07392 311318 or email martine. robins@hrdept.co.uk www.hrdept.co.uk/wokingandguildford

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BUSINESS INSURANCE

Insurance needn’t be a foreign language

Whether you think of commercial insurance as a necessary evil or a waste of your valuable time, one thing is for certain, your business needs it

I

t sometimes feels like insurers make their subject deliberately dull and complicated, the use of archaic terminology wilfully designed to confuse the unwary and uninterested, it’s almost like a foreign language.

Any good insurance broker will talk you through the process of buying appropriate cover for you and your business but a great insurance broker will do this and more. Here at H2i we constantly review and update cover where required and should you ever need to make a claim, we speak the same language as the insurers.

Too many businesses lose claims because they fail to follow the basic rules of engagement. H2i clients benefit from our years of experience in claims handling on both sides of the fence and, because we are backed by Momentum we have the clout that only a great reputation can provide.

But more than anything, we hold ourselves and our industry to very high standards, when you purchase insurance you are buying a promise and we are never afraid of holding the insurers’ feet to the fire when necessary.

Claims can go wrong from the very start and without fair and proper representation, you could find yourself losing more than just the cost of your premium. H2i help with claims on behalf of our clients, often increasing the value of settlements and even spoiling insurer's attempts to decline claims completely.

For a completely independent assessment of your current cover, call or email H2i we will tell you in plain language what you have and whether it is appropriate for your business.

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POLICING SURREY

SURREY POLICE

Can you help keep Surrey safe?

Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro on careers in Surrey Police the combination of these two recruitment campaigns will in the long term provide a really welcome boost for the service in this county.

It is my job as PCC together with the Chief Officer team at Surrey Police to ensure those officers we recruit are properly trained and equipped, given the right welfare provision and protection from assaults on duty and supported in the use of police powers including stop and search.

L

ike most businesses, a police force’s most valuable asset is of course its people – the officers and staff that work around the clock to keep our county safe.

If you’ve ever considered a career in policing then now is a great time to make that a reality.

Amongst the many announcements from central government in recent weeks was the pledge from the Prime Minister to recruit 20,000 more police officers nationwide over the next three years. A campaign called ‘Be A Force For All’ has now been launched by the Home Office who are investing significant funding in attracting people into policing roles.

We don’t know yet what the exact numbers and distribution are to be but I will be fighting to ensure Surrey gets its fair share and any increase will, I hope, make a real difference to our communities across the county.

In addition to the Home Office campaign, Surrey Police are currently run-

ning their own recruitment drive to fill a number of vacant posts. My agreed council tax precept rise in the county this year allowed the Force to recruit an extra 79 officers and operational staff whilst saving another 25 posts which would have been lost.

Police officers and staff have a vital and unique role working with our communities and it’s genuinely a job where no two days are the same. It can be a dynamic and challenging career that is extremely rewarding with a variety of options and roles available to people looking to join.

The new entry routes provide the opportunity to gain SURREY RESIDENTS HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME a fully-funded degree or Graduate HOW MUCH THEY LOVE AND VALUE THEIR LOCAL Diploma, with a POLICE AND THAT THEY WANT TO SEE MORE good starting salary. There are many OF THEM ON OUR STREETS opportunities to progress through This campaign will aim to find recruits the ranks and specialise in an area of for those roles and others in the Force policing that interests you such as beand I‘m told the response has already coming a detective, being part of the been really positive.

Roads Policing Unit or joining one of the Public Protection teams.

As I’ve previously highlighted that over recent years, our police service both nationally and locally has been operating in a very difficult financial climate with resources stretched to the limit.

Surrey residents have repeatedly told me how much they love and value their local police and that they want to see more of them on our streets. I believe

If you are interested in learning more about joining Surrey Police - visit www.surrey.police.uk/pc for more details about applying.

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GATWICK AIRPORT HELPING LOCAL BUSINESSES TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS How the local tourism industry and food and drink producers are making the most of having Gatwick on the doorstep

G

atwick Airport is vital for the region’s economy and drives local trade and employment. It also acts as the region’s gateway to the world, welcoming 5.5 million overseas visitors a year.

The region’s tourism industry benefits in particular and these visitors have been shown to spend around 9.7 million nights and £1.3 billion in the area each year. They also support over 5,000 local jobs.

While these numbers are impressive - with London just up the road - competition is stiff. With that in mind, the aptly named ‘Gateway Gatwick’ group formed in 2018 to help the local tourism sector make the most of having the UK’s second largest airport on its doorstep.

tional partners such as airlines and tour operators. It also provides on-airport promotional space to help market local attractions to the 46 million passengers who pass through every year.

age producers with airport buyers including shops, restaurants and hotels from across the region. Attendees range from start-ups to established producers including Crumbs Brewing,

Gatwick Gateway is a long-term, sustainable partnership and is designed to spread the benefits that the airport generates across the region.

Its latest collaboration is a marketing campaign targeting passengers in the airport with a series of new guides on getting the most from the local area, even if with limited time to spare. The guides include bespoke itineraries on where to visit with anywhere between three to 12 hours available. Key themes also showcase the local Active Outdoors, Amazing Gardens, Castles and Stately Homes, English Wine, Gin and Ale.

