RM Business Magazine September 2013 by RM Magazine

lifestyle

E-MAIL MARKETING The 10 Commandments

90%

of first degree graduates find employment

Talent Management The challenges of team roles

What makes a good boss? 5 top traits from employees

300

years later Spitalfields Market, still going strong

Peter Jones

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody has got it in them to be innovative and motivatedâ&#x20AC;?

Jewellery with magnetic power A combination of sophisticated, exclusive designer unisex jewellery & wellness products with thepower of magnets. Why energetix jewellery & why magnets? • A range of 100% Stainless Steel products beautifully crafted and designed, therefore completely ALLERGY FREE. • Encrusted in some, with Swarovski Crystals, Cubic Zirconias, Rolled Gold and Real Leather. • Competitively priced to enable you to have a collection of pieces for all occasions. • Energetix use TOP QUALITY Neodymium Magnets - guaranteed only to lose 1% of their power in the first 100 years of their life. • The wearing of magnets can stimulate the circulation and regulate the blood flow and has therapeutic benefits resulting in the alleviation of symptoms of many common ailments, including arthritis, migraines, rheumatism, even fibromyalgia. • There are many stories from people who have had their lives changed by the benefits of using magnets, bringing daily relief to many.

Energetix The Energetix product range not only promotes Jewellery but also includes Wellness Massage and Water Products, Magnetic Reading Glasses, Animal accessories and a Power drink. The company was formed in Bingen, Germany in 2002 and has risen to become the marker leader in the sales of its products, but has only recently reached the shores of the United Kingdom. The design, development, manufacture and distribution of the products all originate from

Inspired by Ralf Bauer

Bingen, but millions of customers throughout the world already wear, use and reap the benefits from this fantastic range. Each year new designs and creations are added to an already extensive range of jewellery, inspiration coming from current trends in the international jewellery market and from their customers. The success of the business is intergrating high quality jewellery with life-long magnets.

Where do you purchase energetix products Energetix serves 3 growth markets, Jewellery & Accessories, Health & Wellness (as mentioned) and thirdly... Direct Sales.

Sports Centres and more popular, at home parties. Alternatively, you can view our catalogue on www.magneticfox.energetix.tv, order on-line or contact Alan or John direct on 01708 438761.

The Direct Selling Industry is a multi-national and multimillion pound business, not only in jewellery but in many products and services around the world. We are Independent Distributors, based in Hornchurch, Now Energetix products have come to the UK and Essex. Essex and are happy to give you more information, send a catalogue or order direct for you. Marketing through teams of Independent Distributors, you can now find/purchase these products at various Home presentations can also be arranged, through a places, ie Fairs, Businesses, Hair/Beauty Salons, distributor in your area.

Be your own boss - a career with energetix As Energetix is relatively new to the UK, we are looking for consultants/distributors who wish to earn extra income on a part-time basis. Our marketing system offers opportunities as a second source of income or as a main occupation through to a national/international career.

It is your choice. Magnetic Jewellery is simple to present and offers great earning opportunities. Monthly ‘Business Presentations’ are available to see the range of products and how you can utilise this opportunity to your benefit.

They are held on the first Wednesday of every month at: Ye Olde Plough House, Brentwood Road, Bulphan, Essex, RM14 3SR – 7.30pm - 9.30pm The next meetings are Wednesday 4th September and Wednesday 2nd October. To book, please contact Alan Ealey or John Parrett on 01708 563989. Alternatively, a private presentation can be organised at your home or at: Fox Tailoring, 187, Station Lane, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 6LL email: john@foxtailoring.com | www.magneticfox.energetix.tv

NB. People using pacemakers, other electronic devices and women who are pregnant are advised not to wear magnets. More detailed information on our products will be provided in further issues. ENERGETIX ARE MEMBERS OF THE DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION.

