Surrey Business Magazine - issue 21

SURREY

BUSINESS THE OFFICIAL SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE MAGAZINE

ISSUE 21 DECEMBER 2019

How to survive

THE PARTY SEASON THE JOY & PAIN OF DRIVING THE

LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO

ROYAL REBELS The

&

Duke Duchess of Sussex FIGHT BACK

FOCUS ON

WOKING SURREY WINNERS ANNOUNCED

CONTENTS 5

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

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THE PRESIDENT President Steve Coburn on giving an opportunity to the next generation in commerce

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NEWS The latest from the Chambers and the Surrey business scene

13

HAINES WATTS Fast growth is good... but beware

14

SPONSOR A CHAMBER EVENT Get involved in the Surrey Chambers of Commerce activities

15

CLEANKILL New year – time to review your pest control contract

28

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

34

HEALTH & WELLBEING – VIISANA How to survive the festive period

36

FOCUS ON WOKING A look around this great Surrey town, and at the future development plans. Plus we hear from some of the businesses located there

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NEW MEMBERS Welcome to the Chambers’ new members

56

MOTORING Maarten Hoffmann tests himself in a Lamborghini Huracan Evo

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NATWEST The latest survey of business confidence.

59

SURREY CHAMBERS GOLF SOCIETY A look ahead to the 2020 calendar of events

18

DMH STALLARD Minimising the disruption of moving offices

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SURREY BUSINESS AWARDS: THE WINNERS All the highlights and winners of this prestigious event held recently at Epsom Downs

44

RICHMOND HILL HOTEL This fabulous hotel has had a bit of a makeover, but Maarten Hoffmann still loves it

46

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

62

SURREY CHAMBERS EVENTS Highlights of upcoming Surrey Chambers events across the county

64

SURREY POLICE How Surrey Police are playing their part in tackling the climate emergency

48-54 SURREY

26

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY SurreyIDEA: transforming the way universities deliver enterprise and entrepreneurship

TRAVEL Find the best family travel escapes across the globe, courtesy of the experts at Go Bespoke Travel. Plus a look at Heathrow’s expansion plans

65

WHAT’S ON IN SURREY A brief round-up of the Christmas pantos

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SURREY CHAMBERS MEMBERSHIP Can you afford not to be a member?

SURREY BUSINESS

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A WORD FROM THE CEO

The rollercoaster ride continues

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n other circumstances, everything that’s happened over the past month would have been considered highly out of the ordinary - but in Westminster, the abnormal has become somehow normal. The granting of another Brexit extension. A convoluted, but ultimately successful, process to change the law to enable a General Election, and now, a campaign that will lay bare the many divisions that face the United Kingdom. Our mission, as a network of Chambers, is to come together and once again make the case for our business communities, and everything we do to put people and places alongside profit. It won’t be easy: where evidence and rational thinking once dominated, we now face emotion and ideology. So, we must make the case against a messy, disorderly Brexit; against misguided calls for nationalisation and confiscation that would make us all poorer; and for the investment in people and infrastructure the UK needs to succeed.

Out and about

I am very privileged in my role at Surrey Chambers to be invited to many interesting celebrations. Professor Simon de Lusignan, a Guildford GP, who conducts extensive research and whose surveillance of infectious diseases helps protect people across the country has received this year’s prestigious Guildford Roll of Honour award.

A celebration dinner was held at the Guildhall, where

Maarten Hoffmann – Director

Lesley Alcock

Professor de Luisignan was added to the Roll. He has published more than 400 peer-reviewed papers and articles exploring how routine data can measure quality and health outcomes, how technology can be incorporated into general practice and how new roles in health care can be enabled by technology. What a great example of health benefitting from digital advancement.

Still on the digital agenda, I attended the launch of the Guildford College Innovation Room. Now part of Activate Learning, Guildford College has added this facility to prepare all its students for the world of work. We heard from current and past students as well as tutors and industry experts.

The evening was led by Sally Dicketts OBE and CEO of Activate Learning and the Local Enterprise Partnership (EM3) was thanked for supporting this fantastic investment.

Surrey Business Awards

We had a lovely evening at the Surrey Business Awards which took place on Thursday November 21st. Many of the finalists were Surrey Chambers members, which isn’t surprising, as we work with so many interesting and inspiring companies. A huge congratulations to the winners, what a wonderful night with well deserved finalists.

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

5

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BCC_0617

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

THE PRESIDENT’S VIEW

GATSBY THE

© Paul Judd Food

BENCHMARKS

by Steve Coburn

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e’ve had a very enjoyable month engaging with the local schools. You may have been asked to help out yourself? That’s because of something called the ‘Gatsby Benchmarks’. This is a Government-led initiative that tries to expose our children to seven meaningful interactions with businesses during their school years.

That may be a talk, at an assembly, from a local businessperson. Or it may be a Careers Fayre, where lots of businesses come and set up an exhibition stand and the students are able to walk around and ask lots of questions. Or it might be a work experience scheme where businesses get to offer a one-week or two-week placement to local students.

at an event at Tomlinscote School, in Surrey Heath. The presentation included two students talking about their personal experiences and some presenters from Enterprise M3 and the school’s own Careers Team.

I was there to give a perspective on what benefits work experience brings to us, as a business and as a parent.

I balanced the dilemma of helping my children understand rejection (or just being ignored) by 100s of businesses versus the ‘power of the network’. In the end, I chose to show my kids how important your network is, and was able to open a lot of doors for them – but they had to work hard after that (interviews, networking events, follow-ups) until they secured the placement they wanted.

Other opportunities include carrying out mock interviews, or hosting a group of teachers in your business, to help them understand career paths and recruitment options.

A key benefit is the experience that our junior workforce get in managing people. We take on two apprentices, two interns and two graduates each year – and those are the people whose responsibility it is to look after the Work Experience students. We see our people grow enormously when they have someone in their charge.

In my business, we’ve had some wonderful experiences this month. I spoke

One lad who came to us for two weeks’ Work Experience kept in regular con-

tact with us and was at the front of the queue to secure an apprenticeship the following year. If he hadn’t of been so pro-active, he may not have gotten the place.

Other things we’ve done this month have included speaking at a school assembly. I took along an ex-Head Girl from that school who is now a very valuable member of our team – it was great experience for her to go back to school and share her experiences with the kids).

And, we’ve attended a couple of Careers Fayres. We’ve taken our apprentices along with us and got them to talk to the students on our stand. The kids can really relate to another youngster talking to them about how they secured their role with us. Much more so than speaking to someone like me, who is the same age as their parents.

Once they are relaxed, then they start to ask more questions and it’s fascinating to hear the things they ask.

If you get a chance, even if you’re a small business and don’t think you can offer an apprenticeship or graduate a career, I would still urge you to take part. You’ll be amazed at what you learn!

SURREY BUSINESS

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CHAMBERS

news

Improving access to justice in Surrey

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harles Russell Speechlys organised a roundtable discussion last month to address the access to justice challenge in Surrey in which people from across the county are finding it increasingly difficult to access legal advice. At the event at the law firm’s Guildford office, chaired by partner Sally Ashford, attendees discussed the role that pro bono initiatives and

increased collaboration amongst key stakeholders can play in bridging the current gap.

A number of potential initiatives were suggested including increased involvement from Surrey-based law students to help with case work and form filling, and greater use of technology for online consultations with lawyers.

Denbies open England’s first vineyard hotel

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

A royal visit for Surrey Hills Enterprises

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n acknowledgement of the outstanding work of local businesses, Surrey Hills Enterprises were visited

by HRH The Earl of Wessex on November 6th. The Royal Visit was recognition of the growing reputation and development of the Surrey Hills as a hub of innovative, high-quality, sustainable, local products and services. During the visit, His Royal Highness had the opportunity to meet many of the outstanding arts, crafts, food and drink producers who have all been awarded the Trade Mark Surrey Hills - an accreditation and Mark of local provenance, quality and sustainability.

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SURREY BUSINESS

ngland’s first Vineyard Hotel has opened at Denbies Wine Estate and offers 17 en-suite rooms with a new restaurant and bar area. With Denbies’ commitment to establish best practice in green tourism, the project architect has sought to adopt some of the best measures to achieve carbon neutral status, reducing the impact on the environment and blending the hotel building into the natural surroundings. The vineyard offers seven miles of public footpath which includes part of the North Downs Trail, making this a perfect destination for those seeking a tranquil stay.

Woking voted UK’s happiest place to live

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oking has been named one of the UK’s happiest places, scoring high in the government’s happiness index with an average happiness level of 8.1 out of 10 the UK-wide average was 7.6. Woking’s happiness ranking has been climbing steadily since the index was first launched eight years ago, reaching a record this year and outstripping the majority of towns and cities nationwide. Cllr David Bittleston, Woking Council Leader, said: “Woking is a forward-looking, ambitious town with a strong community at its heart and which continues to invest in its future. In an excellent location, great spaces, places and events to enjoy, Woking is a fantastic place in which to live, work, visit and invest.”

New Chief Exec joins Surrey Care Trust

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

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ocal charity, the Surrey Care Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive. John Downing has taken up his new position after 20 years of dedicated service, of the previous Chief Executive, Elaine Tisdall. John joins the Trust with experience of leading in the third sector and of support services for families as he was previously the director responsible for fostering, adoption and schools with Action for Children.

Aerospace experts look to the future

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ISICS develops and manufactures fibre reinforced metal composites for high performance aerospace, space and energy system components. Based in Farnborough, TISICS is working with the Advanced Structural Testing Centre alongside Boeing to develop materials for harsh environments, such as aerospace, with a view

to growing a larger civil aerospace capability in the UK. Having enrolled with SETsquared in 2011 on its Business Acceleration and subsequently its Scale-up programmes, TISICS has now raised £1.5m of investment, standing it in excellent stead to grow the business.

BUSINESS WISDOM

Regus Chertsey invests in refurb

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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 high-tech 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. The business centre over-looks spectacular wooded parkland with lakes featuring numerous walk trails.

Private offices are available from one 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.

Partner level promotion at Menzies

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op 20 accountancy firm Menzies LLP has recognised the achievements of its head of outsourcing services with a promotion to partner level. Anna-Marie McCrarren is responsible for overseeing the firm’s growing outsourcing services team across its Woking, Solent and London offices, ensuring clients receive a quality and cost-effective service.

