Surrey Chambers Business Magazine issue 09 by Platinum Media Group

SURREY CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

The Official ofGCommerce M Surrey Chambers A AMagazineZ

IIssue 9

– June/July 2018 N E

BILL GATES

The Philanthropist

What’s new in

NEW YORK

INTERNATIONAL TRADE GUILDFORD FRINGE

The Big Debate

Reviewed:

SORREL

in Dorking

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CATEGORIES H COMPANY OF THE YEAR H LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR H SME BUSINESS OF THE YEAR H BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD H BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD H BUSINESS INNOVATION OF THE YEAR H BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR H CORPORATE FUNDRAISER OF THE YEAR H EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR H FOOD & DRINK DESTINATION OF THE YEAR H INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR H PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AWARD H START-UP OF THE YEAR H TOURIST DESTINATION OF THE YEAR H CHAMBER MEMBER OF THE YEAR

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Review the categories and determine which are most appropriate for your business. Download the entry template and write your entry ensuring that you address the criteria outlined. Keep each entry to no more than one thousand words over four pages. Save entry as a pdf and submit online.

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Welcome

THE BIG STORY BILL GATES In terms of the amount of money and time he has donated, is Gates the world’s most generous man?

32 40 52 58

REACHING OUT WITH THE BARD NatWest’s Peter Quilter on the outreach work undertaken by Guildford Shakespeare Company.

NEW YORK The rate of development and innovation shows no signs of slowing down.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE The Big Debate – Santander hosts a panel discussion on exporting.

REVIEWED: SORREL Dorking has a new destination restaurant.

GUILDFORD FRINGE It’s that time of year – make sure you get involved.

At a Glance 9 11 12 18

The President’s view

20 25

Bill Gates – Profile

26 27

Farrow Creative – Softly, softly

DMH Stallard – IP services in a post-Brexit world

31 32 36 38

Spaces to launch Guildford site

BGF – Actively investing in growing companies

41 42

Brexit – how can you prepare?

Surrey Business School – PG Cert in Management Education

52 57 58 62 64 65 66 68 71

Restaurant Review – Sorrel

73 74

Sponsor a Surrey Chambers event

Policing Surrey Member News NatWest – Banking on Shakespeare for our community

Wilkins Kennedy – Making exporting easier with AEO

Haines Watts – What start-ups can teach established businesses about growth

Travel – Shake hands in New York Surrey Super Growth awards SGS – Reduced fees on three-day course

Santander Breakthrough Debate – International Trade

New Members Guildford Fringe Festival returns Motoring – Audi TTRS TFSI Coupe Motoring – Skoda Kodiaq Motoring – Seat Arona Surrey Events Diary Surrey Chambers Golf Society Mailing Expert – Mailing rules post-GDPR

Join the Chamber

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit. Surrey Chambers Business Magazine is published and owned by the Platinum Publishing Group Limited.

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Issue 9 – 2018

A word from the CEO Keeping businesses up to date Surrey Chambers of Commerce has been busy over the last couple of weeks providing updates and information for our members. Joining forces with Alliotts, Guildford based accountants, and Guildford Borough Council we brought together a fantastic collection of businesses helping employers to address Health & Wellbeing in the workplace. Eight speakers shared their speciality, delivering a wealth of knowledge and experience to local employers. Areas covered were research, prevention, compliance, digital world resilience and more. Alongside the speakers was a Partner Village making the few hours spent at the event really worthwhile. We have continued with our updates on the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) changes and helped many businesses prepare for May 25th deadline when the new regulations came into play. A recent survey of our businesses found that many were yet to make any changes to meet the new requirements so we will be providing ongoing updates to try and keep our members safe.

National picture The decision to keep interest rates on hold, while unsurprising, was the right decision given the loss of momentum suffered by the UK economy in the first quarter of this year and the downgrade to their 2018 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast. That said, the limited lowering of its GDP growth and inflation forecasts over 2019 and 2020, and the hawkish tone of the minutes from the latest Monetary Policy Commission (MPC) meeting, suggest that the prospect of an interest rate rise this year looks to have been delayed, rather than discarded. Within the Chambers we are worried that business investment is likely to be more sluggish than the Bank of England is currently forecasting, with the cost of doing business in the UK likely to weigh on investment decisions. With UK economic conditions subdued and inflation weakening, however, the case for a rate hike continues to look limited at best. The preferred option would be for the MPC to opt for a sustained period of monetary stability. While interest rates will need to be normalised at some point, it should be done slowly so as not to weaken the UK’s growth prospects. Instead there should be a greater focus on lifting the UK out of its current low growth trajectory, including incentivising greater business investment and addressing the escalating burden of upfront costs facing UK firms.

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

Louise Punter

CEO Surrey Chambers of Commerce

The Team

PUBLISHER The Platinum Publishing Group Limited

Head of Design: Amanda Harrington Travel Editor: Rose Dykins Sub Editor: Kate Morton Motoring Editor: Maarten Hoffmann

GROUP

PLATINUM PUBLISHING

Website: www.platinumpublishing.co.uk

CHAMBER EDITOR Molly Edwards Molly.Edwards@surrey-chambers.co.uk Tel: 01483 735545 Web: www.surrey-chambers.co.uk If you have a news story for publication, email molly.edwards@surrey-chambers.co.uk

Directors: Maarten Hoffmann maarten@platinumpublishing.co.uk Tel: 07966 244046 Ian Trevett Ian@platinumpublishing.co.uk Tel: 07989 970804

Advertising Director: Lesley Alcock Tel: 07767 613707 lesley@platinumpublishing.co.uk

For Surrey Business Awards enquiries email fiona@platinumpublishing.co.uk For editorial and advertising enquiries email lesley@platinumpublishing.co.uk

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President’s Column

The President’s view Surrey Chambers of Commerce President, Steve Coburn

t’s been an interesting first month in the role of President. I’ve spent it meeting with members to try and understand what they need from the Chambers. It’s been interesting to hear all the different ways that our members get value from their

We exhibited at the Surrey Business Expo this year. This is an event that we’ve supported for many years, both as the Surrey Chambers and in my own business, projectfive. It’s a very productive day and a really useful opportunity to catch up with lots of fellow businesses.

membership – and it’s not all about ‘meeting new customers’.

Surrey really is lucky to have such a vibrant business community.

What’s been so good about it, from a personal point of view, is that it’s given me the opportunity to catch up with people who I first met 10 or 15 years ago.

Finally, don’t forget that the FIFA World Cup kicks off on the June 14th. I’ve made a point of putting all the matches in my diary already – and it’s already proven useful a couple of times. When you’re sat in a meeting, talking

Meeting with people who, in 2007, were employing two or three people and today are employing 50 people is a huge testament to their passion and professionalism. There’s a fair few stories to share, as those businesses have navigated the economic climate and proven that, no matter what’s going on elsewhere, if you put people first and stick to what you believe in, then you will grow your business.

about organising a networking event, and someone says “What about Thursday June 28th?”, then it’s useful to know that England are playing Belgium that evening. But, back to my day job. I’ve got a full inbox to deal with. A leadership session with my senior team. Oh, and I’m trying to come to terms with the fact that my ‘little girl’ has just left school. GCSE exams in full flow from next week. Good luck to all the sons and daughters who have a month of exams ahead of them!

Steve Coburn, President of Surrey Chambers and owner of projectfive

I’ve also met with some charitable organisations and a couple of well-known ‘visitor attractions’. Seeing how they get value from their Chambers’ Membership has given me a different insight into how we can support all of our members better. And, I’ve been invited to a few different launch events. I enjoyed working with Eagle Radio on the launch of their BIZ Club, and it’s been exciting to be involved in the early stages of the Surrey Business Awards. I’ll be attending my first event with the Surrey Chambers Golf Society this month. I’m not sure my handicap will afford me much time to network with the other members though. Whenever I’ve tried networking at a golfing event before, I never find anyone to talk to. Maybe I should spend less time wandering around the woods looking for my ball, and more time on the fairways and greens like everyone else!

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Policing Surrey

Planning to keep Surrey safe David Munro, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey

he middle of May this year marked the half-way point of my term as Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner and a time for reflection on what has been achieved so far and what we need to focus on in the future.

When I first took office back in 2016 I issued my first Police and Crime Plan, which was a blueprint containing six priorities setting the strategic direction for Surrey Police to follow. Behind every successful business is a solid and workable business plan and we are no different in policing – our plans are essential to us to keep improving the service we provide. I am a firm believer that the best plans are the ones that continue to evolve over time, so it felt like a good time to refresh my Police and Crime Plan with the priorities I believe Surrey Police need to focus on in the next two years. Much has already been achieved – we have a stable top team under the Chief Constable, a more sound financial footing and a new policing model has been successfully implemented. There are now more police of cars in local teams than there were two years ago, who are trained to deal with a wider range of policing problems with an emphasis on providing a visible and reassuring presence to all sections of the community. However, there is always more to do and I believe it is vital we maintain that momentum and build on the progress already made. I want to ensure we stay ahead of new crimes, crack down on emerging trends such as the recent rise in burglary and ensure victims of crime are properly supported. Equally I want to provide a police force that is both value for money and equipped to meet the challenges of the future. But one of my key priorities is ‘Building Confident Communities’ – working closely with other public services, local residents and organisations and encouraging them to get involved in solving issues that damage local areas or make people feel unsafe. I talk in my new plan about businesses having a part to play in that and wanting to work with them to hear their concerns, jointly tackle problems and protect employees and customers. Businesses can help policing in a number of ways – whether that be through making sure you have adequate security in place or by helping be the eyes and ears for the local community. If you want to read the revised plan in full – do visit the Surrey PCC website at www.surrey-pcc.gov.uk/plan

Modern Slavery Event One of the other themes of the plan is the need to allow Surrey Police to balance the need to retain visible, local policing with the demands

from serious and complex crimes such as domestic abuse and Modern Slavery. You may have read the article in the last edition of this magazine on how police are dealing with the growing menace of Modern Slavery. My office and Surrey Police have teamed up with Surrey Chambers to host an event on July 3rd at the Guildford Harbour Hotel. The aim is to explain what Modern Slavery is and how it might affect your business and provide you with information on your legal responsibilities. It is completely free to attend and runs from 7.30 to 10.30am – I hope to see as many of you there as possible! To sign up, please visit the events pages at www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

SURREY CHAMBERS

News

Member News Celebration for Charity’s CEO This year, Clive Stone, Chief Executive of local charity Oakleaf Enterprise, marks 20 years of steering its vital work. Oakleaf is the only mental health charity in Surrey working as a social enterprise to provide vocational training for those suffering from mental health issues. Clive has been instrumental in giving the charity direction and purpose. The charity’s mission is to foster confidence and reduce social isolation by actively training, engaging and supporting individuals with mental ill health to empower them to participate as active members of society. In recognition of the work the charity provides, and as testament to Clive’s dedication and hard work, Oakleaf was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2017.

“You know more of a road by having travelled it than by all the conjectures and descriptions in the world”

Clive said: “I felt incredibly humble to represent Oakleaf at the award ceremony at Buckingham Palace. This acts as a valuable reminder to me and all our staff that we could not undertake our work without the immense support of our volunteers. I am truly grateful for all they do, and more importantly the life chances they provide for our clients.”

Made in Britain

Best in Show for Theatre

Innovative British engineering company, Semmco, is expanding its design and manufacturing facility at Goldsworth Park Trading Estate, Woking into a second unit, to enhance its capabilities and product offering for its global network of aviation and rail clients.

After producing one of the bestselling pantomimes in the theatre’s history, Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre’s performance of Dick Whittington was a finalist for three awards at the Great British Pantomime Awards – Best Pantomime: 750 seats and under, Best Male Baddie (Kit Hesketh-Harvey) and Best Musical Supervision (Anthony England).

Semmco is a design and engineering company that offers a range of specialist products and services for ground support equipment, respiratory protection and engineering design consultancy. The company has an impressive client roster that includes Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Trains, Delta, Air Canada, and Eurostar.

Dick Whittington writer and director, Jamie Smith said: “What an honour for our production to be nominated for these awards – the icing on the cake for such a fantastic season. To be seen as one of the best pantomimes in the country is praise indeed and sets a benchmark for us moving forward.”

The investment is a part of Semmco’s ambitious plans for growth as the company prepares for the opening of its first US office this year, following the opening of its maintenance and assembly facility in Dubai in January 2017. This year also marks an exciting milestone for Semmco as the company celebrates 25 years in business. Stuart McOnie, Managing Director at Semmco says: “It’s been an extremely exciting start to 2018 for the company and this expansion in to two units at Goldsworth Park only marks the beginning of what’s to come for the rest of year.”

SURREY CHAMBERS

The GBPA judging team consisted of over 20 experts comprising pantomime and theatre academics, current and retired theatre performers, and creatives and critics.

This success is a testament to the standard of work at this thriving regional theatre, which regularly stages acclaimed and West End productions. Its community work has also been recognised with awards from the Mayor, the BBC, Eagle Radio and the Toast of Surrey.

News

Like a Duck to Water Surrey’s most quackers sporting event will be taking to the water once again on Friday 6th July when Surrey Care Trust’s big yellow ducks race down the River Wey in Guildford. Businesses can sponsor a duck from £175 and are encouraged to dress their duck in spectacular headgear. All monies raised will support the charity’s work of providing learning, mentoring, counselling and volunteering opportunities for disadvantaged and vulnerable people across the county. Participating businesses are invited to view their ducks from the bank of Millmead Island and enjoy light bites and drinks as well as networking opportunities. For more information on how to sponsor a duck, contact Surrey Care Trust’s Events Officer Hannah Gilmour by emailing events@surreycaretrust.org.uk or call Hannah on 07748 963617.

“I never worry about diets. The only carrots l am interested in are the number you get in a diamond”

A New Director in Town HSBC UK Commercial Banking has announced the recent appointment of Andrew Steer as Area Director for Business Banking across Surrey and Sussex. Andrew has held a previous senior leadership role at HSBC since joining in 2010 and has over 20 year’s commercial and corporate banking experience at both Lloyds Banking Group and the Bank of Scotland. Andrew will lead a team of Relationship Managers supporting owner-managed businesses with a turnover of £2 million to £6.5 million across Surrey and Sussex. Brian Weare, Regional Director for South and East HSBC UK said: “Andrew brings extensive experience to the team and I look forward to the role that he can play in supporting businesses across Surrey and Sussex. This new role is created at an exciting time as HSBC completes the creation of the ring-fenced bank in the UK and continues to support SME businesses throughout the South East.” Andrew Steer commented: “I believe that both international trade and emerging technology make it a very exciting time to be working with small and medium-sized businesses in Surrey and Sussex to help them reach their potential.”

Designed for Business Accrue Workplaces is an innovative company providing shared office spaces and excellent meeting room facilities in Surrey, with the aim to bring premium co-working facilities to the suburbs of London. In January, they opened their flagship building at The Long Barn in Cobham. They pride themselves on workability, and endeavour to ensure that they meet the needs of companies of all sizes and types with varied membership options to choose from and changeable spaces which can host businesses with 1-30 employees. Accrue Workplaces offer desks, chairs, pedestals, monitors, business class printers and telephones, super fast internet, a free shuttle bus service offering transport between the building and local transport links, meeting rooms to suit both conferencing and informal conversations, phone box style quiet pods, regular social events, showers and changing rooms plus a large café and lounge area serving fresh food, espresso coffee and other refreshments throughout the day.

Sunday Best for Media Firm Last month Surrey Chambers member Finsbury Media became one of the lucky six winners of the Small Business Sunday competition, organised by Theo Paphitis, the renowned retail magnate and entrepreneur. As the owner of the stationery chain Ryman, homewares specialist Robert Dyas and lingerie retailer Boux Avenue, Theo knows a thing or two about business with his nononsense approach to business. Each week between 5pm and 7.30pm businesses are invited (after following his Twitter accounts) to tweet Theo with their details and why they shine out as a business, Theo then chooses his six favourites. Hundreds of companies take part each week and those lucky winners become members of #SBS (Small Business Sunday). As a new business that is just three years old, Finsbury Media has suffered many of the pains and challenges that a start-up would expect – and from two staff they now employ over 20.

