Seeker News - Issue 10

Seeker NEWS ISSUE 10 DECEMBER 2012

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LUSH FOR LIFE Mark Constantine on why Lush is not like other companies

RAY QUINN X Factor star talks Aladdin

SEEKER CIDER Growing ambition

Dorset’s monthly business/lifestyle magazine seekernews.co.uk 1

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SeekerNews

Bah humbug?

S

o that was 2012, how was it for you?

Was it a year of excitement, growth and opportunity for your business?

Steve Cook

Editor Seeker News

If not, why not? What’s holding you back?

So how will you spend this holiday season? Eating too much, drinking too much and watching repeats of Only Fools and Horses with family members you spend the rest of the year avoiding; or preparing for 2013?

The shutdown can be both a source of irritation at the lost revenue and an opportunity to recharge, refocus and plan ahead.

Let’s face it, when else do you get a two week break from emails? Not even when you’re on holiday I’d bet.

This magazine wouldn’t even be in your hands now if I hadn’t sat down last Christmas and thought about what I was going to do differently in 2012.

So how was 2012? What can you build on? What will you avoid doing again? And what is your big idea for 2013?

Is it the economy, the lack of opportunities, the squeezed margins; or a scarcity of funding or talented staff?

I haven’t always been the greatest fan of the Christmas holiday. The country closes down for two weeks and nobody makes a business buying decision from the moment the decorations go up until they come back down again – and they go up earlier every year!

When Northern Rock collapsed in September 2007 the state of the economy wasn’t helped by the proximity of the holiday season. I remember I could have had two months off over that Christmas and not made the slightest difference to my business.

1 Seeker Business Club launches

Top

2 Tree cheers

Best wishes,

Ebeneezer

Langtry Manor 35 years on

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Free surfing at Bournemouth hotel

Spectacular £8 million Sandbanks home completed

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

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 © 2012 Seeker. All rights reserved.

Seeker is a Business Solent Champion seekernews.co.uk 3

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

THE

success OF

words: NiCK CHuRCHiLL pictures: STEVE CooK

A

ll around the world, there’s a smell that will always be Poole. Specifically Poole High Street, the old part, down near the Quay. It’s part fruit juice, part rain water on a dusty summer pavement, but it comes with a whole lot of je ne sais quoi.

It’s the aroma of Lush and it doesn’t matter whether you’re in Estonia or Exeter, Milan or Manchester, Lush

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smells, well, lush. And always of Poole High Street where co-founder Mark Constantine has run his businesses since 1976.

“I was 24 when we set up here, I’m 60 now and still loving every day I spend here,” says the amiable man at the top. Back then we rented three rooms on the top floor, no shop front and were a herbal hair care business called Constantine & Weir.

“I thought we should promote what we were doing and the lady from what was then the Poole & Dorset Herald came down the High Street to see me.

Sylvia Hounsome was her name. We stood out there on the High Street and she asked me: ‘Well, what are you going to do for the people of Poole?’

“That put me on the back foot immediately, but what she was talking about was reality. What

SeekerNews was I going to do for the people of Poole?”

Some 36 years later and Mark has still not finished answering her question. There are the 100-odd UK stores and some 750 others around the world. Last year the company amassed sales in excess of £350 million and led a range of campaigns in support of eco-friendly and libertarian causes – most recently Lush workers organised a demonstration in Covent Garden against puppy farms – but its headquarters remain at 29 High Street, Poole.

“Lush is not like other companies, but the reason it’s not like other companies is because we try to build the business around the strengths and ambitions and interests of the people that work for it,” he says, resolutely refusing the opportunity to take credit for the company’s achievements.

He tells me about Mira Manga, a composer who started working for Lush at the Carnaby Street store simply because she loved its products so much. She was working for the BBC during the week and pottering about at Lush at the weekends, when she wasn’t playing in her punk-comedy group The Duloks, a band that Mark loved.

She eventually came to work for Lush in retail support, but when the opportunity to write about the history of Lush and Cosmetics To Go, the company Mark and his wife Mo started when they sold Constantine & Weir to Anita Roddick’s Body Shop in 1984 and that went bust a decade later, she jumped at the chance. She also composes, records and performs songs, jingles and music in support of Lush products.

“Well she’s a great writer so why wouldn’t we want to incorporate those talents in this business?” asks Mark.

“It reminds me of some 1990s business thinking – everyone knows the boss is a dick, but nobody will tell the boss why he’s a dick. So, to find out all the things we should know, every year we do Three Wishes and ask everyone who works for us for their three wishes. Some might wish for a wedding in Italy so perhaps some of our Italian staff help them organise their dream wedding, others will tell you why they feel demotivated in their job.”

Mark goes on to tell me about the French therapist called Jen who worked at the Kings Road store then moved to Poole to help set up the Lush Spa. She found her vocation when they started the Synaesthesia (confusion of the senses) treatment that involved the therapist dancing around the couch.

“We try to build the business around the strengths and ambitions and interests of the people that work for it” “We never quite got that right, but Jen had been a dancer before she came to this country and was absolutely amazing at that treatment. She told me we should open a Paris branch. It took two-and-a-half years but now we are opening one and she is managing it, recruiting the staff and training.”

Another former member of staff left to return home to Brazil and have children. Now Mark is talking about opening a branch in Rio. “I’m not saying everyone at Lush gets that kind of personal development, it’s absolutely accidental and very patchy.”

I ask him if he’s easy to work for and he brings me back to that conversation with Sylvia in Poole High Street.

“I’d say that was advanced business management – the idea that a shop was so engaged with the community it is part of that community. Some of my most experienced shop managers have that, but I see that as my base level, my starting point, I expect that of them all.

“We were trained by a Polish cosmetic chemist called Stan Krystal who I got to know at the age of 72 and who faxed me a formula from his deathbed at the age of 86. He was a man who loved what he did and brought new things to it as he got older because he could add his experience to whatever he was working on.

The lesson of his life is salutory and refreshing so I’m looking forward to seeing what we come up with next.

“Am I easy to work for? I don’t know. Would I like to work for me?

Yes, because I am an obsessive character and it gets pretty intense.

It doesn’t take a lot for me to get immersed in something, whether it’s a new product, company structure or bird watching.”

Ah yes, bird watching. Mark spends much of his spare time birding, a passion he discovered in and around Poole Harbour. He has published two books on the subject and shows me the makings of a third on two USB drives he keeps in his pocket.

“Obsessive, see? I had a computer collapse during the writing of the first one and now I have to keep copies all the time – and not just one, I must have two. In fact, the last book was going to be called Obsession.”

It would have been an apt title for the exhaustive Catching the Bug: A Sound Approach Guide to the Birds of Poole Harbour, which comprises 288 painstakingly researched and annotated pages chronicling the comings and goings of the tens of thousands of birds that migrate through the area, as well as recorded samples of their birdsong in flight and at rest, complete with sonograms.

“I don’t know that I would go that in-depth again, but I see how I could. seekernews.co.uk 5

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SeekerNews I’m quite hard on myself, but then I think English men are.”

The temptation is to paint Mark as a one of those ethical entrepreneurs, a capitalist in a hair shirt, a bit of a hippy creating an island of calm and goodwill in an ocean of boardroom psychopaths, but that’s too easy. He has about as much time for such pat, conventional notions as he does for the corporate world he flies in the face of.

“We build teams here and that’s why I wouldn’t sell up and move on, because it’s not just me and Mo, it’s all of us. Besides, I’m still having fun with what I do, this is what I love.

“I’ve worked my way through a few heroes in my time – people I have been in awe of, not just business people, but in general. You start off thinking they’re heroes then after a while you find out they’re Vikings.”

But surely Mark Constantine must realise people hold him in high regard and does that not come with some pressure? Do people expect leadership?

“Well, I fiddled with leadership for a while, but I don’t like it. I think it’s a figment of the imagination, usually someone else’s imagination. If you analyse great leaders, say Churchill, you find they are constructs of a team of people who work hard to protect an idealised image of them as a figurehead.

“On the other hand, I am aware that fish rots from the head down, so there has to be an element of setting the tone, the direction and there is a struggle to reconcile the two positions.

“My reward for what I do is a woman who buys our products, takes them home where her old man tries them and says; ‘Hey, that’s not bad.’

Now, I don’t need to know that or be told that, but if it’s happening then I’m happy.”

So, there is some self satisfaction at work?

“I guard against it and I do it by engaging with people. I do my own Facebook and what I love is reading through all the gush – and people are very enthusiastic about what we do – until I come across one of our old customers from the early days, someone who knows me and they’ll post something like: ‘It’s good, but how do you cope with all these sycophants Mark?’

“That brings me right back to Poole High Street and formidable old Sylvia – the second I get proud of the business and what we do is the second before I fall flat on my face... and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” seekernews.co.uk 7

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Mark Constantine on why Lush is not like other companies

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RAY QUINN X Factor star talks Aladdin

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New crime boss reveals his to-do list D orset’s first Police and Crime Commissioner has told the county’s residents he has four main things to do in his first 100 days in office.

Martyn Underhill has also promised to have his public forums set up and running within the same timescale.

“My main priority is to recruit the chief constable,” said Mr Underhill, who was elected to office on November 15.

“The second is to publish my police and crime plan and the third is to set a police budget dealing with the issue of a precept.

“The fourth one is to start community engagement with the public.

Mr Underhill will use the public forums to find out what key areas the public wants Dorset Police to tackle.

“We are already starting to create PCC forums and I have heard from 60 members of the public who want to sit on the forums. We will have them in place within the first 100 days.”

Mr Underhill said he will personally chair the PCC forums, which will take place quarterly around the county, and will set up victim forums and PCC surgeries.

The former DCI in Sussex Police, who was second in command in the Sarah Payne case, was elected as Dorset’s first commissioner following a county-wide election.

He is responsible for holding the Chief Constable and police force to account on behalf of the Dorset public, as well as overseeing how crime is tackled in Dorset; ensuring the police provide a good service and meet the public regularly to listen to their views on policing.

Ferry nice...

Dorset-based ferry operator, Condor Ferries has launched its sailing schedule for summer 2013, allowing passengers to book journeys to France and the Channel Islands up to November 4 next year.

Passengers will be able to take advantage of an increased number of sailings from the UK, with an increase of more than 20 per cent in connecting services available to St Malo in France via Jersey and Guernsey. Fast ferry services to the Channel Islands will also increase compared to 2012.

As part of the newly-released sailing schedule, regular fast ferry services from Weymouth will return from July 17, operating alongside additional services from Poole.

