30 James Watt
Chronicling the former CEO and CoFounder of BrewDog, and his recent outburst at a ‘lazy’ British workforce
SURREY CHAMBERS
6 Surrey Chamber News
A round up of Surrey Chambers of Commerce members’ news
8 Surrey Chamber Events
What’s on for Surrey Chambers members
12 Learning Skills Improvement Plan
Driving workforce development
15 Surrey Business School
Now is the perfect time to pursue an MBA
56
20 National news
A round up of the important business stories from around the world
18 The Platinum Club
Now in its 16th year, it remains the preeminent networking forum in Sussex
40 Central South Business Awards
Announcing the 2025 CSBA for all businesses across central southern England
44 Focus Foundation Winter Ball
Highlights of this spectacular event which was held in Brighton this month
52 Property Professionals Lunch
Highlights from this quarterly networking luncheon
26 Gatwick Airport
London’s second airport is expanding economically, socially and environmentally
39 Sussex Cricket
The return of a re-invigorated Boundary Club
54 Cleankill
The importance and values of a shared foundation
42 Brian O’Mahony
Interview with the Roffey Park Institute’s Head of Sales, Europe
24 DMH Stallard
Tips on gifting wealth in an efficient manner
50 Mayo Wynne Baxter
Forfeiture for non-payment of rent, without an s146 notice
22 HJP
Are you ready for the tax year=end?
46 Kreston Reeves
Is incorporating your business still worthwhile in 2025?
56 Prague
Fiona Graves spends 48 hours seeking out Bohemia’s finest city
60 Maarten Hoffmann is in love with the McLaren 750S. It is – officially –now his favourite car
You would be forgiven for thinking the news is all bad when reading the business press and there is no doubt running a business in the current times is quite challenging. We need to acknowledge the latest news on the economy and how it is affecting business sentiment. However, the resilience of Surrey businesses is impressive, and there are still some good news stories.
At Surrey Chambers, we provide many opportunities for businesspeople to come together and make connections that will be positive for their growth and success, but we also see much evidence of best practice sharing and collaboration. The year has kicked off with 100 people already reaching out and connecting with the Chamber and each other. By doing that, they also have easy access to all the great support and activity going on across Surrey.
This includes access to Business Surrey, which provides free advice and support to all businesses. One of Surrey Chambers’ new initiatives in 2025 is the delivery of a monthly series of workshops entitled “Mastering the Art of Growth” in partnership with the INV Group. More details are on the website, but these sessions will provide the insights and tools needed to grow your business in the modern AI-led business environment.
We are delighted to announce that Martine Robins of The HR Dept Surrey
WE ARE HERE
❛❛ Improving our trading relationship with the EU is critical to help our businesses get back to previous exporting levels ❜❜
Hills has been appointed as the Vice President by the Surrey Chambers Board. Martine is a familiar face in the business world and has been a massive supporter of the Chamber for several years. We have also appointed four new Council members, who we will be introducing over the next few months.
The latest GDP data shows the UK continues to be stuck in a growth rut
with 0.0% growth in the three months to November 2024. Our latest forecast expects GDP to pick up slightly in 2025 and 2026, but this is driven largely by increased government spending. Right now, firms are struggling to deal with a raft of extra costs following the Budget.
Investment levels are likely to remain low for the foreseeable future, as businesses try to balance their books. This has been borne out by our local conversations with businesses. We urgently need to see government action to ease cost pressures and spark investment. We are pushing Ministers to focus on business rates reform, infrastructure projects and promoting trade to unlock economic growth.
In January, the Chancellor delivered a much-anticipated speech focusing on economic growth, announcing support for a raft of infrastructure projects, including a third runway at Heathrow. Surrey Chambers joined other chambers in supporting the expansion, sending signals that the UK is building for a better future.
The knock-on effect of pushing ahead with infrastructure projects could lift the gloom that has settled over the economy and give firms real confidence.
Over the past five years, UK businesses have shown resilience, agility and creativity in responding to the biggest change in our international trading relationships in 50 years. But the fact remains that we are the only G7 nation yet to regain its pre-pandemic level of trade intensity. Firms are being held back by a
complex web of red tape and regulatory burdens.
This is ramping up costs, so working on improving our trading relationship with the EU is critical to help our businesses get back to previous exporting levels. We continue to fight the corner for businesses, explaining to Ministers what needs to be done. We are very grateful to all the businesses sharing their challenges to highlight the pressures they are under.
CEO Surrey Chambers of Commerce
Surrey Chambers of Commerce can be reached on 01483 735540, info@ surrey-chambers.co.uk, @surreychambers www.surrey-chambers.co.uk
Platinum Media Group enjoys the largest circulation of any business magazines in the UK, reaching over 720,000 readers across the South East and this includes 468,000 online readers. If you can’t wait for the next issue then jump onto our social media platforms and join the conversation.
Cooper Parry Law as has announced it is welcoming two experienced hires to its growing legal team. Anna Hewitson joins as Partner, and Kieran Cornish as Manager. Both bring a wealth of expertise from their time at PwC and other leading law firms.
Anna and Kieran are recognised as experts, problem-solvers, opportunity-creators, and business navigators. Their backgrounds include span corporate restructuring, M&A, domestic and international business reorganisations. They’ve honed their skills working alongside tax, accounting, and deals teams to deliver seamless solutions for businesses navigating change, growth and complexity.
Cooper Parry Law. They’ll be working hand-in-hand with the company’s tax, accounting, and deals teams to deliver
support within a wider professional services firm.
integrated legal support that grows alongside our clients and gets results.
Now, they’re bringing that expertise to
Their arrival is a further step forward in our mission to disrupt the traditional legal market by embedding legal
Keeping up with Microsoft’s constant evolution can be a challenge, but 2025 brings some key changes that businesses need to be aware of.
Starting on February 1st, Microsoft realigns its global pricing, with a 5-6% reduction in the cost of commercial cloud services for UK customers, though on-premises software prices will remain the same.
Then, as Microsoft 365 licenses come up for renewal in April, subscribers will face a 5% price increase on annual plans with monthly billing. However, the 15% discount on Microsoft 365 Copilot, a powerful AI tool, has been extended until April 1st, offering an opportunity
to businesses looking to leverage AI through Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider partners like FluidOne.
In October, support for Windows 10 will end, making it essential for users to upgrade to Windows 11. The shift brings security, performance, and technical benefits. For those also upgrading devices, the introduction of a dedicated AI-powered Copilot key on Windows 11 PCs will further enhance the user experience.
Emily Waterhouse, Head of Law at CP, said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Anna and Kieran on the team. Their expertise and fresh perspectives are exactly what CP Law is all about — ensuring Cooper Parry provides joined-up advice spanning both tax, accounting and legal issues. We’re proving that legal support can be dynamic, innovative, and genuinely client-focused.
“By working alongside our tax, deals and accounting teams, we’re offering a truly holistic approach to tackling our clients’ challenges. We’re building something special here, and their arrival marks another exciting milestone for the team.”
Finally, there are two changes in data software. Microsoft Fabric, which integrates Azure data workloads with Power BI, requires Power BI Premium users to transition to Fabric starting in 2025. Additionally, Microsoft SQL Server 2025 is set to launch, bringing improved security and AI capabilities, and enhanced data analytics.
FluidOne is a Microsoft CSP partner, and is ready to help businesses navigate these changes and make the most of their Microsoft subscriptions. Reach out at camberley.fluidone.com or call 01276 455455 to chat.
Dozens of Amazon Filters team members have stepped inside a mobile container that helps deliver its technology to UK water companies.
In emergencies such as floods, droughts and other interruptions, millions of households and businesses rely on the quality of drinking water supplied through filtration equipment housed in ‘R31 containers’.
Filter maker Amazon Filters recently hosted a visit by a container at its Camberley production centre, giving colleagues from various departments a behind-the-scenes chance to see how its cartridges and housings operate in situ.
An ‘R31 container’ is so-called because it conforms to an approved list of products and materials for the supply of public drinking water set down under
Regulation 31 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016.
Amazon Filters’ SupaSpun II absoluterated depth filters are also on the approved list and therefore installed in an R31 container.
They are used by water companies to maintain public supplies while combating issues such as turbidity, high metal levels and contamination. The container on display at Camberley is 30 feet long, eight feet wide and 9.5 feet tall. It is longer than the standard 26-foot length as it has a modified manifold pipe layout.
The unit contains six 6540 housings that each have 40 Code A cartridges extending to 40 inches inside. This means 240 cartridges can be in use at any one time.
the leisure industry by combining activities with social interaction. This popular concept combines new forms of leisure activities and entertainment with the joy of spending quality time with family and friends, creating new and dynamic experiences.
From axe throwing, mini golf, and digital and interactive versions of darts (Flight Club) to virtual driving simulators (F1 Arcade), escape rooms, and life-sized Monopoly, these venues combine friendly competition with dynamic environments, making them popular alternatives to traditional outings.
This trend thrives on creating ‘instagrammable’ moments, with venues offering stylish interiors,
themed menus, and immersive experiences. A cultural shift among the younger generation toward health-conscious lifestyles, especially experiences that don’t involve alcohol consumption, has further driven its appeal.
Interestingly, while nightclubs have struggled, music festivals remain popular as ever due to their unique experiences and variety of offerings beyond music acts (street food, games, pop-up shops, funfair installations). Once again, this provides ample opportunity for festival goers
to “capture the moment” and create social media-friendly moments.
Post-pandemic, competitive socialising has revitalised commercial spaces, filling vacant properties and bringing vibrancy to retail areas. The sector also benefits from offering inclusive activities for all skill levels and fostering meaningful connections through shared experiences.
Looking ahead, innovation will be vital as the market risks becoming oversaturated. Venues must balance creativity with strategy to sustain longterm growth. Competitive socialising remains a promising evolution in modern entertainment, offering fresh experiences to keep customers engaged.
February 11th
Login Business Lounge, 34 Park Street, Camberley, GU15 3PL
Join us for an engaging afternoon tea networking event tailored for businesses located along the Surrey and Hampshire border. This relaxed and friendly gathering is the perfect opportunity to grow your business network and connect with a wide variety of companies from both counties.
February 19th – 12:00 – 14:00
Basepoint Centre Camberley, 377-399 London Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3HL
Looking to grow your network while enjoying a refreshing midday break? Welcome to Business Bites, the perfect setting to connect with like-minded professionals and uncover new opportunities. Whether you’re looking for potential clients, collaborators, or simply fresh perspectives, Business Bites is designed to help you expand your network without the pressure of a formal event.
NETWORKING
February 13th – 12:00-14:00
Fired Frog Pottery Café, 18 Obelisk Way, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3SD
Get back in to the swing of things with creativity and connection! Join us for an afternoon of pottery painting and networking. Choose your favourite piece to paint while enjoying a glass of prosecco and light nibbles in a relaxed setting.
February 26th – 18:00-20:00 Holiday Inn, Felix Lane, Shepperton, TW17 8NP
Held each month from 18:00 to 20:00, Members Networking Evenings provide a friendly, laid-back setting for members to review recent business developments together. Whether reconnecting with familiar faces or meeting new ones, it’s an opportunity to build and strengthen your network.
March 5th – 08:00 – 10:00
The Kings Arms, 5-6 High Street, Egham, TW20 9EA
Join us for our bi-monthly Business Breakfasts, held from 08:00 to 10:00, where you can connect with Surrey businesses over a delicious meal. Our calendar is filled with dynamic, relevant topics to keep you engaged and informed. With networking, guest speakers, and breakfast all in one, it’s the perfect start to a productive day.
March 19th – 12:00 – 14:00
Reigate Manor Hotel, Reigate Hill, Reigate, RH2 9PF
Looking to supercharge your connections while enjoying an engaging midday break? Welcome to Business Bites, where networking sparks new opportunities and helps grow your business. Held from 12 PM to 2 PM, this informal lunch event is your mid-day solution for meaningful conversations and professional growth.
March 7th– 11:00-14:00
Hilton Woking, Church Street W, Woking, GU21 6AX
Join us for a truly empowering celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, themed “Accelerate Action.” This is your chance to be part of a transformative afternoon, connecting with like-minded individuals and gaining valuable insights from a panel of inspiring speakers who are driving change and shaping the future.
April 23rd
Chobham Golf Club, Chobham Road, Knaphill, Woking, GU21 2TU
Join us for a special Golf Day on April 23rd designed exclusively for Business Women in Surrey! This event offers a fantastic opportunity to hone your golfing skills, network with like-minded professionals, and enjoy a day out in a beautiful setting!
is committed to providing the highest quality support and services to help your business trade successfully overseas.
Our team is on hand to issue you documents to ensure your goods reach their final destination, incl Certificates of Origin, EUR1s and certified invoices
Connect with over 75 overseas Chambers across the globe and benefit from B2B connections, local business advice, and potential market opportunities.
Join our events and training courses to gain the knowledge and practical skills needed to navigate the complexities of international trade
Get speaking your customer’s language with our leading translation partners, no matter the document type, subject matter or language Foreign exchange
ChamberFX delivered by Moneycorp enables you to manage currency exposure and payment needs quickly and hassle-free
Did you know?
Members of Surrey Chambers can save up to 50% off our trade documentation costs.
Contact our International Trade team export@surrey-chambers.co.uk
01483 735540
The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Surrey and Mid North Hampshire continues to thrive, serving as a vital connection between employers, further education colleges, and independent training providers. This initiative ensures that the workforce is equipped with the right skills to meet employers’ needs.
Employer engagement is at the heart of the LSIP. Maintaining an environment where employers’ voices are heard is essential. The Future Skills Hub plays a pivotal role in this, offering critical resources for both employers and providers. One of its standout features is the Opportunities Page, a central hub for collaboration and networking.
The Opportunities Page is a versatile resource for employers and providers. Providers can easily post opportunities, such as:
• Advertising facilities or equipment
• Hosting functions or events
❛❛ Collaboration is the cornerstone of the LSIP ❜❜
• Offering industry placements
• Sharing expertise with students
Employers can browse these listings and connect directly with providers for collaboration. This tool empowers employers to take the initiative in shaping the future workforce.
Employers can further engage with the LSIP by completing the online Commitment Form. This form allows employers to specify their preferred ways to contribute, including:
• Offering student placements
• Providing work shadowing for teachers
• Delivering workplace expertise talks to students
• Meeting curriculum specialists to share sector knowledge
• Hosting group visits to their premises
These forms are linked with opportunities shared on the Opportunities Page, ensuring that employers are matched with providers to find the most suitable collaborations, considering factors like location, sector and preferences.
Both commitment forms and the Opportunities Page have already facilitated
numerous collaborations between employers and providers, connecting a diverse range of businesses with training institutions.
To get involved, follow these simple steps:
1. Visit the Future Skills Hub website
2. Explore the Opportunities Page to post or browse opportunities
3. Submit a commitment form to outline your preferred level of involvement
4. Follow up with the Surrey Chambers team for further engagement
Collaboration is the cornerstone of the LSIP. By utilizing the tools and resources available through the Future Skills Hub, employers can actively shape Surrey and Hampshire’s future workforce. An employer’s input is crucial to addressing skill gaps and ensuring the region’s workforce remains competitive.
Start making a difference today by visiting the Future Skills Hub or contacting the LSIP team at lsip@surrey-chambers.co.uk. Together, we can shape a brighter future for Surrey and Hampshire.
To find out more about the Local Skills Improvement Fund, including ways your business could engage and benefit, please contact laura. asbridge@sparsholtservices.ac.uk, LSIF Project Managers.
To find out more about the Local Skills Improvement Project, including ways your business could engage and benefit with skills providers, contact the LSIP team at lsip@surreychambers.co.uk.
1TH REVIOUSLY:
11TH FEBRUARY 2025
the perfect time to pursue an
As we enter the New Year, many professionals are reflecting on achievements and looking to set new goals. Whether aiming to advance your career, explore a new sector, or launch a business, pursuing an MBA is a powerful way to prepare for success in 2025 - the benefits of which should not be overlooked in today’s business climate.
According to the Corporate Recruiters Survey 2024, over a third of companies hired more MBA graduates than expected in 2023, including a significant proportion from Global 500 companies. Surrey Business School offers a double-accredited MBA programme on your doorstep equipping you with skills to achieve your goals. Book onto our upcoming February Open Evening to learn more about the MBA programmes available: www.surrey.ac.uk/mba-event
The MBA programme at Surrey Business School (SBS) encourages active-learning, where business theories are applied to real-world scenarios. Our Full-time MBA and part-time Executive MBA reap the benefits of being close to one of Europe’s leading science parks, where students work directly with local businesses or get support on developing their own business.
This hands-on approach, combined with the array of networking opportunities embedded into the course, ensures that graduates leave with valuable practical skills, new perspective, and a wider understanding of business intricacies.
The world of business moves fast, and it’s easy to feel like you’re being left behind. Surrey’s MBA curriculum is forward-thinking, focusing on technology, use of data, AI, innovation, and sustainability. Graduates leave with enhanced tools to lead in an ever-changing business landscape.
Recognising the difficulty of balancing a career with further education, SBS offers a part-time Executive MBA (EMBA) which allows students to study every other weekend, meaning they can continue working while earning their MBA.
David Lakin, an EMBA alumnus, shares: “balancing my EMBA with my home life and work hasn’t been too difficult. ... Identify [your] vision of where you want to be or what you want to achieve in your professional life and then work out the steps towards realising that. For me, that was starting an EMBA with Surrey Business School.”
If you’re a business looking for flexible employee development opportunities, the EMBA is also a great addition to your 2025 plans.
To make the MBA more accessible, our Employer Partnership Scholarship
matches employer contributions towards tuition fees, up to 40%, making it more affordable for both individuals and businesses. There are also many other scholarships available for self-funded students.
Unlike other institutions, Surrey’s MBA programmes also maintain the same cost across full-time and part-time options, eliminating the financial disadvantage often associated with parttime study.
With our study options, a forward-thinking curriculum, an abundance of networking opportunities, and practical experience, Surrey Business School’s MBA programmes offer the ideal opportunity to advance your career in 2025. Take the next step towards achieving your professional goals and set yourself up for success by attending our event on February 25th.
For information on any of the above, please contact Iis at i.tussyadiah@surrey.ac.uk.
❛❛ SIMPLY THE MOST EFFICIENT AND FUN EVENT IN THE REGION. THE ONLY NETWORKING EVENT I EVER ATTEND ❜❜ MERCEDES-BENZ
❛❛ THE PLATINUM CLUB IS A REALLY WELL ORGANISED NETWORKING GROUP, WITH THE HOSTS HELPING TO FACILITATE TO ENSURE WE ALWAYS MAKE USEFUL NEW CONTACTS AT EACH EVENT ❜❜ LLOYDS BANK
ALL BUSINESS IS BASED ON RELATIONSHIPS, AND PLATINUM GIVES YOU THE PLATFORM TO CREATE THE MEANINGFUL HUMAN CONNECTIONS THAT MATTER ❜❜ BAILEY & FRENCH
We meet once per month, excluding August. If you would like to attend an event, please get in touch info@platinummediagroup.co.uk
As annual membership is no longer required, we look forward to welcoming you to the most effective, enjoyable and lively networking group in the South
❛❛ WE SEE THE PLATINUM CLUB AS AN IMPORTANT AND INTEGRAL PART OF OUR BRAND AWARENESS STRATEGY, THROUGH INTERACTIONS WITH WELL CONNECTED BUSINESS PEOPLE AND OTHER INFLUENCERS. IT IS WELCOMING AND GREAT FUN TOO! ❜❜ MATTIOLI WOODS
Barclays has tightened its workfrom-home policy with staff now required to come into the office for an extra day a week. The bank is the latest company to make changes to its flexible working policy that has been largely in place since the Covid pandemic, saying it recognised the importance of staff collaborating in the same place. It sent a memo to many of its 85,000 employees stating that they would now need to come into the office three days a week instead of two.