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News

Member News Money Makers at Poker The corporate team at Charles Russell Speechlys in Guildford has raised £760 for Place2Be, the leading national children’s mental health charity, by hosting a poker night at its offices at One London Square. The event was attended by 35 people, largely from the region’s corporate finance community. This included corporate finance advisers and accountants, as well as representatives from local banks and private equity houses. Guests paid £10 for a round of chips for each game, all of which was donated to the law firm’s Charity of the Year, Place2Be. Andrew Lock from LockDutton Corporate Finance was crowned king of the tournament, winning a magnum of champagne. Rebecca Burford, a Senior Associate in Charles Russell Speechlys’ corporate team and who organised the event said: “This is the second successive year that we have organised a poker fundraising evening for our corporate finance contacts. With our professional croupiers and cocktail bar, we seem to have created a winning formula.” Charles Russell Speechlys’ corporate team in Guildford specialises in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investment, reorganisations and restructuring and general company law matters. For further information, please visit www.charlesrussellspeechlys.com

“Life is all about how you handle Plan B.”

Time to Start a Revolution As exam season approaches, thousands of young people in Surrey will be facing some tough decisions on what to do next. HireHigher, who support young people on the options available to them, are having a complete overhaul on how they teach and show young people what the future can hold, for example how to think about their options beyond the classroom, how they expose them to these options, and finally the perceived view of careers advice and guidance in the eyes of all involved. With the help of a network of recent graduates, apprentices – both studying and qualified – and HireHigher’s senior skill set in early careers, their delivery model is different and approach is unique. Working with teachers, parents, young people and employers, HireHigher are on the hunt for organisations and individuals to join their revolution. Please get in touch to find out more www.hirehigher.co.uk

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Global Number One The SETsquared partnership has been ranked as the world’s leading business incubator for its outstanding contribution to developing the next generation of UK tech entrepreneurs. The announcement was made at the World Incubation Summit in Toronto, Canada. This confirmed SETsquared as ‘number one’ in its field, having maintained its world-leading position since 2015. SETsquared, the enterprise partnership between the universities of Bath, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey, nurtures technology-based businesses throughout their lifecycle from idea through to investment and scale-up. With bespoke entrepreneur training programmes and unrivalled access to a network of mentors, alumni, investors, corporate partners and the knowledge base of the five universities, SETsquared has helped over 2,500 UK high-tech start-ups raise more than £1.5bn of investment and contributed over £3.8bn to the UK economy. Caroline Fleming, head of incubation at SETsquared in Surrey, said: “We’re delighted to be acknowledged once again as a leader in the world of business incubation and it is an honour to be recognised by UBI Global in this way alongside the best performing university business incubators and accelerator programmes.”

News

Theo Paphitis launches Plan’s new HQ Retail magnate and Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis launched Plan Insurance Brokers’ new Headquarters in Redhill, and it was revealed he had played a key role in the company’s success story. In the early 1980s, Peter Georgiades needed financial advice on buying a house and a young Theo Paphitis, who was working at Legal & General at the time, provided the necessary guidance. In 1989, when Peter and his eldest son Scott Georgiades were seeking to establish their insurance business, the equity from that house purchase was used to fund their start-up. Theo and the Georgiades family share Cypriot roots. Theo moved to the UK when he was six years old; Peter Georgiades left the island when he was 20, and soon met his wife-to-be Gail. Their three sons, Scott, Ryan and Grant are now running the family business, but Peter is still actively involved.

Left to right: The Georgiades family (Grant, Scott, Ryan, Peter, Gail) and Theo Paphitis

Theo Paphitis said: “Being in Redhill, opening these fantastic offices and hearing about how the business has grown is unbelievable. I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this, it’s a wonderful achievement and it’s great to see everyone again after 36 years.” MD Grant Georgiades said: “Theo’s philosophy of keeping things simple is essentially what Plan has been built on, and will continue to stand us in good stead as we grow.” The family owned brokerage currently arranges Gross Written Premium of over £20 million and employs 90 staff, with the ambition to double those figures within the next 10 years. Plan Insurance Brokers are also joined in the space by Yellow Jersey Cycle Insurance which is aimed at cycle enthusiasts and cycle related businesses.

Corporate sponsorship opportunities at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Corporate Social Responsibility

Sponsor a show for a night

Corporate Sponsorship packages

Help us support young people with special needs, adults with moderate learning disabilities and local schools and community groups.

Entertain your clients with a unique theatre experience with elegant private facilities to enjoy fine wines and delicious catering.

Raise your profile through bespoke advertising promotions. Treat staff or valued clients to a memorable evening to see your sponsored show.

Funding Office, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, Guildford GU1 3UX T: 01483 535 818 E: Funding@yvonne-arnaud.co.uk Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Trust Registered Charity No. 200500 Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Management Registered Charity No. 238436

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Business and the Arts

Banking on Shakespeare for our community Peter Quilter, NatWests’ Director of Corporate and Commercial Banking in Surrey, was inspired by the outreach work by The Guildford Shakespeare Company.

t started as so many things do at a networking event run by Surrey Chambers of Commerce – an introduction to Matt Pinches of The Guildford Shakespeare

Company (GSC). Established in 2006, GSC is an award-winning professional theatre company, a registered charity and one of the largest producers of home-grown theatre in the region. They also run a huge range of inhouse education classes, develop community outreach projects and work with schools across the South East. I attended a performance from the company and liked it so much that I came back two days later with my family. When I spoke with Matt and co-founder Sarah Gobran, they asked, rightly: “If you enjoyed it so much and you have not seen Shakespeare since school days, what about telling your corporate clients?” It is true that many of us studied Shakespeare at school – and many of us did not always enjoy the experience! However, Guildford Shakespeare’s performances are topnotch professional productions that connect the very human issues in the plays, linking the 16th Century and the modern world. We, at NatWest Corporate and Commercial Banking in Guildford, sponsored our first performance in 2016 – The Taming of the Shrew – and brought along customers who were delighted. Matt and Sarah can confirm they have since been back for more. Thus the arts and the business community are all working together, alongside other sponsors such as Projectfive, Surrey Chambers of Commerce and Charles Russell Speechlys. We have all found out to our advantage that bringing our contacts and customers along to Guildford Shakespeare’s productions has been most rewarding.

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Business and the Arts

Being ‘Outstanding for Customers’ is one of the key parts of the local vision the NatWest team have in Surrey and working with Guildford Shakespeare fulfills another part of our mantra – being ‘Outstanding for our Community’. Our team soon started to learn about Guildford Shakespeare’s Outreach Programme which reached 4,000 young people in 2017. In particular the team learned about the company’s work with schools and an idea was born – could the bank sponsor a day where Guildford Shakespeare Company would work with a school that had not been able to be involved before and probably could not going forward? Young people would see the text brought alive as never before and be inspired in their English and drama studies. Soon Guildford Shakespeare company were able to work with Kings College Guildford. As Matthew Pinkett, their Head of English explains: “Literacy levels are low. Lots of children come in to Year Seven below the required standard for reading and writing. Some children, aged 11, come in with a reading age as young as six. The fact that many of these children come from families of low socio-economic status (SES) means that the materials needed for adequate development at home cannot be accessed.

Currently the number of children listed as Pupil Premium at the school is 45%, which is far above the national average.” One of the bank’s apprentices went along to be part of the day (although was not asked to get into costume!). This included workshops and an interactive 80-minute performance of their GCSE Shakespeare text, Macbeth. A few volunteers took roles in the performance, including the three witches and Duncan, the murdered king. The session was then concluded with a practical Q&A with the actors. This was all delivered to 96 students and staff in the most dynamic, thoughtprovoking and engaging way. The response from the pupils is best described by Matthew Pinkett: “For students who were lacking in so-called ‘high-brow cultural capital’ experiences, seeing Shakespeare in performance had immeasurable benefits. However, those that can be measured include renewed enthusiasm for their GCSE Shakespeare text, just prior to the exam season, and a greater understanding of the play’s plot, character relationships, and key scenes.” GSC and King’s College are already planning further projects. Their English and Theatre Studies departments envisage three ‘projects’ for the future. “We’d like to offer 300 minutes

of GSC Shakespeare workshops for every year of KS3, and another 300 minutes across the two years at GCSE,” explained Matthew Pinkett. “This would acquaint students with the language of Shakespeare, which could impact positively on GCSE results in Year 11, but will also increase student confidence in working with, engaging in, and studying Shakespeare. I’d also like to run a Shakespearean Actors workshop for students in Year Nine, who have shown a particular interest in Shakespeare. Finally, I’d like to put together a mini Shakespeare festival comprised of performances from some of our disadvantaged pupils. It’d be great if GCS could assist here.” One office of one local bank has enabled this small – but first of its kind – project to happen in sponsoring a GSC workshop at a school but the key question remains: “are there other leading businesses in Surrey who would like to bring the arts into a school and inspire students?” – if so, Matt and Sarah would be delighted to hear from you.

GSC can be contacted on info@guildford-shakespearecompany.co.uk, or 01483 301590. For further information, please visit their website www.guildfordshakespeare-company.co.uk.

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The Big Story

The most generous man in the world?

Profile of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates By Ian Trevett

ust over a year ago, research by Oxfam calculated that the eight richest men in the world hold the same amount of wealth as the bottom half of the world’s population, some 3.5 billion people. The wealth of the eight men is ‘biblical’ declared Gawain Kripke, Oxfam’s Director of policy and research. “Left unchecked, growing inequality threatens to pull our societies apart.” There is no doubt that the rich are getting richer, largely because we now live in an age where technologies and money can be flashed around the world at the blink of an eye. It’s hard to know what can be done about the inequality. The global giants neatly side-step any punitive tax demands. If labour costs are too high, then products are manufactured in a location with cheaper workers. Countries prostrate themselves to attract an Apple HQ or a new Amazon distribution hub, offering incentives and tax-breaks. Rather than revolt against these over-bearing giants, nations beg the companies to choose them. Sadly, it sometimes seems that the only hope for fairer distribution is for the super-rich to be benevolent and share their wealth. Begging for charity is not a palatable option in the 21st Century. But if we do have to resort to philanthropy, then we could do with more people like Bill Gates, who in purely monetary terms is probably the most generous man in the world, with only Warren Buffett able to contest the claim. Gates has famously stated that, “Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point. Its utility is entirely in building an organisation and getting the resources out to the poorest in the world.” With his wife Melinda, Bill founded and chairs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s largest private charitable foundation, which works to save lives and improve global health, and is working with Rotary International to eliminate polio. According to www.wealthx.com, the foundation has given more than $36 billion in grant payments to various philanthropic causes. Recipients include

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The Big Story GAVI Alliance, World Health Organisation, The Rotary Foundation, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria, Nasscom Foundation, and UNICEF. Gates has sold or given away so much of his stake in Microsoft that he now owns little over 1% of shares. In 2010 Gates and Warren Buffett created the Giving Pledge, a promise to give at least half of their wealth to charity, and called on other billionaires to join them. More than 170 of the world’s richest people, including Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Bloomberg and George Lucas, have so far signed up. Gates said the pledge was “about building on a wonderful tradition of philanthropy that will ultimately help the world become a much better place.”

Gates the Good Guy A quick web search uncovers multiple examples of the extensive philanthropy from Bill and his wife Melinda, but with untold billions in the bank it’s not exactly a heavy sacrifice for the pair. But you also uncover something else. Gates is just as generous with his time as his money. This is a man truly driven to change the world, and he is increasingly being regarded as a decent human being who is doing his best. A simple test of this theory is to delve a bit deeper into web forums and responses to newspaper features, where people are never afraid to vent their spleen, spew conspiracy

theories and curse the rich and famous. Inevitably, I found the angry outbursts of the inequity of modern society, yet what was striking was the volume of personal testaments to his passion to make a difference. This entry on a Q&A site from Venkatraman Vaitheeswaran was far from untypical: “Bill Gates came on a surprise visit to a brothel area in Pune, India and was lecturing the commercial sex workers there on the importance of protection and HIV awareness. Local politicians and the Indian media had no

idea of his visit until he was on his way back to Mumbai. That’s humility. No tantrums. No photo-ops. “As well as giving lots of his money, Bill Gates gives a lot of his time, a commodity of which he has only the same allowance as everybody else.” All-round good-guy? It would have been hard to imagine a decade ago, when he was regarded as the impatient and controlling boss of one of the world’s most disliked megabrands.

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The Big Story Telemetry Systems (MITS) and hoodwinked MITS into believing they were working on a BASIC interpreter for the platform. The pitch succeeded and they quickly set to work to make their claim come true. They set up a company called Micro-Soft, but before long it became simply Microsoft.

“Left unchecked, growing inequality threatens to pull our societies apart.”

The Early Days Gates was born in Seattle on October 28th, 1955 and was known as William Gates III or “Trey”. The family were known for their competitive spirit. One friend was quoted as saying, “It didn’t matter whether it was hearts or pickle ball or swimming to the dock ... there was always a reward for winning and there was always a penalty for losing.” When he was 13, his school used the takings from a jumble sale to buy a Teletype Model 33 ASR terminal and a block of computer time on a General Electric (GE) computer for the school’s students. Gates took an interest in programming the GE system in BASIC, and was excused from math classes to pursue his interest. He wrote his first computer program on this machine, which was a version of noughts and crosses played against the computer. Gates was fascinated by the machine and how it would always execute software code perfectly. It wasn’t long before the allotted time on the computer was exhausted so Gates and three friends found a way to hack into the computers at a local computer company to access free time. They were caught and banned for using the computers at the Computer Center Corporation (CCC) for a whole summer. At the end of the ban, the four students offered to find bugs in CCC’s software in exchange for extra computer time. They were so successful that another local company, Information Sciences Inc. hired the four students to write a payroll programme in COBOL, providing them computer time and royalties. Gates then wrote the school’s computer programme to schedule students in classes. He modified the code to ensure the girls he wanted to be with were in his class.

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Gates graduated to Harvard but he remained in touch with Paul Allen, one of his fellow hackers and worked with him at Honeywell during the summer of 1974.

“Be nice to geeks, one day you will be working for one.”

In 1975 a new computer was launched called the MITS Altair 8800 and the pair decided they wanted to write software for this new piece of kit. In order to start their new company, Gates dropped out of Harvard and they contacted the manufacturer, Micro Instrumentation and

Gates soon learnt the value of his work but also had an early knack of upsetting the computer fraternity. As successful as Microsoft was, it always had its enemies, and was often prone to malicious hacking attacks. Wikipedia notes his early scrapes: “Microsoft’s Altair BASIC was popular with computer hobbyists, but Gates discovered that a pre-market copy had leaked into the community and was being widely copied and distributed. In February 1976, Gates wrote an Open Letter to Hobbyists in the MITS newsletter in which he asserted that more than 90% of the users of Microsoft Altair BASIC had not paid Microsoft for it and by doing so the Altair “hobby market” was in danger of eliminating the incentive for any professional developers to produce, distribute, and maintain high-quality software. This letter was unpopular with many computer hobbyists, but Gates persisted in his belief that software developers should be able to demand payment.”

The Big Story The rise and rise of Microsoft If he was alienating some of the hobbyists, he was also gaining some more welcome attention, and in 1980 Gates and Allen were approached by IBM who were looking for assistance with their new personal computer, the IBM PC. In the end Microsoft delivered a whole operating system, PC DOS, retaining the copyright and in the process making a name for themselves across the globe. The computer press soon caught on to the fact that Gates was the main player, with PC magazine declaring him ‘The man behind the machine’. Microsoft’s ascendancy to a world power was complete in 1985 when it released to the market an exciting new product called Windows. It was, apparently, rather popular.

