Seeker News - Issue 11 by Seeker News

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ISSUE 11 JANUARY 2013

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INSIDE

WIN FAMILY TICKET

S TO

MADAGASCAR LIVE! AT THE BIC

But is 2013 looking rosier than we think?

Dorsetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly business/lifestyle magazine seekernews.co.uk 1

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SeekerNews

2013

ack in November both the Bank of England and the European commission cut their growth forecast for the UK economy in 2013 from 2% to around 1% but despite this many business owners are entering the new year with a renewed sense of optimism.

According to new research by American Express 51% of SMEs expect to see their business grow in 2013 with seven in ten of those growing domestically and only 10% looking to grow through exports. The research throws up some interesting facts about how businesses see this growth being achieved: Attracting new customers – 80% Maximising sales – 62% Looking for new opportunities or diversification – 59% Cutting budgets – 14% Attracting more customers, keeping existing ones and getting them to spend more have always been the most important activities for a business. Without customers you have no business and it’s important to have the systems in place to maximise every opportunity that presents itself.

1 Haskins goes big for Christmas

Top

The best is yet to come? Steve Cook

Editor Seeker News The majority of businesses surveyed saw word of mouth as the main way to attract new customers but surprisingly only a quarter expected social media to play a part in this. Long-term planning, while desired, didn’t seem to be in place with 56% wanting to devote more time and resources to strategy and planning. 38% only planned six months in advance and a third admitted to only thinking week-by-week. January is the month to build the foundations of success for your business in 2013, map out where you want to be this time next year and put the steps in place to move your business towards that goal. Worryingly 44% of small business owners are working longer hours than ever before and a third missed out on holidays last year due to work. So my goals for 2013 are to plan for success, work hard and spend more time with my family – not a bad set of resolutions!

2 Sandbanks change at ferry – a frame of mind?

Colin Baker’s jungle fever

Charity sounds of brass

Greendale continue success with new directors

5 stories on SeekerNews.co.uk last month w w w. s e e k e r n e w s . co . u k / to p 5

To receive Seeker News hot off the press each month sign up online now at seekernews.co.uk/subscribe Seeker News is published by Seeker Editor: Steve Cook – steve@seeker.uk.com Deputy editor: Nick Churchill – nick@seeker.uk.com Associate editor: Dawn Cook – dawn@seeker.uk.com Photography: Steve Cook Siân Court – sian@seeker.uk.com Becky Howarth

Writers: Steve Cook, Nick Churchill, Rebecca Crossley Advertising: Tracey Parrack – tracey@seeker.uk.com Seeker Keel House, 244 High Street North, Poole, BH15 1EA Tel: 01202 779604 www.seekernews.co.uk www.facebook.com/seekernews © 2013 Seeker. All rights reserved.

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Weathering the

storm With experts predicting the economic gloom will continue well into the New Year, Seeker News looks at how Dorset’s economy can survive in 2013 words: NICK CHURCHILL

espite the Prime Minister’s assertion that “the good news will just keep coming”, there are very real fears that we could be heading for a triple dip recession. Retail sales fell by 0.8 per cent in October with shoppers cutting back on food and clothing as we feel the pinch after suffering the worst squeeze in income for more than 30 years. And the City put itself on triple-dip alert after news that falling factory and North Sea production have sent the country’s industrial output to its lowest level in 20 years. Meanwhile, pay increases are failing to keep up with rising food and fuel prices and some commentators fear we are cutting back on spending. The country emerged from a doubledip recession in the third quarter, when the economy grew by one per cent, but there are growing signs that it was due to contract again in the last three months of 2012. If the economy contracts in the first quarter of this year we will be pushed into a tripledip recession.

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“There’s a continual backdrop of very mixed economic news with many pundits forecasting that the UK along with other European countries will continue to see very low growth for 2013 and the years beyond,” says Warren Munson, founder of Inspire accountants and tax advisers in Poole and chairman of the Institute of Directors in Dorset. “I would hope we will start to see some stability return to the economic environment. Inspire itself has continued to grow and succeed despite the double dip recession, but that has not been the case for many businesses.” Some experts argue a new approach is needed if we are to deal with the on-going economic plight, pointing out that it is now five years since the collapse of Northern Rock and perhaps this slow or negative growth is, in fact, a new reality. “I have been helping people grow their businesses for more than 20 years and the most successful are always those who look forward, not back,” says business development 8

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“Pundits forecast that the UK along with other European countries will continue to see very low growth for 2013 and the years beyond” Warren Munson, founder of Inspire accountants and tax advisers

7consultant David Foster of Bournemouth-based WinningBusiness. “The economy is where it is and we can only change it by being great at what we do. If we think, plan and act decisively and don’t just try to do more of the same, we will find new opportunities to use the skills and resources we have to make profits,

“If we are positive and dynamic, we can make 2013 a great year”

multiple business streams can help defend against market changes.” Although the Chancellor admitted in his Autumn Statement that the budget deficit is taking longer than expected to reduce, many still see government action as the key to creating the right conditions for a concerted economic revival. “I would like to see the government providing additional support for entrepreneurial businesses through the provision of further tax incentives, reduction in red tape and greater access to funding,” says Warren Munson. “Should they do this then I can see a situation where the mainstay of the British economy, smaller businesses, can help the nation turn the corner and grow again – but it is going to take some brave and innovative thinking.” However, other commentators look to business itself to provide the impetus for sustained recovery and are looking forward to a brave new era for Dorset and British business. “If we are positive and dynamic, driving our businesses and paying our creditors and our taxes, we can make 2013 a great year for everyone,” says David Foster.

“Business, not government, is the engine room of the economy and it’s our job to make it work. “And if we try to work only with and for people we like, that way we may even enjoy life too!”

GROWING PAINS

As Seeker News went to press, a Reuters poll of some 60 economists taken a fortnight before Christmas suggested economic growth will not be as good as the government hopes in the coming years, but there is only a one-in-three chance the country will sink back into recession. Although Britain bounced back to growth of 1.0 per cent in the third quarter, exiting its second recession in four years, but most of that rebound was driven by the Olympics and extra working days. The economy contracted by 0.1 per cent in the last quarter of 2012, but pundits predict growth of 0.2 per cent in the first three months of 2013 – narrowly avoiding a triple dip recession. However, there is a 35 per cent chance of a return to recession in the next 12 months.

David Foster, WinningBusiness

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SeekerNews picture: Creative Commons – Charles Haynes/Flickr

Lucky for some words: STEVE COOK

make no secret of my belief in and thirst for lifelong learning and of the enormous benefits it offers both personally and professionally. I’m always reading articles or listening to audiobooks and recently enjoyed the lessons and anecdotes of the man that many believed would become the first black President of the US, former general Colin Powell. He presents 13 rules, first published more than 20 years ago, that grew out of the scraps of paper and collected wisdom that lived under the glass top of his desk. I think they’re a great starting point for making 2013 your best year ever. It ain’t as bad as you think, it will look better in the morning. Not so much a prediction as an attitude – keep your confidence and optimism up, things will get better because you will make them better. Stepping away from a problem helps to put it into perspective. Get mad, then get over it. Try not to lose control in the first place, but if you do, draw a line under it and move on as quickly as possible. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. If you were wrong, accept your position was wrong and not your ego. If staff are loyal to you, they should feel free to express disagreement right up to the point when a decision is made and then they should execute the decision as faithfully as if the position was their own.

13 ways to

make 2013 the best year ever

on throughout their organisation. You must have formal and informal ways in which the feelings of all of your staff are related to you. Share credit. Recognise the work of your team and it’ll pay dividends and if things go wrong take the blame yourself. Whenever you place the cause for the results of one of your actions outside of yourself it becomes an excuse and not a reason. Remain calm. Be kind. In the heat of battle, military or business, kindness and calmness reassure your team and instill confidence. If you care for others, they will care for you. Have a vision. Be demanding. Have a positive and powerful vision of what you want to achieve, it energises your actions and your organisation. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Fear is natural, but be wary of giving in to it. Prepare for it, control it. If you surrender to it you will become ineffective and unable to lead. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. Belief – in yourself, your purpose and your success – and demonstrating your confidence and passion is a force multiplier. A small force that believes can do greater things than a larger force that is demoralised. It Worked For Me: In Life and Leadership by Colin Powell is published by Harper Collins

can be done! Be wary of instant 4withItsceptics, don’t surround yourself them, but don’t shut out genuine 10 input that may contradict your opinion. Be careful what you choose, you 5reflect may get it. The choices you make upon you and your business, especially in selecting staff or business partners, chose them carefully or they 11 may damage your credibility. Don’t let adverse facts stand in the 6is never way of a good decision. Leadership easy, sometimes leaders have to stand alone and make the hard 12 choices and not always with favourable supporting facts. Make the right choice, take the flak and let the results prove you right. You can’t make choices for someone else, you shouldn’t let someone else make yours. You are 100 per cent responsible for everything that happens in your business, make sure that the decisions you make are yours and that you’re not reacting to the influence of others. Check the small things. Success rests upon the combined effect of hundreds of small things. Leaders need to have a feel for what is going