It brings together regional partners, including the airport, local tourism bodies and local authorities, and allows them to share information and co-ordinate and amplify activity promoting local tourism.

As well as driving visitors to local attractions, Gatwick is looking to form other long-term partnerships by hosting local food and drink producers at its first ever ‘Meet the Local Producer’ event.

For example, Gatwick provides insight from - and gives access to – interna-

Taking place this month, the event will link up over 40 local food and bever-

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick CEO, and Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, launching an on-airport promotional space promoting tourism across the county

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TRAVEL Reigate, Kent Crisps and Harley House Distillery – producers of Sussex Gin. The airport already stocks several local suppliers but is keen to give more the opportunity to hook up with businesses interested in purchasing their goods.

Airport retailers currently stock Surrey’s Silent Pool Gin and Kent’s Fudge Kitchen, and also Five Hop Lager from the Hogs Back Brewery Co. in Surrey.

Airport restaurants and bars also use local producers such as Ridgeview Wine from East Sussex, Brighton Gin, and stock ales from Westerham Brewery and Denbies Whitedown Brut from Surrey.

GATWICK GATEWAY IS A LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIP AND IS DESIGNED TO SPREAD THE BENEFITS THAT THE AIRPORT GENERATES ACROSS THE REGION The Gatwick Gateway group and Meet the Producer events are just two examples of airport partnerships that help to boost local business and industrial sectors.

The airport plays a key role in business groups such as Gatwick Diamond Business, Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.

It also works in partnership with local authorities and regional partnerships such as the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, Develop Croydon, Gatwick Diamond Initiative, and the Greater Brighton Economic

Board to identify and address economic priorities.

While the opportunities the airport brings cannot be take for granted, these alliances and partnerships help to ensure the most is made of them – to the benefit of Gatwick, the region’s business and industrial sectors, and the local people they employ.

Gatwick Airport initiates planning process to use its existing Northern Runway A move that kick starts the region’s biggest private investment for many years

G

atwick Airport has formally started the process to bring its existing Northern Runway into routine use by submitting a notice to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) of its intention to prepare an application for development consent.

This action establishes the ‘Gatwick Airport Northern Runway’ project on the PINS website and is the first step in the Development Consent Order (DCO) application process.

The airport has also submitted a ‘Scoping Request’ to PINS, which sets out the proposed approach and key issues to be included within the process.

Following the publication of its master plan in July, Gatwick announced it would prepare a planning application known as a DCO – through a rigorous statutory pro-

cess. The application is to bring the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use for smaller, departing aircraft alongside the main runway by the mid-2020s.

Tim Norwood, Gatwick’s Chief Planning Officer, said: “As the biggest private investment in our region for many years, the start of the process to use our existing Northern Runway is a significant milestone. This project has the capacity to offer significant local economic benefits, new jobs and an exciting future for the region.

“As we take our plans forward, we are committed to working in partnership with our local communities, councils and partners to ensure we grow sustainably and present information in a clear and transparent way, including a more detailed stage of public consultation on the project next year.”

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The FOR FAMILIES Vakkaru Located on a breath-taking enclave within the biosphere reserve of Baa Atoll, Vakkaru is an authentic island getaway offering unassuming luxury and attentive service. Parrotfish Club caters for children aged between 3 and 12 with imaginative play areas, cookery classes and a dedicated children’s pool; whilst older children can enjoy pool tables, table tennis and other games at Coconut Club.

FOR CAMERA ROLLS Joali A new opening and idyllic hideaway in the Raa Atoll.

The brainchild of Turkish businesswoman, Esin Güral Argat, ‘Joali’ is the Dhiveli word for hammock, and the vibe of this place is cradling! Picture-worthy experiences include a private dinner in the Manta Ray Tree House, watching the sunrise from the floating yoga pavilion, or an afternoon in the white marble hammam.

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FOR HONEYMOONERS One & Only Reethi Rah This glamorous, award-winning all-villa resort is perfect for couples in search of privacy and the ultimate in laid back luxury. Located in the North Malé Atoll on one of the Maldives’ largest private islands, the resort is a veritable tropical sanctuary.

Enjoy romantic in-villa dining or let the hotel staff set up an idyllic location for you to dine under the stars together.

FOR ADVENTURE-SEEKERS Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru This extraordinary island resort, and the only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is the first to launch once-in-a-lifetime excursions on its ‘DeepFlight’ submarine, Super Falcon 3S. The pinnacle of personal submarine technology, passengers can skim over coral formations, fly through shoals of fish and encounter creatures such as turtles, sharks, dolphins and rays down to a depth of 120 feet – all without getting wet!

Maldives TOP FIVE RESORTS

BUSINESS SURVEY TRAVEL

If you’re looking for barefoot luxury this winter, head to the Maldives where there’s an idyllic hotel to suit everyone.