Her appointment by the firm in 2017 followed almost 20 years in industry, including a 12-year career at American Express. As well as continuing to support existing clients, Anna-Marie’s new role will involve raising awareness of the benefits that outsourced services can bring for fast-growth, innovation-led businesses which are seeking to become more agile.

SURREY BUSINESS

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NATIONAL

news

Eco Warrior Workforce

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limate change awareness has never been stronger. As a result of this, commercial property agents SavoyStewart.co.uk surveyed 1,644 UK office workers to gauge opinions on workplaces’ ‘green’ efforts. The survey showed that over 50% of offices don’t

employ eco-friendly features; 79% of people said the most sought after green office features are energy efficient utilities and devices, whilst 29% of job applicants chose a role based on how eco-friendly the office is.

Tax advice goes global

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he increasing global movement of people and businesses is driving a growing demand for international tax advice, according to leading financial experts, deVere Group.

James Green, divisional manager at deVere Group, comments: “We’ve noted a year-on-year increase in international tax advice enquiries of more than a third.

“This can be attributed, we believe,

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

Bristol plans to ban diesel

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

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember.

Involve me and I learn BUSINESS WISDOM

Fashion brand moves robots east

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

Martin Shankland, head of global operations, said the factories had helped the company improve its ex-

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pertise in innovative manufacturing, but applying what it had learnt with its suppliers would be “more flexible and economic”.

Living Wage on the rise

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ore than 200,000 employees at major companies including Ikea, Aviva and Nationwide are in line for a pay rise after campaigners announced a rise in the voluntary UK Living Wage last month.

The pay benchmark, which has been adopted by almost 6,000 companies, will rise from £9 to £9.30 per hour, with the London rate increasing by 20p. Participating employers have until next May to put the new pay rates in place, according to the Living Wage Foundation.

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

Brexit boost to London hotels

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ore than 200 new hotels are planned for London with investors enticed by tourist numbers and the weaker pound, research has shown.

Of the 210 hotels planned, almost a quarter are in the Westminster borough. Law firm Boodle Hatfield, which

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

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

Greener inhaler, cleaner air

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

Toxic tube

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

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

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

“Deck the Halls, Alexa”

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

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

Ooh La La LVMH

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

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Be Safe With Us

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

ChamberHR

ChamberHealth & Safety

ChamberLegal

ChamberTax

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

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

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

Don’t delay… join today!

FINANCE

FAST GROWTH IS GOOD

BUT BEWARE

By Daniel Morgan, Managing Partner, Haines Watts Esher look to your accountant to help bridge the gap until you feel ready to take on an FD full time.

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ou would be hard pressed to find a business owner who doesn’t want their company to grow and thrive. Increased customers, sales and profit is what all successful owners strive to achieve. Growth is good, isn’t it?

Most of the time growth is good however, rapid growth can be a real risk for businesses. Here are some of the pitfalls to look out for when you’re enjoying accelerated growth.

The cost of debt

Rapid growth often means taking on more debt. Borrowing to fund growth is not necessarily a bad thing however, doing so on the assumption that growth will be continual is risky. Make sure you do proper forecasting and understand the impact a slowdown may have on your cash flow and solvency, before you borrow to fund growth.

Do not lose track of your numbers

When your business is smaller you are likely to have a good ‘feel’ for your numbers, but when you reach a certain level of growth it is hard to keep an accurate handle on these in the same way. Invest in good financial systems that can deliver management information quickly and accurately. If you are too stretched, you may need a full time finance director. At very least,

Over valuing your sales

It’s tempting to think that when sales are booming everything else in the business will be great. Revenue is just one metric of how successful your business is. Take a wider view that includes an understanding of the impact of increases in overheads be these investment in additional people, capacity, product development or technology.

Don’t forget the cash

Nothing is more valuable to a growing business than cash. When you’re generating more and more income, it’s easy to overlook the importance of collecting cash. On the one hand, fast growth increases the rate at which cash comes into your business (if you’ve got good cash collection practices) but it also increases that rate at which you spend. Keep an eye on the balance.

Bigger, better operations

in the day-to-day details as you used to be. You need to step back and focus on the bigger picture. Of course, this also means that you have to build a team you can trust to take some of the slack.

Quality versus quantity

Fast growth may tempt you to think about an exit earlier than you may have planned. While strong revenue is important, potential buyers will be looking more closely at whether your profits are also growing and whether these are sustainable. Take time to understand what drives value in your business and appreciate that it can take a good three-five years to get your business to a position that enables you to command the maximum price on exit.

Business growth is exciting but it is important to plan for growth and manage it well. Don’t lose track of your numbers and make sure that your people, infrastructure and technology are built to scale so that your business can cope with growth and sustain it.

Fast growth means that your business will have to respond to changes quickly. Do you have the right people and infrastructure in place to ensure you can meet the growth in demand and manage increased customer enquiries it creates?

Management mistakes

One of the most difficult adjustments to make as a business owner is accepting that you cannot be as wrapped up

Surrey offices in Esher and Godalming Visit us at: www.hwca/ accountants-esher T: 020 8549 5137

SURREY BUSINESS

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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

Option 1: £300+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.

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.

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

Option 2: £750 +VAT

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 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.

• 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.

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.

• Thank you feature in newsletter and social media.

PEST CONTROL

NEW YEAR

Time to review your pest control contract The New Year is a good time for business owners to review any contracts with suppliers, not just in terms of costs but to make sure they are complying with the latest legislation and industry standards.

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our pest control contract is one that should be reviewed. If you don’t currently have a pest prevention contract, it’s definitely worth considering. Whether you run a small shop or food outlet or a company with multiple premises, a contract with an agreed number of visits each year is usually more cost effective. It also gives you peace of mind that potential problems can be spotted early or prevented altogether.

1 Ask about the company’s approach

The recommend way of working is Exclusion, Restriction and Destruction (as a last resort).

‘Exclusion’ means that we look at where pests are entering a premises and make sure any entrance points are blocked. ‘Restriction’ means creating unfavourable conditions for pests and ‘destruction’ means the chemical and physical elimination of pests. Traditional traps are used where appropriate for rodents.

2 Ask about green credentials

Pesticides should only be used where absolutely necessary. Question your current provider about their green credentials and methods as well as what steps they take to protect wildlife.

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Ask about training

On-going training means contractors can offer the best possible service and comply with legislation.

All technicians should be working towards qualifications such as those offered by the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), which runs the BASIS PROMPT CPD, scheme and the Royal Society for Public Health.

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Insurance and accreditation It’s an obvious one, but check whether the contractor has insurance and also that they belong to the industry body - the BPCA. Lastly, cheapest is not always best.

Beware of companies offering low-

budget solutions. They will often be more expensive in the long run as they will find ways to charge you for ‘additional’ services If you would like a no-obligation discussion about your pest control needs, or a free survey, call 020 8668 5477.

Cleankill Pest Control was named ‘Company of the Year’ in the British Pest Management Awards 2019 beating every other pest control company in the UK to the title. The trophy cabinet also includes national awards from IWFM and ARMA and local awards for customer service, being a responsible business and being green – among others. Cleankill is the only pest control company in England to hold the Gold Investors in People accreditation.

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

SURREY BUSINESS

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PRIVATE SECTOR OUTPUT FALLS AS UNCERTAINTY PERSISTS

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

ufacturing and service sectors – posted 49.5 in October, rising from 48.4 in September to signal only a marginal contraction in private sector output.

Business activity has fallen in all but one of the last five months, with survey respondents linking the recent decline to continued political and economic uncertainty.

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

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

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

KEY FINDINGS • Business activity declines for second consecutive month • New business falls amid weak client demand • Expectations remain historically subdued, despite strengthening cline to over a year. The rate of backlog deterioration eased to the slowest since February, however.

Less pressure on capacity led firms to cut employment further during the latest survey period. The decline in workforce numbers was the third in successive months and mild overall.

Input prices rose sharply in October, with a number of firms linking higher

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

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

BUSINESS SURVEY

Outlook

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

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

70 60 50 40 30 '97

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cost burdens to greater wages and unfavourable exchange rates, which pushed up the price of imported goods. The rise was the slowest since June, however.

In line with rising cost burdens, private sector firms in the South East continued to increase their output charges in October. The rise was moderate and the joint-quickest since April. Moreover, the rate of charge inflation in the South East was the fastest across the 12 monitored UK regions.

Expectations for business activity strengthened in October, with sentiment at its highest for three months.

Optimism remained subdued in the context of historical data however, with some panellists noting continued Brexit uncertainty had weighed on expectations.

PANELLISTS ATTRIBUTED THE DECLINE TO CLIENT HESITANCY AMID CONTINUED BREXIT UNCERTAINTY

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COMMENT

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

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

“Meanwhile, private sector firms continued to cut workforce numbers for the third month in a row. The rate of job shedding eased and was only slight, however, with the South East reporting a softer fall than the UK as a whole.

“Nonetheless, expectations strengthened in October with sentiment the highest in three months. That said, some panellists noted that

Stuart Johnstone

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

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TIME TO MOVE

Relocating is a big step for any business, whatever its size. Specialist property lawyers Kristine Ng and Vanessa Joll consider the significant planning required to minimise the disruption - and costs - of moving ance of buildings and/or change in use, planning consent will be required.

The planning application procedure is often complex, and a specialist planning consultant will add value, ensuring you obtain all the consents you need to implement your plan.

T

here are any number of reasons why a business might relocate: it might be looking to grow or consolidate, improve working conditions or capitalise on transport links.

Whatever the reason for the move, it will have taken into account its current needs and anticipated development.

But near or far, implementing a move requires detailed planning, attention to key deadlines – and time.

Location, location, location

Location is often the number one consideration for businesses. Access to transport, suppliers, markets and skilled staff are all key factors. In addition, government funding designed the help and encourage growth in a particular area could be used to help cover the cost of relocating your business.

The idea of a move may be exciting, but what about your current premises? Your exit strategy will normally take six to 12 months to put into effect, so take early advice to avoid costly issues arising.

Owner occupiers

If you own the freehold of your existing premises, your options will be to sell, or redevelop or lease the space to

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tenants. That decision will most likely be driven by your strategy and the financial considerations of relocation.

