Surrey Business Magazine issue 20

SURREY

BUSINESS THE OFFICIAL SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 20 NOVEMBER 2019

Tackling loneliness at work

THE GROWTH OF

Experiential travel

Encouraging female entrepreneurs THE BIG DEBATE

How

Greta Thunberg makes grown men panic SURREY FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

SURREY THE REGION’S

BUSINESS EVENT OF THE YEAR

SPONSORED BY

Training the World’s Best Managers

2 AWARD CEREMONY NOVEMBER 21st SURREY BUSINESS

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A follow-up edition, Do You Mind If I Put My Hand On It was released two years later.

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

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CONTENTS 7

THE CHIEF EXEC Louise Punter on the latest news within the Surrey Chambers of Commerce

34

HEALTH & WELLBEING – VIISANA Suffering in silence: the importance of managing loneliness in the workplace

44

SURREY BUSINESS AWARDS 2019 The finalists are announced for this year’s presitigious awards

9

SURREY

THE PRESIDENT President Steve Coburn on the key priorities for British Chambers of Commerce

10

NEWS The latest from the chambers and the Surrey business scene

15

HAINES WATTS Are you keeping up with the latest tax changes?

16

OPEN TELECOM Are you ready for the big ISDN switch-off?

47

36

DYNAMIC MAGAZINE LAUNCH Highlights from the SPIRIT OF THE SEASIDE Women In Business Expo which saw the launch of Platinum’s Dynamic Magazine.

Have you got your MY FIGHT copy?

TO THE TOP E DUC AT ION

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

FOR WOMEN

Nov | Dec 2019 #1

Why we need genuine flexible working

The Brighton Gin story

TR AVEL FASH ION MOTO R I NG HE ALTH

MICHE LLE MONE OBE

1

DYN001_01_Cover.indd

1 04/10/2019 16:15

17

CLEANKILL Should you get a pest prevention contract?

18

NATWEST The latest survey of business confidence.

20

KEN BLANCHARD Don’t be a middle of the road manager.

22

DMH STALLARD Divide and conquer: would your business survive a divorce?

24

NATWEST ROUND TABLE Has the Rose Review shown the way forward in encouraging women to set up and grow their businesses?

28

COVER STORY Ian Trevett profiles climate change activist Greta Thunberg, and how she scares middle-aged men

38

HUMIDITY SOLUTIONS Providing a healthy temperature and humidity-based working environment

SURREY POLICE How Surrey Police were awarded ‘Excellent’ for neighbourhood policing

48

GATWICK AIRPORT Why young talent is so fundamental to our success

50-55

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

40

HARRODS A selection of ideas for gifts from Knightsbridge’s most famous shop

57

NEW MEMBERS Welcome to the Chambers’ new members

59-61

MOTORING Maarten Hoffmann tries out the new VW Touareg, and picks his favourites from the Frankfurt Motor Show

62-66

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

5

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A WORD FROM THE CEO

All working together

S

urrey Chambers of Commerce was out in force this month at three great venues, Sandown Park Racecourse, HG Wells Conference Centre in Woking and the stunning Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking. We delivered Brexit Bootcamps free of charge to any businesses interested. People arrived with lists of questions which were considered by our outstanding group of specialists. Whilst it was not always possible to answer the questions posed, the attendees went away with a much better idea of where to find the answers when they were available. The mix of organisations in the room supporting businesses was so good to see with EM3 Local Enterprise Partnership, Trading Standards, Department of International Trade as well as specialist businesses giving up half a day to help their business community.

With Brexit looming upon us, and the EU finally granting us an extension beyond the October 31st, nobody knows what the future holds. But here at the Chambers, we are dedicated to helping and supporting local businesses through this difficult time, from providing you with a Brexit checklist for your business, to putting you in contact with a

Maarten Hoffmann – Director

Lesley Alcock

specialist from areas such as international trade, data and regulations, people and immigration, and tax and VAT. We want to help you, so contact one of the Surrey Chambers team to find out more. Or alternatively, more can be found on the Brexit Hub part of our website!

October Highlight

A real highlight of October was The President’s Awards sponsored by Regus, where we gathered at the Brooklands Hotel, Weybridge to celebrate some fantastic Surrey Chambers members. From Networker of the Year to Best Website, International Trade Company to Chamber Champion, we were able to acknowledge some really great things going on in Surrey. We also gave an award to a Start-Up Business which was not only sponsored by the Surrey Heath Borough Council but they support our Business Clinics all year round! If you are interested in finding out more about our Start-Up Clinics, contact Hannah.

Josyln@surrey-chambers.co.uk.

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

Nicole Kemble

maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Commercial Director

Commercial Manager

Ian Trevett – Director

Kate Morton

Hanna Nicholson

ian@platinumpublishing.co.uk

Features Editor

Travel Editor

Louise Punter

CEO Surrey Chamber of Commerce

Fiona Graves

Lydia Bunyard

Alan Wares

Danielle Mason

Events Director

Head of Design

Events Executive

Sales Executive

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

7

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

THE PRESIDENT’S VIEW

BRITISH CHAMBERS

© Paul Judd Food

KEY PRIORITIES FOR

by Steve Coburn

T

his month, I had the opportunity to represent Surrey’s businesses at the British Chambers of Commerce’s National Assembly. All of the CEOs and Presidents from the various regions around the UK gathered in Westminster, where we fed back our key priorities for the government to focus on.

I reflected on the conversations that I’ve had with you, our members, and pulled together a number of themes, which l then presented to the National Assembly Members.

Clearly, the most obvious issue is to sort out the uncertainty surrounding our relationship with the EU. Clarity is needed to help us plan for the future.

However, a fair amount of the Agenda was already given over to Brexit, a probable General Election and all the instability that is caused by the current political landscape.

So, I chose to spend the time talking about other issues.

High Street – Permitted Development Rights (great for property developers, but the reduced supply of office space

is negatively affecting footfall for retailers), CVAs (successful retailers like John Lewis are requesting them now), Public Ownership of Town Centre Buildings (to prevent further PD conversions), Business Rates (parity with online retailers) and Business Rates on car parking spaces (keeping town centre parking prices high, when outof-town retailers don’t have to pay, so can offer free parking).

head waiter’s pay too), so prices will have to increase, therefore undoing the benefit of the wage increases – it’s just creating across-the-board inflation. But, at the same time, we need to tackle the issue around in-work poverty (where an employee could be worse off than they would be if they’d been on benefits). And, the talk of the 30-hour week, at a time when UK productivity is low, is very concerning.

Gatsby Benchmarks – Engagement with the Education Sector is extending beyond just work experience and interview practice. Schools are going to be asking for a lot more help from businesses. What can we do to help promote awareness of the Gatsby Benchmarks?

Climate Emergency – How businesses can get involved.

LEPs – Engagement with the LEPs is strong, but the uncertainty over their future is bringing their horizon much closer, so talks are for more shortterm initiatives. There is a need for clarity on whether the LEPs will continue, or what will replace them?

Minimum Wage, Living Wage and the 30-hour Working Week – Pushing up costs throughout the whole wage structure (e.g – if you increase a waiter’s pay, then you have to increase the

I know that these are some of the things that are on your minds at the moment - and it’s a privilege for me to be able to talk about them on your behalf. But, I’m not sure that I’ve fully captured everything!

If you believe that we need to help focus the government’s minds on other issues, then I would really like to hear from you. You’ll be able to find me at many of the Surrey Chamber networking events. Please seek me out and let’s chat about the issues that are affecting the way you do business.

And, with any luck, our government will soon be able to turn their attention towards solving them.

SURREY BUSINESS

9

CHAMBERS

news

Commercial agents appoint experienced surveyor

C

urchod & Co has appointed Duncan Firstbrook MRICS, who will be joining the Building Surveying Team working out of the firm’s Farnham office. Duncan is a Chartered Building Surveyor having previously worked for Malcolm Hollis, Vail Williams and Lambert Smith Hampton. He has advised a wide range of client sectors including international airlines, investment organisations, financial institutions, Formula 1 teams, universities, telecom and technology businesses as well as private landlords and business occupiers.

we offer, but will also greatly benefit businesses and individuals across Surrey, Hampshire and beyond.”

To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.

BUSINESS WISDOM

R

egus Chertsey, located in the Hillswood Business Park, is set for a major capital investment. The exciting programme includes the creation of a stylish and contemporary café as well as a professional hightech business lounge and an upgraded co-working area. The project is due for completion before Christmas and will reinforce the centre’s credentials as the area’s most premium serviced office proposition.

Private offices are available from 1 to 100+ workstations and prices start from as little as £186 per person per month. To celebrate this exciting news Regus are offering Surrey Chambers of Commerce members an introductory 10% discount off the standard price.

For more information contact the Sales Manager Peter Doyle on 07827 842255, peter.doyle@regus.com

10

SURREY BUSINESS

S

urrey Business School are developing leaders of the future through their Centre for Management Learning, which offers support in developing skills through a variety of pathways including formal qualifications, consultancy or executive education. The Post Graduate Certificate in Management Education, aimed at practitioners who want to embark on a career move either in educational (Higher/ Further Education) or organisational settings (CPD Training), is one such example. The programme starts in January and completes with a threeday summer school on campus in July. Over this period students acquire knowledge and skills online through individual study, virtual collaboration, and personal coaching.

Curchod & Co partner, Christopher Martin said: “We are very pleased and excited that Duncan has joined the Building Surveying Team. He has a wealth of experience and his appointment will not only increase our coverage and expand the range of services

Regus Chertsey to invest in refurbishment project

Could you be a Management Educator?

Applications are now open for January 2020 and scholarships are available to support your transformational journey. Please send enquiries to cml@surrey.ac.uk.

Framework Agreement for health experts

K

ML Occupational Health has been awarded a place on the NHS Occupational Health Services Framework Agreement led

by The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. They are one of only six awarded a place which gives them approved status to seek work in the NHS along with other public sector organisations such as central and local government, local authorities, educational establishments, police forces and fire and rescue services to many more. This is the second Framework Agreement that they have won a place on this year following success with the London and five other UK Universities Framework Agreements.

Semmco presented with Queen’s Award

S

emmco, a Woking-based engineering company celebrated its Queen’s Award win with a royal presentation by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Kent KG, at its facilities in Woking on Wednesday October 2nd.

Semmco was given the prestigious award for International Trade for Outstanding Short Term Growth in recognition of its overseas sales over the

last three years. The company has seen its overseas sales grow from 19% of total sales in 2015 to 40.5% of total sales in 2017 and 49% of total sales in 2018. Now in its 53rd year, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise is the most prestigious business award in the country, with winning businesses able to use the emblem for the next five years.

To be more interested in the writer than the writing is just eternal human vulgarity BUSINESS WISDOM

Design consultancy teams up with electrical leader

S Outstanding endorsements for Guildford lawyers

C

harles Russell Speechlys in Guildford has received outstanding endorsements in Legal 500 2019, a comprehensive guide to the best law firms in the UK. The Guildford-based firm was recognised in 13 categories including commercial litigation, insolvency and corporate recovery, contentious trusts and probate, employment, construction, property litigation and family law. For the second consecutive year, Duncan Elson, Head of the Guildford office and a specialist in contentious trusts and probate was singled out for the Hall of Fame - the ultimate Legal 500 accolade which highlights partners at the pinnacle of their profession.

urrey-based product design consultancy Gm Design Development has been working with Martindale Electric – a UK market leader in electrical safety testing equipment - to design their next generation of products. The design process started by developing design guidelines to improve and strengthen MDE’s branding before moving onto the development of several new electrical safety products including their next generation of Proving Units.

Managing Director Graeme Maisey said: “We design products from concept through to manufacture. We use specialist 3D CAD software to develop injection moulded components and then, with our experience and expertise, ensure the tooling and manufacturing of the product is delivered on time and on budget”.

TechVertu achieves ISO certification

I

T & Marketing agency TechVertu has just achieved certification to the internationally recognised ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013 standards, establishing it as one of the leaders in its field.

The independent assessments were conducted by the British Assessment

Bureau and demonstrate TechVertu’s commitment to customer service and quality in delivery, and to keeping their data, staff and premises secure.

The company, part of the John F Hunt Group, operates from both Chessington (Surrey) and Grays (Essex), with a third office in Central London.

ISO 9001 requires organisations to demonstrate that they have a Quality Management System in place to ensure consistency and improvement.

ISP 27001 proves an organisation’s commitment to the security of their customer, employee and shareholder’s information.

SURREY BUSINESS

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NATIONAL

news

The rise of the redundant-preneur

R

esearch from Direct Line for Business reveals there has been a rise of the ‘redundant-preneur’, as four million people have started their own business after being made redundant. Of these, 57% started working for themselves as a freelancer, 48% started a business and 12% invested

in another business and started working there. Although redundancy is a stressful period of anyone’s life, many people retrospectively feel it was a positive change. Over half were unhappy about being made redundant at the time but now think it was for the best.