Households in England and Wales will pay £10 more on average on their monthly water bills from April, final figures show. The rise will see the average annual bill hit £603, though customers of persistent environment-wreckers, Southern Water, will see a 47% increase to £703 a year. Water companies say they have committed extra money for investment in infrastructure, such as reservoirs and more help for struggling customers.
A court has ruled that consent for two new Scottish oil and gas fields was granted unlawfully. The written judgement on the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields came after a case brought by environmental campaigners, Uplift and Greenpeace, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. In his judgement, Lord Ericht said a more detailed assessment of the fields’ environmental impact was required, taking into account the effect on the climate of burning any fossil fuels extracted.
Royal Mail should only deliver second-class letters every other weekday and not on Saturdays to protect the future of the UK’s postal industry. Ofcom said the Universal Service Obligation (USO) must be reformed as people send fewer letters every year but stamp prices keep rising. The one-price-goes-anywhere USO means Royal Mail has to deliver post six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, and parcels on five from Monday to Friday.
❛❛By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you will be happy. If you get a bad one, you will be a philosopher. ❜❜
Socrates
Retail crime is “out of control”, as shoplifters carry out brazen and violent acts of theft, fearing any consequences. Offenders have been known to openly clear shelves of items in full view of customers and shop workers.
In the 12 months to September 2024, incidents of customer theft reported by retailers in the UK rose by 3.7 million to 20.4 million, and cost retailers £2bn. The figures were published in the annual crime survey from the British Retail Consortium.
Economic growth in the US slowed at the end of last year, as trade and investment declined and the country was hit by hurricanes and labour strikes. The economy expanded at an annual rate of 2.3% between October and
December, down from 3.1% in the three months before, according to the US Commerce Department. The pace, fuelled by solid growth in consumer spending, was nevertheless weaker than economists had forecast.
Sainsbury’s has announced it will cut 3,000 jobs as it shuts down its remaining cafés and closes its patisserie and pizza counters. The supermarket says the move will “simplify the business”, adding that most Sainsbury’s shoppers “do
not use the cafés regularly”. It also plans to make a 20% reduction in senior management roles, saying the business faces a “particularly challenging cost environment”. Morrisons has also announced plans to axe 201 office-based jobs.
❛❛A good rule to remember for life is that when it comes to plastic surgery and sushi, never be attracted by a bargain.❜❜
Graham Norton
A range of Coca-Cola products have been recalled in the UK after the firm’s bottling partner said it had identified “elevated levels” of a chemical called chlorate. Cans of Coca-Cola Original Taste, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke, and Sprite Zero sent to cafes and restaurants are being withdrawn, as well as 6x250ml Appletiser multipacks sent to UK supermarkets. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, the firm’s bottling partner, said the risk of illness was “very low”.
Hotel chain Premier Inn has confirmed jobs will be lost as it moves its telephone reservation call centre from the UK to Egypt. Staff based at Houghton Hall Business Park in Bedfordshire have been told that 88 roles would be made redundant, affecting 59 full-time positions and several other people part-time staff. Half of its telephone reservation service is already handled by a call centre based in Manila, Philippines, but the company said the vast majority of customers now book online.
Heathrow’s third runway, approved by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, “can be built and operating in a decade.” Reeves said she wanted to see “spades in the ground” in the current Parliament and planes to start using the runway by 2035. She also said that Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London who is opposed to Heathrow’s expansion, could not stop the new runway. Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said the Conservatives were in favour of a third runway at Heathrow “in principle”.
Amazon has chosen Darlington as the first location in the UK to see parcels delivered by drones.
The online giant had previously promised it would start a drone delivery service by the end of 2024. The Civil Aviation Authority still has to develop rules on how commercial drones can safely be used for deliveries. Amazon acknowledged there was still much work to do but said it was “ready and excited”.
The UK banking industry has warned that government plans to crack down on benefit fraud could leave banks at risk of breaking consumer protection rules. A new law unveiled recently would allow
the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to reclaim money from accounts without a court order, supposedly speeding up the debt recovery process as part of a wider crackdown on benefits fraud. But UK
Finance, the biggest business group representing British banks, has said the plans could undermine the banks’ efforts to protect vulnerable account holders.
While everyone’s financial goals and aspirations are unique, a common priority for us all is not to pay more tax than necessary. Making use of your tax reliefs and allowances is therefore an essential part of your business and personal financial plans.
This year’s tax year-end deadline is April 5th 2025. Here are some things to consider.
If you can, take full advantage of this year’s £20,000 ISA allowance and the £9,000 Junior ISA allowance.
Check your spouse or partner has also maximised their own ISA allowance. That could mean as much as £40,000 invested tax efficiently.
This tax year, you can contribute, subject to certain allowances, up to £60,000 or 100% of your earnings, whichever is lower, and receive tax relief. Topping up your pension early can allow the funds to benefit from compounding, adding significant value to your retirement pot over time.
Did you know?
From April 2027, it is proposed that most pensions will be included in the value of your estate and therefore may be subject to inheritance tax.
Are you looking to reduce a potential IHT bill? You may be able to gift as much as £6,000.
The dividend allowance has reduced significantly in recent times. For this
tax year, the first £500 of dividend income is tax-free. Consider holding your shares in an ISA to minimise tax liability.
Here’s how much you would be taxed if you’re a higher-rate taxpayer with shares not held in an ISA:
You receive annual dividends to a total of
£5,000
The amount that is taxable
£4,500
The amount you’ll be taxed
£1,518.75
If you held your shares in an ISA, you’ll be taxed
£0.00
If you own a business, consider taking dividend income instead of salary. You may also be able to minimise National Insurance contributions (NICs) too.
If you’re a high earner, you may be able to bring your taxable income down by putting more money in your pension or making charitable donations. These can:
• Bring your income down below the additional rate tax band, which starts at £125,140.
• Help you hold on to your Personal Allowance, which is slowly withdrawn once you earn over £100,000.
• Help you hold on to your Child Benefi t, which is gradually withdrawn if one parent in the household earns more than £60,000.
As one of the most complex taxes, people can end up paying unnecessarily or be fined for not paying when they should. There are several ways to reduce your CGT bill including:
• Take advantage of your annual CGT exemption, which has been reduced from £6000 to £3000 this tax-year.
• Hold shares in an ISA – making them exempt from CGT
• Transfer your assets to your spouse of civil partner so you can both make use of your individual allowances
Example of how you might fall liable for CGT:
• You were given some free shares in a company as a bonus, which are worth £5,000
• Their value rises considerably, and now they’re worth £25,000
• Your ‘taxable gain’ (i.e. profi t) if you sell them all at once is £20,000
• The first £3,000 of the tax rate is tax-free, but you must pay tax on the remaining £17,000
• If you’re a higher-rate taxpayer, the tax charge is 24%. Therefore, the tax bill would be £4,080
Undertake a tax health check to ensure that you’re taking full advantage of your tax reliefs and allowances.
Read more about top tips for tax year-end:
Read advice for business owners:
We can help make the most of your available tax reliefs and allowances by reviewing your unique circumstances.
Call: 01306 74220
Email: hjpcfp@sjpp.co.uk
The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.
The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.
HJP Chartered Financial Planners is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.
HJP Chartered Financial planners is a trading name of HJP Wealth Management Ltd. which is registered in England & Wales. No.10490173, registered office: 176 South Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2ES .
SJP approved 27/01/2025
By Jenny Ray and Ingrid McCleave, Partners , DMH Stallard LLP
The UK is in the midst of a historic shift in wealth. If the current predictions come to pass, around £5.5 trillion will be passed down to the next generation by 2050. With this unprecedented transfer of wealth, the government will acquire record receipts of Inheritance Tax (IHT).
IHT is effectively a death duty levied on the total value (less any liabilities, exemptions, and reliefs) of an estate at the time of death. IHT is usually paid at a rate of 40% on the value of an estate above a threshold of £325,000 - which is frozen up to 2030.
Given that this threshold has not changed since 2009, it is no surprise that people are looking to explore ways of passing on their wealth in a tax-effi -
❛❛ If the current predictions come to pass, around £5.5 trillion will be passed down to the next generation by 2050. ❜❜
cient way. However, giving away your wealth is not always straightforward and there is no one-size-fits-all plan.
One in four wills prepared by a lawyer now contains some form of charitable giving and this is a trend which appears to be increasingly important to people planning the management of their estates.
In most cases, assets left to the spouse or civil partner of the deceased will typically be exempt from IHT – as will any assets left to a charity. Any unused threshold can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner, increasing their combined threshold to up to £650,000.
There is an additional maximum transferable main residence nil rate band of £175,000 each, available when a home is left to the deceased’s children or direct descendants. Where the conditions are satisfied, this increases an individual’s estate threshold, before IHT becomes due, to £500,000 and for couples to £1,000,000 - also frozen until 2030.
With regard to charitable legacies, there is an additional benefit if 10% or more of the net value of the estate is left to charity. In those circumstances, the rate of IHT is reduced to 36% for the whole estate.
It is therefore imperative to obtain legal advice and work closely with the charity, or a philanthropic adviser, to ensure that your gift does not fail, that the legacy you intended can be achieved and that you support the charity in a manner which will ensure the greatest benefit.
Gifts can include money but also ‘chattels’ (tangible personal possessions), such as jewellery or antiques, as well as encompassing property and other investments including shares. There is no IHT payable on gifts between spouses or civil partners.
You can also give away up to £3,000 worth of gifts each tax year without them being added to the value of your estate for Inheritance Tax purposes. Certain amounts can be given away free from tax, such as regular gifts from surplus income, for example for
birthdays and Christmas, or regular lump sums, as well as wedding gifts. In addition, you can give as many gifts of up to £250 per person each tax year, provided you have not used another allowance on the same person.
If you make a gift and survive for another seven years, there will be no Inheritance Tax to pay on that gift. If, however, you die within seven years of giving a gift, it will potentially become taxable because it is deemed to remain in your estate for IHT purposes. The tax may be tapered in respect of the amount above £325,000 gifted and paid at less than 40%, if it was given more than three years before your death.
We always advise clients to be aware of retaining benefi ts. If you give away an asset but reserve the benefi t, the seven-year period will not apply unless and until you give up the benefi t and the full value at the date of your death will remain in your estate for tax purposes.
❛❛ If you make a gift and survive for another seven years, there will be no Inheritance Tax to pay on that gift. ❜❜
When making successive gifts to people with the intention of gifting equally, you should be aware that the gifts may not all be treated the same in terms of tax.
The first gifts within the seven-year period before death will benefi t from the deceased’s Nil Rate Band currently £325,000. Subsequent gifts within this period will be subject to IHT.
As well as tax efficiency, you should also be mindful to ensure the gift is legally valid to ensure that disputes are unlikely to arise concerning whether a gift has taken place or whether a donor had capacity to give the gift.
Preparing to give away a lifetime’s assets to loved ones can carry significant emotions, so taking advice from legal and financial professionals and ensuring your intentions are clear and well-documented is essential.
For more information on gifting wealth tax effi ciently, contact: Ingrid McCleave +44 (0) 20 7822 1632 Ingrid.McCleave@dmhstallard.com Jenny Ray +44 (0) 1273 384001 Jenny.Ray@dmhstallard.com
More than an airport, Gatwick has achieved an award for its biodiversity programmes
London Gatwick has achieved The Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark Award for efforts to protect and enhance 91 hectares of land surrounding the airport for ten years running.
This prestigious award places London Gatwick among just 16 organisations to hold the certification, celebrating its outstanding stewardship of natural habitats, and setting a gold standard in biodiversity management.
Over 23,000 passionate volunteers, local schools, and community groups have actively participated in London Gatwick’s biodiversity initiatives in the past decade. Their efforts have helped protect and enhance 91 hectares of land surrounding the airport, nurturing ecosystems that support more than 3,000 species of plants, animals, and
fungi, including rare and threatened species like nightingales and great crested newts.
The airport’s collaboration with the Gatwick Greenspace Partnership has been instrumental in enhancing grassland, woodland, hedgerows, and wetland areas as part of their Biodiversity Action Plan.
Colin Mendendez, Biodiversity Benchmark Assessor, The Wildlife Trust said: “Congratulations to everyone at London Gatwick on this 10-year achievement - it’s a great example of how businesses can make a difference in protecting the natural world. London Gatwick’s dedication to combining meticulous ecological management of their land with community involvement sets a standard that’s both inspiring and impactful.”
Darcey Haldar, Senior Ecologist, London Gatwick said: “Receiving The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark Award for 10 years in a row, every year since 2015, is a tremendous honour.
“The flora and fauna in our biodiversity areas are thriving, thanks to our dedicated environmental team, volunteers, and community partners.
“Through our sustainability policy, Decade of Change, we will continue championing sustainability and community engagement in our commitment to running the airport responsibly.”
❛❛
Over 23,000 passionate volunteers, local schools, and community groups have actively participated in our biodiversity initiatives in the past decade❜❜
London Gatwick’s expansion plans could significantly boost the economy and UK-China connectivity as demand continues to grow, with an almost 265% year-on-year rise in passenger volumes between Gatwick and China.
The airport saw almost 550,000 passengers travelling to China in 2024, up from just over 150,000 in 2023. China’s three largest carriers already fly from London Gatwick, with 33 services a week, via Air China, China Southern and China Eastern, flying to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Zhengzhou.
London Gatwick plays a key role in that continued growth. If plans to bring its
Northern Runway, currently a backup, into routine use are approved by the Government, it will allow for even more international services, including from China.
The Northern Runway project represents a £2.2 billion shovel-ready privately financed investment that could be operational by the end of the decade. The plans will create a further 14,000 jobs and generate £1 billion in economic benefits each year.
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick said: “China accounts for 5.1% of total UK trade and was the UK’s fifth largest trading part-
ner in 2024. As demonstrated by the Chancellor’s visit to China earlier this year, this market is vitally important to the UK economy in terms of both inbound visitors and trade. We are pleased to offer significant connectivity between the two nations from London Gatwick.
“We have seen huge demand for growth of these routes, from airlines and passengers. If approved, our Northern Runway plans could provide even greater opportunity to support communities, the economy and the Government’s wider plans for growth, through enhanced capacity for vital long-haul services.”
London Gatwick continues to expand, now connecting to more than 223 destinations. One recent, significant development has been the addition of a direct route to Singapore serviced by Singapore Airlines – which will increase to a daily service at the end of March. With trade between the UK and Asia reaching £366bn in 2023, and liberalised trade conditions on the rise, the potential for regional businesses to expand internationally is greater than ever.
To help businesses seize these opportunities, London Gatwick and regional Chambers of Commerce are hosting an exclusive webinar. This event is tailored
for UK businesses looking to expand in Asia, and Singapore-based companies interested in the UK market.
Free event details:
Date: Wednesday, March 5th 2025
Time: 9:00am - 10:00am
Location: Online via Zoom Register here
Highlights:
• Keynote presentations by industry leaders on the current landscape of trade in Singapore
• Networking opportunities with Chamber members and industry experts
• Question and Answer session
Guest speakers:
• Louise Beazor, Head of Trade Services
– British Chambers Singapore
• Richard Lennard, Economic Partnerships Manager – London Gatwick
This webinar will explore how London Gatwick’s growing Asian connections can strengthen the region’s economy, support exports, and open doors to dynamic markets. Whether you’re exporting goods or exploring new imports, join us to discover how London Gatwick’s routes to Asia can benefit your business.
Four in every five residents, who expressed a preference, support London Gatwick’s plans for growth, according to a YouGov poll.
The survey of more than 2,000 people across Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and Croydon is the fourth in a row to show that four out of five South East residents continue to support the airport’s plans to routinely use the Northern Runway. This will increase passenger numbers to 75 million by the late 2030s.
In the latest survey, residents said new jobs (76%), the economic boost (73%), new investment and business (69%) and new international connections (73%) were all important factors of London Gatwick’s growth plans.
Younger age groups support the airport’s plans most, with 89% of 18 to 34-year-olds who expressed an opin -
ion in favour, followed by 79% of 35 to 54-year-olds and 75% of residents aged 55 or over.
The government is currently considering the airport’s plans and – if approved - will inject £1bn into the region’s economy every year and support 14,000 new jobs.
London Gatwick’s Northern Runway is currently used as a taxiway or a runway for emergencies. If approved, the airport’s plans would bring it into daily use alongside its Main Runway for departing aircraft, without major disruption.
Stewart Wingate, CEO, London Gatwick said: “This new polling demonstrates how positively people across the region people view our Northern Runway plans. Most recognise the important economic role the airport plays in generating new business opportunities and prosperity.
*Four in five residents who expressed an opinion support London Gatwick’s Northern Runway plans
figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,031 adults living in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Croydon. Fieldwork was undertaken between November 12th and December 2nd 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of adults in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Croydon (aged 18+).
“Our shovel-ready plans will provide a huge boost in terms of economic benefits, jobs and connectivity – clearly factors that are of primary importance to people across the South East, whether they are thinking in the medium term or further into the future.”
London Gatwick is investing in its longterm future. The airport’s planning application to bring its existing Northern Runway into routine use has been independently reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), which has submitted its recommendation to the Secretary of State. A decision is expected in early 2025. London Gatwick’s low-impact plan will improve resilience, reduce delays, and significantly boost the national and regional economy by supporting trade, tourism, and new jobs.
The 2025 winners of the prestigious Gatwick Diamond Business Awards will be announced on the 20th March, in the Empress Suite of The Grand Hotel, Brighton. Join us for a pre-dinner drinks reception sponsored by Cleankill Pest Control, before taking your seat for a sumptuous three course dinner and wine, with our celebrity host, Ben Hanlin.
Funny magician Ben Hanlin has been seen on TV shows all over the world such as, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Celebrity Juice and as a contestant on ITV’s Dancing on Ice (semi finalist).
He first appeared on our screens as the star of his own ITV2 show, “Tricked” which saw him pulling magic pranks on celebrities and members of the public.
More recently he has been making content all across social media which has resulted in over 2 million followers and a number of partnerships with brands such as, Amazon Prime and McDonalds.
His big passion is still performing LIVE in front of audiences and his goal is always to make his shows funny, amazing and interactive! So, if you’re in the audience, you may become part of the show!
This Black-Tie event will once again see the very best of the Gatwick Diamond Business community come together to celebrate the achievements of World-Class businesses in this World Class region. Now in their 16th year, the Awards are a well-established highlight of the business calendar. They celebrate the achievements of individual businesses and business people across a wide range of categories. Importantly, they also showcase the success of the Gatwick Diamond economic area as major driver of the regional and national economies.