Each route presents its own unique challenges and specialist advice may be required.

For example, where property is to be redeveloped involving substantial changes in the structure and appear-

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

Use your property agents and lawyers to find potential tenants, advise on their covenant strength, and negotiate the terms of the lease and associated documents.

LEGAL Leasehold tenants

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

Transferring a lease to a third party often requires the landlord’s permission; they will want to ensure that the incoming occupier will be a good covenant strength, and may require the outgoing occupier to provide guarantees. It is important to understand a landlord’s requirements - and also to identify where a landlord is acting unreasonably.

of the premises have been breached.

Such “dilapidations claims” can be a significant liability if legal and strategic advice is not sought; ideally you will leave the premises as directed by your lease – but remember to factor the time and cost required into your relocation plan.

If there is no break clause or assignment isn’t an option, you will need to approach the landlord to negotiate

plete the works before the big move.

The landlord is likely to insist that the property be reinstated when you eventually leave – and that’s another potentially onerous agreement to be negotiated and documented.

Everything else

Property is actually just one (major) element of any relocation. A host of contracts will need to be agreed, terminated, moved or renegotiated before you can step over the threshold, and the legal considerations in respect of your most valuable asset – your people – demand serious attention.

YOUR EXIT STRATEGY WILL NORMALLY TAKE SIX TO 12 MONTHS TO PUT INTO EFFECT, SO TAKE EARLY ADVICE TO AVOID COSTLY ISSUES ARISING

If you have a break option, check whether it is a fixed or rolling break date. A break clause will require a tenant to comply with specific conditions; failure to meet them could render the break ineffective, and you will remain bound by the lease for the remainder of the term.

The potential risks involved in this scenario mean that specialist advice to ensure a break option is exercised effectively is crucial.

When a lease ends or is terminated, a landlord may be entitled to bring a claim for damages if any covenants relating to the repair and condition

and agree to a surrender of the lease; the landlord may require a premium or guarantees to be given, and as the departing tenant you will need to understand the potential consequences contained in any agreement.

Relocation is a long term project, and preparation is key; doing your homework and getting the right support when necessary is the only way to ensure that you minimise the risk to the continuous operation of your business.

Moving on

Whether you are buying or renting new premises, advice on any new obligations and liabilities you’re taking on would be wise.

If you need to carry out any fit out works, any agreement will need to ensure that everything is in place to com-

Kristine Ng and Vanessa Joll are specialist property dispute resolution lawyers. You can contact them on 01483 302345 or by email at Kristine.

Ng@dmhstallard.com or Vanessa.

Joll@dmhstallard.com

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SURREY

THE WINNERS!

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he second annual Surrey Business Awards took place on November 21st at Epsom Downs Racecourse in front of 400 leading business people from across the region.

The Awards, back for the second year, brought together the best in the county’s business community to celebrate their success.

The celebrations began with a sparkling drinks reception, kindly sponsored by Charles Russell Speechlys, followed by a three-course dinner and presentation of the awards by

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television comedian, Mark Dolan, who brought the house down.

Louise Punter, CEO at Surrey Chambers of Commerce, said: “The awards evening is always a fantastic opportunity to celebrate business in Surrey and recognise all of the achievements from companies of all sizes, that are doing outstanding work, helping others and giving something back to the community.”

This year saw a record-breaking number of nominations for each category, with representatives from 23 towns

across the county making the shortlist of 56 finalists. Judges had an enormously difficult task, as the entries were of such a high standard.

Entries were judged by a panel of leading business experts from companies such as Heathrow Airport, NatWest, Mazars, The Ken Blanchard Companies, Surrey Business School, Partridge Muir & Warren, projectfive, Hart Brown Solicitors, Moore Kingston Smith, Sandown Mercedes-Benz of Guildford, Global, Surrey Business Magazine and Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

BUSINESS BUSINESSAWARDS SURVEY

The winners were rightfully excited

Regional Managing Director of NatWest, Stuart Johnstone with Managing Director of The Platinum Group, Maarten Hoffmann

The keynote speech was presented by Stuart Johnstone

Sir Paul Beresford MP with Helyn Clack, Vice-Chairman, Surrey County Council

Presenter Mark Dolan

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Best Customer Service, sponsored by Global - Kelly’s Storage

Start-up of the Year, sponsored by Hart Brown Solicitors - Securium

CSR Excellence Award, sponsored by The Ken Blanchard Companies - Birtley House Group

SURREY Business Innovation of the Year, sponsored by D-RisQ - Strategic Imperatives

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BUSINESSAWARDS SURVEY BUSINESS

Professional Services Award, sponsored by projectďŹ ve - bdhSterling

Tourist Attraction of the Year, sponsored by Sandown Mercedes-Benz of Guildford - Brooklands Museum

Chamber Member of the Year, sponsored by Surrey Chambers of Commerce - Surrey Research Park

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Charity of the Year, sponsored by Moore Kingston Smith - Oakleaf Enterprise

Businessperson of the Year, sponsored by Surrey Business Magazine - Giles Thomas, The Manor Collection

Employer of the Year, sponsored by Surrey Business School - Kyan

SME Business of the Year, sponsored by Partridge Muir & Warren - Bruce’s Doggy Day Care

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Company of the Year, sponsored

by NatWest - GlucoRx

BUSINESSAWARDS SURVEY BUSINESS

International Business of the Year, sponsored by Heathrow Airport - Performance54

Large Business of the Year, sponsored by Mazars - GlucoRx

SURREY

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SURREY’S BIG IDEA Transforming the way universities deliver enterprise and entrepreneurship is the core drive behind SurreyIDEA. Andy Adcroft, Deputy Dean of the Business School at the University of Surrey, talks us through this new innovative programme

What is SurreyIDEA and what is its mission?

SurreyIDEA is the Surrey Innovation and Digital Enterprise Academy and our mission is to transform the way universities deliver enterprise and entrepreneurship education. Entrepreneurship programmes often end up in limbo, trying to combine traditional academic and theoretical approaches with a more practical education experience - and end up doing neither all that well. We want to really focus on the practical side, creating enterprises is core to our mission, so that SurreyIDEA becomes the natural home for people of any age who have an idea and want to build it into a sustainable business.

How did the SurreyIDEA concept come about?

The thinking behind SurreyIDEA has been bouncing around a group of like-minded individuals inside and outside the business school for a long time. Universities need to become better engaged with the world outside academia to solve some big problems like where the next generation of wealth creators will come from, how young people from hard to reach backgrounds can fulfil their potential,

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and how digital technology and connectedness will change the world. In a small way at first but in a big way later on, we want to start to tackle these, and other, problems.

that students should be able to do our programme for free and we’ll share in whatever it is they create. It’s enterprise education delivered in an entrepreneurial way from start to finish.

Who is the programme aimed at?

Who are the people behind SurreyIDEA?

We want to go beyond recruiting students in the traditional way where previous academic achievements and qualifications are the only thing that counts. We want to recruit students with the potential to be entrepreneurs or to be “disrupters” – people who go into established organisations and businesses and think differently, offer radical and new insights and change well established practices. This means we’re looking for a special kind of student – problem solvers, risk takers, people who get stuff done - and therefore students may not always come with traditional academic credentials. Our selection of students is going to be based on two questions: Do you have an idea? Do you have the personal qualities of a hard work ethic and resilience to put that idea into action?

What makes SurreyIDEA unique and different to other programmes?

This is a two year accelerated programme in Enterprise Creation aimed at the kind of student I mentioned where the outcome is a pipeline of successful and sustainable businesses. We have a dedicated ‘IDEA Space’ where our students will work for two years solving problems, collaborating, immersing themselves into business using a learning-by-doing approach, as that’s what really works. We’ll also fund it differently – rather than have students pay for their education and end up in debt, we want to invest in them and their ideas – our idea is

The Director of SurreyIDEA is myself, Andy Adcroft, I’m Deputy Dean of the Business School at the University of Surrey. We’ll have an Advisory Board that brings a wealth of entrepreneurial and business experience which will be chaired by one of the University’s most successful entrepreneurial alumni and visiting professor, Gavin Whichello, and we’ll also be bringing in a wide range of academics and practitioners. Our team is made up of people who are activists and like getting stuff done.

UNIVERSITY OF SURREY Why should potential students apply?

This is an exciting roller coaster of a two year programme where students will not only develop their own ideas but will work with a range of companies from pre-revenue start-ups to FTSE100s. This is a programme for students who want to participate and want to have an impact, a programme that will be delivered in a very different way. There are no other programmes like this - two years where students live, breathe and study entrepreneurship and enterprise.

How long is the programme?

The degree programme will be two years but we’ll also have programmes that run for different periods. We’ll have a 6 month post-graduate certificate called ‘Into Enterprise’ for tech and science students who need a business grounding and a one year masters degree in the commercialisation of intellectual property. Into this mix we have an ‘IDEA in a Day’ programme which is engaging hundreds of young people right now, and seasonal schools where participants spend one or two weeks working with businesses to solve real problems.

What are the programmes values?

Acceleration. Intensity. Learning-bydoing. Immersion. Collaboration.

Creativity. We’re not only teaching entrepreneurship but we’re embedding entrepreneurship in everything we do inside and outside the classroom – from funding to recruitment, to curriculum to delivery and outputs everything is about creating new businesses by putting ideas into action.

How many students will you have on the programme?

We will to start with an initial cohort of around 25 students and then grow from there. We’re building some great links, nationally and internationally, with schools, colleges, community organisations and businesses to iden-

tify and nurture the brightest young people we can find. The first cohort will start in the summer of 2020.

How can businesses and prospective students find out more?

We’ll be hosting a SurreyIDEA ‘Business Launch’ here in the ‘IDEA Space’ in Spring 2020.

Any business interested in attending to find out more should contact Adrian Shanks (a.shanks@surrey. ac.uk). Prospective students can register their interest by e-mailing: surreyIDEA@surrey.ac.uk

WE WANT TO RECRUIT STUDENTS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BE ENTREPRENEURS OR TO BE ‘DISRUPTERS’ – PEOPLE WHO GO INTO ESTABLISHED ORGANISATIONS AND BUSINESSES AND THINK DIFFERENTLY

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With Prince Harry taking legal action against The Sun and The Mirror for phone-hacking and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, launching a separate legal action against the Mail on Sunday for alleged breach of privacy and copyright infringement, the young royals are signalling their fight back against media intrusion and criticism.

