Forum Summer 22

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20th birthday celebrations centre stage with Chrissie behind the boardroom going green addressing the issue out of office

summer 22

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summer 22 welcome

Welcome to our first edition of “forum”. It marks an exciting new era for us, as we strive to expand our membership and support more North East entrepreneurs. And because it’s now quarterly, you’ll see more of our members featured in every issue.

In this inaugural issue, we celebrate our 20th birthday by looking back at the origins of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum in our feature interview with founders Lorna Moran OBE and Sir Peter Vardy. In listening to their stories of the early days, what strikes me is the desire and passion of the original members to create something which would truly benefit the North East. I loved hearing Sir Peter talk about how the original founders enjoyed getting together with their peers and sharing their own stories.

As entrepreneurs and leaders, I think we have a responsibility to be “good” citizens and contribute to making the world a better place. Whether this is through helping with humanitarian relief projects such as in the Ukraine (see page 12), being forward thinking employers (see page 28) or being more sustainable (see page 14) our members talk frequently about “doing good as you do well.” In our own mission to contribute more this year, we’ve set ourselves a whopping £20,000 fundraising challenge and you can read about how to get involved on page 9.

The Entrepreneurs' Forum started with the mission of using the experience of seasoned entrepreneurs to inspire others to follow. This still rings true today and I encourage anyone looking to learn from those who’ve “been there and done that” to come and join us and see where the journey will take you.

inside

Elaine Stroud Chief Executive

26 out of office natural clinics

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business bulletin founding the entrepreneurs' forum An interview with Sir Peter Vardy and Lorna Moran OBE

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interview centre stage The White Company's Chrissie Rucker OBE shares all

12

uniting to support Ukraine

13

forum favourites read watch listen

14

going green

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mentoring case study

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behind the boardroom

20 new members 22 indulge in a retreat Randy Pike, Ambleside

one woman's love affair with the open water

28 addressing the issue the f word should we all adopt a four day working week?

proud to be partnered with

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forum is published by Allies Group Ltd

Editorial Amy Mason amy@entrepreneursforum.net Matthew Thomas matthew@allies-group.com Johnathan Ramsay johnathan@allies-group.com

Allies Group Ltd, Enterprise House, Kingsway, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, NE11 0SR

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All contents copyright ©2022 Allies Group Ltd. All rights reserved. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies, howsoever caused. No liability can be accepted for illustrations, photographs, artwork or advertising materials while in transmission or with the publisher or their agents. All content marked 'profile feature' is paid for advertising. All information is correct at time of going to print, May 2022.

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summer 22 business bulletin Bringing you the latest developments, breaking news and exclusive updates from Entrepreneurs' Forum members…

A game-changing deal for ION, the move will see both companies collaborate to accelerate cash collection for mid-market organisations through the implementation of ultra-modern financial infrastructure and technologies.

Rob Young, Governor at HMP Low Newton; Beverley Toone, New Futures Network; Ian Baggett, Founder CEO of Adderstone Group, and Chair of HMP Northumberland and Low Newton Employment Advisory Boards (EABs).

Adderstone Group CEO to chair board helping prison-leavers back into employment Adderstone Group's Founder CEO and former North East Entrepreneur of the Year, Ian Baggett, will chair the HMP Northumberland and HMP Low Newton Employment Advisory Boards (EABs) – an initiative designed to welcome prison-leavers back into sustainable employment. A Ministry of Justice backed scheme, the EABs connects HMPs with business networks across their region, helping prison-leavers to secure paid work and enabling businesses to grow their workforce. Ian expressed his delight at the scheme that’s changing lives, "Recruiting ex-offenders might not be a classic HR strategy but the evidence does stack up. Everyone needs a job and a purpose in life. Our day job is regenerating and enhancing built environments, so why wouldn't we do our bit to help safeguard communities too? It's unbelievably rewarding to watch someone thrive on the back of a second chance. I'd encourage employers across the region to get involved and not just out of social responsibility. The vast majority of ex-offenders are extremely loyal, productive and hardworking, so it makes great business sense."

Game-changing partnership between ION and Stripe confirmed Newcastle based FinTech company, ION, has recently announced they have joined Stripe’s Partner Ecosystem (SPE) to become a strategic partner. Stripe, a leading global technology company that builds payments infrastructure for internet usage, has appointed ION as

a strategic partner for billing implementation in the UK - a move that will see the company supply fully integrated payment and billing infrastructure to mid-market businesses. Stripe currently offers over 135 currencies and dozens of payment methods, automated billing, revenue recognition and global tax calculations covering 35+ countries.

Ringtons capitalise on soaring biscuit boom to record a 10% rise in turnover Surging sales in tea and biscuits have resulted in a promising 10% lift in turnover at local tea manufacturer, Ringtons. A North East institution that celebrates its 115th anniversary this year, Ringtons recently published their end of year accounts detailing how the family firm has bounced back from the pandemic as sales exceeded pre-covid levels. Looking to the future, the Byker-based business is beginning to modify its operation for greener, more sustainable technologies having purchased two electric delivery vehicles in 2021.

Ringtons have their eyes firmly set on capitalising on their strong financial footing with the implementation of eco-friendly operations.

The Lakes Distillery named World's Best Single Malt Whisky The likes of Glenmorangie, Bunnahabhain, Aberlour and Kavalan will be looking over their shoulders after Cumbria-based business, The Lakes Distillery, was awarded the World’s Best Single Malt Whisky at the Whisky Magazine Awards.

Situated near Bassenthwaite Lake, Keswick, The Lakes Distillery claimed the top prize after an expert panel placed their Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4 top of the class - no surprise,

given this particular drop is renowned amongst aficionados for its rich manuka honey notes and velvety blend of rich spices. It’s a huge result that places the North of England on the nose of whisky connoisseurs across the globe.

Robson Laidler Accountants play pivotal role in launching luxury hillside huts in rural Northumberland Advisers at Robson Laidler Accountants have helped realise a married couple’s luxury venture with the completion of four high-end staycation experiences situated in a half acre of luscious woodland.

Having forged a career organising safaris to Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, Phillip Gregory and his wife Fiona, set their sights on creating a brand new luxury glamping concept using recycled materials and locallysourced products, yet needed the expertise of RLA to guide the project through building requirements and the financial uncertainty of the pandemic. Throughout the project Robson Laidler provided Philip with cash flow forecasts, budget analysis and regular business coaching, all of which allowed him to release his personal investment for the couple’s dream to soar.

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Big year for region’s premier science park The North East Technology Park (NETPark) is a regional success story, home to innovation and technological advances thanks to its range of exciting companies stretching the boundaries of the possible.

From humble beginnings in 2005, the park now plays host to over 40 companies employing 600 people. In fact, the site has become so successful that it will see a huge £50m expansion to accommodate the growing businesses there and to attract new ones to the campus style location. Its success stems from the approach Business Durham, who manage the site, take in working with those companies and encouraging collaboration between them and the other organisations on the park. Those other organisations, strategic partners, include world top 100 Durham University who have established their own Enterprise Zone ‘Orbit’, aimed at supporting science and technology businesses either at start-up stage or established and growing. The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is the other key partner onsite, home to their National Printable Electronics Centre, National Formulation Centre and National Healthcare Photonics Centre. They help to bridge the gap for academia, industry and government between innovation and commercialisation.

NETPark’s offer doesn’t stop there. It is the only UK Science Park with two National Catapult Centres, The High Value Manufacturing Catapult, managed

by CPI and the North East Centre of Excellence for Satellite Applications managed by Business Durham and supporting the region’s successful and growing space sector. "NETPark offers a unique opportunity for our growing science and technology businesses in the region," explains Sarah Slaven Managing Director of Business Durham. "It’s setting, a campus style of lowdensity buildings in a rural setting, allows the tenants room to breathe, not worrying about commuting to a city centre, whilst being well connected with the A1(M) five minutes away." "As a selling point, environment is a very important aspect of our achievements at NETPark. As well as the green spaces in and around the park, we have developed an environment of support and cooperation between the businesses, our strategic partners and the excellent staff we have at Business Durham." Business Durham is the business support service for Durham County Council, and works with companies large and small, new and established across a variety of sectors, managing a portfolio of property enabling the county’s businesses to thrive and grow. "We’re at a very important point in the development of NETPark. Later this year we will see building work start on phase three of the park with its £50m expansion.

Businesses are growing here, others in the region and beyond are keen to be part of the success story. The site is nationally significant in supporting the continued growth of science and technology businesses. With this expansion we hope to further the region’s reputation and long tradition of being innovators that can change the world.”

New Forum partnership puts research first A new partnership between Northumbria University and the Entrepreneurs’ Forum is putting research first, helping Forum members to innovate better than ever before.

The Forum’s first ever ‘Knowledge Exchange Partnership’, the collaboration has been formed as a response to the new ways of working brought by the pandemic.

As Vince Robson, Business Development Manager at Northumbria University explains, “In a post-Covid era, one of the key challenges Northumbria’s researchers are helping organisations with is whether they model their business on a position where some form of normal service will eventually be resumed or do they tear up the rule book and assume that business models are now changed forever. Designing the future of business will require effective collaboration and communication to make evidencebased decisions and take actions in a way that are sensitive to the broader context.” Coming into effect from June 2022, the partnership focuses on building a mutual relationship between the university and the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s members where research is created and exchanged. This insight will support North East entrepreneurs to shape new sustainable products and services, improve their ways of working and create inclusive workplaces. One business already benefiting from this approach is Tyneside-based smart procurement and supply chain business NBT

Group. Academics from the University’s Global Logistics, Operations and Supply Chain Management research group collaborated with NBT to secure £290,000 of funding from Innovate UK to conduct a six-month feasibility project. The project, completed in autumn 2021, evaluated the potential for applying new and emerging 'smart' technologies in a manufacturing factory context to optimise maintenance inventory management and supply chain processes. The results are being progressed and used to inform a larger funding bid and new product and business models within NBT. Toby Bridges, NBT Chairman, said, “Working with Northumbria University has challenged us to look at our strategy and operations through a different lens. Our research collaboration is providing opportunities to understand and exploit new industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things Technologies to transform manufacturing operations and increase competitive and sustainable advantage”. On the potential of the Forum’s partnership, Vince said, “We are delighted to be engaging more deeply with the Entrepreneurs’ Forum. Our new partnership will provide opportunities for even greater integration with a progressive business community. The university is seeking to engage with businesses across research, programme development, student employability and graduate destinations. We look forward to shaping the future events and sessions with colleagues at the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.”