By Hanna Nicholson, Go Bespoke When to Go: The best time to visit The Maldives is between November and April when it is mainly dry season, with low humidity and beautiful, warm sunny days.

Climate Averages: Average maximum daytime temperatures of 23ºC-31ºC. Things to know: The monsoon season falls between May and October.

Temperatures are still high during this period so don’t rule it out as a good time to go – plus the intermittent rain means plenty of opportunity for luxurious spa treatments.

How to get there: Fly to the capital, Malé, direct from London airports which takes approximately 12 hours 35 minutes.

Other options include flying via Dubai, Singapore or Sri Lanka with a stopover on either the outward or inbound leg of the journey.

Contact Go Bespoke on 020 8935 5779 for more information on current offers and availability.

FOR ALL-INCLUSIVE OZEN Maldives This luxury all-inclusive is the only one of its kind in the Maldives and includes à la carte fine dining experiences at six different restaurants, champagne trails, holistic spa treatments and exhilarating diving at the PADI-certified school as well as unlimited snorkelling excursions. Located on Maadhoo in South Malé Atoll, just a 45-minute speedboat ride from Malé Airport, this is an absolute must if you’re splashing out on a special holiday but keeping the pennies in check while you’re away.

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5

OF THE BEST SKI ESCAPES

With ski season on the horizon, here are some of the best chalets you’ll want to stay at, whether it’s a family affair, a group celebration or a team-building weekend

THE PARTY PAD Le Petit Palais, Courchevel 1850 Complete with its very own private bar and nightclub, this is the ultimate pad for exclusivity and indulgence.

The chalet is located just off the popular Bellecôte piste, providing guests with ski in ski out access within 40 metres of the door in this ultra chic resort.

Each of the seven bedrooms - spread over 18,000ft² on six floors - has its own private bathroom, exuding style and contemporary design. Other highlights include a wine cellar, steam and sauna rooms, a hammam, cinema room, swimming pool and a professional kitchen.

Price from £90,000 per week

THE FAMILY CHALET The Lodge, Verbier Owned by Sir Richard Branson, this mountain retreat in Verbier is a true alpine paradise. Ideal for a luxury family ski holiday, The Lodge is complete with nine stunning bedrooms and suites, an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor jacuzzis plus a Bunk Room for up to six children. The chalet also comes with a friendly team of experienced staff including a spa therapist and Michelin-star trained chefs. Perfect for a summer or winter escape.

Price from £39,000 per week

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BUSINESS SURVEY TRAVEL

AFFORDABLE LUXURY Cerf Rouge, Meribel Cerf Rouge is the perfect alpine haven, just a few minutes walk from the Méribel Village lifts. With impeccable furnishings, luxurious open plan living, Super King Hypnos beds, a hammam and a private hot tub with magical views, it is also really close to good restaurants and bars. Sleeps 10 in five beautifully appointed en-suite bedrooms.

Price from £5,200 per week

COUPLES GETAWAY Experimental Chalet Perched among the snow-capped summits of Verbier, the Experimental Chalet is a boutique hotel with 39 rooms and suites, some with panoramic views of Mont Blanc. The minimalist design by Milanese architect Fabrizio Casiraghi is inspired by mountain lodges and given a modern twist, with jewel-toned upholstery and lacquered wood. Perfect for a couples getaway, the hotel’s signature cocktail bar also serves as a launchpad for Verbier’s legendary hot spot, Farm Club, located underneath the hotel.

Prices from £220 per night (based on a double room)

THE STYLISH ONE

Zermatt Peak, Zermatt Chalet Zermatt Peak is Zermatt’s premier luxury chalet, located just minutes away from the centre of Zermatt in a landmark position with break-taking panoramic views, particularly from the 4.5 metre floor to ceiling lounge windows. Designed to an exceptional standard, the chalet’s interiors are luxurious and of the highest quality, including a stateof-the-art TechnoGym®, in-chalet ESPA treatments and a sauna and hammam. Sleeps up to 13 people, and includes a private chef, a dedicated concierge throughout your trip and a 24-hour private chauffeur.

Price from £46,500 per week Contact Go Bespoke on 020 8935 5779 for more information on current offers and availability.

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Leading independent luxury travel agent Â

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

Travel SNIPPETS One for your bucket list

W

ith its brand new, custom-built aircraft set to take flight in 2021, Four Seasons Private Jet has released two new itineraries for its inaugural season. “Remote Wonders” and “Ancient Explorer” will add new destinations to the once-in-a-lifetime itineraries including Jordan, Egypt, Easter Island, and Angkor Wat, as well as stops at two new Four Seasons properties in Athens and Madrid.

New openings

Guests will travel aboard an allnew private jet, fully customised by Four Seasons. The A321LR aircraft features a spacious lounge area; and 48 custom-handcrafted seats that extend to lie fully flat and are paired with plush ottomans, and that provide 6.5 feet of personal space. Prices start at £135,000pp based on double occupancy.