Customers travelling next summer will also benefit from the return of day trips to Guernsey and Jersey, enabling a taste of the Channel Islands, as well as a chance to take advantage of duty free shopping on board.

Good habitats

Dorset Wildlife Trust is clearing invasive scrub including birch and pine tree saplings from Upton Heath nature reserve in an effort to improve the habitats of rare reptiles and birds.

The 506-acre heath, scene of Dorset’s largest heath fire for 35 years last summer, is home to all six British species of reptile.

Birds including Dartford warblers, stonechats and nightjars also make their home there.

Poole-based IT consultancy Enhanced has retained its title as Business and Finance Reseller of the Year at the UK business software industry ‘Oscars’, the National Software Satisfaction Awards.

It’s the first time a company has been voted winners two years running.

“I cannot say how proud I am of all the staff at Enhanced,” says managing director Simon White. “It is a tribute to their commitment and dedication to our customers that we have been once again voted winners.”

The Awards are unique as the judges are customers and in one of the largest business surveys conducted in the UK some 10,691 business software users had their say.

“Of course I have to say a big thank you to all our customers who voted for us and gave us such honest, first hand feedback.

I can assure them all, and our new customers, of our continued efforts to deliver and improve exceptional customer support and service,” adds Simon.

The Awards were presented at a glitzy ceremony at Harrods in Knightsbridge.

From left, Mark Pollock, director; Kerrie Young, business development manager; Paul Warwick, customer service manager

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Chris’s crowning glory A former teacher has received a prestigious award from the Queen in recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit he introduced to a Bournemouth school, throughout Dorset and nationally.

Chris Hunt, who was Director of Enterprise at Avonbourne College, picked up the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion at a special reception at Buckingham Palace.

He was accompanied by Executive Headteacher at the school, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, who had nominated Chris for his work promoting enterprise.

Chris also met Business Secretary Vince Cable who congratulated all the winners.

Chris from Colehill, near Wimborne now runs his own business, which specialises in providing online emotional help for people of all ages.

“It was an absolute honour to pick up this award from Her Majesty and it was certainly one of the most memorable days of my life,” he said.

“I was absolutely thrilled when the school nominated me for this award and was amazed and delighted to learn that I had won. Enterprise is a subject I have been passionate about for many years. It’s been so rewarding to help young people embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and help forge their way into the world of work.”

Chris was nominated for this coveted award

by Avonbourne for inspiring a culture change in the school by helping students to think in a more business-like way and help prepare them for future employment.

He advised other schools about the introduction of the enterprise agenda, raised the bar in maths and led the school through the process of achieving the Excellence in Enterprise education.

Business Secretary Vince Cable congratulates Chris Hunt on his Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion at a special reception held at Buckingham Palace

Executive Headteacher of Avonbourne Trust, Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, added: “It was an extremely proud moment to accompany Chris to pick up this prestigious award from the Queen.

“The whole school community can share in this recognition as the greatest legacy Chris has left us is a group of students who are being so well prepared for future employment and helping towards the success of the local economy.”

Family fun day

The Sovereign Shopping Centre in Boscombe hosts a Family Information Day, in conjunction with Bournemouth Council’s Early Years Service, on December 20.

Helicopter saved?

Third Age first rate

Dorset’s Coastguard helicopter may be saved after the influential Transport Select Committee urged a rethink of government plans to ground the life-saving service.

The move comes after South Dorset MP Richard Drax appeared before the Committee and put the case to save the Portland-based helicopter from the axe.

The event theme is Experiencing Christmas Through Family and Fun and will run from 10am until 4pm looking at ways children can learn with parents through Christmas activities such as wrapping, sticking, singing and more.

Bournemouth’s deputy mayor, Cllr Chris Rochester praised the contribution of the more than 1,000 members of the University of the Third Age (U3A) to the social and cultural life of the town.

Bournemouth Early Years Service is also offering free face painting, provided by Diamond Faces, and other activities.

He was speaking at the Russell Cotes Museum during a small ceremony to plant a tree commemorating the silver jubilee of U3A in the town.

The cross-party committee has written to the Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin saying it was ‘surprised and disappointed’ by the government’s failure to consult the public about closure of Portland and RAF Boulmer in Northumberland.

Julian Sandy, Early Years Community Engagement Officer at Bournemouth Borough Council, said: “We hope lots of local people visit us as we have so much information to give out.”

Mervyn Lesser, U3A’s honorary life president and ex-chairman, thanked the deputy mayor and outlined the various events that take place during the summer to celebrate the silver jubilee.

“At last, hopefully, someone will listen,” he said.

Richard Drax welcomed the letter and urged ministers to come to Dorset to consult with rescuers.

seekernews.co.uk 11

SeekerNews It’s not the sort of apparel one would expect at a business meeting.

But senior staff at Ringwood-based Canotec, which specialises in digital copiers technology, really got into the swing of things for fundraising Movember.

They grew drop-down moustaches to emulate those from iconic 1970s disco

group. the Village People, with Movember donations from staff, family and business contacts raising awareness and money for men’s health issues.

There were plenty of smiles for the photoshoot for another reason – the 40-strong company, which has 1,200 clients across southern England, marked its 20th anniversary to the day when co-

founders Steve Weir and David Newman started out.

David, pictured second from right as biker cop Scar, said: “We’ve had great support from everyone for our spirited efforts in Movember and we’ve had a few requests to enact Village People’s Macho Man and YMCA – we might have to save those for the Christmas party!”

From left, Canotec’s Duane Flavell, Lee Bradley, Steve Cooper, Steve Barrat, Richard Vinall, Ben Elmore, David Newman and Mike Way

College’s brain STEM A new £1.2million facility for teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has been unveiled at a regional conference held at The Bournemouth & Poole College.

The business event, hosted jointly by The College and the New Engineering Foundation (NEF), was addressed by key industry speakers including Lord Willis of Knaresborough, former chairman of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, and focused on the region’s economic growth priorities, skills and competitiveness and creating sustainable business capability.

The new state-of-the-art STEM Centre will be central to The College’s five-year plan devised to provide students with the best possible learning environment and skills to meet the needs of scientific, technological and manufacturing employers. It is based at their North Road campus in Poole.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Willis told more than 50 invited

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From left, Tony Maloney of the National Grid, Lance Walker of the New Engineeering Foundation, Lawrence Vincent of Bournemouth and Poole College, Julian Hellebrand of Cobham, Lord Willis of Knaresborough and Professor Sa’ad Medhat of The New Engineering Foundation company representatives from major local employers such as Cobham, LV=, Morgan Sindall, Sunseeker International and several local authority representatives that the new STEM unit would be a vital link between their companies and further education establishments.

“Today the demand for technology is so high and the competition from the USA and emerging nations is so fierce that we have to meet the challenge.

Our Further Education colleges were

born out of the needs for developing skill in science and technology and the need to prepare people for a job.

We must produce employees who are fit for purpose in the workplace and not just stuffed with qualifications.

The College is to be congratulated on turning the focus on producing people fit to work in sustainable jobs.”

The new centre will take in its first batch of students at the start of next year, and will include a lecture theatre and three life sciences workshops.

SeekerNews

picture: steve cook

Imax’s last good turn A

rguably the most loathed building in Bournemouth is helping to secure the future of one of the town’s most loved.

For 220 seats from Bournemouth’s notorious Imax have been donated to the restored Shelley Theatre in Boscombe; and equipment from the former Red Panda restaurant will be donated to the community cafe on the same site at Shelley Manor.

“We hope we can welcome many local people to come and make use of the chairs as soon as possible,” said Shelley Theatre director Jon Dunne.

Bournemouth Council plans to recycle 97 per cent of the Imax, which it acquired in 2010 for £6.5 million and plans to demolish before redeveloping the site temporarily as a covered public performance area called Waterfront.

picture: steve cook

While a permanent scheme is being sought the building is demolished from the inside out and should be gone by the end of March 2013.

Concrete from the Waterfront can be crushed and reused as a sub-base for new roads. Steel and glass will also be recycled.

The council is to produce a chart at the end of the project showing how the material has been re-used.

Car park for sale

East Dorset District Council is to sell an under-used car park in Wimborne town centre, clearing the way for permission to be granted to build much-needed affordable housing.

The 43-space car park in Old Road has been earmarked for development since 2002, before the 215-space Waitrose public car park opened.

Pubs in profit

Blandford-based brewer Hall & Woodhouse has reported turnover nearing £100 million.

The company’s latest accounts also show a slight increase in pre-tax profits.

Hall & Woodhouse, which operates around 250 pubs, achieved property sales of £2.6 million as it sold underperforming assets. This helped push turnover to £94.1 million for the year.

Bournemouth has been honoured with a silver award for Best UK Coastal Town or Resort at the British Travel Awards 2012.

economic year we’ve yet had,” said Tourism director Mark Smith.

More than 100,000 households registered 1,088,339 votes for the awards, the UK’s largest such consumer survey.

“The fact that it is visitors to Bournemouth who voted makes it even more of an honour. This award recognises the efforts and quality of everyone engaged in tourism and puts the resort on a solid footing for 2013.”

“Everyone in Bournemouth’s tourism industry has worked enormously hard in what has been perhaps the toughest

Bournemouth was also shortlisted for Best UK Visitor Guide Website, for bournemouth.co.uk.

Executive decisions

Dorset County Council’s first female chief executive Debbie Ward started her new job with an enthusiastic approach.

“I take up the job with enthusiasm and a clear sense of responsibility for the leadership I will need to show as we rise to the significant challenges of the coming years,” she said.

She will be in charge of a £670m budget and around 15,000 staff. seekernews.co.uk 13

SeekerNews

Word on the street

the economy

C

words: rebecca crossley

onflicting figures are being used to show the Eurozone heading into a double-dip recession, while the UK is exiting the downturn. Other figures suggest we could be heading for a triple-dip recession.

Using statistics to back up a political point is an old trick.

What really matters is what people think is happening.

There’s nothing like an outbreak of optimism to trigger talk of recovery – just look at the effects of a successful Olympics.

Seeker News headed out on to the streets to find out what local businesses and real people think about the current economic picture.

“We’re still not seeing an uplift in sales or footfall, but it’s trial and error for the government, there’s no magic answer to solving the recession,” says Emma Cornwell (top), manager of WH Smiths in Poole.

“Fundamentally, nothing has changed,” says James Brown (second top), manager of the Poole branch of Shakeaway.