To keep up to date with the latest news and exclusive insights from the Entrepreneurs' Forum, visit

entrepreneursforum.net/news

summer 22 founding the Entrepreneurs' Forum 2022 is a landmark year for the Entrepreneurs' Forum as it marks its 20th birthday.

Now the largest entrepreneurial group in the North East, the idea for the Entrepreneurs' Forum came when Lorna Moran OBE, on a visit to Scotland, saw what the Entrepreneurial Exchange had achieved in seven years.

October

2002

“The original idea for the Entrepreneur's Forum was Lorna’s,” notes Sir Peter. “She had seen what good looked like in Scotland with the Entrepreneurial Exchange and came back all fired up saying we should do something like this in the North East.”

This was back in 2002. Sir Peter had just received his knighthood for services to education and was CEO of Reg Vardy, the company he’d inherited from his father and transformed from one dealership with six staff to a group of over 100 dealerships with over 6,000 staff.

Lorna, too, had received her fair share of awards. Just three years prior she was named North East Businessman of the Year and received an MBE for services to employment creation in 2000.

February

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum is launched. Co-founders Sir Peter Vardy and Lorna Moran OBE take the roles of Chairman and Vice Chair respectively.

February

2003

The Entrepreneurs' Forum holds its official launch event with guest speakers Sir Richard Branson and Sir Tom Hunter.

In 2002, she was leading Northern Recruitment Group (NRG) - the business she founded in 1976 - and grew into the largest privately owned recruitment company in the region.

During her trip to Scotland, Lorna met with members belonging to the Entrepreneurial Exchange. They explained the group had one overarching aim: to create a platform for Scottish entrepreneurs subsequently helping to raise the profile of entrepreneurship in the country.

Inspired by this ambitious goal, Lorna looked to her existing network and invited Sir Peter to join her in replicating their success in North East England.

“I realised there was nothing like it in the region and thought

2008

Tom Maxfield, the pioneer behind Seaham Hall and founder of Tom’s Companies, is appointed Chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

September

2004

The Entrepreneurs' Forum launches its North East Entrepreneurial Awards with John Hays of Hays Travel winning its first award (Entrepreneur of the Year).

October

2005

Paul Walker, CEO of Sage, is appointed Chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

7 wouldn’t it be a good thing to do?

“So I approached Sir Peter and said I think you should be the chairman because people will follow you.

“I’m a recruiter by background so I know that if you get a really good person people will follow so that’s what we did.”

With Sir Peter taking on the role of the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s first Chairman, Lorna and Sir Peter set out to recruit a board of established entrepreneurs who would help the Entrepreneurs’ Forum to succeed.

They looked to high-profile individuals, those who had a track record of founding and scaling their own businesses, and invited Paul Callaghan, Dave Charlton, John Marshall, Tom Maxfield, Caroline Theobold and Richard Tonks to join them on the Forum’s board.

It was those early board meetings that Sir Peter and Lorna remember well, viewing them as an affirmation that the Entrepreneurs’ Forum would work.

“I think the early directors had a great

time because we’d all been running our own businesses with very little peer group contact,” notes Lorna.

“The Entrepreneurs’ Forum provided that social element where we could all come together and talk about what had happened in our businesses since the last time we’d met.

“It was motivational and I suppose it cascaded down to the other members too. We were all part of something which had a lot of hype and attention. People were interested and wanted to join.”

During this time, support for the Forum came flooding in.

A host of business leaders offered their time to the organisation, inspired by its goal to accelerate entrepreneurship in the North East.

“Everyone that we asked said yes,” notes Sir Peter. “It was a volunteer organisation. Those of us who started it volunteered their time. Willing business people in the region were prepared to give their time and experience to help others. It’s a great model for success.”

Lorna Moran OBE and Sir Peter Vardy

May

2009

The Entrepreneurs' Forum hits a milestone, having delivered 250 events since its launch.

January

2012

Nigel Mills CBE, co-founder of The Lakes Distillery and founder of Mills Group, is appointed Chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

March

2008

The Entrepreneurs' Forum launches the start-up focused If We Can You Can Challenge which it runs for six years.

May May

2010

Members of the Entrepreneurs' Forum travel to Everest Base Camp to raise money for charity.

2015

The Entrepreneurs' Forum hits another event milestone - this time having delivered 500 events since its founding.

January

2017

The Entrepreneurs' Forum’s Scale-up Leader’s Academy is launched, providing support to growing businesses.

8 With the board’s backing, plans were created for an official launch event taking place at The Biscuit Factory on 7 February 2003.

Here, the founding directors handpicked two well-known business leaders who would share the details of their entrepreneurial journey, helping to inspire those in attendance: Sir Richard Branson of Virgin fame and Scotland's first homegrown billionaire Sir Tom Hunter.

Inspiration was made a top priority for the Entrepreneurs' Forum and as it developed so too did its events programme which adapted to include every format, from informal social gatherings to annual conferences.

Speakers throughout the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s history have included celebrities such as Sir Bob Geldof, Elle Macpherson and Caprice, and industry giants such as Sir John Timpson, John Hays and Sara Davies MBE. Personal favourites of Lorna’s include Jim McColl OBE of Clyde Blowers, Nick Wheeler OBE of Charles Tyrwhitt, and Angus Thirwell of Hotel Chocolat while leadership expert Dave Addison and DFS founder Graham Kirkham make Sir Peter’s favourites list.

Yet at its core, the events were all about one thing: bringing entrepreneurs together to share and learn from one another.

By doing this, the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s founding directors discovered they could combat the number of business failures in the region – a figure which was growing at an increasing rate.

“We looked at the business start-ups in the North East. At the time, there were 1,000 start-ups which was good.

But then we realised in the same time period there were 1,400 business failures which is not so good,” comments Sir Peter.

“We thought, how can we help young businesses to prosper? The idea for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum was to give help to them because if we can promote business and employment in the North East we’ll have far more success in the region.”

With a simple mission to ‘ignite business minds’, the founding directors hoped the Entrepreneurs’ Forum would provide a much-needed network for entrepreneurs at every stage of the journey.

As Sir Peter, speaking at the launch event, said, “It is for all of the entrepreneurs in the region. Whether you have made it, are making it or

With a simple mission to 'ignite business minds', the founding directors hoped the Entrepreneurs' Forum would provide a much-needed network for entrepreneurs at every stage of the journey. about to make it - this is for you.

"The result will be to shorten the business distance travelled from start to success."

With forty founding members, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum steadily grew, welcoming entrepreneurs from every industry to its network.

The recruitment strategy was simple: all founding directors would share the responsibility of recruiting new members.

“It was great to see the membership grow so quickly,” Sir Peter remembers. “It was easy to get folks to join because they saw the benefit of membership.”

Lorna adds, “We were telling everyone ‘go join the Entrepreneurs' Forum’. We didn’t have anyone who was in charge of membership, all of

us had that responsibility. We had to create that sense of excitement.”

With its member base growing at an increasing rate, and the backing of the region’s established entrepreneurs, the foundations of the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s mentoring programme started to form.

Soon, an official mentoring matchmaking service was created, allowing entrepreneurs to submit requests to speak to others with specific expertise and knowledge.

Connecting approximately 1,000 entrepreneurs per year (and still to this day), the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s mentoring matchmaking service became a highly-commended programme, inspiring other similar schemes within the region.

It’s this support in particular which Sir

December

2019 January

2018

James Robson MBE, founder of Exwold, is appointed Chairman of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

The Scale-up Leader’s Academy is listed for the first time as a ‘One to Watch’ programme and featured by the ScaleUp Institute in its Annual Review.

April

2020

The Entrepreneurs' Forum creates its online support hub, offering advice and guidance to entrepreneurs as they navigate through the pandemic.

September

2020

The Entrepreneurs' Forum presents its 50th award during its 18th annual North East Entrepreneurial Awards to Dame Margaret Barbour.

9 Peter believes is crucial for the Entrepreneurs' Forum to deliver if the region is to emerge stronger from the pandemic. “Covid was obviously a difficult time for an awful lot of people. The events and the encouragement is what everyone needs,” adds Sir Peter. “The more that can be done post-Covid to re-energise the businesses in the region the better.”

Lorna agrees, and when asked about what the future holds for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, she echoes its original mission: to bring experienced entrepreneurs on board to help support those who are earlier on in their journey.

Lorna and Sir Peter left the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s board in 2015 and 2012 respectively, remaining as entrepreneur members. When they reflect on what the Entrepreneurs' Forum has achieved, there’s a clear sense of pride shared among its co-founders.

“We gave the Entrepreneurs' Forum legs and moved on, allowing other people to take it over, but the fact we’re discussing it today shows it was sustainable. It’s survived, it’s thrived and it’s moving forward,” Lorna comments.

Including Lorna and Sir Peter, the Forum has welcomed a total of five chairmen and 45 board members

throughout its history.

Its hosted almost 700 events, welcomed 30,000 delegates and supported over 1,000 North East entrepreneurs.

Add to that the £500,000 its raised for national and local charities and you start to understand the powerhouse that is the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

On its twenty year history, Lorna and Sir Peter both agree that the Entrepreneurs’ Forum is still performing the role they envisioned it would. “I think the aim is more or less the same as when we started,” comments Sir Peter. “To help businesses in the region to be a success.”