E

xperimental Group have unveiled two new additions to their growing portfolio. Established by three childhood friends, the Group started with speakeasies in Paris and New York and have expanded to restaurants and hotels, a beach club in Ibiza and now an agroturismo in Menorca and a boutique hotel opening in Venice. Perfect for a long weekend, prices start at £200 per night with an exclusive opening offer – call the team at Go Bespoke for more information on 020 8935 5779.

It’s time to book your…

European Holiday Market et into the holiday spirit with a magical weekend at the iconic outdoor Christmas market in Frankfurt, one of the largest and most beautiful in Germany, set on St Paul’s Square on the Römerberg.

The market dates back to 1393 and is now an incredible Winter Wonderland, including more than 200 stalls full of festive fare, an art exhibition as well as delicious yuletide specialities and the traditional fairground attractions.

If you’re big on the festive season, you won’t want to miss the official opening on 25th November at which you can also enjoy singalong Christmas carols led by The Frankfurt Opera.

G

Go Bespoke recommends: Stay at the stylish Gerbermühle on the banks of the Main River – double rooms from €117 per night.

Dates: November 25th – December 22nd 2019.

Open every day 10am-9pm (11am-9pm on Sundays).

Location: Römerberg, St Paul’s Square, Mainkai (Main Quay), Hauptwache and Friedrich-Stoltze-Square

Design Hotels

BA’s new Club Suite businessclass seat

B

ritish Airways has welcomed its first Airbus A350 at Heathrow Airport, featuring the airline’s new Club Suite business-class seat. The airline is due to take delivery of 18 A350s, with four joining its fleet before the end of 2019 and the first A350 will enter service on the Heathrow-Madrid route with long-haul flights starting soon after, including routes to Dubai, Toronto, Tel Aviv and Bangalore. The new seat offers 40% more storage than the previous business-class offering, and includes Wifi, a vanity unit and mirror, and an 18.5 inch in-flight entertainment screen.

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MOTORING

e d a c e D e h t f o s r Ca Platinum

ff

by Maarten Ho

H

aving been reviewing cars for over a decade, l thought it high time l summarised my thoughts and presented, for your delight and delectation, my choice of cars of the decade.

I have left out certain cars – those super and hyper cars that you will never drive and never even see as they are produced in limited numbers,

mann

snapped up from pictures alone by high net worth individuals and investment consortiums and stuffed into a garage as an investment, never to see the light of day until auction time, where the same process starts all over again.

Eliminated cars such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Pagani and Koenigsegg.

a temp controlled garage and you can see an increase of up to 50% a year! I am not interested in these cars, l want cars we can use, enjoy and drive every day. I make no apology for the number of German cars in the line-up as they are just some of the best cars built today and every other manufacturers benchmark.

Drive these cars on the road laying down a coupe of thousand miles, and the value plummets. Hide them away in

Here are my CARS OF THE DECADE followed by my all-important top CAR OF THE DECADE.

TOP SMALL CITY CARS

TOP MID-SIZE HATCHBACKS

Fiat 500

This is a hoot of a car with bags of personality and it makes me smile when l drive it. Definitely top of the pile

from £11,250

Audi A1

Great build quality and it will run forever. Stylish design and faultless quality.

from £17,735

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Mini 5dr

Sold by the bucket load and still great value and a cool personality

Audi A3

Nippy round town, good space and great build quality

from £17,635

from £26,735

BUSINESS SURVEY TOP LARGE SALOONS

BMW 5 Series

TOP COMPACT SUVs

from £38,985

An old stalwart that’s been around for an age but still going strong as the car of choice for the executive

from £36,820

Jaguar F-Pace

I really like this car. Great looks and a great price. It is more stylish than its rivals.

Alfa Stevio

Mercedes E-Class

Also been around a while but the new models are smooth and classy

from £36,895

Alfa’s don’t fall apart anymore and this is a winner for the company

Audi Q5

from £41,520

Audi’s SUV flagship, solid, spacious and a great drive

Audi A8

from £36,519

Larger than the rest but a great car loaded with kit

TOP JAPANESE CARS from £36,895

Sorry, l couldn’t find any!

TOP SALOONS

Mercedes A-Class

Audi A4

Solid as a Panzer tank and a great drive with the right engine

Great build quality, great ride and great residual.

Brand new model with a floating dash.

from £30,750

BMW 4 Series

Replaced the tired 3-Series, solid and a good involving drive

from £23,160

VW Golf

An icon that still draws the buyers because it is a great car

Jaguar XE

from £33,915

JLR have been doing well lately and this is a great saloon option

from £22,080

from £35,040

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MOTORING TOP LARGE SUVs

Volvo XC90

from £52,235

Since the Chinese bought the company, some great cars are being produced

from £83,655

Range Rover

The best of the best since 1970. Nothing even comes close. Still going strong, the Range Rover just gets better and better and still trumps all-comers when it comes to all-round day-to-day use.

Mercedes GLE

from £55,385

A great new model with style and tremendous build quality

TOP SPORTS SALOONS

Audi RS5

TOP COMPACT SPORTS

from £68,985

Rip your face off speed with five seats. Love it.