18:00 Evening starts with the Pre-Dinner Reception
18:45 Take your seats for Dinner
21:30 Ben Hanlin
21:45 Presentation of the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards
23:00 After-Show Celebration and photographs
01:00 Carriages
There are many ethoses of ‘punk’, though of beliefs such as authoritarianism, anti-corporatism, it-yourself ethic, anti-consumerist, corporate greed, direct “selling out”.
When James Watt Brewery in 2007, genesis of what we getting a foothold which has since amount of wet trade
BrewDog was founded, as a punk brand, disruptor, while keeping ethos. One problem the punk attitudes the-road’.
Platinum takes up turned-mainstream,
ethoses behind the notion it is primarily made up as non-conformity, antiauthoritarianism, anti-corporatism, a doethic, anti-consumerist, antigreed, direct action, and not
Watt co-founded BrewDog it was at the time of the we now call ‘craft beer’ foothold in pub culture, a foothold taken over a significant trade in UK pubs.
founded, or at least marketed in an attempt to be a keeping to the everyman problem – BrewDog got big, and attitudes started to go ‘middle-of-
James Bruce Watt MBE was born on May 18th 1982 in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire. His father was a fisherman, and his mother was a teacher before he was born.
Watt attended the University of Edinburgh, where he studied law and economics between 2000 and 2004. During this time, he shared a flat with his school friend Martin Dickie, who was studying distilling at Heriot-Watt University. The pair shared a passion for brewing and would go on to found BrewDog together.
Upon graduation, Watt secured a job as a trainee solicitor but left after two weeks. He then worked as a professional fisherman, following in his father’s footsteps, earning a captain’s qualification. In his free time, he would brew homemade beer.
met in 2006, and have two daughters. Basford divorced Watt in 2020. In 2022, Watt admitted to a “brief, amicable relationship with a team member” during a difficult period of his marriage.
In 2024, he became engaged to former Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo, whom he had been in a relationship
Watt states that his relationship with his parents wasn’t as easy as it could have been. While close to his father, Watt said he hadn’t spoken to his mother for 20 years. His parents married in 1977 and separated 25 years later followed by complex divorce proceedings over the division of assets.
❛❛ The company’s products quickly started raking in the awards, including several at the top of the brewing tree ❜❜
with since 2023. Watt faced backlash for announcing that he was considering delaying their marriage for up to three years to avoid paying tax on an investment in Toffolo’s business venture.
Watt is autistic and has ADHD. His diagnosis came when seeking help after being described as “semi-autistic” by a journalist.
In 2007, at the age of just 24, Watt and Dickie founded BrewDog, a brewery and pub chain, in Fraserburgh, with Watt acting as CEO. Despite being brushed off by Dragon’s Den the following year (and again in later years as a Dragon), BrewDog grew to make itself a fairly rapid success.
In 2013 he married Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford OBE. The couple
He was awarded an MBE alongside business partner Martin Dickie in 2016.
Watt and Dickie opened their first bar in Aberdeen in 2009. The company raised further capital by offering crowdfunding shares in 2011, totalling £2 million.
The company’s products quickly started raking in the awards, including several at the top of the brewing tree…
• 2007: World’s Best Strong Pale Ale (Sub Category Winner) for The Physics by the World Beer Awards.
• 2007: World’s Best Imperial Stout (Style Trophy Winner) for Rip Tide by the World Beer Awards.
• 2008: Gold medal at the 2008 World Beer Cup in the Wood and Barrel-aged Strong Beer Category for Paradox Grain.
• 2010: Gold at the 2010 World Beer Cup in the Imperial IPA category for Hardcore IPA.
This represents an impressive haul for their first three years of brewing. And understandably so, their products are
excellent. The list, of course, doesn’t include local, regional or even national awards. BrewDog is currently the seventh-largest beer brand in Britain, and claims to be the “No.1 Craft Brewer in Europe.”
For his part, Watt is believed to be worth over £250 million.
In June 2021, a group of over 100 former BrewDog employees published an open letter criticising the firm’s business practices and the treatment of its employees. The letter cited a “culture of fear” and claimed the company was “built on a cult of personality”, with founder and CEO Watt singled out for particular criticism.
In May 2024, Watt stepped down as CEO after 17 years, following a string of accusations of promoting a climate of fear and inappropriate behaviour –claims made by several members of company staff. Many of these allegations were made in a BBC documen -
tary, broadcast in 2022, about working life at BrewDog.
It led Watt to make a complaint to Ofcom regarding what he considered unfair treatment by the BBC. Ofcom, in reply, stated Brewdog and Mr Watt had been given an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond to the al -
❛❛ Watt retained his shares in the company, and moved to the newly-created position of ‘captain and co-founder.’ ❜❜
legations made in the programme, and that their response was fairly reflected in the broadcast. “Mr Watt’s legitimate expectation of privacy did not, on balance, outweigh the broadcaster’s right to freedom of expression and the public interest in obtaining and including the material in the programme.”
He was replaced by Chief Operating Officer James Arrow. BrewDog’s losses
had doubled to £59 million in Watt’s final year. Watt retained his shares in the company, and moved to the newly-created position of ‘captain and co-founder.’
In January 2024, BrewDog announced it would stop paying the ‘real living wage’ in an attempt to get back to profitability (the company had lost £24m the previous year) – a move which drew criticism and a staff backlash as employees claimed the company was “abandoning its principles.”
The company lost its B Corp certificate in 2024.
One person’s ‘outrage’ is another person’s humour. Embracing its punk ethos, BrewDog would often sail close to the wind regarding the provocative promotion of its products.
In 2008, the Portman Group – a trade group composed of alcoholic beverage producers and brewers in the UK advocating responsible drinking and behaviour amongst
In January 2025, James Watt posted his latest thoughts on Instagram, which resulted in one of those overthe-top, hysterical, petulant reactions which, sadly, only those who reside in modern-day social media can evoke.
In it, he believes that the concept of a work-life balance is one invented by those unhappy with their own careers and says people should instead aim to achieve “work-life integration”. He also said that Britain is one of the “least work-oriented countries in the world,” as he suggested that people should end their obsession with “work-life balance”.
“I think the whole concept of worklife balance was invented by people who hate the work that they do. If you love what you do, you don’t need work-life balance, you need work-life integration,” Watt said in his now-deleted Instagram post.
He and Georgia subsequently posted a minute-long video on LinkedIn in an attempt to try to clarify his original post. In truth, however, it made his statement even more ambiguous.
He wasn’t talking about working from home or being brought back to the office or about whether you work best alone, with a partner or part of a team. If anything, the message seemed to be about mental health in the workplace.
In the video, Georgia highlighted that she and Watt work well together. However, the meaning of the repeated phrase ‘work/life integration’ was not made apparent. Given the rest of the video, the closest assumption one could draw from was that the notion of weekends or time off was an anathema to him and that if you enjoyed your work, you wouldn’t stop.
If this is the case, it does jar with Western culture (though Watt has only rounded on British people) of the standard working life many, if not most of us have; seven (or seven and a half) hours a day, five days a week, 47 or 48 weeks a year.
Despite much backlash and a certain amount of support for his statement, there is, of course, a kernel of truth in his post. People who are unhappy in their jobs are looking for other ways of finding happiness in their lives, and more work doesn’t necessarily help them.
Indeed, one of the first responses to Watt’s and Toffolo’s video, said, “Work/ life balance is about achieving and sustaining whatever works best for you. There are no set rules - the balance is whatever you want it to be.” Watt responded to this statement, in apparent contradiction to his video, with (a genuine) ’Well said…”
Similarly, as will be familiar to those who have read Platinum for the past 129 issues, staff welfare is considered a key component of many successful businesses. To carry on working until burnout, which almost certainly happens sooner rather than later if you are unhappy in your work, helps no one.
its members – accused them of aggressive marketing, though the company was ultimately cleared of any breaches. BrewDog denied these allegations and countered that Portman was impeding the development of smaller brewing companies. It’s about as punk as one can get – upsetting the ‘establishment’ without actually doing anything wrong or illegal.
In response, BrewDog launched a beer named Speedball, which was promptly banned and renamed Dogma. The brewery gained further attention for producing high-strength beers, including Tokyo* (18.2% ABV) and Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32% ABV). BrewDog’s marketing campaigns, including a 2015 crowdfunding advert and a “non-binary transgender beer,” sparked a backlash over perceived insensitivity.
While that may fall within the punk ideology, it did, at times, cross the line.
In 2014, Portman claimed BrewDog was in breach of Portman’s Code of Practice “for encouraging both anti-social behaviour and rapid drinking” through the labelling of the Dead Pony Club IPA, which it claimed placed “undue emphasis on the strength and intoxicating effect of the alcohol in the product”.
In September 2015, a petition was launched and signed by 8000 people in response to a BrewDog advert, stating: “They claim to be ethical. Yet in their new crowdsourcing video they mock homeless people, trans women and sex workers”. In November of the same year, the company went on to launch a “non-binary, transgender beer” and faced further criticism from the charity Stonewall.
In March 2018, BrewDog produced Pink IPA, a limited edition bottling of Punk IPA (by now, BrewDog has copyrighted
the word ‘punk’ in relation to beer and brewing), brought out to coincide with International Women’s Day and intended to highlight the gender pay gap.
The launch of Pink IPA was met with criticism of the beer’s marketing campaign. Later that year, the Portman Group ruled that the labelling for Pink IPA breached Portman’s Code of Conduct, upholding complaints from members of the public that the phrase “Beer for Girls”, used on the packaging, was likely to appeal to under-18s.
Despite initially dismissing the Portman ruling, in 2020, BrewDog CEO Watt later placed Pink IPA at the top of a list of his ‘biggest Mistakes’ acknowledging that “Despite the good intentions, our execution was terrible. ... The backlash was justified.”
that 24-carat solid gold beer cans had been hidden in cases of beer. Some winners had their cans independently valued, discovering the cans to be
❛❛ In January 2025, Watt announced he was looking to start a new TV programme to offer a £2 million investment into a start-up company ❜❜
In 2021, BrewDog came under investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority concerning their claim
gold-plated brass valued at £500. Watt contacted 50 winners to offer a full
cash amount, ultimately buying 40 of the cans out of his own pocket.
Watt appeared alongside Martin Dickie in 2013 on their reality TV show Brew Dogs on the American network Esquire, which lasted for three seasons. After Esquire shut down in 2017, they launched the BrewDog Network, priced at $4.99 monthly. The network’s initial PR campaign centred around the launch of beer. porn - a parody of a well-known pornography website - featuring content which drew criticism from industry observers and some shareholders.
In January 2025, Watt announced he was looking to start a new TV programme to offer a £2 million investment into a start-up company. Titled ‘House Of Unicorns’ (or ‘The Next Unicorn’ – as yet undecided), he is on the hunt for a startup company with promising potential to invest in.
Unicorn startups are highly desirable to investors because they have the potential to be extremely profitable, can disrupt markets and introduce new consumer trends. House Of Unicorns will see ten of these businesses go headto-head over six weeks as they compete to win Watt’s largesse - the largest cash prize in UK TV history.
As to whether this next venture in Watt’s career takes off is yet to be seen, especially as £2 million is not exactly small beer.
Sussex Cricket launches new and improved membership packages for the county’s flagship business networking club
A new dawn has risen at Sussex Cricket with major success on the pitch, being echoed by the club’s successes off the pitch. And with those successes comes opportunity, not only for the club, but also the local businesses within the county.
Launched in 2011, The Boundary Club is a networking and membership club designed for professionals to connect, exchange ideas and build relationships in a premium environment with a backdrop of first-class cricket.
Fast-forward 14 years and Sussex has decided to enhance its membership benefi ts and packages to ensure The Boundary Club remains the networking club of choice for business leaders in the area.
1. Member-only gatherings, a T20 Vitality Blast, and two offsite events
Some events are designated as members-only to provide exclusive experiences and benefi ts that honour the commitment and loyalty of our members. These events foster a sense of community, offering members unique opportunities to engage with one another and enjoy tailored activities that enhance their membership value. The club has also introduced a T20 Blast fixture to the calendar of events, allowing members to experience the excitement of the Sussex Sharks smashing big sixes under the floodlights. Additionally, it has incorporated offsite events during the offseason to provide variety and offer members enriched and memorable experiences.
2. Two complimentary guest places included in your membership
Two complimentary guest places with each membership allow our members to share their passion for The Boundary Club with their clients, colleagues
or network. By inviting guests to join you at selected events, we hope to foster a greater sense of community and encourage more people to experience The Boundary Club. Think of it as a thank-you gift for a member’s loyalty.
3. More time for networking with a canapé drinks reception
Sussex has now extended the duration of the networking reception to provide members with more time to connect, share ideas, and build meaningful relationships. Whether fostering new business connections or strengthening existing relationships, this extended reception is designed to help members make the most of their time with like-minded individuals in The Boundary Club community.
4. Member discount card
Offering access to exclusive savings with local and national partners, this initiative is their way of rewarding members for their loyalty while adding even more value to their membership. Additionally, the discount card provides an opportunity for members to promote their own businesses by offering special deals to The Boundary Club com-
munity, creating a mutually beneficial platform that supports local enterprises and fosters a stronger network among our members.
5. Referral Reward Scheme
This is another way of thanking the members for helping grow The Boundary Club community. This initiative is designed to recognise and reward members who introduce new businesses to the benefi ts of membership. By sharing your positive experiences and encouraging others to join, you’ll help expand our vibrant network and enjoy exclusive rewards as a token of our appreciation.
Interested? Now is the time to secure your seat at The Boundary Club in 2025.
Contact theboundaryclub@ sussexcricket.co.uk or visit www.sussexcricket.co.uk/boundary -club-membership to fi nd out more
The annual event, in association with Business South, is the region’s largest and most prestigious business awards programme.
Whether you’re a thriving start-up, a familyowned business, or a seasoned industry leader, there’s a category for all business sizes and industries. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to showcase your achievements and gain
recognition.
❛❛ It’s a real pinch-me moment. The whole application process was an extremely useful exercise to carry out, as it made us reflect on exactly how far our business has come in four years and what we have achieved…
Surrey Hills Accountancy
Best Customer Service Award Winner 2024
❛❛ This award will significantly help in my company’s e orts to bring ethical influence to the widest possible global audience…❜❜ Sven Hughes
Enigma Strategic Communications
Businessperson of the Year Winner 2024
Best Customer Service Award
Best New Business Award
Business Growth Award
Businessperson of the Year
Community Hero Award
Company of the Year
Construction Project of the Year
Employer of the Year
Future Talent of the Year
Innovation of the Year
International Business of the Year
Large Business of the Year
Professional Services Award
SME Business of the Year
Sustainability Champion Award
Entry deadline: April 2nd 2025 Award ceremony: July 2nd 2025
Venue: Leonardo Royal Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton
Roffey Park is a renowned international leadership institute with over 75 years of experience in developing leaders, transforming organisations, and fostering impactful workplace cultures. We specialise in providing cutting-edge learning solutions, like our newly launched graduate development programme, tailored to the unique needs of professionals and organisations worldwide.
Platinum sat down with Roffey Park’s Head of Sales Europe, Brian O’Mahony, to find out everything you need to know about how it can kick-start your leadership career.
Who are graduate programmes for?
Graduate programmes attract, develop, and retain top early-career talent, building a pipeline of skilled, high-potential leaders. They help graduates transition from academia to the workplace, equipping them to contribute meaningfully from day one. Ideal for multinationals, SMEs, or public sector
organisations, Roffey Park designs bespoke programmes for cohorts of more than ten graduates – and a consortium programme for organisations with fewer than ten graduates annually.
What leadership skills will I develop and how will I apply them?
You’ll build key leadership skills like adaptive leadership, emotional intelligence and strategic decision-making. These are areas that traditional graduate programmes often overlook but are crucial for leading in today’s fastpaced world. You’ll apply these skills in real-world projects, not just in theory. Working on actual business challenges will help you become a more effective leader who can think critically, manage teams and navigate complex situations with confidence.
How does the learning approach differ from traditional classrooms?
This programme isn’t about sitting through lectures and taking notes –
it’s all about interaction and real-world learning. You’ll dive into case studies and group challenges that reflect actual business problems. This means you’re not just memorising information; you’re actively applying what you learn in a practical setting. It’s about developing skills like problem-solving, teamwork and creative thinking that you’ll need in the workplace.
What’s the role of one-on-one coaching and how does it help my development?
One-on-one coaching is a core part of the programme. Instead of following a generic path, you’ll receive personalised support to help you play to your strengths and work on areas for improvement. Your coach will help you set realistic goals, guide you through challenges and provide regular feedback. This tailored approach ensures you’re developing the specific skills needed to become an impactful leader, rather than just meeting generic milestones.
❛❛ This programme isn’t about sitting through lectures and taking notes – it’s all about interaction and real-world learning ❜❜
What career support will I receive?
The programme goes beyond just preparing you for your first job. You’ll have access to mentorship, career mapping, and real-world leadership experience. You’ll work on strategic projects, shadow senior leaders and network with professionals across different industries. This combination of hands-on experience and tailored career advice will help you transition smoothly from academic life into a leadership role, setting you up for long-term career success.
How are the skills I learn applied to leadership roles?
The skills you develop in the programme are directly linked to real-world leadership challenges. You’ll focus on strategic thinking, decision-making under pressure, stakeholder management and problem-solving – all essential for leading effectively. By working on real business projects, you’ll practice these skills in real time, so when it’s your turn to lead, you’ll be ready to make sound decisions and drive results.
What networking opportunities are available?
Networking is a key part of the programme. You’ll connect with senior leaders, industry experts and peers from different sectors, giving you access to valuable career advice, collaborations
❛❛ Building a strong professional network early on is crucial for navigating your career and staying ahead in an ever-changing business landscape. ❜❜
and opportunities. Building a strong professional network early on is crucial for navigating your career and staying ahead in an ever-changing business landscape.
What makes Roffey Park’s Graduate Development Programme stand out? What makes our programme unique is its focus on developing transformative leaders. While other graduate programmes often stick to generic career training, we give you the tools to challenge norms and drive change. With real-world projects, personalised coaching and exposure to senior leadership, you’ll be prepared to lead from day one.
This programme helps you build resilience, strategic thinking and the
leadership capacity to succeed in any business environment – setting you on a path for long-term career success.
If you’re ready to make the leap into leadership, the Graduate Development Programme is the perfect way to fasttrack your growth and set yourself up for success. Apply today to start your journey!
Brian O'Mahony brings extensive expertise in designing and delivering graduate programmes for global organisations with large cohorts and those who hire smaller numbers each year. With a deep understanding of professional development and organisational dynamics, his programmes empower future leaders to thrive in complex environments.
www.roffeyparkvenue.com
Focus Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Focus Group) hosted its third Annual Winter Ball on Saturday, February 1st, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Brighton.
The Winter Ball is the Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser, bringing together businesses, supporters, and charities from across Sussex for a night that combines entertainment with a sense of purpose. This year’s highly anticipated event surpassed all expectations, raising an astounding £120,000 in support of Sussex-based grassroots charities.