Looking to the next twenty years, there’s a focus on delivering the same level of commitment and support that has come to define the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

Naturally, Lorna and Sir Peter continue to be its strongest ambassadors, and return to celebrate its 20th birthday at its gala dinner in June. Meanwhile, the Entrepreneurs' Forum continues to do what it does best – inspiring, supporting and showcasing its members, helping to create a thriving North East entrepreneurial ecosystem and adhering to its original mission to ‘ignite business minds’.

November

2021

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum Foundation is launched, bringing Forum membership to high potential start-ups.

January

2022

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum announces its £20k charity challenge in honour of its 20th birthday.

charity challenge

What better way to celebrate 20 years in business than setting an ambitious charity fundraising target?

This year, the Entrepreneurs' Forum hopes to raise £20,000 in honour of its 20th birthday with funds being divided between its two nominated charities: Business Beats Cancer Newcastle and The Prince’s Trust Women Supporting Women campaign.

Business Beats Cancer Newcastle is a new initiative launched in 2021

by Cancer Research who are also celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.

By bringing the North East business community together, the charity hopes it can raise funds to support lifesaving cancer research in the region and beat cancer once and for all.

The charity has been specially chosen by the Entrepreneurs' Forum as its previous chief executive, Jonathan Lamb, sadly passed away from cancer earlier this year.

The disease is devastating to all those affected and it's the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s hope that, by raising funds for Business Beats Cancer Newcastle, crucial research and breakthroughs can be made, helping to beat cancer and save lives.

Meanwhile, The Prince’s Trust Women Supporting Women campaign represents a passionate group of ambassadors and supporters who are committed to changing the lives of young women at The Prince’s Trust, helping them build their confidence and skills and supporting them into jobs, education and training.

To raise its £20,000 target, the Entrepreneurs' Forum has organised a charity auction during

its gala dinner on Wednesday 22nd June and is encouraging its network to take part in its first ‘Charity Challenge’, a circumnavigation of Kielder Water on Saturday 2nd July.

Participants can either hike the full 27 mile route around northern Europe’s largest man-made lake or opt for a half distance trek.

All members and partners are invited to take part in the challenge to raise money for the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s nominated charities or ones of their choosing.

And for those members and partners who are organising their own fundraisers this year, the Entrepreneurs' Forum is keeping track of the individual fundraisers so it can celebrate a combined charity total at the end of the year.

“Many of our members have strong associations with charities and relish an adventure such as this that also allows them to raise money for good causes,” comments Elaine Stroud, Chief Executive of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.

“We’ve organised this epic hike to give everyone the opportunity to test themselves physically and mentally in one of the region’s most beautiful locations. We’ll be providing plenty of encouragement along the way and our members can choose to support whichever charity they wish.

“Collectively raising over £20,000 would be an incredible achievement and a great way of marking the Entrepreneurs' Forum’s birthday. I know our members and partners are really up for the challenge.”

To view more information about the fundraiser and to learn more about the charities supported by Entrepreneurs' Forum members visit

entrepreneursforum.net/ 20-years

summer 22 interview centre stage She’s taken a simple idea and turned it into an international lifestyle brand, all while raising four kids, and supporting others to realise their dreams too; Chrissie Rucker OBE has truly done it all.

Ahead of her highly anticipated appearance at the Fortune Favours the Brave conference this May, Chrissie took time from her busy schedule to share her journey so far, the obstacles she’s faced along the way, and her secrets to success.

When Chrissie Rucker left school at 16, she had no idea that she would one day be working at one of the largest media companies in the world.

Working as a receptionist at Condé Nast had its perks – meeting Duran Duran being one of them – but most importantly, it opened the doors for Chrissie to pursue a career in journalism and public relations (PR) with some of the world’s most iconic fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands.

“I left school when I was 16 and moved to London where I studied couture design. It was at that time I really began to appreciate the detail that makes or breaks a product.

I definitely thought I was going to be a very famous fashion designer, sadly that never happened! I was lucky enough to get a job at Conde Nast on reception before moving to work on their titles GQ, Brides, House & Garden and Vogue. I then moved

onto a PR role at Clarins before my return to magazines as Harper’s Beauty Editor.

“My time at some of the best British magazines has proved to be invaluable. I learnt so much and still draw on the experience I gained during my time in journalism and PR 27 years later.”

While working as a journalist, Chrissie was tasked with transforming her then boyfriend Nick’s London flat.

At that point, Nick owned a few essential (yet mismatched) items, a clear sign of his busy schedule while he focused on growing his company Charles Tyrwhitt.

“Nick was very busy setting up his business and he just asked me if I would help decorate his flat. I thought 'yes, I'm a journalist, I can organise a shoot, I can create lovely images, how hard can this be?' How naive I was!

“He’d bought his first flat and he basically had one bed, a few kitchen

chairs, his bed linen was burgundy, his towels were green and when you opened the kitchen cupboard, there were a couple of tired-looking plates and four chipped mugs. Not good!

“So off I went on my first shopping trip and it was a complete disaster. I had a confidence crisis and I was completely overwhelmed with the products on offer.

“I retreated home and thought ‘OK let's tackle this like a photo shoot and let's think about creating a beautiful image’.

“I loved white and so I decided just to buy white towels, white china, white linen, white sheets. So off I went again and I actually found it was incredibly difficult to do. Back then, there were two very clear ends of the scale. On the one hand, you had fabulous designer, beautiful quality, great attention to detail but expensive, on the other, you had high street which was poor quality, lacking in design, but was much more affordable.

“We went and had lunch with Nick's sister and she'd just moved house and gone through the same experience and we ended up saying wouldn't it be fantastic if there was a company that just sold white things that were both gorgeous and beautifully designed but also affordable. And that's really how The White Company began.”

The idea was there, the marketplace was crying out for a business like this, but how does one get such a unique company off the ground? With unbelievable amounts of hard work, a journalist's intuition and support from loved ones.

“I sold some shares that my grandmother had left me and started the business with £6,000. That figure bought a limited supply of stock and paid for the first brochure. From there, it was up to me to secure sales

to keep the cash flow going. I won the She & Midland Bank Small Business Award that gave me an injection of £5,000 and I also received a small Government grant.

“I was 23, young, naive and bursting with excitement. I completely believed in my idea and had begun collating old designer catalogues and researching who was supplying leading designer brands.

“Drawing on my journalist experience, I rather naughtily rang up a few department stores pretending I was writing an article - asking stores if they 'could tell me what percentage of their sales they sold in white bedlinen' and the answer was always consistently over 50%, so I thought OK, this feels like a good starting place!

“The support of loved ones was, and continues to be, invaluable throughout. Nick was a real catalyst and he transformed my outlook on life. I never really thought about starting my own business until I saw how much Nick loved and enjoyed it.

“I used to watch him everyday, get up and go to work in a tiny, tiny little office in a basement in Portobello Road. He would wake up with such passion and energy and he would be dying to find out what had gone on the day before. I found that really infectious and I just loved to see his drive. That really inspired me.

“From the moment I had the idea for The White Company I was honestly just so excited about it I literally couldn't sleep. I believed so passionately that it could work so I just went off and made it happen.”

The White Company has gone on to become a soaring success. From a modest mailing list totalling just 500 people, Chrissie guided the company to a £1.3m return in its first year before opening a physical presence

11

on Symons Street in 2000.

From there, critics and publications soon took notice of this homegrown brand taking the high street by storm.

“I didn’t have any money for marketing or advertising so I really drew on my PR experience and my magazine experience. I wrote a press release and to this day, I must thank the wonderful Lucia van der Post, she wrote the most fabulous piece in the Financial Times the week before we launched and I'm constantly indebted to her because I always say she launched us. I built the first year almost entirely through PR.” Starting with white linens, over the years the range has grown enormously to include fragrances, clothing and childrenswear, but what hasn’t changed is the values which The White Company was founded upon: a passion for the colour white, great design and a fantastic quality that is still affordable.

These values have driven The White Company to success and Chrissie’s ‘grow strong grow safe’ motto has seen The White Company expand to every corner of the globe,

establishing over 60 stores, employing more than 1,500 people and reporting a turnover of £270m.

But it hasn’t been easy becoming a global destination for stylish lifestyle products. Chrissie and her team have navigated the rise and fall of the high street, adapted their offering to the dawn of the digital marketplace and still continue to generate growth across the board. The question on everyone’s lips is how does one transform a business into a serious household name?

“Having a really clear vision and having goals to work towards, is absolutely essential. In the early days, it was probably a three-year plan but now we work towards a five-year plan.

“We build that plan and work with every single person in every area of the business, so it's a huge collaborative effort, with every staff member a vital cog in the machine if you like.

“By having a fantastic plan that’s been communicated well with everyone involved, you can break it

down into micro stages and I'm a great believer in trying every year to conquer five things brilliantly rather than trying to attempt to do 20 things badly.”

Working closely with charity partners is something Chrissie and The White Company are incredibly passionate about and has led to the creation of The White Heart Foundation.

Launched in 2014, the White Heart Foundation currently partners with three exceptionally worthy charities: The Prince’s Trust, St Mungo’s and Samaritans with the aim of helping vulnerable people build a brighter future.

Chrissie is a gold patron of The Prince’s Trust and the founding gold patron of the #ChangeAGirlsLife campaign for Women Supporting Women at The Prince’s Trust. The Trust provides vital support to

disadvantaged and vulnerable young women in the UK who have faced a complex set of barriers, The Prince’s Trust helps them rebuild lost confidence, move forward into employment, or further education, or to become self-employed.

While much has changed since Chrissie launched The White Company 27 years ago, much has also remained. What started as a 12-page mail-order brochure has grown into a multi-channel international business and Chrissie’s love for impeccably stylish products (principally in white) has never wavered. Her secret?

“Find something that you love doing.

Find something that you're absolutely passionate about and then build the most incredible team around you and form amazing relationships with people who truly care.”

For more about Chrissie’s journey and other key speakers at Fortune Favours the Brave, visit

entrepreneursforum.net

summer 22 uniting to support Ukraine When news of the Russia-Ukraine war broke, members of the Entrepreneurs' Forum united, eager to support Ukrainian refugees and provide aid to those who need it most.