“Rather than look up to Microsoft, many saw a corporate bully.” His operating systems and software revolutionised computing and made access to a computer more accessible than anyone could have dreamed. Talking to The Telegraph in 2008, Gates recalled, “When Paul Allen and I started Microsoft over 30 years ago, we had big dreams about software. We had dreams about the impact it could have. We talked about a computer on every desk and in every home. It’s been amazing to see so much of that dream become a reality and touch so many lives. I never imagined what an incredible and important company would spring from those original ideas.” The value of Microsoft peaked when the share price hit $119.94 in December 1999. With 5,160,024,593 outstanding shares, it had a market capitalisation of $618.9 billion.

Why Microsoft was so unloved An innovator like Gates should have been lauded for his achievements and contribution to society, but for every fan there was a detractor. Rather than look up to Microsoft, many saw a corporate bully. In 1998 he was summoned to court to answer for Microsoft’s restrictive business practices. In the U.S. antitrust law (competition law is the UK equivalent) case, United States v. Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft was accused of abusing its monopoly

on Intel-based personal computers. Central to the case was whether Microsoft was allowed to bundle its flagship Internet Explorer web browser software with its Microsoft Windows operating system, thus prompting all PC users to access the internet via Microsoft’s web browsing software.

“The eight richest men in the world hold the same amount of wealth as the bottom half of the world’s population, some 3.5 billion people.”

Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson found that Microsoft’s dominance of the market constituted a monopoly, and that Microsoft had taken actions to crush threats to that monopoly. The court ordered a breakup of Microsoft into two separate units, one to produce the operating system, and one to produce other software components. On appeal, the break-up was overruled and the sanctions were watered down significantly, but the reputational damage was done. Microsoft was the corporate behemoth that everyone loved to hate. In contrast, the world loved Apple, the plucky and crucially, cool, underdog. It was the loss of cool, which really did for Microsoft. In 2012, Vanity Fair noted that since 2000 the company had fallen flat in every area it entered: e-books, music, search, social networking – and the blame was firmly laid at a demoralising management culture. Author

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The Big Story “Then, after their wedding in Hawaii (on New Year’s Day 1994) Melinda read in The New York Times about the millions of children in developing countries dying of malaria and TB. She made world poverty their priority concern.” At first Melinda was the driving force of the Foundation, but once Bill departed from his day-to-day role at Microsoft, he threw himself wholeheartedly into the charitable work.

Kurt Eichenwald’s interviews with employees revealed that a management system known as “stack ranking” – a programme that forced every unit to declare a certain percentage of employees as top performers, good performers, average, and poor – effectively crippled Microsoft’s ability to innovate. “Every current and former Microsoft employee I interviewed — every one — cited stack ranking as the most destructive process inside of Microsoft, something that drove out untold numbers of employees.” One developer told Eichenwald: “If you were in a team of ten people, you walked in the first day knowing that, no matter how good everyone was, two people were going to get a great review, seven were going to get mediocre reviews, and one was going to get a terrible review. It leads to employees focusing on competing with each other rather than competing with other companies.” An anonymous former Microsoft senior marketing manager concluded: “I see Microsoft as technology’s answer to Sears. In the 40s, 50s, and 60s, Sears had it nailed. It was top-notch, but now it’s just a barren wasteland. And that’s Microsoft. The company just isn’t cool anymore.” It took a long time but Microsoft finally shrugged off the criticisms. Today it sits on the side looking on as Apple is accused of overpricing, Amazon is blamed for the death of the High Street and the finger is pointed at the mis-use of personal data on Facebook.

How the geek became cool Maybe Bill’s transformation can be credited to Melinda. The pair met in 1987, four months into her job at Microsoft, when they sat next

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to each other at an Expo trade-fair dinner in New York. “He was funnier than I expected him to be,” she reported.

“Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point. Its utility is entirely in building an organisation and getting the resources out to the poorest in the world”

In a profile of the power couple, The Independent wrote, “Whatever first attracted Ms. French to Bill Gates, he was struck by her forthrightness and independence. It was she who first spurred him into impulses of charity. After their engagement in 1993, during Melinda’s wedding shower, her mother Mary, suffering from breast cancer, read her an admonitory letter whose gist was, “from those to whom much is given, much is expected”. Mary died months later, but her advice provoked the William H Gates Foundation. Run by Bill’s father, its aim was to put laptops in every classroom. Then the couple decided that the most pressing issue in the US was reforming the education system.

In 2005 Time magazine named Bill Gates and Melinda, along with Bono, as the Persons of the Year citing three people on a global mission to end poverty, disease — and indifference. Bono said at the time, “Lots of people like Bill – and I include myself – are enraged and we sweep ourselves into a fury at the wanton loss of lives. We need a much slower pulse to help us to be rational. Melinda is that pulse.” Melinda is quick to share the praise with her husband, highlighting his open-mindedness and compassion. She wrote “As I’ve thought more deeply about equality for women around the world, I’ve been proud that Bill and I have achieved it in our life together. This is a balance that married couples, and co-workers, all over the world are always trying to strike.” Bill’s journey from corporate suit to poverty campaigner owes much to the relationship with his wife, but there was another key influence. Gates was struck by the words of the pioneering American philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie’s statement should be a mantra for everyone who find themselves in a position of having more money than they can possibly spend: “No man can become rich without himself enriching others. The man who dies rich dies disgraced.”

Finance

AEO – helping to

facilitate international trade Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) is an existing Customs authorisation which can make international trade much easier and less costly. AEO status will almost certainly bring significant benefits to UK businesses trading with European countries post-Brexit, although this will of course depend upon the final nature of Brexit. Andy Dawbarn, head of VAT at Wilkins Kennedy, looks at the AEO legislation and why businesses should consider getting on board.

here are several question marks that remain over Britain’s exit from the EU and none more so than for businesses who trade internationally. How will trade continue with the EU? Will businesses face heavy tariffs and increased Customs administration on leaving the trading bloc? These are some of the questions that are being asked – but there could be a simple solution which may help businesses who already trade internationally or will trade with EU countries post-Brexit. AEO is a globally recognised international supply chain security kitemark designed to “smooth” the Customs processes for EU businesses and this is increasingly becoming the cornerstone of HMRC’s border controls

and Customs authorisations. In the past, very few businesses have been aware of the AEO regime or attained an authorisation but there are now likely to be some significant advantages. One commercial advantage is that AEO accredited businesses will be given priority clearance of goods at borders and generally be subject to fewer Customs checks etc., which could prove a significant advantage if the predicted “frictions” in the UK import/export process arise as a result of Brexit. AEO accredited business are also able to obtain Customs authorisations with a much reduced Financial Bond or Guarantee which could significantly reduce banking costs.

In its recently issued White Paper Customs Bill: legislating for the UK’s future customs, VAT and excise regimes, the Government refers on several occasions to AEO and although it is not mandatory for businesses to have AEO status, it is important that every business is aware of a resource that should allow businesses to clear customs much more quickly, particularly if the business trades in perishable, valuable or harmful products. Many larger businesses with AEO status are also encouraging their suppliers to get an accreditation. There is an application process via HMRC which must be followed to secure AEO status which can take a few months and businesses would be well advised to consider the benefits of an AEO accreditation now as part of any Brexit planning and/or proposed changes to supply chains etc. If you would like any further assistance, then please contact our offices in Heathrow or Guildford.

Guildford – 01483 306 318 guildford@wilkinskennedy.com Heathrow – 01784 435 561 heathrow@wilkinskennedy.com

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Branding

Softly, softly In a tough, competitive market, you need to be strong and determined – but that doesn’t mean we should lose sight of our basic humanity, argues SAM FARROW

rue story. I took my car in to be serviced recently, and as we were doing the paperwork, the manager casually remarked that he’d been looking at the Farrow Creative website. “Oh, great. Is it any good?” I said (not, perhaps, the most overwhelming vote of confidence in my own work, but it was early, and he caught me by surprise). “Well, considering what you do, it needs to be, doesn’t it?” he replied, then (fortunately) added: “And yes, it is.” Relieved, I asked what had prompted his interest. “Because you’re nice and I wondered how you deal with clients who aren’t, because I have a really tricky one at the moment,” he said (not, I assume, referring to me). This got me thinking about the ‘soft skills’ that are so easily overlooked in our fast-moving, competitive world. Too

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often, business is still depicted as a knock-down-drag-out, winner-takesall battle, in which a bellicose, combative approach is the only way to survive. Somewhat depressingly, one of the world’s best-selling business and management books remains The Art of War, written by the Chinese general and strategist Sun Tzu some 2,500 years ago. For women in particular, there’s pressure to be tougher, steelier, more focused, determined and ruthless than the next guy – and sometimes, for good commercial reasons, you have to be. But it was revealing that the guy at the garage looked to my business for inspiration because he had a positive impression of me personally. I wonder if he’d have visited our website had he seen me as nasty, rather than nice? Probably the most oft-quoted maxim in The Art of War is ‘Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer’. Good advice. But we should remind ourselves that Sun Tzu also declared: ‘The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.’ That takes tact, diplomacy, cheerfulness, flexibility, friendliness and, above all, humility. These values and skills are frequently undervalued, rarely taught and sometimes actively discouraged in business today. But we need them, perhaps now more than ever. Because if we lose the art of simply being nice to each other, we’re on a very rocky road.

www.farrowcreative.co.uk

Taxation

What start-ups can teach established businesses about growth By Dan Morgan, Partner at Haines Watts

hat’s the best way to grow a company? A question I’m often asked by business owners who have either seen a slowdown in growth, are frustrated by the pace of growth or who are turning their attention to an eventual exit. It’s a tough one to answer because there are so many variables which combine to deliver ‘good growth’ and a lot of these are specific to your business and circumstances.

3. Agility matters

Nonetheless, it did get me thinking about businesses I’ve come across or read about that have achieved phenomenal growth. Many of these were start-ups. When it comes to questions on growth, established businesses could take pointers from the many successful UK start-ups.

4. Customers come first

Here are a few tips to help reinvigorate your business and stimulate growth.

1. The 500 person start-up Start-ups take risks; they are nimble, lean, have drive and energy. They are attractive places to work – especially for millennials. Larger businesses are more lumbering. Making your business adaptable, responsive and creating a thriving workplace will enable you to compete with new entrants and harness more growth.

Do you really trust employees at all levels to make decisions without asking them to jump through hoops? Risk management is of course good practice but so is giving your people authority and responsibility. Hand in hand with this goes good communication. If everyone is on the same page, making informed decisions is that much easier and your business can react quickly to changing dynamics. As organisations become more complex, it often seems that ‘doing what’s best for the business’ is more important than doing what’s right for the customer. Putting the customer above all drives sales and growth. Remember the early days when every customer mattered!

5. Learn, learn, learn Start-ups are far more likely to try new technologies, explore different channels to market and pioneer new working

arrangements for staff – don’t stick to the accepted way of doing things. When last did you adopt new technology, change your marketing channels, and review who and how you recruit. Could you get better results by trying something new? Re-connecting with the spirit of your startup days helps remind us as business owners that nothing is absolute. Taking chances, making trade-offs, challenging assumptions, revisiting where you’re heading can all help to reignite growth and reinvigorate your businesses performance. At Haines Watts we look beyond the day-to-day accounting and tax work. We delve into the ambitions and challenges you face as an owner as you grow your business. We’re focused on helping you reach your destination with greater speed and certainty.

Visit us at www.hwca.com/ accountants-esher We have offices in Godalming and Esher

2. Bust the silos When last did you expose your key people to different functions or business units? Do different functions at the very least understand and appreciate the value of one another to the business? Start-ups depend on collaboration; established businesses tend to build barriers that limit collaboration. SURREY CHAMBERS

Legal

IP services in a post-Brexit world By Robert Ganpatsingh, Partner at DMH Stallard.

he UK’s ambitious project of leaving the European Union is causing great uncertainty amongst businesses and

the legal sector itself. Not only do lawyers have the challenge of preparing their clients for a (yet unknown) new post-Brexit regulatory framework, they also face potential restrictions to the extent of services they can provide. Legal professionals currently benefit from the freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services under the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which allows them to provide their services in any EU member state. This means that UK intellectual property lawyers can represent their clients before the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), claim EU legal professional privilege and represent clients before the Court of

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Justice of the European Union. The registration of trade marks, designs and patents at the EUIPO is crucial for businesses who want to build and protect their brand within the entire EU. The EU Trade Marks (EUTM) system enables businesses to benefit from protection in all 28 member states on the basis of a single trade mark registration. In analogy, a Registered Community Design (RCD) provides businesses with a monopoly right over that design in the EU, and a European Patent is protected in all member states of the European Patent Convention. The extent to which UK legal professionals can represent clients before the EUIPO postBrexit depends on the UK’s future relationship with the EU and how quickly an agreement is sought.

Art 50(2) TEU gives the UK two years to negotiate “the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union”. Two years is a very short timeframe to negotiate and finalise the future arrangement of the movement of professionals, provision of services, and the scope of market access between the UK and the EU. The completion of the phase 1 Brexit negotiations highlighted the complexities of the task, more than providing regulatory clarity. Judging from the EU’s draft Withdrawal Agreement published in April, it appears that the current legal framework is likely to be kept throughout the transitional period post-Brexit, and possibly for a further period thereafter until the finer details and long-term arrangements are finalised in separate agreements. This is

Legal good news for legal professionals who will likely continue to be able to provide services in the EU for the time being. However, these measures just buy us time whilst the can is kicked further down the road. If the government fails to reach an agreement on preferential market access for legal services in the long run, UK lawyers would be restricted in providing legal services within the EU as they would be limited to the rights of foreign lawyers under the WTO rules and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). A Free Trade Agreement similar to the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) would incorporate provisions on legal services, but would not guarantee the same extent of rights

as currently enjoyed.

“ The completion of the phase 1 Brexit negotiations highlighted the complexities of the task, more than providing regulatory clarity.”

DMH Stallard is prepared for all possible outcomes of the negotiations to ensure that we can continue to offer the same services to meet our clients’ needs. For example, we collaborate with legal professionals who are, and will continue to be, qualified to advise across all EU member states through our global network, Law Europe International.. Just as we are preparing for potential Brexit scenarios in the legal sector, it is also paramount that businesses check that their IP rights are protected in all relevant territories post-Brexit.

To contact Robert Ganpatsingh please email Robert.Ganpatsingh@dmhstallard.com or call 01273 744213.

DMH STALLARD WELCOMES ‘EXEMPLARY APPOINTMENT’ Richard Pollins, Managing Partner at DMH Stallard, said: “This is yet another exemplary appointment for the firm at one of the most exciting times in our long history. “Mark’s skill set, experience, and allround qualities mirror the calibre of legal professionals that we are known for, and I’m delighted he is now part of the DMH Stallard team.”

Mark Rennie

MH Stallard has welcomed one of the most highly regarded family law specialists to the firm. Mark Rennie was formerly the head of the family department at asb law. He advises on all areas of matrimonial law, with particular experience in dealing with cases which involve business ownership. Mark is well known as a highly effective litigator, handling complex family disputes, often in high net worth cases.

Mark said: “I am pleased to join the team at DMH Stallard at such an exciting time for the firm and look forward to assisting the business in its ongoing and ambitious plans for growth generally. Throughout my career I have always sought to ensure my clients are protected and supported through what is for many a very difficult journey. DMH Stallard provides me with the opportunity to ensure that anyone using our services will be treated with the highest standard of excellence, as they deserve.”