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When sectors collide ‘A unique opportunity for the public, private and voluntary sectors to meet together to discuss and debate how we can work together more effectively.” This is how Warren Munson, the chairman of Dorset Institute of Directors, described the first annual conference held at Bournemouth University last month. The theme of the day was ‘Differing Standpoints…Converging Views’ with a range of speakers giving their views on some of the cross-sector issues that act as barriers to progress and how these can and have been addressed. “The rationale behind the conference theme was that of a perceived growing tension between sectors, examples of which are the excessive bankers’ bonus payments, LIBOR fixing, the goldenplated civil service pension schemes compared with meagre private sector equivalents, the gravy train that is the European Parliament and the inertia of government to reduce expenditure,” says Mr Munson. All these issues were considered and aired by speakers including Tobias Elwood MP, Rob Varley, Public Sector Director of the Year and Operation and services director at the Met Office

Council job cuts

Bournemouth council has approved costcutting plans that could see 26 jobs go in April and fees for services increase. The cuts are part of a plan to streamline the council’s housing and parks departments and save more than £5 million between 2013 and 2020. The departments deliver services including grounds maintenance, beach cleaning, housing repairs, rent collection and bereavement services. Other plans to save money include the integration of housing services into one unit, creating a new combined housing, parks and bereavement service unit and merging all ground maintenance services.

words: leslie spiers

and Debbie Ward, the newly appointed chief executive of Dorset County Council. Philip Cresswell from Carillion, a major contractor to the public sector, gave an insight into the complexities of long contracts and the need to define service level agreements with total clarity. Lawrence Vincent, the principal of Bournemouth and Poole College, offered a stimulating view of how to address the skills gap in order to better meet the needs of businesses; and Mike Rushworth, the managing director of Vitacress Salads and a member of the M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, presented a paper on the need for business of all kinds to operate to high ethical standards, stressing the fact that good ethics is quite simply good business.

Rail fares rise

South West Trains are to increase rail fares by just over four per cent in January. Confirming the price rise, managing director Tim Shoveller said: “We are working hard with the rest of the rail industry to make the system more costefficient and help take the pressure off future fare rises. “At the same time we are investing in our trains and stations to deliver a better railway for our customers.” He added: “Railway funding can only come from the taxpayer or from the passenger. The government’s policy remains that a bigger share must come from people who use the train.”

The co-operation between the IoD’s conference partners, the University and Business Solent, was in itself a good example of the sectors working together for wider benefit and speakers from both organisations gave clear examples of how an integrated economy works to good effect. An impassioned speech from Nicola Youern of the charity YOU outlined the need for charities to be more commercial and not rely on government funding to carry out their much-needed work. Perhaps the day was best summarised by one of the delegates, Andy Moore, MD of Hamworthy Heating, who said: “A thoroughly excellent day with superb speakers and a clear tone that the private and public sectors are more closely aligned in their perspectives than is perhaps commonly perceived.” Jonathan White, from Align Property and Construction said: “It was a pleasure to sponsor this key event in the IoD Dorset calendar. I’ve been a member of the Institute for many years and value the local branch activities. This particular event was important to Align because it facilitated an awareness of the company to the public and private sectors, and also from Bournemouth University.”

Homes from tiles

The former Pilkington Tiles site in Hamworthy will be redeveloped with 268 new homes after plans were approved unanimously by councillors. The application submitted by Rippon Development Services was granted by the Borough of Poole’s planning committee, subject to conditions. It includes the demolition of all existing buildings, including 28 Blandford Road, and the building of 268 homes. The mixed development will include one and two bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroom houses. Business units, an electricity substation and a foul water pumping station will also be installed. seekernews.co.uk 9

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Ash alert

Businesses and householders concerned about ash dieback disease affecting trees on their land are being asked to heed advice issued by Christchurch and East Dorset Councils.

Design guru Wayne Hemingway MBE is to join other award winning creatives for a two day conference in Bournemouth next month entitled Design Your Career.

A fungal disease carried on the wind in affected leaves, ash dieback – or chalara – causes leaf loss and crown dieback, which can lead to tree death.

Throughout the weekend workshops and seminars will be offering guidance and inspiration for budding designers, crafters, photographers, illustrators and other individuals with a creative flare.

Steve Duckett, head of planning and health at the Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership, said: “This disease is obviously of great concern and we will be monitoring the tree stock on our own land and will not be purchasing any ash trees.”

Organised by Bournemouth-based Neil and Sarah Leonard of Craft, Coffee & Cupcakes, the aim is to develop the industry locally and welcome delegates from across the UK.

If a tree is causing concern:

Alongside local and national speakers from the world of craft and design, retailers, copywriters, agents, accountants, branding experts, designers, social networkers, bloggers and web designers will all be on hand to offer an insight into what makes their tills and typefaces tick.

z Approach the owner and an approved tree surgeon for diagnosis. z There is no need to fell a tree unless chalara is confirmed – precautionary felling is not recommended. the disease does not cause rapid failure and any danger should be obvious over a period of years.

Notonthehighstreet.com will be running a workshop where they will offer one-to-one advice on selling products online, tips about how to get accepted onto their platform and sharing thoughts on product development. Design Your Career is the first time the awardwinning company has offered this opportunity.

z Check www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara for videos and guides explaining the disease. z Call the national helpline on 08459 335577 or email plant.health@ forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Calling a CAB

Design Your Career is at Pavilion Dance, Bournemouth on February 2 and 3. More details at www.designyourcareer. co.uk or on 01202 203630.

Designed to make it easier for Dorset people to get expert advice more quickly, the new Adviceline connects callers to advisers from the county’s Citizens Advice Bureaux.

mcCarthy & Stone considers future

ournemouth-based McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s biggest builder of retirement homes, could be sold. Following the recent appointment of chief executive Mark Elliott, the company has commissioned investment bankers at Moelis & Co to look at its future options, including its sale or listing on the stock market. McCarthy & Stone, which sold nearly 1,400 properties in the last financial year, was delisted from the London Stock Exchange in a £1.1billion deal led by entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter and billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben in 2006. The business review comes ahead

of the refinancing of about £500m in debt that is due by April 2014 and the company is looking at its options after a recent improvement in performance. Figures to the end of August show underlying earnings rose 10 per cent to a five-year high of £39.9m after sales jumped 12 per cent to £257.7m. Options being considered include a sale of the business, flotation or a refinancing. The group was founded by John McCarthy and Bill Stone in 1963 and began specialising in building retirement homes in the 1970s. It employs around 700 people and has developed homes for around 45,000 retired residents.

Calls are answered by representatives of eight CAB offices working together on a rota who can answer questions and make appointments for clients to see an expert at their nearest bureau. Available from Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm, the Adviceline service on 0844 245 1291 costs 5 pence a minute from BT landlines. A separate phone service is available for Bournemouth on 08444 111 444.

Driving away theft

Police are urging drivers to take extra care and make sure their vehicles are secure. A huge rise in reported thefts from cars saw 321 incidents recorded in Poole between August and October, compared with 179 during the same period last year. In Bournemouth, 390 thefts from vehicles were reported during the period, up 20.7 per cent from 2011. Motorists are being reminded to lock their doors and remove any valuable items before leaving vehicles unattended.

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Winds of change

The controversial wind park in Poole Bay will be smaller and further out to sea than had been previously proposed.

Following discussions with community groups and local authorities, Navitus Bay, the company awarded the rights to develop offshore wind resources to the west of the Isle of Wight, has announced a significant reduction to its plans. The changes will lessen the visual impact of the project from key areas including Durlston Head, The Needles and Bournemouth. “We have moved the site further from the coast, reducing the potential visual and navigational impact of the wind park,” says Navitus Bay project director Mike Unsworth.

“In addition, we have reduced the maximum number of turbines in the proposal and reduced the height of the tallest turbine.” The key changes include: z Moving the development boundary more than three kilometres further away from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. z A 35 per cent reduction in the number of turbines that could be built from 333 to 218. The largest turbines will now be smaller than previously proposed, with a maximum height of 200 metres rather than 210. z An eight per cent reduction in the maximum overall capacity of the project from 1200 MW to 1100 MW. In a typical year, the scheme could

Town secures recession cash

ournemouth businesses and householders are to get a little extra support as the latest round of the Recession Fund is released. Some £227,000 is being invested in the scheme to boost business across the town by setting up new trade organisations and hosting free business seminars, as well as investing in efforts to attract more visitors to the area. “I am delighted we are able to invest in such a wide variety

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of initiatives designed to help Bournemouth stay ahead of the game,” says council leader Cllr John Beesley. “At the same time as supporting businesses it is extremely important that local people have access to the right financial services. “We hope this funding will reduce reliance on high interest legal and illegal money lenders and improve access to budgeting, money and debt advice.”

generate enough electricity for the domestic needs of around 775,000 average UK households. z A 12 per cent reduction in the total area of seabed that will be developed from 198 square km to 175 square km. “We feel these adjustments to the plans strike a good balance between responses that we have had from consultees and the technical viability from an environmental, engineering, shipping and commercial perspective,” adds Mike Unsworth. A series of public consultations will take place across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in February. The exhibitions will display new images as well as an interactive 3D model.