The support took many different forms. For John Lawler of the MAD Foundation, it meant travelling to Przemyśl in Poland and offering help by recognising and filling a gap in refugee aid.

With his wife and friends, John launched Operation Safe Drop, a campaign initially focused on transporting Ukrainian women and children to safe destinations.

“They are coming with next to nothing. They haven’t got the money to get transport direct,” says John.

“There’s trains and buses, but they’re all packed, everybody’s traumatised and they don’t want to get on a bus again. We’re sort of the ‘last mile’, we’re the sort of point-to-point where there is no transport direct, and so we just focused on this and we realised it was a need.”

Since launching Operation Safe Drop, John has escorted hundreds of families to safety and seen firsthand the distress these individuals face, not only in leaving their loved ones behind but in deciding where they should travel to.

“When Ukrainian refugees arrive across the border, they have already survived a long and dangerous journey that may have involved sleeping underground, scarce food for days, or walking many miles with tired or sick children,” adds John.

“Some of the refugees have a friend, relative, or volunteer host located in Poland or elsewhere in Europe that they are trying to reach

but many have nowhere to go.

“With few belongings and limited access to funds when they arrive at the border, their first stop is often a humanitarian aid centre but it is only a temporary one. Once at the centre they need to figure out how to get to a more permanent solution.”

John explains that at the borders, the government, NGOs from around the world, and individual volunteers have provided transitory support, including assisting with transportation by existing transport systems and providing food, medical, childcare, and other resources.

“In the end, each and every Ukrainian fleeing from the crisis needs a more permanent accommodation and a safe way to get there.”

John adds this is where Operation Safe Drop has adapted.

“Our initial aim after Ukraine was invaded was to provide a safe, efficient, and free "last mile" transportation for those who were forced to make this journey to keep their children safe and to support and assist all those arriving at humanitarian centres as they continue their difficult journey.

“Since then we have evolved very quickly as more needs have been identified.”

With time, Operation Safe Drop has expanded beyond providing safe transport. While that remains its key priority, the group now has six key aims.

The first is to move vulnerable groups

John Lawler plus Tom Warburton and his daughter Ella and individuals from the border and refugee centres to their family and existing friends throughout Poland and Europe.

Secondly, Operation Safe Drop help bring refugees who have no transport, in particular from rural areas, as and when corridors are open, from within Ukraine and into safety.

Sourcing and delivering small-batch aid and supplies to Ukrainian families is another key aim, as is assisting those who are registered for the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. For this, John and his team provide translation and host matching services as well as transportation to and from the Home Office's Visa Assistance Centre.

Those who are ready to leave for the UK are provided suitable transport thanks to John and the chaperones at Operation Safe Drop, in line with its fifth mission.

Operation Safe Drops final aim is founded on the hope that, when Ukraine is back to a position of stability, John and his team will provide support and assistance to

families as they return to their homes.

Their ambitious and selfless goal, to help the families of Ukraine, has been featured in news outlets across the UK. It also gained the attention of fellow Forum member Charlie Hoult and the company he co-founded Opencast, which has donated £30,000 towards the campaign.

“Like so many others we were sickened by the brutality of Putin’s invasion and the suffering of the Ukrainian people. We wanted to give practical support so have been working with John and the team at Operation Safe Drop to help deliver vital medical supplies into Ukraine while helping refugees get out.

“John is operating a support hub in Przemysl, in eastern Poland, which is processing Ukranian refugees coming one way – helping some to find their way to the UK - and sending in vital supplies going the other way.

John and his team drive the supplies from the UK to Lviv, from where they’re taken on to Kviv – so the help we’re providing is getting through to where it’s needed most.

13

Di Gates “We provided the first investment for Safe Drop, effectively underwriting it, and others have generously followed."

In other parts of the North East, Forum members have developed creative solutions and fundraisers to support those in Ukraine.

Among them is Di Gates of Stick Theory, who led the development of the children’s book ‘Who is Your Neighbour?’ and brought it to publication in just two weeks.

“I watched the news on Saturday morning, and by Sunday evening I’d sketched out the content of the book and had seven brilliant local illustrators on board to help,” explains Di. “We worked together in the evenings and on weekends, and within two weeks we had a finished draft. One week later it was printed, and one week later it was launched!”

Who Is Your Neighbour? encourages parents and children to rethink who their neighbours are and to broaden the concept to include people they don’t yet know. It’s a reminder of the generosity and

kindness shown by millions of people across the world.

Launched at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, Di and the team set themselves a £10,000 fundraising target to support The Voices of Children Foundation, a charity which supports evacuation efforts and provides emergency psychological support to children affected by the war in Ukraine.

Other members, such as David Porter of Surge, caught the attention of thousands of individuals on Linkedin when he led a Ukraine appeal to bring much-needed essential items to Ukrainian refugees.

“Everyone was so generous, whether that be dropping items off, sending cash for us to go shopping, or transporting the goods to the depot for us,” notes David.

Over the course of two weeks, David welcomed hundreds of donations worth thousands of pounds and documented the whole journey, posting daily donation updates on LinkedIn. Boxes of essential items poured into the Surge offices as it became a local donation point for those based in Teesside.

When the appeal eventually closed for donations, David shared one final video to describe his gratitude to everyone who donated.

“We managed to collect way more than we thought we would. Thank you to everyone who contributed, you’ve made a real difference.”

Other Forum members who organised their own Ukraine fundraising efforts included Dean Benson of Visualsoft, Caroline Moody of Moody Logistics, Kari Owers of O Agency and business coach Sarah Pittendrigh.

For more information on the charities mentioned and to support the members featured in this article, visit

entrepreneursforum.net/ukraine

forum favourites

From mesmeric reads to inspiring listens and captivating scenes, forum picks out this summer’s quintessential media for the modern-day entrepreneur… read

Leaders Eat Last

by Simon Sinek Those looking for a refreshing read on the dynamics of leadership should look no further than Simon Sinek’s New York Times best-selling novel, Leaders Eat Last. In an in-depth dive into the intricacies of managerial positions, Sinek investigates great leaders through the lens of Marine Corps Officers, who don't just sacrifice their place at the table but often forfeit their own comfort and even their lives for those in their care, to the heads of big business and government. Simple to follow with elegant case studies woven throughout, Sinek’s latest release is a stand-out ‘how to’ guide without the well-trodden business diagrams and flowcharts.

watch

14 Peaks directed by Torquil Jones This modern-day spectacle not only provides viewers with majestic vistas of the globe’s most daunting mountain ranges and humbling scenes of human endurance, but also serves as a lesson to business owners and entrepreneurs to keep on pushing themselves to the edge of possibility. Available to watch on Netflix, 14 Peaks charts the journey of fearless Nepali mountaineer, Nimsdai Purja, who embarks on a seemingly impossible mission to traverse the summit of 14 of the world's 8,000-metre peaks in seven months. A breathtaking story with themes of self-discovery, perseverance and individualism intertwined throughout.

listen

Another Mother Runner

by Sarah Bowen Shea Host Sarah Bowen Shea, a mother of three and veteran marathon runner, guides podcast enthusiasts through witty and conversational topics as she juggles motherhood, career goals and wellbeing.

What started in 2005 as a seed for co-host Dimity to preemptively fight postpartum depression - namely, asking her friend Sarah to run a marathon - has flowered into a universally loved community that attracts people from all walks of life. Joined by a rotating cast of co-hosts and guest experts to discuss topics ranging from how to reach a big race goal to finding your physical happy place and everything in between, these mother runners cover it all and then some.

summer 22 going green Is your business prepared for a greener future?

Ben Tansey, founder of renewable fuel market leader re:heat, gives forum an insight into why businesses need to begin thinking about sustainable energy sooner rather than later…

Our region is quickly becoming one of the greenest and most sustainable areas in the country when it comes to our businesses. The public launch of the North East England Climate Coalition (NEECCo) in 2021 was a massive indication of how committed North East businesses are to doing their bit for the environment, catapulting us to the top of the tree in the race to become England’s greenest region.

Now, with the recent hike in fossil fuel prices across the board, the need to switch to a more sustainable source of energy has become even more apparent. It’s not only the environment that’s taking the hit, it’s bottom lines and the future of how many businesses operate.

The question is, how do you go about making that first step towards implementing sustainable sources of energy into your business? For Ben Tansey, this is a question that he hears on a weekly basis - given he is the founder of one of the UK’s leading low carbon energy specialists.

Since establishing re:heat in 2011, Ben, his business partner Neil Harrison, and their team of specialists have been responsible for helping businesses up and down the country reduce their carbon footprint with the introduction of woodfuel systems.

“Neil and I started our journey into the world of renewable energy back in the early 2000s after writing a training programme for land owners and managers on how to produce woodfuel biomass sustainably,” says Ben. “We ended up winning a National Training Award which inspired us to continue our training within the wider woodland economy sector. We’d go out and teach people how to manage woodland, how to extract sustainable biomass and how to use it efficiently.”

It was this initial training experience that inspired Ben and Neil to establish re:heat a few years later. In a similar vein to the pair’s training work, re:heat specialises in helping businesses navigate the process of specifying and designing zero and low carbon energy systems.

The company focuses particularly on the field of renewable heat using biomass, a variety of sustainable energy that reduces carbon emissions by making use of the natural carbon produced by wood rather than burning fossil fuels.

“The first question that people ask is ‘isn’t cutting trees down bad for the environment?’, and the short answer to that is no,” continues Ben. “Forestry is very unusual in that the more economic activity you can do to a commercial forest, the better the

environmental benefit. So the more you can get in there and manage it properly, the better the economic and environmental return.”

“So, what we’re doing is cutting down a sustainable yield, extracting that energy and allowing more trees to grow in their place. But, the important thing with biomass is that it’s the counterfactual that you need to take into consideration. It’s what you’re not doing if you’re burning wood.

“Sustainably managed forestry contributes significantly to our climate objective. In fact, across the whole of Europe, there’s no other renewable energy anywhere that matches the quantity that biomass contributes to renewable energy targets.”