“Banks have stopped lending but it’s too little too late. The reality is the recession was caused by overspending; the global economy is

in ruin. The dollar could collapse at any point and the Euro is on its last legs.”

Sue Fellows (second bottom), 63, from Poole agrees: “I don’t really know what they’re doing to stop the recession, but it’s not working. As I’m retired I’ve been fortunate in that it hasn’t affected me personally, but I have definitely noticed it in other people.”

Despite the general consensus that we won’t be heading out of the recession anytime soon, not many feel that they have been personally affected by the UK’s economic status.

“It hasn’t really affected me personally but things are a lot tighter,” says Gary Clarke (bottom), 35.

“You don’t get as much for your money nowadays and you have to be a careful shopper.”

David, manager of the Poole branch of BrightHouse, says: “The government should curtail spending and benefit cuts, as people are suffering.

As a business, we thrive in eco slumps; people have no money so they come to us and buy on credit. We’re not doing as well as we have done in previous years, but we’re doing better than most on the high street.”

Of little benefit

Taxpayers with an adjusted annual income of more than £50,000 will be subject to a charge if they or their partner are entitled to child benefit.

Under new rules that come into effect on January 7, where both partners have income levels in excess of £50,000, the charge is based on the partner with the highest level.

“This may mean that one partner receives the child benefit only for the other partner to pay it back!” says Cheryl Lawes, director of Wimbornebased accountants England & Company.

If both partners have income levels of less than £50,000, no charge will apply. Therefore, some household income could be almost £100,000 with no charge. However, if one partner earns £60,000 and the other nothing, there will be a 100 per cent charge.

Pound parking

Shopkeepers and businesses in a Dorset town are campaigning for cheaper car parking.

Christchurch Chamber of Trade is spearheading the campaign for the council to provide £1 for two hours parking in the town centre.

Traders point to the popularity of shopping centres in the area that offer free parking and say town centre parking charges deter shoppers from spending time on the High Street.

How sweet it isn’t

More than 50 years of sweet making will end at Redlands in Poole when the Tangerine Confectionery factory closes in March with the loss of up to 70 jobs.

The company has announced plans to transfer manufacturing of own brand products for supermarkets to its other factories in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Tangerine says the move will enable the company to stay competitive.

Firms under fire

Forgetful bus passengers have left behind some bizarre items over the last year – including abandoned crutches, a tattoo kit, hearing aids and a set of bongo drums.

Businesses that play by the rules risk being caught up in ‘friendly fire’ resulting from a hard line approach to tax evaders by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Other items left on the firm’s fleet of 148 buses and coaches in the last year included a tape deck, a bag of coat hangers, children’s car seats and pushchairs.

The claim, from Dorset and New Forest chartered accountants Princecroft Willis, follows the news that HMRC clawed back a record £21 billion from tax avoiders and evaders in the year to March 31.

The most common things left on the buses were mobile phones, with 276 handed in during the last 12 months, closely followed by 124 umbrellas – a record for Yellow Buses.

John Caithness, Business Tax Director at Princecroft Willis, said: “HMRC’s hard-line approach will mean that compliant businesses who play by the rules will also become embroiled in its drive to meet aggressive recovery targets.”

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Gareth Edwards, Yellow Buses’ customer services manager, with a few of the 124 umbrellas left on the company’s buses in the last year

SeekerNews

PM

Martin Edwards chief executive, Julia’s house

J

ulia’s House, the Dorset Children’s Hospice, provides frequent respite care at home throughout Dorset and in the hospice in Poole to help families under great stress with a life-limited child.

Julia’s House was recently crowned the UK’s Healthcare & Medical Research Charity of the Year. The charity employs 130 people, mainly in care and nursing roles and raises 90 per cent of its funds from the public, with the remaining 10 per cent coming from government.

Chief Executive Martin Edwards has worked for the charity for seven years, running the organisation locally, but also lobbying nationally for increased funding for children’s hospices. The five questions he would most like to put to David Cameron are:

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What, if anything, does the Jimmy Savile scandal have to teach society in the very different world of today – child protection standards are immeasurably better nowadays, but can they be improved any further?

2

What help is there from government for charities facing the squeeze either from government grants being frozen or from the tougher climate for public fundraising? This is not a plea for money – it’s important that we all understand the new reality of financial constraints to drive down the public spending deficit – instead this is about any practical measures the government has in mind to encourage excellence and entrepreneurialism in charities.

3

Our commissioning contract – whereby the NHS part-pays for some of our services – is 160 pages long. The Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude MP, recently talked about making commissioning contracts focus only on outcomes, not processes; this seems simpler and more efficient, but how can you actually implement this change on the ground with local government or NHS contracts?

4 5

What will you do to encourage more respite support for parents of children with shortened life expectancy and round-the-clock care needs? Frequent respite helps families to stay together, reducing their daily stress or exhaustion.

What advice would you have, from your personal experience, for parents wary of approaching something called a hospice for care and support? For many parents, a hospice signifies death and dying, whereas lifelong care and support are at the heart of hospice care.

Seeker News invited our local MPs to respond to Martin’s questions

1

It is shocking to think that investigations were not pursued because famous people were involved, this is at odds with much of tabloid journalism. This perhaps shows that we do have to get the right balance between press and media regulation and freedom of speech.

I suspect there is still massive under recording of child abuse and we all have a responsibility to spot and report potential cases. We have to support activities such as Childline which encourage children to talk freely and confidentially. Child abuse is often reported long after the event and without earlier help and support a person may grow up with many problems. if there is frequent and regular contact with children and vulnerable people checks must be made.

Annette Brooke, Mid-Dorset and North Poole

2

The Government has helped charities by increasing the fiscal incentives for charitable donations. It has changed the inheritance tax system, which now encourages people to include charitable donations in their legacy; it has lifted Gift Aid’s benefit limits from £500 to £2,500; and it has introduced the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme – which allows eligible charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs to claim top-up payments on up to £5,000 small donations each year.

The Government is committed to supporting charities.

Chris Chope, Christchurch Central Government can at least give a lead with its own forms!

Publishing best practice is an excellent way to further localism.

Annette Brooke, Mid-Dorset and North Poole

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I have spent much parliamentary time working on the need for respite for families with disabled children. Aiming High from the last Government was a good start, but there is much to be done. I have always deplored the fact that everything is a battle for parents with a disabled child and will happily take that battle on for more respite for my constituents.

Annette Brooke, Mid-Dorset and North Poole Julia’s House, of which I am a patron, is at the heart of our community.

Even though times are hard a children’s hospice is one of the easier charities to capture local people’s imagination and support.

Annette Brooke, Mid-Dorset and North Poole Conor Burns (Bournemouth West), Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East), Robert Syms (Poole) and Richard Drax were all invited to comment

5

seekernews.co.uk 15

SeekerNews

appointments Engage

rund Partnership Paul Belfield

Paul Belfield, a chartered surveyor with vast experience in the planning, co-ordination and management of construction projects, has been appointed Head of Project Management at Rund Partnership.

haskins Simon Morris From left, Tracey Wood, Lucy York, Frances Miles

D

orset’s newly launched executive recruitment company, Engage is inviting local business people to enjoy a festive glass of mulled wine at the office in Bournemouth Triangle.

The yuletide invite on December 20 from 6-8pm will enable local business people to meet the team behind

Engage, a specialist division of the independent recruitment company Jobshop UK – Tracey Wood and Frances Miles, directors of Engage and Jobshop UK, and Lucy York, who heads up the specialist division.

Complimentary tickets are available from Lucy on 01202 674488 or email@jobshopuk.com.

Condor Ferries: James Fulford Condor Ferries is to welcome a new Chief Executive Officer, James Fulford, who joins the company on January 2.

James has a wealth of experience in the international leisure and tourism industry, gained in the UK and in Australia, and will join the Poole-based cross-Channel ferry operator from Red Funnel – a ferry and distribution company operating between Southampton and the Isle of Wight – where he has held the post of Chief Executive for four years.

Condor Ferries, which was founded

We are Engage Executive Jobs, a new division from the dynamic and professional team at Jobshop UK. With years of experience Engage Executive Jobs are offering a personal, ethical and honest service, making them a perfect recruitment partner for you.

in 1964, operates a year-round service connecting the UK through Poole, Weymouth and Portsmouth, the Channel Islands through Guernsey and Jersey and the ports of St Malo and Cherbourg in France. Each year the Condor fleet carries more than one million passengers and 200,000 passenger vehicles.

Commenting on the appointment, Gordon Parsons, Condor Group Chairman, said: “We are delighted to welcome James to Condor Ferries, he has wideranging experience in all aspects of the leisure and tourism industry, as well as a practical understanding of island life.”

Simon Morris from Bournemouth, who has 27 years’ experience in retail, has been appointed General Manager of Haskins’ Ferndown garden centre. Haskins’ chief executive Julian Winfield said that the company is delighted to welcome Simon to their team:

Lester Aldridge LLP Martin Pratt & rachel Butlin

Lester Aldridge LLP has welcomed two new associates. The south coast law firm welcomes Martin Pratt to its successful employment team, Rachel Butlin has joined the LA Marine team at the Southampton office,

CuCo oddny Edwards

Westbourne-based marketing agency CuCo has appointed marketing manager Oddny Edwards as their second new member of staff in three months. Oddny has worked with many name brands including T-Mobile, Virgin, Amazon and Tesco.

SEARCH

We are a trusted partner who identifies top talent and creates your next career opportunity

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ENGAGE

Creating a long term working relationship resulting in a successful partnership

1 The Triangle, Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 5RY Phone 01202 67 44 88 Fax 01202 83 01 68 email@engageexecutivejobs.com

ENG AGEEXECUTIVE JOBS .COM

DORSET AND HAMPSHIRE’S DEDICATED EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT TEAM 16 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerNews

dr ian smith

T

he world of internet marketing has changed quite drastically in the past 12 months and Twitter is an increasingly integral part of the new world – so what has changed and why?

The way things used to work, page ranking in search engines like Google used to be based on links and keywords.

The more links the better your rankings within Google so the SEO industry was based on buying and selling links.

The use of keywords in your website content improved the chances of it being found in searches, so the more keywords and the more often they were used the better the visibility within search engines. That resulted in content studded with keywords often written by someone with little grasp of English – so not only annoying, but also nonsense!

Something had to change.

Google still wants to present useful

and informative content to its users and in order to do this it is using the two newest recruits to the Google Algorithm – Panda and Penguin.

Their job is to weed out websites with vast quantities of meaningless links and badly-written content. Panda seeks out and penalises low quality links and overuse of keywords while Penguin’s mission is to seek out and penalise thin content.