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The RM Business Team Editor in Chief Tony Wittridge tony@rmbusiness.co.uk Editor Amber Sudbury amber@rmbusiness.co.uk Art Editor Jade Warrington jade@rmbusiness.co.uk Staff Writer Ivana Sidey ivana@rmbusiness.co.uk Brand Sales Manager Rob Wittridge rob@rmbusiness.co.uk Sales Executive David Marshall david@rmmagazine.co.uk Distribution Manager Zak Hasan zak@rmmagazine.co.uk Networking Barry Hicks whatson@rmbusiness.co.uk

From the

Editor We all have bad days at work, and some days turn out to be much worse than others. Our ability to dust off the day and move on is a vital quality for business professionals to have, but what happens when your entire week has turned into an exceptionally ‘bad day?’ Taking responsibility for yourself and your own actions is something that our parents taught us when we were young, and if we didn’t learn it then, we certainly learnt it when we moved out of the parental home and into a place of our own. Suddenly you realise that you are entirely responsible for paying the rent, bills, council tax, water etc. and those are before you’ve even eaten. Hitting the ground running springs to mind. Something that I have found useful when experiencing an uncomfortable week, is looking at what in my life I am truly grateful for. Bad days, however bad they are, simply do not compare to all of the great things that you have. Recognition of your achievements is always welcome too, so when we found out that RM Business had been named a finalist in the B2B category at The Havering Business Awards, we were all extremely proud; everyone needs a pat on the back every now and then. Although we will not find out until October 4th, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire team for all of the hard work and effort that they put in each and every day. Fingers crossed.

Administration Brooke Warrington brooke@rmbusiness.co.uk Other Contributors: Katie Flynn, Jessica Groom,Warren Knight, Yvonne Bendall, Cllr Michael White, Cllr Ron Ower, Jill Poet, Kevin Hayler, John Parrett, John Booth, Simon Fordham, Daniel Chase and Jacqueline Hall.

Want To Talk To Us? 01708 475789 www.rmbusiness.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @RMbusiness and facebook.com/rmbusiness

Amber

Amber Sudbury Editor

Tony Wittridge Editor in Chief

Published by RM Magazine Ltd. Please note that while the publishers take care to be accurate, no liability will be accepted under any circumstance should any of the contents of this magazine be incorrect. All rights reserved. Reproduction of whole or in part without permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. RM Magazine Ltd, 3-11 Grenfell Avenue, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 4DN

no money to advertise? What about that cappuccino you have every Friday morning? #JustSaying RM Rewards cost just ÂŁ10 per month Sign your business up today! www.rmrewards.co.uk/browse

01708 475789 hello@rmrewards.co.uk @RMrewards

6 rmbusiness.co.uk

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Business Focus

Money Matters

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on

Work Force - Development

Legal

Lifestyle

Work Force

Business for the soul

Technology

Sales & Marketing

In the borough

Classified

Tweets of the month Media Guardian @mediaguardian 10 Aug BT’s real goal in Premier League clash with Sky is a broadband victory Sky Sports @SkySports 13 Aug David Beckham has discovered The Sky Difference - but just how different are his viewing habits from yours?

CNET @CNET 15 Aug Facebook wants to collect your shopping data, but it’s not trying to become the next PayPal

Jai’me Jan @jaimelondonboy 16 Aug Thank you Rosalia Mera, for truly transforming High Street fashion by giving us #ZARA and making catwalk designs affordable! RIP.

Karen Barrett @Unbiased_co_uk 16 Aug Do you think the Gov’s Help to Buy scheme is taking the pressure off ‘The Bank of Mum and Dad’?

8 rmbusiness.co.uk

lifestyle this month’s news

London-Led Recovery During the second quarter of the year, the economic growth in the UK was revised from 0.6% to 0.7% by the Office for National Statistics. After four years of inertia since the recession ended in 2008/09, the UK economy may now have begun to recover. The small rise reflects the output of more than one industry, with export playing a key role in driving growth, and confirming that four major sectors of the economy (services, industry, agriculture, construction) had increased during April, May and June.

The latest index of service sector activity, also published by the ONS on Friday, showed output in the sector was 2.8% higher in June than a year earlier, led by financial services, hotels and restaurants.

“The expenditure breakdown was positive news,” said Philip Rush, economist at investment bank Nomura. “Consumption obviously fairly important to the recovery there but... the recovery in the second quarter wasn’t as reliant on consumption as we’d feared.”