Fielding funds

Two of the first six sites in the Borough of Poole to be dedicated as Jubilee Fields – Broadstone and Plainfield Farm Recreation Grounds – have won an award and funding. And more could follow. Broadstone Fields in Trust (FiT) Association’s Have a Field Day beat more than 350 Jubilee events to land a trophy and £500 at the inaugural Fields in Trust awards. And now the FiT Association is waiting to hear if its £60,000 funding bid for major improvements has been accepted by SITA. A decision will not be made until March 2013, but improvements to the recreation grounds and Broadstone Heath Nature Reserve would include a fixed course orienteering trail, signage, nature trail boards, new benches and picnic tables, landscaping and improved accessibility.

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Ryanair returns

Budget airline Ryanair is to return to Bournemouth Airport in March, following a longer than expected winter break. The company is due to begin its spring/summer timetable on March 14, offering 15 destinations.

Team 4K students (from left) Reece McAneny, Tom Mansfield, Sintija Morgan, Louis Rylance, Daniel May Five Bournemouth students who came together to raise money as a tribute to their close friend have won a top entrepreneurial prize from Dragon’s Den star Peter Jones. The teenagers from Avonbourne Sixth Form College scooped best community engagement award in Peter Jones’ Tycoons in Schools competition after raising more than £4,000 in memory of Kyle Rees, who died earlier this year. Calling themselves Team 4K, the students set out to raise £4,000 for the Southampton General Hospital’s

Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, which cared for Kyle, by selling special tribute wristbands. As part of the Tycoon competition the team – Daniel May, Louis Rylance, Tom Mansfield, Reece McAneny and Sintija Morgan – received a loan of £1,000, which they had to turn into profit. They raised a total of £5,375.61 – with the profit of £4,375.61 going to the hospital. “We are so proud to have won this award for establishing a business model that’s helped us keep alive the memory of our friend Kyle,” said Louis.

Museum shuts its doors after review

ne of Dorset’s most unusual attractions has closed its doors “indefinitely” after an independent review of the Museum of Electricity, in Christchurch, found it did not fulfill visitor needs and had restricted disabled access. Nine staff positions have been made redundant and a number of volunteers have lost their posts as a result of the decision by Scottish and Southern Energy that it could not afford the “seven figure sum” for redevelopment. The museum was opened in 1981 and houses one of the country’s most extensive collections of domestic and commercial electrical equipment, from early vacuum cleaners to an electric tram. The museum is usually closed from the end of September until Easter, but will not now reopen in the spring

as previously planned. The building dates from 1903 and used to house the Christchurch power station. Julian Reeves, from SSE, told reporters the company was discussing possible redeployment with staff members and would continue to provide educational services for schools and colleges. A campaign has begun to save the museum. In an online statement, organisers say: “The museum had offered a valuable resource to schools, colleges, interested individuals or anyone looking for an interesting way to spend a rainy afternoon. Admission was free to all visitors which increased the appeal of the attraction to even the least well off families.” An online petition has been started at www.activism.com/en_GB/petition/ save-southern-electric-museum-ofelectricity/40995

Since 2010 it has ceased operation from Bournemouth for three months during the winter months, blaming the government’s air passenger duty. For the last two years the spring schedule has started in February but this year Ryanair has delayed it until March when the company says demand picks up. Bookings are currently being taken for flights to Alicante, Carcassone, Faro, Fuerteventura, Girona Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Malaga, Malta, Murcia, Palma Mallorca, Pisa, Tenerife and Wroclaw.

Eco is go

A development of affordable eco-flats for first-time owner-occupiers has been given the go-ahead. Part of Boscombe’s regeneration, plans for Oasis One at 35-39 Palmerston Road were criticised by planning officers for the “poor quality living environment for the occupants”, but councillors decided to side with 93 letters in favour of the scheme. The developers, Talbot Woodsbased Oasis Concept Limited, say the 21 small studio flats would cost just £79,990 each. Each pod will be energy-efficient with rainwaterharvesting, solar panels, on-site waste recycling, fruit bushes and shrubs. Bournemouth and South Dorset Bee Association will set a beehive on the roof, a pond for rare newts and toads is planned and there will be an electric car-sharing club. The flats, which should be ready by the spring, will be split into two, three and four-storey blocks, sitting over a shop and an office.

County overspend

Dorset County Council is facing a potential overspend of some £2m by the end of the financial year.

Council officers presented the results of the latest progress report on the authority’s savings programme to cabinet members, stating the authority is off target for the second quarter of 2012-2013. According to data up to the end of September, the council will overspend by £1.7 million with areas of particular concern including Adult and Community Services, Vulnerable Children Services and Environmental Services. seekernews.co.uk 13

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Philip Warr PH Warr

Why are our roads owned by the government when other modes of transport are in private hands? Our roads are degenerating, have inadequate capacity and are an impediment to economic activity on the one hand and the government doesn’t have the spare resources necessary to upgrade our roads to international standards.

stablished in 1992 by Philip Warr BSc (Hons) FRICS FRSA, PH Warr plc has continued to grow, having acquired Trinick Southern Limited and Hamilton H Turner. Over the years the company has increased its geographic coverage, market sectors and resources. Consequently its clients have been able to take advantage of a wider range of surveying services. The company has five offices in the UK, with two in North Africa – PH Warr Maroc, in Casablanca, and PH Warr Libya’s office in Tripoli.

Why is the government increasing the complexity of an already too expensive to administrate tax system, such as child benefit and universal benefits? The government undertook to reduce the burden of bureaucracy on business. Businesses see the tax system as too complex, costly, uncertain and therefore risky – everything a business needs to avoid in order to be competitive.

“We are proud of our brand, our promise to our clients is we will always deliver a highquality service tailored to their individual needs,” says Philip. “We promise to listen to our clients, to foster an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect and always to act with integrity. “As our business has expanded, we have always kept these promises at the forefront of our minds and our dynamic, experienced team is completely focused on delivering the personal and proactive service which our clients have come to expect.”

Did you know that the effective marginal rate of income tax for people earning £100k – £116k is 62 per cent? But that it falls to 42 per cent for people earning £116k – £150k? It’s a disincentive for people earning just under £100k to work harder and push up their earnings, increase GDP, increase the taxes they pay and therefore detrimental to UK plc.

Could we reduce the number of councils delivering services in Dorset? In Dorset we have nine local authorities all of whom are short of the money they need to deliver local services. By cutting the repeated costs of numerous delivery vehicles more resources could be freed up for the frontline. Perhaps a council for urban Dorset and one for rural Dorset would suffice?

Why does government tax jobs, especially for the young? As a business our decisions to invest in youngsters can at times be marginal when there is little economic growth. The government could waive employers’ National Insurance contributions for the under 25s.

Seeker News invited our local mPs to respond to Philip’s questions Once again, we invited all of Dorset’s MPs to respond to the questions. Annette Brooke again responded, Conor Burns (Bournemouth West) sent his apologies, but at the time of going to press we had not heard from Robert Syms (Poole), Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East), Christopher Chope (Christchurch) or Richard Drax (South Dorset)

I do believe it is important to look at disincentives in the tax system, which is why I think the way that child benefit is being handled by the Government is unfair on some families with one income earner. This acts as a disincentive for that one income earner at a much lower level that £100,000. At an even lower level of income I think the principle of universal credit is absolutely right, making sure work pays.