Inspired by the world of stage and screen, the Winter Ball delighted guests with special performances from a choir made up of performers from local charities. Four talented Sussex Superstars finalists followed. The evening finished with an energetic set by Symphonic Ibiza that had everyone dancing the night away.
Highlights included Glenys Creese, CEO of Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, who took to the stage alongside parent Kate Ogden to share heartfelt insights
into the critical role that funding plays in supporting grassroots charities.
In addition, 2024 Paralympic table tennis medallists Bly Twomey and Will Bayley captivated the audience with their powerful and motivating stories, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.
The event featured the thrilling conclusion of the Sussex Superstars competition. Talented local performers
showcased their skills before an esteemed panel of celebrity judges, including patron Anita Dobson, actor and TV personality Christopher Biggins and singer, dancer and choreographer Jacquie Brunjes. The show culminated in a live crowning of the competition’s
Fantastic event!”
winner, Ellen Zhang, a talented 15-yearold violinist who performed the iconic theme tune from Schindler’s List.
The evening’s charity auction, raffle and other fundraising activities raised over £120,000. 50% of the funds raised
to miss it!”
will directly benefi t five Sussex-based grassroots charities: Bramber Bakehouse, Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity (DVLCC), Esteem, Fareshare Sussex & Surrey, and Team Domenica. The remaining 50% will support many charities which have sought Focus Foundation’s assistance.
entertainment for our guests; it’s a celebration of community, resilience, and the incredible power of coming together for a greater cause. These vital funds will allow the beneficiaries we support to thrive in a challenging time for grassroots charities, proving that we are incredible together.”
SPONSORED BY
Commenting on the night’s success, Chris Goodman, Co-Founder and Trustee of Focus Foundation, said, “Our Winter Ball is more than just a night of
All pictures: ©Miles Davies Photography.
By James O’Leary, Corporate Tax Senior Manager, Kreston Reeves
For many small businesses, trading as sole traders or traditional partnerships, a key consideration is if, and when, they should transfer the business into a limited company, known as an incorporation.
Incorporating a business is a significant and complex decision that requires detailed analysis, and the position will be unique to each business. Furthermore, tax is only one aspect that should be considered, along with various other legal, commercial and practical implications.
In addition, with the recent changes introduced in the 2024 UK budget, the ‘goal posts’ may have moved and hence the benefi ts and drawbacks of incorporation should be reassessed to determine whether it remains a worthwhile option.
Broadly, the benefi ts of incorporation can be summarised as follows:
• Limited liability – shareholders of a company cannot normally be held liable for the actions or debts of a company, though this is sometimes eroded by third parties, such as banks, who can require personal guarantees from the directors/shareholders in respect of the company’s borrowings. Limited liability can also be lost when the directors continue to trade when the company is insolvent.
• Credibility and trust – a company can convey professionalism, stability, and longevity, which can be advantageous when dealing with clients, suppliers or investors.
• Investment opportunities – companies can issue shares, allowing for greater discretion over equity ownership. In addition, the government uses the tax system to incentivise external investment (for example using the Enterprise Investment Scheme), as well as employee participation through share schemes (such as the Enterprise Management Incentives scheme). Additionally, incorporated businesses often find it
easier to obtain business loans, credit lines, and other forms of financing from banks and financial institutions. However, it is important to note that newly incorporated businesses will
not have any credit history, which can cause issues early on in a company’s life in terms of raising finance.
• Tax benefits and incentives – incorporation can provide tax advantages, such as lower rates of tax on profits and additional tax-allowable deductions. The Government also offers certain tax incentives and schemes exclusively to companies such as Research & Development tax relief and ‘full expensing’ of certain capital expenditure.
There are, however, some drawbacks of an incorporation, typically around compliance. A company and its own -
❛❛ Incorporating a business is a significant and complex decision that requires detailed analysis, and the position will be unique to each business ❜❜
ers must comply with various legal and regulatory requirements, over and above what is required for an unincorporated business. These include maintaining additional financial records, filing publicly available annual accounts (unless already trading through a Limited Liability Partnership), submitting Corporation Tax returns, and adhering to company law. In addition, for larger businesses, there may be a requirement for an audit of the financial statements.
One other point to note is that the equity ownership of companies is more rigid than a partnership, for example. This can in some cases mean that succession and changes in business ownership can be more complex when the business is operated through a company.
There are two aspects of an incorporation from a tax perspective: the implications of transferring the business to the company, and then the ongoing tax landscape post-incorporation.
On incorporation, the business owners will need to consider the implications based on the assets held in the business. Capital assets (such as land and buildings) assets attracting capital allowances (such as plant and machinery, or fixtures), goodwill and other intangible fixed assets, stock and cash will all have their own tax implications and considerations. In addition, the position will depend on whether there are any tax losses available to the owners, and whether the business is VAT registered.
Once incorporated, the now director/ shareholders will remunerate themselves out of the company profits. Extracting profits from companies again is an area where there are lots of variables and careful planning is required. For example, profits can be extracted by way of salary, dividends, rent, interest charges or pension contributions, all of which have different tax implications.
The 2024 budget introduced several changes that could impact the tax implications of an incorporation, including:
• Corporation Tax – the Government has committed to capping the main rate of tax at 25% for the duration of this Parliament, whilst the small profits rate is maintained at 19%. In addition, they have confirmed that the current generous capital allowances regime will remain. Whilst the rates of tax are attractive compared to Income Tax on unincorporated profi ts, the tax implications of extracting profi ts from a company must also be considered.
• Employer’s National Insurance Contributions (NICs) – from April 2025, the rate of employer’s NICs will increase from 13.8% to 15%, and the threshold at which employers start paying NICs will be reduced from £9,100 to £5,000 per year. An owner/ manager of a company taking a small salary has historically been advantageous from a tax perspective, and thus weighing up the increased tax costs versus other benefi ts such as accruing entitlement to state pension must be considered.
• Capital Gains Tax (CGT) – the rates of CGT have increased from 10% to 18% for the lower rate and
❛❛ The decision to incorporate a business should be carefully evaluated... each case will be different and thus it is not possible to give an absolute answer. ❜❜
from 20% to 24% for the higher rate. This change may affect business owners considering transferring property or goodwill into a company as part of an incorporation, or where a sale of shares in the recipient company may take place within two years of the incorporation – meaning no Business Asset Disposal Relief would be available (see below).
• Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) – the rate of CGT under BADR will remain at 10% for now but will increase to 14% for disposals made on or after April 6th 2025, and to 18% for disposals made on or after April 6th 2026. This change may affect business owners considering transferring commercial property as part of an incorporation.
Given the changes in the 2024 budget, the decision to incorporate a business should be carefully evaluated. As mentioned above, each case will be different and thus it is not possible to give an
absolute answer. Instead, the following should be considered in detail, including modelling any tax or cost implications, to determine whether incorporation is the right answer for your business.
• Risk management – the limited liability protection offered by incorporation remains a significant advantage, especially for businesses with higher risk profiles. Protecting personal assets can provide peace of mind and financial security.
• Tax planning – whilst the increase in employer’s NICs and CGT rates may reduce some tax benefi ts, a company still offers some tax advantages over unincorporated businesses.
• Growth and investment – incorporation can facilitate access to investment opportunities and financing, which can be crucial for business growth. The ability to issue shares and attract investors can provide the necessary capital for expansion. It also enables ownership to be passed to future generations, which is a valuable succession planning tool.
• Administrative burden – the increased administrative responsibilities and costs associated with incorporation should not be overlooked.
If you are considering an incorporation please contact James O’Leary, Corporate Tax Senior Manager:
Call: +44
By Paul Rooke, Partner, Mayo Wynne Baxter
Where a commercial tenant has failed to pay rent that is lawfully due, a landlord has several options, one of which is to forfeit the lease.
❛❛ An s146 notice is a formal document to notify a tenant of a breach of lease and the landlord’s intention to forfeit the lease ❜❜
Forfeiture is a landlord’s legal remedy to terminate a lease when a tenant breaches its terms, most commonly by failing to pay rent. While the procedure usually requires formal notice, such as service of a Section 146 notice under the Law of Property Act 1925 (s146), there are exceptions for non-payment of rent.
An s146 notice is a formal document to notify a tenant of a breach of lease and the landlord’s intention to forfeit the lease. It typically applies to breaches other than non-payment of rent, such as property damage or failure to maintain the premises. For non-payment of rent, however, landlords are not required to serve an s146 notice before pursuing forfeiture, provided the lease contains a valid forfeiture clause.
WITHOUT AN s146 NOTICE
In cases of non-payment of rent:
• Forfeiture by clause: The lease must include an explicit clause allowing forfeiture for non-payment of rent.
• Unpaid rent: The rent must remain unpaid for a specified period, which will usually be outlined in the lease (e.g., 14 or 21 days after the due date).
• Demand requirements: Modern leases often waive the requirement for a formal demand to be sent.
Since non-payment of rent is considered a straightforward breach, the landlord can proceed directly with forfeiture after confirming the breach without issuing a s146 notice.
FOR FORFEITURE WITHOUT AN s146 NOTICE
• Lease terms: Ensure the lease includes a forfeiture clause and confirms the conditions under which the clause can be enforced.
• Peaceable re-entry (if applicable): In some cases, landlords may re-enter the property peaceably to take possession. This must be done without causing a disturbance or using force, as unlawful entry can expose the landlord to legal claims for damages.
• Court proceedings: If peaceable re-entry is not feasible or poses legal risks, landlords can apply to the court for a possession order.
A tenant who faces forfeiture for unpaid rent has the option to seek relief:
• Payment of rent: Tenants can pay the
❛❛ Forfeiture without a Section 146 notice for non-payment of rent is legally permissible but must be handled with precision and care ❜❜
overdue rent, including interest and costs, to prevent forfeiture or regain possession.
• Application for relief: Tenants may apply to the court for “relief from forfeiture,” which, if granted, restores the lease on the condition that arrears are paid. Courts are generally inclined to grant relief if the tenant’s financial difficulties are temporary and the breach is rectifiable.
Forfeiture without proper notice or legal compliance can lead to significant risks:
• Claims for wrongful forfeiture: If the lease does not allow forfeiture or the landlord fails to follow the correct process, the tenant can claim damages.
• Disruption in rent recovery: Forfeiture ends the lease, but does not resolve arrears. Separate legal action may be needed to recover unpaid rent.
• Waiver of right to forfeit: It is important that a landlord does not waive the right to forfeit by taking a positive act recognising the continued
existence of the lease.
• Vacancy risks: Repossessing a property does not guarantee immediate re-letting, potentially causing further financial losses as the landlord will be liable for rates and insuring the vacant property.
Forfeiture without a Section 146 notice for non-payment of rent is legally permissible but must be handled with precision and care. While the law may allow landlords to bypass notice requirements, failure to adhere to lease terms or legal procedures can expose landlords to significant risks. Tenants facing financial difficulties should engage with landlords early to avoid escalation.
If you are faced with a tenant failing to pay rent that is lawfully due it is important to seek legal advice before taking any action and we are here to
Paul Rooke, Partner Mayo Wynne Baxter prooke@mayowynnebaxter.co.uk
January 30th 2025
Hotel du Vin, Brighton
Thursday, January 30th, 2025 marked the commencement of the first Property Professionals’ Lunch of the year. Hosted by Sophie Campbell-Adams, Director and Solicitor at Britton and Time Solicitors, the event welcomed both returning and new sponsors, as well as esteemed business professionals from Sussex. Among the returning sponsors were Lee Jones and the Connect Media team as our print sponsor, Maarten Hoffmann from Platinum Media Group as the media sponsor, and
Rockinghorse Children’s Charity as the charity partner. We were also delighted to welcome Keith Carr from Brighton and Hove Financial Consultants as this year’s headline sponsor, Christopher Coleridge Cole from Gresham Street Partners as our event sponsor, and Allan Shaw from Elect Tax as our drink sponsor.
The next event is on April 24th at the same venue.
www.eventbrite.com/e/propertyprofessionals-lunch-25-april-2024tickets-798655699697
By Cleankill Pest Control’s Managing Director Paul Bates
In today’s business landscape, strong values are no longer optional; they are essential for building trust, ensuring long-term success and fostering meaningful relationships.
At Cleankill Pest Control, values form the backbone of every decision and interaction - within the company and in partnerships with customers and suppliers. By adhering to a core set of principles, Cleankill sets itself apart as a company that truly cares about people, the environment, and ethical business practices.
For Cleankill’s team, a clear set of values ensures that every staff member operates with integrity, professionalism and a sense of purpose. These values foster a culture where employees feel respected, supported and motivated to excel. A strong emphasis on teamwork, honesty and continuous development means that staff are more than just employees - they are ambassadors for the company.
In an industry where precision and accountability are critical, Cleankill’s values act as a guiding light. They ensure staff remain consistent in deliv -
❛❛ In an industry where precision and accountability are critical, Cleankill’s values act as a guiding light ❜❜
ering high-quality services while upholding ethical standards. Furthermore, these values empower employees to feel proud of their work, knowing they contribute to a company prioritising fairness, sustainability and customer satisfaction.
Customers rely on pest control companies not only to solve problems, but also to do so in a way that aligns with their
own values. Cleankill’s commitment to honesty, transparency and environmental responsibility gives customers peace of mind. They know that the services provided are effective, ethical and sustainable.
Cleankill’s values-driven approach helps build trust with customers. When customers see a company genuinely care about the impact of its actions, they are more likely to form long-term relationships. Whether it’s through
❛❛ Values are not just words on paper; they are the foundation of Cleankill Pest Control’s reputation and success ❜❜
using eco-friendly pest control solutions or maintaining open communication, Cleankill ensures that its values resonate with customers’ expectations. This trust fosters loyalty, making customers more inclined to recommend Cleankill to others.
Cleankill’s values extend beyond internal operations and customer interactions to include supplier partnerships.
By aligning with suppliers who share similar principles, Cleankill ensures that every part of its business contributes to ethical and sustainable practices.
For example, sourcing environmentally friendly pest control products reinforces the company’s commitment to reducing its ecological footprint. By working with suppliers who value quality, integrity and sustainability, Cleankill strengthens its own operations and contributes to a broader
network of ethical business practices. These relationships ensure that every product and service Cleankill provides meets the highest standards.
Values are not just words on paper; they are the foundation of Cleankill Pest Control’s reputation and success. For staff, they create a cohesive and supportive working environment. For customers, they build trust and loyalty. For suppliers, they establish a mutually beneficial partnership based on shared ethics.
Ultimately, Cleankill’s commitment to values ensures that the company’s impact is positive, far-reaching and lasting. It sets a powerful example of how a business can thrive while prioritising integrity, sustainability and respect for all stakeholders.
Cleankill Pest Control is a member of the British Pest Control Association. The company has been providing pest control for commercial customers for more than 30 years using the most up-to-date technology available and the latest techniques to keep premises pest free.
For expert advice and a free survey or price comparison contact Cleankill Pest Control on 020 8668 5477. www.cleankill.co.uk
48 HOURS IN
Prague, the buzzing capital of the Czech Republic, is a city where modern art, rich history, and stunning architecture come together. Whether you’re drawn by its historic castles, lively squares or iconic bridges, two days in this incredible city gives you a great taste of what it has to offer.
By Fiona Graves
For a stay that blends luxury, comfort, and convenience, The Julius Prague is a fantastic choice. Right in the heart of the city’s Old Town, this stylish spot combines historic character and modern design. Founded by the well-known
Julius Meinl family, The Julius Prague was their first step into the world of travel.
The hotel is designed with modern travellers in mind, offering apartment-style suites that are perfect for both work and relaxation. The Deluxe One-Bed -
room Suite, which we stayed in, had sleek interiors with hardwood finishes, warm autumnal tones, and sophisticated marble and brass details. The suite also came with a separate living area and a luxurious bathtub — just what you need after a busy day exploring.
The Julius Prague goes the extra mile with top-notch amenities, including a gym, co-working space, and laundry facilities. One of the best things about the hotel is its tech-friendly services, with self-check-in and contactless room entry making everything super smooth. Breakfast is another highlight, with a great selection of dishes and a friendly team ensuring you start the day right.
This isn’t just another hotel; it’s a place that takes care of the little things to make you feel like a VIP. Whether you’re travelling solo or with family, The Julius Prague is a brilliant base for your 48hour adventure.
❛❛ Two days in Prague might be short, but with some planning, you can pack in plenty of sights, history, and great food ❜❜
Kick off your trip in Old Town Square, the beating heart of Prague, where Gothic, baroque, and Renaissance buildings create a seriously impressive setting. The square is home to the famous Astronomical Clock, a medieval masterpiece that puts on an hourly show.
From there, head to the Charles Bridge, a stunning 14th-century stone bridge lined with statues of saints. Walking across, you’ll get some of the best views of the Vltava River and the city skyline.
Next up is Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle complex in the world. Inside, you’ll find St. Vitus Cathedral (see main image on previous pages), Golden Lane, and the Old Royal Palace. If you time it right, don’t miss the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which happens every hour, with a bigger display at noon.
As the day winds down, grab a drink at Kuchyn Restaurant. Perched at Salm Palace, this place offers one of the best views in town, with the castle as your backdrop.
Start your second day at the Dancing House, a cool modern building inspired by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It greatly contrasts the city’s older architecture and has an observation deck with cracking views.
For a peaceful escape, head to Havlíček Park, a beautiful spot inspired by the Italian Renaissance. With fountains, cascading water features, statues, and even a grotto, it’s a great place to take a breather and soak in a quieter side of the city.
Before you leave, explore Prague’s modern art scene, do some shopping, or enjoy a coffee at one of the city’s cosy cafés.
Prague is super easy to get around. The quickest way to reach the city centre from the airport is by taxi, costing around £12 for a 40-minute Uber ride. If you prefer public transport, hop on a
bus followed by the metro—it’s simple, especially if you’re used to the London Underground.
Two days in Prague might be short, but with some planning, you can pack in plenty of sights, history, and great food. From exploring Old Town to enjoying a stylish stay at The Julius Prague, every moment is worth it. Whether you’re gazing at centuries-old landmarks or sipping cocktails with a castle view, Prague is a city that won’t disappoint.
There are several flights a day from London to Prague, and can range from £44 return for a budget airline flight, to over £220 on one of the national carriers.
The Julius Prague, Senovážné nám. 3, 110 00 Nové Město, Praha www.thejulius.eu
By Maarten Hoffmann
Motoring Editor
❛❛ What they seem to have done is blended the best bits of the 765LT with the best bits of the 720S ❜❜
I am often asked when people hear l drive/review so many cars what my favourite is and l always avoid the answer as it is very complex.
What is my favourite estate, sports car, EV - that is not so tough, but my overall favourite car is just too tough to answer. But, if you ask what my favourite supercar is, that is when it gets much more fun – and much easier.
It has always been the stunning McLaren 720S, and when l heard that it was to be discontinued, my heart sank. However, hard on the heels of that news was the announcement of the replacement 750S, and l was on the phone quicksmart to get it delivered. And here it is…
Was l to be disappointed? That was the main fear, as they do say not to meet your heroes.
McLaren had a crack at the hybrid supercar with the Artura, but here they have reverted to a simpler, rear wheel drive V8 monster and – spoiler alert – l love it.