“Barely months after the threat of a triple dip, a series of good economic results for the UK means business and consumer confidence is climbing,” said Nancy Curtin of asset managers Close Brothers. “A London-led recovery has spread to the regions. Like the US, the UK has shown its resilience in the face of slowing global trade.”

Sustaining the economy will mean steering away from heavy consumer spending, which helped drive the boom in the previous ten years. Reliance will need to shift to investment, exports and industry for a positive rebalance to occur.

During the third quarter of 2012, when the economy was lifted by the Olympics, the same 0.7% rate was recorded, compared with a year ago, GDP in the three months to June was 1.5% higher.

Images are courtesy from: http://paradiseintheworld.com/london-england/

you may be

interested in...

The battery life of a Smartphone is notoriously substandard, much to the frustration of phone users everywhere. So imagine our delight at the creation of the ChargeCard, a thin smartphone charger the width of a credit card, easily able to fit inside a wallet or purse. Designed by a San Francisco based hardware design team and Kickstarter success story, the durable plastic and truly portable phone charger works with any Micro USB charging device. Flexible, easily stored, and with the ability to sync just as quickly as the current cable at USB 2.0 speeds, this nifty little clutter and cable free charger is revolutionary, all be it in a very small and sensible way. www.photojojo.com The ChargeCard is available at Photojojo for $25. Images courtesy of Photojojo

10 rmbusiness.co.uk

Q&A

What does the future of home computing hold for us? Will the PC of the future be small or large? What will it look like a tablet or a laptop? Given the current trends toward small devices that can do almost anything, it’s very possible that the future PC will do all of its processing on a single chip. System on a chip technology is becoming more and more popular in gadgets like smartphones and tablets, so it isn’t beyond recognition to think that it may end up on PCs, especially since Windows 8 supports this technology. But the future PC will likely also take advantage of CPU-and-graphics-processor packages, which has both the CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit). This means less lag time in communications between the CPU and the GPU. Provided Moore’s Law (the transistor count of the integrated circuits doubles every two years) continues to work, the chips of the future will have over sixteen billion transistors on a single chip! For those out there who need even more speed, you will be able to take advantage of the unbelievable power of 1000 core processors, which researchers believe will become more and more common in the next few years. For the mere mortals out there, you will be able to access this insane power with cloud computing. 3D is a hot trend in HDTVs and other gadgets, so it seems logical that it would carry over to PCs. The future PC will also feature autostereoscopic 3D displays, that is, you won’t have to wear glasses to get the 3D effect. The screen will have true multi-touch features unlike most modern day single touch computers. Future multi-touch PCs may also come in different forms. Take for example this three-screen smartphone concept design: You may see three-screen laptops or tablets that fold out whenever you need that extra room (think of a three-screened computer that folds out like a map). You’ll be able to drag-and-drop across your multiple

screens using the multi-touch features (for instance, grab a photo on one screen and pull it to the other with a single drag of the finger). Best of all, these multi-screen devices would be extremely energy efficient, lightweight, and if advances in display technology are any indication, they could one day be built of thin, space-saving film. The PC of the future will have more screen space and will take touch features to the limit. The tablet-like form factor will become the dominant portable PC whether it has one screen or three. The PC of the future will be better equipped to connect to your TV through the use of the WHDI (wireless home digital interface) wireless video standard. WHDI enables delivery of uncompressed high-definition digital video over a wireless radio channel connecting any video source. The operating system of the future will be robust and will be able to support anything you try to run on it, via either native applications or Web applications, but will also be less complex from the user’s standpoint. Many future PCs will feature simpler, memory-sparing open-source operating systems such as Android that are compatible with a wide range of programs. Cloud computing will be on the rise, and you will have the option to automatically store your files online and retrieve them anywhere in the world that you have Internet. Windows will still be around, but it won’t be nearly as dominant as it is now. It will be much more competitive with Android and other emerging operating systems. Either way, the PC of the future sure looks bright.