I was really pleased to see that the Bournemouth area had been invited by the Government to submit a city deal bid. This must involve local authorities working closely together. I am aware that the Wessex City proposition has emerged again and it might be seen as something which would strengthen the city deal bid. However, I would caution against this approach, there are so many local residents against a formally constituted Wessex City that conflict could well get in the way of necessary cooperation and this could be counterproductive to achieve that much needed growth in our area. seekernews.co.uk 15

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16 seekernews.co.uk

Dorchester: 01305 251 007

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Top stories of 2012 SeekerNews

It’s been a busy year here at Seeker, what with the launch of two magazines, but our long-established website is as popular as ever. Where else would you find Sex Pistols ringleader John Lydon, an unexploded bomb on Bournemouth beach and coverage of the opening of Poole’s Twin Sails bridge? Here are the top stories of 2012 on Seeker News.co.uk...

picture: steve cook

1. Johnny Too Bad – John Lydon talks to Seeker News As Britain celebrated the Queen’s diamond jubilee, we spoke to the man who many thought set out to wreck her silver one 35 years ago. These days the former Johnny Rotten is flirting with National Treasure status and Nick Churchill found him in characteristically garrulous mood. 2. Young patients from Poole Hospital off on a trip of a lifetime Peter Pan volunteers from Poole Hospital work with the charity Dreamflight to take sick and disabled local children to Orlando, Florida for ten days of fun. 3. Bournemouth beach closed due to suspected unexploded bomb With the beach-side action just taking off for Bournemouth Air Festival, police cordon off a 400 metre section of beach and call in bomb disposal experts. 4. Positive acquisitions Bournemouth-based solicitors Harold G Walker expand their team. 5. A tall tale for one little bookworm Five-year-old Jake Wareing wins his height in books after his mum Jenni wins a competition run by Computershare Voucher Services, the UK’s largest dedicated childcare voucher provider. 6. VIP launch for Seeker News Video report of the Seeker News launch event at the Boatshed, Poole in February – was it that long ago?! 7. New Bournemouth-based business takes on global giants Online offers website, Live Elite, launches in competition with Groupon and Living Social to offer local deals to local people. 8. Club together – the Seeker Business Club launches Good food, great company and lots of new faces at the inaugural Seeker Business Club at Hotel du Vin, Poole. 9. School pupils part of Twin Sails Bridge opening Funded by JP Morgan, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra creates a celebratory song for Poole’s new landmark and pupils from Branksome Heath Middle School in Parkstone are invited to write the lyrics. 10. They Seeker here, they Seeker there Our headline of the year as Seeker News’ associate editor Dawn Cook is shortlisted in the Business Mother of the Year Awards for the second time in three years.

To check out all of these stories visit www.seekernews.co.uk/2012 seekernews.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 17

Teachers Building Society is your local, award winning building society, with a strong ethos of customer service and a wide range of competitive mortgage and savings products for the people of Dorset Following a highly successful year, we are looking to significantly grow our business and are now seeking experienced people to join us to help achieve our ambitious goals

Business Development Manager

New Product Development Executive

Following a year of market leading performance and ambitious plans to grow our business, we are now looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to be responsible for establishing, building and developing business relationships that directly lead to product sales.

Teachers Building Society are currently looking for an experienced New Product Development Executive to join our busy and expanding team. Following a year of market leading performance and ambitious plans to grow our business, we are looking for someone to lead an innovative programme of product development to appeal to our target markets.

Some examples of the key accountabilities for the role are: n To be responsible for establishing, building and developing business relationships, particularly mortgage brokers n To establish new business development agreements for the distribution of TBS products and services n To represent the Society at key networking and sales promotion events

Some examples of the key accountabilities for the role are: n To be responsible for the development and delivery of the Building Society products n To establish and facilitate an effective process for delivering product development n To provide innovative product development

n Give input into the development of product and service initiatives

n Drive product change through the PPWG

n Establish and maintain a business-to-business contact management database

n Support & assist in a variety of marketing campaigns and PR activities

It is essential that the successful candidate is capable of enabling change and can show innovation and initiative. All applicants will also need to provide evidence of analysis and fact finding as well as financial decision making.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate a good commercial awareness, be able to communicate effectively at all levels and have the ability to work under own initiative in a pressurised environment.

Salary

ÂŁ40k+ plus benefits

18 seekernews.co.uk

n Regular reporting of market activity

All applicants must be able to demonstrate a track record of innovative product and marketing development over a minimum of 5 years as well as a good understanding of the current mortgage and savings industry. For further information about the role, please forward your CV along with a covering letter to Joanne McLean by Friday 11th January 2013 either by e-mail at jo.mclean@ teachersbs.co.uk or alternatively by post to Teachers Building Society, Allenview House, Hanham Rd, Wimborne, BH21 1AG. A full role profile is available upon request.

Salary

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SeekerNews

appointments

Greendale Construction: maria Seabright & Andrew musselwhite

mcKenna Townsend Karen Thurlow & Pippa Gibb Account director Karen Thurlow and senior account executive Pippa Gibb have joined the team at Ringwood PR and marketing agency McKenna Townsend.

Chris Kane, maria Seabright, andy musselwhite and Rob Hooker

oole-based chartered builders, Greendale Construction start the New Year with the appointment of two new directors – Maria Seabright and Andrew Musselwhite. Maria joined Greendale as a receptionist in 1997 and has spent the last nine years as finance/HR manager. Commentating on her appointment as finance/HR director she said: “I am delighted, proud and honoured to

have been recognised for doing what I love and for a company that I adore and have watched go from strength to strength.” New contracts director, Andrew joined Greendale in 2004 as contracts manager/surveyor and is equally delighted at the prospect of his role. “I’m very excited about the appointment, which is a great opportunity to help Greendale to move forward,” he said.

Jones Solicitors has doubled the size of its banking litigation department to cope with an increase in cases involving the mis-selling of interest rate hedge products.

Ellis Jones is now working on more than 50 cases nationally involving care home owners, caravan park operators, hoteliers, pub owners and property developers. Some are progressing to the High Court.

The company has recruited solicitor Paul Kanolik and personal assistant Sarah Benoke to its team. They join William Fox Bregman, who heads the specialist department, and litigation

“We have built a considerable expertise in this area with a significant case load involving clients across a wide geographical area,” says Nigel Smith, Ellis Jones’ managing partner.

With years of experience Engage Executive Jobs are offering a personal, ethical and honest service, making them a perfect recruitment partner for you.

“We know that both Karen and Pippa will ensure the highest standard of service for our clients and we are delighted to welcome them to our busy team,” says Matthew McKenna, comanaging director. Karen has been working in PR and marketing for ten years with top brands such as Barclaycard, Avon Cosmetics and Oxfam. Pippa also has significant experience in the financial sector, including clients such as JP Morgan Asset Management and Scottish Widows.

Global radio michaela Cotty

Global Radio has welcomed Michaela Cotty to the commercial team as an account manager.

Ellis Jones: Paul Kanolik executive & Sarah Benoke Summer Abrahams. Dorset and New Forest law firm Ellis

We are Engage Executive Jobs, a new division from the dynamic and professional team at Jobshop UK.

The new appointments are a direct result of several new client wins.

“Michaela is a welcome addition to the team, bringing with her a wealth of media sales experience from the local Dorset marketplace,” says Dorset field sales manager Marc Ryan. Michaela will represent the Global Radio portfolio of Heart, Capital FM, Classic FM, LBC, Choice, Gold and XFM and be able to offer a range of multi-platform opportunities to Dorset companies.

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YOUR BUSINESS

rain reigns

YOUR NEWS

picture: SIÂN COURT

eeker’s marketing campaign which attracted national newspaper and local TV and radio coverage has won a prestigious tourism award. The Brolly Lolly campaign which saw Bournemouth’s Whitehall and Arlington Hotels guarantee £10 cashback a day for guests when it rained in August, landed the Tourism Marketing Initiative of the Year title at Bournemouth Tourism Awards. “I was thrilled with the campaign as a whole – and the award was the icing on the cake,” says Sara Uzzell, who owns the Whitehall and Arlington Hotels. “The success we had with national newspapers and broadcast media – as well as the local coverage – is a measure of how effectively the campaign was run by Seeker. We make a great team.” The idea was to highlight the range of all-weather activities available to visitors and draw attention to Bournemouth’s credentials

“The success is a measure of how effectively the campaign was run by Seeker” as the south coast’s premier resort, with a money-back guarantee of a great holiday unspoiled by rain. Sara was featured on BBC Breakfast and South Today and was interviewed by BBC Radio Solent, Heart FM, Hope FM as well as being featured in The Sun, The Mirror, The Times, The Independent and Daily Echo. The story also ran on a host of websites including BBC News, Travel Weekly and The Independent’s home page. “I love the way Seeker encourages bold, creative thinking and can deliver compelling content that gets results by emphasising the story rather than the client,” adds Sara.

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Make sure people your message, when you want it and how you want it seen. Seeker News has introduced a new premium Seeker Business section and it’s now possible for the ﬁrst time to guarantee that your message will be published exactly as you want it, including contact details, logos and call to action.