What they seem to have done is blend the best bits of the 765LT with the best bits of the 720S, resulting in a very light 4-litre V8, kicking out 740bhp direct to the rear wheels, resulting in the driver always needing to have a spare pair of pants onboard.
This cannot be called a new car as it is more of a redesign or facelift of the 720S – and the changes are subtle. The new vents help
cool everything down: an extended front splitter, a lower front bumper, and the most obvious is the new active rear wing, taken from the 765LT. This not only presses the rear into the tarmac at speed but also acts as a very effective airbrake when hard braking.
Of course, the place to be is in the cockpit – and it is a very nice place to be. The scissor doors make getting in pretty straightforward, and still look theatrically dramatic. Once you drop in, you really do feel like a fighter pilot. Everything is at hand, and they have wisely moved the drive mode controls onto the top of the instrument binnacle, thus enabling you to change drive modes without removing your hands from the wheel. You are sitting in a Monocle carbon tub in a seat that swallows you up and pins you in.
down, trying to sort out what button or switch you need. This wheel is for driving the car – end of. Then there are three drive modes - Comfort, Sport and Track which change the engine and the gearbox settings. Track turns all aids off, and l am not that stupid on the public roads, so l tend to go everywhere in Sport, where you are delivered of more bang, crackle and pop from the exhaust.
❛❛ You are sitting in a Monocle carbon tub in a seat that swallows you up and pins you in ❜❜
The twin-clutch gearbox is absolutely seamless, and the grip just goes on and on with hardly a worry that you won’t make that corner. And it always finds the right gear to fire you out of the bend – on the basis that you made it in the first place, of course.
I hate to say this as l always like this motoring editor lark to sound terribly complex – but this is very, very easy to drive. Of course, you need to know what you are doing and have the experience to drive something as fast as this but there is nothing complicated about it.
I love the fact that we have zero controls on the steering wheel, so there is no fiddling with your fingers, with eyes
Drive controls are in the central console with simple buttons for forward, reverse and neutral, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen takes care of SatNav, heating and media. Everything else is down to your hands on the wheel and your right foot on the go pedal.
Model tested: 750S Spider
Engine: 4.litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 740bhp
Speed: 0-62 - 2.8 secs
Top: 206mph
Economy: 23.2mpg combined
Price from: £276,000 inc. VAT
As tested: £327,820
Then you have the often praised ‘magic carpet’ ride thanks to the hydraulically cross-linked dampers. Considering the awful state of our roads, the ride is smooth and comfortable.
Once you hit the go pedal, things happen very quickly - 2.8 seconds to 62mph might not sound earth-shattering but l can assure you, with your bum an inch off the tarmac, there is no let-up to it. Keep the pedal buried and you will be doing 124mph in 7.3 seconds and top speed in around 20 seconds.
With the push of a button, you can now make the roof slide away and let your hair blow in the wind which, even though it was blooming freezing, was a hoot after l had turned the heater to
❛❛ The twin-clutch gearbox is absolutely seamless, and the grip just goes on and on with hardly a worry that you won’t make that corner❜❜
blast function. It takes 11 seconds and can be retracted up to 31 mph, although it will cost you an extra £24,400.
The other feature that is really needed is the nose lift button. The speed bumps seem to keep getting higher and some of the potholes around the South East are so large that you need to pop the nose lift button to get over them. However, it is fast at four seconds and if you forget to lower it, the car will do it automatically for you a few minutes later.
All 750s are supplied with a threeyear unlimited-mileage warranty that’s transferable between owners, in an effort to support residual values. You also
get a three-year service plan thrown in, and service intervals are a generous 10,000 miles.
McLaren will also extend your warranty as an option, to instil confidence that this car is now built with the same precision and attention to detail which makes it such a stunning drive.
This car is a work of art, ridiculously fast, smooth, easy to drive and something you can rarely walk away from without looking over your shoulder as it is exquisite from every angle.
Now ask me what my favourite supercar is…
Now available to test drive at smart of Epsom.
Sometimes a trip is about the journey, sometimes the destination. Who you’re bringing, what you’re packing, where you’re headed: every day is different. So you need a car as flexible as you are.
With a maximum range of 273 miles for the #1 (WLTP)* and 283 miles for the #3 (WLTP)** and with a less-than-30-minute charging time^, you’ll always be quickly and confidently on your way back home, or off to your next adventure.
ALEX BAILEY
Winning is a process
THE DYNAMIC AWARDS 2025
Time to shine
WINE & DINE
Consistent wealth and passive income
Pearly Cow Immigration causing a skills gap
8
COVER STORY
Dame Emma Walmsley
Dynamic profiles the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, and the only Briton in the top 15 of Forbes’ List of the World’s Most Powerful Women
20
FEATURE
The Alex Bailey Column
We are delighted to announce another big-hitter will be writing for Dynamic. Alex Bailey of Bailey & French specialises in cultural evolution, leadership, and performance, delivering impactful programmes
Chance is the first step you take, luck is what comes afterward.”
– Amy Tan
22
FEATURE
Plans to halve violence against women
The figures for violence against women and girls continues to rise sharply. David Gadd, Dr Caroline Miles and Professor Barry Godfrey outline their plan to halve this within a decade
5.8%
The percentage of investment received by female-led business in the UK in 2024, despite there being 19% of female-led companies
News
6 Upfront: The top international news stories involving women in business
14 In the Right Direction:
Good news stories from around the world
Spotlight
24 Natalie Mackenzie
Natalie is the CEO and Founder of the multi award-winning BIS Services, which supports families with brain injury or neurological illness
25 Dr Tania King-Mohammad Tania is an NHS doctor turned self-made property, wealth and business strategist and founder of Freedom with Tania
Feature
28 Gemma Tracy
Immigration changes creating a UK skills gap
Wellbeing
30 Natalie Mackenzie
Understanding memory. What can you do to help sharpen it?
32 Exercise
The brain-enhancing benefits of going for a walk
Further Reading
34 Ten books on mental health to read in 2025
Art Scene
36 Kellie Miller discusses the work of artist, Alison Coaten Travel
38 No.124 – Brighton’s newest seafront hotel
Fine Dining
42 The Pearly Cow, next door to No.124
What’s On
44 A brief snapshot of art and culture cross Sussex and Surrey
16 Pippa Moyle
Why a wellness budget should be part of your personal finance plan
Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground.”
– Rosa Parks
26 Dr Tania King-Mohammad How to create a business that generates consistent wealth (and passive income)
EDITOR: Tess de Klerk tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk
PUBLISHER: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk
MOTORING EDITOR: Fiona Shafer fionaas@platinummediagroup.co.uk
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Lesley Alcock lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk
EVENTS DIRECTOR: Fiona Graves fiona@platinummediagroup.co.uk
EVENTS MANAGER: Žaneta Bealing zaneta@platinummediagroup.co.uk
HEAD OF DESIGN / SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk
WWW.PLATINUMMEDIAGROUP.CO.UK
Welcome to this month’s Dynamic Magazine
We are delighted to welcome our second columnist to Dynamic - Alex Bailey, an HR champion who speaks worldwide on humanising the world of work. Th is month, Alex introduces herself to you, our readers. In Pippa Moyle’s column, she stresses the importance of happiness at work and how a wellness budget makes business sense on all levels.
Our Big Story looks at the life and ongoing career of the formidable Dame Emma Walmsley who became the fi rst woman to run a major pharmaceutical company in the UK. Meanwhile, Spotlight features two women who have forged their own unique paths.
The Guardian reported that 80 women were allegedly killed by men in 2024. Th is shocking statistic prompted us to explore suggestions from policy experts on how to tackle to sky-rocketing violence against women and girls in our feature. Th is is something we are planning to explore further during this year.
Further Reading brings you a curated list of mental health books to consider this year while the articles in Wellbeing aim to inspire. Our lovely Art section, as always, inspires with beauty and creativity.
We hope that you enjoy Dynamic this February.
Editor, Dynamic Magazine tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk
PUBLISHER: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinummediagroup.co.uk
EDITOR: Tess de Klerk tess@platinummediagroup.co.uk
MOTORING EDITOR: Fiona Shafer fionaas@platinummediagroup.co.uk
COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Lesley Alcock lesley@platinummediagroup.co.uk
EVENTS DIRECTOR: Fiona Graves fiona@platinummediagroup.co.uk
EVENTS MANAGER: Žaneta Bealing zaneta@platinummediagroup.co.uk
HEAD OF DESIGN / SUB EDITOR: Alan Wares alan@platinummediagroup.co.uk
An art gallery is to open at the site of a former hardware store in Brighton, which closed after more than 100 years of trading. Dockerills, which had been operating in the city since 1915, closed in September last year. The store cited the Covid-19 pandemic, rising overhead costs and falling trade for its closure. Kellie Miller Arts (KMA) Gallery is to open at the Church Street site in April.
AllBright, the women-only members’ club with a five-storey townhouse in Mayfair, London, and once valued at £100 million, entered administration in the last week of January.
The networking and events business emailed members to say it was closing its doors. Some staff and business members did not learn of its administration until the following morning, and no mention was made on its website. It later announced that a Cain International investee company had acquired the organisation’s assets to enable the long-term growth of the business.
Teenage sisters have launched a business designing cricket kits for girls and women, fuelled by their frustrations at the inadequacy of what was available.
Honor and Cat Black are sisters from Chichester and pupils at Hurstpierpoint College. Honor, 17, started playing cricket at the age of seven and her younger sister Cat soon followed in her footsteps, along with her twin brother. Honor said: “It was 40 boys and me. It was always ‘Come on boys, let’s go…’. “When I moved to Westbourne [House School] I played on all-boys teams because there were no girls teams. The kit wasn’t great – it was see-through...!’
‘BIG FOUR’ STILL STRUGGLE TO MEET BOARDROOM EQUITY TARGETS
This ‘woe is me’ stuff is just ponderous. Get out of your own way, man”
Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton, Ted Lasso
The UK wings of EY and PwC have missed their own targets for the proportion of women in their respective partnerships. Big Four rivals KPMG and Deloitte are on target for their own goals. While EY set the most ambitious goal – 40% women by 2025; it has hit only
28%. PwC is still 3% shy of its more modest 30% target. Meanwhile, KPMG passed its even more modest 25% target in 2022, reaching 29% in 2023. Deloitte reported in 2024 that 30% of its partners were women –attaining that figure a year ahead of target.
SUSSEX HOPEFUL ON ‘THE
An entrepreneur from Sussex is among the hopefuls vying for investment on the latest series of The Apprentice. Melica Moshiri, from Worthing, will be one of 18 candidates battling for Lord Alan Sugar’s £250,000 and mentorship in the 19th series of the hit BBC show. Melica hopes her AI tech recruitment business Skill Torch will win over Lord Sugar and secure her the major cash injection.
A former chemistry teacher who wants to inspire the next generation of scientists has been named as one of the UK’s top 100 female entrepreneurs.
Leonie Briggs, who is 42 and from Barnsley, set up her business Amazelab from her dining room table nearly in
2020. She now delivers workshops and educational material to get children interested in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM). She said being included in Small Business Britain’s annual list of top female role models for 2025 had left her “over the moon and shocked”.
Feminism is not just about women; it’s about letting all people lead fuller lives..”
Jane Fonda
The construction and property industry will never close the Gender Pay Gap or achieve its full potential if it continues as it is, says Helen James, Women in Property South West Committee member and associate at JLL. This was the finding of national Women in Property research led by James and released last year, with 32% of the 699 respondents from the South West, and 86% female.
“FEMALE VOICES IN PROPERTY SECTOR NEED TO BE HEARD”
Meanwhile, women’s voices may be heard in thousands of estate agency branches every day but too few feature in national, local and industry blogs and property conferences, it has been highlighted.
The comment comes from Angharad Trueman, Head of Lettings at Andrews Property Group and the current ARLA Propertymark President. Trueman and the Women in Property group are calling for change. To that end, for 2025 they have published a fresh list of female industry spokespeople waiting in the wings.
AGAINST WOMEN
An “epidemic of violence against women and girls” in the UK is getting worse despite years of government promises and strategies, a highly critical report from Whitehall’s spending watchdog has said.
The National Audit Office report comes four years after a major government response to violence against women and girls (VAWG) was launched after the murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard.
Deloitte has listed the highest ranking women’s football clubs in the world by revenue for 2024/25. As with the men’s game, the list is dominated by English clubs.
1. FC Barcelona Femini
2. Arsenal Women
3. Chelsea Women
4. Manchester United Women
5. Real Madrid Femenino
6. Manchester City
7. Aston Villa Women
8. Eintracht Frankfurt Frauen
9. Liverpool Women
10. Paris Saint-Germain Féminine
€17.9m
€17.9m
€13.4m
€10.7m
€10.9m
Campaigners have reacted with fury to what they call the government’s “unjustified” rejection of compensation for women hit by changes to the state pension age. They say 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age to bring them into line with men.
Nine months ago, a parliamentary ombudsman recommended compensation of between £1,000 and £2,950 each for those affected. However, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has unilaterally rejected this recommendation, and all other plans for financial payouts.
Forbes Magazine recently published its list of the world’s most powerful women. Ursula von Der Leyden, president of the European Commission, unsurprisingly retained her spot at the top of the list.
The top-ranked Briton on the list at no. 14 was Dame Emma Walmsley, CEO of pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline plc, who moved up one place from the previous year’s list.
Dynamic takes a look at the ongoing career of one of Britain’s most powerful business women.
Emma Natasha Walmsley was born in June 1969 in Barrow-in-Furness in what was then Lancashire, now Cumbria. She is the daughter of Sir Robert Walmsley and Lady Christina Walmsley. Sir Robert was Vice-Admiral in the Royal Navy, and served as Chief of Defence Procurement at the UK Ministry of Defence from 1996 to 2003, under both John Major and Tony Blair.
Emma was a boarder at St Swithun’s School, Winchester. She subsequently studied Classics and Modern Languages at Christ Church College, Oxford, where she gained an MA. Outside work, it is said Walmsley enjoys yoga. She married David Owen in September 1995 in London, and they have four children.
Upon leaving university, Walmsley worked at French cosmetic company L’Oréal for 17 years where she held a variety of general management and marketing roles in Paris, London and New York. The roles included being General Manager of Garnier-Maybelline.
In 2007 she moved to Shanghai as General Manager, Consumer Products for L’Oreal China, where she ran the company’s Chinese consumer products business, overseeing global brands including L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline and Garnier, as well as Mininurse, a Chinese skincare brand.
Given her rise at L’Oreal, industry insiders expressed surprise when, in 2010, she moved to GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK plc). Many felt she had not finished her ascent at her previous company, and were tipping her for one of the most senior global management roles.
She entered GlaxoSmithKline in May 2010 as President of Consumer Healthcare Europe, rising in October 2011 to head its global consumer healthcare division as President of Consumer Healthcare Worldwide and a member of the executive team.
In March 2015 she became the chief executive officer of Consumer Healthcare. Walmsley was particularly involved promoting GSK’s greater territorial reach in emerging
GSK is the resulting company from several mergers over the past 180 years.
Glaxo was founded in New Zealand by Londoner Joseph Edward Nathan in 1873. The company specialised in producing dried baby milk. Meanwhile, Burroughs Wellcome & Company was founded in 1880, in London by the American pharmacists Henry Wellcome and Silas Burroughs. The Wellcome Tropical Research Laboratories opened in 1902.
The two companies merged in 1995.
In 1848, Thomas Beecham launched his Beecham’s Pills laxative in England, giving birth to the Beecham Group. In 1859, he opened its first factory in St Helens. By the 1960s, Beecham was extensively involved in pharmaceuticals and consumer products such as Macleans toothpaste, Lucozade and synthetic penicillin research.
John K. Smith opened his first pharmacy in Philadelphia in 1830. In 1865, Mahlon Kline joined the business, which 10 years later became Smith, Kline & Co. In 1891, it merged with French, Richard and Company, and in 1929, changed its name to Smith Kline & French Laboratories.
Smith Kline & French merged with Beckman Inc. in 1982, and changed its name to SmithKline Beckman. In 1989, SmithKline Beckman merged with Beecham Group to form SmithKline Beecham P.L.C.. The headquarters moved from the United States to England
Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham announced their intention to merge in January 2000. The merger was completed on December 27th that year, forming GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), with the company’s global headquarters at GSK House, Brentford, west London. In 2024, GSK re-located to New Oxford Street, central London, taking over the recently-built Earnshaw Building.
markets. Under her leadership the consumer products division, one of the world’s largest consumer health groups with brands including Panadol, Voltaren and Horlicks, made up nearly a quarter of GlaxoSmithKline’s revenues.
She was also a non-executive director at international drinks and hospitality giant Diageo until September 2016. In September 2019, Walmsley joined the Microsoft board as an independent director.
She took over as CEO of GSK in April 2017, a role she still holds, succeeding Sir Andrew Witty, who had retired the month before. It made her the fi rst woman to run a major pharmaceutical company. At the time, analysts commented that Walmsley’s appointment could be seen as a signal that GSK would keep its consumer operation as a core part of its business.
Early in her tenure, in August 2017, Walmsley stated that her priority was for GlaxoSmithKline to become more adept at developing and commercialising new drugs. She announced a slimmed down set of priorities for drug development, setting a target of allocating 80% of pharma R&D capital to a maximum of four disease areas.
Th is led to some concern among commentators that the decision to hold its dividend would limit the amount available for R&D and acquiring intellectual property from other companies.
“Walmsley took over as CEO of the company in April 2017, a role she still holds. It made her the fi rst woman to run a major pharmaceutical company”
In January 2018, it was reported that Walmsley had replaced 50 of GSK’s top managers across the company’s businesses, and created a number of new roles in their place. Among the new hirees was Karenann Terrell, who joined the company as Chief Digital and Technology Officer from Walmart.
In the fi rst annual results since it spun off its consumer healthcare business Haleon in July 2022, GSK reported a pre-tax profit of £6.1bn for 2023, up by 14%. Turnover rose by 5% to £30.3bn, also boosted by steady demand for its shingles shot and HIV medicines.
A Financial Times profi le of Walmsley in 2016 reported that colleagues describe her as a ‘strong and dynamic’ (hence this magazine’s title) leader who mixes a personable style with a ‘steely’ focus. She inspires those around her with her work ethic.
“An upgrade is an upgrade, as they say, and that has all been achieved on Dame Emma Walmsley’s watch.”
GSK plc and the University of Oxford have announced that they have entered a new research collaboration focused on the potential of cancer prevention through vaccination. The GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme will conduct translational research, exploring precancer biology to generate key insights on how cancer develops in humans that could inform new approaches to cancer vaccination. GSK will invest up to £50 million over a minimum of three years to support this early research.
Evidence shows that most cancers take years or even decades to develop from normal cells to precancerous cells (or precancer) to cancer. Oxford University has world-leading expertise in the study of precancer biology, including the identification and sequencing of neoantigens, or tumour-specific proteins that prompt the immune system to recognise cancer. This unique focus could help target the vulnerabilities of precancerous cells through an active intervention like a vaccine or targeted medicine to prevent them from progressing to cancer.