The job of the SEO industry is now to keep Panda and Penguin happy.

To do that you need original and

debbie cohen

STrEETWISE hr

Need staff to work Christmas Day? Did you know there is no legal obligation to pay extra?

For some businesses it is essential to open on Christmas Day as it can be one of the busiest days of the year. However, it is important to ensure you have sufficient cover and that staff are aware of their obligations to work.

Not only is there is no automatic right for staff not to work on Christmas Day, there is no legal requirement to be paid extra for doing so either.

However, the issue is whether you have this detailed within your contract of employment. It needs to specify times of the year when staff are unable to book annual leave and also detail whether overtime or time off in lieu is given for those that are doing extra.

MfP’s all-round online marketing boffin

If you want to pay more for staff who work on Christmas Day, to lift morale perhaps, make sure the rates and arrangements are set out in your contract of employment.

If staff are obliged to work bank holidays then you also need to ensure you allow them to take their bank holiday entitlement another time. They still have the right to the full 5.6 weeks’ holiday, pro rata for part time staff.

Check your contract to see if it specifies that you require staff to work bank holidays and that it details whether overtime or time off will be given. By law, employees must be given a written statement of the terms of their contract within eight weeks of starting work.

Don’t be caught short by not having sufficient cover or paying over the odds.

regularly updated content written by someone Google can trace through Google authorship and new and naturally-achieved links.

The advent of social media has allowed users to claim the internet from the webmasters making the web far more interactive than prescriptive.

If you are using Twitter effectively you will generate naturally occurring links from people, often without them realising that they’ve done it.

Twitter also offers a platform to create relationships and interactions that don’t rely on search engines to be effective.

Social marketing can be an awkward concept for those of us with a more formal business background, but we do need to embrace it, relax and learn to have some fun with it.

I have created a blog post at www. consultancymarketing.co.uk/blog/ twitter that talks in more detail about the merits of Twitter and how it may improve your Google ranking.

lucy filer

FILEr KNAPPEr LLP Are you prepared for PAYE: Real Time Information?

From April 2013, most employers will be required by law to submit details about PAYE payments to HMRC online throughout the year rather than at the year end.

Failure to comply will result in costly penalties and employers should therefore now be preparing for the change to Real Time Information (RTI).

To assist local business owners and indeed anyone with payroll responsibilities, FK Pay is holding two local seminars during February where, not only will our team of payroll specialists be on hand to answer your questions, but we have a guest speaker from HM Revenue and Customs to help show businesses how best to meet the changes required.

Where and when

z Kings Arms Hotel, Christchurch, Thursday, February 7, 4-6.30pm z Stanwell House Hotel, Lymington, Wednesday, February 13, 4-6.30pm FK Pay’s BACS-approved payroll service is already RTI compliant and outsourcing payroll tasks may well provide the best solution to the changeover.

If you are a business owner, employer, payroll or HR manager preparation is key in light of these significant changes.

To book your place on one of the free seminars, please telephone 01202 483341 or email fkpay@fkllp.co.uk.

The information given above is general and you should take professional advice for your circumstances. FK Pay is part of Filer Knapper LLP seekernews.co.uk 17

SeekerNews

neal butterworth

W

hile last month’s column provided a few pointers to how to create interest in something newsworthy happening in your business, there will be occasions when you’re looking in the publicity pot and it’s as empty as an Arsenal trophy cabinet.

A good friend asked me if I could help with gaining some publicity for his company. It was certainly a successful firm in its field of expertise, with 20plus staff and a satisfied clientele, but they wanted to spread the word outside the limited sphere of expertise.

A 10-minute chat revealed two major issues. Firstly, his company and the people who worked for it, had generated enough potential tasty news and business stories to keep any PR firm happy.

And secondly, he and his fellow directors wouldn’t notice any of them unless they’d bitten them on the backside.

Too busy, too focused on their own roles and failing to see the opportunities of using their own staff to help generate positive news for the company, the missed opportunities were flying into the distant horizon.

However, even the most switched-on company will find gaps between press releases, but you can still keep your name to the fore in the local press. Try these tactics… z Offer punchy comment on a topical news item related to your area of expertise. z Pitch an expert article (objectively written of course). Or see if a particular publication would like regular input to its blog (or suggest starting one if it doesn’t exist). z Email your views on a story in a magazine for the Letters page. Or if it’s online, comment directly. z Suggest your product as a competition prize.

ian govier

A

re you and your company making the most of the tax allowances available to you? As a firm we are seeing increasing evidence that businesses are not claiming all of the capital allowances they are due and are paying more tax than is necessary as a result.

Capital allowances have been a mainstay of the UK approach to business taxation for many years, effectively providing a tax deduction recognising the reducing year-on-year value of assets used in business.

All manner of machinery and equipment may qualify, in many different fields.

Most compliance-based accountants will complete a basic annual claim on behalf of their clients, however, to take full advantage of the detailed legislation, particularly for property, you may need to engage an expert.

In doing so it can be possible to unlock previously unclaimed tax refunds, as well as reducing your ongoing bill.

18 seekernews.co.uk

Former daily Echo editor’s golden rules on working with media z Offer content to websites in the form of a short podcast or video clip with you talking about what you’re expert in. z Respond to online issues. z Support a charity, do something wacky. z Use social media to make helpful comments on the postings and pitch yourself as an expert – but don’t be too self-promotional or people switch off. z The aim is for you or your client to become the ‘go-to’ person or business when a relevant story, locally or nationally, breaks.

Neal’s website www.nealbutterworth. co.uk will shortly be updated after his move to Spain, 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

The full depth of the allowances available has not always been explored by companies during good economic times because of the complexity of the regulatory framework.

However in these tougher times, as one local chartered surveyor recently put it me: “People are increasingly looking to use whatever provisions are available to maximise their businesses cash flow advantage.”

There are a number of specialist firms springing up aiming to make the most of companies with dormant capital allowances claims.

Unfortunately, they often charge fees based on allowances that they identify, instead of any genuine eventual tax advantage accruing to their clients.

This can lead to clients paying for an exercise which has no practical benefit to them whatsoever.

Inspire has a well-deserved reputation for providing proactive, relationship-based advice to entrepreneurs and owner managed businesses and has in-depth expertise

in making claims on behalf of clients.

Our approach to all our work is to provide good, valuable advice and outstanding compliance services which, because of our range of expertise, serve to exert a stimulating and beneficial effect on our clients’ businesses.

If you are a business and believe that there may be some tax relief locked up in your building or plant, please contact me at Inspire Professional Services at ian@inspire.uk.net or telephone 0800 077 6410.

Inspire was formed in 2004 after recognising a need for a more proactive, relationship-based approach towards accountancy provision for entrepreneurs and owner managers – where the adviser could work much more closely with each client’s business. Together with this relationship-based service, Inspire’s approach is to provide a proactive advisory-led service, supported by a professional and cost-efficient compliance service.

SeekerNews

Team engine words: JAMES SALE

E

veryone who runs a business, or is in sport, or involved with charity or voluntary groups – anyone who has a family for that matter – wants to know how to tune a team and make the team more effective.

These are my nine top tips, but let’s consider why are teams important in the first place?

There are three compelling reasons why. First, because the acronym T.E.A.M. says so! This stands for Together Each Achieves More and therein lies the essence of teams: their synergy. A group of five people might have the arithmetic strength of 1+1+1+1+1, which is 5, but a team of five people has the geometrical strength of 1x2x3x4x5, which is 120!

Second, teams are important because you are not immortal: you will die, or retire, or resign, or transfer, or at some point leave the group of which you are a member. At that point who takes over? Teams ensure some genuine form of succession planning and so secure a legacy to the work that you have done.

Finally, teams are important because they feel good. When you survey the arc of your life and ask what were the great experiences, being in the office isn’t usually one of them. Falling in love is; family and friends are; and being part of a great team is always an unforgettable experience – we were there and for each other.

With this in mind then, we can review, briefly, my nine top tips to tune a team.

Be more motivated than they are. People are crying out to be led and it is down to the team leader to do that leading – and the amount of energy they bring to that task has an inordinate impact on the morale of the team. The team’s motivation will fall below your own level and if yours is persistently low, the team is in trouble.

Repeat this mantra every time you encounter dysfunctional behaviour: ‘Excuse me, Sam, are we team or a group here?’ They will be shocked, amazed and uncomprehending. Do not stay for an answer to the question, but as you hasten away mumble something like, ‘I thought we were supposed to be a team’. This will engender worry, doubt and uncertainty in the dysfunctional players; choose your moment to enlighten them.

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2

3

Understand the difference between a team and a group and keep going on about it. A group is just that – a group. If the whole staff of Tesco entered your business premises, then your group would still be just that – a group, only a bigger one. A team is very different. It has a reason, a mission; its members are interdependent; it believes in teams; and its members are accountable to each other and to the wider organisation.

Be clear that two words are mutually exclusive – team and hierarchy. You’ll know that there’s too much hierarchy in your organisation when you find everyone agrees with your views and deference is the norm. Group-think beckons!

Clarify the objective(s). For most people and groups work is an activity of which 80 per cent or more is wasted time; buy-in to clear, specific objectives is the antidote to this waste and the foundation of strong team performance.

Spend time negotiating roles. A good question is: ‘how do I contribute to the objective?’ A better one for the superior team is: ‘how can I contribute to the objective?’

Oil the machine. A too rigid pursuit of objectives always leads to disintegration, as even the most powerful engine will burst apart if it is not oiled properly. Oiling, in team terms, is paying attention not just to the objectives, but to the process. A favourite question I have for senior teams is: ‘how do you interact with each other?’ The answer speaks volumes.

Avoid blame and drive out fear. People will not give their best, or be creative, or solve pressing business problems if they feel that making a mistake is going to have dire consequences. Blame is always destructive. Stop doing it.

Be accountable to the wider organisation.

Getting the team in the peak condition to perform is all very well, but there is a danger: the silo effect. The fiefdom and empire building scenarios, wherein successful teams become detached from the wider organisation and exist to promote only themselves, needs to be prevented at source by accountability controls and incentives.

Take these ideas and use them. You will find they have a major impact on your teams and so on your productivity and profitability.

4

5

6

7

James delivered a talk on this subject at November’s Seeker Business Club. The next event is on December 14.

Book now online at www.seeker news.co.uk/sbc

8

9

seekernews.co.uk 19

Seeker magazine and

brochure design and

print service Nothing shows how serious you are about your business and your clients better than an in-house magazine.