Does their action risk betraying the royal family’s reputation of keeping a stiff upper lip and avoiding controversy? Or is such stoicism a thing of the past? Either way, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are redefining the future of the monarchy in the UK.

By Ian Trevett

THE ROYAL REBELS 28

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BUSINESS THE BIGSURVEY STORY THE YOUNGER ROYALS HAVE PUSHED THE BOUNDARIES

BY DISCUSSING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, BUT RAW, UNFILTERED EMOTION IS STILL REGARDED AS SUSPICIOUSLY BAD FOR BUSINESS

A

s the 2019 election campaign reaches its climax, the age-old old political allegiances have been swept away. The Conservatives are eying up rock-solid Labour seats in the north while worrying about losing the leafy suburbs of London.

Political identity is now forged by age and national identity as much as social class.

The tectonic movements in social attitudes are being felt just as keenly by the Royal Family as entrenched attitudes on monarchy and republicanism tumble into chaos.

It used to be so simple, during the Silver Jubilee in 1977, you knew where you stood. The nation was awash with Union Jacks, patriotism and street parties, and dissent was not tolerated. For many young people, and those with anti-establishment leanings, the Royal Family was stuffy and outdated, and the Sex Pistols rode the wave of disenchantment with a desultory sneer. The BBC banned the Pistols’ God Save the Queen, with its deliberately inflammatory line “in her fascist regime”, for the crime of “gross bad taste.” Woolworths and others refused to stock the single, and inevitably the record flew to number two. The BBC

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NIGEL FARAGE: “HE WAS THE MOST POPULAR ROYAL OF A YOUNGER GENERATION THAT WE’VE SEEN FOR 100 YEARS. AND THEN HE MET MEGHAN MARKLE, AND IT’S FALLEN OFF A CLIFF.” left a blank on the pop chart between number one and number three, in fear of being seen as unpatriotic. The papers called for the band to be flogged and charged with treason.

The Royal Family was the establishment, and criticism or ridicule was not tolerated in the media. Few dared to speak out, aside notable exceptions such as Labour MP Willie Hamilton, who declared, “One day the monarchy and all its prostituted entourage would be dumped in the garbage can of history”. He also called the family “gold-plated scroungers”, the Queen a “Clockwork Doll”, and Prince Charles “a twerp”.

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

all male, getting into trouble, turning up at stag parties inappropriately dressed, drinking too much and causing all sorts of mayhem. And then, a brave British officer who did his bit in Afghanistan.

He was the most popular royal of a younger generation that we’ve seen for 100 years. And then he met Meghan Markle, and it’s fallen off a cliff.”

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

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

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

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

The Prince of Purpose - or Prince of Wokeness

Nigel Farage was playing to the gallery when he addressed Sydney’s Conservative Political Action Conference back in August, sarcastically dubbing Harry the ‘Prince of Wokeness’.

Wokeness is defined as ‘an embrace of positive virtues, such as tolerance, fairness and awareness, and being alert to injustice in society, especially racism’.

It has also been cynically subverted along the lines of the definition in the

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IT’S HARD TO FATHOM WHY MEGHAN HAS ATTRACTED SO MUCH PERSONAL ABUSE, BOTH IN THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA AND THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

THE BIG STORY Farage’s agenda. Farage and the usual host of right-wing know-it-all commentators despise Meghan Markle, for reasons that are not entirely clear. Of course, it can’t be racism! The Spectator’s Rod Liddle refutes such accusation by writing, “Truth be told, her skin colour is the least objectionable thing about the woman.” Does this mean that skin colour is only slightly objectionable?

The same newspapers (The Sun, Mail, Express etc) that called for critics of the Royal Family to be tried for treason are now the journals which love to stick the boot in. Meanwhile, the columnists in The Guardian and Observer write in support of the young royals.

The world is truly turning upside down.

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

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

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

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

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

The passion to support mental health charities comes from the brothers’ personal experiences, not the malign interference of a meddling foreigner.

Writing in The Guardian, Gaby Hinsliff, stated: “The royal family does not much go in for the vulgarity of emotion. Princess Diana was expected to tolerate her husband’s infidelity in dignified silence, not go crying to Panorama. Her children would, in turn, be expected to walk dry-eyed behind her coffin. The family still mostly takes its lead from the Queen’s constitutional obligation to conceal her feelings…

“The younger royals have pushed the boundaries by discussing their mental health, but raw, unfiltered emotion is still regarded as suspiciously bad for business. Imagine the concern, then, at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s insistence on showing some.”

Like all Royals, Wills and Harry spend a great deal of time supporting charities, but Heads Together feels like much more of a personal project, and is much more about the pair of them cutting ribbons and shaking hands.

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

Ella Alexander in Harpers Bazaar, is just as bemused. In a piece entitled

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

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

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

to close the gender gap, end world hunger, stop wars or cure deadly diseases, a certain malevolent pocket of the internet would be like, “yeah, well, she’s so smug about it”.

Internet trolls are a curse of the modern world, but the spite is not restricted to cowardly and anonymous keyboard

THE LAST FEMALE ROYAL TO BE HOUNDED IN SUCH A WAY WAS HIS MOTHER, AND WE ALL KNOW WHERE THAT FINISHED of vitriol that this criticism has now reached – a screeching, acidic and nasty collective trolling that spans both the press and public.”

warriors (see Maarten Hoffmann’s excellent piece on internet hate on page 74). You can find the hate in respectable newspapers and journals as well.

The Guardian’s Emma Brockes added: “The fact that the focus of negative coverage has been on Meghan, not Harry, doesn’t smell quite right. Some of this is evidently to do with race. But there is also a class factor: who does she think she is, trying to exert PR control over royal coverage?”

Leading the baying mob, predictably, is Rod Liddle, the former member of the Socialist Workers’ Party who crossed the political divide to the hard right. In the launch of the US version of The Spectator, he wrote a lengthy and vitriolic poison pen letter to Meghan Markle, urging America to take her back before we decide to become a republic. If only the US could take Liddle away. Trump could use him to help craft some of his nonsensical tweets.

In the Irish Times, Tanya Sweeney brilliantly concluded, “One gets the impression that if Meghan Markle were

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

How Harry & Wills will save the monarchy

When I think of the royals I am reminded of my mum who loved them dearly, would not hear a word against them and was part of a generation which looked up to them in utter deference.

Deference is an outdated concept, and it’s hard to imagine Millennials or Gen Zedders doffing their caps to anyone, although that does not mean there is a particular desire to kick The Queen out of Buckingham Palace.

Many of the Harry and Meghan detractors compare and contrast their personas with the Queen, predicting that everything Her Majesty has worked for will wither and die once the crown is passed on.

Jan Moir believes the actions of the young royals is undermining the very institution of the monarchy: “There is a feeling that, while the Queen deserves our respect, certain other members of her family should try harder. Much harder. These miscreants could do worse than follow the example of the Queen…”

The Queen has dedicated her life to servitude and her devotion has been the prime reason why the monarchy has survived and thrived.

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

The danger is that our increasingly bitter, angry and divided society may drive them away. Who would blame

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

THE MONARCHY NEEDS NEW FIGUREHEADS THAT INSPIRE AND ENGAGE THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS

My fear of history repeating itself Excerpts from Prince Harry’s statement when launching legal action against the press after the couple’s African tour. During the travels through the continent, the couple had seemingly got on well with the accompanying press pack, so the statement came as a surprise, and provoked criticism. But as Prince Harry made clear, it was the twofaced approach of the press which was especially hard to swallow…

“My wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences – a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son. “…The positive coverage of the past week from these same publications exposes the double standards of this specific press pack that has vilified her almost daily for the past nine months; they have been able to create lie after lie at her expense simply because she has not been visible while on maternity leave. “…There comes a point when the only thing to do is to stand up to this behaviour, because it destroys people and destroys lives. Put simply, it is bullying, which scares and silences people. We all know this isn’t acceptable, at any level. We won’t and can’t believe in a world where there is no accountability for this.

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

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

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Avoiding the nightmare before Christmas

By Paul Ollerton, Managing Director at ViiSana Ltd

managed properly, can cause unwanted problems at work through the physical and mental problems that can potentially arise.

The purpose of this month’s article is to try and give some pointers for having a happy, healthy Christmas.

Paul Ollerton

Staying physically healthy against the odds

W

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

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

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

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

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•P ace the booze. It’s easy to get carried away with drinking in the morning, at lunch and dinner – try keeping tabs on things and intersperse alcoholic drinks with soft ones.

•W atch the calories. It’s estimated that an average Christmas lunch contains more calories than an average male needs in an entire day.

Rather than going back for seconds, take a break and come back for more if you’re really still hungry. This will give your brain enough time to register that your belly is full.

•K eep the vitamin levels high – the cold weather mixed with lots of visitors means that the spread of colds and flu is rife. Minimise your risk by eating plenty of fruit (chocolate orange does not count) and try to get a good night’s sleep.

HEALTH & WELLBEING Protecting your mental health

The festive cheer that many enjoy is not always the case for some. Christmas brings obvious financial pressure, as well as the reality of family feuds and in many examples, the difficulty of facing the festive period alone (sometimes for the first time if bereaved or recently separated). Protecting your mental health during what can be a stressful time for many can be helped with the following tips: • Be selective with your time – you can’t please all of the people all of the time. My tip would be to only attend the events that really mean something to you, or make you feel good.

• Make time for ‘you’. A night in alone with a movie or an early night will do you the world of good. Why not book a day just for you, veto the family errands or last minute shopping and spend a day doing what relaxes you.

• Catch up over coffee, not beer. Although it’s easy to have every interaction in the pub, why not meet for lunch or have a dry day instead. It’s no secret that over drinking can lead to depression, anxiety, worsen sleep and intensify negative emotions.

• Be realistic about family gatherings.

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

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

Give a helping hand

There are some very easy things that can be done to give something back during the holiday season. These include: • Volunteering. Whether it’s helping at your local homeless shelter, or packing presents for underprivileged children, there are many ways to get involved in your local community. National charities like the Samaritans always look for help at Christmas.

• Donate instead of sending cards.