Google answers workplace questions

T

he number one workplace query that Brits ask Google is ‘how to promote equality and diversity in the workplace.’ According to Savoystewart.co.uk, 320 people in the UK type this query into Google every month, while up to 370 searches a month revolve around how to deal with workplace bullying.

Other common searches include ‘how to opt out of a workplace pension’ and ‘how to engage with millennials in the workplace’. When looking at other European countries, Spain and France both googled ‘how to create a happy workplace’ 90 times a month.

People are so conditioned to take sides that a balanced analysis looks to them like hatred BUSINESS WISDOM

Promotion but no pay rise?

I n recent years, there has been a noticeable rise in workers accepting promotions without (immediate) pay rises. Vanquis surveyed office workers throughout the UK and found that 20.5% of Brits across all sectors would take a promotion without a pay rise, 42.9% would consider it, whilst 36.6% would turn the offer down. Those in the marketing sector are the most likely to take progression over pay, with 58% saying they’d take a promotion without a pay rise. Of those surveyed, workers who would accept or consider a promotion without a pay rise said their main motivation for doing so was to secure a better job in the future.

12

SURREY BUSINESS

Trump slumps in Forbes 400

F

orbes has released its 38th annual Forbes 400, a ranking of the wealthiest Americans, who have a record-breaking combined net worth of $2.96 trillion. Jeff Bezos, CEO and founder of Amazon, worth $114 billion, remains in the top spot, despite his net worth decreasing by $46 billion since last year. Donald Trump’s ranking dropped to No. 275 from 259 in 2018, but his net worth remained the same as last year at $3.1 billion. There are 56 women on this year’s Forbes 400 list, with one of the most notable being MacKenzie Bezos at No.15.

MacKenzie debuts with a net worth of $36.1 billion and is now the third-richest woman in America.

Late payers cause distress

O

ver three quarters of freelancers have experienced mental health issues as a result of late paying clients in the last 12 months, according to new research. In its latest report Late Payments: The Cost to Business and Our Health, Hitachi Capital UK has investigated the mental health impact of late payments on the UK’s SMEs and freelancers.

From a sample of 1,000 UK-based SMEs and freelancers, 11% have been diagnosed with a clinical condition due to clients failing to pay invoices on time, with the most common conditions showing as anxiety (61%), stress (45%) insomnia (41%) and depression (27%).

One sees great things from the valley but only small things from the peak.

BUSINESS WISDOM

Canada makes positive changes C anada has topped a global poll as the best country for social entrepreneurs, according to the results of a poll conducted by the Thomson Reuters Foundation in partnership with Deutsche Bank’s Made for Good programme.

Britain and the US saw a signifi cant drop in ranking – with the US

plummeting to 31st place from the top spot. Almost 900 experts were polled to establish trends, opportunities and challenges related to this fast-growing business-for-purpose sector. Canada came top for young people playing a leading role, as well as the best country for female leaders in the sector.

England ranked as top 2020 destination

E

ngland has been named the world’s second best tourist destination in 2020 by the guide book, Lonely Planet. The list is based on “topicality, unique experiences and wow factor” with the entry for England stating; “Brexit uncertainties have dominated the headlines in recent years but one constant amid all the confusion has been the timeless treasures that England is famous for: the historic castles and cathedrals, the quaint villages and rolling countryside, and of course, the seaside.” Other countries in the top five were Bhutan at number one, North Macedonia, the Caribbean island of Aruba and Africa’s eSwatini (formerly Swaziland).

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SURREY BUSINESS

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FINANCE

ARE YOU KEEPING UP WITH

TAX?

If not, then here’s an overview of our recent findings, says Matthew Farrant, Partner at Haines Watts

W

e’ve recently seen the introduction of Making Tax Digital for VAT which in reality hasn’t caused too much of an upset as many of the changes simply meant updating the way you submit your business VAT return. However, further changes are on the horizon which will see a substantial rewrite of the legislation that has been in effect for years.

Here are three changes to keep an eye out for: • VAT Domestic Reverse Charge for the Construction Industry Scheme.

New rules were due to come into effect from October 1st 2019, introducing significant changes to the way in which VAT is accounted for and paid by businesses in the construction sector. The rules have been delayed for a year to allow affected businesses more time to prepare.

The rules apply where both the contractor and subcontractor are VAT registered. Not only is there considerable scope for getting it wrong and paying penalties, but there may also be a significant impact on cash flow with many subcontractors becoming VAT repayment traders.

• Off-Payroll Working applies to Personal Service Companies in which HM Revenue & Customs requires that where a contractor works similarly to an employee their Tax and National Insurance is deducted before their invoices are paid.

These basic rules have been in place for many years but come April 2020 the rules will be extended to all medium and large organisations. With this in mind, one needs to ask who will now be responsible for deciding if they should deduct Tax & NI from the invoices before payment?

Previously it has been the contractors’ responsibility to make this decision about their status and administration of their Personal Service Company.

However, it behoves the company contracting the service to ensure they apply the right treatment so that they don’t risk being penalised by HMRC or sued by the contractor for lost employment rights.

occupied at some stage as the owner’s Principal Private Residence (your home). The current letting relief can reduce the tax liability by £11,200 (£22,400 for a couple).

Additionally, the exempt period at the end of ownership will be further reduced to nine months from its original 36 months. The interaction of these reliefs is complicated, and will not be removed in all cases. Advice must be taken if you want to take advantage of the reliefs before they are lost in April.

Any Capital Gains Tax due on disposals of residential property after April 5th 2020 will be due 30 days after the completion date. Previously it was due January 31st following the end of the tax year. This could bring the payment date forward by as much as 22 months.

These changes are complex. If you think these may impact you or your business, please get in touch.

Buy to Let properties will suffer the next stage of the government’s onslaught this April. The reduction in higher rate tax relief on mortgage interest has been phased in over the last four years and has been well documented.

• Less well known are the restrictions to Capital Gains Tax reliefs given where a property has been let and

Haines Watts Surrey offices in Esher and Godalming. www.hwca.com/ accountants-godalming

SURREY BUSINESS

15

COMPANY FOCUS

SWITCH OFF

Are you prepared for the ISDN telephone network switch-off?

A

re you ready for 2025? BT Openreach plan to switch off the ISDN telephone network meaning the telephony of millions of businesses will no longer be supported.

From 2020 they will begin to cease new supplies, therefore preventing any upgrade or expansion capabilities.

Organisations need to be aware that they should future-proof their business and look to change.

What’s the alternative?

IP technology, such as hosted VoIP, will replace the legacy ISDN technology.

BT has invested heavily in IP and therefore it makes no sense to continue supporting and investing in ISDN. Although there’s time to plan and

implement the necessary changes, we could find that the support of ISDN starts to reduce as fewer engineers will be available and trained on the legacy ISDN technology.

What do you need to do?

There are a couple of options available.

You could switch to SIP, which is able to control voice, video and messaging, by retaining your onsite telephone system (PBX) and making calls over a

data connection. Or you could switch to hosted VoIP to give you greater flexibility. Hosted VoIP doesn’t need a telephone system onsite and many businesses and organisations have already made the move.

If you’d like to find out more about the ISDN switch off, or any other aspects of your telephony, please get in touch with the Open Telecom team on 020 33 888 888.

FREE INVOICE REVIEW

Save more on your telephony.

Not sure of your data plan? Or how much you’re spending on line rental? Open Telecom provide communication solutions to all organisations from start-up to corporates through to schools and charities.

LINES AND CALLS BUSINESS MOBILES

CLOUD TELEPHONY CONNECTIVITY

Get in touch to arrange an informal chat and find out how we can help.

www.opentelecom.co.uk 020 33 888 888 sales@opentelecom.co.uk

16

SURREY BUSINESS

PEST CONTROL

SHOULD YOU GET A

PEST PREVENTION CONTRACT? It means you have one less thing to worry about, says Paul Bates, MD of Cleankill A pest prevention contract is similar to an insurance contract – the difference being that with a company like Cleankill you will get at least eight ‘proactive’ visits from a highly trained pest control technician each year.

Choose your provider carefully. Some pest control companies over charge and under deliver. Others are untrustworthy and focused on sales targets rather than what is actually needed by the customer.

Paul Bates

P

est control can sometimes be a long way down the list of a managing director’s priorities, but it will quickly go to the top if an infestation results in a fire, complaints from customers, damaged stock or premises being closed by health and safety inspectors. Not to mention the possibility of large fines.

Cleankill Pest Control Managing Director Paul Bates explains: “With most things, you pay for what you get. Be wary if you get a cheap quote from a large company because it’s likely they will try to make up the shortfall by charging unexpected extras later on or cutting corners. Also be wary of contracts being ‘bundled’ with cleaning and landscaping. These services should be kept separate as they are

very different and practises can sometimes conflict.”

The contractor you choose should belong to the British Pest Control Association and all staff should be qualified to the RSPH Level Two, have written accreditations in Health and Safety and have full employers’ and public liability insurance.

Proofing against mice, rats and birds should be looked at as part of an overall integrated pest control system. Install fly-control units in kitchens, catering areas, bin rooms and delivery bays to catch the flies before they enter the building. Units available include standard ‘sparking’ units and glue-board units that can be moved around affected areas, particularly in those premises that suffer from the Autumn cluster flies.

Cleankill provides a detailed digital report at the end of each inspection which is available within minutes of the service being carried out.

Cleankill holds the following accreditations and Memberships: Gold Investors in People; Achilles; Alcumus SafeContractor, Altius Assured Award & CDM: Avetta; Bat Conservation Trust; British Pest Control Association; Certified Professional Pest Management - BS EN 16636:2015; CHAS - Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme; CHAS Premium Plus; Constructionline - Silver, Gold & Acclaim member; EXOR; ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and Safe4Site.

Contact us for a free survey www. cleankill.co.uk or call 0800 056 5477

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PRIVATE SECTOR OUTPUT CONTRACTS

I

n the midst of ongoing political and economic uncertainty, private sector activity in the South East contracted in September, according to the latest NatWest PMI® data. Although the decline was only modest, it was the quickest since July 2016. Weighing on business activity was a solid fall in new business that was the fastest in over three years.

Employment fell for the second month in a row as job shedding gathered pace to the quickest since October 2009. Meanwhile, firms noted a further sharp reduction in backlogs. Subdued demand was reflected in business sentiment, which was the among the lowest since data collection began in July 2012.

The headline NatWest South East Business Activity Index – a seasonally

adjusted index that measures the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – posted 48.4 in September, slipping from the 50.0 no-change mark in August. Private sector output has declined in three of the last four months, with respondents attributing the latest reduction to client hesitancy amid sustained Brexit uncertainty. Moreover, the fall was the fastest since the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum in July 2016.

The volume of incoming work received by private sector firms in the South East fell for the fifth month in a row in September. Excluding the temporary, referendum-induced, demand shock in July 2016, the rate of the decline was the sharpest since June 2009. Anecdotal evidence linked the reduction to subdued demand conditions and political uncertainty.

ALTHOUGH THE DECLINE WAS ONLY MODEST, IT WAS THE QUICKEST SINCE JULY 2016

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KEY FINDINGS • Fastest fall in new business since July 2016 • Employment declines at quickest pace for nearly a decade • Expectations remain historically weak

With receipts of new work falling in September, companies further reduced their levels of incomplete business. Backlogs have declined in all but one of the last 14 months, with the rate of depletion in the latest survey period the joint-fastest since December 2011.

Meanwhile, workforce numbers fell for a second consecutive month in September. The reduction was moderate

Outlook

Demand The volume of incoming work received by private sector firms in the South East fell for the fifth month in a row in September. Excluding the temporary, referendum-induced, demand shock in July 2016, the rate of the decline was the sharpest since June 2009. Anecdotal

BUSINESS SURVEY

Growth expectations over the next 12 months were relatively downbeat in September.

Despite strengthening, the level of positive sentiment was the third-lowest since the series began in July 2012.

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

70 60 50 40 30 '97

'99

'01

'03

overall, with firms linking the decline to subdued demand. Moreover, the rate of job shedding accelerated to the quickest since October 2009.

Inflationary pressures eased in September. Average prices charged by firms rose modestly, with the rate of charge inflation the slowest in over three years. Cost burdens also rose at a slower rate. That said, the increase remained sharp and broadly in line with the UK average in September.

Panellists attributed inflation to unfavourable exchange rates.

Growth expectations over the next 12 months were relatively downbeat in September. Despite strengthening, the level of positive sentiment was the third-lowest since the series began in July 2012.

THE VOLUME OF INCOMING WORK RECEIVED BY PRIVATE SECTOR FIRMS IN THE SOUTH EAST FELL FOR THE FIFTH MONTH IN A ROW IN SEPTEMBER

'05

'07

'09

'11

'13

'15

'17

'19

COMMENT

Stuart Johnstone, Managing Director, London & South East, Corporate & Commercial Banking Following a month of stabilisation, private sector output in the South East contracted in September. Although marginal overall, the reduction was the fastest since the aftermath of the EU referendum in July 2016.

historically subdued amid continued political and economic uncertainty.