Highlighting all of the great news within and around your business, product benefits, expert opinion, case studies.

Seeker can help you to raise the profile of your business with your own magazine title or brochure.

We can help every step of the way from concept to writing, photography, design and print.

So what are you waiting for? Make 2013 the year your business becomes the market leader with your own publication.

Call us now on 01202 779604 or email steve@seeker.uk.com 20 seekernews.co.uk

YOUR BUSINESS

Nikky’s taking the risk with style I nspired by the loss of a close friend, hairdresser Nikky Parnell-Webb decided life was too short not to have another go at successfully running her own salon.

“You get moments when you know you have to take a risk or spend the rest of your days regretting it,” says the 47-year-old stylist who opened hair and beauty salon Harrison Mitchell in Poole last month.

“Losing someone close to you makes you realise how precious time is. I needed a challenge so opening the salon seemed the obvious course of action and I’ve got a really lovely team working with me.”

Nikky has been cutting hair at home and abroad for 30 years, the last seven as a mobile hairdresser seeing clients in their own homes or at her house in Poole.

“I had a salon years ago on Ashley Road, but it was hard going when the children were young and the whole experience took some getting over. I lived in Spain for a

couple of years, but really missed Poole. I love this town and I’m really proud to be part of it.

“It’s terrible seeing empty shops, I want to do my bit to help the High Street survive by offering a quality service with a personal touch.”

Working with her sister Maria to offer a range of hair and beauty treatments including holistic massage and Ultra Sound Inch Loss – “A really effective way to lose a few inches when combined with an exercise and diet programme” – Nikky named the salon after her two teenage sons.

“Now the boys are grown up I felt a bit redundant as a mum, but then I realised I had some freedom again and it was time to grasp the nettle and really explore what I’m good at.

“So many of my ladies have come with me and I’ve been genuinely touched at how supportive they’ve been.

Their belief in me helped me overcome some of the hurdles that new businesses have to deal with.”

YOUR NEWS

To see YOUR business news in these pages email tracey@seeker.uk.com

Hair & Beauty Salon

For all your Hair & Beauty needs in a friendly atmosphere Competitive prices Discounts for seniors on a Tues & Weds Call for an appointment

Gents barbers No appointment necessary Free customer parking with permit

01202 677997 242 High Street North, Poole BH5 1EA (close to the The George pub)

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SeekerBusiness

EnhancEd communication

EnhancEd Productivity

Award winners Enhanced launch EnhancEd new website

E

nhanced are delighted to announce the launch of their new website. The site, which has taken many months of planning and preparation, is the result of their continued partnership with digital design agency Salad.

The brief started with the challenge of telling the story of exactly what Enhanced does – part consultancy, part problem solving and part technical, and working with many different shapes and sizes of organisation. They wanted to demystify the world of IT for business, and more importantly really communicate the benefits of the expertise they have to offer.

Hinged around what they have done for others, the sites’ content details Enhanced’s process, features case studies and articles, and even invites business owners to submit their questions.

With a light and spacious look and feel, the content has been designed with the customer in mind. Copy has been kept to a minimum, and where bulky copy was needed Salad have broken it up in a digestible way.

Naturally social media has been integrated and the site will be regularly updated with industry news and white papers.

Simon White, Managing Director ,Enhanced says “I am delighted with the new look of our site and the features that it offers. We wanted to create a site which was user friendly, informative and packed full of up to date features and news items. Salad have helped us create this and we look forward to feedback from new and existing visitors.”

The launch of their new website coincides with the end of a very successful year for Enhanced who were voted “Reseller of the Year” for the second year running last month at the prestigious National Software Satisfaction Awards.

Growth

EnhancEd Profit

Enhanced work with companies who believe that IT is now at the core of their business growth

Business and IT consultants

accounting & ERP | cRM | Retail - EPOS & ecommerce | consultancy development & Integration Web | Infrastructure | Support

Telephone: 01202 308000 Visit us at: www.enhanced.co.uk

Enhanced248x85.indd 1

seekernews.co.uk 23

16/11/12 13:48:58

SeekerBusiness

The long game Free Options = Free Shares?

At 4 Shires, we invite our clients to own shares in the company via our share option scheme.

We give free share options to our long term clients, which aligns our interests with yours.

At 4 Shires, we bring down our clients’ cost of owning financial assets. We believe this will enhance returns in the long term.

HOW INVESTMENT COSTS AFFECT INVESTMENT RETURNS CONTACT US TODAY FOR YOUR COPY

Call Jeremy Le Sueur on 01935 813380 or email info@4-shires.com www.4-shires.com

Expert Asset Management 4 Shires Asset Management is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

The value of investments and the income you get from them may fall as well as rise, and there is no certainty that you will get back the amount of your original investment.

see

Make sure people your message, when you want it and how you want it seen.

Seeker News have 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 24 seekernews.co.uk

The truth of investment returns is that most of the return comes from the compounding effect of receiving income from investments and reinvesting it. With cash and government bond yields as low as they are, the best way to increase your wealth over the long term is via the reinvestment of dividends.

The advantage that company dividends have is that they grow, usually ahead of or at least in line with inflation.

This has meant that shares are considered to be the best hedge against inflation.

With each dividend received, the theory is that you buy more shares, and that creates the great compounding wealth effect.

The long term returns of reinvesting dividends in the UK market between 1965 and 2011 would have meant

your money increased over 13 times during those years versus only doubling if you look at just increase in share prices over the period (source: Black Rock). Dividend growth has been positive in the UK nearly every year since 1945 bar a dip around the millennium (as a result of the technology stock bubble).

The story in the USA is similar, when looking at total returns (dividends reinvested) versus capital returns from 1871 to 2003. The former increases 32 times more in value than if dividends had been taken as income over the period (source: The future for investors, Jeremy Siegel, 2005) This performance shows that the positive effect of reinvestment (or compounding) can lead to excellent returns for the patient long term investor.

Prestigious quality mark benefits clients and staff, says dorset law firm boss The chairman of a leading Dorset law firm has said its latest legal industry stamp of approval provides an assurance of ‘best practice’ for clients and staff.

Battens Solicitors has secured the Law Society’s law management quality mark, Lexcel, for the sixth year running.

The firm, which has offices in Sherborne, Dorchester and Weymouth, underwent a rigorous assessment including onsite inspections and background checks.

Lexcel is an optional accreditation scheme for law firms and in-house legal departments designed to show that a practice meets high standards.

Battens Chairman David Stephens (pictured) said:

“While we are proud to have secured Lexcel once again, it is our clients and staff who are the main beneficiaries.

They can be assured that the way we manage the practice has their interests at heart and runs efficiently.

There is a lot of choice in the legal services market, but being Lexcel-accredited demonstrates our commitment to client care and best practice.”

Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, said: “Gaining and maintaining Lexcel is no mean feat.

There are many facets of being a Lexcel-accredited law firm, including client care. The scheme is a beacon of quality to clients and potential clients alike.” www.battens.co.uk

Life Planning

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To become a Skipton customer and benefit from this offer, simply… pop in to your local branch at 44 - 50 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth

or call us on 01202 317596 skipton.co.uk †Terms and conditions apply, ask in branch for full details. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. Skipton Building Society is a member of the Building Societies Association. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) under registration number 153706 for accepting deposits, advising on and arranging mortgages and insurance. Stock Code 300384_18/09/12

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seekernews.co.uk 25

Feel at home with Breeze this Christmas.

We want nothing more than for you to have an enjoyable and relaxing time this Christmas. So if you have any problems with your Volkswagen or require any other service, don’t hesitate to contact us. If you just fancy paying us a visit over the festive period, you can view the latest models in our friendly and modern showroom.

You could even step outside and see our wide range of Approved Used Volkswagens. But please, not in those slippers. Breeze, a breath of fresh air.

Breeze Volkswagen Tower Park, Poole, Dorset BH12 4QY. Telephone 01202 713000. www.breeze-volkswagen.co.uk 26 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerMotoring

NEW PRICE RANGE £83,305 – £111,160 ENGINE 4.7-litre V8 0-60MPH 4.7secs TOP SPEED 183mph POWER 433bhp VALVES 32 FUEL TANK 86 litres (18.9 gallons) = 320 miles to a tank ECONOMY 17mpg Watch the video at www.testdrives.biz

test drive:

Maserati GranTurismo S

I

f Bentley and Maserati can experience double digit growth during recession, just imagine what could be achieved during more affluent times.

Well, there’s good news because according to the Office for National Statistics, the double dip recession is over in the UK after GDP hit one per cent in the third quarter.

No better time though to test a Maserati GranTurismo S, as owned by pop star Britney Spears and Manchester City star Mario Balotelli.

“There’s little skill required in driving such a car,” says a long in the tooth motoring hack, eyeing the sixspeed automatic gearbox. “You don’t even need to think about changing gear, which is why it appeals to mindless footballers…”

For sheer seat of the pants driving and gut wrenching G-force it takes much to beat a Maserati. Add the unmistakable throaty roar of the dual exhausts, the rumble this brute produces and its unmistakable presence and style and it is no surprise Tower Park-based Breeze Volkswagen will become one of the first Volkswagen retailers in the UK to implement the new Volkswagen retail concept by investing in a state-of-the-art showroom.

The new modular design will bring a fresh, updated look and feel to both the passenger car showroom and Breeze Van Centre and create more space for the vehicles to speak for themselves.

words: TiM SAuNDERS

that Maserati has been a beacon of light during the bleak slump.

More than 60 years ago, the idea of slotting a racing car engine under the bonnet of a road-going model led Maserati to create its first GranTurismo. The dream and the name have lived on through the years and the latest rendition has customers queuing around the world.

It oozes opulence and presents stiff opposition to the evergreen Porsche 911 and the revitalised Jaguar XKR. With 433bhp available from its 4.7-litre V8, performance is exhilarating.

This Italian stallion tugs at the heartstrings and has the uncanny ability of showing its driver the full range of emotions from excitement to absolute fear. The latter is not through reckless driving either but worry of breaking down. I alter the position of the steering wheel using the little joystick to the left of it. Starting the Customer comfort and a strong brand image will be a priority and the refurbished showroom will have modern furniture, accessories and hospitality to add an upmarket feel.

There is more to the new retail concept than just replacement fittings and furnishings. A digital showroom has been incorporated into the concept and the dealership has already advanced into the digital world by equipping its showroom and sales executives with the

engine my heart sinks as the fuel gauge needle, which usually moves upwards, stays in its place at empty. Someone has stolen our fuel.