Woodfuel biomass is just one area that re:heat specialises in, their main focus is working with you to work out

For more information visit

reheat.uk.com

exactly what low carbon solution would be best for your business.

And according to Ben, now is the time to start thinking about starting your decarbonisation journey whilst there are still incentives in place to do so.

“Everybody has got to decarbonise, everybody, that’s including you as an individual right the way through to big business,” says Ben. “The sooner that we can start that process of how and why you can do it, the easier it becomes. And the less painful that’s going to be.

“Historically the government has put big carrots out there, it’s going to turn into sticks in the future. If you’re not taking advantage of incentives and grants now then what you will be doing is getting penalised by carbon tax in the future.”

15

mentoring case study

Graeme Coyle and Steven Parker

Graeme Coyle Seller Presto and Steven Parker Causal Effect.

A chance meeting at a networking event was the catalyst for Graeme Coyle to start Seller Presto, a niche full-service business focusing on growing revenue for brands on Amazon.

After spending three years as Head of Marketing with online retailer Andrew James, where Amazon was the biggest channel, followed by a spell as a shareholder in a similar business, Graeme decided to go it alone.

“At that point I owned part of the business but felt like I was doing most of the work, so I sold up. I was planning to start a similar business on my own when I bumped into someone at an event who needed support with their Amazon store.

“That led to a small contract, and it really backed up my gut feeling that there was a gap in the market for specialist expert support in this area.

That chance meeting and the start of the global pandemic really accelerated everything, and we now focus solely on helping retailers to grow revenues through their Amazon store.

“I shelved the other business idea and focused on Seller Presto full time, gaining 10-15 clients within a few months, and employing our first full time member of staff.

“We work with brands across the UK, EU and US to unlock their growth potential on Amazon. Clients we are currently working with include TJ Hughes, Nimble Babies and The Beard King and we’ve recently taken on our second full time employee.”

Graeme joined the Entrepreneurs’ Forum in 2021 and immediately sought to tap into the mentoring programme. “Although we’d had success, I felt like I was winging it to some extent. I didn’t have any experience of running a business and felt like I needed some guidance in many areas, such as the setting the strategy of the business and how to build future growth plans.”

During the matching process all Entrepreneurs' Forum mentees go through, one option suggested was Steven Parker, someone Graeme

already knew. Steven started, scaled and exited Digital Allies before launching consultancy firm Causal Effect and is also involved in specialist growth consultancy IA Growth alongside fellow Entrepreneurs' Forum members Graham Sleep and Andy Briggs.

Steven said, “Even though we already knew each other, I didn’t realise that Graeme was looking for support and he didn’t know I was available.

The Entrepreneurs’ Forum was the conduit that put us in touch and having tapped into the experience of others when I was growing my first business, I was keen to make sure he in turn benefited from mine.

“I faced many challenges that I never imagined when building Digital Allies and sharing how to navigate them is really important to me.

We speak about all of the headaches he’s about to face that I’ve now left behind!”

Both Steven and Graeme agree that working on business strategy has been pivotal to the success of the mentoring relationship and the continued growth of the business. “I wasn’t sure what to expect when we first sat down together," continues Graeme. "But Steven’s input has been invaluable in helping to identify lots of things I hadn’t even thought about.

Things that don’t necessarily drive revenue, but you need to have in place as a solid foundation from which to build upon. I now have a better understanding of the challenge that’s in front of me.”

The two have remained in contact and Graeme acknowledges the impact Steven’s experience has brought to the business. “Steven has been at the other end of the phone to speak to on a regular basis, which has been incredibly reassuring and was particularly helpful when it came to contract negotiations and securing a big deal that we won recently. Our offer was good but having that experience to call on gave us the edge which meant we were successful in the contract win.”

further information To find out more about Seller Presto visit sellerpresto.com To learn more about Causal Effect visit causaleffect.co.uk The Entrepreneurs’ Forum’s peer-to-peer mentoring programme confidentially connects members in order to share knowledge and experience.

With more than 100 entrepreneurs to choose from - and over 15 years' experience connecting like-minded people - no matter what stage of business you're at we can help you to make progress.

Whether it's overcoming a challenge, scaling-up, strategic planning or putting the building blocks in place for your future, by speaking to people 'who’ve done it all before' you can benefit from the lessons already learned by your peers.

For more information visit

entrepreneursforum.net /mentoring

summer 22 behind the boardroom Take a look behind our member’s boardrooms and discover what makes their businesses tick. In this issue, we chat with OGEL’s Gary Giles about his revolutionary recycled plastic building system…

What was the spark that inspired you to found OGEL? I can give you the exact date and time! It was Wednesday 4 February 2015, at 3.45pm. I’m a chartered accountant by trade and the company I was working for at the time had just bought a new machine that was for packaging renders and plasters into plastic bags. And my boss at the time said ‘if all else fails, we can always make reusable sandbags to stop floods’. And I thought, that’s a brilliant idea that!

But then I thought, to make it water-tight, what you need is a wall to put them in. Which started a whole journey!

Basically, once I figured out how to build a flood defence system with a straight wall, I figured out a way to put corners on it. Then when you put

corners on a wall you can create an enclosure. And when you put a roof and a floor in you’ve built a room haven’t you.

The way I’d sort of describe it is, you can’t reinvent the wheel but you can reinvent the wall. And the brick, the normal house brick or similar, the principle behind that is 10,000 years old. They found the first brick, in modern day Iraq, in around 8000 BC. And the only difference between that and the modern house brick is that it’s smaller because people had smaller hands back in those days.

Everything else was the same, and I thought, hang on - you can’t reinvent the wheel, but now you have carbon fibre wheels. So, the wheel has evolved over time. But the brick is exactly the same, it’s never changed.

Until now!

How did you form your board after having that initial inspiration?

The journey to build the boardroom is a relatively new one. With being an accountant I knew how businesses run, I knew the back office stuff. But I had absolutely zero knowledge of plastic, and no real knowledge of how to make this product that I had in my head. Our first real board member is Richard Parker (Development Director), who runs E3 Design in

Tyneside. We were put in touch by mutual contact. I told him the idea I had and how it worked, and commissioned his company to come up with some original ideas, and from that original set of ideas came the final process. So there was a lot of getting the ideas together on paper.

From there, we needed to get the funding together – I went to various innovation forums and things like that, and one of the guys I met there was James Robson MBE, Chairman of the Entrepreneurs' Forum. I met James in a social capacity and told him the idea. Long story short, we kept in touch for four or five years and after more talks he agreed to come on board and be Chairman. He gives me and the rest of the team a sounding board which is really important, as he’s an extra pair of eyes who has an engineering and business background. He’s got a slightly better skill set than I do, but there’s lots of overlap and it really helps to have that person there.

Who features in your boardroom currently?

With our board we try to take all of our individual skills and pull them together so each person has a

The main advantage of going on Dragon's Den was always going to be the exposure which is huge.

17 larger conversation that you have and the Dragons let us know that our product was something worth making, something that needed to be made.

After the Den appearance you launched a crowdfunding campaign, how did that go?

It went really well. We raised just over £200,000 with over 700 investors. It really gave us the kickstart that we needed to go into 2022 on an upward trajectory.

Finally, what does 2022 look like for OGEL and the board?

We’ve gone to market and got a number of jobs on the go around the

country from people that have seen us on Dragon’s Den. We have patents that cover us for the UK, Europe, USA and China. But our principal market for the next 12 months is the UK garden rooms, garden offices, glamping pods, that sort of thing. We’ll also be using that time to iron out any flaws and establish ourselves more in the market. Finally, our new website and app launches in May, both of which will make it so much easier for our customers to get quotes for their buildings and assemble them. It’s an exciting time here at OGEL and you can feel that inspired atmosphere throughout the board.

ogelworld.com

Gary Giles different discipline if you like. We have Patrick Connolly, who’s our plastics expert and he is also one of our largest investors, so he wears two hats. James Robson MBE is our all round expert in engineering and SMEs. Richard Parker is obviously our design expert. And we have a gentleman called Mike Dickinson, our construction guy who runs Kingfield Developments in Hartlepool, a large construction company who’s our building expert.

People might recognise you from your successful appearance on Dragon’s Den in 2021 - how did that process impact the business?

They did have some good input outside of the Den, but if I’m being quite candid, the main advantage of going on Dragon’s Den was always going to be the exposure which is huge. Getting grilled in the Den gives us affirmation that we were on the right track. What you see on TV is only the part of a much

Upskilling the North East Specialist training in the transport and logistics sector Tyneside Training Services was founded in 1969 and over the past 50 years the company has gone from strength to strength continuing to deliver a range of training and development programmes within the public and private sector.

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To discuss any of our courses we offer or find out more about how we can support you call us on 0191 286 2919.

partner safeguarding your finances

This year is proving to be a challenging one for entrepreneurs as soaring costs and supply chain disruptions threaten to hold back business growth.

A recent survey of 1,200 small firms by the Federation of Small Businesses found that almost half thought the rising cost of doing business in the UK would stall growth this year. A record high 87% reported that operating costs had risen when compared with a year earlier.

Gary Fawcett of Brewin Dolphin, one of the UK’s leading wealth managers, says that now, more than ever, entrepreneurs need to ensure they have a robust financial plan in place.

“As an entrepreneur, your business and personal finances may be woven together more tightly than you realise,” he explains. “If, for example,

you’re growing your business to create a more financially secure retirement, then in addition to looking for ways to save on costs or business growth opportunities, you should also be thinking about pension planning.

Concentrating on your business at the expense of your personal finances could have unintended long term consequences.”

One of the key factors to think about this year and next is the impact of inflation. In the UK, inflation has soared to a 30 year high and there are warnings it could rise even further.

“Inflation not only means you could

be paying more to buy materials and products, and pay staff; it can also affect your personal finances,” says Gary. “Unless your savings are keeping up with rising prices, the real value of your money will be eroded over time and you could fall short of your goals. In the current economic environment, it’s crucial to consider ways to help your money work harder.