Alpine A110

from £46,000

An old badge reborn, great looks and hilarious fun sideways

Porsche 718 Cayman A shape that is little changed for the past 100 years perhaps but a great car in this sector

Mercedes AMG E63

Fast as hades, full of kit and bags of style.

from £78,935

Audi TT RS

BMW M5 Comp Pack

The perennial favourite, with flair and massive speed - if you can control it.

from £91,600

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from £44,790

No longer a hairdresser’s car but a barnstorming drive and fast as hell

from £54,895

MOTORING BUSINESS SURVEY TOP ELECTRIC CARS

The UK’s top selling cars in 2018:

MODEL SALES

from £69,700

Tesla Model S

Ford Fiesta

52,921

VW Golf

39,220

Ford Focus

37,988

A stunning car that shows what electricity can do to our everyday motoring lives. Stupidly expensive but stupendously fast

Vauxhall Corsa

34,653

Nissan Qashqai

34,498

Jaguar I-Pace

Mercedes A-Class

33,486

VW Polo

27,455

I really like this car, it is highly useable and bags of style

Ford Kuga Mini

24,125

Kia Sportage

Tesla Model 3 from £64,495

25,116

from £55,385

22,367

from £39,990

At last an affordable mass market Tesla – it should take over the world – if the world ever fits enough charging stations

The UK’s most unreliable manufacturers in 2018: MODEL

FAULTS PER 100 VEHICLES

Peugeot 77

TOP ESTATE CARS

Skoda

88

Hyundai 90 Nissan 94 Suzuki 94 Vauxhall 95 Kia 101 Mini 103 Volvo 106 Honda

Audi RS6 Avant A monster of a car that will carry a sideboard at supercar speeds

from £80,000

The world’s fastest cars in 2018: MODEL PRICE

BMW 5-Series Touring

The extended back just adds to the appeal as it drives like the saloon

Koenigsegg Agera RS

£1.7m

Hennessey Venom GT

£1.1m

Bugatti Chiron

from £38,895

Mercedes E-Class Estate from £39,980

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Again, as good as the saloon with bags of room and style

£2.6m

W Motors Fenyr SS

£1.4m

Pagani Huayra

£3.2m

Zenvo TS1 GT

£1.1m

Noble M600

£200,000

Lamborghini Aventador S £350,000 Ford GT

£420,000

McLaren 720S

£208,000

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MOTORING

e d a c e D e h t f o Car Platinum

R E V O R E G N RA

T

his prestigious trophy offers me a conundrum as with over 85 cars a year tested and reviewed and some crackers in there, how on earth do l select my Car of the Decade.

I decided the benchmark should be the best all-round car that achieves the majority of ticks on my list – luxury, speed, style, space, residual value, and a car that is just as at home

in a field as it is driving up to the swankiest black tie event. Now it just got a whole lot easier as there is only one car on the planet that fits all these criteria.

exhibited as an ‘exemplary work of industrial design’. They used a Buick derived Rover engine and, as with all yank cars, with a huge 3.5-litre V8 engine they only managed to get 130bhp out of it!!

the RR looked as if it had lost its way – and its market.

The Range Rover The iconic Range Rover (RR) first saw the light of day in 1967 when designers Gordon Bashford and Spen King set about creating a larger model than the standard Land Rover, with the original moniker being the Road Rover. The first prototype, (reg: SYE 157F) had the classic RR lines but with a different grill and headlight configuration.

The design that actually made it into production was finalised in 1969, finally with the Range Rover name.

They hid the name under the guise Velar, derived from the Italian ‘valare’ meaning to veil or to cover. Today of course we have a model called the Velar but more about that later. The RR was finally launched in 1970 at the Musee du Louvre in Paris and was

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I purchased my first RR in 1979 when it was still a tad utilitarian but nevertheless, it was a shock to the system that such a high riding car was stable, comfy and full of style and in those days, the amount of space was remarkable and only found in huge ugly estate cars or vans. It still had vinyl seats, a plastic dash and rubber carpets and was designed to be hosed down after a tough day on the farm. Farmers tended to stick with their truly utilitarian Land Rovers and

The other drawback was that it was only a three door but, ever quick in responding to customer feedback, the five door as we know it today was launched in 1983 and here it found its true market – city dwellers with a place in the country therefore they had for the first time a car that could do it all.

This flagship model is now in its fourth generation and has never gone out of style but has just become fatter and heavier as the price has risen therefore they needed to stuff it with every bit of tech kit they could find.

Sport Although there is only one true Range

BUSINESS SURVEY

Even the Queen loved it

Rover, called the full fat, there is now a delectable selection of derivations of the original. The RR Sport was launched in 2004 as a shorter, sportier version and it’s great and sells well but they removed one of the iconic features of the full fat – the shooting seat. The rear tailgate opens in two parts and leaves you with a seat for putting on boots, sorting the kids or dogs, picnic or just sitting and watching the polo.

This, in my opinion, was a mistake but what do l know as it sells by the truck load and the SVR version is a total revelation that something this high and heavy can be quite that fast. In the US, the Sport is the biggest seller of all Land Rover products. How about a RR that does 175mph and 60mph in 4.3 seconds! And it sounds like Heidi Klum gargling rocks!