The only thing to do is drive to the nearest petrol station and hope we make it. During the course of the journey my intelligent, rational wife notices that neither the speedometer nor the rev counter are working.

She says it has something to do with moving the steering wheel and sure enough when we pull into a layby and I re-position it and re-insert the key into the ignition, the fuel gauge needle lifts and the other dials miraculously work.

My driving pleasure restored and my wife’s halo polished, we drive off into the distance.

Not even this experience detracts from the overall pleasure of a Maserati. It’s like a temperamental lover but you know that life without them is just not worth living, which brings me to handing the key back to Alan, the helpful delivery driver. You wouldn’t know it to look at him but he can pull a mean headlock. latest technology to make the customer experience as enjoyable as possible.

The new technology enables Breeze Volkswagen to showcase more models, specs and equipment and provides customers with the opportunity to find the car best suited to their needs, filtering through price, fuel type, performance, efficiency, space and technologies.

Customers can also watch video clips which provide explanations of the extensive Volkswagen range. seekernews.co.uk 27

SeekerLiving

Christmas events Moors moments

Santa arrives in Poole via lifeboat for the Dolphin Centre Santa Parade

In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s Chrrrriiisssstmaaaaas...! And there’s no shortage of things to see and do.

Santa is in his grotto and has already helped decorate the giant advent calendar at Moors Valley Country Park and his elves have arranged free parking for shoppers buying their trees from the Christmas Tree Shop until December 21.

The Local Producers Christmas Market runs until December 16, which is also the the date of the final Santa Special steam train and the last Festive Fun Day at the Park.

And if you’re looking for a way of walking off that Christmas put, then try the Festive Quiz Trail which runs from December 22 to January 6.

Merry Cherries

Cherries’ fans are used to making some noise for the boys, so they should be in fine voice for the club’s Christmas Community Carol Concert on December 18.

The festive sing-along will take place on the pitch at the Goldsands Stadium from 6.30pm when various Cherries’ players will join Bethany CE Junior School choir and the Winton Salvation Army band.

Representatives from Bournemouth Churches Housing Association and the Salvation Army will also on hand accepting non-perishable foods for distribution in the local community.

Bournemouth Christmas Festival until January 1, daily, town centre Poole Park Railway Santa’s Grotto until Christmas Eve, daily 11am-5.30pm weekdays & 10am-5.30pm weekends & school holidays Sherborne Christmas Tree Festival December 1-9, daily 10am, Cheap Street Church Christmas Bazaar December 8, 10am, North Square, Dorchester Christmas Concert: Handel’s Messiah December 8, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Swanage Christmas Carnival December 8, 11am, Highcliffe 28 seekernews.co.uk

picture: STEVE CooK Save the Children Festival of Christmas December 8, 2.30pm, Wimborne Father Christmas Arrives December 9, 4.30pm, Wareham Poole Lantern Parade Falkland Square, December 13, from 6pm Upton Country Park, December 13 & 20, 10am-12.30pm Christmas Sparkle December 13, 3pm, Weymouth Christmas is a Breeze sponsored by Breeze Volkswagen Falkland Square December 14-24 Christmas Extravaganza December 15-23, noon, National Sailing Academy, Portland

Christmas Lunch at Upton House Upton Country Park, December 17-18, noon Christmas Market December 18, 11am, Okeford Fitzpaine Carols with the Mayor December 20, 7.30pm, Christchurch Priory Nutcracker Winter Terrace December 23-24, 11am, Sandbanks Hotel Boxing Day Breakfast December 26, 9.30am, Upton Country Park Round the Lakes 10k Race December 26, 10.30am, Poole Park Cricket Pavilion Bath Tub Race January 1, Poole Quay

SeekerLiving

Seasons greetings to you all! The Directors and all the Team at Enhanced would like to wish all their Clients and Associates a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year and ensure them all of their continued support in 2013.

01202 308000 www.enhanced.co.uk

The Inspire team would like to wish all Seeker News readers a very Merry Christmas and all the very best for you and your business in 2013. www.inspire.uk.net

Rock is for life not just for Christmas. Give us a call we’ll add to your business, Reindeer, Elves and Santas too! All types of staff we can provide for you!

01202 478741 Francesca Priest – Branch Manager Francesca.priest@rockrecruitment.co.uk Temp/contract – Warren Riley warren.riley@rockrecruitment.co.uk

Season’s Greetings to one and all from everyone at Mail Boxes Etc. at the Lansdowne and the Triangle 01202 299151 www.mbebh1.co.uk

We wish all Seeker News readers a great Christmas and a prosperous 2013, from the team at Mark Liddle llp www.markliddle.com 01202 551193 Bournemouth – Southampton – Gillingham

Merry Christmas to all the Seeker News readers and a Happy New Year! Contact us to make your event shine in 2013! www.red-sapphire.co.uk sarah@red-sapphire.co.uk 01202 835656

2012 was a great year for Seeker, we hope it was for you – here’s to a great Christmas break and an amazing 2013!

Steve, Dawn, Nick, Siån, Tracey and all at Seeker 01202 779604 www.seeker.uk.com

Happy Christmas to all Dorset Women In Business, here’s to a successful 2013 for us all. Best wishes the DWIB committee www.dwib.co.uk

Seeker

.uk.com

seekernews.co.uk 29 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerCharity

Complex camp

picture: SiÂn Court

Dorset mum-of-five Claire Chissell whose youngest son, three-year-old Tommy, lives with an unknown genetic disorder, is organising Camp Amazing next summer to help children with complex needs and give their families a break.

The plan is to run a month-long camp next July at Holton Lee where families can enjoy activities and entertainment including discos, dressing up tents, pamper tents and children’s shows.

“We understand from first-hand experience the daily challenges faced by these families and want to provide them with the chance to meet others in their situation,” says Claire.

“Tommy’s condition has made me reflect on life in a whole new way. I now fully appreciate that time is of the essence and Camp Amazing is designed to build memories whilst providing a brilliant support network.”

Camp Amazing is a non-profit organisation and is appealing for donations. To find out more log on to www.camp-amazing-moonfruit.com or www.facebook.com/CampAmazing.

Peel appeal

A £38,000 appeal to restore the bells at a Dorset church got off on the right note thanks to a donation from Sembcorp Bournemouth Water (SBW).

Managing director Roger Harrington presented a £300 cheque just minutes before the appeal was officially launched at Gussage All Saints.

The village’s All Saints Church has some of the oldest bells in Dorset with the five hanging in the tower dating back to 1440. However, nearly 575 years of continuous ringing has, quite literally, taken its toll.

SBW’s cheque was the first received by organisers of the Bells Restoration Appeal which was launched at a harvest lunch in the village.

Mr Harrington said: “The bells are a historic feature of the village and its life. I am pleased that we’re able to help in a small way to restore and preserve them.”

To make a donation, contact Mr Payne on 01258 840255 or email chrisc.jpayne@btinternet.com.

30 seekernews.co.uk

Skyfall windfall S

haken, stirred and genuinely thrilled, Poole charity LewisManning Hospice screened the latest James Bond film, Skyfall, a day before the rest of the UK got to see it – and raised £7,500 for patient care.

Empire Cinema and Lemur Landings were transformed to create a glamorous red carpet premiere event with help from sponsors LV=, Savills and Tower Park.

TV celebrity Debra Stephenson attended and members of the Aston Martin Owners Club brought along five of their iconic cars – worth a cool million pounds – and a luxury RIB (rigid inflatable boat).

Tickets sold out in less than a week raked in £6,000 for the charity, with an additional £1,500 raised on the night from the sale of raffle tickets and donations.

Community fundraiser Sara Sheppard said Lewis-Manning Hospice was privileged to show the blockbuster ahead of its UK release to cinemas.

“It was a fantastic premiere and every guest looked stunning and really put the effort in to look glamorous,” she added.

“We raised an amazing amount of money for the hospice and it’s a great way to celebrate James Bond’s 50th anniversary on the hospice’s 20th anniversary.”

Funds raised from the night will go directly to the hospice which provides free care and support to local people with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

The charity also thanked Black Label Events for providing the catering at the event.

SeekerCharity

Calendar travels

John Andrews and Jonathan Holyhead of the Dorset Blind Association

Don’t panic!

Charity tries to calm benefit fears

D

orset Blind Association has moved to calm members’ fears that a planned shake up of disability benefit next year will leave them out of pocket.

The Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people of working age is being replaced with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in April.

The government argues it will be a fairer system and ensure those most in need get the help they deserve. It also says the new system will help deliver a 20 per cent saving on what would have been spent on DLA by 2016.

Claimants will face a medical interview and have their benefits regularly reviewed under the new

system, fuelling fears that people could lose out.

“A lot of our members are worried about how this will affect them, but much of their anxiety can be attributed to the tone of media reports,” says Jonathan Holyhead, Dorset Blind Association’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Initially, it will only affect new claimants so it will be some time before the changes affect many of our members.

“PIP is being rolled out from next April until March 2016 by which time all cases will have been reassessed from scratch. Our staff will obviously be working with members to help them fill out forms.

Compton Abbas Airfield was delighted to give the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance a cheque for £5,604.70 following the success of its 2012 charity calendar created by the Compton Girls and the photographs shot by Patrick Drummond.

Hundreds were sold to members of the public and to the pilots that fly in to the airfield – it even reached Antarctica with Matthew Kenny and the British Antarctic Survey.

Calendars also travelled 8,750 miles to South Carolina in the USA to meet a pilot there, to Canberra in Australia, to Ibiza to be displayed in Pacha, the most famous nightclub in the world and many have been privately flown to various airfields in France.

It even accompanied its photographer Patrick and his wife Liz to Kenya!

All the girls who featured in the calendar are either staff or pilots at the airfield.

Wall walking

Guest of honour Harry Redknapp took a break from football to open The Secret Wardrobe, the new vintage boutique in aid of Forest Holme Hospice, at the Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole.

Stocking pre-loved vintage clothes, art deco jewellery and shabby-chic furniture, all proceeds from the shop go to the Poole

hospice, which cares for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

“It really is a dream come true and we would like to thank all the people whose hard work has helped to make this a reality,” says Diane Platt, charity manager at Forest Holme Hospice.

Determined Dorset lawyer Charlotte Appleby spent six days trekking along remote parts of the Great Wall of China to raise £3,200 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Charlotte, a licensed conveyancer at Battens Solicitors in Weymouth, covered more than 60 miles in 120,000 steps across mountains, scrubland and farms.