By Gary Churchill – Tech SOS www.techsos.co.uk 11

There are not many businesses that you could think of that have had to move premises to meet their customerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demands. But over 300 years later, New Spitalfields Market continues to be the market leader in Europe for exotic fruit and vegetables, so how have they done it? 12 rmbusiness.co.uk

Every business is only ever created with the belief that they can provide something other people want. And it can only ever survive and succeed if they provide something people actually need. New Spitalfields Market is such a business, and as one of the three markets created in London to ensure the city ate healthily (Smithfield, Billingsgate), its story tells quite an interesting tale. >

business focus

It was originally created back in the thirteenth century, in a field on the edge of the Square Mile. For hundreds of years people traded effectively up to six days a week to meet the public’s growing demands for fresh fruit and vegetables. But in 1991 it was decided that Spitalfields had grown too much – surely every businessman’s dream? Increased traffic flow was creating congestion around the site, both with deliveries on large artic’s and with the customers vans. So it relocated to its new site at Leyton, and now, today, covers an impressive 32 acre site and has much easier motorway access. But there will always be things that you can’t control, and when you deal with fresh produce, the weather must be the most frustrating. It doesn’t just prevent crops from growing, but changes your consumer’s habits as well. If it is hot, they will want to eat out more, therefore the restaurants that markets like Spitalfields supply from one of their catering units will demand more produce. All good news, until the opposite situation arises. But Chief Executive of the Tenants Association, Jan Hutchinson doesn’t seem to be too phased. As with all business, it seems you have to adapt, and usually the market decides when you will be doing that. We met her very early one Monday morning to discuss the future of the market. “I have seen the market change and evolve over the years. In particular when I saw it change location things were especially difficult because of the growth of the supermarkets. People’s lifestyle was changing too and this affected us - social climate is a huge factor. Women were going out to work and staying out at work. So you no longer had people going for a shop on a daily basis. But the road network around us had made the geography of the site an absolute winner. The other big difference has been how London has changed culturally. Companies from quite literally around the world are based here and they are selling produce around the world. And as London has reflected this globalisation of cultures, so have we and we have changed with it.” This is what Spitalfields’ USP is. Spitalfields has taken inspiration from social trends, and used them to make a truly cosmopolitan market. They had to diversify and adapt to survive, or they probably wouldn’t still be standing today.

Walking around the market, the demand still seemed to be high. Even at their quieter times, it was still bustling with activity, with every imaginable fruit and vegetable greeting you. The colours were unbelievable, and the volume made the fresh produce smell incredible. It’s clearly inspired their customers too. Apparently one of the tenants has a tenuous link with Costco, and you may have even heard of J.T Produce LTD, who supply vegetables to Romford market, or maybe Waldon LTD who supply the fruit. And the more specialist you go, the more chance people will use the market because of the variety, from tomatoes to specialist chilli pepper – Not to mention the one remaining flower wholesaler. The choice really is endless. More great news for Spitalfields is the pop-up market – a relatively new trend. Wholesalers have to get their produce from somewhere, and if they want it fresh, where else would you go apart from Spitalfields? And nowadays, Jan told us that marketing has become a key factor. “When in season we are very keen to promote British and the name of the farm and the farmer. The horsemeat scandal has made the general public question where their food actually comes from, which is another good benefit.” It is about educating the future traders too, and that starts from a young age. They are always working with charity The Red Cross and love educating children about good health and nutrition. They are currently working with www.popadeli.com, a website aimed at children, not their parents. Children had to design a fruit and vegetable character, and the winner will see their class visit the market in September, when the market is virtually finished and everything is much quieter and safer. Everyone must visit the website; it is a really fun way for children to be introduced to a healthy lifestyle. You never know, they could become a future trader in Europe’s most successful market!

For more information visit: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/business/wholesale-food-markets/newspitalfields/Pages/Tours-and-Visits.aspx www.newspitalfieldsmarket.co.uk www.popadeli.com