“While the stock market has experienced heightened volatility this year, history shows that over the long term it offers much better returns than cash, helping to mitigate the impact of inflation on your hard earned money.”

With the economic outlook remaining uncertain, Gary says it’s even more important that entrepreneurs don’t keep all their eggs in one basket.

“Some entrepreneurs see their company as their pension, but this is risky. It’s easy to assume you will sell your business when you want to retire and it will be your pension.

The problem is your company may not prosper as well as you hoped.

It might not be worth enough to fund your retirement or, worse, you could be left with no retirement savings at all.”

Gary says small businesses must be built on solid financial foundations so they can grow to be a success.

“Given what’s at stake, this is best left

to the experts. A financial adviser will look at your business and personal financial situation as a whole, and then develop a comprehensive financial plan that helps you to achieve your goals, regardless of what’s happening in the wider economy.”

Gary Fawcett is a Divisional Director in the Investment Management team at Brewin Dolphin, one of the UK’s leading wealth managers. The North East team manages over £2bn of money for over 4,000 clients and attribute their success to the personal service which is central to everything they do. Whether you are looking to kick start your financial plan or make the most of the opportunities that wealth brings, they can support you at every stage of the journey.

For more information visit

brewin.co.uk The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested.

Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy.

Brewin Dolphin Limited is a member of the London Stock Exchange. Brewin Dolphin Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 124444). Registered Office; 12 Smithfield Street, London, EC1A 9BD. Registered in England and Wales - company number: 2135876. Vat number: GB 690 8994 69. Brewin Dolphin Limited GIIN: 6J5L79.00000.LE.826.

partner why it pays to plan properly

At particularly frantic times, research and development tax credit claims often becomes an afterthought - and this can negatively impact the amount that’s subsidised in the long run.

Joanne Warren and the team at LUMO are on a mission to prevent this; they’re determined to make R&D a straightforward process for all businesses by providing R&D guidance and support from day one.

“By rethinking the approach to planning, entrepreneurs can help their business’s R&D become more

strategic, purposeful and, ultimately, profitable.

“Without dedicated time and structure in place to fully understand the Government’s eligibility criteria and any qualifying costs, businesses could find themselves entitled to less than originally expected.

“Worse still, in some instances,

businesses may not be entitled to any R&D tax credit funding at all. This can have particularly drastic financial consequences, especially if the research and development isn’t successful.”

Taking the time to properly review planned R&D in line with eligibility criteria, on the other hand, pays dividends says Joanne.

“There are eligibility rules surrounding both the company claiming and the activity they’re conducting, so entrepreneurs need to make sure they’ve considered both before proceeding with any R&D. “First, businesses must meet basic criteria to be eligible for tax credits. It must be a UK limited company that is eligible to pay Corporation Tax and it must have invested in qualifying research and development projects.”

The Government’s definition of R&D is deliberately broad in order to be flexible across a diverse range of industries but as a rule of thumb, it’s activity that: aims to innovate a new product, operation or service or aims to innovate a modification to an existing product, operation or service.

The costs that can be claimed include staff salaries, materials and consumables used throughout the project, software, clinical trials and subcontractors.

This is where the Lumo team help – enabling you to master your record keeping when claiming R&D tax.

“Formal record keeping isn’t a requirement of qualifying R&D claims.

It just makes life that much easier for everyone involved!

“A technical narrative is a necessity as businesses are expected to provide a detailed account of their projects. We would draft the narrative to save time, discussing all project ambitions with those involved.

“Putting detailed planning in place before claiming R&D ensures all

19

the right information is collected (at the right time) to maximise the tax credit claim.”

R&D provides businesses of all sizes with the opportunity to evolve through innovation. At Lumo, their mission is to empower growth through innovation, with a vision of making the UK the best place for business.

“R&D strategists must work meticulously to find an equilibrium between the abundance of R&D opportunities and the limited resource of their business, creating a plan that’s suitably optimised for a worthwhile risk-reward.

“Of course, this strategic management needs detailed planning. At Lumo we support you to plan and execute an achievable yet ambitions roadmap by breaking down everything from budgets and costs to objectives and priorities, making R&D integral to your business strategy.”

Joanne adds that the secret to maximising a R&D tax credit claim (regardless of the success of the project) lies in knowing exactly what HMRC are looking for.

Lumo’s team of specialist advisors are able to provide trusted guidance on the finer details of R&D, from precise HMRC definitions to new rules around Covid support and R&D eligibility.

For more information visit

lumo.tax

summer 22 new members who’s joined recently Martin Anderson, Lesley Wratten Lemon Contact Centre Bruce Durham Huddle Culture Graeme Tennick Tennick Accountants Natasha McDonough MMC Research & Marketing Jack Atha, Tom Atha Atha Developments Marie Ranson Key Wellbeing Elaine Jordan Extension Recruitment Kim Davis Explain Market Research Jaimie Longmuir USAsports.co.uk Graham Robson Business Doctors Stephen Meenaghan StoZone Laura Hepburn Greenology Steven Parker Causal Effect Rob Smith William Smith Group 1832 Paul Wilson EDM Zone Scott Savin, Paul Milner ALT STUDIOS Louise Kennedy Oculus HR Peter Williams, Adam Smith, Craig Wood Smart Manufacturing Solutions Diana Bourke Echo-U Emma Walker EW Estates Kimberley Cattin WBCo Jon Dudgeon, Dave Gibson Blu Sky Tax Peter Mallon North East Times Lee Durham durhamlane Elliot Smith, Brigitte Keatings, Tom Smith Ringtons Chris Park Park Corporate Insurance Brokers Alan Easton Boxmodel John Devitt Recovery4Life Joe Thompson TT Industrial Dale Smith The SDDE Smith Group Di Gates Stick Theory Andrew Greenwell BMNE Lizzie Adamson-Brown Travel Counsellors Sarah Pittendrigh Sarah Pittendrigh Coaching Kevin and Sarah Howell Howell Technology Group Jeni Smith NetKno John Jones Tyneside Training Services

Scott Savin and Paul Milner ALT STUDIOS What does your business do?

Both: ALT STUDIOS embodies a genuine desire to maintain a point of difference in a growing world of homogeneous approaches and soulless solutions by providing an alternative to the mainstream. We are a driven team specialising in, but not limited to, high quality, design-led architecture and bespoke interiors.

We create experiences – influenced by a curiosity in context, lifestyle and culture. We help transform people’s lives and businesses through carefully crafted design, grounded in rigorous research and a devotion to detail.

What was the attraction of joining the Entrepreneurs' Forum?

Both: The opportunity to mix with a large eclectic community of business owners and like-minded people, both formally and informally, as well as benefitting from the mentorship programme.

What do you hope to achieve with the Entrepreneurs' Forum?

Both: Ultimately, we want to engage and learn from inspiring entrepreneurs beyond the field of architecture to broaden our knowledge of the business world.

If you weren’t doing what you do

now, what do you think you would be doing?

Scott: Product Designer or Property Developer (nearly diverted after the first architectural degree to the latter).

Paul: Fashion Designer or Graphic Designer (naively thought I could concurrently study fashion design alongside architecture!).

What was your first job?

Paul: Hotel porter.

Scott: Police line-up participant (never as a suspect!).

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Paul: Ever since combing through Dad’s Science and Engineering exercise books from the 60s and 70s I’ve been fascinated with abstract book covers – particularly the work of Willi Baum and Fred Troller.

Scott: Throughout my teens I was an avid basketball player, so much so, in wanting to further my knowledge, I even undertook my coaching qualification at age 14. I was by far the youngest one there!

Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with?

Paul: Table for three. Always admired the unwavering integrity and critical confidence of Austrian architect and

21 theorist, Adolf Loos, countered with the experimental, yet influential thinking/practice of Brian Eno. Scott: Since I was young I’ve always been a big fan of Richard Branson and his outlook and zest for life… he’s the epitome of an entrepreneur and would no doubt be good entertainment.

What are you most proud of?

Paul: Aside from taking the leap and establishing ALT STUDIOS, I’d say designing and delivering the multiaward winning headquarter building for tombola on the banks of the River Wear, Sunderland.

Scott: Biting the bullet and starting our own business.

How do you unwind or deal with stress?

Paul: I’m quite disciplined at leaving

stress at work and unwinding by spending quality time with my wife and two children.

Scott: Typically, I get out of the studio and go for a walk to get some fresh air… but if it’s a particularly bad day the whisky may get opened.

If you had a time machine, where would you go and why?

Paul: A casual stroll through the Roman Forum, Rome to appreciate it in all its glory and purest form.

Scott: When I was eleven my parents bought me a very old book (published 1906) called ‘The Story of Rome’, since then I’ve always had a fascination with Ancient Rome so I’d probably say there. Our answers are a co-incidence here! alt-studios.com

Kim Davis Explain Market Research

What does your business do?

Explain is a full-service research agency with specialism across quantitative, qualitative and digital methodologies and has been delivering insight since the nineties.

What was the attraction of joining the Entreprenerus' Forum?

Previous experience of attending great events that inspired creative thinking and new ways of doing things.

What do you hope to achieve with the Entrepreneurs' Forum?

Getting to know other likeminded people to share good practice and new ideas.

What was your first job?

Working in retail at age 15 for Adams

childrenswear followed by Greggs and C&A! What is something most people don’t know about you?

That I have always been a BonJovi fan.

What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind?

Cadbury’s products.

Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with?

My Dad – I know we all think it but I was lucky enough to have the best Dad ever.

What are you most proud of?

Other than my lovely family it is being part of a business that continues to evolve and thrive – no two years are ever the same and that brings great experience and variety for our team.

How do you unwind or deal with stress?

A good book and huge bar of chocolate.

What is your biggest fear?

I have always had a huge fear of public speaking. In my role I sometimes have to do it and so have learnt to face my fears, I’m always pleased when it’s over though! explainresearch.co.uk

Claire Parry Week2Week Serviced Apartments

What was the attraction of joining the Forum?