Despite strengthening slightly, the level of positive sentiment in the South East was among the lowest on record.”

Moreover, for the third quarter as a whole, the sector recorded its worst performance since the second quarter of 2009. There was a further decline in volumes of incoming business, which fell at the quickest pace in over three years. Subdued demand conditions led firms to reduce workforce numbers for the second month in a row, with the rate of job shedding accelerating to the fastest in nearly ten years.

“The year ahead outlook remains

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.

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N

o one wants to be known as a “never there” leader — or worse, a micromanager. As a result, most managers tend to adopt a “middle of the road” leadership style that focuses a little bit on direction and a little bit on support. That might seem like a good idea on the surface, but in reality, that style only matches a team member’s needs 25% of the time.

The Ken Blanchard Companies’ situational approach to leading others (SLII®) has endured for over 30 years because it is based on managers tailoring their leadership style to the needs of their direct reports. There are four basic development levels in the Blanchard SLII® leadership model: Enthusiastic Beginner, Disillusioned Learner, Capable but Cautious Contributor, and Self-Reliant Achiever.

Can you remember when you first started

to learn to ride a bicycle? You were so excited sometimes that you couldn’t even sleep at night. You were a classic Enthusiastic Beginner who needed direction.

Remember the first time you took a fall on your bike? Now you had reached the Disillusioned Learner stage, and you needed coaching.

Once you were able to ride your bike with increasing confidence, you could take your bike out for a spin without adult supervision. At this point, you were a Capable but Cautious Contributor.

Finally, you reached the stage where you could ride without

even thinking about it. You were truly a Self-Reliant Achiever.

Matching leadership style to development level

Let’s try an example from the work world. Suppose you recently hired a 22-year-old salesperson who doesn’t have much real selling experience. He is enthusiastic and ready to learn, despite his lack of skills. He is curious, hopeful, optimistic, and excited — a perfect example of an Enthusiastic Beginner.

You provide specific direction and closely supervise his sales performance, planning and prioritising what he needs to accomplish. While some may consider this over-supervising, teaching and showing him what to do is the appropriate approach for this Enthusiastic Beginner.

Disillusioned Learners need a Coaching style

After a few weeks of sales training, your new recruit understands the basics of selling but is finding the job harder to master than he had expected. You notice that his energy is waning and he’s looking a bit discouraged.

While he knows more about sales than he did as a beginner, he’s sometimes overwhelmed and frustrated. A person at this stage is a Disillusioned Learner.

What’s needed now is a Coaching leadership style, which is high on both direction and support. You continue to direct and closely monitor your trainee’s sales efforts, but now you engage in more two-way conversations, going back and forth between your advice and his questions and suggestions.

You also provide a lot of praise and support at this stage, because you want to build his confidence, restore his commitment, and encourage his initiative.

Capable but Cautious Contributors need a Supporting style

Fast forward a couple of months. Now the young man you hired knows the day-to-day responsibilities of his sales position and has acquired some good sales skills. Yet he still has some selfdoubt and questions whether he can

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THOUGHT BUSINESS LEADERSHIP SURVEY sell well on his own, without your help or the support of other colleagues.

Although you tell him he’s competent and knows what he’s doing, he is not so sure. He has a good grasp of the sales process and is working well with clients, but he’s hesitant to be out there completely on his own. He may become self-critical or even reluctant to trust his own instincts. At this stage, he is a Capable but Cautious Contributor whose commitment to selling fluctuates between excitement and insecurity.

This is when a Supporting leadership style is called for. You encourage and praise, but only rarely direct his efforts.

The Supporting style is more collaborative; feedback is now a give-and-take process between the two of you. You help him reach his own sales solutions by asking questions that expand his thinking and encourage risk taking.

on your team. Not only has he mastered sales tasks and skills, but he’s also taken on challenging clients and has been successful with them. He anticipates problems and is ready with solutions. At this stage, he is a SelfReliant Achiever in the sales part of his job. You can count on him to hit his sales goals.

Self-Reliant Achievers need a Delegating style

For a person at this level of development, a Delegating leadership style is best. In this situation, it is appropriate to turn over responsibility

As time passes, your former new salesperson becomes a key player

Don’t be a

MIDDLE OF THE ROAD MANAGER

Knowing all four leadership styles helps managers drive employee development - by business author and consultant Scott Blanchard

for day-to-day decision making and problem solving to him by letting him run his own territory. Your job now is to empower him by allowing and trusting him to act independently.

Bring out the best in others

A situational approach to leading others provides a comprehensive and practical method of creating open communication and developing self-reliance among direct reports.

Managers who can adjust their style bring out the best in team members no matter their development level.

The result is an organisation where employee competence is developed, commitment is gained, and talented individuals are retained.

Training the World’s Best Managers If you wish to learn more about The Ken Blanchard Companies’ research, please contact uk@kenblanchard.com or visit kenblanchard.com/Resources

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DIVIDE AND CONQUER:

would your business survive divorce?

Being prepared for the worst-case scenario is the only way to contain the impact of divorce according to experienced litigator and family law partner, Siobhan Lomasney

A

dispute with a business partner or co–director can place enormous pressure on your business and be a major distraction from continued business development, but with the right mechanisms within the shareholders’ agreement, it should be possible to contain the dispute and the dreaded deadlock situation.

A divorce can also have a devastating impact on your business life and be financially and emotionally draining, often at a time when you need to be focusing on maintaining your business growth; the divorce of a co-director or partner can be just as distracting and disruptive.

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The worst case scenario? A divorce between spouses who are business partners, co-directors and shareholders. Whatever the roots of the scenario, a forced transfer or sale of shares could easily change the balance of power in a company and on the board.

Containing potential damage

The spouse of a shareholder can ask a court to take into account the value of their spouse’s shareholding, creating a real threat to at least some of that shareholding being transferred to the claimant spouse’s name, or sold. Ideally strong shareholders’ agreements will be in place, which impose safeguards in the case of a significant shareholder’s divorce. These can include pre-emption rights for other shareholders and valuation provisions as to how the shares are to be valued for the purposes of the exercise of pre–emption rights.

Keeping it in the family

Pre- and post-nuptial agreements now have an increasing influence in law; they can afford strong protection for companies, and in particular family companies, by seeking to protect shareholdings existing pre-marriage. It’s worth considering including terms in any new shareholders’ agreement to compel consideration of pre- and post-nuptial agreements to protect the company on the marriage of a key shareholder.

But even with protection in place, a protracted and difficult divorce can still have undue influence on running and developing the business.

What’s the alternative?

Family courts have been subject to increasing pressures in recent years, with too few judges and a massive increase in the number of litigants in person

BUSINESS SURVEY LEGAL

PRE- AND POST-NUPTIAL AGREEMENTS NOW HAVE AN INCREASING INFLUENCE IN LAW trying to navigate complex divorce and financial remedy proceedings.

The result is that cases can be even more protracted, costly and stressful, preventing businesses and business owners from moving forward. It has also fuelled significantly more interest in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

ADR enables the parties to step away from the delays and uncertainty of an overburdened court system in favour of a more private - and much swifter resolution. The parties can choose the judge, venue, pace and timing of the financial hearings. The private judge (usually a senior, experienced barrister or solicitor) will oversee the process and, in arbitration hearings, be able to make a binding judgement. There will be a cost for the judge’s fee, but when the long-term future of a business is involved, the benefits of a speedy resolu-

tion will usually far outweigh the cost if it means avoiding a lengthy court process. It will also afford more privacy. Like mediation, pursuing ADR requires the agreement of both parties.

The ADR options for financial remedy

These are usually to hold a private Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearing and/or an arbitration hearing to be conducted by a private judge selected and agreed between the parties. A private FDR means that you can choose a specialist judge experienced in dealing with complex and commercial assets.

A FDR hearing is a judge-guided mediation/negotiation hearing. It can be a very effective day well spent where both parties wish to avoid the costs and risk of a final hearing. Although the presiding judge cannot impose a judgement on the parties, they can guide and provide recommendations for the parties’ and their lawyers’ further discussions.

A private arbitration hearing is another alternative; it can also be used if the

initial FDR fails to reach a satisfactory settlement. As before, the advantages include being able to dictate the pace of the process, choose the date and venue and choose a commercially experienced judge. The key difference is that the parties can also rely on a binding judgement being made, rather than waiting for a two or three day final hearing to be listed in the family courts .

Hindsight is a fine thing, but better to plan for every eventuality – it’s the only way to ensure that the emotional and financial impact of personal matters on a business of any scale is contained. Shareholders’ agreements can be reviewed at any time to take account of pre-emption rights and preand post-nuptial agreements.

Siobhan Lomasney is a Partner in DMH Stallard’s Family team. She works from both our Brighton and London offices. Contact her at siobhan.lomasney@dmhstallard. com, or call 0207 822 1569

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NatWest Round Table Has the Rose Review (the independent review of female entrepreneurship led by RBS CEO Alison Rose) shown the way forward in encouraging women to set up and grow their businesses? Hosted by NatWest in partnership with Surrey Chambers, the event was facilitated by Sally Pritchett MD of Something Big. Report by Tara Wavre

O

n October 7th NatWest, in partnership with Surrey Chambers, hosted a Round Table at their Guildford offices to discuss funding and mentoring following the ground-breaking Rose Review, released earlier this year.

Gathered together were women from some of Surrey’s best female-led businesses, and with Sally Pritchett from Something Big facilitating the discussion, the ideas were flowing freely, with a carefully selected group

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of inspirational women sharing their knowledge.

The Rose Review

After a twist on the traditional afternoon tea, courtesy of Mandira’s Kitchen, the session started with an overview of the Rose Report from NatWest Regional Director, Victoria Kerton.

The Rose Review was a government-commissioned inquiry into the barriers facing female entrepreneurs.

It was carried out over the course of

more than a year and was published in March 2019. The report identified five key challenges facing female entrepreneurs: 1 Low access and awareness of capital 2 Greater risk awareness 3 Perception of having missing skills or experience 4 Disproportionate primary caring responsibilities 5 Lack of relatable sponsorship, mentoring and role models

THE BIG DEBATE

L-R: Organisers of the NatWest Round Table – Amanda Shovelton, Female Business Growth Enabler, Business Banking & Funding, NatWest; Victoria Kerton, NatWest Regional Director; Peter Quilter, Corporate & Commercial Director, NatWest

discussion around the topic of funding, by asking the women what their experience of funding had been so far.

Several of the women in the room had felt unprepared when they applied

We then heard from a CEO who was currently going through the process of funding with the aim of scaling up her business. She has sought funding from a variety of sources but found that learning the lingo of Angel Investors and VC investors is extremely hard, like learning a new language.

She handled all of the legal side of the funding on her own, teaching herself as she went. Like others she experienced a high level of sexism throughout the process and has had to combat damaging false assumptions about who she is.

LIKE OTHERS, [THE CEO] EXPERIENCED A HIGH LEVEL OF SEXISM THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND HAS HAD TO COMBAT DAMAGING FALSE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WHO SHE IS

It listed several recommendations: • An understanding of what motivates female entrepreneurs going into enterprise. Often it isn’t about world domination but out of a desire to make a difference.

• Increased funding for female entrepreneurs.

• Greater family care support.

• Expanding awareness and access to support, funding and mentorships.

Access to Funding

Sally then opened up the floor for

for funding. They made the point that there is little or no information available on what you can expect when you start this process. This uncertainty, coupled with a concern for the volume of paperwork she’d been asked to produce, led one woman to decide she’d rather do it with her own personal funds. However, she was able to get some funding from Surrey Rural leaders.

Another businesswoman was successful in her funding application, but ultimately declined it as the lenders wanted to secure the funding against her house, which she felt was too much of a risk.

A number of businesses have found that many investors are only interested in tech companies, unless you are a tech company it can be very hard to qualify for funding. However even tech companies find the process very difficult. One CFO noted that whilst female Angel Investors have been very supportive, they have had to combat a lot of sexism from funding panels. Usually made up solely of men, the questions posed to a female CEO around work/life balance or risk were very different to the questions asked of a male CEO.

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It was clear from the discussion that there is both conscious and unconscious bias in the funding process and in the panels, with more diversity and representation required throughout the process.

A big takeaway from the funding discussion is that more women need to ask for funding, and they need to ask for higher values of it. There was recognition in the room that this may stem from a lack of confidence and being less willing to take risks than men. As all the women in the room are successful

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WOMEN IN THE ROOM FELT THEIR BUSINESSES WOULD BE BIGGER, BETTER OR IMPROVED HAD THEY ASKED FOR OR BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING FUNDING PREVIOUSLY scale-up businesses their focus might be on supporting the next generation of start-ups through the process, to counter the feeling of unpreparedness around funding applications. Women in the room felt their businesses would be bigger, better or improved had they asked for or been successful in getting funding previously.