It’s now possible to make a donation for the money you would have spent on Christmas cards. Not only

does this help worthy causes but it also helps to cut down on unnecessary paper usage.

• Buy ethically. It’s easy to look out for ethically sourced food and gifts.

The RSPCA and Red Tractor both certify ethically sourced foods, making it easy for you to buy responsibly.

• Help the lonely. Another way of volunteering is to visit an old people’s home, or an elderly person who lives alone. A lot of elderly people have nowhere to go over the festive period and it can end up being extremely lonesome for them.

If you have elderly neighbours who find it hard to get out on their own, why not take them for a festive day out or invite them to join you for a Christmas dinner? Helping just one person for a few hours this Christmas could make all the difference.

• It’s easy to take what we have for granted but remember that not everyone is going to be treated this Christmas. It’s more important than ever to give unused tins to your local food bank or donate toiletries, sanitary items and clothes to your local homeless shelter.

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

Twitter/Instagram/Facebook/ LinkedIn

SURREY BUSINESS

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P

opular for its wealth of green spaces, quick journey times to London and affordable property,

Among the UK’s top 10 most desirable places to live and commute from, it takes around 24 minutes to reach Woking by train from central London.

However it’s not just the commuter connections which make Woking an ideal base for the 5,000 business that are based here, it also has excellent environmental credentials. As one of the ‘greenest’ Boroughs in the UK, Woking leads on the application of innovative transport and energy initiatives that could greatly benefit business.

Woking has a growing population of more than 100,000 and is a major draw for its strong retail and hospitality offer for hundreds of thousands of visitors. With over 300 shops and more than 30 restaurants, Woking enjoys a vibrant and diverse community.

Woking lifestyle...

IN NUMBERS

FOCUS ON

WOKING With modern-day ambitions, this Surrey town has its eye on the future

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9 golf courses of 11+Miles canal of 27 miles cycle paths and 30+Restaurants food outlets users of the free, town 20,000 registered centre Wi-Fi

9 countryside sites and 22 parks recreation grounds 34Schools centre 300+Town retailers to 200,000 Visitors celebrate Woking events

FOCUS ON WOKING Woking will meet its future in 2020 with a construction of a £460 million flagship high-rise development scheme which is well underway. This landmark development of Victoria Square will contain more than 125,000 sq ft of retail space, along with 429 flats, a multi-storey car park, a medical centre, a 189-room Hilton hotel and two public plazas. And with house prices on the up within the London commuter belt, it’s no wonder that Woking has become a rather desirable place to settle.

Construction giant Sir Robert McAlpine is spearheading the multi-million pound transformation of Victoria Square, which is a joint venture between Woking Borough Council and shopping centre owner and investor, Moyallen Group. At 34 and 32 storeys high, the two residential towers will feature over 400 high specification apartments benefitting from con-

cierge facilities, an external garden, and an amenity space for residents.

The 23 storey third tower will be home to the town’s newest hotel. The 189room flagship Hilton Hotel will include senior and junior suites, a new lobby bar, all-day dining restaurant, stylish sky bar, conference facilities and an on-site café.

Agreements have also been made with developers for the next area of regeneration – with three more tower blocks planned to join those being built in Victoria Square. Woking Borough Council has formally signed up Coplan Estates Ltd to carry out the one-and-a-half acre Woking Gateway redevelopment, which replaces buildings between Commercial Way and High Street. It features 39-storey flats, five floors taller than the highest tower in the current regeneration and includes 475 homes, offices, shops, restaurants and community facilities.

Our TOP visitor attractions

WWF Living Planet Centre Opened by Sir David Attenborough in 2013, the award-winning WWF Living Planet Centre is the UK headquarters for the WWF and is one of the greenest buildings in the UK. This award-winning eco-building is an education centre and unique venue and work space complete with auditorium, boardroom and meeting rooms.

Woking Works

Starting out, scaling up or thinking of moving to bigger premises? Woking Works is a partnership between Woking Borough Council’s Business Liaison Team, four leading local businesses, two independent business advisors and local business associations, designed to support business people as they live, work and play in the Borough. Woking Works aims to encourage start-ups,

support existing business and attract new businesses through relocation, in order to boost the growth, prosperity and vitality of Woking.

Working with the EM3 Growth Hub and Woking Works partners, the organisation run free, tailored business clinics, can advise on funding opportunities, and engage with potential suppliers and premises.

The Lightbox The Lightbox is located on the banks of the Basingstoke Canal and was designed by Marks Barfield Architects who designed the London Eye and the Brighton i360. The public gallery and museum hosts around 20 temporary exhibitions every year, including works from Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Renoir and Constable. In 2016 The Lightbox was awarded a Green Tourism silver award.

The McLaren Technology centre The McLaren Technology centre in Woking is a dramatic spaceage building surrounded by four lakes - one formal lake and a further four ‘ecology’ lakes - and comprises acres of glass and tile and an array of some of the world-beating Formula One cars.

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FOCUS ON WOKING

TAILORED TUTORING Studying made easier at Surrey’s Willow Study-Hub

W

illow Study-Hub is Surrey’s newly opened tutoring centre, complete with brand new, wellequipped classrooms and educational materials.

Their tutors are highly qualified and experienced, including some with doctorates. There is a wide array of educational materials and a collective knowledge of the differing requirements of exam boards and schools - as well as the ability to host small groups to make tutoring more affordable.

WSH’s aim is to help young people achieve their potential, filling the gaps with personal help and providing educational enhancement by way of new perspectives and inspiration - as well as an extra boost before exams.

With the variety of exam boards, 11+ and 13+ papers, as well as common entrance, the tutors will help you focus on what is needed for the schools of your choice, with a teaching plan tailored for those particular schools or exam papers, and by keeping up-todate with the latest requirements and papers for 11+, 13+, GCSE, and A-level.

Retakes, catching up, building confidence, and help with work discipline are all situations where it is very helpful to have individualised attention and a teaching pace that matches each pupil’s M.O.

Willow Study Hub

Tel 01483 724666 email info@study-hub.co.uk web www.study-hub.co.uk

Funding support for Woking businesses to reduce energy bills

Grants of up to £2,000 are available for small to medium sized enterprises within Woking to help reduce energy bills for business premises.

With energy bills rising, ThamesWey is currently offering a limited number of grants of up to £2,000 for smaller businesses to match fund up to a third of the cost of their LED lighting upgrades.

Did you know that most businesses could save 10% off their energy bills

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through relatively low-cost measures?

(Carbon Trust). Upgrading lighting to LED for example gives a relatively rapid return on investment with potential savings of up to 60% in many cases compared to existing lighting costs.

ThamesWey, a company wholly owned

by Woking Borough Council, is working to support businesses to improve the energy efficiency of their premises and thereby reduce energy costs.

As the funding is limited, we would urge you to contact us as soon as possible on 01483 545098 or email info@actionsurrey.org to check your eligibility for support. *Grants are available to businesses who meet the criteria and will be allocated on a firstcome, first-served basis.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an investor or a growth company, we can support you in all stages of your business lifecycle, providing advice on:

Banking & Finance

Commercial

Construction, Engineering & Projects

Corporate

Corporate Tax

Employment Pensions & Immigration

Family

Financial Services, Regulations & Funds

Intellectual Property

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Personal Tax & Succession Planning

Real Estate

To get in touch, please contact Geoffrey Sparks, Partner +44 (0)1483 252 528 Geoffrey.Sparks@crsblaw.com

charlesrussellspeechlys.com London | Cheltenham | Guildford | Bahrain | Doha | Dubai | Geneva | Hong Kong | Luxembourg | Paris | Zurich SURREY BUSINESS

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L A N D E D! WOKING’S VISIONARY NEW HQ OFFICES 1 2 , 6 0 3 –7 2 , 9 7 2 S Q F T

AGENTS

INVESTORS

DEVELOPER

Lamron Estates Ltd

0207 629 7282

0207 182 2000

ALICE.HILLIARD@REALESTATE.BNPPARIBAS

PETER.YORK@CBRE.COM

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EDWARD.SMITH@REALESTATE.BNPPARIBAS SURREY BUSINESS

LUKE.HACKING@CBRE.COM

68 CHERTSEY ROAD WOKING GU21 5BJ

FOCUS ON WOKING

AMAZING SPACE Space is the latest state-of-the-art and sustainable office development in Woking, offering productive and design-led workspaces

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oyal London Asset Management and Lamron Estates are delighted to announce the completion of Space; Woking’s first new office development in seven years. Designed by architects Scott Brownrigg, Space is a state-of-the-art office building totalling 86,000 sq ft over ground and seven upper floors. The building’s dominant feature is its faceted front elevation, differentiated by a series of distinctive vertical fins. The floors are defined by floor-to-ceiling glazing which provides a generous, open planned uninterrupted space.

Sustainability and cost-effective occupation were at the forefront of the building’s design and each element has been carefully considered to achieve an EPC rating of ‘A’ and a target BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’. This has been achieved through a broad array of energy-efficient initiatives including on-site renewable energy, solar shading and PIR daylight sensing lighting controls, all of which are supported by an intelligent Building Management System. There are also

10 electric car charging points, 100 cycle spaces, changing facilities and drying rooms in the basement.

Space also aims to be the first Fitwel certified building in Woking. The Fitwel accreditation is the world’s leading certification system that optimises buildings and communities to support health. Space provides an environment that empowers people to be productive and healthy, which can help employees live and work at their most optimal level with easy and convenient healthy choices available as part of their working day. The top floor features a large outdoor terrace with extensive views over acres of green woodland at Horsell Common and further afield to the London landscape.

With its strong eco-credentials, Space demonstrates significant occupa-

tional cost savings when compared to a typical office building in the UK. Compared with a typical 2002 benchmark building, Space is approximately £2.84 per sq ft cheaper to run as per the Comparative Energy Costs. Every aspect of the building has been considerately designed to provide an efficient working environment where businesses will thrive.

Before practical completion, Space successfully secured its first letting to Astellas Pharma Ltd for a 10-year term on the whole of the second floor. Astellas relocated from Chertsey as they identified Woking as an undervalued location. The delivery of such a high quality scheme, together with signifi cant investment in the town, Astellas saw Space as the best working environment and have capitalised on the first-mover advantages, whilst quickly realising the benefits of relocating to Woking for both the business and its staff.