To contact Mark Rennie please email Mark.Rennie@dmhstallard.com or call 01403 282728

PROPERTY SEMINAR Thursday 5th July 8:30am – 9:30am Come and join our team of experts at our Guildford office to look at the hot topics and new developments in the property industry. Tea, coffee, bacon rolls and pastries will be served from 8:10am. This event will be of particular interest to property developers, surveyors, financiers and estate agents. To register your interest please contact our event’s team on 01293 605028.

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JOIN US AT SPACES GUILDFORD, STATION VIEW. An inspiring, high-end work environment where ideas develop, businesses build, and relationships evolve. A place where you can get down to business, check emails and hold meetings, all this while you can enjoy a great cup of coffee and a healthy lunch. Call us on 0800 756 2509 or visit spacesworks.com/guildford

Offices, Memberships, Meeting Rooms. SURREY CHAMBERS

Workspaces

Spaces to launch Guildford site A contemporary co-working hub is set to open soon opposite the Railway Station.

reative workspace provider Spaces has announced the opening of a new hub in Guildford in June 2018. Occupying 1,533sqm of Austen House, Spaces will provide a contemporary office building with brilliant access to transport links, as well as Guildford town centre.

“A base for a variety of leading hightech companies, Guildford is a thriving location for business and is particularly regarded as a centre for video game production.”

private offices and meeting rooms as well as flexible co-working spaces. In order to ensure continued productivity, the new Spaces branch will also offer top quality business Wi-Fi and coffee and tea for free. The Guildford location prospers from excellent transport links, being located opposite Guildford station and with easy access to both Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as the amenities that the local town has to offer. This opening is the latest in the successful expansion of Spaces UK. The workspace provider, which was founded in 2006, already has several locations across the UK including London, Bath, Brighton, Glasgow, Liverpool, Reading and Uxbridge, with more locations due to open in the coming months.

Internationally, the company has a network of centres across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. Spaces UK CEO, Richard Morris, comments: “Spaces’ focus on community prioritises the provision of a social and productive working environment and, as such, combines the two to redefine the meaning of ‘work’. “A base for a variety of leading high-tech companies, Guildford is a thriving location for business and is particularly regarded as a centre for video game production. The inspirational dynamics of the new Spaces hub make it perfect for Guildford’s creative, technological background.”

For further information visit www.spacesworks.com

Spaces is an Amsterdam-born workspace pioneer, creating productive working environments designed to allow the integration of lifestyle and work. With its unique entrepreneurial ethos and opportunity to co-work, Spaces actively encourages members to network with one another. With the modern day requirements of a varied workplace, the new Guildford site will offer

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Travel – New York

Shake hands in

New York Rose Dykins reports on what’s new in the city that never sleeps – with updates on the World Trade Centre site and a burgeoning new business district.

here’s a timelessness to New York that makes it feel like it’s waiting for you. Omnipresent yellow taxis, the rumbling pulse of the subway, ferries trawling across the transformative stretch between Battery Park and Staten Island. The sleepless neon blur of Times Square, the understated majesty of the Manhattan Bridge, the gritty promise of Brooklyn. Few cities on earth have such a distinct personality, or such a compelling working culture that sets the bar globally for what perseverance and vision can achieve. A magnet for aspirational minds, New York is a surefire hit when it comes to hosting corporate events. Who wouldn’t be tempted to attend a gala dinner in the heart of Central Park at the Loeb Boathouse – an elegant venue situated on the world-famous park’s lake (thecentralparkboathouse.com). Or to mingle at a drinks reception along the High Line, Manhattan’s elevated park set along the former New York Central Railroad – its greenery-filled pathways have hosted everything from film screenings to catwalk shows (thehighline.org). Or to seal a deal beneath the

Times Square SURREY CHAMBERS

Travel – New York stained-glass dome of The Palm Court at The Plaza – an iconic spot for a breakfast meeting (theplazany.com).

“The city’s ability to reimagine itself and deliver on its grand plans shows that the sky really is the limit when you apply a New York state of mind.” The High Line Beyond its old faithfuls, New York has gained, and is gaining, a slew of new infrastructure that will benefit both the local and international business community. These include the World Trade Centre site, where the gleaming 4 World Trade Centre and 1 World Trade Centre towers stand defiantly, welcoming tens of thousands of workers and shoppers each day. And the $4 billion World Trade Centre Transportation Hub, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, has been opening in stages since 2016. Known as the Oculus, the structure’s exterior design is modelled on the wings of a dove taking flight (though critics have likened it to pair of ribs). Oculus is now the main terminal for the World Trade Centre site, slated to handle double the current number of 50,000 weekly commuters from New Jersey and beyond. The

glass-paned structure sends light down into its subterranean pathways, which connect to rail and subway lines, and the 1,858 sqm transit hall – a transport landmark to rival Grand Central station with its towering white skylight – can be hired for certain kinds of events. Just around the corner, the 4,000 sqm Liberty Park also opened to the public in 2016. Overlooking Ground Zero, the space is home to a 91-metre-long living wall flourishing with creepers and ivy. And nearing completion imminently is 3 World Trade Centre, which will also be filled with office and retail space, and it will be possible to view four US states from the 76th-floor terrace of the 329-metre skyscraper. Still in the pipeline for the site are 2 World Trade Centre – another landmark commercial

tower – and the Ronald O Perelman Performing Arts Centre, a translucent marble cube-shaped venue that will embrace “creation and memory with respectful individuality”, due for completion in 2020.

“Few cities on earth have such a distinct personality, or such a compelling working culture that sets the bar globally for what perseverance and vision can achieve.” Coming in June, Brooklyn’s bohemian neighbourhood of Williamsburg will gain the first iteration of a mammoth new mixed-use development. The Domino Sugar Refinery building is the centrepiece – a 19th-century redbrick factory standing proud along east bank of the East River – and is being repurposed into covetable office space, while doughnut-shaped commercial tower 325 Kent is also on the rise. And the finishing touches are currently being added to its first phase, a 2.4-hectare park that will transform the Brooklyn waterfront area. Domino Park will have suitably hip attractions for Williamsburgers, such as a

Fairylit picnic area at Domino Park. Photo Credit Aether SURREY CHAMBERS

Travel – New York dog run, bocce ball courts, a Japanese Pine Garden, a taco restaurant and a fairylit picnic area – plus an elevated walkway propped up by steel columns salvaged from the Raw Sugar Warehouse. In addition, Artifact Walk will run for five blocks, displaying historical objects part of the sugar refining process that have been rescued from the site, including 11-metretall syrup tanks, signage, corkscrews and manufacturing equipment. All in all, Domino Park will add a new dimension to Williamsburg for businesspeople and tourists alike. Finally, one of New York’s most eagerly anticipated developments for investors is Hudson Yards – the largest private property development in America’s history, and an exciting new business district situated southwest of Manhattan. Set to be completed by 2025, the $25 billion 11-hectare site will be a “city within a city” with eight residential buildings, a retail site with shops and five office skyscrapers – one of which will have an observation tower higher than the Empire State Building. While the prime real estate here will probably only be a viable option for millionaires, there are plans to build a spectacular public viewing gallery in Hudson Yards. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, “Vessel” will be a honeycomb-like warren of staircases and landings – redolent of an Escher artwork – in a move to create something inclusive and welcoming for all New Yorkers. The sheer scale of New York’s plans is truly staggering. The city’s ability to reimagine itself and deliver on its grand plans shows that the sky really is the limit when you apply a New York state of mind.

Both pictures above: The Vessel development Credit Forbes Massie

Travel – New York

See New York the right way LOCALIKE New York – the brainchild of Manhattanite Andreas Leuzinger – curates unique itineraries, opening doors to exclusive VIP experiences for incentives. “Our services are great for individual business travellers wishing to explore the city, as well as small medium enterprises and large companies who want a detailed customised itinerary based on the group’s specific purposes and needs,” says Leuzinger. Here’s a LOCALIKE itinerary designed for Platinum Business readers:

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

Morning Conference

Team-building Activity

Uhuru Design at 74 Franklin (uhurudesign.com) is a unique workspace located in the desirable Tribeca district, that turns office working into an experience. Its centrepiece is a raw and natural wooden table, plus there’s a built-in bar, a working fireplace and catered lunch.

Blurring the lines between fiction and reality, Live in Theater (liveintheater.com) brings stimulating and realistic murder mystery scenarios. Great for team building, the scenarios are fun and interactive, requiring problem-solving skills.

High-end Lunch Afternoon Incentive

Established by Michelin-star chef John Fraser, the food at Nix (nixny.com) is exclusively vegetarian, focusing on seasonal and local produce. This sleek restaurant is ideal for a light, healthy lunch – so delegates won’t feel too stuffed for a busy afternoon.

At Rooftop Reds (rooftopreds.com), the world’s first commercially viable urban rooftop vineyard, enjoy a locally sourced glass of wine right amidst the vines, where groups can sign up for viticulture classes. During the summer, Rooftop Reds also organises weekly movie nights and yoga.

Networking Dinner

Corporate Board Meeting For a long meeting, this contemporary conference room at Work House NYC (workhousenyc) feels as inviting as it is practical. The space is equipped with all the board meeting essentials: a whiteboard wall, TV with HDMI/Apple TV capability and speakerphone, and natural light pours in from the skylight. The accentuated breakout space and roof deck provides a change of scenery, encouraging ideas to flow freely.

Event space

Located on the waterfront, Celestine (celestinebk.com) is an Eastern Mediterranean restaurant with stunning views of the East River, Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, and the Manhattan skyline.

The Whitney Museum of American Art (whitney.org) is a unique space for large networking events and evening celebrations surrounded by beautiful artwork. The roof terraces overlook the vibrant Meatpacking District and are perfect for an evening cocktail at sunset.

Visit localike-newyork.com SURREY CHAMBERS

Business Awards

Surrey Super Growth Awards Introducing three of this year’s high-growth finalists. Nurture Landscapes Ltd www.nurturelandscapes.co.uk Nurture Landscapes is a privately-owned national landscape grounds maintenance company established by Peter Fane on April 1st 2008. The start-up was self-funded by Peter and his brother Mark Fane. With just four employees, out of a single depot in Surrey, Nurture started its journey, focusing on the corporate, business and public sectors. Their vision was to create a best in class business, one that truly cared about their team, about quality, about the environment within which they worked, and cared about building long term relationships with their clients.

t’s a busy time for the Surrey Super Growth Awards team, a collaboration between asb law, Lloyds Bank and RSM, who are currently meeting with the fastest-growing private companies across the county to congratulate them on their success. These companies are vital to the economy – they account for annual revenues of more than £2.9 billion, driving rising demand and generating prosperity across the region. The full list of finalists and their growth rates will be published in a special feature following the Surrey Super Growth Awards breakfast, which is taking place at Brooklands Museum on Thursday June 28th 2018. For now, we are pleased to introduce three of this year’s finalists and provide some insight into their businesses. SURREY SUPER GROWTH AWARDS CRITERIA • Privately-owned business, trading and registered in Surrey. • Growth in turnover measured over a 4-year accounting period based on latest full accounts information filed at Companies House. • Minimum turnover of £2m in base year. For further information about the Surrey Super Growth Awards, please contact: neil.gardner@asb-law.com

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At the end of its first year to March 31st 2009, Nurture had sales of £1m and made a profit of £48k employing 24 staff, with the vision of reaching £10m sales after 10 years. Now in its tenth year, through both organic growth and 18 strategic acquisitions, Nurture has grown from a four employee business to a multi-award winning national business, operating out of six regional offices across the UK. The business now employs over 1000 employees, generating annual sales of £69m. Unlike other similar companies, Nurture has stuck to what it knows and does best, which has given it strength. Nurture has a strong management team who have worked in the horticultural industry most of their working lives. All the management and office team have shares or share options which now total 18% of the company, hence have an invested interest in the company and its success. They are passionate about the environment and proactively work with the focus on driving sustainable improvement initiatives at every opportunity, which have been recognised by 17 Sustainability Awards during 2016 and 2017.

Nurture provides specialist landscape and grounds maintenance services

Nurture is also a key provider of gritting and snow clearance services

Business Awards

Romans International Ltd www.romansinternational.com Romans International was founded in 1994 and has been one of the UK’s leading luxury car dealerships for the best part of two decades, but it’s in recent years that the company has experienced rapid growth and is proud to have been included three years in a row in the Surrey Super Growth Awards. Romans is a family-run business owned by Paul Jaconelli who runs it alongside his son Tom and his brother Marc. It’s a sales only business dealing in ultra exclusive cars. Romans operate from a single site showroom in Banstead so the sustained growth is all the more impressive seeing as they have not had any additional sites or expansion. They put the growth down to a booming market and a more refined strategy based around a higher volume of sales and increased focus on marketing and finance income. Some recent sales include a one off Bugatti Veyron sold in excess of £2m and two Ferrari LaFerrari’s for a combined total in excess of £5m. Romans pride themselves on having the very best cars in the world prepared to the highest standards whilst building long-lasting relationships with their high net worth clients.

The Romans team: (l-r) Marc, Paul and Tom Jaconelli

The Romans International showroom in Banstead

New England Seafood International Ltd www.neseafood.com New England Seafood International (NESI) is a privately-owned importer, processor and distributor of premium fresh fish to the UK’s leading retailers and sushi chains, based in Chessington. Founded in 1991 by Fred Stroyan, supplying live lobsters from Canada to London’s leading restaurants and hotels, the business grew organically to £100m over its first 25 years before making its first acquisition in November 2016 as part of a move to double capacity and unlock further growth. The business today has a turnover in excess of £150m and employs 600 people. NESI has a market leading position in species such as fresh tuna, sea bass and bream and wild Alaskan salmon which has been built on foundations of strong global sourcing, well invested operations and a constant flow of relevant and successful product innovation and marketing. The company is highly regarded for the stance it takes in advocating and working for sustainable fishing on the global stage and was recently presented with an award for long-term sustainable partnership by the Maldivian government. NESI is a purpose driven organisation and its purpose of “enhancing lives through fish” from the suppliers and communities from which it sources it fish, through its employees and communities and to the end consumer with its healthy and delicious food offer, was recently recognised in a 2030 purpose study by Deloitte and Touche. Like many UK-based food businesses the uncertainty of Brexit and the potential impacts of labour access, duty tariffs and foreign exchange volatility are creating their fair share of challenges for New England Seafood. However, this clarity of purpose and a clear vision of “showing people how to enjoy fish every day” means that the business is staying focused on the opportunities to increase seafood consumption in the UK, by creating more delicious and inspiring occasions for consumers to enjoy this healthy food. The macro trends are certainly in their favour. NESI is a key advocate of sustainable NESI has a market-leading position in premium fishing fresh fish

SURREY CHAMBERS

Business Course

Measuring project and programme outcomes and impact Surrey Chambers members can benefit from reduced fees on this three day course

“W

hat did the project achieve? How is the programme making a difference to our customers? Have we improved the delivery of our services? What impact did that investment make?”

These are just some of the questions senior management, boards and funding agencies are asking today. Whether the investment is intended to improve the delivery or cost of public services, increase efficiencies, support public-private collaboration, improve customer experience or reduce risk. This course is designed to change the participant’s approach to project investments. From the outset, attendees will establish a clear view of the measurable results they want to achieve. Participants will build outcome and impact indicators into their planning which will be used to focus the design of the project. Course attendees will learn how to build a ‘Theory of Change’ to demonstrate the reasoning behind an investment, to clarify its context and to identify its milestones.

Who should attend? This course is designed both for experienced and potential managers accountable for commissioning, oversight and/or reporting on project and programme investments, and for those playing key roles in project and programme teams. It is practice based and each participant is expected to use a planned or early stage project or programme in which their organisation is making an investment.