“She sets clear objectives and there’s lots of KPIs [key performance indicators] to measure delivery,” said one. She is renowned for her combination of empathy and attention to performance, paying close attention to talent development whilst being “ruthless with underperformers”.
Dame Emma Wlmsley has some considerable international standing. Various business magazines have placed her high up in their annual rankings of the world’s most powerful women.
She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to the pharmaceutical industry and business.
In 2024, she ranked as the fourth-highest woman in Fortune Magazine’s list of ‘100 Most Powerful People’, up from seventh the previous year, and a list she found herself top of in 2018, and second in 2017 and 2019. One has to stay moving in order to remain at the top.
Meanwhile, Walmsley ranked 14th in Forbes list of “World’s 100 most powerful women”, one place higher than the previous year, and once again the highest placed Briton.
In May 2024, it was announced that Walmsley’s annual pay package jumped by over 50% to £12.7m, mainly due to a higher share bonus payout reflecting the British drugmaker’s improved performance, and a 51% increase from her
“Walmsley ranked 14th in Forbes list of ‘World’s 100 most powerful women’ the highest placed Briton”
previous year’s remuneration. It made her the second-highest paid CEO of a European pharmaceutical company.
The huge pay rise made her one of the highest-paid executives in the FTSE 100 index of leading shares, a week after it emerged that her counterpart at Britain’s biggest pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca, Pascal Soriot, received a £16.9m pay package. She is certainly the highest-paid among the 10 female FTSE 100 chief executives.
While her combined pay was at £12m, her fixed pay – comprised of salary, benefits and pension – fell slightly to £1.6m, while her annual cash bonus increased to £3.8m from £3.1m, according to GSK’s annual report.
An additional ruling in 2024, which was also unhelpful to GSK, was the decision by US health officials to narrow the age range for use of new vaccines for the aforementioned Arexvy. That unexpected move knocked a pound off the share price at the time. It also gave the market an opportunity to criticise GSK’s overall improvement. Vaccines – the sector investors were interested in – were forecast to have lower growth in sales this year because of the RSV ruling setback.
In 2024, she ranked as the fourth-highest woman in Fortune Magazine’s list of ‘100 Most Powerful People’
The final tally is achieved by also receiving £7.3m from performance-based long-term share awards, compared with a £3.7m payout the year before, as a higher proportion of share awards vested last year and at a higher share price, increasing their value.
In its annual report, the company said: “Emma Walmsley’s remuneration for 2023 reflected excellent and sustained delivery against stretching performance targets, aligned to shareholder interests and value creation.
“This includes the company’s performance last year, where GSK delivered very strong sales, operating profit and earnings per share growth, and continued pipeline progress including the blockbuster launch of our new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, Arexvy.”
GSK’s Arexvy jab was the first vaccine approved (in summer 2023) against RSV in older adults, which causes thousands of deaths and hospitalisations in the UK each year, more than influenza. The RSV vaccine, launched in the summer, has already become a blockbuster (defined as a drug with at least $1bn annual sales), racking up £1.2bn sales in four months.
For more than two years, GSK has been in litigation in the US over Zantac, the heartburn drug that powered the rise of old Glaxo in the 1980s and 90s. The latest setback from GSK’s point of view was a ruling from a Delaware judge in June 2024 that allowed plaintiffs, who claim that the drug is linked to their cancers, to take their case to jury trial.
Until that point, investors had gradually been becoming more confident that GSK and the other pharma companies that sold and marketed the drug (all of whom dispute the links to cancer) would contain liabilities and legal costs to easily absorb sums. But Delaware represents the vast bulk of Zantac cases; it is a huge case none of them are going to be able to ignore.
But this does all feel like an overly gloomy way to view the new-style GSK, and some cynics may consider it a personal attack on Walmsley herself. A British pharmaceutical company doing well in the US? And led by a woman? Whatever next?
Legal clarity probably will not emerge until well into 2025, so it is perfectly possible that the stock market will continue to take the view that there are just too many uncertainties at GSK. But the performance on the ground and in the labs appears genuinely to have turned a corner.
GSK is not alone in the pharmaceutical sector in upgrading forecasts, but there is (finally) a glimpse of momentum there. And an upgrade is an upgrade, as they say, and that has all been achieved on Dame Emma Walmsley’s watch.
“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light”
Aristotle Onassis
The Democratic Republic of Congo aims to establish the world’s largest tropical forest reserve, the Couloir Vert (‘Green Corridor’), spanning an area the size of France. This community-managed protected area will conserve the Congo Basin’s vital forests and peatlands, a crucial carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot home to species like eastern lowland gorillas. While praised by the Rainforest Foundation UK, concerns exist over limited consultation with local
communities, as 31 million people will live within the reserve. The initiative is backed by the EU and the World Economic Forum.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has used her international diplomacy and negotiation skills to persuade US President Donald Trump to delay, by a month initially, introducing the own-goal-inducing 25% tariffs across a range of goods between the countries.
Sheinbaum has the support of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose country has been threatened with the same tariffs.
The UK’s electricity grid was at its cleanest in 2024, driven by a surge in renewable energy and the closure of its last coal power station. CO2 emissions per electricity unit dropped by over two-thirds in the past decade. Fossil fuels accounted for only 29% of the UK’s electricity generation, the lowest ever, while renewables reached a high of 45%.
The UK became the first major economy to eliminate coal-fired power in 2024. Experts have hailed the progress but warned that achieving full grid decarbonisation by 2030 will be a demanding task.
Aid deliveries to Gaza have surged following a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel. Over 900 aid trucks entered as the truce, initially set for six weeks, held. The UN called the developments a “ray of hope” but highlighted concerns over Gaza and West Bank’s territorial continuity. UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres welcomed the progress, urging action on long-standing regional challenges. The agreement has bolstered humanitarian efforts amid complex political tensions.
“Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
Ella Fitzgerald
A recent study of English pensioners suggests that 70-year-olds today enjoy significantly better health than those a decade ago, supporting claims that ’70 is the new 60’. Researchers assessed cognitive, locomotor, sensory, and psychological capacities rather than focusing solely on diseases. Data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing showed that a 68-year-old born in 1950 had comparable functional abilities to a 62-year-old born 10 years earlier.
Professor John Beard, the study’s lead author, noted the impressive improvements, though he cautioned that rising obesity rates and other challenges might reverse these trends in the future.
Honolulu has won US Supreme Court approval to sue major oil firms like Shell and ExxonMobil for allegedly misleading the public about climate change. The 2020 lawsuit claims the companies downplayed their products’ risks, causing climate-related damage to Hawaii, including rising sea levels
Thailand has become the first Southeast Asian nation to legalise same-sex marriage, with the Marriage Equality Act taking effect immediately. Same-sex couples now enjoy the same financial, adoption, and inheritance rights as heterosexual couples.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra hailed the law as a victory for equality, stating, “Love knows no boundaries.”
Thailand joins Taiwan and Nepal as the third Asian country to legalise marriage equality, a move widely celebrated as a landmark step for inclusion in the region.
threatening infrastructure. The firms argued for federal jurisdiction, but the court dismissed their appeal. Honolulu’s case is among 26 similar lawsuits in the US, aiming to hold oil companies accountable, though none have yet gone to trial.
In Tanzania, an entrepreneur has tackled waste management and rural education by creating backpacks with solar panels to power reading lights. Made from repurposed cement bags, the Soma Bags initiative has garnered support from the UN Development Programme for its dual environmental and educational impact. The company, founded by Innocent James, employs 85 rural workers and produces 13,000 backpacks monthly, though demand remains unmet. Inspired by a professor’s solar-powered jacket, James started sewing solar panels onto bags in 2016. The backpacks have transformed children’s lives by providing light to study after dark, reducing reliance on dangerous and costly kerosene lanterns.
A £15 million government fund aims to redistribute thousands of tonnes of surplus fresh produce to those in need across England. Each year, approximately 330,000 tonnes of edible food are wasted or used as animal feed before leaving farms. Many farmers wish to see this food go to people, but charities often
lack the resources to collect and distribute it. The new scheme will provide grants starting at £20,000 to support non-profit organisations involved in food redistribution. The initiative is set to tackle waste while addressing food insecurity, ensuring that surplus food reaches those who need it most.
Pippa Moyle, CEO and Founder of the City Girl Network on the importance of you and yours being happy at work – even if it costs
January has passed as it always does – resolutions, goal setting, vision boarding, new me-ing. Less booze, more kefir; less chicken, more tofu. Personally, I sit in the camp that loves the fresh starts that the first few weeks of January bring, even if I know that it’ll all fall away as fast as it began.
This year, however, the resolution posts have been met with an undercurrent of change. Out with the motivational quotes taken from a canvas at Homesense, in with the realistic approach to how we really want to self-improve. TikTokers are calling it ‘de-influencing’; I prefer the term ‘humanising’. I’m sure you’ve seen the social posts I’m referring to – calling out the pressure to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ or the Kardashians, depending on your generation.
At the City Girl Network, we’ve seized this new appetite for realism and built a campaign that flips self-improvement on its head. When you strip back the marketing, two core themes shine through the self-improvement space: wellness and money. It makes complete sense. They’re the two core building blocks for leading a fulfilling life that people so often fall down on. They’re also the two that are solely impacted by the decisions you make.
There are generations of barriers still standing strong when it comes to how women approach wellness and money. There’s the concoction of discrimination in the UK’s Gender Health Gap; medical gaslighting, 2.5% funding into reproductive health, exclusions from drug trials and the terrifying reality that women are 32% more likely to die from a male surgeon than a female one.
Then there’s the Gender Pay Gap (7% last year), and the huge psychological repercussions of being constantly
reminded that anyone who isn’t a white cis-male will always struggle with money – and anyone who’s disabled, part of the Global Majority, LGBTQIA+ and working class will struggle even more.
The way that I see it, there’s only one radical act that women can make to start crashing these barriers down: take control.
Much like you would for your house, bills, kids, pets and savings, we’re encouraging people to carve out a Wellness Budget into their personal finance plans for 2025 (and beyond). This includes fitness, self-care, mental health, nutrition and hobbies – products and services that you used to take out of your disposable income.
“There are generations of barriers still standing strong when it comes to how women approach wellness and money. ”
“An employee wellness budget targets issues such as employee retention, sick days and productivity”
Reformer pilates, hypnotherapy and Quinton minerals don’t stand a chance when they’re up against a bottomless brunch, a gift for a friend or an instant gratification fix. When you carve out a financial space for well-being enhancement, you’re reducing the emotional impact of a choice that has two different ROIs.
Let’s look at this from a business perspective: businesses of all shapes and sizes are separating employee wellness budgets from rewards and office parties. This is because they both have different ROIs.
In the simplest terms, rewards and incentives (i.e. office parties) offer a consistent short-term motivator for employees to hit targets and improve collaboration. An employee wellness budget targets issues such as employee retention, sick days and productivity. When executed well, they’re targeting two core issues simultaneously and resulting in a happier workforce – and a calmer HR manager.
But there’s a big wellness-shaped elephant in the room that we need to address: the fundamental lack of education when it comes to the different ways that we could invest in our health. Yoga, whilst a popular starting point, has a terrible reputation for gatekeeping information on the practice. You only need to Google “How many types of yoga are there?” to see that for yourself.
Then there are acronyms like EMDR, NLP and CBT that have reached mainstream public consciousness through snippets of information online. There’s a constant risk of misinformation, misunderstanding and misuse of funds. And women are two and a half times less likely to ask questions due to a lack of self-confidence. We’re building a knowledge resource centre on our website to start to tackle this issue.
No one size fits all, no Wellness Budget will be the same, but the creation of one will spark a resolution we can all have in common: the radical act of prioritising ourselves.
Pippa Moyle CEO + Founder
Our Communities: Brighton, London, Manchester, Bristol, Bath, Leeds, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Worthing, Liverpool, Newcastle, Chester, Milton Keynes, Oxford, York, Cardiff, Glasgow, Perth and Rural Sussex
“It is crucial that we honour and showcase such talented women in order that they are recognised and so that we can provide role models to the next generations…”
Alison Jones, Partner, Kreston Reeves
“It was wonderful to be a part of an event that was lled with so many inspirational businesses that grow and contribute to our community…”
Rachel Watkyn OBE CEO, Tiny Box Company
VIEW
The annual event recognises, rewards and celebrates the remarkable achievements of businesswomen across the South East.
Entry is open to businesswomen with an office based in either Sussex, Surrey, Kent or Hampshire. Entrants can either nominate themselves or be nominated by someone else.
★ 18 categories
★ £25 per entry
★ Maximum: three entries per person
★ Awards ceremony: May 8th 2025
Business Growth Award
Businesswoman of the Year
MD of the Year
Community Hero Award
Company of the Year
Employer of the Year
Innovator of the Year
Inspirational Award
Large Business of the Year
SME Business of the Year
Sustainability Champion Award
Future Talent of the Year
Best New Business Award
Professional Services Award
Property Professional of the Year
Women in Tech Award
Best Customer Service Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
We are delighted to have Alex Bailey contributing to Dynamic. She is a Global CEO and Co-Founder, with 20+ years of expertise in HR leadership, psychology, coaching, and organisational change. She specialises in cultural evolution, leadership, and performance, delivering impactful programmes globally while speaking at international events.
This really struck me last year while listening to Venus on Chris Evans’ radio show on Virgin. It became my latest Post-it reminder stuck on my PC to read every time I might get a knockback or a limiting belief sneaks in.
I’m fed a lot of social posts highlighting the success of young entrepreneurs hitting it big overnight, awards and lists for the next rising star under 30, women to watch, etc, but that is misleading and unhelpful. Success isn’t something that happens quickly. Our human life’s work over decades of wonderful, unique experiences, challenges and opportunities, and how we recognise and celebrate small steps of success over time gives us the most sustainable human approach to growth and learning.
I love seeing my personal icons such as Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet, Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, and Pamela Anderson demonstrating this by owning their image and bringing their life experiences in age into their roles and words to share how they’ve grown over the many years in the public/performance eye. Their recent words are increasingly raw and brave. In a world of possible, sudden cancelling, I know as a leader that it takes more courage to stand up in the crowd, call out the realities we face, and speak our truth out loud.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m seeing and hearing more women standing in their own space and demonstrating the determination and consistency over time that is needed to succeed. It’s not exceptional for women at all, but my experience of becoming a leader over time has meant embracing the underestimation I’ve experienced; the surprise of what I’ve achieved.
Reflecting on this, I recognise it may be because I’m not one to shout about my accomplishments for whatever reason. I don’t think I’m alone in being nervous about being judged; after all, pride comes before a fall, be seen and not heard –and all that. So… deep breath in, here goes:
Yes, I’m a pioneer in the application of Positive Psychology,
“I’m sharing what works for me, what has got me here and how I’m facing my next chapter stronger.”
Yes, I’m a speaker and moderator of live, critical conversations on main stages across the world with audiences of up to 650 in person and 35,000 online,
Yes, I’m a global expert on all angles of a human workplace
AND...
Yes, I am the owner and CEO of a global consulting business that has changed hundreds of thousands of people’s lives positively every year for the past ten years.
I’ve gone through some harrowing challenges, sleepless nights and gut-wrenching times getting my business through those past ten years. I’ve done it all with two little girls in tow who are now teenagers and need their mum more than ever (and need a great role model).
Now, with a delivery team of 130+ across all regions of the world, we are currently delivering to 40 different organisations per month and I’m not stopping here. I have a voice with wisdom from my experience and intuition to share what has worked for me, and how I failed repeatedly and learned and grew each time I got up and carried on.
Cringey and cheesy as it may feel, I’m sharing what works for me, what has got me here and how I’m facing my next chapter stronger. In the words of Mel Robbins, “I’m letting them judge me, I’m letting them doubt me, I’m letting them underestimate me, whilst I let me focus on expressing my truths and step into my own space.”
Follow me with Dynamic, on LinkedIn for professional and work-related posts, and on my new Instagram account for how my personal journey has shaped me to dress, style, behave and learn the way I do now find out what inspires me and motivates me every day to focus on dreaming bigger than anyone imagined.
A vanity project? Or a new pathway of sharing that paves the way for others to step into their own space more confidently, more authentically and build the foundation blocks of success and winning that is indeed a process.
Alex Bailey
Join me on my journey of bold new steps, letting go of all that’s held me back. Being here and writing about it openly in a business landscape is a first step.
Email: Alex@baileyandfrench.com www.baileyandfrench.com Insta @alexbaileybackstage Follow me on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ alex-bailey-26562b2/
“In 2022/23, 27% of women said they had been victims of sexual assault”
TAccording to The Guardian, 80 women were allegedly killed by men in the UK in 2024. This harrowing number means that, on average, a woman was murdered by a man every four days last year.
he Government has committed to halving violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade, but plans to deliver on its commitment “remain unclear,” according to experts on the subject.
However, in an article published by the University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit, Policy@Manchester, Professor David Gadd, Dr Caroline Miles, and Professor Barry Godfrey argue that achieving this goal “is not the mission impossible it might appear” and that grassroots education and re-education must be at the core of tackling this pervasive problem.
They point out that many new forms of gender-based violence (GBV) have emerged in recent years – some digital, like ‘revenge porn’ – some physical, like spiking – and many blending the virtual and the real – like stalking.
Further, according to Crime Survey for England and Wales figures from 2022/23, 27% of women said they had been victims of sexual assault – up sharply from 19.9% in 2013/14.
“The standard solutions to tackle VAWG – more policing, bringing perpetrators to justice, imprisoning high-risk, high-harm predators – are unlikely to dent these troubling statistics,” the academics write. “Only one in 23 domestic abuse offences, and fewer than three in 100 rapes recorded by the police result in a conviction. Moreover, the vast majority of GBV is never reported to the police.”
In a series of policy recommendations, the University of Manchester academics advocate “long-term investment in trauma-informed preventative work with boys and young men” to enable the Government to achieve its mission to halve VAWG. But, they add, “Th is needs to be done in the context of wider public debate about men’s behaviour at home, in public spaces and the workplace.”
Gadd, Miles and Godfrey also highlight emerging evidence which suggests that the attitudes of men and boys, and among subgroups likely to contain higher percentages of repeat perpetrators, can be improved “through well-designed social media interventions.”
Gadd, Miles and Godfrey believe that the way to shift the dial on this issue is to identify repeat offenders and understand what could be done at earlier stages to prevent them from becoming so dangerous.
“Research, along with the findings of domestic homicide reviews, routinely reveals histories of complex trauma in the lives of the most dangerous men, often deriving from experiences in childhood, institutional care and custody, and contained precariously by the consumption of alcohol, prescription drugs and illicit substances,” they explain. “Many perpetrators have also experienced seeing their mothers physically and/or sexually abused by fathers and stepfathers whom they wish to be nothing like.”
They write, “A core challenge is how to sustain those conversations long enough that resistance is worked through to the point that opposition on the grounds that ‘not all men rape, stalk, or coercively control’ is turned into a rallying cry to ensure even fewer men do.”
The authors underline the importance of “political leadership to engender societal level change” if the Government target is to be met. “Resourcing, upskilling and supporting the criminal justice, education, health and Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector will be important,” they argue. “But this will only work if we also have the difficult national conversation that is long overdue.”