With every confidence in the future letting success of Space, Royal London Asset Management has recently acquired the two adjacent office buildings for a second phase scheme, which will be a mixed use development of offices and possibly a hotel or apartment hotel.

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WEALTH MANAGEMENT EXECUTED BEAUTIFULLY 42

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BUSINESS SURVEY

www.pmw.co.uk

Celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2019.

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide independent, sophisticated and bespoke financial advice.

Aissela, 46 High Street, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9QY 01372 471550 SURREY BUSINESS

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THE RICHMOND HILL Refurbished and renovated, but still a favourite destination for Maarten Hoffmann

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his has long been one of my favourite out-of-London hotels, loved for its beautiful location, calm atmosphere and friendly staff.

Therefore I was somewhat worried when invited back to review as they had just completed a major refurbishment and we all know how that can radically change the feel of any hotel.

on the banks of the Thames, famously captured by the artist JMW Turner, a painting that currently adorns the walls of the Tate Britain gallery.

The 130 bedrooms have all been refurbished and it is beautifully done, and no two bedrooms are the same.

From cosy to huge, they are all wellequipped and have a personality all their own.

of nooks and crannies in which to drink and chat that feel private but are not, and all are beautifully furnished with a range of elegant, eclectic furniture around a range of roaring fireplaces.

The new dining room is designed by the renowned Russell Sage Studio and called 144 On the Hill. It has now become a destination restaurant serving ‘Turf to Table’ menus full of local seasonal dishes and British classics.

I am relieved that it is not pretentious.

I hate pretentious restaurants where

The Richmond Hill Hotel was built in 1726 and is full of Georgian charm. Situated at the top of Richmond Hill with far-reaching views over the Thames and the rolling fields of Surrey, and right next to the most famous ‘back garden’ imaginable – Richmond Park. This Royal Park, which covers 2,500 acres, was first named the Manor of Sheen by King Edward in 1292, and then Richmond Park by King Henry Vlll, when he closed it to the public and designated it as his personal hunting ground.

I WAS SOMEWHAT WORRIED WHEN INVITED BACK TO REVIEW AS THEY HAD JUST COMPLETED A MAJOR REFURBISHMENT...

After much public outcry, he allowed the public to have a right of way across the land and to this day, that right still exists. The park is full of red and fallow deer and is a stunning area, unbelievably close to the centre of London. It is also close to Kew Gardens, Hampton Court, Ham House and Twickenham Rugby stadium.

there is the attached Cedars Health & Leisure Club offering a 20-metre sixlane swimming pool, spa pool, sauna and a well-equipped gym. There is also a range of 13 conference and meeting rooms accommodating from five to 250 guests including the ballroom, a perfect room for large meetings, events and weddings.

My concerns dissolved upon arrival as they have done a great job on the refit and the staff, if anything, have got even friendlier. We were shown to the Georgian Suite, a huge south facing suite with sitting room, bedroom and a huge bathroom with a tub for the whole family. It is over 50 square metres of space and with the Armani wallpaper, free-standing roll top bath, four poster super-king bed, goose down duvets and a full separate sitting room, it was a joy.

On the way to dinner, l noticed that the designer has created a large number

My view was over Petersham Meadows

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For the active guest, rather than the lazy sedentary specimen l seem to be,

...MY CONCERNS DISSOLVED UPON ARRIVAL AS THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB you are made to feel that they have done you a favour by letting you in!

144 On the Hill is the antithesis of that. Warm, friendly service, a relaxed atmosphere and staff that cannot do enough for you. I enjoyed a rare Breed Pork Chop with caramelised apple, red cabbage and roasting juices while my other half tucked into Grilled Mackerel with tomato emulsion and kalamata olives. I always find the sign of a good

HOTEL

BUSINESS LUXURY SURVEY BREAKS

meal is silence - and we were, oddly for me, silent as we enjoyed the delicate flavours.

For pudding, l enjoyed the roasted Fig pana cotta with cinnamon, figs and candied nuts and my companion demolished the Baked Alaska with vanilla and blackcurrant, all washed down with a scrumptious Chablis Grand Cru. Really, nothing to say here but yummy. The new cocktail bar reminds me of a funky New York bar with experienced cocktail makers and a vast range of drinks. The whole thing was a fabulous evening topped off with knowing that we were to return to the room. We slept like the dead and if l could, l would have put the bed in my bag and stolen it.

I love hotel breakfasts in bed but had forgotten to put the order form out (l blame the Chablis). No problem they said in the morning and the full order, with nothing missing (the bane of my life) arrived quick smart on a silver tray and was perfectly laid out on the table on the sitting room.

There is also a large terrace outside when the weather improves, a car park on site and, if this matters to you, you are round the corner from Mick Jagger’s Downe House and directly opposite Pete Townshend’s house The Wick. Oh, and it’s less than 30 minutes to central London.

This used to be one of my favourite hotels outside of London and l am absolutely delighted to say that it still is - and then some.

Richmond Hill Hotel 144-150 Richmond Hill, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, TW10 6RW T: 0208 940 2247 E: info@richmondhill.co.uk W: richmondhill-hotel.co.uk

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CONNECTING SHANGHAI What the new links between Gatwick and China mean for the region

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ith eleven weekly flights, capacity to Shanghai from Gatwick is now growing faster than from any other airport in Europe.

The city airport is one of the world’s most important business destinations and the capacity increase at Gatwick reflects rocketing demand with trips abroad by Chinese visitors doubling in just six years. It also reflects Department for Transport predictions that China will become the world’s largest aviation market in just three years, by 2022.

Air China is the latest airline to fly to Shanghai from Gatwick and their four services a week compliment the ser-

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vice by China Eastern Airlines, which recently went daily. By negotiating these new routes, Gatwick is playing its part helping to make the UK a firstchoice destination for these visitors, in the face of competition from other European destinations.

These new long-haul routes also help to support more trade for local and national businesses, as most cargo goes in the hold of passenger services and not in bespoke cargo planes.

China is the UK’s sixth largest export market and is the fourth largest source of imports. These fast, direct routes mean that the region is now better able to tap into a whole range of

vital Chinese markets. They will also encourage investment by opening new business opportunities – in both directions – between China and the South East of England.

But it is not just about China. The region’s local airport now offers well over 60 long haul routes to the US, Asia, the Middle East and high-growth global economies in South America.

Gatwick continues to compete successfully with other airports to win new routes that, in turn, help the region to grow trade and investment with the UK’s key trading partners.

It is easy however to get carried away with glamorous destinations – and international trade and investment – and forget about what they mean for people living and working in the region.

TRAVEL

Gatwick recently launched their new Shanghai to Gatwick service

MORE INBOUND VISITORS FROM CHINA WOULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR THE REGION TOO AS UK EXPENDITURE FROM CHINESE TOURISTS LAST YEAR WAS £759 MILLION

Overseas visitors to the region who arrive via Gatwick spend around £1.2 billion a year and 9.7 million nights in the South East. This provides a significant boost to local hotels, visitor attractions, restaurants, shops and, crucially, this tourism supports over 22,000 local jobs.

More inbound visitors from China would be good news for the region too as UK expenditure from Chinese tourists last year was £759 million, up 35% on the previous year alone.

So the new Shanghai services are a great opportunity to grow the region’s share of this lucrative market and the new jobs it might support.

because of the success of these important routes.

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

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

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



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

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

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

...to Crawley SURREY BUSINESS

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Family travel

BUSINESS SURVEY TRAVEL

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

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hoosing the right destination when it comes to a family holiday is as important as it is for the parents as it is for the children.

Quality time spent with the family is precious and a luxury family holiday is decided by the way you spend time together. In this feature, Go Bespoke

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

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

Last minute availability: welcome 2020 with a three night stay for the island’s New Year celebrations.

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TRAVEL DAIOS COVE, CRETE Daios Cove is an outstanding under-the-radar kids’ resort on its own secluded cove on the island of Crete. Childcare is a key part of the Daios family holiday experience and the resort offers children an entertaining and safe environment in which to play, have fun and let off steam. Babies and toddlers (4 months – 4 years) are supervised in the Crèche Club whilst the Children’s Club runs several sessions throughout the day for kids up to 12 years.

Teens can enjoy their very own dedicated Games Room and activities for the whole family include a fantastic range of watersports. The hotel also expertly caters for young families by providing essential paraphenalia like bottle sterilisers, baby monitors and prams in your room. Accommodation is stylish and ultra comfortable, designed to feel like a real home away from home.

Early Booking Offer: save up to 35% off 2020 stays including free Half Board and airport transfers.

SUBLIME COMPORTA, PORTUGAL Ranked among the Best 100 Hotels in the World, Sublime Comporta is nestled on a stunning 17-hectare estate just an hour from Lisbon.

Surrounded by undulating umbrella pines, cork trees, wild sand dunes and over 60km of pristine, white-sand beaches, it is a magical, unspoiled spot for a family getaway. The

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

The hotel’s restaurants all use local produce and the wine cellar is also a hit with parents. And if you’re lucky, you may catch sight of the pod of dolphins that live just off the coast!

Prices from £350 per night based on a family of four in a Guest Suite.

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

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

Prices from £200 per night including breakfast.

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

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

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

TRAVEL

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

Prices from £442 per night based on a family of four.

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

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TRAVEL

REACHING GREATER HEIGHTS AT HEATHROW Britain is open for business as the UK’s only hub airport plans to expand

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s the UK’s only hub airport, Heathrow serves more than 200 destinations across more than 80 countries across the globe, and 30% of all UK exports for countries outside the EU and Switzerland fly through Britain’s front door at Heathrow.

A new north west runway at Heathrow will mean a doubling of cargo capacity at the airport, supporting more businesses like yours to reach out and trade with the world. And whether it’s fresh salmon, medical products or vehicle parts that are in the hold, Heathrow will help deliver more opportunities for exporting businesses with up to 40 new long-haul routes across the world created through expansion.

Heathrow already help to support exporters in partnership with the Department for International Trade through the World of Opportunity Grants Programme which helps Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) with their exporting ambitions. These grants, of £2,000,

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can be used to fund trade missions, research global markets and help grow UK SME exports. The scheme has already helped more than 40 businesses, and this year’s winners will be announced by the end of 2019.