Evoque Then in 2011, we saw the launch of the Evoque – a more compact car with only vague connections to the original but a very good car indeed as l have tested all of them over the years. A few old dinosaurs call it the ‘Ladies Range Rover’ which l guess is not so far from the truth as it does

SPORT

have a majority of female owners. In 2012, they launched the convertible Evoque at the Geneva Motor Show that looks a little like a Silver Cross pram, proving that not all cars benefit from having their roofs sliced off. A new version has just been launched and it is sleeker, more stylish and will sell by the bucket load.

Velar In 2017, we saw the launch of the Velar, that iconic code name for the very first RR and again, this is a variant on the original designed to capture a new market. I have reviewed all versions and it is a fine-looking car with many of the original attributes.

It is very smooth with even the door handles popping in and out at will, to

ensure the side visual is uber smooth.

It drives like a full fat but is lighter and is based on the Land Rover platform, sharing many components with the F-Pace and XF Jaguar models. In 2018, the Velar was voted the Most Beautiful Car in the World.

Environmental controversy The Range Rover has attracted its critics of course, with Greenpece storming the production line in Solihull in 2005 with concerns about the environmental impact of such large, luxury vehicles, and one of the original designers, Spen King even blamed RR owners for using their cars in urban areas which was ridiculous as that is how they marketed the car.

EVOQUE

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Be Safe With Us

Did you know that Chamber members have unlimited access to a range of essential business support services.

ChamberHR

ChamberHealth & Safety

ChamberLegal

ChamberTax

These services give you unlimited access to no less than five business advice lines and a website which features over 750 free downloadable template documents.

Believe it or not all these services are included in your membership fee – you will have nothing extra to pay!

These services offer members real protection and peace of mind. To ensure that you can have access to these valuable services all you need to do is join.

Don’t delay… join today!

MOTORING VELAR

The term ‘Chelsea Tractor’ was aimed at the RR as so many school runs were performed with the car but it is unwise to ever criticise the buyers of your cars for using the vehicle in the manner in which they so choose.

It also got hammered in the JD Power index for being costly, over complicated vehicles that are loaded with very expensive parts. They also noted a legacy of faults and problems with overall quality, dependability, sales satisfaction and customer service. According to an American automotive journalist, “Land Rover doesn’t care about JD Power ratings because it doesn’t need to care” since people “still line up for months to pay full sticker.” I have to say that l have many friends with RR variants and l have owned four myself and reviewed every single model in the line-up and l have not heard of one single problem with any of them.

Vogue I have just spent two weeks with the new Vogue model in France and it performed flawlessly in every respect. It is economical, with the new 3.0-litre Turbocharged V6, giving 275bhp, 60mph in 7.4 seconds and a top speed of 130mph yet returning 31.5mpg which ain’t half bad. We had five people on-board at all times

OFF ROAD

VOGUE

with a load of luggage and camera kit and it was as if l was the only person in the car. The weight made little difference to the drive and it was super comfortable, with every bit of kit you would ever need and it just wafts you to wherever you want to go.

Of course, that includes up mountains and down dales as one of the many unique aspects of the car is its superlative off-road capabilities. It will literally go anywhere and with spec like the All-Terrain Progress Control, Low Traction Launch, Roll Stability Control, Hill Descent Control and Electronic Air Suspension, this will make anyone look like an off-road expert as the car does all the work.

Point and squirt like nothing else out there and we might all recall Top Gear’s Clarkson being the first ever to drive a Discovery to the summit of Ben Tongue, a Highland peak near Inverness. Using all the kit from the RR it just proved, in his usual boorish but highly amusing manner, that it really will go anywhere. Using the various auto modes, just let the car do the job and if it finds itself stuck, it will cycle through the menu and locate another mode to do the job whilst you sip vintage Krug and listen to Radio 4.

The Range Rover in all its forms is a

unique car that covers every base and, as mentioned, manages to tick all my boxes.

Speed – select the Sport SVR and it will swivel your eyeballs under acceleration.

Stylish – and then some.

Space – it is huge inside and will house everything you throw at it.

Luxury – spec it up and it feels like one of the most luxurious cars on the market.

Residual value – looking at the Glass’s Live Retail data, in its class the RR is only beaten on residual value by the Lexus NX and the Mercedes G-Class with 61.5% of its value retained over three years. And it is better than both of them.

And Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) are not slowing down its development one bit. The 2018 facelift model debuted with a new aluminium monocoque that cost over a billion to develop, making it lighter by half a tonne and now comes with the P400e plugin hybrid, pairing a 296bhp engine with a 114bhp electric motor claiming 101mpg and 31 miles of all-electric range.

The Platinum Car of the Decade – the truly iconic Range Rover. Frequently imitated, but rarely bettered or even equalled.

TECH STUFF: Model tested: Range Rover SDV6 Vogue Engine: 3.0-litre turbo Power: 275bhp Speed: 0-60mph 7.4 seconds Top: 130mph Economy: 31.5mpg combined Price from: £81,900 Best deal found: Harwoods, Crawley www.harwoods.uk.com

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Why should you buy an Approved Used Mercedes-Benz from Sandown?