business focus - start-up diary

Zero Hours or Zero Opportunity Zero Hour contracts are the latest workplace discussion, finding its way onto the desks of parliamentary officials, with the need to be addressed. But do they really need to be reviewed? It is commonplace nowadays to have a deep mistrust towards large organisations and the tools they use to operate. We have all been shocked by multiple scandals, which have shaken the media and seem to steadily come to light from clothing chain sweatshops, to large-scale tax avoidance. So it is by no surprise to me that zero hour contracts are now in the limelight. However in this case, I think that the ‘scandal’ is nothing more than a basic misunderstanding of the system. Most of us have been lucky enough to avoid ever having to use a zero hour contract or be part of one within an organisation, so it is easy to see it as a tool to abuse employees and save costs. How the agreement works is that the employee agrees to work for a company for an undefined amount of hours. There is no set annual salary, no set hours and no guarantee of work. In a nutshell, the employee is on call and the company can contact them for assistance on an agreed hourly rate. I think the biggest thing to remember here is that the contract still works both ways, if the employee is unavailable they do not have to go into work on a ‘call’. There is the obvious benefit to the company that they can have extra hands without having to commit to an annual salary. But also this can be particularly useful to people seeking casual work such as students, stay at home parents, retirees looking for extra money every now and again, or carers. If you have read any of my previous articles, you will be aware that I run a recruitment agency and we regularly have temporary staff on our books who are actively seeking zero hour contracts because it suits their lifestyle better. Not only does it benefit us to have these staff available, but also benefits our clients. In my

personal opinion they can create a situation where everyone wins. Not only that, but removing them could have significant implications to sectors which appear to have been overlooked so far. One sector that particularly springs to mind where amending zero hour contracts could have significant impact, would be in the teaching field. There are multiple supply teachers who maintain a very good living by covering sickness on a regular basis and maintain their flexibility to turn work away. The school system relies on these staff to keep our children educated at short notice, and when budgets are being cut down to a shoestring, they simply cannot afford to have ‘spare’ staff on the payroll 52 weeks of the year. The reason zero hour contracts are becoming more prominent at the moment is because they are a reflection of our country’s financial performance. If the organisations doing the employing do not have the confidence to agree permanent employment because they do not know where they will be in 12 months time - is it really fair to lumber their current staff with extra workload? Alternatively, is it fair to employ someone only to make them redundant 8 months later? Zero hour contracts have been around for decades and the only reason they are coming back into the public eye is because we are still struggling financially, which has created the need. The process has been the same with every recession experienced, and eventually these contracts will reduce again once confidence is regained in the economy. But do not consider them as something created to abuse staff because they can actually benefit companies, employees, government bodies and the economy in more ways than you may realise. Once you dig beneath the surface of zero hour contracts I think you, like myself, will come to realise that the pros far outweigh the cons on this one.

Twitter: @WarringtonChase Email: daniel@warringtonchase.co.uk Website: www.warringtonchase.co.uk Work Phone Number: 01708 629721 Mobile Phone Number: 07824 559654

lifestyle

Peter Jones Academy:

Entrepreneurs Are Not Born, They're Made

When you’re one of the most recognisable faces on television, it would be easy to rest on your laurels. But having seen tremendous personal success, Peter Jones has now turned his hand to helping the next generation of entrepreneurs.

16 rmbusiness.co.uk

Peter Jones could be described as the ultimate businessman. He has started from the bottom and has since seen his fortunes rise, fall and then rise again, until it stands at an estimated NET worth of £220 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List. You hear a lot about his success, for which there is, unquestionably, a lot. Earlier this year he bought failing camera retailer brand Jessops, has returned to our screens as one of the formidable Dragons on BBC’s Dragon’s Den – where everyone can remember the success of one of its former exports, Levi Roots and his Reggae Reggae sauce, thanks to a little help from Mr Peter Jones.

business focus But it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the 6 foot 7 inch business giant. He has always been aware of his skills, and by the age of 16 he had set up his own tennis academy – exploiting his passion of sport and economics. Peter explains; “I spoke to my English teacher at the time, John Woodward, who also ran a summer tennis school. I thought a job there would be brilliant as it would be for the whole summer and every half term. Over a few years of doing this I watched how John ran his academy and learnt the mechanics of the business behind it. Eventually, I got to the point where I thought I could do it myself, so that’s what I did. After completing the Lawn Tennis Association’s coaching exams, I set up my own tennis coaching school.” By the time he was just 22 Peter Jones was living the dream. He was the proud owner of a BMW and a Porsche. But that was before his computer business unravelled during the recession in the 1990’s, alongside a bar he had opened based on the hit 1988 Tom Cruise film, Cocktail. “The reason I lost the business was naivety,” explains Jones, a sentence that would stick in any businessman’s throat. But this was before Peter had his first real brainwave and became a specialist distributor in mobile phones, earning him his first million pounds. Within its first year of trading, the group’s turnover was £14 million, which grew to £44 million in just its second year. Unsurprisingly, Phones International Group was named as one of the fastest growing companies in the UK. And it’s hard to believe that it was all the way back in 2005 when Dragon’s Den started, the show that made Peter a household name as one of the original Dragons. This and the ITV show ‘Tycoon’ may be where Peter’s real passion of discovering and nurturing young entrepreneurs began. And this may have been the inspiration behind The Peter Jones Enterprise Academy. Peter wholly credits his success to John, his English teacher at school, and describes him as ‘the perfect mentor,’ explaining that as a young adult, you need structure and support for your ideas to really be successful.