I was introduced to the Forum by my colleague Linda. She thought it would be a good fit, as I’ve got colleagues that go to local networking events but I don’t like being sold to. She felt the Forum would be a better fit to meet like-minded people, share ideas, best practices and collaborate.

What do you hope to achieve with the Forum?

I’d like to grow and strengthen my business network whilst supporting other people in business. I’m very passionate about the North East and the business community. I want everybody to be successful, we’re all about supporting other businesses within the region. We’re looking forward to sharing our experiences and learning from others.

What was your first job?

I was a chambermaid in our small family guest house. My parents bought a small guest house when I was seven and we lived in part of that. It was in Jesmond and with it being the 80s it was filled with magnolia. It was great having business people around me from a very young age and getting stuck into work.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I studied art at college and love crafting! I love glass painting, I do painting in general too but more on the textile side. I often make little crafty gifts for people too. I used to do more crafts with my kids when they were younger but they’re more

of a Kevin and Perry age now - too cool for crafts!

What would your specialist subject be on Mastermind?

Serviced Apartments of course! Our focus is on offering alternative accommodation for the corporate market, people that are staying away from home for three to six months for example that wouldn’t want to stay in a hotel. We’re cost effective, it’s much better from a health and wellbeing perspective with us being a home from home environment.

Who, dead or alive, would you like to have dinner with?

Robin Williams! I really enjoyed Mork and Mindy and I just think he’s brilliant. He was an amazing person, I’ve got a lot of respect for him and I’ve aways enjoyed him on screen.

Classic films like Mrs Doubtfire and Patch Adams are just amazing. He just had a bit of sparkle about him.

What are you most proud of?

We’ve got a long list of shortlisted awards and amazing achievements to date. But recently we’ve been shortlisted for the Think Global People Relocate Awards for the 6th year in a row. Which is amazing, because they’re globally recognised awards. I always describe us as the Anita Roddick quote - “If you think you're too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.” I think that really sums us up, because there are a lot of smaller businesses that wouldn’t go in for an award on that scale.

How do you unwind or deal with stress?

Watch a good crime drama – can’t beat a thriller to relax to.

If you had a time machine, where would you go and why?

I’d go back to when my Dad was alive, fit and well. Me and him were like two peas in a pod, he was my best mate and my dad in one. He had a cracking sense of humour and someone I absolutely look up to.

What is your biggest fear?

Spiders! week2week.co.uk

summer 22 indulge in a retreat Nestled within the serene landscape of Ambleside, Randy Pike is a bohemian Italianate chateau offering guests a tranquil escape from the thrills of city life…

As the waves of Lake Windermere gently lap onto the shoreline from a passing cruise, two miles away, a renaissance villa proudly glistens atop a small hillock while birdsong rings loud and a soft breeze undulates through nearby woodland.

In what was once a hunting lodge on the neo-gothic Wray Castle estate, local hoteliers, Andy and Chrissy Hill, have rejuvenated this Victorian villa into a sumptuous retreat - providing essential respite to those looking to ‘switch off’ in opulent surroundings.

And if the nearby nature isn’t enough to have guests swooning, the confines of Randy Pike give Florence’s decadent chalets a run for their money. Partitioned into four vast suites, each dwelling exudes its own personality, oozing different characteristics and flavours. A melting pot of vivacious decor and vibrant furnishings all housed at one manse, if you like.

Take, for example, Martindale. What was originally the cooks’ quarters, Andy and Chrissy have transformed this generous space into a divine chamber featuring original pitch pine flooring, bundles of Georgian character and a smattering of modern day luxuries. You’ll find a super king Vispring bed covered in Frette linen, there’s a shower room bigger than a one bedroom apartment in Central London and a few complimentary extras dotted about too.

Vallelay - originally Andy’s grandfather's family name - has been

modified into a charming suite featuring rustic designer textures, ornate furnishings and a flavoursome colour scheme that pops upon entry.

It was once a small courtyard prior to the construction of Vallelay, in which Andy and Chrissy have painstakingly trawled through period images to finish the space with a quirky feel reminiscent of the original chalet.

Randy Pike is a splendid and elegant renaissance-style villa. It is immersed in the green rolling hills of Ambleside and provides guests with a calming oasis - the perfect getaway recipe for the modern-day entrepreneur. A private driveway flanked by Norwegian spruce will lead you to the entrance of the property, surrounded by immaculate gardens and six acres of untouched parkland.

Opulent indulgence is the name of the game with Dawson. A fabulous double-ended nickel bateau bath and large walk-in shower are a welcome treat after a day in the hills, yet it’s the eclectic, boho colours of Dawson that really transport you on a psychedelic trip to tranquillity. Expect distinct patterns, plush designer fabrics, bespoke furnishings, gilded mirrors, compelling art pieces and a WC the size of a small European principality.

Perhaps the grandest suite of them all is The Juniper House. Quiet, secluded and enticingly private, this mammoth chamber is a dreamstay nestled within the corner of the Pike estate and boasts stunning

uninterrupted views towards Wansfell and Lake Windermere.

A bohemian Shangri-la, The Juniper House is named in honour of Margaret Dawson, wife to Dr Dawson who built the house in the 1800s with inheritance from her father, Robert Wheeler Preston of Banks Lion distillery on Juniper Street in Liverpool.

Noticeably larger and separate from the main house, this lavish suite emanates an entirely different magic all of its own. Here, you’ll find a Victorian-style bath made from pure copper just like traditional gin stills, a sumptuous super king bed, a cosy sofa and wrap-around lakeside vistas - a very special place to bask in peace and comfort.

The overarching theme that connects each suite is flamboyancy. Handmade and ancient items merge to create a rococo, idiosyncratic retreat throughout the estate that is crowned with entrances onto private decking overlooking the glorious Ambleside landscape.

You're destined to feel like royalty here; with the huge rooms, the seriously large hand-carved beds, the enormous bathrooms, the lavish colours, the richly textured designer fabrics and the sumptuous

English breakfasts all served directly to your suite.

As mentioned, Randy Pike is encircled by luscious fields, rich woodland and the shores of Lake Windermere are a mere 20 minute walk from where lakeside saunters or day trips to the National Trust’s neo-gothic Wray Castle can be enjoyed.

The avid explorer is well-catered for here. The sweeping Langdale Pikes are a 15 minute drive, as is Grizedale Forest with its high octane mountain biking trails and the simply breathtaking views of nearby Tarn Hows provide visitors with unforgettable scenes of unspoilt nature in all its rustic beauty. And for those siding for gentler activities, Ambleside offers lake cruises, boutique emporiums, independent stores and ornate tearooms while Hawkshead and surrounds have Beatrix Potter connections - the perfect pairing for your eccentric Lake District getaway.

For an all-encompassing, ‘away from it all’ retreat, Randy Pike is a gorgeous hideaway in the hills worth searching for – perfect for downtime with loved ones, reconnecting with nature and injecting colour into busy business life.

If the nearby nature isn't enough to have guests swooning, the confines of Randy Pike give Florence's decadent chalets a run for their money.

randypike.co.uk

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summer 22 natural clinics

forum magazine caught up with Jen Freeman, founder of Be Found Be Chosen and avid swimmer, to wade through her relationship with the open water…

Jen’s love affair with the open water was born through a heartbreaking loss. An avid horse rider and animal lover, the sudden death of her black mare in 2021 had stripped Jen of her fervour for the great outdoors. It wasn’t until a fleeting drive past the arresting beauty of the North East coastline triggered an urge.

“I’m 43 and I’ve had horses all my life.

I had a lovely black mare - who was wonderful and the love of my life -

she died last year and I tried my utmost to replace her. I slowly came around to realising that some things are just irreplaceable and that I wasn’t going to succeed. It was a tough period and it was the first time in my life that I didn’t have a purpose to be enjoying the outdoors.

"I love the sea, the coast and just thought ‘I’m going to get in the water’.

At first, that was a massive problem as I have always been the coldest

person in the world. Even when I was riding my horses, you could always find me with 42 layers and a fleeced hat all year.

"This was a huge hurdle to overcome and so I tried cryotherapy. It was by chance, that the treatment reset my internal temperature and allowed me to walk straight in without any issues - it’s also allowed me to save a fortune on the heating bills too…”

The rush of adrenaline, the sweeping feeling of rich blood pumping from head to toe and the intensified senses meant Jen had fallen in love with a new hobby. Add in the fact that Jen chose a serene spot in Northumberland - a place straight out of a Scandinavian photobook - and it’s no surprise that the water had claimed another die-hard fan. We pushed Jen for the exact location, but she’s sworn to secrecy…

“For my first swim, I made sure I picked an incredibly beautiful spot in

a secret location in Northumberland.

I found it incredibly difficult to get in as it was excruciatingly cold. It was a special pain that I won’t forget in a hurry!

"Slowly over a few months, my tolerance to the cold improved to the point where I no longer feel that breathtaking sensation. It doesn’t register with me now thankfully.”

An increasingly popular pastime, some swimmers have ventured into the water as a mechanism to boost their mental health, maintain physical fitness or reconnect with planet earth.

But what was the attraction for Jen? Simple, to unleash her inner thrillseeker and meet new people.

“There’s a budding group of swimmers starting to come together.

Gradually over the summer, my friend began venturing into the water with me and from there, we’ve met tonnes of people through our newfound love of swimming.

27 Regardless of whether you want to swim, I'd say it's vitally important that everyone has some form of activity to take their mind away from everyday stresses.

"We light a fire on the beach and the magical part is, that folks tend to gravitate toward it which means there are around six of us now who meet every night. Lee, who is a regular and now one of our best friends taught us how to bodyboard. It's great for meeting new people.”

For many, even thinking about a foray into a notorious body of water such as the North Sea would strike terror into hearts. But for Jen, there’s nothing quite like the intense tranquillity she experiences floating atop those waves with the stars twinkling overhead.

“I completely switch off and I just have fun. One of the reasons I fell in love with horseriding was the total focus required when out and about.

The constant threat of falling 6ft and suffering serious or life-threatening injuries meant my headspace went to a different dimension.