Mentoring

The topic of discussion moved on to mentoring and everyone in the room shared their experiences of being mentored and mentoring others.

Those that have mentored others noted that the women they have mentored are often much more prepared

THE BIG DEBATE

but lack confidence. It is really important as a mentor to develop confidence. Many in the room agreed that they have used mentors to grow their confidence very effectively.

Something that was echoed around the table was that many of those present never really viewed themselves as ‘women’ in the sense of how sex-based bias might be affecting them in the working world. It is only in retrospect that they have realised things probably were a little bit harder or more challenging than they would have been for a man in the same position.

Businesses need to consider many different elements and viewpoints but are often unsure about where to get advice. When looking for advice, the first port of call can often be to professional service providers such as accountants or lawyers, however the advice will often not only be costly but may be biased.

Many of the women in the room have found excellent mentors in their business network, amongst friends and family and through asking their bank or Surrey Chambers. If a business is experiencing an issue, the Chambers can connect them with other businesses who have been in a similar situation. Victoria pointed out that NatWest have excellent links with a variety of business support organisations that they routinely connect their business clients to.

WHAT IS PREVENTING WOMEN FROM ASKING FOR ADVICE? AGAIN IT WAS FELT THAT CONFIDENCE, COUPLED WITH IMPOSTER SYNDROME IS WHAT IS STOPPING THEM A mentor can be of great benefit but it is really important to find the right one for you. You should start by working out what your goals are and looking for a mentor who has been successful in achieving these goals in the past. It can be really useful to have more than one mentor so you can get multiple viewpoints and have a range of experience.

What is preventing women from asking for advice? Again it was felt that confidence, coupled with imposter syndrome is what is stopping them,

but many in the room have found that there is so much help ready and waiting once you ask for it. But you have to ask.

Conclusion

From the discussion it was clear that women need to ask more for advice and help, often we can let a lack of confidence get in the way. As women, our success in business is often fuelled by our emotion and passion for what we do and it is important not to underestimate the power of an emotional support network, as well as a practical one. Our networks are what make us stronger and empower us to take more risks.

Only by playing to our strengths will we succeed and be able to achieve more. If you play to someone else’s strengths then you won’t get far, but if you use your own you can be brave, bold and take on anything. The women in the room were all representing successful scale-up businesses and have achieved a high level of success already. It was really powerful to hear them pledge that they will look at supporting and mentoring the next generation of female-led businesses.

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THE YOUNG FIGHT BACK Profile of eco-activist Greta Thunberg.

By Ian Trevett

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THE BIG STORY

THUNBERG’S IS A VOICE OF UNACCOMMODATING CLARITY THAT REMINDS ME OF SOVIET-ERA DISSIDENTS

T

he anger was palpable and the frustration was etched on her face. When 16-year-old eco-activist Greta Thunberg stood up to address September’s 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in New York, she let rip: ”This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be standing here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean.

Yet you all come to me for hope? How dare you! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction. And all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”

It was a passionate call to action to protect our planet. Glaciers are melting, sea-levels are rising, rain forests are being flattened and species are threatened with extinction. Seeing the lack of action from world leaders, Greta was angry.

The anger apparently delighted many of her critics, who seem to be largely male and middle-aged (or older). It’s not easy to attack a sweet-natured child, but a stroppy and emotionally charged teenager is a much easier target. The resulting snipes aimed at Greta were ugly and disturbing, and seemed to be fuelled by more than a disagreement with her views on climate change.

Greta Thunberg became famous for taking a stand at such a young age and she has inspired a generation to take direct action, either through school strikes or high-profile demonstrations.

But her stand has exposed more than a lack of determination to tackle environmental dangers. She has laid bare the raw misogyny and bullying among much of the established media and the political class, and shone a light on a chasm dividing the generations.

Inevitably, the usual suspects included Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, alongside the ever-present ranters brigade with signed-up members such as Rod Liddle and Toby Young. They are, of course, perfectly within their rights to dispute Greta’s arguments, but the nature of the jibes was often disturbing. Perhaps it is because I have a daughter who is the same age as Greta, but I can’t help but find the bullying and ridicule of a teenage girl by intelligent grown men as nauseating. What is it about Greta Thunberg that unsettles men of a certain age so much?

Greta Thunberg’s concentrated determination

It has been well-documented that Greta is on the autistic spectrum, which has been a major factor in why her campaign has been so focused and determined.

When Masha Gessen interviewed Greta in the New Yorker (www.newyorker.

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com/contributors/masha- gessen) last October, Greta explained the influence of her autism: “I see the world a bit different, from another perspective. I have a special interest. It’s very common that people on the autism spectrum have a special interest.

What a difference a year makes: from a lone protest in Stockholm, to a global movement involving millions

“When I was nine people were always talking about how we should turn off lights, save water, not throw out food.

I asked why and they explained about climate change. And I thought this was very strange. If humans could really change the climate, everyone would be talking about it and people wouldn’t be talking about anything else. But this wasn’t happening.”

Noting Greta’s highly developed ability to stay highly concentrated on a single subject, Gressen writes, “She began researching climate change at nine and has stayed on the topic ever since.

She has stopped eating meat and buying anything that is not absolutely necessary. In 2015, she stopped flying on airplanes, and a year later, her mother followed suit, giving up an international performing career. The family has installed solar batteries and has started growing their own vegetables on an allotment outside the city.”

Noting the way Greta has taken Sweden to task on its environmental policies (even though Sweden is one of the greenest nations in the world), Gessen concludes: “Thunberg’s is a

voice of unaccommodating clarity that reminds me of Soviet-era dissidents. I suspect that some of them were also on the spectrum, which in their case meant acting irrationally in the framework of the Soviet system— risking their lives to make the doomed demand that the country act in accordance with its written laws and declared ideals. Thunberg smiled in recognition when I told her this. ‘I can become very angry when I see things that are wrong,’ she said.”

The New Statesman’s India Bourke also reported on how autism makes the issue painfully serious for Greta, writing,

Three of Thunberg’s more triggered critics - L-R: Toby Young, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin

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“At the age of 11, she fell into depression, stopped talking and eating, and lost ten kilos in weight. In a TEDx talk last year, Thunberg attributed her despair to the lack of attention the existential threat of climate change received from politicians and the media. “… Thunberg has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder and selective mutism, meaning she only speaks when she feels compelled to do so. But Thunberg views the condition as a gift. ‘We aren’t very good at lying and we don’t normally enjoy participating in the social game that the rest of you seem so

THE BIG STORY disorders which intensify fears.”

Greta replied succinctly on social media: “I am indeed ‘deeply disturbed’ about the fact that these hate and conspiracy campaigns are allowed to go on and on and on just because we children communicate and act on the science. Where are the adults?”

When Greta set sail for New York for the UN summit (in doing so making a point about flying), UKIP’s funder, Arron Banks, pointed out that “Freak yachting accidents do happen in August …”

Jeremy Corbyn’s brother Piers tweeted that, “Listening to an ignorant brainwashed child is deranged,” - a tweet celebrated joyously by The Sun’s Rod Liddle. fond of,’ she drily quipped in her TEDx talk.

“The teenager credits the ‘black and white’ viewpoint characteristic of autism with helping her confront the stark reality of climate change. ‘Either we limit the warming to 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels, or we don’t,’ she wrote.

‘There are no grey areas when it comes to survival.’”

It shouldn’t be this way, but at least aspiring leaders are aware what they may be letting themselves in for. How could a nine-year-old fixated with worries over climate change anticipate that her fears would make her a target of hate or ridicule?

Brendan O’Neill, a regular writer for The Spectator, described Greta’s UN

And there was a chorus of outrage when Nick Robinson didn’t press Greta hard enough on Radio 4’s Today programme, with calls for her to be grilled by the Beeb’s most ferocious rottweiler Andrew Neil. The hope was that a proper kicking on live TV would put her in her place and prompt an emotional meltdown.

GRETA THUNBERG OBVIOUSLY SCARES SOME MEN SILLY. THE BULLYING OF THE TEENAGER BY CONSERVATIVE MIDDLEAGED MEN HAS TAKEN ON A GRIM, ALMOST HYSTERICAL EDGE

The fact that Thunberg is on the autistic spectrum explains how she has become so fixated on the issue of our planet’s survival. What is not explained is why it takes a child, whose brain is slightly differently wired, to bring the future of mankind to the world’s attention. It is a heavy burden for one so young.

Attacking the messenger

Politics is brutal. If you seek power then you know you will need to don your flak jacket and face up to the incoming missiles of barbs and character assassinations. The poison comes from all angles – the know-it-all pundits who dish out the shit but never put themselves forward to lead, the anonymous social media trolls and the power-crazed narcissists who will lash out to divert from their own shortcomings (ie Trump and Putin).

speech as chilling, picking on her “monotone voice” and “look of apocalyptic dread in her eyes”.

The Australian News Corp (part of the Murdoch empire) columnist Andrew Bolt used her autism as a weapon to dismiss her as “deeply disturbed”, writing, “I have never seen a girl so young and with so many mental disorders treated by so many adults as a guru. Far more interesting is why so many adults – including elected politicians, top business leaders, the Pope and journalists – treat a young and strange girl with such awe and even rapture. Her intense fear of the climate is not surprising from someone with

This, of course, assumes that Neil would outwit her in a debate. Her critics may well be seriously underestimating her.

The way she handles patronising comments from two of the world’s most powerful men, Trump and Putin, is priceless – and demonstrates a wicked sense of humour that many might assume is at odds with her Aspergers.

After Greta’s impassioned UN speech, Trump sarcastically tweeted: “She seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!”

Greta immediately subverted his dig, by changing her Twitter bio to: “A very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future.”

She did the same after Putin, in the

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THE BIG STORY

“I CAN BECOME VERY ANGRY WHEN I SEE THINGS THAT ARE WRONG.” most patronising way, called her a kind and sincere girl, before dismissing her lack of knowledge. She quickly changed her bio to: “A kind but poorly informed teenager.” Touché!

Misogyny in action

Camilla Nelson, Associate Professor in Media at University of Notre Dame (writing for theconversation.com) believes misogyny and a lack of respect of the views of the young lie at the heart of Greta’s treatment: “Greta Thunberg obviously scares some men silly. The bullying of the teenager by conservative middle-aged men has taken on a grim, almost hysterical edge. And some of them are reaching deep into the misogynist’s playbook to divert focus from her message.

“It is not a rhetorical accident that critics of Thunberg, nearly 17, almost always call her a ‘child’. This infantilisation is invariably accompanied by accusations of emotionality, hysteria, mental disturbance, and an inability

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to think for herself – stereotypically feminine labels which are traditionally used to silence women’s public speech, and undermine their authority.

“At a deep level, the language of climate denialism is tied up with a form of masculine identity predicated on modern industrial capitalism – specifically, the Promethean idea of the conquest of nature by man, in a world especially made for men.

“By attacking industrial capitalism, and its ethos of politics as usual, Thunberg is not only attacking the core beliefs and world view of certain sorts of men, but also their sense of masculine self-worth. Male rage is their knee-jerk response.”

An uncomfortable truth

There can be no doubt that the actions of humans have damaged our planet and future generations will pay the price. Governments set targets to reduce emissions but with deadlines so

far in the future, the problem is kicked into the long grass and they carry on regardless. Greta Thunberg is the most effective critic of this complacency.

I am part of the generation that is the problem and I admit Greta makes me feel uncomfortable. I drive to work (in a petrol car), I enjoy eating a juicy steak and given half the chance, I’d jet off tomorrow to a sunny beach to escape the incessant rain. Saving the planet is not my priority and she is right to criticise people like me. Her ability to expose uncomfortable truths has to be applauded and I know I need to do more.

Young people need more of a voice and it’s about time that the arrogant bullies in the media and in politics were challenged. It shouldn’t be the case, but the world needs Greta Thunberg. She has lost her childhood and paid a huge personal price. The planet owes her a big thank you.

OUTSOURCING IS IN FOR SUCCESSFUL SMES We handle all your day-to-day detail so you can focus on your big picture. You have greater control over your finances, quicker access to better-quality data in a userfriendly format as well as total continuity. And you don’t need to keep up with new technology and software upgrades because your outsourced team does that for you.

Why outsourcing works With the rise of agile, part-time and remote working, more and more SMEs are embracing outsourcing as the smart approach to their backoffice needs. It’s a highly efficient way of keeping on top of finances and staying ahead of the game.

As a top 20 accounting and business advisory firm, we at Moore Kingston Smith roll expert knowledge, technological knowhow and commercial nous into one customisable package. Cost-effective, resource-efficient and data-accurate results all under one roof, so to speak.

How outsourcing works Business owners and managers come to us because we work as an integral part of their own team.

You get a carefully scoped finance team to suit your exact needs that operates as an extension of your own business. In effect, your own finance team with the right skills to do the right tasks at the right time.