Course objectives • Learn about Theory of Change and how it can be used to improve achievement and reporting of outcomes and impact • Apply Theory of Change to participant’s own project and draft measurable outcome indicators • Learn the purpose and structure of logic modelling for outcomes monitoring • Apply a Logic Model to participant’s own project to monitor progress towards outcomes • Learn about different ways to monitor and evaluate outcome data • Apply learning to build a monitoring and evaluation plan for participant’s own project

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Course content • Module 1 (Day 1) – Planning for Outcomes This module will cover the Theory of Change, including; theory, purpose and benefits, examples appropriate to the participant’s sector and project and practice in application. • Module 2 (Day 2 and 3) – Preparing for Measurement This module will cover the logical modelling, including; their purpose in defining a pathway to the achievement of outcomes and impact; different types of outcomes in the chain of impact; planning data collection for monitoring and evaluating; preparing a data collection plan and selecting appropriate instruments; the first steps in contribution analysis; looking forward to calculating value for money and communicating progress and results.

Duration Three days plus each evening a small amount of work is required to prepare for presentations on the following day.

Qualification Following the course, participants are expected to complete and submit the set of plans they have been constructing with the support of the facilitator during the course. These are formally assessed and successful submissions result in the award of the Professional Certificate in Human Capital Investment Planning which is formally accredited through Pearson, against the UK National Qualifications Framework at Level 5. This course is the sole entry point to this qualification, which is the first stage in three progressive levels of professional qualifications. The assessment requirements and the qualifications are presented at the course and instructions and assessment templates provided to all participants. • Event Theme: Measuring and Reporting Results and Impact • Price: Member Rate: £814 +VAT • Non-Member Rate: £925 +VAT • Event Location: Arcom IT Limited, Export House, Cawsey Way, Woking, Surrey, GU21 6QX • When: July 3rd-5th 2018, 9.30-17.00

To book on please visit: www.surrey-chambers.co.uk/event-listing/, or for more information give one of the Chambers team a call on 01483 735540

Member Profile

Actively investing in growing companies Interview with Laura Cockburn from BGF Who are you, and what do you do? BGF invests in small and mid-sized businesses that want investment to pursue growth. We make long-term, patient capital investments in exchange for a minority equity stake, providing funding for growth and equity release, and offering access to a talent network made up of board-level business people. We’re the most active investor for growing companies and entrepreneurs in the UK and Ireland, and most recently we became the only investment company to win the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation. For a company that was set up in 2011, that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.

Tell us about the businesses you back in Surrey With an economy worth over £37bn, Surrey is well-known for being one of the most productive areas of the UK, and its small and med-sized business economy is no exception. Across the county, we’ve backed businesses from a range of sectors, including law firm MacMillan Williams and fraud-prevention software company Semafone, to support their growth strategies and help build their networks. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the companies we back fulfil their potential. We initially invested in Guildford-based Semafone in October 2014 to help them deliver their new contract wins and expand overseas. They’re now the leading provider of data security and fraud prevention software, and have been selected for the second time as one of the top 100 UK businesses on the Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track List for having the fastest-growing international sales over the last two years.

“We’re the most active investor for growing companies and entrepreneurs in the UK and Ireland, and most recently we became the only investment company to win the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation.”

What is your top tip for businesses seeking investment? Know your options. Many small businesses worry equity partnerships mean losing control, but our minority stake means you always stay in control of the day-to-day running of your business. Beyond that, if you want to scale-up, having a good team around you is key. That doesn’t necessarily have to be in place before you receive an investment. In fact, many founders and CEOs use BGF’s funding to do exactly that – scale and strengthen their management team. A good product or service is obviously important, but great people are absolutely critical.

www.bgf.co.uk

SURREY CHAMBERS

Currently only 32% of directors are women and by 2024 the UK needs another 1.5 million women in management roles. Participating in this course will give you the skills and knowledge to help you be one of them. The Women Leaders Academy is a two year programme of monthly workshops and masterclasses with industry experts: •

Support and networking with peers.

•

One-to-one coaching and mentoring.

•

Leads to a CMI Level 5 qualification with Chartered Manager status.

•

Eligible for Apprenticeship Levy Payers to use their funding pot.

To find out more visit: www.protrain-solutions.co.uk/courses/women-leaders or call 01252 712945

SURREY CHAMBERS

Business Planning

Brexit – How your Chamber of

Commerce can help you prepare by Anastassia Beliakova, Head of Trade Policy, British Chambers of Commerce

ach new week seems to bring a new twist in the Brexit melodrama. As soon as one critical EU-UK meeting passes, the deadline of the next appears on the horizon, with the UK Government having come no closer to resolving knotty issues, such as how to avoid checks on the Irish border whilst diverging from the EU’s regulations, and whether or not the UK will be in a customs union with the EU in the future. With a weak majority, a divided Cabinet and under pressure from a Parliament that is increasingly flexing its muscles, the Prime Minister’s Government looks very shaky. Looking at this context and the resulting Brexit uncertainty, is it even possible for companies to prepare?

have there, and what it would mean for you to do the same for trade with the EU. If you only trade with the EU, consider the cost of new paperwork, assess how much of your product’s contents come from just the UK (this will be useful knowledge once origin check requirements become clear in the future), as well as whether you have enough cash-flow to pay VAT at point of import on all your goods. Your Chamber can assist you with many of these questions, and advise on what a customs declarations process, as well as checks on origin, will entail. In addition, your Chamber can give tips on what HMRC facilitations may be useful for you in the future – applying for

these and lowering your costs could be a way of getting ahead of the Brexit game. We are all in the hands of the political process, and Brexit may yet offer unexpected twists and turns. But there is no reason to be passive, and much to gain from getting yourself Brexit-proof – some preparation now will give you confidence and a critical head start to master the changes yet to come.

For Surrey Chambers support contact: export@surrey-chambers.co.uk 01483 735549

The answer is a resounding yes – and not only possible, but also vital, if companies don’t want to be caught out by future political twists and turns. To prepare, it is necessary to accept Theresa May’s stated policy – as well as to draw conclusions from it without waiting for detailed guidance from Government. Whilst the future of services trade has not yet been addressed in great detail, we do know a bit more on trade in goods. The Prime Minister intends for the UK to not be in a customs union with the EU. This means that a) there will be new customs declarations between the UK and the EU; b) there will checks on origin on UK-EU trade and c) EU goods will be liable for VAT at point of import. All of these will result in greater administration, some higher costs, as well as potential delays. While some of these could be made easier for companies through the ultimate terms of the UK-EU agreement, or by the UK Government’s own domestic measures (such as more generous VAT deferment terms), some new friction on UK-EU goods trade is very likely. If you are already trading with non-EU countries, look at what arrangements you

SURREY CHAMBERS

Breakthrough Moments – a Santander Promotional Feature

A Santander Breakthrough Debate

Focus on International Trade Are you exporting? Are you thinking of exporting?

We invited a panel of international trade experts and business owners to discuss the opportunities presented by exporting – and the issues businesses face. Facilitated by Maarten Hoffmann Edited by Ian Trevett

Fear of exporting Lev: It is quite often that fear of the unknown is the biggest obstacle. This is

Lev Denker, Trade Advisor, Department for International Trade

understandable, but a lot of companies don’t realise how much help is available out there. The Department for International Trade (DIT) offers practical help to companies both small and large. We have trade advisors across the region and our job is to talk to clients, look at their business and advise them objectively if their business is suitable for exporting.

We can help them understand the legal, transport, language and culture issues, and we also help them find distributors or agents overseas. Businesses can also get valuable support from banks, Chambers of Commerce and trade associations. Businesses shouldn’t be frightened but they should be prepared. It’s very important to get your planning strategy right. There’s help to get them on the first ladder of exporting and if they are on it already, we can help them to climb higher.

Helenor: We’re pre-export and I’m not scared because of the DIT. I have a fantastic trade advisor, Richard Bond, who we met at a very early stage. He has held our hand and made sure that we are really thinking about export right from the start of our business evolution.

Helenor Rogers, Founder, Troo Foods

We told him we were concentrating on the UK first, and he said, “I understand you’re doing the UK first but don’t preclude yourself from doing export first because there could be even bigger opportunities for you.”

I still think we need to learn our lessons first. But we are not thinking that we have to be a £1 million UK company before we export. We just need to make sure that our logistics are in order. We want to make the mistakes and then go to market knowing that our product is robust, knowing who our target market is, and knowing how to service the customers. Having been on several DIT

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training courses we’re doing it with confidence, so when we do go to export we will be doing the right thing. I went on a DIT trade mission with Santander last year and very quickly realised the benefit that the bank could bring if we want to be a serious export brand in Europe. I think it will be early next year.

Lev: You put your finger on it: “When you’re ready.” That’s the important thing. We always say make sure that you’re on solid ground at home. If it doesn’t succeed at home it’s very unlikely that it will succeed overseas.

Helenor: It’s all very exciting when you’re new and someone says, “I could take a pallet next week to Hong Kong.” By going on the DIT training courses you get the confidence to wait if you know the timing isn’t right. I’ve heard lots of stories from people who took up those offers and they’ve ended up with their pallet stuck in customs or they’ve had other problems.

Breakthrough Moments Jeremy: I think there is a fear. I would

Julianne: The way I’ve built my business

suggest with quite a number of business owners it’s quite easy to say “My product isn’t ready.” But will it ever be ready? There has to be a point where you decide to make the step into the unknown.

is to jump off the cliff and build the airplane on the way down. That’s how it is as an entrepreneur. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t say yes to things. I wouldn’t be in Sainsbury’s, I wouldn’t be in ASDA. I turned up and knocked on the doors and did it. And the same happens with exporting. We have an advantage as British brands are respected. People buy because British manufacturing is known to be one of the best.

When you talk to people who have made the leap they will usually say that they wish they had gone sooner. Most will also say that you have got to go to the country, you can’t do it remotely. Some use LinkedIn to great effect, using it to announce that they are visiting a country, and in doing so, they have people getting in touch to arrange meetings when they visit.

Jeremy Taylor, CEO, Gatwick Diamond Business

Julianne Ponan, CEO, Creative Nature Super Foods

Creative Pod’s Matt Turner told me he was almost thinking of setting up a New York office and approaching people in the UK saying, “I’m over from New York, can we have a meeting?” as people will say, “Blimey, yeah! You’ve come all the way from New York!” I was in business in Atlanta, Georgia, a few years ago and, out of the blue, someone said “This guy wants to meet you.” I said “Who is he?” “He is the head of one of the biggest law firms in Georgia.” “Oh, okay, great. Why does he want to meet me?” “Because you’ve come here.” You can’t underestimate the power of going somewhere. Mark: Our surveys tell us that just

Mark Collings, Head of International for Santander SME Banking

under two-thirds of SMEs are confident of growth in the next 12 months, and this includes businesses that are either currently internationally trading or want to internationally trade. There is still a fear factor, so it is important to build supportive networks. If you want to explore overseas markets go with other people who are exporting or are planning to export, and you will benefit from the trusted advice from the businesses you travel with.

Jeremy: The key is to “Be ready to be lucky

– a great example is Tangletease, who made the hairbrush used by Kate Middleton’s hairdresser on the morning of her wedding. A very famous Chinese model or soap actress was in Britain at the time, tried the brush and tweeted “I love this brush. It makes my hair look like a princess.” Knowing this lady has got millions of followers, Tangletease immediately registered ‘Princess Brush’ as a trademark in China. It’s a huge success and is a case of being ready to be lucky.

A Santander Breakthrough Debate

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Breakthrough Moments

Where to export?

A Santander Breakthrough Debate

How do you decide which country to trade with? Helenor: Social media is very helpful because it is global. I can tell from my Instagram following where we are getting interest. Our positioning is about gut health. So where are the areas where people are looking for products which are gut healthy or gluten-free? We can’t afford to do big advertising campaigns globally so where is there an intrinsic interest in my product? There’s lots of information you can get from the DIT. We joined the Institute of Directors, which as a small company only costs £100 to join the IoD. With the IoD, you can say “I would like you to give me some research on the gluten-free market in Spain” and they’ll write you a report. I think you’re allowed 20 reports a year. Also, you’re allowed a number of sessions with their experts. We benefitted from some great advice about trademarking our company when we discovered a Greek company had the same name, which saved us the cost of using trademark lawyers.

Julianne: We tried Scandinavia first, about two and a half years ago. We went over there, looked at what was on the shelves and saw they were way ahead of the UK. We thought it would be easy to get in but it wasn’t because they were so ahead.

We met some people at a trade show and they said “Your product will really suit Switzerland.” We weren’t sure but we were invited over with all our expenses paid. We were suspicious as they were doing so much for us; we were wondering what the catch was. But we went over and saw that there was a market for us and they started selling by the pallet load. Within two months we had everything set up and ready to go. And it worked really well.

Mike: We looked at the largest supply We’d thought being a British product meant we were coming in from a different angle. There was already a market there for allergen-free products and healthy eating, it’s only going to grow further. The press and social media depicted Scandinavia’s focus on healthy eating and gluten-free. We thought there’s got to be a market for us. But we found it very tough because they were able to produce a lot cheaper than we were. We’re selling there now but it took a while.

Mike Coomber, Director, Rivertrace

base to the shipping industry and that happened to be Germany. So that was our first market. And then you just look sector by sector who else is a large target market. We went in at the ground level to find other equipment makers where our product was compatible, or as a component of, and then you could exploit their networks.

You can spend a lot of money on developing a product, and you can have the best product in the world, but without the marketing and the network you’ll go nowhere. It costs you nothing to walk a trade show. In one day you can see who’s who in the zoo or if there is a market. Then maybe join an overseas mission or do your own exhibition, and spend the money to do so. We do a lot of exhibitions and we pick up potential contacts, distributors or agents from countries you’ve never even thought of.

An unanswered question: Jeremy: There are R&D tax credits, so why not international trade tax credits? Surely the government should be helping our exporters more?

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Breakthrough Moments

Culture & language Do you need to speak the language? Helenor: Most people, especially in business, speak English. It did help in Spain that my parents had been there for ten years, so I feel comfortable there. I know enough to know that there’s a massive “sin gluten” demand. I wouldn’t go to trade exhibitions on my own, I would go with Santander or the DIT as they have the right people to help you. You make sure you’re prepared, you know how to say the basic words. You don’t want to be ignorant but clearly your packaging and your communications have to be in the right language and you have to be able to do your marketing in the right language.

Paula Kemp, Breakthrough Business Manager, Santander Business

Paula: At Santander we’ve got relationships with universities, so you could hire an intern through one of those university partners and get them to do some translation for you. Though it should be pointed out that a direct translation is not necessarily the right messaging. It is better to have someone from a marketing background to look at your messaging.

Mike: Thank God for Google Translate! I was in Beijing recently at an offshore oil and gas show and we were just trying to get the stand set up. We wanted our backdrops made up. We had the designs and the guy made them overnight for very little money. But there was no communication. He didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Mandarin. Google Translate was absolutely fantastic!

Knowing a language is nice, but in China, Korea, they all speak English. English, thankfully, is the business language. And the more countries you export to, the harder it is to learn all those languages.

Helenor: But even when people speak English, the culture is different. Take Ireland, for example. I’ve done a lot of business in Ireland and they’re not very good at saying no. They will say how much they love your products, but that doesn’t mean you are close to a deal. By contrast, I love working with the Northern Europeans, because they will just say, “I don’t like it.” They’re blunt but you know where you are. Ireland is a good example of how you can speak exactly the same language but the message won’t necessarily get through.

Lev: I was export manager of a company for five years, so I got used to the different ways people do business. If you go to a meeting in the Middle East, for the first half an hour or forty minutes you don’t talk about business. They’re talking about the family and they’re asking about your children. If you did the same in Germany, and start talking about your children, they’ll think you have gone mad. When I went to China, I always learnt just a few Chinese words, such as hello. You wouldn’t believe how much it breaks the ice, and they really appreciate that you have made an effort.