When you purchase an Approved Used Mercedes-Benz from Mercedes-Benz of Guildford, you will not only get a fantastic vehicle, but you’ll drive away happy knowing you are covered with a range of complimentary benefits.

Including*: - Minimum one year unlimited mileage warranty - Comprehensive multi-point vehicle check - Complimentary roadside assistance - History and mileage check - Key insurance - Complimentary 7-day motor insurance - MOT test failure cover

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01483 916292 www.sandown-group.co.uk

The BRABUS G 800 An off-road legend It’s not hard to see why this supercar has become one of the most iconic Brabus-enhanced models in the Mercedes-Benz range.

With a top speed of 149mph and the ability to excel from 0 – 62 mph in just 4.1 seconds, the Brabus G 800 also boasts a number of features setting it apart from the crowd: • • • • •

23-inch forged wheels 4–inch front and rear fender flares LED illuminated running boards Illuminated Brabus logo detailing Modifications providing an additional 158.2 kW of power and 150Nm torque.

To found out more about the unparalleled driving performance of this exceptional vehicle and other Brabus models, please visit us in store or contact us on 01483 916432.

Follow us @sandownbrabus Visit us Mercedes-Benz of Guildford Moorfield Road, Guildford, GU1 1RU

Contact us enquiries@.sandown-brabus.co.uk www.sandown-brabus.co.uk

To find a full list of our 2019 events visit www.surrey-chambers.co.uk/event-listing

October 2nd

REDHILL & REIGATE BUSINESS FORUM Event Time: 16:30 - 19:00 Event Theme: Networking PM Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: Free Event Location: Reigate & Banstead Borough Council Town Hall Castlefield Road Reigate RH2 0SH

October 8th NETWORKING BREAKFAST

Event Time: 07:45 - 10:00 Event Theme: Networking AM Price: Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT Non Member Rate: £25.00 +VAT Event Location: Waverley Abbey House Waverley Lane Farnham GU9 8EP

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THE BREXIT CASCADE: An interactive insight for small businesses.

Even if you’re not on the front line, or trade directly with the EU, it doesn’t stop you from being affected by Brexit. Are you prepared for all outcomes, including the implications of a NoDeal? With so much uncertainty it is difficult for businesses to know what to do to prepare. Join us for an interactive Q&A with our panel of experts, to hear the latest news and get answers to any questions you might have.

Our 2019 Calendar is full of interesting and exciting events just for you. We love to cover topics that are relevant to you and your business. From the dreaded B-word all the way to ensuring you have a happy and engaged workforce, we’re here to inform and assist your business.

However, we understand making new contacts and gaining new clients is at the top of your list. Therefore we run our Networking Breakfasts, these events run bi-monthly between our Networking Breakfasts with Guest Speaker.

Hosted by one of Chambers events team, we like to keep the agenda simple: Networking, breakfast and then a little more networking – we told you it was going to be simple! To break up the networking we like to throw in one or two activities. Nothing too difficult or daunting, but just to get you all talking!

2019 BUSINESS SURVEY

SURREY CHAMBERS

EVENTS DIARY

October 22nd MONTHLY NETWORKING

Event Time: 18:00 - 20:00 Event Theme: Networking PM Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT

October 10th PRESIDENT’S AWARDS RECEPTION Event Time: 18:30 - 21:00 Event Theme: Annual Events Price: Member Rate: £35.00 +VAT Non Member Rate: £45.00 +VAT Event Location: Brooklands Hotel Brooklands Drive Weybridge KT13 0SL

Event Location: Camberley Theatre Knoll Road Camberley GU15 3SY Here at Surrey Chambers, we think it’s highly important that you get to know the team, but also get to know the faces behind the organisations you see and hear about on a daily basis. Members of Surrey Chambers can enjoy this complimentary event on a monthly basis; the chance to meet fellow members and network with both new and established businesses from all over Surrey.

Not a member? Don’t worry! Please be assured that you are always welcome at any Surrey Chambers event, and our members networking evenings are the perfect place to learn about all the great things that the Chamber can do for your business.

Each year we hold our President’s Awards Reception as an opportunity to recognise and celebrate our wonderful members, and everything they’ve achieved and accomplished over the course of the previous year. To do this, we run five award categories, each with three nominees, with the winner announced on the night. It also provides a note from our President regarding what’s upcoming for the next year, but really acts as a more formal evening to celebrate and network with fellow members.

The full Surrey Chambers team will be on hand to talk to you about the many different aspects of membership, how best to raise your business profile, and to answer any questions you may have.

LOOKING AHEAD...

Event Time: 07:30 - 09:30 Event Theme: Networking AM Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: Free

Surrey Chambers of Commerce are delighted to bring you the East Surrey Coffee and Professional Engagement breakfast series, connecting businesses throughout Surrey, with a particular focus on the East of the region.