More reliable financial information is available to you quicker and you benefit from best practice gained from other businesses. Our specialists extract and analyse data quicker so can advise you sooner.

We also pick up business and technical tax issues more easily.

You get a breakdown of your profitability of products, services and cost variations over different periods and years. Your commercially-oriented finance gurus help you actively drive your business forward, meaning you make better-informed profitable decisions. What’s more, your outsourced team can be flexed to meet the ever-changing needs of your business.

Outsourcing for the property market We have gone one step further and combined online accounting software with property management software.

Property investors with a large portfolio of commercial and residential properties are now starting to manage their properties themselves. Accounting software automatically does the processing, so you can prepare your financial accounts without having to cover the same ground twice. This means fewer errors, more timely information and lower costs for your business.

Outsourcing for the future The days of back-office teams and disjointed part-time suppliers are long gone.

What sets us apart from the crowd is the way we listen, question and get to know your business. Then we function as part of it.

Why not get in touch for a noobligation chat about how your business can benefit from outsourcing?

Paul Samrah is a partner at Moore Kingston Smith’s Redhill office.

+44 (0)1737 779000 psamrah@mks.co.uk www.mooreks.co.uk/redhill

www.mks.co.uk

Views expressed in this article are those of the contributor. No responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material in this newsletter can be accepted by Moore Kingston Smith LLP or any of its associated concerns. Moore Kingston Smith LLP is registered to carry out audit work and regulated for a range of investment SURREY BUSINESS business activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales. October 2019.

33

Suffering in silence The importance of managing loneliness at work

By Paul Ollerton, Managing Director at ViiSana Ltd

Paul Ollerton

A modern day phenomenon

T

he physical and emotional effects of loneliness are now well documented, particularly amongst older generations.

BUT more and more employees are also reporting a sense of loneliness at work, despite being surrounded by colleagues all day.

According to new research by Mind and totaljobs, more than half (60%) of UK employees have felt lonely at work.

You may ask why this would be the case, given that traditional definitions of loneliness describe it as a state of solitude or being alone. But modern thinking describes loneliness as a ‘state of mind’ – causing people to feel empty, alone, and unwanted.

The impact to the employee’s health on business performance is significant.

Nearly two-thirds of employees feeling their workplace doesn’t do enough to combat office loneliness, while research suggests loneliness is costing as much as five working days of productivity loss per affected employee.

The purpose of this month’s article is to explore the impact and offer some simple solutions.

What causes loneliness

Traditional research reports that lower levels of loneliness are found amongst those who are married, earn higher

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incomes, and have achieved higher educational status. Conversely, higher levels of loneliness are associated with those living alone, with small social networks, and low-quality social relationships.

Other contributing factors include major life changes, including moving to a new location, taking a new job, divorce, and a bereavement. Additionally, it can be a symptom of a psychological disorder such as depression, or those with low self-esteem.

When considering the factors that then compound this at work: • Technology is undoubtedly a huge factor. We send emails or instant messages rather than talking to people.

• Hot desking/part-time/flexi working is making it harder to form close relationships. When sat in the same place every day, people notice who is off sick, or who has a birthday. We don’t have ‘work families’ anymore.

HEALTH & WELLBEING • Workplace pressure means that the social pub drink is happening less and less, as people work longer hours and then rush from work to spend what little time they have left of the day with their loved ones.

• Home working is also contributing to this isolation, with some workers not seeing colleagues for weeks on end.

When taking the above into consideration, it is hardly surprising that the millennial generation, for whom technology accounts for an increasing percentage of their social interaction, are reporting the highest levels of workplace anxiety/loneliness.

“According to new research by Mind and totaljobs, more than half (60%) of UK employees have felt lonely at work”

How employers can help

1

3

2

4

Make managing loneliness a wellbeing priority To do this managers need to be trained and developed to provide appropriate support. This can be as simple as making note when an employee goes through a big life change such as starting a family, children flying the nest, a relationship break-up, bereavement or even a workplace promotion (we often see the saying ‘it’s lonely at the top’) – and offering support.

Encourage people to talk Avoid making assumptions, or trying to guess what problem a co-worker has, because even the most sociable people feel lonely.

Staying silent is one of the worst things people in difficulty can do.

Opening up to a colleague about how they’re feeling can help them feel more relaxed about chatting to a manager.

The effects of loneliness on health

Being lonely is not good for you – fact.

Here’s what happens: when we feel isolated and alone, our bodies enter into a heightened state of stress, shortening our breath, tensing our muscles and accelerating our heart rate. If prolonged, it increases the risk of heart disease by 29% and the risk of stroke by 32%, reducing overall life expectancy by seven years.

Create opportunities for social interaction Most people spend more time with their colleagues at work than they do with their families. Employers therefore have lots of opportunities to create occasions for social interaction.

Such opportunities – which could be as simple as creating shared breakout areas and encouraging people to eat lunch together instead of in isolation at their desks – can provide huge emotional benefits.

Try to preserve social structures Many of the social structures that were once in place at work have gone. If workers now work at home, bring them together regularly through team meetings or social events. Similarly, technology has over-ridden the need for field-based workers to meet at a depot/office before starting their day. Think how these individuals can be brought together socially, or for sharing best practice at work.

Some researchers estimate that chronic loneliness is the health equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes per day.

Loneliness at work can manifest in antisocial behaviour and poor decision making because loneliness actually alters the brain function causing decreased memory and learning capability. In addition, lonely adults consume more alcohol and get less exercise than those who are not lonely. Their diet is higher in fat, their sleep is less efficient, and they report more daytime fatigue.

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

SURREY BUSINESS

35

THE BIG LAUNCH A

fter much anticipation, Dynamic, the Business Magazine for Women, was launched at the Women in Business (WIB) Expo at Farnborough International Conference Centre.

The reaction was overwhelming, with thousands of magazines flying off the Dynamic stand. Our team could hardly keep up!

The first issue features an exclusive interview with serial entrepreneur (and WIB headline speaker) Baroness Michelle Mone, along with profiles of many of the region’s inspirational businesswomen.

Almost exclusively written by women, the new magazine offers a new perspective on finance, marketing, PR, travel, law, motoring, fashion and education.

The magazine is designed to inspire and empower and to campaign - and in the first issue we launch our campaign for genuine flexible working with a sixstep manifesto.

Don’t miss out on the UK’s most exciting new business publication.

Subscribe at www. platinumpublishing.co.uk/subscribe/ Get involved - email dynamic@platinumpublishing.co.uk

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SURREY BUSINESS

DYNAMIC MAGAZINE BUSINESS LAUNCH SURVEY DY NA M IC

240.372

“We wanted to make a proper gin lovers’ gin”

E W I N T E RV I

H E SPI R I T OF T The new way to T H E SE A SI DE

FA SH ION

FA SH ION THE DRESS

Dresses are having a moment this fall. They were all over the catwalk in all shapes, lengths and prints. It’s a wardrobe essential and will take you from a breakfast meeting to evening drinks.

do work wear

n, ton meets Kathy Cato happening. Kate Mor There’s a gin revival nd the award-winning Brighton Gin, ld wor t spiri the the woman behi thirst for she developed her and finds out why Refresh your work wardrobe this autumn/ winter with looks inspired by the runway. know headache, you’ll nt goodies,

BY KATE MORTON sacks of fragra I mean.”

In the past fashion has had a habit of becoming a signifier of a woman’s status in the workplace, however with the parameters of our working environments changing, officeappropriate wardrobe rules have also shifted.

Power dressing was a phrase originating from 1970s America and by the 1980s, women were dressing for success. It was power suits with shoulder pads, cinched waists and boxy, bold tailoring.

Moving through the decades, and eighties-era power dressing is no longer standard. Women want to

THE ACCESSORY 04/10/2019 Brighton gin.indd

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THE R IGHT STEPS TO BUSINESS GROW TH

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16:17

The luxurious travel tote just got stylishly techy. Packed with super cool features with the professional travelling woman in mind, the Smart Tech Travel Handbag features Bluetooth® connectivity providing you access to proximity alerts so you never lose your handbag again. It also comes equipped with a biometric fingerprint lock so that only you can access the contents of your bag along with a wireless charger so you can charge your phone and iPad whilst on the go.

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THE BELT

Animal prints are back. Leopard, zebra and croc have found their way into our wardrobes this season. Cinch this season’s must-have dress in at the waist with a big leather buckled belt.

E DUC AT ION

Black Croc Belt £35 Dune.co.uk

13

04/10/2019 16:17

THE BOILER SUIT

13

A quirky alternative to a suit, stay on trend with a utility boiler suit.

Fast becoming the piece of the season, utility suits can be dressed up with heels or dressed down with flat boots and will look effortless at work.

Kate MacMahon x Debenhams Utility Boiler Suit £89 debenhams.com

Smart Tech Travel Handbag £345 fifthandblue.com

Following a recent survey we business undertook we . But you were delighted 04/10/2019 16:28 DYN001_104-107_fashion.indd can’t do learn that 60% to ever ything so you of businesses need to be had brave grown more and bring than 25% over in a strong the team that past three year s and despite can support you all the grow current turmoil, as you .

58% were posit ive that they wou ld grow more than THE 25% over the next RIGHT SYSTEM three years.

S Europe continue You need to have a syste important inter s to be our most infrastruc m and ture in place national mark to run the but 35% of businesses have et business. In the begi nning this international no may just inspirations at be a simple all so syste our domestic m and an orde accounts market continue Alison Jones from be r book but s to in orde our main mark r to grow you etpla Kreston Reeves also need The top three ce. to consider barriers IT, marketing growth on how busines , identified as busi to recruitment and even ses uncertainwere ness Your admin! ty, limited business syste are tackling funding access to ms will need to grow alon and increased gsid e comp the etito grow challenges to activity. Investing r your busi th in ness. in techn olog was seen as y the single large growth drive st A BUSINE r of growth.

SS PLAN So, what steps should you take Ever y business to will have crea continue to grow ensure that you a business ted ? plan in the begi nning, but it should not be left to THE RIGHT TEA gather dust. Your busi M ness plan shou Every business be ld under regular needs a foun review and der it will who is pass ionate about change and evolve as their your business grow s and the

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Aubery Dress £129 hobbs.co.uk

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16:20

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market arou nd you chan ges.

It should thin k to the futu re, consider diffe rent scenarios and should also include a “wh at if ever ything goes wrong plan”.

It is always better to plan for a potential crisis and then you can deal with it should it ever happen.

04/10/2019 16:28

MONITOR PRO

DUCTS,

SERVICES AND moment with MARKETS Brexit looming You need to and the world mark keep an eye ets slowing dow on the New quality of the n. tech nology is product or serv also rapidly ice changing you are prov iding as if this starts the way both the workplace and to deteriorate, that we interact your business with each will other. start to fail.

Seek ing feed back will help you With so mon itor this. many chan You happenin also need to ges keep an eye on g, it is a chal KEEP AN EYE your us all. lenge for competition But change can and advances THE NUMBERSON in the oppo also create marketplace rtun ities and or product to the potential Many business ensure for that you are growth. As es fail beca not left behi long use Continu they have not as you are nd. following e to innovate kept an eye these steps you rather than on stand still. cash flow. A should be agile enou smart business gh to face will not only know these challenges. how much cash they have in THE RIGHT ADV And whateve the bank, but ISERS r your business also Your up and com don’t forget you advisers need , ing payments do not need to to be part such of your as a VAT bill. do this alone. team and they Knowing whe need to to expect cash n understan d in will help you you oper the business in which ◗ plan to mak Alison Jones e these paym ate and the is a challenges ents that face and look ing Part ner at Kreston you. Your advi forwards will Reeves sers are aliso enable to you there to supp n.jones@k resto determine whe nreeves.com you have enou n journey and ort you on your www gh money to .krestonreeve so choose an s.com buy that is extra stock advisor T: 0330 experienced or capital item 124 1399 and that you s, to trust. hire staff or perhaps take out a dividend.

There are a number challenges facin of g us all at the

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Subscribe now to receive your copy of Dynamic Magazine email: dynamic@platinumpublishing.co.uk SURREY BUSINESS

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16:20

COMPANY FOCUS

WORKPLACE HUMIDITY Temperature control and humidity are key to providing longterm health to employees and the building fabric itself, says commercial and industrial specialists, Humidity Solutions

H

umidity Solutions, based in Leatherhead, is a specialist in the control of humidity in a wide range of buildings, providing solutions for both humidification and dehumidification.

technically innovative equipment from around the globe. This, married to their expertise, makes them a leading player in the market with the most comprehensive range of solutions.

Currently employing 15 people, the company is divided into two strong teams.

One recommends, selects and designs the most appropriate humidification or dehumidification system to meet specific project requirements, whilst the service team install and commission new equipment and provide planned maintenance and servicing.

One challenge they frequently face is the need to educate purchasers that the modest expenditure required to provide humidity control can deliver long-term benefits to the health of building occupiers and the building fabric itself.