As part of a 50-strong fundraising group, the 32-year-old slept in hotels and farm buildings on the route between the relatively developed Huangyaguan valley, north east of Beijing, and the much more remote region of Mutianyu. seekernews.co.uk 31

Quinn SeekerArts

Next of

I

t’s been quite a year for Ray Quinn – not only did the former X Factor finalist and Dancing On Ice winner marry Bournemouth-born West End star Emma Stephens in March, but this summer the newly-weds welcomed their first baby, Harry, and bought their first home overlooking Poole Quay.

What’s more Ray has landed the lead role in Aladdin at Lighthouse this month, which means he can be at home for Harry’s first Christmas.

“Yeah, I couldn’t have wished for anything better – it’s the dream ticket, a home gig for Christmas,” says the amiable Scouser.

seekernews.co.uk 32 seekernews.co.uk

“This will be my first Christmas at home for five years and I’m made up I’ll spend it with my family. Not that I’m complaining about being away, I love the theatre, it’s what I do, and I feel very lucky that things have worked out this way.”

Ray, 24, is already a dab hand at panto – Aladdin is his fifth – and he loves the excitement of the festive run.

“Live theatre is what I’ve trained to do since I was three-years-old and it’s still a big thrill to go out on stage. You get an instant reaction from the audience whether you’re good or bad – and that’s even more true with

words: NiCK CHuRCHiLL picture: STEVE CooK

SeekerArts

panto as more than half the audience is usually made up of kids.

“Panto’s great because you’re surrounded by loads of fun stuff and people enjoying themselves, it rubs off and you can’t help having a good time.

This year I’ll be doing the songbook for the first time, which means I’ll meet the kids and get them singing and that.

I’m really looking forward to that bit of it as well.”

Ray has just finished a tour in Jim Cartright’s The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, which inspired the hit 1998 film Little Voice with Jane Horrocks, Brenda Blethyn, Michael Caine and Ewan McGregor. Continuing his run of good fortune, Emma and Harry were able to join him on tour – so he hasn’t missed any of the delights of new parenthood.

“Harry’s pretty much sleeping through the night to be fair, he’s up about 5am so I can handle that.

Honestly, it couldn’t be better. There’s nothing like having the family on tour with me – I can come in and grab a beer, have a kiss and cuddle with the missus and the baby, sit on the sofa and watch a bit of telly.

“And it’s such a great show, Jim Cartright is directing it for the first time which has been brilliant. We’re bringing it to Poole next April, so I’ll be back at home for that as well.

“I’m still getting to know the area and the Poole people, but it already feels like home.”

And that’s important for Ray and Emma. They may have been the subject of a photo spread in Hello magazine, but their ambitions and the way they lead their lives are hardly the stuff of celebrity gossip. Both of them want to put down roots and have a place of their own, a place to call home.

“We started off looking in London, but it’s mad there how little you get for your money. Emma’s from Bournemouth and all her family are nearby so Poole seemed like a really natural place for us to live. I wanted somewhere to call home where the family can be around us, that’s how I was brought up and that’s how I want Harry to grow up.”

So, will it be an actor’s life for little Harry Quinn as well?

“If he wants it, yeah, why not? To be honest though I’m happy for him to do whatever he wants and I’ll encourage him as much as I can. I tried loads of different things – boxing, karate, BMX-ing, skating, football – I did them all – but the thing I was really good at was the dancing.

“As a kid there were times when I wanted to go and play with my mates, but mum would remind me I had to rehearse or whatever – not in a pushy way, but just like guiding me – I think that’s the right way to do it.”

Aladdin runs at Lighthouse from December 7 to January 6. The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is at Lighthouse from April 15-20 next year.

Ray Quinn as Aladdin rides his magic carpet into Poole with Dame Don Maclean who’s appearing in his 40th panto

seekernews.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 33

SeekerArts

review

picture: STEVE CooK

Squeeze

02 Academy, Bournemouth They do it down on Boscombe Sands... they do it in Waikiki There’s something reassuringly comfortable about a Squeeze gig, the familiar songs like old friends with their captured snapshots of lives not dissimilar to our own and, of course, the band we’ve grown up with.

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook are part of the great English storytelling songwriting tradition and their finest compositions rank alongside some of the greats like Ray Davies and Paul Weller.

All of the hits are here and by the time they close the set with the seaside classic Pulling Mussels (From a Shell) the smiles on the faces of the audience are only matched by those of the guys on stage.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 34 years since their debut album was released but with the help of a few back projections of their history you feel drawn into the past whilst at the same time wondering if any of us had ever looked as young as Tilbrook did back then.

Even after all these years it’s still cool to be a cat.

Steve Cook

Popular Christchurch venue the Regent Centre is producing its own Christmas Spectacular.

The music blends upbeat dance numbers with popular ballads, a host of Christmas hits and Irving Berlin’s best-known showstoppers.

The sumptuous costumes are provided by Sue Simmerling from Carry On Costumes, costumiers to Paul O’Grady, Christopher Biggins and Robin Cousins among others.

December 21-24 Regent Centre, Christchurch 01202 499199 www.regentcentre.co.uk Promising enchanting melodies and a touch of festive glamour, La Nova Singers again grace Highcliffe Castle for their festive concert, The Magic of Christmas.

Featuring music by Berlioz, Herbert Howells, Howard Goodall and John Rutter, as well as seasonal favourites such as Silent Night, The First Noel, Let It Snow and Winter Wonderland, the Singers will be accompanied by pianist Celia Cologne.

December 12 Highcliffe Castle 01425 278807 www.lanovasingers.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 34 seekernews.co.uk

SeekerArts Local favourite Chris Jarvis returns to his home town for what is now established as his annual turn in panto at the Pavilion.

This year the time-honoured tale of Sleeping Beauty will be extracting the ooh and ahhs from the family audience as Chris dons the robes of Happy Harry and treads the boards alongside former Doctor Who Colin Baker, fresh from the I’m a Celebrity jungle as Nurse Nelly.

Also back in Bournemouth is one-time Hi-De-Hi star Su Pollard, as Bad Fairy.

December 8-January 6 Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth 0844 657 3000 www.bic.co.uk

There’s a musical month in store in Wimborne where the Tivoli has a wealth of talent lined up.

Talon are back with a new version of their Best of the Eagles show; and the ever-popular Counterfeit Stones bring their 19th Bogus Breakdown Tour to town.

Sixties survivors The Searchers will be reviving their classics including Needles and Pins, Sweets For My Sweet and When You Walk in the Room as they promote their latest compilation album, The Very Best of The Searchers, while The Blues Band are always a hit with Dorset audiences.

And Finally... it’s the eagerly awaited return of the ultimate Phil Collins tribute which enjoyed a sell out success in January this year.

December 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne 01202 885566 www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk

picture: SiÂn Court

review

Newton Faulkner

02 Academy, Bournemouth

B

arefoot and bandless, Newton Faulkner had a packed Academy eating out of his hand with a heartfelt set of warm and engaging acoustic tunes drawn from his three albums.

Irrepressibly punctual, he makes for a genial host and doesn’t outstay his welcome, something that other acoustic performers would do well to learn from – always leave the faithful wanting more, right?

And this was a fully committed audience, singing the words of songs

back to the object of their devotion, they were clearly in his thrall.

It’s easy to see why as Faulkner performs as if he’s among friends, at ease chatting to his audience, sharing insights and anecdotes – such as the mix up at an airport in which an old lady thought she was being accosted by him that prompted the return of People Should Smile More to his live set.

The biggest cheers were reserved for his stand out cover of Massive Attack’s Teardrop and the recent single

Clouds from the chart-topping new album Write It On Your Skin, as is the equally well-received Against The Grain.

There are those that knock Faulkner’s style and with his carefully constructed hippy-surfer sartorial statements he gives them an easy target, but whether he’s wearing shoes or not you can’t take away his music.

And that is as open hearted, hopeful and human as the man himself.

Siân Court seekernews.co.uk 35

ASHING through the snow Dash into Dolphin for fantastic Christmas gifts, fashion and more

/DolphinShoppingCentre @DolphinShopping

Late night shopping and FREE parking on selected days See dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk for full details

dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk

36 seekernews.co.uk

DOLPHIN the centre for shopping in POOLE

SeekerSport

In the running

With free, weekly, timed 5k runs, Poole parkrun is open to runners of all kinds.

From absolute beginners to Olympians – Liz Yelling led the Poole women home in their first run in March last year – nobody is turned away and that includes juniors, seniors, dogs and buggies.

On the

S

fence

way Fencing Club, which trained members of Team GB’s 2012 Paralympic squad, is on the lookout for new sponsors following a surge in interest in the sport since the Olympics.

The non-profit organisation has enjoyed considerable success since being founded in 1989.

There are about 50 members whose ages range from eight to 60, among them the current ladies foil and epee champions for Hampshire and two female cadet competitors with national rankings, who are now seeking international selection.

Several members were featured on BBC television this year representing the British Fencing Association at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Instructors from the club are undertaking a ten-month course to improve their teaching skills, with the

aim of attracting yet more promising fencers.

Lymington-based Lashmars Tax Accountants is the latest business to sponsor the club’s ambitious plans to grow the sport.

“As a self-funded, non-profit and volunteer-run organisation, the support of a sponsor will allow Sway Fencing Club further to promote and develop fencing in the New Forest,” says the club’s Robin Catling.

“It is our ambition to assist junior and adult fencers with coaching, kit and travel through the competitive season. Along with the need for additional equipment and venues, this becomes much more achievable with the help of Lashmars.”

For information about sponsorship and to find out more about Sway Fencing Club call 01590 683837 or email info@swayfencing.co.uk

Now celebrating its eighth birthday, there are parkrun groups in seven countries, from the USA to New Zealand. Since January 2012, in the UK alone, more than 125,000 different people have taken part.

To find out more visit www.parkrun. org.uk.

Ben’s backing

Ben Fogle is backing Bournemouth Collegiate School’s new Adventure Challenge.

The TV presenter, writer and adventurer has agreed to become a patron of the BCS United Learning ICE Adventure Challenge, which is designed to enable participants to develop new skills relevant for the workplace in the 21st century.

The Challenge incorporates a school-based business/charity/innovation design project and culminates in a physical adventure challenge on the Purbecks next June. Participants will engage in intellectual, mental, physical and team work challenges which will equip them with business, leadership and strategic planning skills.

Park tees off

A business park in Bournemouth teamed up with a local golf centre to offer free golf sessions to its customers.