This programme builds on our long running Heathrow Business Summit which has run for more than 20 years, helping SMEs to become part of the airport supply chain. The scheme continues to draw in crowds from every corner of the country, connecting our biggest suppliers with those seeking to do business with Heathrow. The flagship Business Summit took place at the airport on November 28th and welcomed hundreds of businesses, including many from the Surrey area.

Dates for the 2020 events will be announced early in the new year.

As well as continuing to support businesses in our local area and beyond, Heathrow is also making great strides through the planning process. Follow-

ing the parliamentary vote in 2018, which saw an overwhelming majority of MPs vote in support of the project, we have held multiple consultations and continuous engagement to understand the views of local residents, local authorities, airlines, and the general public on our developing proposals.

We plan to submit our application for Development Consent in 2020, with the new runway set to open as early as 2026.

Expanding the UK’s hub airport sends a message to the world that Britain is open for business. We’re working round the clock to give Britain the infrastructure it needs to boost its trade with the world, and to help rebalance the national economy by connecting every region and nation to growth.

www.heathrow.com

NEW MEMBERS

Surrey Chambers of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies

Utilitas Solutions

AE Accountax Ltd

Contact: Bim Ewetade Tel: 0845 763 7929

aeaccountax.co.uk/

Haslemere Chamber of Trade & Commerce

Contact: Martin Turner Tel: 01233 662999

www.utilitas-solutions.co.uk

Contact: Craig McGowan Tel: 01428 661950

haslemerechamber.co.uk

Bright Green Technology Ltd Contact: Andy Clark Tel: 01932 355221

www.brightgreentechnology.com

Blue Dolphin (UK) Ltd

KDS UK Limited

Contact: Neil Parkes Tel: 4401784450

www.kds.com/

Contact: Dan Horstman Tel: 07941134022

www.bluedolphin.co

LWPA Solutions

Contact: Louise Willis Tel: 07425 167627

Cashback World Marketer Contact: Carmen Schmidt Tel: 07895 498880

www.carmentschmidt.me

www.lwpasolutions.com

Peacock & Co

Contact: Karen Webbe Tel: 020 8035 0388

www.peacock-law.co.uk

Chris Harvey Coaching & Line Management Capability Contact: Chris Harvey Tel: 07736235932

www.coach4managers.co.uk

DMDSafety

Contact: David McDonnell Tel: 07768 111239

GDPR360 Trading Limited Contact: Andrew Culshaw Tel: 07889855239

www.gdpr360.com

Orbit Developments (Southern) Limited Contact: Olivia Oakley Tel: 02087501410

www.orbitsouthern.com

Regus PLC

Contact: Karen Sharp Tel: 020 8609 6500

www.regus.co.uk

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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LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO

By Maarten Hoffmann

T

he word Lamborghini has always conjured up evocative thoughts of eroticism, drama, Monaco and movie stars - oh, and death. Death because that is how many people ended up if they were not paying very keen, laser like focus on their driving at all times. The Lambo was never easy to drive, never relaxing, always on the ragged edge and that is why we admired them but rarely ever bought them - just too much in a busy 21st century life.

The old tractor maker that is Lamborghini remained on that path until the company was purchased by the VW group and placed under Audi control back in 1998. The Germans of course do not like killing their customers as it is very bad for repeat business and they took to smoothing out the wrinkles and producing cars that can actually be driven. Their current

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line-up is the V12 Aventador, the V10 Huracan and the all-new FWD Urus.

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

In addition, there’s a set of accelerators and gyroscope sensors positioned at the heart of the car’s centre of gravity, which provide real-time monitoring of lateral, longitudinal and vertical loads, as well as body roll, pitch and yaw. The suspension’s magnetic damping is also part of the equation, as is the traction control, the Evo’s all-wheel drive, torque vectoring, dynamic steering, and the active rear axle.

So what of it? Mightily impressive is all l can say and if l hadn’t written it l wouldn’t know that all that computer jazz was going on - and l don’t care.

MOTORING

I DON’T DRIVE THESE TYPE OF CARS FOR WHAT YOU THINK BUT FOR WHAT I THINK – I LOVE EM AND COULD DRIVE THEM ALL DAY LONG BUT THIS BEAST MIGHT BE ONE STEP TOO FAR Like most drivers, l just want the driving experience of a car that makes me a better driver than l am. Here it is ladies and gentlemen.

The beautiful howling naturally aspirated 5.2 litre V10 at the back of your head, produces 613bhp and is good for 60mph in 2.9 seconds and tops out at 201mph. So pretty is the power

plant that they have covered it with perspex for all to see. So far so good but can l keep it on the road? Apparently, my kids like having me around so it is a concern.

The answer very much depends on what mode you pop it into. Strada (road) will allow your granny to drive it - really, it is a sweet little poppet and will poodle around town all day.

Sport sees it all sharpen up and get a

tad louder and Corsa (track) sees your life flash before you and produces the kind of focus that l would imagine is required to fly Challenger to the moon.

The tyre shredding track mode turns almost everything off and this little darling will drift with ease, turn in to corners is incredibly accurate enabled by the four-wheel steering, there is zero understeer helped by four-wheel drive and fast sweeping corners are such a joy that it can often take over an hour to get the smile off your face.

Oh, and of course, the Evo computer is

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MOTORING

never really turned off hence even the average driver really can feel like some kind of superhero.

Forward progression is all well and good but stopping is kinda important and the carbon ceramic brakes do that job very well although under a hard foot, there is a bit of squirrelling going on. It whips through the seven-speed box with ease and if you really feel like it, you can take over with the paddle shift and feel like you’re shifting but you are not - push too far through the gear and the computer takes over and changes for you so really, don’t bother unless you are on a track.

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

engineering that is a constant marvel, it really says ‘l have made it and you have not’. It is such a statement that it starts to work in reverse. It’s too showy, too brash for British roads.

Bel Air, Monaco and Portofino are its natural habitats but on British roads, it just makes you look slightly ridiculous.

SO PRETTY IS THE POWER PLANT THAT THEY HAVE COVERED IT WITH PERSPEX FOR ALL TO SEE

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

It looks beautiful and has a grand

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488GTB and the McLaren 720S and they are both magical supercars and for me, the McLaren is the one to beat and will take some beating if you read my review last year. Do you feel a but coming?

I felt a total prat driving it. They don’t offer a colour that does not look like a crazed 70’s porn star (mine was such a bright orange that it looks like l’ve been tango’d), it is loud enough that everyone hears you coming and the selection of public reactions range from thumbs up to a great car to looks denoting that you are a complete knob.

I pulled up at traffic lights in Brighton to look across at three homeless guys on a bench. Something snapped and l realised quite what these cars represent. Over and above the super human

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

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

Bitter sweet.

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

Price from: £206,000

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

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 among four of a stunning monthly selection.

icap of four, scored 44 points. Congratulations to Dan, Craig and all the other winners on the day. Thank you to our sponsor for the day, V3 Print.

Unfortunately Bill couldn’t join us at Swinley, so prizes were presented by Mike Tuner.

Society days are a great chance to entertain clients or reward employees for all their hard work. Come as an individual to meet new people or come as a group for a fantastic chance to bond, you are very welcome whichever you choose.

With the help of the SCGS I have been very busy planning the 2020 fixtures list and I’m delighted to be able to share most of the fixtures with you in this edition. I am particularly excited by the new addition to our list in April, where we will be visiting Tandridge Golf Club for our 2020 SCGS Major tournament, more details to come in the New Year!

November took us to one of the society’s favourite clubs, Swinley Forest.

Our golfers were out in force on the day, with an early tee off at 8am we had 56 golfers playing the course. Despite the forecasts we had brilliant weather and although the course was soggy in places due to previous rainfall our golfers played very well indeed. Congratulations go to our members winner, Dan Kimber, who won the day with an excellent score of 47 points. Also worthy of note is Craig Cameron, one of our non-members who, on a hand-

This being the last edition of 2019, I would very much like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt thanks to the SCGS Committee, who have spent this year working so hard to make SCGS into the thriving and vibrant society it is today. Thank you as well to all of our 2019 sponsors, without your support we wouldn’t be here, and it is always appreciated. Last but not least, thank you to all the golfers who’ve at-

2019 SPONSORS

tended the 2019 events, it is an absolute pleasure to see you each month and my privilege to provide you with a great day’s golf.

Wishing you a very merry Christmas, I look forward to seeing you at a society event soon.

Please contact Tara.Wavre@Surrey. chambers.co.uk to book on to a SCGS day or find out more information.

2020 FIXTURES: January 21st

Hankley Common

February 25th West Hill

March 24th Foxhills

April 20th Tandridge

May 19th

Coombe Hill

June 11th Hindhead

July 1st

Worplesdon

August 5th

Camberley Heath

September 9th New Zealand

November 12th Swinley Forest

HEADLINE SPONSOR

ORDER OF MERIT SPONSOR

December 1st Woking GC

SURREY BUSINESS

59

Get winter ready with Sandown.

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For more information please contact our Service Team at Mercedes-Benz of Guildford on 01483 916292 *Prices correct at time of going to press 11/19. Images for illustrative purposes.

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

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48 months

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8p per mile

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1

2

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£45,249.88 2

Contact our Sales Team at Mercedes-Benz of Guildford today 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 A-Class and GLC models between 1 October and 31 December 2019, registered by 31 March 2020, 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. **To qualify for this offer, all new A-Class hatchback vehicles (excl. AMG A35, AMG A45, A-Class Saloon models, and S176 A-Class) must be ordered and registered between 1 October and 31 December 2019 (inclusive). Vehicles must be purchased on a MBFS finance contract to be eligible. Offer applies to all private retail and small fleet (1-24 units) customers only. ServiceCare Plan is based on 3 services taken at the relevant service intervals – either 15,500 miles or 12 months whichever comes sooner. All services must be completed by an authorised Mercedes-Benz Retailer.

This offer can be used in conjunction with all other applicable Sales Campaigns except other ServiceCare campaigns. No cash alternative. ServiceCare plan stays with the vehicle and therefore in the event of change of vehicle ownership, the ServiceCare plan cannot be moved to another vehicle, but should be given to the new owner of the same vehicle. Mercedes-Benz Cars UK Limited reserves the right to amend or remove this offer at any time. Prices correct at time of going to press 11/19. Images for illustrative purposes.