They conclude, “We must recognise that telling men what they want to hear – that they are OK because they are nothing like the really bad guys – is not the same as exploring with them what they might need to ensure the women they work with, live with and care about no longer have to endure the ‘national emergency’ that reflects current levels of violence against women and girls.”
‘How to halve violence against women and girls,’ by Professor David Gadd, Dr Caroline Miles and Professor Barry Godfrey is available to read on the Policy@ Manchester website.
“Only one in 23 domestic abuse offences, and fewer than three in 100 rapes recorded by the police result in a conviction”
In our exclusive Spotlight feature, we highlight women who are doing good things in their community. They’re not always seen but we think they should be.
Natalie is the CEO and Founder of the multi award-winning BIS Services, which supports families with brain injury or neurological illness
Iam a brain expert and business strategist for health and wellbeing businesses, helping health and social care providers grow successful online businesses. I have over 20 years of experience as a cognitive rehabilitation therapist.
I always knew I wanted to work in some field of psychology. I had originally considered forensic psychology and prison settings. However, only one day after graduating with my BSc in Psychology, I had a successful job interview for a brain injury support worker role in the community in SE London.
My career progressed quickly and I became assistant manager of the Brain Unjury (BI) service and managed to study for my MSc in Cognitive Neuropsychology full-time, alongside working full time.
Then, unexpectedly, the charity I was working for closed and so my business was created in the space of a weekend back in 2006. I was 24, with no idea of business or money. I didn’t pay myself for months but I just had this sense that it was going to work out. I’ve learnt that in business, there are challenges to overcome constantly, from recruitment, cashflow, growth, and all that comes with it. But what remains at the core is that the people I work to support have far more challenges to overcome after their brain injuries compared to those I face when running a business.
The BIS Services (Brain Injury Support and Cognitive Rehabilitation) has developed into becoming the leading provider of cognitive rehabilitation in the UK. Making the decision to connect globally with more people online meant
I could expand the business by providing education and programmes to those unable to access them in their local area.
I’m grateful that the kind of work I do totally varies. The service is very busy, but I have a great team who keep the boat sailing smoothly whilst I run and strategise our programs and growth; we have nearly 70 staff to manage as well as the clients.
I plan for the company to have expanded further across the UK and internationally and will be leaders in brain injury training provision.
www.thebraininjurytherapist.co.uk
“I was 24, with no idea of business or money. I didn’t pay myself for months but I just had this sense that it was going to work out”
Dr Tania King-Mohammad is an NHS doctor turned self-made property, wealth and business strategist and founder of Freedom with Tania
From an early age, I knew I would be a doctor - many of my father’s family were doctors and I wasn’t really aware of any other options for a career as I grew up. I started medicine at medical school in 2004 and although I enjoyed it, it didn’t prepare me for the reality of what it is to be a doctor. There was the consistent stress and responsibility - it was a job you could never truly switch off from. I’d often see my colleagues living almost their entire lives at the hospital; I just knew that life wasn’t meant for me.
Losing my mum was a turning point and I made a vow to change my lifestyle not just for me - but to honour the freedom and adventures she had always craved but didn’t get the chance to have.
The freedom I was after required a much higher income, so in 2015 my husband and I did our first property course (I had no knowledge at all prior to this). We had no big amounts of money ourselves; when we bought our first home (the only one we owned) in 2012, we had to borrow from friends and family to scrape together £7,000 for the deposit. That’s all we started with. But when we decided to sell our family home as we were expecting our first baby, instead of buying another, we used that money to start investing in property.
me for advice. This is where the idea for my coaching business was born. It was the opportunity to make the freedom-based life I aspired to a reality.
Freedom with Tania was founded in 2021 and has gone from strength to strength. I now mentor people and entrepreneurs in business growth and strategy, focusing on scaling their businesses with high-ticket and premium sales strategies, as well as property investing and creating true, generational wealth.
“Losing my mum was a turning point and I made a vow to change my lifestyle not just for me - but to honour the freedom and adventures she had always craved”
The portfolio grew and I managed to replace my medical salary within months. Since I’d documented the process on social media, I’d gained followers who then contacted
I’ve helped people change their lives forever and go from very little money, perhaps a single parent and in a fulltime job they hated, to building a business, leaving their job and becoming a full-time entrepreneur. I’ve just published my first book, The High Ticket Method, and love helping other people create the freedom I too was able to achieve.
www.taniakingmohammad.com
By Dr Tania King-Mohammad
Building a business that generates consistent wealth is the ultimate goal for most entrepreneurs. But the journey doesn’t stop there. Once you’ve created a profitable business, it’s crucial to make your money work harder for you. Th is article outlines how to set your business up for wealth-building and how to invest in ways that allow your income to multiply over time with minimal effort.
1. MASTER YOUR MINDSET FOR WEALTH
A wealth-building business starts with the right mindset. Wealth isn’t just about money; it’s about value, opportunity, and belief in yourself. If you’re not already working from a place of abundance, now is the time to shift your thinking.
Wealth is a byproduct of who you become in the process of building your business. Your mindset influences every aspect of your business, from pricing to marketing. Believe that wealth is available to you and that you deserve it. Many entrepreneurs struggle because they don’t think they’re worthy of success—this is the fi rst barrier to break.
Self-investment is key to levelling up. Whether through courses, mentorship, or personal growth, investing in yourself enhances your thinking and business.
2. CRAFT A HIGH-TICKET
One of the fastest ways to build wealth is through a high-ticket offer. Instead of relying on small sales that require high volume, a high-ticket offer lets you work with fewer clients while making more money.
Your offer must provide extraordinary value by solving big problems, delivering major transformations, or fi lling a unique market gap. Clients will pay premium prices for an offer that addresses a true pain point and delivers real results.
Th is applies to both service- and product-based businesses. For example, Fortnum & Mason turned the generic concept of a Christmas hamper into a premium product priced at £6,000. High-ticket strategies can be applied across industries.
Sales shouldn’t feel like ‘selling’—it’s about serving. The more you believe in your value, the more effortlessly clients will be drawn to you.
3. LEVERAGE ETHICAL SALES AND MARKETING
Generating consistent wealth requires a sales strategy that works for you. Ethical sales focus on serving clients, not pressuring them into unnecessary purchases. It’s about creating connections and offering solutions.
To generate predictable income, build a content funnel that attracts and nurtures ideal clients. Use problem-awareness content to highlight pain points, connection-building content to position yourself as an expert, and activating content to encourage action— such as purchasing your high-ticket offer.
A streamlined sales process ensures a steady flow of new clients, leading directly to wealth.
With your offer and sales funnel in place, the next step is systematisation. Many entrepreneurs shy away from systems, but they are what give you freedom. Systems ensure your business runs smoothly with minimal input from you.
“ The more you believe in your value, the more effortlessly clients will be drawn to you.”
“ Your business is a tool for wealth creation, but true wealth comes from the empowered choices you make.”
Automate processes like sales, email sequences, and scheduling to create consistent wealth generation. With effective systems, you can focus on high-level strategy while your business operates efficiently in the background.
Systems not only improve operations but also enable scalability without increasing workload.
As your business grows, think beyond active income. To build long-term wealth, allocate a portion of your profits to investments that generate passive or semi-passive income.
For example, investing in property creates passive income. Once a property is refurbished and occupied, it generates ongoing revenue with little effort. Over time, this provides a steady cash flow that can be reinvested.
Investing isn’t just about increasing your bank balance— it’s about making your money work for you. Whether through stocks, bonds, property, or digital products, choose investments that suit your level of involvement. As these grow, they’ll support your wealth, even if you step back from daily business operations.
Wealth-building isn’t just about transactions; it’s about relationships. Your most successful ventures will be those supported by a strong network of like-minded, successful people.
By nurturing relationships with clients, peers, and partners, you create a community that amplifies your impact and wealth. Provide continued value to clients and build partnerships that complement your skills. A growing network increases visibility and influence, leading to more opportunities and income.
Visibility is crucial to creating consistent wealth. The more people know about your offers, the more opportunities arise. Regularly show up through social media, speaking engagements, and content creation to position yourself as an expert.
Increased visibility attracts more clients, collaborators, and business opportunities. Over time, this strengthens your reputation and makes scaling your wealth easier.
Creating a business that generates consistent wealth requires strategy, dedication, and the right mindset. By developing a high-ticket offer, automating processes, and focusing on high-impact actions, you’ll set yourself up for success.
However, lasting wealth comes from more than just business growth. Allocate profits toward investments that generate passive and semi-passive income. Th is allows your wealth to grow independently of your daily efforts.
By combining a strong business strategy with smart investments, you can build a foundation of wealth that supports your lifestyle and continues to grow. Take action, invest in yourself, and create the business and life you truly desire. Your business is a tool for wealth creation, but true wealth comes from the empowered choices you make.
Dr Tania King-Mohammad is a former NHS doctor turned wealth strategist and high-ticket sales mentor for CEOs. She helps CEOs build six and seven- gure empires with ethical, premium sales. For more information on Tania visit: www.taniakingmohammad.com
By Gemma Tracey, Partner in Immigration Law at JMW Solicitors
The UK faces growing challenges in attracting and retaining skilled professionals, exacerbated by changes in immigration policy and Brexit. These factors have shaped inbound migration patterns, contributing to concerns about skills shortages across industries. Understanding the role of immigration policies, Brexit’s effect, and the resulting skills gap is essential for addressing this issue.
HOW HAVE BREXIT AND IMMIGRATION POLICIES IMPACTED THE SKILLS GAP?
The UK’s departure from the EU has significantly altered migration patterns, especially for skilled workers from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland. European nationals now face the same visa requirements as non-European nationals, reducing the ease of movement for workers who previously fi lled vital UK roles.
Healthcare
Before Brexit, the healthcare sector relied heavily on EU nationals. NHS recruitment from the EU has slowed dramatically since the end of free movement, exacerbating existing staffing shortages. The Skilled Worker visa allows healthcare professionals to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa, with reduced fees and salary thresholds. However, sponsorship requirements and Brexit have discouraged many applicants.
Construction and engineering
Construction and engineering have also been affected. EU workers provide critical mid-level skills that often fail to meet the minimum salary thresholds under current rules. Employers relied on short-term EU labour, but post-Brexit, they face challenges fi lling vacancies, delaying projects and increasing recruitment costs.
Hospitality and agriculture
Sectors like hospitality and agriculture, dependent on seasonal and lower-wage workers, have been particularly affected. Short-term visas for agricultural roles have been introduced, but businesses report ongoing struggles to access sufficient labour.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SKILLS SHORTAGES POST-BREXIT?
Immigration policy barriers
The immigration system imposes stringent requirements that limit access to international talent. Salary thresholds of £38,700 and high skill-level requirements exclude many mid-level roles. Employers also face high visa fees, the Immigration Skills Charge, and the Immigration Health Surcharge, adding financial strain.
Loss of free movement
The end of free movement has reduced the EU labour pool, particularly in industries where EU nationals previously made up a significant portion of the workforce. Hospitality and construction have seen declines in applications, leaving many vacancies unfi lled.
Political uncertainty
Brexit-related uncertainty has made the UK less attractive to international professionals. Many now prefer EU citizenship for its associated benefits, while the Government’s focus on reducing immigration further deters potential migrants.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE INBOUND MIGRATION DECLINE
Economic impacts
Skills shortages hinder productivity, delay projects and raise costs. Construction and engineering, vital for infrastructure, face growing difficulties in meeting demand. Reduced staffing in healthcare and hospitality has also affected service delivery and customer satisfaction.
Recruitment challenges
Employers are reporting greater struggles fi lling vacancies, particularly for mid-level and seasonal roles. Th is has increased reliance on domestic workers, where available, and driven up recruitment and training costs. Businesses are exploring automation and outsourcing, but these solutions are not always viable.
Global competitiveness
The UK’s ability to lead in technology, research, and innovation is at risk. Skilled professionals are crucial for advancing industries, and difficulties in attracting international talent could hinder growth in areas like renewable energy and artificial intelligence.
ADDRESSING THE SKILLS GAP
Immigration policy reforms
Streamlining visa processes and reducing associated costs could help attract skilled workers. Expanding the Shortage Occupation List and lowering salary thresholds for specific industries would ease immediate pressures. Targeted visa schemes for mid-level roles, particularly in hospitality and agriculture, could also address gaps.
Strengthening workforce training
Investing in domestic talent is vital for long-term resilience. Enhanced apprenticeships, vocational training, and
❛❛ Employers are reporting greater struggles fi lling vacancies, particularly for mid-level and seasonal roles.❜❜
industry-education partnerships can equip UK workers with essential skills. The Government’s plans include upskilling the workforce and requiring sponsors of skilled workers to train local talent.
Incentivising EU workers
To counter declining EU migration, the UK could introduce incentives such as reduced visa fees or streamlined residency pathways. Recognising EU professional qualifications would simplify hiring. Discussions on free movement for young people between the UK and EU were held, but the Government has rejected extending the Youth Mobility Scheme to EU nationals.
Enhancing working conditions and offering flexible arrangements could make the UK more appealing. The proposed Employment Rights Bill aims to strengthen workers’ rights and conditions. Policies addressing quality-of-life issues, such as affordable housing and access to public services, could also help retain talent.
Brexit has reshaped the UK’s workforce, creating challenges for industries reliant on skilled professionals. Initiatives like the Skilled Worker visa and Global Business Mobility routes offer partial solutions, but comprehensive measures are needed to address skills shortages effectively.
A balanced approach combining immigration reform, domestic workforce investment, and quality-of-life improvements is essential for ensuring the UK’s competitiveness. Collaboration between government, businesses, and educational institutions will be key to developing sustainable strategies to mitigate these challenges.
By Natalie Mackenzie, brain injury expert
Many of us notice that our memory isn’t quite what it used to be, especially as we grow older. It’s perfectly normal to forget small things from time to time, like what you walked into a room for, or the name of that film you watched last week. But when we start forgetting more important things or find it hard to pay attention and think clearly, that’s when it becomes a bit more of a worry.
By following some simple tips, we can all give our brains the best chance of staying effective, no matter our age and by doing so keep our memory skills functioning well.
Getting a good night’s sleep is key for keeping your mind clear. Experts have found that those who don’t sleep enough often find it harder to think clearly and use words well. Interestingly sleeping too much has the same negative effects as lacking sleep.
Caring for your body means caring for your brain, too. Research has shown that people who keep active tend to have healthier brains than those who are more sedentary. Movement aids our ability to remember things. Cardio activities such as running are ideal as they help to clear the brain, consolidate memories and process information.
found that not being in the right weight bracket can be a risk factor for dementia.
But making changes can help your memory; people who have been on the heavier side and have worked hard to lose some of that weight have noticed that their memory gets sharper.
When you’re looking to lose some weight, you want to make sure you’re eating the right stuff. We’ve all heard how the Mediterranean diet helps keep your brain sharp but what matters is that you’re filling up on the good food that keeps your body and brain happy.
“Research has shown that people who keep active tend to have healthier brains than those who are more sedentary.”
Being sociable by signing up for group sports or activities can be great for memory too - it turns out that combining socialising with some exercise can do amazing things for your brain.
Weight isn’t just something you can see on the outside; it can have a big impact on your brain. Researchers have
Build your meals around fruit and vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, strawberries and avocado. Nuts and seeds are a great snack choice and opt for seafood such as fresh Wild Salmon, vibrant Rainbow Trout, and Halibut. Select wholesome oils for cooking and dressings such as rich olive oil and versatile canola oil
Have you noticed that you sometimes perform better when you’re a bit stressed? There’s a sweet spot where a little bit of stress can help the brain work its best, especially when we’re doing tasks that rely on gut feeling rather than deep thinking. When the pressure is on, it can be just what we need to get those creative juices flowing or to solve a problem with a fresh perspective. Deadline dancing and dopamine-seeking brains will often find themselves performing better at this optimal stress level.
But it’s not so straightforward; it depends on what we’re doing. For jobs that need sharp concentration or remembering lots of details, too much stress can make
“Life is busy so utilise technology to offload some of the more mundane mental tasks on your to-do list. ”
things worse. And if you’re really, really stressed? That’s no good for anything - especially memory!
When we get enough sleep, stay active, and eat well, our bodies are more prepared to handle stress. Support from friends and loved ones is important as well during these times.
It may sound counterintuitive when you are struggling to remember things but learning something new can help to keep our memory sharp. You can go big by signing up for an ongoing course or keep it simple by learning one fun fact a day. Problem-solving, cognitive flexibility and critical thinking are all cognitive skills that are utilised when we’re learning something new - learning a language in particular is a brilliant gym workout for the brain. It can kickstart several cognitive processes to keep our memory effective.
Life is busy so utilise technology to offload some of the more
mundane mental tasks on your to-do list. There’s so much technology that can assist with this such as automation, transcribing software and recording, and software for organisation and planning.
Spending time outdoors to get the Vitamin D our bodies need will give pituitary stimulation to aid melatonin secretion. This secretion is key to a good night’s sleep, which aids our cognitive function. You can use a Vitamin D supplement like a Lumie light if it’s difficult to get outside. When it comes to keeping your brain in good shape, there’s no overnight solution, just as there’s no instant way to get fit. But simple consistent changes will benefit your overall health and maximise your memory’s capability.
Natalie Mackenzie is a business strategist for health and wellbeing business, helping health and social care providers grow successful online businesses. With 20 years of experience as a cognitive rehabilitation therapist, Natalie is the CEO & founder of the multiaward-winning BIS Services, which supports families with brain injury or neurological illness. A sought-after media expert, Natalie is a regular press commentator, sharing her expertise in publications such as The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Independent.
A brain game-changer that is both free and simple
Have you ever noticed how going for a walk can help clear your thoughts? It turns out this simple activity is one of the most effective ways to support and improve brain health. Research suggests that walking 8,000 steps daily can reduce the risk of dementia by nearly half. Let’s delve into the remarkable science behind how walking benefits your brain, step by step.
THE BRAIN-ENHANCING POWER OF WALKING Walking does more than move your legs – it triggers a series of biological processes that rejuvenate and strengthen your brain. Here’s what happens with each step:
Your brain thrives on oxygen, and walking boosts your heart rate, enhancing blood flow to the brain. This increased circulation delivers oxygen and essential nutrients to your neurones. For instance, it stimulates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that encourages the growth of new brain cells and supports the health of existing ones.
Imagine your brain as a garden, with BDNF acting as the gardener, fostering neurogenesis (new cell growth) and maintaining neuroplasticity (adaptability of neural connections). This is especially vital in the hippocam- pus – the brain’s memory hub – helping it stay youthful and adaptable.
“Walking triggers a host of protective mechanisms. It reduces chronic inflammation and combats oxidative stress, both of which are linked to cognitive decline”
On a biochemical level, walking triggers a host of protective mechanisms. It reduces chronic inflammation and combats oxidative stress, both of which are linked to cognitive decline. Chronic inflammation, in particular, is recognised as a key contributor to ageing. Regular walking strengthens the immune system and makes the brain more resilient against these challenges.
Additionally, walking helps regulate blood sugar levels and optimises energy use in brain cells, improving their efficiency. It also promotes the release of dopamine and serotonin – the “feel-good” chemicals – while reducing cortisol, the stress hormone. This combination not only lifts your mood but also shields your brain from the daily toll of stress.