The 200acre Aviation Business Park at Bournemouth Airport is home to more than 200 companies and supports around 2,500 jobs.

Keen to thank staff for their loyalty, the business park, joined forces with Parley Golf Centre to offer free weekly taster sessions with professional coach Marcus Urbye and a free round of golf and use of the driving range every Friday afternoon. seekernews.co.uk 37

SeekerCider

words: REBECCA CRoSSLEY pictures: BECKY HoWARTH

S

eeker News enlisted the help of 22 other Dorset businesses to dig for victory last month and reinstate an important orchard at Kingston Lacy, near Wimborne.

We partnered with the National Trust to recreate the orchard that used to grow alongside the kitchen gardens, a six-acre site.

Each business planted an apple tree by the community allotments, a family space the Trust is keep to develop further.

“We’ve retained the original concept of the kitchen gardens, and restoring the orchard is just the first step expanding on this,” says Nigel Chalk, head of countryside for the Trust. “The aim is to give visitors the whole experience, to bring this element of the site alive.”

The two-year project will come to fruition with the production of Seeker Cider from the orchard apples.

“This a brilliant cause, and I can’t wait to see the trees in a couple of years,” says Steve Cook, MD of Seeker News. “That gives me two years to start liking cider!”

David Davidson of accountancy company Mazars’ Poole office adds: “It’s a great idea to be leaving something for the future. There’s such a trend to be losing trees and forests so it’s great to be a part of reversing that.”

Seeker News readers Matthew Noyce and Liz Simpson brought their three-month-old son Alexander along, to help with the planting.

“We’ve new to the area and support the National Trust. We’re doing this to mark the year of Alexander’s arrival and to become part of this community,” says Matthew.

“This valuable project is just one example of how businesses can connect with the National Trust,” says Elaine Arnold, the Trust’s business and development manager for Bournemouth and Poole.

“It opens up opportunities for volunteering, as well as using Trust properties for events and discounted membership.”

seekernews.co.uk 38 seekernews.co.uk

Big the

apple

æ marketing solutions

SeekerCider

Matthew Noyce, Liz Simpson and Alexander Noyce

Val and Tony Grant, Granton Joinery

Terri Spencer and Paul Stillwell, Good Vibration Therapies

Dave Frampton and Sallyann Tanner, Westover Nissan

Monica Watson-Peck, Appleaday

David Davidson, Mazars

Robbie Hawkins and Patrick White, Strouden Joinery

Sally Bishton, Garden Design

Richard Mack, RT Promotions

Louisa Harman, Lulubelle’s Cakes & Peter Jenkins, Dorset Design and Build

Lucy York, Engage Executive Jobs

Juliet Beardsley, Curves Wimborne Dawn & Steve Cook, Seeker

Megan Eustace, Quantum Recruitment

Sarah Nduva and Andy King, Low Carbon Energy Centre

Nicky Chapman and Karen Rhys, Wessex Cancer Trust

Elizabeth Rain, The Green House Hotel

Lee Hartley, Zoe Westwood, Raghunath Venkataraman, Ramada Encore

Alexandra Eaton, AE Marketing Solutions

seekernews.co.uk 39

SeekerSocialDiary

Setting Sale

A

fter a successful launch event, Seeker Business Club reconvened for lunch last month at the Sandbanks Hotel.

A packed room of more than 50 diners heard Motivational Maps founder and Seeker News contributor James Sale share his Nine Top Tips on How to Tune Your Team.

“Teams vastly outperform groups,” he explained.

“A group of five people might have the arithmetic strength of 1+1+1+1+1,

Seeker editor Steve Cook

which is 5, but a team of five people has the geometrical strength of 1x2x3x4x5, which is 120!”

Once again the area’s business community was very well represented with many new faces returning from October’s launch event at Hotel du Vin in Poole.

“It was a real pleasure to welcome back so many old friends as well as lots of Seeker News readers that had been attracted to the event by the coverage in the magazine,” says Seeker MD Steve Cook.

Seeker Business Club’s next event is a Christmas lunch at the Green House Hotel, Bournemouth on December 14. The Club will continue to meet for breakfast or lunch at venues in Poole, Bournemouth and further afield into the new year.

James Sale of Motivational Maps

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

40 seekernews.co.uk

Seeker Business Club November 16, Sandbanks Hotel

Andrew Curtis, Barry White

Andrew Dawson, Dominic Yeadon

Anna Greenhill, Didier Di Mario

Becky Howarth, David Upshall, Dawn Cook

Chris Kane, Helen Stacey, Steve Cook

James Sale, Martin Baum

Jayne Courtney, Rosie Barfoot

Kelly Trivitt, Jane Cox

Oliver Whittle, Robert McCarthy

Geoff Patterson, Davina Skinner

Paul Barter, Steve Cook

David Upshall, Julie Holden, Sue Kerr, Martin Baum

Paul BelďŹ eld, Chris Kane

Colin Chastey, David Davidson, Shindy Dosanjh

Roger Allen, Steve Cook

Anna Greenhill, Sebastien Chene

Helen Mortimer, Steve Cook, Dawn Cook

Steve Cook, David Upshall

Free downloads of all images on these pages from www.seekernews.co.uk/photos seekernews.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 41

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

CONFERENCES & EVENTS WHATEVER EVENT YOU HAVE PLANNED. WE HAVE A PERFECT LOCATION FOR YOU

FOUR UNIQUE HOTELS EACH IN A STUNNING LOCATION Our facilities have an enviable reputation for offering the perfect environments for both business and pleasure. For events from 2 to 180 people, we can tailor any package to suit your needs.

DO NOT MISS! FJB Networking Lunch | Harbour Heights Hotel | 16/01/13 | 12-3pm | £25 per person FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL 0845 337 1550 OR VISIT www.fjbcollection.co.uk JOIN THE

CONVERSATION LIKE US ON JOIN THE

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Rund Bournemouth office opening October 25, Midland House, Bournemouth

Gary Brown, Adrian Arnatt

Rob Hooker, Nick Cuffe

Mark Rund, John Newman, Oonagh McKinney

Laura Balmer, Tracey Wood, Roger Wareham, Matthew Fretten

Nick Fernyhough, David Wallbridge, Stuart Bunce, Lucy York

Brian Willis, Ian Kendall, Brian Ritchie

Roger Wareham, Nick Fernyhough, Paul Belfield

Dan Rattew, Nick Cuffe, Stuart Bunce

Mark Rund, Paul Belfield, Richard Mussell

Shoe Devotion winter season launch October 22, Langtry Manor

Keith Tempany, Kelvin Cowlard

Judit Romas, Javier Garrido

Samantha Stout, Helen Ames, Vivien Stout

Tara O’Conell, Caroline White

Carole Hewitson, Tracey Wood

Vanessa Jarvis, Di Trott, Sally Pegg

Vanessa Jarvis, Liz Marsh

Caroline Tomey, Laura McKenzie

Nicola Massieu-Cowlard, Andrew Lennox, Katie Francesca seekernews.co.uk seekernews.co.uk 43

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DCCI Shore Start November 20, Cafe Shore

Alison Shelton, Jon Wood, Elly Dawkins

Chris Mower, Lee Taylor, Alison Shelton, Adrian Page

Darren George, Bobby Gray

David Maslen, Anthony Ford

Lorna Trent, Rebecca Osborne

Nigel Leonard, Carly Bowen, Paul Du Lieu

Peter Scott, Milly Bones

Peter Swift, James Cain, David Maslen

Robert Dougell, Teresa Wood,Ian Siddall

Tony Hemmings, Martin Spooner

Sue Kerr, Natasha Langlois

Joanna Cook, Ianthe Slinger

Simon Dancer, Tom Stone

Sarah Masion-Smith, Michael Stocken

Jason Burgess, Chris Varney

Andrew Alder, Steve Cook

Kate Chastey, Dominique Bailhache

Sarah Masion-Smith, Arthur Scalfe, Nicola Lowe, Jeremy Prestley

Letchers’ D Club November 1, Chewton Glen

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Liddle Lunch October 19, Compton Acres

Nigel Hopkins, Howard Baker

Sue Ferguson, Ben Gould

John Caithness, James McDougal

Graham Ball, Tim Birkett, Tony Cooke, Andy Barfield

Anne-Marie Samuel, James McDougal, Steve Cook, Ali Carter, Liz Davies

Dan Carey, Malcolm Pitcher, David Foster, Malcolm Scott Walby

Ali Carter, Fiona McArthur

Carl Geary, Mark Liddle

Jonathan White, Torie Fellows

events listings

To receive Seeker News hot off the press each month sign up online now at seekernews.co.uk/subscribe

December 5 – all day IoD – Differing Standpoints, Converging views, Bournemouth University, Poole

December 13 – 6pm-7:30pm Thinking Thursday – Building Teams that Deliver, BU Executive Business Centre, Bournemouth

December 6 – 7:45am-10am Ministerial Road Show – Small Businesses & Equality, The Grove Hotel, Bournemouth Dorset

December 14 – noon-3pm Seeker Business Club – December Christmas Lunch, Green House Hotel, Bournemouth Dorset

December 6 – noon-3pm PBWLC – Christmas Lunch with cooking demonstration, Storm Fish Restaurant, Poole

December 14 – 7pm-10pm Scratch night entitled ADVENT, Bourne Spring Centre, Boscombe Dorset December 20 – 6pm-8pm DJC Meet & Drink, Banana Wharf, Poole

December 6 – 6pm-8pm DJC Meet & Drink, Hot Rocks, Bournemouth

January 3 – 6pm-8pm DJC Meet & Drink, Hot Rocks, Bournemouth

December 12 – 10:30am-3pm DCCI AGM & Christmas Lunch, Italian Villa, Compton Acres, Poole Dorset

For more details of any of these events or to list your own events go to www.seekernews.co.uk/ events

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 46 seekernews.co.uk

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“I thought about the recession and decided not to participate”.

- Sam Walton, founder of walmart One major industrial advertiser summed it up best: “When times are good you should advertise. When times are bad you must advertise”.

- Source: Making a Recession Work for You from the American Business Press “Savvy advertisers know that their ad spending has more impact when their competitors are spending less.”

- Alex Kroll, Advertising in a Recession “The business who maintains his main normal level of promotion when his competitors have reduced theirs soon finds that his expenditures represent a higher percentage of the total expended by the group. Our records show clearly that there is no surer way to gain an increase in competitive share of market.”

- A.C. Nielsen, Sr. Advertising in a Recession Call us now on 01202 779604 or email info@seeker.uk.com

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