Seeker BUSINESS For further details 01202 779604 contact Tracey tracey@seeker.uk.com seekernews.co.uk 21

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SeekerBusiness

Obituary Charles Peek 1921-2012

harles Peek, the founder of the Christchurch-based partyware company that bears his name, has died aged 91. His remarkable life included being schooled at Blenheim Palace thanks to Winston Churchill, secret missions during the war and founding what became the biggest company of its type in Europe. Charles was born in 1921 in Bournemouth and after his parents split up he lived with his mother, who was to die in childbirth, and stepfather. He was educated at Malvern College thanks to a mystery benefactor that turned out to be his real father. At the outbreak of war, Churchill moved the country’s fledgling satellite research centre from Dorset to Malvern College, which had excellent laboratories. Those in the school’s sixth form were invited to continue their studies at Churchill’s family seat, Blenheim Palace. Charles studied at Churchill’s desk and sometimes slept in tents in the garden with the Duke of Marlborough’s daughters. On a later reunion at Blenheim the Duke of Marlborough asked him where he had slept during that time. “With your sisters,” Charles replied, to which the Duke said: “Oh – you must have been a prefect!” After leaving Malvern in 1940 he joined the RAF to train as a navigator and during this period he boxed for the RAF against the army and navy. In 1941 he embarked on a mysterious mission. Kitted out with tropical gear he was put on a troop ship apparently bound for South Africa, but the ship sailed north towards Iceland and was met by a British destroyer. Charles and 19 others transferred and were taken to Winnipeg in Canada. Britain had a secret arrangement with the US, which made Hudson aircraft that were then transferred by road to Canada and needed to be flown to the UK. After one test flight Charles navigated the aircraft to Britain. Extra fuel tanks were added and the flight took 11 hours and 46 minutes.

They flew in radio silence using astro-navigation plotted on a sheet of A4 sized paper. Some of the other aircraft missed the UK all together and ended up in the Netherlands, but Charles made it to Prestwick. During the rest of the war he flew to Malta, Egypt, Nigeria, South America and Canada in a variety of planes including Hudsons and Lancasters, supporting the D-Day operations and dropping food for the Dutch. During this time he met Betty and married her in 1945 at Christchurch Priory where the bells were rung for the first time in celebration since the beginning of the war. The couple had two children; John and Joy. The year after he married, Charles began Peeks in a small shop in Tuckton, then in lock-up garages, selling giftware. The firm grew in the post war years and by the 1950s was hiring children’s rides and sideshow equipment. Through the 1960s gift-wrapped toys were being sold along with novelties and Christmas decorations. Charles’ son John joined the firm in the 1970s and the Peeks colour catalogue was distributed across the country to pubs and hotels. The company was always ahead of its time and, invoking his old school’s motto “sapiens qui prospicit” – wise is the person who looks ahead – Charles organised for a computer to be installed. It took up an entire room and had just 20 megabytes of memory. Themed decorations were added to the range during the early 1980s so there was a seasonal spread of products and in 1986 John Peek became managing director, but Charles always remained involved and was visiting the business on a weekly basis until shortly before his passing. In 1995 the company’s website was launched and in 1998 Peeks moved to Reid Street in Christchurch and the superstore was opened. In 2003 Charles’ grandson Nick Peek joined the firm and he became managing director in 2011. Charles, who was an active Freemason, died on November 26 surrounded by his family. He leaves behind wife Betty, his children John and Joy, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. seekernews.co.uk 23

SeekerDirectory

businessdirectory

List your business in our directory from as little as £50/month. Call Tracey on 01202 779604 or email tracey@seeker.uk.com for more details

Nova Contract Cleaners was established in 1968 and has gone from strength to strength over the last 45 years. We offer the highest quality of service across our commercial cleaning, window cleaning, surgery cleaning and specialist cleaning divisions. We are EN ISO 9001:2008 accredited and our management team are certified members of the British Institute of Cleaning Science.

Wessex Cancer Trust promotes awareness and provides counselling and complementary therapy services. Each year many receive grants to alleviate hardship resulting from the impact of cancer on patients and their families. The Trust has funded projects including the Piam Brown Children’s Oncology Ward at Southampton General Hospital and research at the University of Southampton.

Burton Sweet Corporate Recovery advisers have considerable experience handling assignments of all sizes and complexities and a proven successful track record across a broad range of industries and sectors. Services and support are provided for companies and individuals, as well as credit managers, lenders and professional advisers.

01202 536770 sales@nova-cleaners.co.uk www.nova-cleaners.co.uk

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0844 225 0750 enquiries@bscorprecovery.co.uk www.burton-sweet.co.uk

Whether you’re looking for worldwide parcel delivery, courier or postal services; print and copy; mailbox rental or a virtual office package, you can trust the experts at Mail Boxes Etc. Commercial or private, last minute, one-off or a complete suite of services, we’re here to help. Whatever your needs, we’ll be happy to personalise our service for you too.

An established firm of accountants, specialising in advising and working with individuals and small businesses in Dorset and the surrounding area, PJC Accounting Services provides traditional accounting and tax services as well as considered advice on how to develop and improve your business.

Quantum Recruitment is a specialist recruitment agency focusing on recruitment within the healthcare, office, hospitality and construction sectors throughout the UK. We offer a permanent recruitment service using both reactive and proactive techniques to ensure timely delivery of a quality service to both clients and candidates.

01202 299151 info@mbebh1.co.uk www.mbe.co.uka

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01202 530770 jacqueline@quantum-recruitment.co.uk www.quantum-recruitment.co.uk

Coastal Direct Marketing Solutions is a fully Integrated MARKETING agency based in Bournemouth offering a fresh approach to ensure your marketing budget works hard and reaps results. We work with SMEs and bigger brands to offer the full marketing mix, creating the perfect balance of bespoke digital and offline marketing for your business. We guarantee to exceed your expectations.

Poole Hospital Charity fundraise for all the wards and departments at Poole Hospital ranging from A&E to the Children’s Ward and the Dorset Cancer Centre, funding equipment and care above and beyond that provided by the NHS. The generosity and support of the local community can help make a huge difference to the experience of hundreds of patients.

Life Retuning is a powerful new solution to eliminating the selflimiting thoughts about your business that stop you achieving the profits and success you want. Specialist areas of Life Retuning include fear of public speaking, lack of confidence in charging clients, anxiety about attending networking or social events and stress related to finances or technology.

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SeekerNews

neal butterworth

emember Nikkkiy? She was the young PR assistant who used to ring me at least once a month for most of the 13 years I was in the editor’s chair at the Echo. I introduced her early on in this column to illustrate the right and wrong way to approach newspapers if you want to get the most out of them. Nikkkiy – it was three ks because she worked for a PR company in London and they’re all encouraged to prat about with their names there – was my PR guilty pleasure. “Have you received our press release?” she would ask, in an accent that was half-Roedean, half-TOWIE and, after two minutes, would make your teeth itch. “What was it about?” I asked, feigning the slightest bit of interest and with a team of managers awaiting on-the-spot decisions in front of me. “It’s about the opening of a new spa in Harpenden,” she replied excitedly and just managed to squeal the words Botox and Bleaching before I gently rested the receiver back in its cradle.

Sometimes, it’s all about timing and there will be times when you have a freshly-brewed coffee on your desk, a copy of the press release you issued a few days ago to the press in front of you and a determination in your soul to find out just what might have happened to it. Meanwhile, a few miles away, newsdesk has just gone into meltdown with a major breaking incident, photographers that can’t be contacted because they’re in the wilds of the Purbecks and subs are screaming for the final pages. It is possible that your phone call may receive a polite, but firm suggestion that the newsdesk calls you back tomorrow when they’re not chasing around like blue-arsed flies. It is also possible you may not. Do practice a balance between patience and persistence. Just because you don’t get coverage in the first day or two after you send a release don’t get frustrated. Sometimes it takes a while for the media to pick up on a story. I would usually send an e-mail first, then

ian govier

his month I want to ask whether businesses involved in developing new products or technologies have considered applying for the new corporation tax relief, known as the Patent Box, which is being introduced by the Government from April 1 next year. A company which earns profits from patented technology can benefit from a 10 per cent rate of corporation tax, as opposed to its normal rate, which is currently a minimum of 20 per cent. The Patent Box relief ties in nicely with the long-established research and development tax relief; which helps with the costs of developing a product. The Patent Box relief helps to save tax once development is complete. The company must own or exclusively licence-in patents which have been

Former Daily Echo editor’s golden rules on working with media follow up with a phone call. Chances are you will probably find yourself sending another e-mail, but then a reporter will recognise your name and the topic you were pitching. Right then, your chances are improved that they will open your e-mail or consider your pitch. We often see months in between an initial pitch and something in print. z Be patient. It’s in the system... somewhere z Take your frustration out in a friendly email z Look at the website. What’s happening locally that might be dragging attention screaming away from your story? z And is it bigger than what you’re selling? Neal’s site www.nealbutterworth.co.uk will shortly be updated after his return to Dorset, but don’t hesitate to email him at neal.butterworth@gmail.com for details of Neal Butterworth Media’s services.