A Santander Breakthrough Debate

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A Santander Breakthrough Debate

Breakthrough Moments

Go together The power of Trade Missions Mark: We had a great example when a very well known beer brewery business and a cider manufacturer went together to meet the buyer of the biggest ex-pat supermarket in the Spanish market. Going together added even more value because the buyer could look at beers and ciders and think about developing a British shelf as part of their supermarket. Historically entrepreneurs can look at other businesses in the sector as competitors. We’re far more powerful together. When we were in Brazil, we had owners of businesses role playing to each other on pitching products into overseas markets. For some businesses it almost created a non-exec directorship on a trade mission because you had somebody who was maybe into Scandinavia for 10 years but wasn’t into Ireland and the other person was completely the opposite.

Julianne: We feed off other companies. Cheeky Panda is one of them. They’re environmentally friendly, so they fit with us. Whatever market they go into, we use their distributors. Whatever market we go into, they have ours and we both build our companies.

Helenor: Trade missions are quite intense. I’ve recently been to one in Ireland and in Belgium. Actually the trade missions themselves might not have been that great but the people I’ve met from Britain feel like they’re my gang. I feel that I could ring them up and say, “Who did you say you spoke to? Who was that person?” There’s a great spirit of co-operation

Paula: We did a trade mission to China and there were UK brands there that I’d never seen in the UK, so they’ve obviously gone straight to the export market.

Partners on the ground Mark: It goes back to the point around partners and having the partners who “are deep in the market”; it’s around really understanding the market, being deep in market and having those networks that you trust – your legal partner, your audit partner, the right people from a governmental perspective. It’s around knowing the specialists in the whole international trade cycle and who’s the most appropriate partner at that point in that sector, in that particular market. Ultimately, the end goal is to help the SME do more business in that market. And there is a shared budget of support – the government will have a budget to support, Santander wants to help businesses prosper, so we have a budget to support; so will other Chambers, other trade bodies, other professional services. Ultimately it’s around picking the right partners here in the UK and in those local markets.

Lev: Finding the right partner is really important because that right partner will have access to the right people, especially if it’s a premium product. You start with the internet or social media to see where there’s potential demand. Then the next stage is maybe getting in touch with people on the ground there, which we can help with. There’s nothing like seeing it for yourself and speaking to people and seeing the white of their eyes.

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The cheapest and one of the best research undertakings for me was talking to a concierge in Dubai. They are a mine of information. Most importantly after that, I’d say, is commitment. You will fall over, so you need to get up, dust yourself down and continue. Be prepared, financially and time-wise.

Julianne: We found a partner in China that was great. He put us in contact with great people. The risk of doing it before knowing that there is definitely a market is too high.

Breakthrough Moments

The help available Julianne: We were exporting to Scandinavia when the DIT approached me to speak at an event, thinking we were one of their clients. Actually we’d had no contact with the DIT at all. However, we then met with one of their trade advisors, Adrian Denn, and he has been absolutely incredible. We had an agent in Germany who wanted to take a fee of every single order that went out, which was awful. Adrian managed to sort this out for us very quickly. I always call Adrian if I have a problem.

places to get information, it is usually incomplete. There doesn’t seem to be enough joined-up strategy. Baroness Fairhead, Minister of State for Trade and Export Promotion, is producing an Export Strategy, so hopefully we will see the government departments cooperate. We should certainly exploit the overseas consulates better because there’s a wealth of information and talent that’s being squandered.

It is very helpful to have someone at the other end of the phone who knows what they’re talking. However, the DIT does need improve their trade missions. Some have been fantastic but we have had others where the guaranteed buyers haven’t turned up, which was a waste of our time. Mike: We’ve been exporting instrumentation that monitors pollution from ships and offshore platforms for 34 years. Marine is above defence in terms of exporting, which generated in the region of £5 billion in tax for the government last year – yet this sector only has one DIT advisor. By comparison, the creative sector has a 22 advisers. It is important as although there are many

Intellectual Property Julianne: We have lots of Chinese distributors at shows asking for samples, but we’re nervous as we’re currently not trademarked in China. We recently came across the Madrid Protocol. This is an international system for obtaining trade mark protection for a number of countries or regions using a single application. You can choose the US, Switzerland etc. We’re doing that at the moment. So we’ve got our trademark in the UK, Europe and Iceland. We have quite a broad spectrum but we don’t have China or Hong Kong. With China it’s the first to register and that’s scary because someone could easily take pictures at a trade show and register it. If someone else beat us to it and then we’re going to have to pay a hefty fee to get that trademark back. It is very expensive. You could easily spend over £15,000 just getting the UK trademark done.

Helenor: I think that’s just one of the risks of business. One of the brands I used to work on was Nair, the hair removal cream, which sold well in the Middle East as there’s quite a big market for hair removal there. And there was a lot of Nair in the Middle East that wasn’t coming from Britain! It was coming from China.

on it but it’s not our stuff. You know you have to buy it from us.”

Paula: China’s consumers are actually quite savvy and they’ll know whether something is British made. You see some exporters make a product in China, ship it back to the UK, brand it and add the final touches – and export A Santander it back to China. But they want Breakthrough Debate authenticity. If they can afford Mulberry they’ll buy Mulberry.

What can you do about it? You just have to tell your distributors in the Middle East “That is not our stuff. It looks like our stuff, it’s got our address

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A Santander Breakthrough Debate

Breakthrough Moments

Financing an export campaign Mark: The best banks will be able to help their clients as they really understand and are interested in the business. The real value is how the bank assists in the whole support mechanism. There are a number of different finance tools that are in the market now. Historically there was a traditional working capital tool which was around invoice finance. Now you can look at other financial instruments around supply chain finance where the risk is actually taken on the buyer, not just on the seller. In terms of getting paid on time, you need to prepare well. Do the due diligence when it comes to your trading partner.

Mike: We use credit insurance which doesn’t cost a huge amount of money. There are about half a dozen insurers in the market. They will ask about your top 20 customers: which countries they’re in, the average payment days etc. They will assess this information and calculate the risk. If an account is in the tens of thousands then we will get it underwritten. And the premium is pretty light. You’re never going to find yourself in court having to pay out for a tribunal.

Mark: If you go abroad and secure a significant contract, there is the issue of how to finance the deal. If you’ve got either a bank or another partner who can really understand the risk of the buyer, they’re likely to take a risk on the buyer, not just the seller. This can allow the necessary cash to enter the supply chain.

Lev: We work very closely with the banks and don’t compete with them. If a bank is not willing to take a risk to lend to you, the government can step in through UK Export Finance (UKEF). We will guarantee your bank for up to 80% of the loan if you don’t get paid. There are other instruments like that where the government can help. We don’t and can’t compete with the private sector, but we will take on risks that others might avoid. The important thing is talk to your banker or UKEF at a very early stage. The advantage is that you know what’s available so you can commit to it more freely. This will come across when you’re speaking to a potential buyer. If you are hesitant you can put doubt in a buyer’s mind

Paula: It’s worth remembering that buyers are interviewing you too. If they really want your product you can ask for a substantial amount of it upfront because you know they’re doing their due diligence on you as well. Julianne: All export for us is paid upfront. That’s why we love export. We work really well with our distributors – We’ll go out there to meet them and we know them personally before we start business. I know we’ll reach a point where we’ll have to finance it. I know that’s going to come because now they’re starting to ask: “We’re upping all our orders with you. Can we please have credit?”

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Breakthrough Moments

The Brexit effect Mike: To my business it has made absolutely no difference and Europe is our largest export market, then Asia and then the Americas. They all move. It’s a plaything of the politicians. The people you deal with don’t really care. If there’s a need for the product, they want it, provided the price is competitive. It comes down to relationship, price, performance and reliability. Reverting to world trade rules would create an impact but it’s such a small amount that we’ll absorb that. I see more opportunities than I see disadvantages.

Lev: One positive effect may be that it encourages some companies to look further than Europe. We have been advising companies that it’s your easiest market, it’s next door, you get on an EasyJet, you’re there in 45 minutes. But you can get better margins and better deals maybe in other markets. Maybe further afield, UK quality is even more highly regarded because it’s a novelty. Maybe we need to encourage companies to look into that. Jeremy: Whatever happens we’ll adapt, and I think that the mantra is: “Be ready but have agility”. In fact, that’s possibly where the SME is probably a bit better placed than global manufacturers because they can respond quicker to exciting opportunities.

If you’ve got that preparedness and you’re ready to go, then you have the agility to do something interesting.

Paula: For the last 10 years, we have seen increases in exports to non-EU countries. It’s as if we were already breaking away from only trading with Europe.

Jeremy: It goes back to the phrase: “Go and be somewhere” which I heard when I was in my 20s. You would go to a country and you dig a ditch. I went to America just to see what happened and I dug ditches in the Texas heat because I could get 50 dollars a day cash to go and spend on drink. And as business people you’ll go and dig a ditch in another country. I wouldn’t touch a shovel in this country in my 20s. I would think, “Why would I work for that sort of thing? Are you mad?” The issue of whether we have the attitude to go and have a go is bigger than Brexit. I think it’s appalling the way our government has collapsed into inactivity as a result of Brexit.

A Santander Breakthrough Debate

In conclusion Helenor: Just do it. SMEs have got to get off their backsides and go places and put themselves out there. Don’t stand in a corner.

Mike: Be in it for the long term. Don’t expect a 5-minute return on your investment because making relationships takes time. That’s what business is all about, relationships.

Jeremy: There is the old adage about the shoe manufacturer who, centuries ago, went to North Africa and declared, “No-one buys shoes. No-one wears shoes.” A few years later another shoe-maker went there and said: “No-one wears shoes – yet!” Have a plan but plan to be ready.

Lev: What would really help in the future is to create opportunities for businesses to get together to network. Getting around a table is important. It’s great to see Surrey Chambers Magazine facilitating these events.

Mark: It needs to start with the SME and then the right trusted advisors. We should just be proud to be British and just get on with it. Other markets really want to meet with us and really want to buy our products. You just need to get in front of the right ones.

SMEs interested in finding out more about how Santander can support your business with trading overseas, please contact Paula Kemp on paula.kemp@santander.co.uk SURREY CHAMBERS

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professional courses For Your Career

The Guildford College Group is an accredited centre for many professional qualifications across a variety of business disciplines. By studying a professional qualification, staff acquire new skills in their field and learn the latest developments and practices. Continuing professional development also supports your organisation in keeping you at the cutting edge of your industry. The Guildford College Group offer qualifications in accounting, personnel, law and management, accredited by the major industry chartered bodies. Courses available at various levels. Choose from: Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)

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Tel: 01483 44 85 30 Email: employers@guildford.ac.uk Services 50 to Business Stoke Road Guildford Surrey GU1 1EZ SURREY CHAMBERS

Education

Post Graduate Certificate in Management Education

urrey Business School, Centre for Management Learning offer the first credit bearing Post Graduate Certificate (PG Cert) in Management Education in the UK. The unique programme is aimed at practitioners who are passionate about educating the next generation of leaders in business schools or in industry and who want to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The PG Cert in Management Education runs over six months, January-July and consists of four modules. The first three modules are taught online and the final module takes place on campus as a three day summer school. Over the six months students will learn about the Business School Environment, pedagogic approaches in Management Education, innovation and leadership in Management Education and practically apply their knowledge during the three day summer. While students learn online they are supported by a personal learning coach and individual weekly 121 coaching sessions and webinars. The coaching approach of this programme add value to the student development and is a distinct feature of this programme. The first cohort started in January 2018 and students have now completed their first module. Student Richard Williams, Former Group Managing Director Mott MacDonald (UK),

describes his experience as follows: “I have been pleasantly surprised how wide and interesting the syllabus for the PG Cert in Management Education has been. The on-line approach has provided great flexibility which allows me to choose when I study to fit in with my busy daily schedule.” Tom Cairns, Director SalesTechnique (UK) shares his experience: “I joined this course and program because it has been designed for individuals with professional experience in management who want to transition into teaching. Having completed module 1 ‘Introduction to Management Education’ I can say that the experience so far has been very positive. The module content is good and is provided adequately online through the Surrey University Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). I was allocated a personal learning advisor to guide me through the programme and its assessments. The coach has proved invaluable both to guide me through the VLE and to help understand subject matter content and requirements for assessment. This combination of online learning with regular personal coaching has been most essential and appreciated”. Philip Chandler, Group Human Resources Manager Armstrong Group of Companies (Barbados) emphasises the benefits of the course on his learning: “The Post Graduate Certificate – Management Education at

the University of Surrey is a well structured and innovative programme that combines academic rigor with an outstanding technological platform to deliver this course. A highly capable and supportive team anticipates the needs of each busy practitioners. Weekly personal learning coaching sessions and webinars replaces geographical distance and the feeling of being on your own within a welcoming and encouraging learning environment. A flexible and highly relevant learning experience is advanced by a remarkable blended learning approach – which makes this programme an outstanding world-class product”. Graduates from this programme will have equipped themselves with skills to effectively teach relevant management subjects and will have therefore the opportunity to make apply for teaching fellow positions, associate roles, and management education consultancy roles in relevant institutions or companies or even take their studies to Master or PhD level. Applications for the next intake January 2019 are open now. Each application will be assessed and followed up with an interview of the applicant.

If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact the Programme Director Dr Christine Rivers, c.rivers@ surrey.ac.uk or send a generic email to cml@surrey.ac.uk.

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Restaurant Review

Zingy and refreshing Molly Edwards reviews Sorrel, Steve Drake’s Dorking destination restaurant

Private Dining Room

ituated in the rolling Surrey Hills, Dorking is filled with antique shops, jewellers and quintessentially British pubs. It’s the perfect setting for Steve Drake’s new restaurant, Sorrel, a stand out feature in Dorking’s South Street that is otherwise filled with takeaways! Sorrel is named after Drake’s favourite herb, that he describes as ‘zingy and refreshing’. This is reflective of not only his menu but the entire dining experience. Sorrel is located in a 300-year-old house.

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Upon entering, I pass through a greenhouse where Drake grows the herbs he uses in his recipes. The décor is striking. It’s almost like walking into the hallway of a traditional Surrey home; exposed beams, wonky wooden floors and expensive artwork, creating a very cosy feel. Instantly I’m struck by the somewhat rustic feel to the restaurant, fresh foliage on the windowsills,through which is a yellowy shimmer from the warm Surrey sunset. Perfectly presented on the table, a bell jar with a fresh vegetable inside, each table a different vegetable.

Whilst sitting comfortably on our banquette, I was given time to browse the menu which was presented in a neatly folded green envelope. The restaurant manager, Winnie Eckardt, welcomed us with a glass of the house champagne and informed me that Drake had pre-planned the courses. No sooner had we taken a sip Drake appeared with some amuse-bouche. The one that stuck out the most for me was his take on a ‘Hawaiian pizza’ – pork topped with perfectly placed cubes of pineapple – an interesting and high end twist on the classic Italian fast food.

Restaurant Review What followed next were nine beautifully presented courses, showcasing Drake’s culinary talents and his clear purpose of having the dishes he creates reflect the changing seasons. Much like his contemporaries such as Heston Blumenthal – his cooking is almost scientific in creation and execution. Drake is constantly experimenting with fragrant flavours and especially the textures of his food. One particular dish that demonstrated this perfectly was the scallop paired with a cucumber jelly and granola. The thought of adding a breakfast cereal to a fish-based dish seemed peculiar to me, but with a course that would otherwise melt in your mouth, the granola packed a welcome tasty crunch. This is typical of what Drake is creating at Sorrel. Other highlights included pigeon, hidden under a bed of mushrooms with quails egg and pistachios. The nutty flavours from the mushroom and pistachios complemented the game and again played with the soft textures of the other ingredients.