2019

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

December 12th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCH Event Time: 12:00 - 15:00 Event Theme: Christmas Price: Member: £50.00 +VAT Non Member: £65.00 +VAT Event Location: Holiday Inn Guildford Egerton Road, Surrey GU2 7XZ Yes, it is that time of year again, so crack out the mince pies, pull those Christmas crackers, for the Surrey Chambers Annual Christmas Lunch is here yet again.

This year’s venue is the Holiday Inn, Guildford, around a 10-minute drive from both the town centre and the M25 motorway. Join us for a three course lunch, a charity raffle

December 18th WOKING WINTER WARMER Event Time: 18:00 - 20:00 Event Theme: Christmas Price: Member: £5.00 +VAT Non Member: £5.00 +VAT Event Location: HG Wells Conference & Events Centre Church Street East Woking, Surrey GU21 6HR Surrey Chambers of Commerce are joining forces with Woking Works and Woking Chamber to create a great evening of networking and festivities. As it is so close to Christmas come along prepared to have fun whilst making those last few contacts of 2019, who may even become your partners in 2020! To get into the festive spirt come along in your favourite Christmas jumper and the best dressed will win a prize! Woking Works will be providing a festive buffet and refreshments so it’s sure to be a fantastic event.

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and networking. Book your tickets before, just like the pigs in blankets, they all run out!

Agenda 12:00pm- Arrival 12:45pm- Christmas Lunch Served 13:45pm- Guest speaker 14:15pm- Surrey Chambers of Commerce & Steve Coburn, President, Surrey Chambers of Commerce 14:25pm- Charity representative 14:30pm- Raffle & Prizes 14:40pm- Networking 15:00pm- Close Proudly sponsored by Surrey Research Park

SURREY CHAMBERS

EVENTS DIARY

January 14th NETWORKING BREAKFAST Event Time: 07:45 - 09:30 Event Theme: Networking AM Price: Member: £20.00 +VAT Non Member: £25.00 +VAT

2020

January 30th

MONTHLY NETWORKING

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

Event Location: The Refectory (Seasons) Guildford Cathedral Stag Hill, Guildford GU2 7UP

Event Location: Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel Lime Avenue Portsmouth Road Camberley GU15 2BG

Our Calendar is full of interesting and exciting events just for you, we love to cover topics that are relevant to you and your business. From the dreaded B-word all the way to ensuring you have a happy and engaged workforce, we’re here to inform and assist your business. However, we understand making new contacts & gaining new clients is at the top of your list. Therefore we run our Networking Breakfasts, these run monthly and give you a chance to meet new people, learn something new from a possible guest speaker, and most importantly, start the day off right with a breakfast!

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

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

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

February 19th QUIZ NIGHT AT THE JOLLY FARMER Event Time: 18:00 - 21:00 Event Theme: Networking PM Price: Member: £15.00 +VAT Non Member: £20.00 +VAT Event Location: Jolly Farmer Puttenham, Puttenham Heath Road, Puttenham, Surrey, GU3 1AJ

At the Chambers, we like to offer our members events that incorporate both business and pleasure - which is why we have planned a Quiz Night at The Jolly Farmer. Relax and network over a welcome drink and some quality ‘pub grub’.

Enter as a group with your colleagues and treat the quiz as a team building exercise, or just sign up for an evening of fun! Enter as a group of four from your business, or individually and we will team you up with others. Feeling competitive? The winners of the quiz will be leaving with an exclusive prize that the whole team can enjoy. Runners up will also be leaving with a tasty treat.

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POLICING SURREY

SURREY POLICE

IT’S AN EMERGENCY

By Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner David Munro on careers in Surrey

M

ay I start by wishing all readers a very merry Christmas holiday and a happy and prosperous new year ahead.

implications for Surrey’s communities and a strategy is now being developed with the aim of making the Force carbon-neutral by 2030.

It has been an interesting year for policing with many positives here in Surrey such as the announcement of a new home for policing in the county and the recruitment of extra officers for the first time in over a decade.

This includes reducing transport emissions and waste and incorporating that strategy into plans being drawn up for the Force estate - including the future move to a new headquarters and operational base in Leatherhead.

Energy reduction targets are also being put in place which will look at a reduction in the use of gas, electricity and water where possible.

It is also a period of uncertainty though and, like everyone else, we will be watching very closely the outcome of both the general election and Brexit as we wait to see what the implications will be for policing.

That doesn’t mean we have stopped planning for the future and one area I have been keen for the Force to focus on is how we can play our part in protecting our environment by reducing our carbon footprint in the county.

Surrey County Council declared a climate emergency in July this year and eight of the 11 Borough and District Councils in the county have since followed suit – including those areas where Surrey Police has a significant estates footprint.

You may have seen an announcement from my office that the Chief Constable and I are fully behind declaring a climate emergency.

Climate change affects everyone and as an organisation employing over 4,000 people, I firmly believe we have a responsibility in ensuring we play our part in policing to protect the environment we live in.

This means that as an organisation we are committed to regarding climate change as having significant

To that end, a joint environmental board attended by representatives from both Surrey Police and Sussex

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Police has been set up to tackle climate change, sustainability and other environmental issues. The Force has already committed to making greener organisational choices such as investing in electric vehicles and testing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for a more environmentally friendly fleet. Recycling has also been improved and plastic cups and cutlery have been removed from the headquarters canteen.

I want to see us as an organisation build on that momentum and have a clear plan on how we can make our buildings and processes as environmentally-friendly as possible with the aim of reaching our carbon-neutral target by 2030.

It is an ambitious goal – but I believe that if we work together with our other partner agencies we can rise to this challenge and do our bit to help create a more sustainable county for future generations to live and work in.

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

BUSINESS ARTS & CULTURE SURVEY

WHAT’S ON IN SURREY Compiled by Hannah Joslyn

D

ue to popular demand, we will be introducing a new art and culture section in the magazine in 2020, focussing on the best live entertainment, unmissable exhibitions and community events.

Surrey is blessed with a vibrant art scene, an enviable selection of fine theatres and, of course, the fabulous Guildford Shakespeare Company.

But as it is Christmas, there is no better way to start that with a round-up of the county’s leading pantomimes…

Guildford Yvonne Theatre

SLEEPING BEAUTY 6th Dec – 5th Jan

When evil fairy, Carabosse doesn’t

receive an invitation to Princess Aurora’s christening, she casts a curse on her. Can the Good Fair and Muddles protect Aurora? Will the Prince save the day?

With award-winning choreography, fabulous sets, sparkling costumes, magical illusions and enough laughter to wake up even the sleepiest of princesses, this year’s Sleeping Beauty is a must-see for all the family.

X Factor finalist, Holly Tandy will be starring as Sleeping Beauty! Holly will be appearing alongside Guildford’s favourite Kit Hesketh-Harvey as the Bad Fairy Carabosse, Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon as Nanny Fanny and everyone’s favourite Brummie Jamie Brook as Muddles. www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

Woking New Victoria Theatre

ALADDIN

7nd Dec – 5th Jan This year’s spectacular family pantomime Aladdin will star former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole as the Genie of the Ring and funny man and Panto Legend Bobby Davro as Wishee Washee!

And the cast doesn’t stop there, joining them on stage will be CBBC star Mischa Eckersley (Princess Jasmine), iconic panto dame David Phipps-Davis (Widow Twankey) and veteran ventriloquist Dawson Chance (Chief of Police) in an all-new spectacular production! www.atgtickets.com

Camberley Theatre

ROBIN HOOD

9th Dec – 31st Dec Robin Hood returns home to Sherwood Forest to find the greedy Sheriff of Nottingham starving the local people, raising taxes and ruling a very unhappy kingdom. Courageous, kind and headstrong, Robin can’t stand by and watch friends and family suffer.

So vows to be brave and stand up for the local people.

The Sheriff, alone in his ivory tower, is hell-bent on becoming the richest and most powerful man in the country. He tricks Will Scarlett into betraying Robin, giving him vital information and capturing Maid Marion – will the Merry Men and true friendship save the day? www.camberleytheatre.co.uk

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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

Corporate Golf Days Host your group golf or corporate golf day at one of England’s best golf courses.

Choose from Longcross, home to the 2017 PGA Cup and named in Golf World’s top 100 courses and golf resorts in England, or Bernard Hunt, home to the Senior PGA Professional Championship until 2020.

We offer a range of corporate golf packages that cater to any need. Whether you’re planning a large event or an exclusive golf experience, you can rely on Foxhills.

Our Golf Sales team will assist with the planning of your day. When you arrive, relax and enjoy time with your guests while our Golf Services team manage your event.

Call 01932 704447 to speak to the team about your next corporate golf day.

www.foxhills.co.uk/golf | Foxhills, Stonehill Road, Ottershaw, Surrey, KT16 OEL

ENGLAND 2019

The EQC, now available to test drive at Mercedes-Benz of Guildford.

As we enter a new era of mobility, the new Mercedes-Benz EQC offers the practicality of an SUV with the sleek aesthetic of a sports car. Radiating ease and modernity, the first fully-electric Mercedes-Benz is anything but ordinary with a unique and spectacular design. Using renewable raw materials to create the upholstery and fitting an all-encompassing LED strip light that reaches from front to back, the EQC offers both an exterior and interior experience like no other.

The intuitive MBUX system adds another level of innovation, offering a revolutionary infotainment system: with natural voice control, touch-sensitive surfaces, and Augmented Reality for navigation.

Offering a range of 259 miles*, the EQC can conveniently be charged at home or at on-the-road stations, whatever suits your lifestyle. With a total power output of 408 bhp and a speed of 0-62 mph in just 5.1 seconds, this re-imagined SUV is truly electrifying.

For more information and to book a test drive contact us on 01483 916292.

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

01483 916292 www.sandown-group.co.uk

*The stated figures were obtained in accordance with the prescribed measuring process. Electrical consumption and range have been determined on the basis of Regulation (EC) No. 692/2008. Electrical consumption and range depend on the vehicle configuration. The indicated values were determined according to the prescribed measurement method - Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Figures shown may include options which are not available in the UK. Figures determined with battery fully charged. This model is a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) requiring mains electricity for charging. Images for illustrative purposes. Registered office: Holes Bay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 2BD. Registered in England and Wales. Registration number 8657001.