"With the ocean, it’s a similar feeling.

You can feel the stresses, distractions and worries seep away. Out on the open water, you’re not thinking about work, you’re not thinking about people - you’re just concentrating on the next wave. Your mind is solely focused on the present. It’s like being a kid, all I do every night is play. It’s the best feeling in the world.”

In the space of 12 months, Jen has swum in pretty much every weather condition you can imagine and despite such varying climates, one thing remains the same.

Jen’s unbreakable enthusiasm for the waves.

“I’ve swam in ice, snow, gale-force winds when it’s been pitch-black -

you name it, I’ve experienced it. I don’t think there’s anything new that would put me off or scare me from going in the water - it’s quite a liberating feeling.”

It doesn’t take an astrophysicist to know that the North Sea is cold for 12 months of the year, but the benefits of reconnecting with the great outdoors and experiencing the region’s thriving wildlife firsthand far outweigh the chill for Jen. "Last summer, we got ‘jellyfished’. A huge cod jumped out of the water and we thought it was some divine encounter with nature when really, this poor fish was trying to escape a pod of jellyfish. You don’t realise you have been stung until you’re back in the car and let me tell you, the sting is painful.

"Early one morning during the summer, I’m out on my board at Longsands Tynemouth and it’s so peaceful. We’re swimming out, chatting and just taking it all in. All of a sudden, a seal bursts up out of the water and pops his great-big head onto the edge of my board! It was the most surreal experience!

"One evening I’ll never forget only occurred recently. I was out with a group of friends, watching the Tynemouth from a distance and everyone began shouting ‘Look!

Look!’ - I looked down at the water in a panic and while I’m gazing at the water, a huge meteorite soared directly above our heads. Luckily enough, I managed to see a meteor shower a few weeks after. You see all sorts in the night sky.”

Jen’s enthusiasm for being cold and

wet at ungodly hours is infectious.

For anyone thinking of taking the plunge, look out for a golden fire roaring 30ft away from Tynemouth Outdoor Pool. You’ll see a group of wetsuit clad Northerners having a whale of a time…

“Everyone is more than welcome to join and it’s kind of hard to miss us really. You’ll spot us from afar with a roaring fire, relaxing and speaking with swimmers and surfers - you name it. The more people the merrier.

Regardless of whether you want to swim, I’d say it’s vitally important that everyone has some form of activity to take their mind away from everyday stresses.

"This is the one sport that allows you to switch your mind off. You’ll feel physically and mentally, like a new person, and you’re certain to roll around with laughter and sheer enjoyment.”

Jen’s word of advice for business leaders feeling the pressure? Slow down, recentre and take stock of what the North East has to offer.

"It’s not all bells and whistles running a business at the best of times. As I’m sure many will agree, it’s pretty stressful and so the swimming and bodyboarding provide me with an outlet.

"It’s free and if you’re from the North East, it’s literally on your doorstep.

Nature is wonderful and it’s there, waiting to be explored and enjoyed without costing a single penny.

It would be a crime to have something so exhilarating and beautiful right in front of you and never experience it. My advice would be to stop, slow down and realise what you have got. What’s the worst thing that can happen? You get cold and wet? That sounds like any old day in Newcastle."

befoundbechosen.co.uk

summer 22 addressing the issue the f word Are four days the way forward for your business? forum magazine addresses business leaders’ hot topics and burning issues.

Four day working weeks are a hot topic in the UK at the moment, as sixty firms up and down the country prepare to trial the shorter week for six months. From 1 June, 3,000+ staff will have the option of an extended weekend with no loss of pay.

The scheme, run by campaign group 4 Day Week Global, is based on the theory that staff will get 100% of their salary for 80% of their time, resulting in 100% productivity.

Despite this being a relatively alien concept here in the UK, internationally businesses have been trialling a four day week for several years now, with extremely positive results.

The most notable trial took place in Iceland between 2015 - 2019, where virtually the entire country adopted the four day working week for four years. Researchers described the trial as an ‘overwhelming success’, and it’s reported that since completion 86% of the country’s workforce are now working shorter hours.

Is it possible in years to come that the UK will adopt the four day working week if these trials are a success?

Charlotte Lockhart, founder and managing director of 4 Day Week Global, certainly thinks so.

Addressing a webinar comprising Entrepreneurs' Forum members, the passionate New Zealand based business leader told them about her four day working week journey and why she’s so convinced by this approach.

Charlotte first introduced the four day week into her estate planning

services business, Perpetual Guardian, back in 2018. Since then, she’s been one of the most outspoken advocates of it, spearheading the 4 Day Week Global campaign alongside business partner, Andrew Barnes. “I remember the dreadful silence in the office when Andrew first announced we were going to trial the four day working week,” Charlotte says. “Then that was followed by nervous laughter when we told everyone that they’d still be getting paid for five!”

Despite the initial uncertainty from her team, the four day working week proved to be a success at Perpetual Guardian, with Charlotte finding that her office productivity and engagement in work began to increase.

“We found it to be great for productivity, naturally because our team was just more enthusiastic about the work they were doing because they had greater freedom elsewhere in their lives.

“One thing I quickly noticed was that it unhooked the gender balance in work and at home too. You got to see how much returning mothers contribute in the workplace because the shorter week allowed men to engage more at home.”

And even though the majority of businesses opt to remove Friday from their working schedule, you don’t have to close your doors for a day to see the benefits of this way of thinking.

Charlotte’s business now operates on a fixable reduced time basis, meaning

Charlotte Lockhart that it is open 5 days a week but the staff still only work 80% of their usual full-time hours, distributed throughout the week to suit their lives.

“It’s about making sure your staff, the business and the customers are all

happy, making sure it works for all of them. That’s why the fixable reduced time works for us, as it’s a win-win for everyone.

“For example, one of our employees loves walking his daughter to school.

It's about making sure your staff, the business and the customers are all happy, making sure it works for all of them. That's why the fixable reduced time works for us, as it's a win-win for everyone.

29 Any concept that means that people are happy in their job role is positive for me.

Paul McGowan, Collingwood Legal

It’s something he does everyday, something that he takes pride in that he couldn’t do with full-time hours.

Now with the reduced time, he can start at 10am every day and get this amazing psychological boost every morning. And, naturally, that’s great for his productivity that day.”

It’s at this point, that you might have quite a few questions about this somewhat radical change to the way we view the working week in this country.

Things like, ‘how do I measure productivity?’, ‘how do I decide what day to take off?, ‘how do I make sure it works for all of my staff?’ and so on.

But Charlotte has a rather simple response to all of these questions… let your staff answer them for you.

“The four day week is something where you can’t solve all of the ‘how do I’s’,” Charlotte continues.

“Do not overthink this. The answers will come from the shop floor, from your people. It is the best team building exercise that you will ever do. You’ve got to listen to your people, take on the feedback and work together to make it happen.”

After discussing her perspective and her journey with the 4 Day Week Global campaign, Charlotte fielded

some questions from intrigued Entrepreneurs' Forum members about how this could work in practice for them.

The first issue raised was in regards to the recruitment of new staff. What if you recruit someone who is looking to exploit the four day week system and bring the overall productivity of the workplace down?

“First off, you’ll never have a problem recruiting again. The biggest issue you’ll have is sifting through the extra applicants you’re getting attracted by the four day week,” Charlotte says.

“To prevent people exploiting the system, we have new starters on full weeks for the first three months at Perpetual Guardian until they get up to speed, then they can opt into the four days a week. It gives them a chance to get on board culturally as much as anything.”

Another important point brought up was how the four day week applies to part-time staff. If there’s staff already working four days a week for example, how does that work?

“The easiest way to solve this is what we call the 100-80-100 method,” says Charlotte.

“So, it’s 100% payment of whatever

I think it is clear that happy workers are generally more productive. The key challenge for our business as a specialist employment law firm is marrying up flexible working with our client requirements.

We pride ourselves on being available and responsive for our clients and it’s crucial that we continue to offer the best possible service. The key for me is understanding how a four day week fits in the jigsaw of the traditional five day model when there is a need to respond and react promptly.

As specialist employment lawyers, we regularly advise employers about changes to employment contracts. The messaging and communication of any change planned is hugely important not just so that everyone buys into the idea but also for legal compliance.

If employers are considering a four day week and want to operate this as a trial for example they must be clear as to the language and messages that they are sending to employees about the change. For example, it’s important to make clear if an arrangement is a trial rather than a permanent contract change.

Variation to employment contracts generally need employee agreement too and this needs to be documented properly. However, where the change offered is positive and welcomed by employees – as it should be if they are working fewer hours for the same pay – obtaining buy in and agreement should be easy to get.

you’re earning now, work 80% of the time you’re working now, as long as you’re getting 100% productivity.”

One of the biggest questions from the Entrepreneurs' Forum cohort in attendance was how do you measure productivity? Basically, how can you tell if this four day week is working in the way that it’s intended?

“I suppose the most traditional way of measuring productivity is seeing if your profitability has gone up,” explains Charlotte.

“But, really, again it’s about finding out on the floor. Run a trial and you’ll find out the best measures of productivity from your people. If they help design this new way of working, then they’ll buy in.”

Whichever side of the fence you sit

on, it’s apparent that these ‘new ways of working’ are only going to become more prominent in the future, as more trials take place and more businesses adopt them.

“This is a train that’s coming, ignore this at your peril. The pandemic has shown us that we can all work differently.

“We’ve all heard of ‘The Great Resignation’, if you don’t give your employees a voice when they’re returning to the workplace then they’ll find somewhere that will.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to reframe where work fits in our lives moving forward. We have to remember that we borrow our people from their lives, as entrepreneurs we often forget that.”

For more information visit

entrepreneursforum.net

summer 22 plan ahead

Tuesday 7 June

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Wednesday 8 June

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Friday 17 June

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The Coach House, Middleton Lodge

Lola Jeans, Newcastle

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Pay-on-the-day for entrepreneur members C

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Wednesday 22 June

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Tuesday 28 June

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EXCHANGE EVENT Building Your Resilience

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