Nov 14th

Event Location: Manor Collection - Betchworth Sandy Lane BETCHWORTH RH3 7AA

Hosted by the wonderfully charming Hartsfield Manor, we would be delighted if you could join us, be it at one (or all!) of the networking breakfasts. Breakfasts will feature on alternate months throughout the year and are free to attend for all.

ESCAPE BREAKFAST

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Surrey Chambers

GOLF 2019 SOCIETY Surrey Chambers of Commerce Golf Society (SCGS) has been running for 23 years and offers the opportunity to play some of Surrey’s finest courses and to entertain guests in a relaxed and mildly (!) competitive environment. By Tara Wavre

O

pen to all business owners or senior executives, the society’s main strength is the quality of the venues attended, with Swinley Forest, St. George’s Hill, New Zealand and Hankley Common to name four of a stunning monthly selection.

August saw the society visit Hindhead golf course for the first time in a few years. The day was sponsored by iCS Communications and once again we were graced with perfectly weather for the day’s golf. The heather was in full bloom much to many of the golfer’s dismay but all agreed that the course was spectacular. Despite all

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GOLF 2019 SPONSORS

DIARY: October 17th

HEADLINE SPONSOR

ORDER OF MERIT SPONSOR

Camberley Heath

November 7th Swinley Forest

December 3rd Woking

the heather, an impressive score of 40 points saw Rik Farrer win the day and take home the Rowland Cup as well as some loot to go with it. He was presented with the cup by Mike Turner and congratulated by all.

We have some fantastic fixtures coming up in the autumn and winter, including our visit to Camberley Heath in October and Swinley Forest in November. However the jewel in our winter crown will be the second major tournament, to be held at Woking golf club on the December 3rd.

This will be a team event with a shotgun start, competing for the Claret Jug (currently held by Team NGA). Our first major was held in April this year at Burhill and saw 82 golfers compete on the old course for some great prizes and the society raised over £600 for our chosen charity, Oakleaf. If you want to challenge Andy Drees & Team NGA for the Claret jug, thank clients, reward colleagues or catch up with golfing buddies close to Christmas time please book your team on. Places are limited to 18 teams so don’t delay in securing your spot.

Please put the dates in your diaries and contact Tara to book you or your team on.

“I was first attracted to the society some five years ago by the opportunity to play some great golf courses. It came as a pleasant surprise to find that the atmosphere was friendly, with just the right degree of competitive

edge and not with an oppressively businesslike environment. It is an excellent set-up to entertain customers or just to come along and share the day with like-minded souls” Roy Stansbury

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JOIN THE CHAMBER “Surrey Cham bers of Commerce is the county’s larg est independ ent, not-for-profi support organ t business is businesses to ation that helps connect loca lly, nationally a nd globally in order to gain custom suppliers an ers, d knowledge.”

CAN YOUR BUSINESS AFFORD

NOT TO BE A MEMBER OF SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE? Sitting at the heart of the business community, Surrey Chambers of Commerce connects you to opportunities, skills, knowledge and valuable contacts. We can help you grow and develop, by promoting your business, introducing you to new customers, keeping you informed and representing you locally, regionally and nationally.

W

ith a membership representing businesses of all sizes across every sector of the economy, the Chamber works hard to ensure that the continued prosperity of Surrey takes into account the needs of business, as well as providing a range of high quality services to help businesses to grow and meet new potential customers, including making introductions into over 40 countries.

Surrey Chambers of Commerce is an integral part of the Surrey business support network and alongside its partners offers specialist advice, knowledge and information on a wide range of issues facing local businesses.

you the chance to enhance your business network, find new customers and meet like-minded and other successful business people.

Expand your network overseas – we provide friendly, professional advice and assistance and help you obtain necessary export documentation. Our relationship with 28 accredited overseas British Chambers means we can introduce you to our global network of experts to make your journey much easier.

We can:

Develop you and your workforce’s knowledge and skills – we run a range of training events throughout the year and can introduce you to a variety of training providers.

Connect you to other businesses – we run over 100 events a year that give

Represent you – we believe it is important that you and your business are fairly represented locally, regionally, nationally and, where appropriate, internationally on issues affecting business. We work closely with Surrey County Council, the eleven local borough councils, district and two Local

Help you to find new customers – raise your profile, increase your brand awareness and generate new business by using our website, publications and database to communicate with thousands of business people.

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Enterprise Partnerships and we feedback and provide input to the British Chambers of Commerce who talk directly to government, influencing policy and strategic decisions.

Support your local community - we are passionate about contributing to the wider community and encourage you to work with us. We support a variety of local initiatives, providing you with the chance to give something back, whilst raising your company profile.

Save you money - We can provide you with a variety of discounts designed to save your company money. As well as national deals you will benefit from exclusive discounts offered by other Chamber members. You too can offer a special member to member deal.

Call: 01483 735540 Email: sarah.butcher@surrey-chambers.co.uk Visit: www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

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New Plates have arrived.

Mercedes-Benz of Guildford Moorfield Road, Guildford, GU1 1RU

01483 916292 www.sandown-group.co.uk