Bosworth Ash, Salt Baked Beetroot, Douglas Fir

Drake is certainly not afraid to pair totally different foods, and our eighth course made that clear; we were presented with freeze dried carrot, coconut ice cream and lime pearls in a dish aptly named ‘Carrot Tobacco’. Placing carrot in a dessert is not only a bold move but a tasty one too. I didn’t realise how sweet carrots can be, especially when combined with coconut and the lime to provide a citrus kick that tied the whole dish together. Upon chatting to Steve at the end of the evening, one thing that is abundantly clear is Drake has not only a passion for food, but also for supporting local business. Sourcing local ingredients is incredibly important to him. Take the asparagus for example, it’s grown and handpicked in Dorking, less than two miles from the restaurant. His previous menu included duck from Leith Hill too.

Broccoli, Green Tomato, Grapefruit, Poppy seed leather

Drake loves Sorrel’s location. In light of losing many chain restaurants and places to eat in Surrey, it’s clear he wants to provide a fine dining experience outside of the City. Sorrel will certainly bring keen foodies from the four corners of the county and beyond to sample his dishes and, in turn, bring much-needed revenue into our high streets. Ultimately Sorrel is a real experience, Drake’s menu packs in experimental fusions of flavour and the confidence to completely combine textures and flavours.

www.sorrelrestaurant.co.uk Raw Mackerel, Lovage, Crispy Filo

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Health cover for working life and beyond

For healthy happy staff.

Chamber Primary Health Plan

We are proud to have partnered with some of the largest and most prestigious membership organisations in the UK, providing innovative and effective health cover solutions available exclusively for their member businesses.

Key features • Exclusively available to BCC accredited and affiliated Chamber member organisations of all sizes • Available on a corporate paid basis • Four levels of cover to choose from • From just £5.30 per employee, per month • Premiums will not increase with age • No medical required to join • Cover for pre-existing medical conditions (except Personal Accident cover) • 100% reimbursement, up to set limits, on cash benefits

• Immediate cover on all benefits • Worldwide cover available • Company Health Report for you, the employer • Optional module available to cover employees’ dependent children • Voluntary upgrades and partner cover available via payroll deduction or individual direct debit (different terms and conditions apply) • Personal Health Risk Assessment upgrades available to purchase • Can sit alongside our Hospital Treatment Insurance cover

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

ChamberHR

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

Believe it or not all these services are included in your membership fee – you will have nothing extra to pay! These services offer members real protection and peace of mind. To ensure that you can have access to these valuable services all you need to do is join.

Don’t delay… join today! Call 01483 735540

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New Members

New Members Surrey Chambers of commerce welcomes its latest member companies BUSINESS SUPPORT

HEALTH & WELL-BEING

LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT

UK Business Mentoring Contact: Chris May

Shaw Lifestyle Contact: Liz Shaw

Classic Race Simulators Contact: Jim Hill

www.ukbusinessmentoring.co.uk

www.shawlifestyle.org

www.classicracesimulators.com

Spaces Contact: Adam Simpson www.spacesworks.com

CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY JPR Lighting Contact: Gabrielle Newson www.jprlighting.co.uk

FINANCIAL SERVICES The FD Centre Contact: Ian Nicholson www.thefdcentre.co.uk BGF Contact: Laura Cockburn www.bgf.co.uk Numen Limited Contact: Tracy Everett www.numenltd.co.uk

HOTELS/RESTAURANTS/ VENUE Hippo Events Contact: Steve Catling www.hippoevents.co.uk

IT & COMMUNICATIONS Samark Consulting Limited Contact: Mark De Rijk www.samarkconsulting.co.uk Accordant Solutions Contact: Jonathan Cook www.accordantsolutions.co.uk

Miko Coffee Ltd Contact: Jenna Horsnell

www.notjusttravel.co.uk Global Edge Ltd Contact: Tony Xavier

MARKETING & PR AdJuice SEO Services Contact: Ewan Kennedy www.adjuice.co.uk

RECRUITMENT & HR OnTrack Recruitment & Training Ltd Contact: Cathrine Gwyer www.ontrackrecruitment.co.uk

LEGAL Answers Investigation Contact: Nigel Parsons www.answers.uk.com

FOOD & DRINK

Not Just Travel Contact: Cath Wallace

TRAINING & EDUCATION HireHigher Ltd Contact: Adelle Desouza www.hirehigher.co.uk GDPR Academy Limited Contact: Dominic Cullis www.gdpracademy.org

www.miko.eu

TRANSPORT & STORAGE diamond logistics Contact: Charlotte Heard www.diamondlogistics.co.uk

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Local Events

Guildford Fringe Festival returns

t’s that fabulously theatrical time of the year when the arts are firmly put in the spotlight as a mind-blowing plethora of comedy, kids shows, art, music, cabaret, burlesque, film and theatre descend on a multitude of Guildford venues with the sole aim of entertaining their audiences.

That’s right: Guildford Fringe Festival 2018 is on its way.

This open access, multi-arts festival in the heart of Guildford runs from Friday June 29th to Sunday July 29th, and 2018 heralds its largest Festival offering yet, with 15 venues participating and 113 events presented over the month of July. Guildford Fringe Director Nick Wyschna explains: “This is a big month for us every year and the challenge is to always make it even better than the year before! Charlotte and I have been blown away with the high quality of acts that have applied to be part of Guildford Fringe Festival 2018. “As is tradition at Guildford Fringe Festival, we seem to have grown again! We are over the moon to welcome two new venues: Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and The Guildhall. Without a doubt these are two of the most prestigious buildings in our town and to have them part of our Festival means the world to us.” Guildford Fringe will bring you some of the biggest acts around, featuring critically acclaimed artists from the national touring circuit and Edinburgh Fringe previews, as well as some of the quirkiest performers in the business. Champions of nurturing all things local, the programme also features a large number of home-grown Guildford talent. We managed to have a chat with theatre legend Gyles Brandreth who is busy preparing to bring his one-man show Break A Leg! to one of the Festival’s new 2018 performance venues, the iconic Guildhall on Guildford High Street. Gyles said: “I’m excited to be making my Guildford Fringe debut with a brand new one-man show. It’s a brilliant venue at the heart of one of my favourite towns and I’m honoured to be part of this year’s fantastic Fringe line-up. “I know and love Guildford. I first came to the town many years ago, to visit the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre when it was opened by Sir Michael Redgrave in 1965 which was very exciting: I was just a school boy at the time. “I love performing in an intimate space; that’s great fun. Occasionally I play in large theatres and that’s very exciting too, but you can’t beat live theatre in a small intimate space – and one that has the heritage of the Guildhall is unbeatable!” You can enjoy many free events throughout the Festival and a winning trait of the Guildford Fringe Festival Opening Weekend is The Big Free Fringe Weekend on Saturday June 30th and Sunday July 1st featuring a whole weekend of free Fringe events. Nick Wyschna said: “This is going to be a great month of affordable, accessible Fringe events and we are incredibly excited to welcome you to join us.”

The full list of events are on www.guildfordfringefestival.com

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NEXT ISSUE

Focus on the county town of

GUILDFORD We will be dedicating our next issue of Surrey Chambers Magazine to celebrate the historic and vibrant town of Guildford. Do you run a business or do business in Guildford? If so, make sure your company is featured in the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading business title.

Email Lesley Alcock (lesley@platinumpublishing.co.uk) or call Lesley on 07767 613707

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Teutonic Titan By Maarten Hoffmann, Motoring Editor

eople keep banging on about the Audi TT being a hairdresser’s car. What they mean by this of course is that it is aimed at the female market, but they are wrong on quite a few levels. The original TT, launched 20 years ago, was always a cracking car – cute, fast, well built and solid. I owned a 3.2 Quattro a few years back and a/ l am not a girl and b/ l am not a hairdresser. It was a corker and l really did not give a frig what people thought.

“Inside, David Copperfield would be proud of the trick they have pulled off.” Just to finally put these insults to bed once and for all, Audi delivered me the TTRS and bloody hell, its quick. Quite how they get this much speed out of a 2.5 litre engine is quite beyond me but l am very pleased that they managed it.

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First, there is the unusual five-cylinder engine, with turbo-charging boosting power output to a formidable 396bhp. In both respects, it punches some way above its rivals the Porsche Cayman, Alfa Romeo 4C and Jaguar F-Type, which are also all heavier and, thus, slower than the TT. It’s very special to Audi, their five-cylinder unit, and is not available on other VW group products, so they’ve lavished unusual care upon it and you can’t get a budget-priced version in a Skoda or Seat, which is good to hear. This is an all-aluminium body and the smooth ride is all the more surprising when you consider that it is much tougher to balance a 5-cylinder engine than a 6 cylinder as odd numbers are much more difficult to ensure smooth running and idle. This car is pure fun. You can throw it around like a go-kart and thanks to the Quattro, it will stick like glue to any surface and at no point, regardless of speed, did l feel like it could break free – and l mean at no point. To add to this, as the centre of gravity is so low, you get the best of every world and l would love to have this little gem on a track. It is quicker to 60 than the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S!

Inside, David Copperfield would be proud of the trick they have pulled off. Looking pretty small and compact on the outside, inside it is spacious. OK, the rear two passengers will have their knees around their ears but it you have two kids, or two dwarf friends, this is a perfect cruiser. At 4.2 metres, it is always a shock to see the back seats.

“An arousing howl emanates from the dual tail pipes as you are pushed back into the seat causing a grin like a Cheshire cat on acid.”

Again, we see that brilliant Virtual Cockpit dash display with the satnav in the dash right in your eye-line with switchable display

Motoring dependant on which dials you would like to see. The MMI Navigation Plus package gives you efficient fingertip controls, 10GB on-board music storage and Audi Connect with Google maps and Street view. I am not sure what else one really would ever need.

“Quite how they get this much speed out of a 2.5 litre engine is quite beyond me but l am very pleased that they managed it.”

TECH STUFF Model tested: Audi TTRS TFSI Coupe Engine: 2.5-litre turbo Power: 396bhp Performance: 0-62mph 3.7 seconds Top: 174mph (limited to 155) Economy: 34.4mpg combined Price: £50,615 As tested: £61,750

Now back to that performance. It comes with launch control but even with a standard foot on the go pedal this thing will hit 60 in 3.6 seconds and doesn’t break a sweat doing it. An arousing howl emanates from the dual tail pipes as you are pushed back into the seat causing a grin like a Cheshire cat on acid. And it doesn’t stop there – 100mph will arrive in 8.4 seconds from standstill and that, ladies and gentlemen is faster than the Ferrari F430, Aston Vantage GT8 and the Porsche 911 Turbo. As if that were not enough to whet your whistle, when you have finished on the straight and need to turn a corner, the TTRS will leave most in the dust as it rounds almost any corner on rails with only the faintest whiff of rear slide as you power out of it. Mated to all this power is a steering system that never worries. The perfect scenario here is to open the throttle on an uneven road with camber and some steering angle and see what happens. 95% of the cars you try this will fail miserably but the TTRS does not ever wobble. It steers straight and true and with pretty stiff suspension, there is little you cannot do. I hit 145mph (on a private road of course) and it was as composed as if at 30mph. The TTRS is a whole bundle of fun allied with a car your Granny could poodle around town in, and, l would suggest, you all stop insulting this car and offer the respect it deserves.

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Motoring

Skoda KODIAQ By Maarten Hoffmann, Motoring Editor

ith the current fad for SUV’s, l have been inundated with them for review and thought it churlish to refuse. So here l take a look at the new offering from Skoda, the oddly spelt Kodiaq, that is driving my spellcheck crazy. This is the firm’s first proper SUV and their first ever 7-seater and is a good looking car and with 4x4, good ground clearance, an off-road mode and a 2.5-tonne towing capacity, this is an interesting challenger. It sits amongst the Nissan X-Trail and the Kia Sorrento. Based on the VW MQB platform, it has good pedigree and the steering is very weighted although the roll in hard corners is somewhat unsettling if not unexpected but it does pop back into line with a little steering input and is well mannered.

“The flip side to it being a light car is that, oddly, it actually needs a bit of weight” The flip side to it being a light car is that, oddly, it actually needs a bit of weight. The difference between driver only and a bunch of passengers is noticeable and it feels far better planted with that extra weight. Opt for the 2WD option and it will be lighter still at only 1500kg. The seven seats are incredibly useful and can give you plenty of weight. The seating arrangement is very well thought out as they are drop down and/ or slide therefore adapting to all sized passengers, and pop them all down, and you have a massive boot. The cabin is good enough and the soft touch plastics give it a more quality feel and the VW touch screen works very well. I am not quite sure why they saw fit to exclude Isofix child seat anchorages on a car that will be, inherently, full of kids!

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“I am not quite sure why they saw fit to exclude Isofix child seat anchorages on a car that will be, inherently, full of kids!” In all, there are three turbocharged petrol engines and two diesels to choose from, with the petrol range made up of my review car, 1.4 TSI engine and topped by a 178bhp 2.0-litre TSI. The oilburner range consists of a 2.0 TDI available in two guises – 148bhp and 187bhp respectively. The pick of the range for private buyers may well be the middleorder petrol unit: a 1.4 TSI combining 148bhp with CO2 emissions from 141g/km, boosted by active cylinder shutdown technology. Those who choose diesel will mostly go for the 148bhp 2.0 TDI engine, and it can be

partnered with FWD or 4x4 and a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. Trim choices come in S, SE, SE L and Edition. My SE L came with 19in alloys, LED headlights, electric and heated seats and power tailgate. This is a well-equipped if slightly dull car but I hear there might be an vRS version, a hybrid and a jacked up off-road Scout version, so this Skoda range might be about to get a lot more interesting.

TECH STUFF: Model tested: 1.4-litre TSI SE L Engine: 1395 cc Power: 125bhp Performance: 0-60mph 10.5 seconds Top: 118mph Economy: 46.3 combined Price from: £22,630

Motoring

Seat ARONA

pparently, the SUV market is four times larger today than it was in 2015. By any standards that is quite a market increase and, as always happen, this will explode and we will turn away from them but for the time being, we are awash with them and on we go. SEAT’s new offering is the Arona. My review car came with a miserly 1.0-litre engine that always makes my heart sink as a week is a long time with an engine that is smaller than my lawnmower. But there comes the shock – this little 94bhp, direct injection three-cylinder engine is a little masterpiece. It flies around town with a rasping fart emanating from the tailpipe in the vein of the Fiat 500, that is really quite good fun. On the motorway, it is what it is – an underpowered little town car but just keep it in town. For those quaint little Italian and French towns, it would be ideal. My 94bhp test car recorded a 0-60mph time of 10.5sec, and demonstrated respectable flexibility with a 30-70mph time of 10.7sec. Weighting in at 1,200kg helps enormously of course.

“For a small car this is surprisingly capacious and the boot has a height adjustable floor.” The more potent, 113bhp 1.0-litre TSI Arona claims 10.0sec to 62mph and also gets a sixth ratio for its manual transmission and a seventh if you go for the dual-clutch DSG alternative. Either would be useful if you plan on undertaking longer journeys, although you’ll have to opt for the more expensive FR trim to even get the choice. For a small car this is surprisingly capacious and the boot has a height

adjustable floor to ease the loading of awkward loads and that really can help. The entry-level Arona gets a 5.0in touchscreen, although upgrading to SE Technology trim introduces a rather elegant 8.0in alternative with factory navigation. The upgraded system is called Media System Plus and gives you voice control functionality, two USB inputs and both 3.5mm minijack aux-in and SD card inputs. It is all very easy to use and the wireless phone-charging pad is great once you work it out. The drive is good with surprisingly little body roll and the occupants are well isolated from the world outside. The steering is a tad lifeless or one might say overly assisted and therefore one loses the feel through the wheel but it has to be said that the vast majority of buyers will care little as this is not the reason to buy such a car. They tend to be purchased for space, economy, reliability and residual value and therefore this hits that firmly on the head.