Essential tax tips from Inspire’s tax director

registered at the UK Intellectual Property Office, the European Patent Office or a similar office in one of the countries in the European Economic Area. In addition, the company must have undertaken qualifying development in relation to the patent by either:

z Developing the patent itself; or z Incorporating the patent technology into a product of its own. If a patent is pending it is possible to elect into the Patent Box regime. The company will be entitled to relief in the accounting period in which the patent is granted, for a maximum retrospective period of six years. At Inspire we understand the detailed ins and the outs of both the Patent Box and the research and development relief and can assist companies to maximise claims and to minimise their tax bills. If you think your company might benefit from the Patent Box relief please do not hesitate to get in contact with Inspire’s experts, Ian Govier and Robin Witt on 01202 717867. seekernews.co.uk 25

Liquidation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a New Beginning? In the majority of the liquidations we have recently been involved in locally, we have been successful in securing sales or transfers of all or parts of the businesses as going concerns.

Liquidation is often considered the end of the road for many businesses but David Meany, of Business Recovery and Insolvency Specialists, Ashtons JWD LLP, in Bournemouth, thinks that this is a misconception. Traditionally, liquidation has been seen as the end of the road for a business. Indeed statistics show that creditor voluntary liquidations only have a small business preservation rate. However, in many cases there is a viable core business, which once released from the burden of the existing debt, and with a new management structure and new investment, has the potential for success. It is important that, as business recovery practitioners, we are pro-active in working with the existing management to identify opportunities to realise potential, even in those situations where a rescue procedure such as a company voluntary arrangement, is not achievable. In the majority of the liquidations we have recently been involved in locally, we have been successful in securing sales or transfers of all or parts of the businesses as going concerns. This has had a very real and positive impact from securing employment, to providing enhanced realisations for creditors, and preserving an on-going customer/client for suppliers. It is this willingness and ability to go the extra mile, which, in my view, sets us here at Ashtons JWD LLP, in Bournemouth, apart from the other business recovery and insolvency firms.

Ashtons JWD LLP is an independent firm of Licensed Insolvency Practitioners and Business Consultants with offices based in Dorset and Hampshire. Between them, the partners have over 70-years of experience in providing high quality, innovative and effective business recovery and insolvency solutions to SMEs and individuals across the South Coast. So, if you or a client is either in difficulty, or is forecasting an impending problem, please feel free to give us a call so we can work together to ensure the best outcome for all concerned.

admin@ashtonsjwd.co.uk

www.ashtonsjwd.co.uk

26 seekernews.co.uk

Bournemouth Office 22 Basepoint Business Centre, Aviation Park West, Enterprise Way, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6NX Tel: 01202 651200 Fax: 01202 651255 Southampton Office 10 Shedfield House Dairy, Sandy Lane, Shedfield, Southampton Hampshire S032 2HQ Tel: 01329 834040 Fax: 01329 834041

SeekerNews

dr ian smith

fficially a part of the EU Directive on privacy and electronic communications, the so-called Cookie Law states that a website may not access or store information about a visitor to the site without their permission. Which sounds fine in the interests of data protection, but what exactly is a cookie? Well, it’s not something you’d want to dunk in your coffee! It is simply a small text file placed on the computer of website visitors by the website owners – usually to monitor traffic, although they can be used to store a variety of other information about website visitors. The Cookie Law is a change to Article 5(3) of the E-Privacy Directive requiring consent for storage or access to information stored on a subscriber or user’s terminal equipment and it has been in force since 26 May 2012. It has been implemented to protect the privacy of internet users and although there are some exceptions, it means that a website may not use

cookies without the consent of the user. So, as a website owner you need to ensure that you request permission from visitors to your site in order to continue using cookies. A lot of website owners will wish this law didn’t exist, but the simple fact is that it does and it is here to stay. The EU passed the legislation, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport implemented it and it is now the job of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to ensure compliance. Indications from the ICO suggest that a path of “education instead of enforcement” is being followed, although it is worth remembering that non-compliance carries a possible fine of up to £500,000. All websites are not required to seek consent from visitors to continue

debbie cohen

STrEETWISE Hr

Having to be flexible as an employer has become much more of a necessity over the last few years. Although as an employer you don’t have to approve a flexible working request, you have to ensure you have followed the correct legal procedure and give your reasons as to why you are unable to accommodate the request. There are only a number of legal reasons why you can turn down such a request. For some employers allowing employees to work flexible hours puts a strain on the business and having to go through a rigid process adds further pressures. It is recognised that the need for flexible working is vital for individuals, but it is also now acknowledged that such a strict process for dealing with requests is a burden and the government has been looking at changes to the provisions for family-friendly policies. The changes for flexible working are not planned to be

mfP’s all-round online marketing boffin using cookies and implied consent is acceptable in most situations. The most common and simplest way of implementing this is to place a pop-up alert on the first page visited by a new visitor with a message: “This site uses cookies. Please press accept to continue,” or something similar, and an option that offers information on disabling cookies if preferred. How your website was created will dictate how you go about adding a pop-up. There are a number of plugins available for Wordpress, but unless you are confident with the inner workings of your website it is probably best to get your webmaster to do it. Small business owners should be aware that this is not optional – if you have a website it is a legal requirement to request permission to use cookies and if you don’t have it on your site, you need to do it as soon as possible. More information can be found on our website (www.consultancymarketing. co.uk/blog/eu-cookie-law-guidance-foryou-and-your-website) including links to the full directive and the ICO’s own guide on the use of cookies.

liz davies

DoVETAIL rECrUITmENT

introduced until April 2014, but it is good to know that some changes are being made ready. The positive change is that they are looking to remove the current statutory procedure and replace it with a duty to deal with requests in a ‘reasonable’ manner and within a ‘reasonable’ period of time.

Share ownership is no substitute for employment rights and good people management.

There will also be some further guidance provided in an ACAS Code of Practice, which will give employers more assistance with these matters.

But is this really an incentive for the majority of employees in the majority of businesses? Especially the small – to medium-sized businesses that need the most government assistance.

The other change will be that the right to work flexibly will be extended to all employees who have 26 weeks’ service. Only employees who have caring responsibilities for a child have the legal right to make an application. If you’re not sure about the current flexible working process or procedures and need some guidance, then don’t hesitate to seek advice – I would be happy to ensure you are dealing with things in the right way.

The government’s latest employment initiative offers employees the chance to waive some of their existing employment rights in exchange for shares in their employers’ business.

Shares, or even part ownership, in many businesses are something of a gamble for the average employee, so will the returns really be worth them giving up any of their existing employment rights? And is unfair dismissal, one of the employment rights concerned, really such a big issue in the UK anyway? According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and

Development, the UK has one of the least regulated labour markets in the world and the government’s own research found unfair dismissal doesn’t even make the list of top ten regulations discouraging companies from taking on new staff. I can’t help but think that less government tinkering with employment regulations and more encouragement for SMEs is what the country needs. Surely what we require is a reduction in our overall tax burden and better incentives to employ and train young people? Retaining good staff starts at the beginning of the recruitment process by identifying the right type of person to fit into the business. The best incentivisation thereafter must stem from good management, not asking the employee to opt for greater job insecurity in exchange for company shares. seekernews.co.uk 27

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www.lashmars.co.uk

SeekerCharity Inspired by the Olympics, four Dorset rowers are aiming to cross the Atlantic in less than 40 days next December and raise money for the Joanna Brown Trust and Swanage Sea Rowing Club. The Fourtitude2013 team is seeking sponsors and supporters for its entry in the 3,000-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge race from San Sebastian, La Gomera to English Harbour, Antigua.

Student Max Burridge, 21, and his 19 – year-old apprentice tree surgeon brother Ted, from Swanage, 17-year-old design student from Wareham Tom Lavin and Skip Graham, 35, from Swanage all learned their oar-some skills with Swanage Sea Rowing Club in Cornish pilot gigs. “We hope to attract as much local attention and sponsorship as possible and our ideal situation is one where all of our sponsors are from Dorset,” says Skip.

Their attempt must be unassisted and will see them carry all their own medical supplies, emergency rafts, navigation gear and food to supply the four of them with 8,000 calories a day – all in a boat that measures less than 10m by 2m in which they must eat, sleep, wash and row.

Before they can enter the race they must raise £150,000 to include £80,000 for the kit, of which £40,000 will pay for a second-hand boat. “If we can garner as much sponsorship as possible from the region, so that we can in turn promote Dorset enterprise, then that would make us pretty happy.” Their efforts are to help sustain the legacy of last summer’s Olympic Games and they want to raise cash for the Joanna Brown Trust, which encourages people to get involved with and excel in sport. Sponsors already include Lush, Chococo and the Mulberry Tree Gallery, but they need more. For more details visit www. fourtitude2013.com :

Caring canines (and their owners) are invited to take part in Wessex Cancer Trust’s fundraising dog on February 3 from 11am to start and finish at the Discovery Centre on Knoll Beach at Studland. Entry fee is £10 to include doggy gift and refreshments, details from Karen Rhys on 07545 145776, karen@wessexcancer.org

A worm reception

he spirit of giving is alive and well and living in Poole! Grandmother Val Maggi suffers with sight loss, but that doesn’t stop her knitting neck warmers to raise money for the charity that helps her – Dorset Blind Association. “They do for me what I can’t do for myself and I do for them whatever I can, it seems only fair,” says the lively 76-year-old.