These biological effects lead to real-world improvements in various aspects of your daily life:
• Faster thinking and better decision-making: Studies reveal that moderate-intensity exercises like brisk walking can enhance cognitive speed by increasing blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s decision-making centre. This makes it easier to tackle complex tasks, whether it’s planning a project or managing a busy schedule.
• Improved memory: Walking regularly has been associated with enhanced episodic memory – the ability to recall past events. Research indicates that walking 40 minutes three times a week can expand hippocampal volume, effectively reversing memory decline by up to two years. This has potential implications for reducing risks of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.
• Adaptability and resilience: Walking enhances neuroplasticity, improving the brain’s capacity to adapt to changes or challenges. This makes it easier to juggle responsibilities or think creatively in response to new situations.
• Boosted mood and mental wellbeing: Walking doesn’t just benefit cognition – it improves emotional health too. A study in The Journal of Psychiatric Research found that 30 minutes of walking daily significantly alleviated symptoms of anxiety and depression, highlighting its potential as a natural mood enhancer.
• Protection against cognitive decline: Regular walking helps preserve neural pathways and prevents brain shrinkage, lowering the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Walking 8,000 steps a day, for instance, can cut the risk of dementia by up to 50%, making each step an investment in long-term cognitive health.
The beauty of walking lies in its simplicity. There’s no need for fancy equipment – just a pair of comfortable shoes and the resolve to get moving. Whether it’s a brisk morning stroll, a lunchtime walk in the park, or a leisurely evening wander with loved ones, each step contributes to a healthier, sharper mind.
Remember, walking isn’t merely exercise – it’s a powerful form of brain training that can elevate your health and wellbeing, one step at a time.
These books offer practical advice, inspiration, and strategies for women in business, from boosting confidence to building resilience, fostering creativity, and excelling in mental health. If you haven’t yet, add these books to this year’s reading list.
Ten Times Calmer by Dr Kirren Schnack
Oxford-trained NHS psychologist
Dr Kirren Schnack provides practical tools to manage anxiety. With 20 years’ experience, she offers a first aid kit of techniques to ease stress, tackle trauma, and handle uncertainty. Each of the ten chapters guides you towards an anxiety-free life—helping you understand your emotions and regain control with ease.
Unstressable by Mo Gawdat
Mo Gawdat and Alice Law tackle the “stress pandemic,” revealing that chronic stress is predictable and preventable. This follow-up to Solve for Happy blends engineering, psychology, and neuroscience to help reframe negative thought patterns. With practical exercises, it equips you with the skills to manage stress and regain control of your well-being.
What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey & Dr Bruce Perry
Oprah Winfrey and Dr Bruce Perry explore how childhood experiences shape who we become. Through personal conversations and the latest brain science, they shift the focus from blame to understanding, creat-
ing space for healing. With compelling narratives, this book highlights our ability to transform after adversity, offering insight into behaviour, resilience, and personal growth.
How to Feel Better by Cathy Rentzenbrink
Life’s ups and downs are inevitable, but Cathy Rentzenbrink offers warm, compassionate guidance on how to navigate them. Rather than prescribing solutions, she provides comfort, covering topics like coping with bad news and wisdom for her son. This is essential reading for anyone facing upheaval or simply seeking reassurance in life’s daily challenges.
to Stay
by Philippa Perry
Psychotherapist Philippa Perry explores four key principles to improve emotional well-being: self-observation, relationships, stepping out of your comfort zone, and redefining yourself. While there’s no formula for guaranteed sanity, these insights can help you overcome difficulties, increase self-awareness, and find greater fulfilment. A practical, thoughtful guide to becoming a little less troubled and a lot more content.
The Kindness Method by Shahroo Izadi
Lasting change starts with self-kindness. Behavioural Change Specialist Shahroo Izadi shares a compassionate, empowering approach to breaking habits—whether it’s weight loss, reducing alcohol, or improving relationships. Developed from personal experience and professional training, The Kindness Method helps you create sustainable change by treating yourself with the patience and care you truly deserve.
The Book of Hope by Jonny Benjamin
learning to trust yourself. Activist Glennon Doyle shares her journey of shedding external pressures to find true happiness and peace. Untamed is both an inspiring personal story and a wake-up call to start living authentically for ourselves.
Anxiety for Beginners by Eleanor Morgan
Mental health advocate Jonny Benjamin, MBE, and Britt Pflüger bring together voices from actors to activists, sharing what gives them hope. This uplifting collection provides comfort and solidarity, reminding readers that they’re not alone. With powerful stories on mental health, resilience, and seeking help, The Book of Hope is a source of light in difficult times.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
This New York Times bestseller is a powerful memoir about breaking free from societal expectations and
Eleanor Morgan explores anxiety as an inherent part of human nature rather than a disorder. Blending personal experience with scientific insight, she unpicks the complexities of anxious thinking and why we worry. This thoughtful, relatable book sheds light on anxiety’s role in evolution while offering a deeper understanding of how it shapes our daily lives.
A Beginner’s Guide to Being Mental by Natasha Devon
Natasha Devon takes readers on a witty, insightful journey through the A to Z of mental health—from Anxiety to Zero Fucks Given. Mixing expert advice with hilarious personal stories, she covers topics like therapy, self-esteem, and social media. This sharp, entertaining book reminds us that no matter what we’re going through, we’re not alone.
By KELLIE MILLER
Alison Coaten’s sculptures connect with the thread of folklore (folk = people, lore = knowledge), linking us to people’s stories, traditions and cultures passed down through the generations by various means of expression.
She is fascinated by the human desire to make sense of existence through religion, myth and folklore, as well as the use of art to create concrete images of worship in the form of icons and idols.
She says, “I use imagery to help create a sense of familiarity within my work, and this imagery is reworked using secular and personal iconography.”
When she encounters striking imagery, it stays with her and nags until she is compelled to create a sculpture. Her recent creation, Joan, was inspired by a painting of Joan of Arc by John Everett Millais.
“I
use imagery to help create a sense of familiarity within my work, and this imagery is reworked using secular and personal iconography”
“The piece Fiadh, meaning ‘deer’ or ‘wild’, came from Celtic tales of fairy cattle herded by women who shapeshifted into a deer.”
This passion has also led her to depict strong female archetypes based on remarkable and formidable women, such as the legendary Pope Joan, who purportedly reigned as Pope for two years in the Middle Ages. While the story was believed for centuries, scholars now consider her a fictional character. Regardless, this is another indication of the strength of storytelling in Alison’s work.
Other recent works explore our relationship with animals and play with the ideas of Madonna and Child, with images found in Flemish art and the Reserve heads of ancient Egypt.
The piece Fiadh, meaning ‘deer’ or ‘wild’, came from Celtic tales of fairy cattle herded by women who shapeshifted into a deer. The piece can be viewed as an approach from one side and a transformation and integration from the other.
Her intrigue in Egyptology can be sensed from the energy of the forms she uses. The Egyptians believed that the soul lived within the body, so they preserved it to keep the spirit intact. Their glorification of life after death is signified by the pyramids and their contents of possessions and objects of worship. To reflect this, Alison sometimes buries found objects and meaningful items in her pieces. The sound of these items moving around can be heard when her sculptures are picked up.
“Bust
“Joan”
Another example of her attraction to this culture and the afterlife is the concept of preservation. The Egyptians would mummify their dead. She also uses a preservation technique for her sculptures, which includes using glass eyes, blown or hand-painted and intended for taxidermy; this gives her sculptures a human feel, bringing them to life.
Kellie Miller is an artist, curator, critic and gallery owner. www.kelliemillerarts.com
“After
“Step inside, and you’re greeted by a space that full of character. Where vintage charm comes with a playful twist and plush elegance”
By Tess de Klerk
In a city known for its mix of bohemian charm and coastal cool, No. 124 GuestHouse feels like the perfect embodiment of Brighton itself. Set in a trio of restored townhouses along the iconic seafront, this hotel is the kind of place where every corner tells a story, and every detail feels like it’s been chosen with both care and a sense of fun.
Step inside, and you’re greeted by a space that full of character. Where vintage charm comes with a playful twist and
plush elegance. From the cozy lounge and bar with its eclectic furniture and art from local artists to the courtyard adorned with twinkling lights, there’s a sense of ease that instantly puts you in relaxation mode.
And the design? Think natural textures, pops of bold colour, and just the right amount of quirk. Brighton’s heritage runs through every corner of this hotel, but the design is anything but predictable.
Our room was a perfect blend of comfort and personality. Huge sea-view windows, a mix of rattan finishes, vibrant art, and onion-dome light fixtures gave the space a laidback but stylish vibe. A miniature beach hut—yes, a beach hut—housed all the tea and coffee essentials (including fresh milk), while a Crosley record player and a curated selection of vinyl added personal touches that made the room feel like our own little haven.
When it comes to unwinding, they’ve thought of everything. Blackout curtains for a proper lie-in, a duvet so soft it feels like a hug, and a rainfall shower stocked with Wildsmith products to help wash away the day. It’s the kind of place where even a quick break feels restorative.
“Our room was a perfect blend of comfort and personality”
The rooms at No.124 range from cozy doubles to indulgent suites with sea views or even private hot tubs. And while the larger rooms steal the show with their extra features, the smaller ones don’t skimp on charm or comfort; all share the same attention to detail that makes staying here feel special.
For those craving a bit of extra relaxation, the Field Trip Spa will hit the spot. Opening in February 2025, the spa will offer treatments that lean into natural, sustainable products.
And then there’s the pantry – a playful touch that sets No.124 apart. Stocked daily with fresh-baked treats, and an array of sweeties and drinks that will turn you into a kid in a candy shop again – a free candy shop, that is, since it’s all complimentary. Who can resist?
Read all about Pearly Cow over on the next the page; we enjoyed it so much that I’m writing it its own review. Breakfast
was also superb and beautifully presented. I suggest trying the chia mango pot with coconut – absolutely delicious.
The team at No.124 deserve a shoutout. They strike that rare balance of being warm, helpful, and refreshingly unpretentious. Whether they’re sharing tips on what’s happening around town or chatting while mixing a brilliant cocktail, the staff here make you feel like more than just a guest.
Accessibility: There is a guest room adapted for accessibility with a roll-in shower. The lift inside accesses all floors while a ramp can be provided for the entrance.
Family-friendly: Yes, cots, z-beds and kids menus are available while the extra touches such as polaroid cameras and Yoto players are sure to keep the little ones entertained.
Dogs: Four-legged companions are welcomed with treats, dog beds and blankets (£25 per pooch per night).
Cost: Our room was a Sea View Guest Room which starts at £232 pn in February, including breakfast.
Brighton’s best bits are all just steps away, whether you’re wandering the historic Lanes, exploring the shops in North Laine, or simply enjoying a walk along the beach. And when it’s time to return, No.124 feels like the perfect spot to land.
No.124 is a place that brings together everything that makes Brighton special—creativity, warmth, and a little bit of cheekiness. Whether you’re in town for a weekend of seaside strolls or a longer stay to soak up the city, this guesthouse is the kind of place that makes you wish you’d booked just one more night.
No.124, 124 Kings Road Brighton BN1 2FA www.guesthousehotels.co.uk/no-124-kingsroadbrighton/the-city-of-brighton/
I’ll be back at...
By Tess de Klerk
Pearly Cow restaurant at No.124 in Brighton has quickly made a name for itself as one of the city’s must-visit dining spots, showcasing the very best of what Sussex has to offer. The menu, split into "Ice" and "Fire," strikes a perfect balance between fresh, raw seafood and expertly cooked meats, all served with a focus on simple, honest cooking that lets the ingredients shine.
Pearly Cow’s commitment to sourcing locally is clear in every dish. From Sussex beef to Whitstable oysters, the produce is as fresh as it gets. My meal started with Whitstable oysters, presented on a dramatic ceramic clam shell, their briny flavour highlighting just how fresh they were. Another standout starter was the scallop cured in yuzu and cucumber. The sweetness of the scallop worked beautifully, with the tangy yuzu and sharp pickled silver-skin onions, making it as vibrant in taste as it was in presentation.
For mains, the 45-day salt-aged ribeye steak was nothing short of outstanding. Cooked over an open flame, it was perfectly tender and packed with deep, smoky flavour. The sauces—peppercorn and chimichurri in my case—added just the right amount of richness, while the glazed onion and
“From Sussex beef to Whitstable oysters, the produce is as fresh as it gets.”
marrow-filled bone made it even more indulgent. Another highlight was the slow-braised short rib of Sussex Wagyu beef, served with smooth and creamy pommes mousseline. The Wagyu’s melt-in-your-mouth texture, paired with the richness of the mash, made it an absolute winner.
The side dishes were just as memorable. The beef fat chips were a revelation, perfectly crisp and layered, offering a depth of flavour that’s rare in something as simple as chips. Fire-grilled butternut squash wedges with tandoori seeds provided a smoky sweetness that complemented the mains beautifully.
While dessert isn’t the primary focus of Pearly Cow, it’s worth saving a little room for their inventive offerings. The mascarpone crème brûlée with cherry sorbet was a well-balanced end to the meal, combining creamy richness with a refreshing sharpness.
The drinks menu is just as impressive as the food. The stylish bar area is the perfect place to start your evening, with cocktails that are crafted with real care. My Sage Soiree, a tequila and apricot concoction with a herbal twist, was a particular favourite, while my partner’s classic margarita hit all the right notes. The wine, beer, and champagne options are equally top-notch, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
Service was a real highlight of the experience. The team was attentive without being overbearing, super knowledgeable
about the menu, and clearly passionate about what they do. Their recommendations were spot-on, and their friendly, relaxed approach made the evening all the more enjoyable.
The location is another big draw. Set right on Brighton’s seafront, with views of the iconic West Pier, the setting perfectly ties in with the restaurant’s coastal influence. Inside, the stylish décor creates a warm and welcoming vibe, making it a great spot for anything from a special occasion to a relaxed dinner with friends.
For those looking to treat themselves without breaking the bank, the set menu is fantastic value. Available Monday to Thursday in the early evening and Friday lunchtimes, it offers two courses for £28 or three for £32, making it an ideal introduction to what Pearly Cow has to offer.
In short, Pearly Cow is a place where incredible local produce meets skillful, unfussy cooking in a relaxed yet polished setting. Whether you’re enjoying their perfectly cooked steaks, the freshest seafood, or an expertly made cocktail, the attention to detail and passion shines through. With excellent service and a stunning location, it’s no surprise Pearly Cow has quickly become a Brighton favourite.
Pearly Cow, 123 Kings Road Brighton BN1 2FA www.pearlycow.co.uk/pearly-cow-brighton
“The
team was attentive without being overbearing, super knowledgeable about the menu, and passionate about what they do.”
EASTBOURNE STARGAZING AT BEACHY HEAD
Experience the breathtaking night sky at Beachy Head, one of Sussex’s most iconic spots for stargazing. Join expert guides as they share insights into constellations, planets, and other celestial wonders. This event is family-friendly, so bring binoculars, telescopes, and warm clothes for a magical night under the stars.
February 8th
Beachy Head, Eastbourne, East Sussex visitsoutheastengland.com
CHICHESTER PRIDE & PREJUDICE (SORT OF)
This witty and refreshing take on Jane Austen’s beloved classic blends sharp humor, music, and modern twists. Celebrated for its originality, the production brings the timeless story of love and societal norms to life. Perfect for both Austen fans and theater newcomers, this show promises laughter, heart, and a touch of satire.
February 11th–15th
Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, West Sussex cft.org.uk
UCKFIELD ICE SKATING AT BLUEBELL RAILWAY
Experience the charm of Sussex’s historic Bluebell Railway while enjoying a winter wonderland. A pop-up ice rink at the station provides a unique opportunity for visitors of all ages to skate amidst the nostalgia of vintage steam trains. Warm up with hot chocolate or mulled wine in the cozy café afterward.
February 15th–23rd
Bluebell Railway, Uckfield, East Sussex bluebell-railway.com
WAKEHURST NATURE HEROES: DINO DETECTIVE
Wakehurst’s Nature Heroes series invites families to embark on an exciting prehistoric adventure. Kids will become “Dino Detectives,” uncovering fascinating facts about dinosaurs, fossils, and evolution. With interactive workshops, scavenger hunts, and plenty of outdoor exploration, this event guarantees a fun, educational day for budding paleontologists.
February 15th–23rd
Wakehurst, Haywards Heath, West Sussex kew.org/wakehurst
BRIGHTON BRIGHTON SCIENCE FESTIVAL: FUTURE FRONTIERS
Step into the future at Brighton Science Festival’s Future Frontiers exhibition, where cutting-edge innovations meet hands-on exploration. Featuring expert talks, live demonstrations, and interactive displays on AI, space travel, and sustainable technology, this
festival is perfect for curious Don’t miss the spectacular
February 16th-18th
Brighton Dome, Brighton brightonscience.com
SURREY HILLS
SURREY HILLS WINTER WALK AND WINE TASTING
Explore the serene beauty of the Surrey Hills on a guided winter walk. After soaking in the breathtaking landscapes, enjoy a curated wine-tasting session at a nearby vineyard. Sample locally produced wines while learning about the area’s rich viticultural history. A delightful blend of nature and indulgence awaits.
February 10th
Surrey Hills, meeting point details upon booking surreyhillsvineyards.co.uk
GUILDFORD GUILDFORD COMEDY NIGHT
Laugh the night away at Guildford’s premier monthly comedy showcase, featuring a lineup of talented comedians from across the UK. Held at The Electric Theatre, this lively event is a perfect way to unwind with friends. Enjoy witty banter, sharp observations, and bellylaugh-inducing performances.
February 8th
The Electric Theatre, Guildford, Surrey electric.theatre.co.uk
DORKING SURREY WILDLIFE TRUST CONSERVATION DAY
Connect with nature while making a difference at this hands-on conservation day. Led by the Surrey Wildlife Trust, participants will learn practical skills like tree planting and habitat restoration while contributing to vital environmental projects. A rewarding and impactful way to spend the day outdoors.
February 27th
Norbury Park, Dorking, Surrey surreywildlifetrust.org
LEWES CREATE YOUR OWN ATTAR PERFUME
Led by perfume maker, Nancy Meiland, this exclusive workshop is a deep dive into the world of scent while making your own perfume attar. An attar is an ancient, Indian tradition of a highly concentrated blend of botanicals. Be guided by expert nose, Nancy Meiland to 'sense through scent' and create your own perfume attar. This 90-minute workshop, situated in Lewes includes a perfume talk, a complimentary drink and the final presentation of your personalised creation.
February 15th
The Needlemakers, Lewes www.visitlewes.co.uk/whats-on/ create-your-own-perfume-attar-p2282311
HOVE PERSONALISED GIFT MAKING CLASS & BUBBLY AT CHARLIE-DOODLE
Looking for something unique for Valentine’s Day? Learn how to make your very own stylish personalised Gifts for yourself or a loved one using vintage maps, comic books, music sheets or typographic initials. Choose one of the following items to create: personalised silver plated cufflinks and personalised silver plated pendant and chain.
14 February 14th 14 Wilbury Rd, Hove, BN3 3JN charlie-doodle.live.baluu.co.uk