“It flies around town with a rasping fart emanating from the tailpipe in the vein of the Fiat 500.” Ok, l am done with SUVs for a while and what’s that, McLaren want to deliver me a 720S on Monday – oh, go on then. Normal service will shortly be resumed.

TECH STUFF Model tested: 1.0-litre TSl FR Sport Engine: 1-litre Power: 94bhp Performance: 0-60mph 10.5 seconds Top: 113mph Economy: 57.6 combined Price from: £16,750

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Chamber Events

SURREY CHAMBERS EVENTS DIARY 2018 To find a full list of our 2018 events visit https://www.surrey-chambers.co.uk/event-listing/

June

BREXIT – HOW TO PREPARE YOUR BUSINESS 08:00 – 10:00 Event Theme: Hot Topics Price: Member Rate: £10.00 +VAT Non Member Rate: £10.00

June

GDPR - THE NEXT CHAPTER 07:45 - 10:00 Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: Free Event Location: Nonsuch Mansion, Nonsuch Park, Ewell Road, Cheam SM3 8AL

+VAT

Event Location: Something Big Ltd, 3 Wells Court, Albert Drive, Woking GU21 5UB

On 25th May the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) came into play • Have you made all the necessary changes? • Do you feel happy that you are meeting the regulations? • Are you totally clear about GDPR? If you aren’t saying yes to all of these don’t worry you are in good company! Come and join your colleagues and pick up the latest news from the ICO (Information Commissioners Office) and the latest tips on how to make sure you are compliant

Now two years on from the Brexit decision and more than a year after the government triggered article 50, British and EU negotiators will begin to meet to discuss the UK’s future trade ties. We are back hosting another breakfast with Something Big looking to visit some of the new challenges businesses are facing, and a practical guide to what businesses should be doing and thinking about now the negotiations begin. Please come and share your knowledge and experiences.

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Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and Surrey Chambers of Commerce have come together to provide this great opportunity to support you and your business. We have pulled together a panel of speakers with various approaches to GDPR, making it time efficient for you to come along and hear the latest news.

Chamber Events

July

MODERN SLAVERY AND YOUR BUSINESS

GDPR - ARE YOU COMPLIANT?

07:30 – 10:30

07:45 - 10:00

Event Theme: Hot Topics Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: Free Event Location: The Guildford Harbour Hotel, 3 Alexandra Terrace,

Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: Free Event Location: HG Wells Conference & Events Centre, Church Street

High Street, Guildford GU1 3DA

On 25th May the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) came into play;

East, Woking GU21 6HR

• Have you made all the necessary changes? • Do you feel happy that you are meeting the regulations? • Are you totally clear about GDPR? If you aren’t saying yes to all of these don’t worry you are in good company! Come and join your colleagues and pick up the latest news from the ICO (Information Commissioners Office) and the latest tips on how to make sure you are compliant. How often do you get your nails done? Your car washed? Pass a homeless person begging in the street? The chances are we all do these things fairly regularly but do you think about the workers who carry out these tasks or the homeless person who’s suddenly gone missing from their usual spot? Do you also think about the supply chain you use as part of your business? Where are your goods and services coming from, who’s supplying those? These people could all be victims of Modern Slavery, a crime hidden in plain sight. Government research has shown this issue to be much more prevalent than they thought, and in 2015 the Modern Slavery Act was passed. This Act aims to fight against this trade in human beings, and big businesses can now be held accountable and fined large sums if slavery forms any part of their supply chain. Large businesses with a turnover of more than £36 million are now required to monitor and control their operations and supply chains. They have to make a statement each financial year on the steps they have taken to eliminate slavery and trafficking from their business model. Smaller businesses also have a responsibility as they can be part of those supply chains which are monitored in how they operate in respect of the Act. Join Surrey Chambers of Commerce and Surrey Police for this informative event on how Modern Slavery can affect your business, and the best precautions you can take. There will be panel discussions and a partner village with plenty of information on how this issue may be affecting you.

July

MEMBERS NETWORKING EVENING PRECEDED BY SURREY CHAMBERS AGM 18:00 – 20:00 Event Theme: Networking – Evening Price: Member Rate: Free Non Member Rate: £20.00 +VAT Event Location: Guildford Cricket Club, The Sports Ground, Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4RP As a member of Surrey Chambers, enjoy this complimentary event at The Guildford Cricket Pavillion in Guildford. Our members networking evenings are your chance to meet fellow members and network with new businesses from all around Surrey. Not a member? Don’t worry, you are always welcome at a Surrey Chambers event, and our members networking evenings are the perfect place to learn about all the great things the chamber can do for your business. Members of the Surrey Chambers team will be on hand to talk to you about all of the different aspects of your membership and to answer any questions you may have.

AGM Preceding the networking event will be Surrey Chambers of Commerce AGM with the announcement of a new President and Board of Directors. Members will receive a direct invitation to the AGM but we will all gather for a fun evening of networking after the formal business has taken place.

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Golf

Surrey Chambers Golf Society Why not join a thriving Business Networking Golf Society? Now in its 22nd year, it is open to all business people to join.

Worplesdon Golf Club

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Golf

2018 FIXTURES WEDNESDAY JULY 4TH

THURSDAY AUGUST 9TH

THURSDAY OCT 11TH

Worplesdon GC

Cuddington GC

Camberley Heath GC

Bacon rolls, tee off from 9:00am, Two Tee start 18 Holes, followed by three course carvery lunch, ends by 5:30pm

Tee off 1:30pm, 18 Holes, two course supper, ends 9:00pm

Bacon rolls, tee off from 10:00am, late lunch, ends 5:30pm

SCGS & SCC Members £70.00 + VAT Guests £85.00 + VAT

SCGS & SCC Members £75.00 + VAT

SCGS & SCC Members £120.00 + VAT Guests £135.00 + VAT

Guests £90.00 + VAT

WEDNESDAY SEPT 12TH New Zealand GC Coffee/Bacon rolls, tee off from 8:45am, 18 Holes, late lunch, ends 5:30pm

“I think we must be pretty unique to have so many regularly well attended golf days throughout the year – testimony to the quality of the courses and the fact that we have a really big core of business players that enjoy meeting up with each other” ANDREW LANE

SCGS & SCC Members £115.00 + VAT, Guests £130.00 + VAT

“Excellent Society, brilliantly run, can’t fault anything” JASON LURIE

THURSDAY NOV 8TH Swinley Forest GC Bacon rolls, tee off 8:45am, 18 Holes, late lunch, ends 5:30pm SCGS & SCC Members £TBC + VAT Guests £TBC + VAT

TUESDAY DEC 4TH Woking GC Bacon rolls, tee off 9:10am, 18 Holes, followed by lunch, Ends 5:30pm SCGS & SCC Members £85.00 +VAT Guests £100.00 +VAT

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Direct Mailing

Mailing rules post-GDPR GDPR and its impact on print and direct mailing by David Vaughan, Director of Mailing Expert.

t the risk of sounding like a scratched record, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force on 25th May 2018. Its aim is to harmonise data protection laws across Europe and give citizens better control of their personal data, as well as imposing stringent rules on those who host and process this data anywhere in the world. The key principles are the rights of data subjects (that’s you), security of personal data, lawfulness and consent, and accountability of compliance. There’s been no shortage of information about how GDPR will now affect companies with online databases, and the need for consent for telephone calls, emails and texts, for example, but what about postal marketing? How is that affected? Or is it affected at all?

Unravelling legitimate interest In the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) explanatory material it states: “Processing of personal data for direct marketing purposes may be regarded as carried out for a legitimate interest,” which could be read as, ‘carry on as before.’ So where does this ‘legitimate interest’ apply?

Compliance with the legislation for processing data for direct marketing still doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re free to send out material by post with no restrictions. In most cases, this requires you to: 1. Collect, store, process and share the personal data required for the mailing (names, addresses) within GPPR legislation 2. Seek consent But what if obtaining consent isn’t possible or practical? Where do you stand then? This is where legitimate interest could come in and it’s particularly relevant to charities (but not exclusively). What if a charity wants to send out a mailshot to existing supporters informing them of upcoming events or updating them about successful projects? Here, it can reasonably be claimed that it’s in the interest of the recipients to receive the information and it doesn’t compromise their data privacy either.

As the ICO states, in answer to a recent question about mailing on behalf of charities without consent (and, again, note that it will apply more generally too), “You can rely on legitimate interests for marketing activities if you can show how you use people’s data is proportionate, has a minimal privacy impact, and people would not be surprised or likely to object.”

So, good news for the print and direct marketing sectors! We all know how effective direct mail can be. You can continue with your direct mailing initiatives without panicking about consent, as long as your data processing meets the GDPR regulations and you can demonstrate the potential benefits to the end consumer.

We’re here to help with any direct mailing queries, please contact us on 01825 983033 or email us at info@mailingexpert.co.uk

In a nutshell, legitimate interest is defined as the use of people’s data in ways they might reasonably expect, which will have minimal impact on their privacy. It involves a balancing act between the business interests of the organisation and the rights and freedoms of the individual. It’s important for you as a company to identify and document why you are processing personal data based on your legitimate interests, so you can show that it’s been carried out fairly and lawfully in the future.

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

Roadside

Relay

Relay Plus

Home Start

Accident Management

Fleetwide 1

Fleetwide 2

Fleetwide 3

Standard Price

Difference

£89.08

£248.00

£158.92

£80.12

£213.00

£132.88

£65.92

£198.50

£132.58

Fleetwide 4

£56.96

£163.50

£106.54

Fleetwide 5

£48.13

£120.00

£71.87

Fleet Europe

£24.00

£46.50

£22.50

Minibus Rescue

£196.67

£332.00

£135.33

£177.49

£314.50

£137.01

Offer Price

Specialist 2

Specialist 4

£152.38

£247.50

£95.12

Specialist 5

£98.75

£166.00

£67.25

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

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

Relay*

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

Relay Plus*

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

Home Start

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

Accident Management

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

For more information or to take up this offer, please contact your local Accredited Chamber of Commerce. Direct Debit. To make life easier, you can now pay for your breakdown cover by Direct Debit. Based on Fleetwide 3 Standard rates for 3-6 vehicles. All the above prices are per vehicle per year, inclusive of IPT (Insurance Premium Tax). All prices are subject to change. Fleetwide cover does not apply to: specialist vehicles, ie: taxis, mini cabs, hire vehicles, ambulances, police vehicles, vehicles on tradeplates, minibuses, privately owned vehicles (unless used for business purposes), motorcycles and courier vehicles (all of which can be covered on Specialist rates as above), or any vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gvw. Terms and conditions apply. *Relay and Relay Plus services are not provided at or within ¼ mile of driver’s home address. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer prices are only available while your Chamber membership is current. We reserve the right to review pricing at any time. Full terms and conditions available on request by calling 0800 55 11 88. Business Breakdown cover is provided by Automobile Association Developments Limited (trading as AA Breakdown Services). Relay Plus is underwritten by Acromas Insurance Company Limited. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is authorised and regulated by the Commissioner of Insurance, Financial Services Commission, Gibraltar, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom. Acromas Insurance Company Limited is a member of the Association of British Insurers. Head Office: 57-63 Line Wall Road, Gibraltar. Registered Number 88716 (Gibraltar). UK brand address: Acromas Insurance Company Limited, Enbrook Park, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3SE. Automobile Association Insurance Services Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. SURREY CHAMBERS Registered Office: Fanum House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4EA. Registered in England and Wales number 2414212. †

BCC_0617

Sponsorship

Sponsor a Surrey Chambers event

urrey Chambers of Commerce holds over 150 events a year spread across the county. We host regular breakfast meetings, industry specific forums and corporate dinners perfect for entertaining clients. These events are designed to give you the chance to enhance your business network, find new customers and local suppliers, and meet other dynamic business people. Sponsoring a Surrey Chambers event allows you to raise your profile and brand awareness within the county and showcase your expertise as a company. By sponsoring an event you can take advantage of the Surrey Chambers of Commerce subscription base and reach your target audience. It’s the perfect opportunity to make new connections and be seen to be leading and influencing.

What can I sponsor? With over 150 events a year there can be a lot to choose from. Surrey Chambers hosts a wide variety of events and all of these can be sponsored. • Hot Topics – We react to the latest news and trends affecting the business community and run a number of targeted events throughout the year. They provide a great opportunity to get in front of senior decision makers but often come up at short notice. They tackle topics such as Brexit, cyber security, pensions and much more. • Property and Construction Forums – A series of events around issues affecting businesses working in the construction and property industries. • Business Women in Surrey Events – Business Women in Surrey is a specific stream of events designed to highlight and celebrate the achievements of business women in Surrey. • Flagship – Our flagship events include an annual summer BBQ, President’s drinks reception and an annual Christmas lunch. • Chamber Power Breakfasts – Our Power Breakfasts are a fantastic opportunity for businesses to connect in a friendly and relaxed environment. If you choose to sponsor a Surrey Chambers event, you will receive complimentary tickets to the event as well as your stand/pop-up banners and promotional literature, with branding on badges and your delegates list. You will also receive promotion before, during and after the event across all Surrey Chambers social media channels, and press coverage in the Surrey Chambers of Commerce Business magazine.

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

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Membership

Join the Chamber Can your business afford not to be a member of Surrey Chambers of Commerce? “Surrey Chambers of Commerce is the county’s largest independent, not-for-profit business support organisation that helps businesses to connect locally, nationally and globally in order to gain customers, suppliers and knowledge.”

itting at the heart of the business community, Surrey Chambers of Commerce connects you to opportunities, skills, knowledge and valuable contacts. We can help you grow and develop, by promoting your business, introducing you to new customers, keeping you informed and representing you locally, regionally and nationally. With a membership representing businesses of all sizes across every sector of the economy, the Chamber works hard to ensure that the continued prosperity of Surrey takes into account the needs of business, as well as providing a range of high quality services to help businesses grow and meet new potential customers, including making introductions into over 40 countries. Surrey Chambers of Commerce is an integral part of the Surrey business support network and alongside its partners offers specialist advice, knowledge and information on a wide range of issues facing local businesses. We can: • Help you to find new customers – raise your profile, increase your brand awareness and generate new business by using our website, publications and database to communicate with thousands of business people. • Connect you to other businesses – we run over 100 events a year that give you the chance to enhance your business network,

find new customers and meet like-minded and other successful business people. • Expand your network overseas – we provide friendly, professional advice and assistance and help you obtain necessary export documentation. Our relationship with 28 accredited overseas British Chambers means we can introduce you to our global network of experts to make your journey much easier. • Develop you and your workforce’s knowledge and skills – we run a range of training events throughout the year and can introduce you to a variety of training providers. • Represent you – we believe it is important that you and your business are fairly represented locally, regionally, nationally and where appropriate, internationally on issues affecting business. We work closely with Surrey County Council, the eleven local borough councils, district and two Local Enterprise Partnerships and we feedback and provide input to the British Chambers of Commerce who talk directly to government, influencing policy and strategic decisions. • Support your local community – we are passionate about contributing to the wider community and encourage you to work with us. We support a variety of local initiatives, providing you with the chance to give something back, whilst raising your company profile.

• Save you money – we can provide you with a variety of discounts designed to save your company money. As well as national deals you will benefit from exclusive discounts offered by other Chamber members. You too can offer a special deal to a member. Surrey Chambers Members have access to four key services for your protection and peace of mind: • ChamberHR – advice line and website resources • ChamberLegal – advice line and website resources • ChamberH&S – advice line and website resources • ChamberTax – advice lines for taxation and VAT All of these advice lines will be accessed via one phone number – 01455 852037 and the HR and legal lines are available 24/7, 365 days a year.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? If you would like any further information about joining Surrey Chambers of Commerce please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you. Call: 01483 735540 Email: molly.edwards@surrey-chambers.co.uk Visit: www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

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OCTOBER 4TH 2018 SPONSORED BY

Sandown Mercedes-Benz

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