“We must all give what we can in this life, otherwise how can we ever hope to receive anything?” Val goes to a dance every Monday afternoon organised by the Dorset Blind Association’s Poole group. “I like to thank the volunteers so I make cakes to go with the cup of tea. The taxi comes and takes me there then comes back, collects me and takes me home, so making a few cakes seems the least I can do.

“I knit the neck warmers – I call them worms – on four needles! It’s not complicated, it’s what I do.

picture: SiÂn Court

“I give the worms to the charity and they put them in the shop in Parkstone to sell, I do flower arrangements for them as well and whatever they can get for them is something extra for the charity.” Inspirational Val is keen to show others what can be done. “I love getting out and about so the knitting, cakes and flower arranging keep me busy otherwise I’d just sit there and that’s no good. So even if it’s only taking someone’s arm for support and having a walk around the block if you build your activity up slowly you can do such a lot. “I don’t let sight loss get in the way any more than it has to. We’ve only got one life – I’m not going to waste it!” seekernews.co.uk 29

Sportsman’s Dinner supported by

7pm, Thursday 28th February 2013

Welcome drink Three course meal with wine & coffee

Special Guest Speaker

Lewis Moody MBE

With Comedian John Stiles Raffle and Auction Dress Code – Lounge Suits

TICKETS

£50

PER PERSON EXC VAT

TABLE OF 10

£475 EXC VAT

To book contact the Commercial Team on 01202 726306 or email commercial@afcb.co.uk

30 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerSport

Cherries’ former England goalkeeper, the legendary David James speaks to Nick Churchill in the latest issue of Seeker Sport, available now from the club shop at the Goldsands Stadium and other outlets. Talking about his return to football at AFC Bournemouth he says: “There’s a mission – for me it’s to improve and to get back in the Championship and to get Bournemouth up there. I’m not here to graze on the grass.” He also speaks highly of the team spirit he has found at Cherries: “I’ve been in dressing rooms where the players are all getting changed in little cliques and it can be tough to bring it together on the pitch, but here it doesn’t matter if you’re an old head or one of the younger lads, the conversation just flows between us, it’s very natural.” Read the full interview Q&A at: www. seekernews.co.uk/davidjames

From russia with love A FC Bournemouth have appointed Mikhail Ponomarev and Alexey Panferov to the board of directors at the Goldsands Stadium. Bournemouth businessman Adam Murry also re-joins the Cherries’ board after two years away. Ponomarev, 38, is the founder of Energy Consulting Group Russia and a close associate of AFC Bournemouth co-owner Maxim Demin. Heavily involved in football sponsorship in Russia and Europe, Energy Consulting has owned and sponsored Torpedo Moscow and been instrumental in the rise of Fortuna Dusseldorf to he German Bundesliga. Panferov, 42, is founder and managing partner at NewRussiaGrowth Private Equity. Based in Russia and Italy, he is a lifelong CSKA Moscow fan and has

followed Cherries since Demin became the club’s joint owner. “We are so pleased to be able to add individuals to our team with such exceptional talent and pedigree and I know Mikhail and Alexey will become valuable members of our set up,” says Cherries’ chairman Eddie Mitchell. Adam Murry has a long-standing association with the Cherries and was part of the consortium alongside Eddie Mitchell which took over the club in the summer of 2009. “I’m pleased to return to the board at a time where the club is on a sound financial footing and looking forward to a bright future,” he says. “The board has done a fantastic job in moving this club forward over the past three years and I hope to contribute towards its future progress.”

Shirt locker

BCHA FC has secured three new shirt sponsors thanks to vital support from local organisations. A new fundraising initiative saw organisations throughout Bournemouth enter a prize draw to win the opportunity to be one of team’s three shirt sponsors for the season. Sunrise Senior Living won first prize in the draw – sponsorship of BCHA FC’s home kit. Second prize – sponsorship of the away kit – was won by the Norfolk Royale Hotel, while the final prize of sponsoring the tournament kit was won by Coles Miller Solicitors. “BCHA FC plays a big part in the lives of many people, but we rely on donations to allow us to continue to run the club each year,” says team manager Daryl Gibbins. “From pitch hire to travelling to matches, football can prove quite an expensive hobby, so the money raised through this fundraising initiative has contributed to these expenses and allowed us to compete for another season.” Wendy Blow, senior director of community relations at Sunrise Senior Living, adds: “Sunrise Senior Living teams work very hard day and night to deliver quality care to people less fortunate than themselves and the love, care and commitment always shines through. We believe no one should ever feel alone, so we are very privileged to be able to help in this small way.”

Disability grant

Sport England has awarded a grant of more than £100,000 to Active Dorset’s Disability Sports Forum to improve access to sport for disabled people in the county. The cash is one of three awards made by the organisation with National Lottery funding from its Inclusive Sport Fund. seekernews.co.uk 31

SeekerArts

bookreview

Bournemouth A Go! Go!

Jon Kremer (Natula Publications)

hanks to the democratic wonders of the blogosphere writing a memoir, once the preserve of the great and the good (well, mostly), is now within the reach of anyone with something to say… and many without. All of which makes Bournemouth A Go! Go! a splendidly old-fashioned prospect – a highly stylised, unashamedly personal account of a journey from boyhood to manhood set in and around Bournemouth from about 1955 until May 15, 1973, from hearing Bill Haley to meeting Paul McCartney. And although he throws a few lines forward from that date, along the way we join Jon in the audience for

Cliff and the Shads; hang out with him in a basement club as resident bandleader Manfred Mann transforms his jazz band into a hot, tight R&B outfit; we’re there at the birth of Jon’s lifelong friendship with future multi million AoR unit shifter Al Stewart (remember Year of the Cat?) and as the pair of them blag their way backstage masquerading as Rickenbacker representatives after the first show of The Beatles’ 1963 summer season. The Beatles provide an effective skeleton for the memoir, but the meat of the matter revolves largely around Al Stewart – from Jon recording the nascent talent on a Telefunken, through Al’s move to London where

he heard the pre-fame Paul Simon complete his song Homeward Bound and rushed back to Bournemouth to share it with his friend, to feline groovy riding out the first wave of Year of the Cat in LA, Jon’s memoir is really a story of friendship and will yield its greatest rewards if approached as such. Harsher critics will make more of the light dusting of spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and factual slips, others might take issue with the sometimes fussy style in which it is written, but to do so misses the point – this is a very personal love letter to the author’s youth and therein lies its charm. Nick Churchill

pantoreviews (oh yes they are...)

I may be a grumpy old Scrooge when it comes to Christmas – well I was, but as I’ve got older the facade has started to slip – but I still enjoy a good panto. Having grown up in the Carry On generation I love the combination of thigh slapping, slapstick and the odd double entendre. In short, good clean family fun and there’s still nothing better than the sound of your kids laughing over a fart gag. Steve Cook

Aladdin

Lighthouse, Poole

As well as the great singing voice that made his name on X-Factor, Ray Quinn shows that he’s got a real affinity with his audience, his interactions are genuine and you can see that he loves every minute he’s on stage. Add Crackerjack (Crack-er-jack!) legend Don Maclean as Widow Twanky and Olivier Award winner Tim Flavin as Abanazer and you’ve got a talented cast that exudes fun. Highlight: Don McLean’s opera singing in praise of Indian cuisine!