The company has many long-serving staff due to an excellent retention rate, most of whom have an engineering background with strong application knowledge, ensuring they are able to provide first rate advice. They are also very proud to be able to offer some of their support team flexible, part-time contracts to allow them to manage their young families.

Unlike most other companies in this field, Humidity Solutions are independent of specific manufacturers, which gives them tremendous scope to cherry-pick the most exciting and

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Energy saving

Humidity control can also help to reduce energy usage because humidity has a direct impact on people’s perception of temperature. For example, increasing relative humidity from 40% to 50% can make surrounding air feel 2ºC warmer, so heating can be turned down without compromising comfort. This relationship between humidity and temperature is known as ‘relative humidity’ (RH) and is expressed as a percentage that relates to the amount of moisture the air can hold at different temperatures.

Range of applications

Historically their key markets have been within the industrial and commercial sectors, where they can assist

with providing stable humidity to maintain a healthy indoor environment, optimise manufacturing processes, ensure smooth operation of printing and create ideal storage conditions for humidity-sensitive objects, such as fragile artefacts and documents, pharmaceuticals and food products.

However, they are seeing an increasing demand in residential, school and care home sectors where the importance of humidity control in maintaining good indoor air quality is becoming better understood in relation to health and wellbeing.

High RH is uncomfortable (muggy), encourages mould growth and can create condensation on cold surfaces, creating a slip hazard. Low RH will dry out mucous membranes in the respiratory system and make eyes feel dry and itchy. Maintaining optimum RH is also proven to reduce the risk of infection from the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses.

For more information about how humidity control could help your business thrive, contact us at www.humiditysolutions.co.uk info@humiditysolutions.co.uk 01372 571200

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!

CHRISTMAS

CHEER

Creative. Engaging. Personal. Corporate gifts that make an impact are those that tell a story. Your story. This season let the experts at Corporate Service at Harrods curate and create unexpected gifts and unforgettable experiences, tailored to leave a lasting impression.

THE BELGRAVIA

Delight in a mouth-watering selection of delicacies from the Harrods Food Halls. Packed into a traditional wicker basket, The Belgravia boasts fine wines, a selection of biscuits, jams, chutney, truffles and more. £400

THE HARRODIAN

Our namesake hamper contains everything you need for a festive feast. Enjoy fine wines and spirits, sweet treats, cured meats and tea and coffee, among other memorably delicious products. £2,500

HAMPERS THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS

What better way to celebrate than with a luxurious selection of festive favourites. Dive into a pair of wicker baskets to unearth fine wines and warming spirits, tea and coffee, brandy butter, Christmas pudding and more. £750

THE FOOD HALLS COLLECTION

The Food Halls Collection is hand-picked from the shelves of our famous Harrods Food Halls, this generous hamper includes a delectable assortment of wine and biscuits.

Tucked inside a charming Harrods wicker basket, you’ll find luxury coffee, tea, biscuits, jams, honey and chutney alongside a bottle each of red and white wine - the perfect accompaniment to a festive meal. £125

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CORPORATE GIFTS With access to some of the world’s most exclusive brands and desirable products across the Harrods store, from exemplary food and wine to high fashion, tech and design, Corporate Service at Harrods will propose gift ideas to suit all briefs and budgets.

PENHALIGON’S PORTRAITS TERRIBLE TEDDY EAU DE PARFUM

Part of the Penhaligon’s Portraits selection, each fragrance with its own story, Teddy lives for the thrill of the chase, ensnaring unsuspecting hearts with top notes of incense, luring them into a heart of leather and leaving a lasting sensation with deeper tones of ambroxan. £188

STOW MINI FIRST CLASS TECH CASE

Creating must-have travel accessories for the organised voyager, Stow’s contemporary, practical pieces are hand-crafted for a lifetime of use. Complete with a power bank for on-the-go charging of your devices, the compartmentalised design offers multiple slip pockets for safely holding your essentials. £305

SEASONAL GIFTS HARRODS BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDAR

Housed in a beautiful navy blue coffret which will serve as a keepsake for years to come, it’s packed to the rafters with twenty five miniature and full size favourites from our Beauty Halls.

Hand-selected by Head of Beauty Mia Collins, the calendar includes everything from 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask to Huda Beauty Demi Matte Mogul Lipstick. £250

DANIEL BOUJU NAPOLÉON GRANDE CHAMPAGNE COGNAC

For more information on 2019 hampers and gifts please call Corporate Service at Harrods on +44 (0)20 7225 5994, email corporate.service@harrods.com or visit harrods.com

Each BoujuCognac is aged for a minimum of five years in Limousin oak casks.

The Napolean Grande Champagne Cognac is aged 15 years in new oak barrels, and offers a sweet nose with hints of nuts, dark chocolate and sherry. £65

SURREY BUSINESS

41

projectfive

IT support over 250 local businesses outsource their IT to projectfive.

would you like to work with us?

www.projectfive.co.uk

SPONSORSHIP

S

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 • Marketing flyers - the words ‘sponsored by’ and your company logo on event flyer.

• Company logo on Surrey.

Chambers website against sponsored event of your choice.

• Promotion of the event included in weekly newsletter.

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

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

• Promotion of the event included in weekly newsletter.

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

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

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

• Promotion of the event included in weekly newsletter.

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

AT EVENT • Two complimentary places.

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

• Logo on delegate badges.

• Opportunity to display corporate banner and literature.

• Acknowledgement by Chamber representative for sponsorship at event.

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

• Tagged on Twitter/Instagram social media platforms.

AT EVENT • Up to 10 complimentary places / table of 10.

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

• Logo on delegate badges.

• Short bio and accompanying photos in event programme.

• Opportunity to display corporate banner and literature.

• Acknowledgement by Chamber CEO for sponsorship at event.

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

• Tagged on Twitter/Instagram social media platforms.

AT EVENT • One complimentary place.

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

• Opportunity to display corporate banner and literature.

• Acknowledgement by Chamber representative for sponsorship at event.

• Tagged on Twitter/Instagram social media platforms.

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

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

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

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

SURREY BUSINESS

43

SURREY FINALISTS REVEALED T

he shortlist for the 2019 Surrey Business Awards has been announced.

Back for the second year, the Awards bring together the best in the county’s business community to celebrate their success.

Entries were judged by an experienced panel of local and business experts including Heathrow Airport, NatWest, Mazars, The Ken Blanchard Companies, Surrey

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Sponsored by Global

• Bruce’s Doggy Day Care • Kelly’s Storage • ramsac • Surrey Translation Bureau BUSINESS INNOVATION OF THE YEAR Sponsored by D-RisQ

• CampaignHero • Eurocom CI • Strategic Imperatives • Streeva START-UP OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Hart Brown Solicitors

• Consentricare • My Busy Bots • Securium • Teresa Weller Hair Art TOURIST ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Business School, Partridge Muir & Warren, projectfive, Hart Brown Solicitors, Moore Kingston Smith, Sandown MercedesBenz, Global, Surrey Business Magazine and Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

To reach their crucial decision, judges reviewed all the entries to come to a longlist of finalists. Candidates then went through a rigorous reviewing system, including phone, face to face and panel interviews.

Winners will be announced on Thursday

November 21st at the Epsom Downs Racecourse.

Over 400 of the region’s business leaders, judges and VIPs are attending, giving guests the perfect opportunity to network with peers, celebrate with colleagues and find out those all-important results! This will be the networking event of the year.

Tickets cost £90 each or £850 for a table of ten and can be purchased online by visiting www.surreybusinessawards.com

2019 FINALISTS CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Surrey Chambers of Commerce

• 365 Office Solutions • CM System Designs • Manor Collection • Surrey Research Park CHARITY OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Moore Kingston Smith

• Cherry Trees • Disability Challengers • Oakleaf Enterprise • Stripey Stork CSR EXCELLENCE AWARD

Sponsored by Sandown Mercedes-Benz

Sponsored by The Ken Blanchard Companies

• Brooklands Museum • Denbies Wine Estate • Painshill • Silent Pool Distillery

• Birtley House Group • GlucoRx • Mandira’s Kitchen • REDBOX

EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Surrey Business School

• Kelly’s Storage • Kyan • ramsac • Something Big INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Heathrow Airport

• Edward Ray • Home from Home Student Services • ITARMI • Performance54 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD

SME BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Partridge Muir & Warren

• bdhSterling • Bruce’s Doggy Day Care • Right at Home GF • Sell Electrical LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by Mazars

• Broadplace Advertising • GlucoRx • ramsac • Surrey Research Park BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Surrey Business Magazine

• Giles Thomas at Manor Collection • Jess Buttaci at Howell-Jones • Michael Higgins at Lovetts Solicitors • Sushil Patel at Stag Print

Sponsored by projectfive

COMPANY OF THE YEAR

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE

KEEP TRADING The advice in these uncertain times is to keeping doing business internationally, says Aaron Law

I

nevitably, our International Trade team at the Surrey Chambers witnessed a determined focus on Brexit preparations for businesses last month. October saw our three Brexit Bootcamp events held at Sandown Racecourse, HG Wells Centre, and Denbies Wine Estate. Our select experts on international trade, tax and VAT, employment and data protection, delivered essential advice to over 120 delegates in total. Online, our Brexit Hub on the Surrey Chambers website continues to be an invaluable resource of up-to-date guidance keeping abreast of information in flux.

themes, with panel discussions and practical workshops throughout.

A key event attended by the team last month was the 2019 International Trade Summit hosted by the British Chambers of Commerce. Held annually, the Summit is dedicated to supporting businesses across the country on a broad spectrum of export-related

However, panel discussions led by a variety of eminent speakers had a welcome emphasis on addressing concerns honestly and with encouragement, with topics ranging from customs procedures, global supply chains and diversifying overseas

This year, a palpable sense of both reticence and anticipation on the country’s departure from the EU could be detected amongst the delegates, with over 500 in attendance sharing the same concerns and questions. This was addressed by BCC Director General Adam Marshall in his opening speech, noting the frustration over uncertainty expressed by businesses and stressing the importance of continuing to trade internationally during unpredictable times.

markets. The Chambers team were pleased to hear the success stories of businesses and speakers of major organisations looking onward with readiness and optimism.

The most important message gathered from our activity in October is clear: international trade is still integral to UK business and the global economy as a whole, and should be at the forefront of the decision-makers’ minds. As ever, our International Trade team at the Surrey Chambers are ready and prepared to support you, whatever – or whenever – the outcome.

If you have any queries, you’re always welcome to contact us at: export@ surrey-chambers.co.uk Aaron Law is an International Trade Assistant at Surrey Chambers of Commerce

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NOW OPEN

Guildford's all-new corporate events venue for hire

Situated in the heart of Guildford, and just a short walk from the train station, The Guildford Pavilion is an ideal location for business events and conferences First-class facilities coupled with flexible spaces suit any type of meeting or function, from 10 - 180 delegates. The modern venue offers a suite of comprehensive hospitality packages, designed to cater for all occasions and budgets.

In addition, the Sports Ground has a capacity of 4,500 and plays host to local and county cricket, plus a variety of other sports. This fantastic outdoor space can be hired for private match days as well as BBQs, team building or marquee-based functions.

Please get in touch with our experienced events team about your requirements +44 (0)1483 813360 | events@guildfordpavilion.com | www.guildfordpavilion.com The Guildford Pavilion, The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 4RP

POLICING SURREY

SURREY POLICE

EXCELLENT NEIGHBOURS Surrey’s neighbourhood policing has been rated as ‘excellent’. We hear from Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro on careers in Surrey

And only a few weeks ago I was in Farncombe talking to residents, police and the local MP Jeremy Hunt following some persistent ASB issues near to the town’s train station.

But overall I think this was a really positive assessment of the Force’s performance which has been achieved at a time when police resources have been stretched to the limit.

O

ne of the biggest challenges in modern day policing is juggling the increasingly complex demand on resources with providing that local policing presence residents value so highly.

The shift in demand that forces, including Surrey, have faced in recent years in tackling issues such as cybercrime, child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse has been well documented. It has meant difficult choices have had to be made to balance those requirements with providing effective community policing that helps our residents feel safe.

That is why I was particularly pleased to see neighbourhood policing in Surrey recognised as ‘excellent’ by inspectors in a report in the last few weeks.

Like most organisations in the public sector, we are rightly subject to independent and rigorous scrutiny to ensure we are providing the right service for the public. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) carry out annual inspections on police forces across the country into the Ef-

fectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) in which they keep people safe and reduce crime.

In this year’s assessment they described officers as ‘local experts’ in the boroughs where they work resulting in the public continuing to have high levels of confidence in Surrey Police.

In my last column, I mentioned we were waiting to hear what our initial allocation of the extra 20,000 police officers pledged nationwide over the next three years by government was going to be.

We have now heard we will be getting an extra 78 in the first year up to March 2021. This will be in addition to the extra 79 additional officers and operational staff made possible by the increased council tax precept this year which also allowed us to save another 25 posts which would have been lost.

I WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO SEE NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING IN SURREY RECOGNISED AS ‘EXCELLENT’ BY INSPECTORS It also rated the Force as ‘outstanding’ at preventing crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) and said it engages well with its communities to understand and solve neighbourhood problems.

There is always more to do of course.

At this time of year, our neighbourhood police teams will be working hard to keep our communities safe during a busy period with the darker evenings and celebrations around Bonfire Night.

I do feel Surrey have been short-changed by the allocation process which was based on the central government grant system (we have the lowest percentage grant of any force in the country). However, these extra officers are gratefully received and will make a real difference to our residents. We must now focus our attention on getting them recruited, trained and serving the residents of Surrey as soon as possible.

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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Over 13,000 local school children attended the last Big Bang Fair South East, which Gatwick sponsors

WHY YOUNG TALENT is so fundamental to our success

How Gatwick is inspiring the next generation to develop career skills for the right job by Paula Aldridge, Community Engagement Manager, Gatwick Airport

B

y delivering £2.7 billion of economic activity and 71,000 jobs, Gatwick is the region’s single biggest driver of economic growth.

It supports one in twelve jobs across the Gatwick Diamond area, and we are very conscious of the huge number of livelihoods that depend on the airport’s continuing success.

But this success cannot be taken for granted. We know that every effort must be made to create the right environment and opportunities for growth, on the airport and across the wider region, and that includes developing the education and skills needed by the next generation.

I find my role hugely rewarding but I can only make a real difference to the lives of young people by working closely with a wide range of partners, including local schools, colleges, local

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authorities, charities and a host of other community-based projects.

Broadly our mission is to help the next generation through the airport’s ‘Inform, Inspire, Invest’ education programme, which offers a series of opportunities for young people so that

they can develop new skills, no matter what their background.

We look to ‘Inform’ students about the wide range of careers available to them by giving them the information they need and by raising their aspirations. Our Learn Live broadcasts, for example, focus on careers at the airport and let local students tune in to online broadcasts where they can hear from and put questions to our technical experts.

INFORM - Learn Live Gatwick’s online Learn Live broadcasts are designed to encourage local children to take Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects by demonstrating their relevance to a wide range of careers at the airport.

Over 50,000 students from over 100 primary and secondary schools have tuned in to the live online broad-

casts since they started in 2017.

The broadcasts allow local children to listen to and ask questions of airport specialists who regularly need to use STEM subjects as part of their day to day job. Broadcast have been made by the airport’s air traffic controllers, airfield specialists, biodiversity experts, fire service and engineering apprentices.

BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY We also have a focus on ‘Inspiring’ young people – including female students - about the relevance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects in the world of work.

And it is not just the airport that needs to attract more people with these skills, the nation does too. According to the government, the UK needs more than 200,000 new engineers alone to meet future demand.

One of our most recent programmes is even looking to train teachers so that they are better able to bring engineering-related projects to life in the classroom. The idea being that they, in turn, are then better able to inspire the children they teach.

We are also investing in our future workforce in other ways and have an established four-year engineering apprenticeship and three-year engineering graduate schemes to help young people enter the workforce.

Last year we had a total of 26 apprentices and graduates take part and we are also working with long term unemployed local residents to help get them into work with our many retail, food and beverage outlets.

Around 57% of airport staff live locally.

Winners of the ‘If I were an Engineer’ schools competition launch and exhibition in Gatwick’s South Terminal

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT, THE UK NEEDS MORE THAN 200,000 NEW ENGINEERS ALONE TO MEET FUTURE DEMAND It is important that any future growth at the airport is sustainable and that means maintaining and, if possible, increasing this proportion. But it is also about more than just those who

INSPIRE – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Over the last three years, Gatwick has been the headline sponsor of Crawley STEMfest which gives 20,000 local young people the chance to learn about career paths linked to STEM subjects. This culminates with the Big Bang Fair South East, the largest regional event of its kind where over 13,000 young people come to learn about science through activities, shows and workshops.

In partnership with the Primary and Secondary Engineer Programmes, Gatwick has also just launched a three-year programme to get kids thinking more about engineering. Teachers from 15 local primary

schools and five local secondary schools near to Gatwick will receive training on ways to bring engineering-related projects to life.

Engineers and apprentices from Gatwick will also visit the schools, to help build interest and connections between local young people and engineers in the field.

work at the airport or its wider campus. Young people across the region need to be appropriately skilled and trained and the airport is keen to do what it can to help them regardless of their background.

While only part of the answer, our education and employment programmes will help to give the next generation the skills they need to do the job – be that on the airport, across the South East or anywhere in the world.

Mothers and daughters from Millais School visit the airport to learn about engineering

Gatwick is also looking to encourage more women to consider careers in engineering and has been working with Millais all-girls school in Horsham. As part of this partnership, 77 pupils and mothers recently had an exclusive insight into many of the engineering functions at the airport.

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Experiential travel Immerse yourself in culture, cuisine and people with these inspiring transformative escapes.

By Hanna Nicholson, Go Bespoke

W

e now live in a society of experience, it’s no longer just about where you can go, but how you can feel and who you can be. The concept of a successful holiday is not just about returning home refreshed and sun-kissed; it is also about bringing an authentic

experience to life, discovering hidden gems and connecting with the local culture and people.

Maybe you’re planning to whisk the family away on an adventure or you’re thinking of ticking a once-in-a-lifetime journey off your bucket list - in this

THE TRAIN JOURNEY Explore Peru’s natural wonders aboard the Andean Explorer Hop aboard South America’s first luxury sleeper train, starting in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire. Admire spectacular views of the Andean landscapes; from the dazzling blue waters of Lake Titicaca, and the deep Colca canyon to small traditional villages in the altiplano and the towering snow-capped peaks.

During your luxurious journey, meals are served in one of the two beautiful dining carriages, cooked by chefs from Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Cusco using locally sourced produce.

Choose from a selection of carefully crafted journeys starting in Cusco, Puno or Peru’s colonial city, Arequipa. Depending on your journey, selected excursions are included en route in beautiful destinations such as La Raya, Raqchi ruins or the unique reed islands on Lake Titicaca.

Price from £3,979pp

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feature, Go Bespoke highlights five unforgettable experiences which are guaranteed to inspire you to experience something new.

BUSINESS SURVEY TRAVEL

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TRAVEL

Experiential travel THE CULTURAL RETREAT Book yourself into a holistic retreat in India Replenish your body and mind whilst also experiencing some of the most majestic, inspiring and energetic places in the East. This holistic wellness-inspired trip focuses on nutrition, meditation and yoga – the perfect opportunity to get away from it all and recharge your batteries. Prior to your trip, you will meet with renowned nutritionist Sarah Macklin at her Harley Street clinic, where you will learn to travel better with her expert guidance to enhance your physical and mental wellbeing. This two-week long trip will see you journey through Rajasthan and its royal cities; watch the sunrise

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over the Taj Mahal, join a cooking lesson based on Sarah’s dietary guidance, and see the sun set during an evening rooftop yoga class.

Other activities during the trip include experiencing a sacred aarti ceremony at a Hindu temple and a private viewing with the curator of the Mehrangarh Fort Museum. Stay in a five-star island palace and also see how the locals live as you wander the cobalt streets of Jodhpur’s old town.

Price on request

BUSINESS SURVEY

Connecting SMEs to each other, to Heathrow, to the World

Thursday 28 November 2019 – Park Inn By Radisson London Heathrow The Heathrow Business Summit provides a unique opportunity for SMEs to connect and trade face-to-face with other SMEs, Heathrow’s supply chain, and in partnership with the Department for International Trade, explore exporting opportunities.

Why Attend?

• The Event is a great platform for SMEs to get a foot in the door and capitalise on the business opportunities available at Heathrow • Promote your business to Heathrow’s supply chain through face-to-face appointments • Meet and network with exhibitor partners including the Local Councils, Chambers of Commerce, and Local Enterprise Partnerships • All exhibitors actively support and guide businesses on how to connect and build trade relations into new supply chains at Heathrow.

Join in the conversation #HeathrowBizSummit @yourheathrow heathrowairport @heathrow_airport

Register at: heathrowbusinesssummit.co.uk heathrowbusinesssummits.admin@prospects.co.uk 01823 362800

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THE CASTAWAY ADVENTURE Take yourself off to a remote tropical island shore, each resembles a Dhow Fanjove Island is one of six sail and is designed to minimise its small islands in the Songosongo environmental footprint. Indeed, 3% Archipelago, just off the coast of Tanzania, offering an authentic of the income from Fanjove Island castaway experience. Abundant is donated to the local community of Songosongo Island for social with resident marine life and an 11km development projects. Embark on long coral reef which spans for miles, pre-breakfast snorkels, spend your the prolific wildlife includes spinner dolphin, green turtles and humpback day exploring on foot with a local whales. An unadulterated paradise, guide or venture out on a dolphin excursion. Then try your hand at only the 19th century lighthouse and catching a barracuda or take one of architectural remnants of a former fishing village settlement hint at the island’s four kayaks to navigate the whole main island before ending previous human occupation. your day relaxing on the beach.

Six discreet, eco-friendly private Price from ÂŁ2,030pp for 7 nights, excluding flights bandas made from sustainable wood and thatch are set along the sandy

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THE SAILING HOLIDAY Discover Indonesia aboard a fully catered phinisi yacht Tiger Blue is a traditional 34m timber phinisi yacht which sails around the stunning islands of Eastern Indonesia. Designed with families and groups of friends in mind, a journey on Tiger Blue is guaranteed to be packed with unforgettable moments whether it be searching for dragons on Komodo, spotting birds of paradise in West Papua

TRAVEL

or snorkelling with giant manta rays over the coral gardens of Raja Ampat.

Tiger Blue can accommodate up to 12 guests with a choice of two cabin types and the yacht can either be chartered exclusively or you can join an existing trip in one of the cabins on selected dates.

Price from £4,200pp for a 7 night trip in a Double Standard Cabin, including all meals and excursions.

THE EXHILARATING SPREE Ski on your own private mountain New Zealand’s best-kept secret is an unspoiled playground where you can indulge in a completely private mountain experience for a group of up to 24 guests, with the Ski Area all to yourselves, even if you’re not an advanced skier or boarder.

Enjoy free rein of 264 hectares and over 500 vertical metres of pristine high-country terrain at Soho Basin.

Skip the chairlift queue and jump on state-of-the-art snowcats with specially designed heated passenger cabins, taking in breathtaking vistas all the way from Fiordland to the West Coast, and Wanaka to Queenstown.

Adventurous skiers can explore more

challenging terrain or simply enjoy cutting your own lines and navigating more leisurely groomed runs, wide open slopes, chutes or ungroomed zones.

After a morning of exploration with experienced guides, you’ll be treated to a gourmet three-course lunch paired with Amisfield wines on the deck of an Alpine Hut where you can relax and enjoy the blissful mountainous surroundings.

Price from £21,995 per day for exclusive hire for a group of 24.

Individuals and smaller groups can also book from approx £865pp

Go Bespoke is delighted to offer Platinum readers £500 off their first booking*. Quote ‘Platinum’ when making your enquiry. *T&Cs apply offer valid on bookings over £5,000.

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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

W

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 hannah.joslyn@surrey-chambers.co.uk noah.pesci@surrey-chambers.co.uk or call 01483 735540.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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The GLC.

Representative Example

GLC 220 d 4MATIC Sport Auto

Monthly Payments of1

£399.00

From just £399* per month

Customer Deposit

£5,499.00

On the Road Price

£40,185.00

The second generation of the mid-range SUV from Mercedes-Benz goes by the name of GLC and represents a big step forward on several fronts: On a technical level the SUV clearly makes its mark with the excellent standard of safety that is a brand hallmark, featuring state-of-the-art assistance systems and outstanding energy efficiency.

The extended range of dynamic transmission modes and the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive increase not only the ride comfort, but also the vehicle’s sporty agility – whatever surface it is driving on.

Retailer Deposit Contribution

£4,413.88

Optional Purchase Payment2

£16,175.00

Amount of Credit

£30,272.12

Duration of Agreement

48 months

Total Amount Payable3

£45,249.88

Purchase Activation Fee2

£10.00

Representative APR

5.5% APR

Fixed Interest Rate

5.35%

Excess Mileage excl. VAT

11p per mile

For more information please contact our Sales Team at Mercedes-Benz of Guildford on 01483 916292

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

01483 916292 www.sandown-group.co.uk

1. Finance offer based on a Mercedes-Benz Agility agreement. Vehicle condition, excess mileage and other charges may be payable. 2. Payable if you exercise the option to purchase the car. 3. Includes optional purchase payment, purchase activation fee and retailer deposit contribution (where applicable). *Orders/credit approvals on selected GLC SUV models between 1 October and 31 December 2019, registered by 31 December 2019, excluding Mercedes-AMG models. Guarantees may be required. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Subject to availability. Over 18s only. Finance is subject to status and provided by Mercedes-Benz Finance, MK15 8BA. Sandown Group is a credit broker and not a lender. Sandown Group is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of regulated consumer credit activity. All New and Approved Used cars sold by any Sandown Mercedes-Benz Retailer is subject to a purchase fee of £129 inc VAT. Prices correct at time of going to press 10/19. Images for illustrative purposes.