Sleeping Beauty

Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth

picture: STEVE COOK seekernews.co.uk 32 seekernews.co.uk

With CBeebies star and local favourite Chris Jarvis at the helm the Pavilion’s production of Sleeping Beauty combines a great script with definite street cred amongst pre-schoolers. Su Pollard returns to Bournemouth as the wicked witch and plays the part with gusto and a cracking pair of legs. Jungle survivor and ex-Time Lord Colin Baker escapes the bush tucker trials to take on the role of Nanny Nelly and capture the hearts of the crowd. Highlight: Nanny Nelly’s Tardis

SeekerArts

The life and soul

e’s the guitar picker who took soul music down a country road, breaking down barriers between black and white and redefining what had previously been referred to as ‘race’ music. He had a hand in writing classic soul sides including In the Midnight Hour and Knock On Wood and with Booker T & the MG’s created Stax Records’ template for southern soul. As Sam & Dave’s classic Soul Man reaches its peak and Sam Moore cries out: “Play it, Steve”, that’s Steve Cropper he’s testifying to – the same Steve Cropper who’s on the end of my phone. How are you Steve? “I’m OK, a little crazy maybe, but at least I’m sane enough to know it,” he laughs. I’ve been a Stax fan ever since my days as a playground Mod in the early 1980s. Not that I tell him, but

speaking to Steve Cropper is a bit of a moment for me. So much so I lose track momentarily. As I snap back round I realise I must have asked about Otis Redding as he’s telling me about the man we both agree is the greatest soul singer of them all. “Otis and I were like brothers, I mean really that close,” he says. “The funny thing is I didn’t find out for years that he and I were the same age

words: NICK CHURCHILL

– he just always seemed older to me. He had this streetwise thing, didn’t matter if were hanging out in New York or hanging out in Memphis, he just seemed to be older than me.” It was Steve Cropper who took an unfinished demo cut by Otis shortly before his death in a place crash in December 1967 and created (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, his best known song and biggest hit. It’s Steve’s third tour with the Animals. They’ll open the show and play their hits, before bringing Steve out for the second half and tackling a set of soul classics. “I’m looking forward to getting back to the UK because I’ve missed those audiences. ” Animals & Friends with Steve Cropper January 30 Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne 01202 885566 www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk

WIN!WIN!WI WIN!WIN! WIN!WIN! Having checked out the area when they joined the Santa Parade in Poole, King Julien and Skipper the Penguin have rounded up their friends and return to Dorset this month in Madagascar Live! The West End show’s first ever arena tour starts at the BIC on January 10 and finds Alex, Marty, Melman, Gloria and the plotting Penguins as they escape from New York’s Central Park Zoo and journey to the madcap world of Madagascar. This is your chance to win tickets for a family of four to the first arena tour of DreamWorks Madagascar Live! presented by Stage Entertainment Touring Productions. It’s incredible what you can squeeze into a bottle... meet Steph, one of the stars of the amazing Circus of Horrors making its Poole debut at Lighthouse this month. Steph, from Corfe Mullen, arrived at the venue shortly before Christmas with fellow performer Douglas Disorderly to give a little taste of the cult show which stormed into the finals of Britain’s Got Talent. The new touring show is packed with shocks in a whirlwind journey featuring daredevils and bizarre circus acts from all over the world. Circus of Horrors January 12 Lighthouse, Poole 0844 406 8666 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

Seeker News has three family tickets (worth £120 each) up for grabs to see the show at the BIC. Including the hit song Move It, Move It, audiences of all ages will love the wild and action-packed adventure and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning one of three family tickets is tell us the name of the king. Email entries to madagascar@seeker.uk.com to reach us no later than January 8. Winners will collect their tickets from the venue. Visit the official Madagascar Live! website for the full touring schedule and more information: www.madlive.co.uk Madagascar Live! January 10-13 Windsor Hall, BIC 0844 576 3000 www.bic.co.uk seekernews.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 33

SeekerSocialDiary

Deals over dinner T

he Seeker News team was joined by a variety of businesses to celebrate Christmas at December’s Seeker Business Club lunch at the Green House Hotel in Bournemouth. It was great to see so many people chatting and doing business in the room with some very exciting deals being discussed by various parties. Continuing our support for Winchelsea Special School in Poole the raffle raised £120 to help buy communication aids for the use of the children and so far Seeker Business Club has raised enough to buy one iPad for the school. John Corderoy of Breeze VW won the free ad and Paul Miller of Dorset Soils & Aggregates won the cream tea at the Green House.

Our next event is a breakfast at the highly acclaimed Sevens Boatshed in Poole Park on Friday, January 18 and bookings are now being taken at www.seekernews. co.uk/sbc

Seeker BUSINESS CLUB

There is no membership fee, but there are some exceptional benefits to Classic, Plus and Premium members.

classic Plus Premium

Discount package with savings of at least £395, including 25% discount on events, listing on Seeker Business Club page in Seeker News and free 1/8 page advert in Seeker News. Discount package worth £775, including half price events, logo and listing in Seeker News magazine and a free 1/4 page advert worth £175. Discounts worth at least £1,200, including 50% off events, logo and enhanced listing in Seeker News magazine and a free half-page advert worth £300.

To find out more, or to book places for the Christmas lunch, visit

www.seekernews.co.uk/sbc

seekernews.co.uk 34 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerSocialDiary

Seeker Business Club Green House Hotel, December 14

Dave Brown, Hannah Dodds

Alison Watts, Ann Lampitt

Suzanne Langley, Tracey Parrack

Amanda Hughes, Ken Butcher, Andrew Curtis

Philip Cubitt, Gemma Wooldridge, Carlie O’Neill

Paul Miller, Andrew Curtis

Nigel Butler, John Corderoy, Ally Case

Hannah Dodds, Sarah Hodson

Mark Liddle, Dawn Cook, Steve Cook

Tracey Parrack, Nigel Martin

Robert Dougall, Carlie O’Neill, Nigel Martin

Laura Hancock, Ally Case

Dawn and Steve Cook

Marie Hunt, Suzanne Langley

Emily Barker, Steve Cook, Carol Maunder

Ken Butcher, Amanda Hughes, Sarah Hodson, Ian Wedge, Dawn Cook Mark Staal, Carlie O’Neill Hannah Dodds Free downloads of all images on these pages from www.seekernews.co.uk/photos seekernews.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 35

SeekerSocialDiary

let’s do lunch £17.99 - 3 courses £14.99 - 2 courses £12.99 - Main Course Visit the Green Room at the Green House hotel, enjoy our daily changing locally sourced lunchtime menu. The Green Room offers a carefully selected variety of organic and biodynamic wines to complement your meal. Complimentary electric charging points and car parking for all our guests.

4 Grove Road East Cliff BH1 3AX www.thegreenhousehotel.com info@thegreenhousehotel.com 01202 498 900 @thegreenhousehotel www.facebook.com/greenhousehotel

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SeekerSocialDiary SeekerArts

AFC Business Christmas Party Sevens Boatshed, December 5

Amanda Burger, Steve Cook, Kerrie Young

Dan Carey, Louise, Seager, Sandra Blakey, Nigel Leonard

Emma Wall, Tom Jeffes

Helen Mortimer, Lara Brennan

Philip Cubitt, Jenny Carter, Karen Peel, Richard Osborne

Richard Mack, David Green

Rob Mitchell, Greg Martin, Derek Martin

Rosemary Darby-Jenkins, Keith Jenkins, Karen Peel

Suzanne Murphy, Becky Savill

Angela Fletcher, Marianne Van Munster

James Stelfox, Andrew Moore

Jonathan Whiter, Simon Lockyer

Leslie Spiers, Rob Varley, Philip Creswell

Mark Painter, Geoff Paterson

Mike Rushworth, Melanie Simmons, Dean Patton

Paul Fox, Dominique Bailhachea

Sally Lynsky, Mike Smith

Warren Munson, Chris Kane

IoD Conference Bournemouth University, December 5

seekernews.co.uk 37 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerSocialDiary

BCF Lunch Café Shore, November 30

David Davidson, Phil Beattie

Barry White, Steve Cook

Sophie Chick, Dave Brown

Chris Kane, Sarah Perrin, Jay Coleman, Carlie O’Neill

Jane Edwards, Steve Wells, Charlotte Wilson, Ben Arnold

Andrew Dossett, Chris Chiles, David Errington, James Dennett

Jacqueline Entwistle, Roger Hearn

Mark Daniels, Charlotte Wilson, Lucy York, Jane Edwards

Jordan Dearlove, Steve Isaacs

events listings January 3 – 6-8pm DJC Meet & Drink, Hot Rocks, Bournemouth January 9 – 8.30-11.30am Business leaders invited to free 2013 goal setting masterclass , Results International, London January 15-16 – 9.30-4.30pm New in Business, Bournemouth College, Bournemouth, Dorset, January 16 – 12-3pm FJB Networking Lunch, Harbour Heights Hotel, Poole Dorset January 17 – 6-8pm DJC Meet & Drink, Banana Wharf, Poole January 18 – 8-10am Seeker Business Club – January breakfast, Sevens Boatshed, Poole Dorset

For further details of these events or to list your events for FREE visit www.seekernews.co.uk/events January 23 – 4-6pm The College Business Series – Getting LinkedIn with Laura McHarrie, Bournemouth and Poole College, Parkstone Dorset January 26 – 7.30-11.30pm Mayor’s Charity Burns Night, Norfolk Royale Hotel, Bournemouth Dorset January 31 – 8-9am College Business Information Series – Business Bites, Bournemouth and Poole, Parkstone Dorset February 7 – 6-8pm DJC Meet & Drink, Hot Rocks, Bournemouth February 13 – 9-11am DWIB, Kingston Lacy, Wimborne February 21 – 6-8pm DJC Meet & Drink, Banana Wharf, Poole

Key DJC Dorset Junior Chamber DCCI Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry IoD Institute of Directors PBWLC Poole Business Womens Lunch Club seekernews.co.uk 38 seekernews.co.uk

seekernews.co.uk 39

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