MOTORING

VW TOURAEG

By Maarten Hoffmann

T

his is VW’s new flagship and the most technologicallyadvanced car to come out of Wolfsburg in quite a while. This is the third generation of the model and it should now be seen as a premium SUV for the road.

The MLB frame uses the same architecture as the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne, Bentley Bentayga and the Lamborghini Uras, meaning that there is aluminium suspension. The majority of the body is also aluminium along with weight saving all along the production line. It works. Where the previous model was a tad pedestrian, this new model is sharper, more refined and a much better drive. It is bigger but lighter, and as weight has always been the enemy of speed, this is a very good thing. The load space has increased too and it will swallow everything you throw at it.

The interior is a good place to be and has been invaded with all the latest tech wizardry, and the dual screen display looks great and works even

better. It includes Night Vision to detect humans and animals in the dark utilising a thermal imaging camera, lane assist that l hate in all cars, fourwheel steering and a head-up display that should be fitted to all cars as it is magical and aids safety with your eyes never leaving the windscreen.

The drive is greatly improved and you will barely notice you’re driving nearly two tonnes of high riding car as the adjustable anti-roll bars, active roll stabilisation and the active all-wheel steering do all the magic for you. The V6 diesels produce either 228bhp or 282bhp, and in the future we will see a 335bhp V6 petrol and a mighty 4.0litre V8 turbo pumping out 415bhp. It is alleged that we might eventually see a 362bhp plug-in hybrid.

All of this on-road wonder will inevitably compromise its off-road ability as although it has permanent four-wheel drive and a centre diff-lock, there is no rear locking diff so there will be a fair amount of wheel spinning when in a puddle. It offers four modes - snow,

sand, gravel, and expert – so it will make a decent fist of it but l would decline the offer of a true off-road experience as you might also need a tow truck. To be fair, it is as good off-road as most of its rivals, though that is simply not where you or l will ever use it.

This is the model’s most impressive makeover to date and it has been totally modernised. Spec it up and this is a tech powerhouse that will impress even its rivals. The VW badge might historically have been seen as a cut-price Audi but no more. The new Touareg stands tall alone and is a very impressive beast.

TECH STUFF Model tested: Touareg R-Line Engine: Engine 3.0-litre V6 Power: 286bhp Speed: 0-62 6.2 seconds Top: 146mph Economy: 42.8mpg Price from: £53,800

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The C-Class Saloon.

Representative Example

C 200 SE Auto

Monthly Payments of1

£339.00

From only £339* per month and up to £6,000 off**

Customer Deposit

£4,891.57

On the Road Price

£34,274.99

More dynamic, more stylish, more rewarding.

The C-Class Saloon is stacked with high-end technology as standard, including a reversing camera and DYNAMIC SELECT, which allows you to choose between five individual driving modes: Comfort, ECO, Sport, Sport+, and Individual.

Experience a level of technology that means more: one that relaxes, calms, but also is activating and stimulating. Very conveniently at the touch of a button: thanks to ENERGIZING comfort control.

Retailer Deposit Contribution

£6,000.00

Optional Purchase Payment2

£10,850.00

Amount of Credit

£23,383.42

Duration of Agreement

48 months

Total Amount Payable

£38,023.57

3

Purchase Activation Fee

£10.00

Representative APR

5.5% APR

Fixed Interest Rate

5.35%

Excess Mileage excl. VAT

9p per mile

2

For more information please contact our Sales Team at Mercedes-Benz of Guildford on 01483 916292

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

01483 916292 www.sandown-group.co.uk

1. Finance offer based on a Mercedes-Benz Agility agreement. Vehicle condition, excess mileage and other charges may be payable. 2. Payable if you exercise the option to purchase the car. 3. Includes optional purchase payment, purchase activation fee and retailer deposit contribution (where applicable). *Orders/credit approvals on selected C-Class Saloon models between 1 October and 31 December 2019, registered by 31 December 2019, excluding Mercedes-AMG models. Guarantees may be required. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Some combinations of features/options may not be available. Subject to availability. Over 18s only. Finance is subject to status and provided by Mercedes-Benz Finance, MK15 8BA. Sandown Group is a credit broker and not a lender. Sandown Group is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of regulated consumer credit activity. All New and Approved Used cars sold by any Sandown Mercedes-Benz Retailer is subject to a purchase fee of £129 inc VAT. **Offer only available when purchasing with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. Prices correct at time of going to press 10/19.

Images for illustrative purposes.

MOTORING ➤

After a long and tear-soaked farewell to the stalwart Defender, it was all for nothing as rather than killing it, they have produced a new version of this champion off-road car.

➤ I know most of us will never own one but l couldn’t resist a glimpse at the latest Lamborghini hybrid supercar.

807 horsepower and 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds.

Oh, it’s also £1.7 million and the entire limited production run has sold out.

FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW

I felt the need to pop over to Germany to view all the new metal on show at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Here’s a few of my highlights... by Maarten Hoffmann ➤

Volkswagen jumped on the bandwagon of allnew electric or hybrid cars with this little ID, an all-electric hatchback. It ‘could’ do 341 miles on a single charge and there’s an electric range of VW Microbuses coming soon too.

➤

There has long been debate over whether electric or hydrogen would be our next fuel. The only problem with hydrogen is stopping it exploding in a crash but it would appear that has been solved by BMW.

➤

Hyundai have been in the electric car revolution for a while but here is their latest offering with a space-age interior that would look right at home in the Jetsons.

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

November 15th GUILDFORD NETWORKING LUNCH Event Time: 12:00 - 14:00 Event Theme: Networking PM Price: Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT Non Member Rate: £25.00 +VAT

Arnaud Theatre is definitely the event for you.

Running from 12 until 2pm, the Networking Lunch is the perfect opportunity to meet new clients in the area. You can enjoy some informal networking over a light lunch with fellow members, clients and future customers.

Book your place now as spaces are limited!

Event Location: Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Millbrook Guildford GU1 3UX With our schedules only getting busier, it can be hard balancing work hours and home life. Whether it’s the school run or you’re just not a morning person, perhaps it’s hard to commit to attend evening events or maybe you just need a rest! At the Chambers we like to ensure we have something for everyone, so if this sounds familiar our networking lunch at The Yvonne

November 27th APPRENTICESHIP FORUM

Surrey Chambers of Commerce and the Association of Learning Providers in Surrey (ALPS) have created an Apprenticeship Forum bringing Providers and businesses together to share information, make connections and do business.

Event Time: 07:45 - 10:30 Event Theme: Topical Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT

The format of the Forum will ensure that there is plenty of time to network and share best practice as well as a platform to provide updates.

Event Location: Nescot College Reigate Road Ewell Epsom KT17 3DS

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Agenda for the morning: 07.45-08.15 - Arrivals and refreshments 08.15-09.00 - Provide information on the latest apprenticeship policy and rules; Discuss specific issues of interest to the group to be fed back to the Department for Education; Share any identified best practice 09.00-10.00 - “speed-networking” between businesses and providers 10.00-10.30 - General networking

SURREY CHAMBERS

EVENTS DIARY

2019

December 5th SURREY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEETING Event Time: 17:30 - 20:00 Event Theme: Networking PM Price: Member Rate: £15.00 +VAT Non Member Rate: £15.00 +VAT

November 27th MEMBERS’ NETWORKING EVENING Event Time: 18:00 - 20:00 Event Theme: Members Networking Evening Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT Event Location: The Guildford Harbour Hotel 3 Alexandra Terrace High Street Guildford GU1 3DA 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.

Event Location: Komo Bars Ltd Weymead House Mill Brook Guildford GU1 3YA Join Surrey Chambers of Commerce for a touch of informal networking at Komo, Guildford.

Back again with full force for 2019, is a slightly revamped series of our Surrey Young Professionals networking evenings.

We’ve all been new to an industry before; new to a company, new to a social scene, new to networking. But it’s not always easy and doesn’t come naturally for many. And yet it’s something we all do on a daily basis. So we thought, why not change this as early on as possible? Our SYP networking evenings are therefore a little more informal, in a laid-back, less corporate setting.

Be greeted with an arrival drink, break the ice and create new conversations over a spot of cocktail-making, and find your networking ‘patter’ over drinks and nibbles at the relaxed but trendy Komo bar in Guildford.

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.

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.

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Up to 67% off † Business Breakdown Cover for Chamber members Service level

Roadside

Relay

Relay Plus

Home Start

Accident Management

Fleetwide 1

3

3

3

3

3

Fleetwide 2

3

3

3

3

Fleetwide 3

3

3

Standard Price

Difference

£89.08

£248.00

£158.92

£80.12

£213.00

£132.88

3

£65.92

£198.50

£132.58

Fleetwide 4

3

3

3

£56.96

£163.50

£106.54

Fleetwide 5

3

3

£48.13

£120.00

£71.87

Fleet Europe

£24.00

£46.50

£22.50

Minibus Rescue

£196.67

£332.00

£135.33

£177.49

£314.50

£137.01

3

Offer Price

Specialist 2

3

3

3

Specialist 4

3

3

3

£152.38

£247.50

£95.12

Specialist 5

3

3

£98.75

£166.00

£67.25

3

The table below gives you more details about the specific services which can be included within our Business Breakdown cover Roadside

Repair or recovery to the AA’s choice of appropriate local repairer.

Relay*

Transportation of vehicle, driver and up to 7 passengers to a UK mainland address if prompt local repair not possible.

Relay Plus*

Extended Relay service to include one of three alternative arrangements for driver and passengers; car hire, accommodation or public transport services.

Home Start

For breakdowns at or within ¼ mile of your home address.

Accident Management

Takes the hassle out of arranging repair, recovery and insurance claims after an accident or vandalism.

For more information or to take up this offer, please contact your local Accredited Chamber of Commerce.

Direct Debit. To make life easier, you can now pay for your breakdown cover by Direct Debit.

Based on Fleetwide 3 Standard rates for 3-6 vehicles. All the above prices are per vehicle per year, inclusive of IPT (Insurance Premium Tax). All prices are subject to change. Fleetwide cover does not apply to: specialist vehicles, ie: taxis, mini cabs, hire vehicles, ambulances, police vehicles, vehicles on tradeplates, minibuses, privately owned vehicles (unless used for business purposes), motorcycles and courier vehicles (all of which can be covered on Specialist rates as above), or any vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gvw.

Terms and conditions apply. *Relay and Relay Plus services are not provided at or within ¼ mile of driver’s home address.

Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer prices are only available while your Chamber membership is current. We reserve the right to review pricing at any time.

Full terms and conditions available on request by calling 0800 55 11 88. Business Breakdown cover is provided by Automobile Association Developments Limited (trading as AA Breakdown Services).

Relay Plus is underwritten by Acromas Insurance Company Limited. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance, Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is a member of the Association of British Insurers. Head Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered Number 88716 (Gibraltar). UK brand address: Acromas Insurance Company Limited, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3SE. Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Registered Office: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4EA. Registered in England and Wales number 2414212. †

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GOLF

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

SCGS visits New Zealand & Camberley Heath

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.

Now coming to the end of our 23rd year as Surrey Chambers Golf society, September and October saw us visit two brilliant golf courses, New Zealand and Camberley Heath respectively.

New Zealand in September is always challenging with the heather in full bloom, but our golfers enjoyed the day and congratulations went to Jon Kent, who won the day with 38pts off a handicap of 11, our sponsor for the day, Neil from Eclectic Interiors congratulated him and presented him with his prizes.

club had kept the course in very good condition and it stood up against the rain. Our sponsor for the day, Logicar, put up a very nice prize of a Lexus for the weekend. Sean Costa was the lucky winner with 40pts, who also took home the Challenge Cup. Scott from Logicar presented him with the prizes.

We have two brilliant fixtures left for 2019, Swinley Forest on November 7th and our last event at Woking on the December 3rd, just before things get busy for Christmas. Please keep an eye out for our 2020 golf dates, which will be sent out via email shortly.

In October we visited Camberley Heath with 46 golfers. Unfortunately we had some bad weather however the

2019 SPONSORS

HEADLINE SPONSOR

ORDER OF MERIT SPONSOR

DIARY: November 7th Swinley Forest

December 3rd Woking

“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 business-like environment. It is an excellent set-up to entertain customers or just to come along and share the day with likeminded 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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Fly Premium from London Gatwick to the Americas and Asia.

Our service includes: • Lounge access at selected airports • Premium meal service • Complimentary drinks throughout the flight • State-of-the-art touch screen entertainment system • Complimentary seat reservation at time of booking • 2 checked bags x 20 kg • USB charger and power outlet in your seat • Fast Track at selected airports