If they decide they don’t want to be self-employed, the skills they learn mean they are very successful candidates for places at good universities or for sought-after jobs with high profile companies”. Havering wanted to be involved because it gives the students a good role model in Peter Jones – he promotes the fact that you don’t have to rely on other people giving you a job because the opportunities are there for you to go and create your own jobs. So the primary difference is that it teaches young people so much more than they would learn statically in a classroom – this is much more practical and hands on type of learning. So instead of just learning the theory of being innovative and how to push for business growth, and to start their own business, they actually have to do that in order to get the qualification. The college is also a part of the Peter Jones Academy network, where every year there is a presentation ceremony. This year it was in Birmingham and Peter Jones himself was there to congratulate all of the graduates from around the country. And because of him there is lots of national company participation - not to mention national competitions for entrepreneur of the year. They are supported by people like Subway and Alfa Romeo, so it is a big deal and very exciting for the graduates as it means that the students have a chance to succeed not just locally, but to pit themselves against national talent too. It makes them look outside Havering and it raises their profile too.

Eventually, I got to the point where I thought I could do it myself, so that’s what I did. After completing the Lawn Tennis Association’s coaching exams, I set up my own tennis coaching school.”

The big idea behind the academy is that “Entrepreneurs are not born, they’re made.” A bold statement indeed, but Peter has never been one to shy away and since its inception in 2009, the 16 -19 year old students haven’t either – The academy has been a huge success. Havering College is about to be the latest in a long line to form a partnership with the academy. They have explained that one of the objectives of pulling the Peter Jones Academy in, was to raise the aspirations of Havering’s young people in an area that already has a strong tradition of self-employment. And with the economic climate as it is, it’s not easy for young people to just leave college and walk into a job. So the college want to give them the best possible opportunity they can, by encouraging the students to be economically active, by giving them the skills and support to do that and by using the experience to help them to develop the skills that people want in the workplace. Sally MacPherson - the college’s Assistant Principal for Enterprise explained that they wanted the partnership as they have seen first-hand in other colleges the positive effect the academy can have on young people. “The Peter Jones Academy works to develop the confidence and ambitions of young people, and shows them that you don’t necessarily have to take a job – you could MAKE a job. It gives them the skills and confidence to succeed whether running their own business or working for someone else.

Sally also informed us that Havering College offer the level three and level five apprenticeships in Innovation and Growth “for people who are employed but who think outside of the box, who want to be more than just paper-pushers, who want to contribute to pushing the business forward and to be part of making it a success”. So can entrepreneurs really be taught or are they made? Peter Jones himself has stated that “Everybody has got it in them to be innovative and motivated. A true entrepreneur is defined as someone who makes things happen and takes charge.” As the face of the Peter Jones Foundation and the Enterprise Academy, it is clear that he knows what he is talking about. So what will this course really mean for Havering? Well without doubt it will develop young people’s motivation, personal skills and communication – meaning that whether they become entrepreneurs or new members of an existing work force, they will be a very valuable addition for having the courage to step away from the study books and apply their knowledge – All from a man who has made business work. Level 2 and 3 BTEC qualifications are full time and free to 16-19 year olds Level 3 and level 5 apprenticeships are open to everybody in employment – free to under 19’s BTEC level 2 and 3 industry recognised qualification Course duration one year – A-Levels are still two! Courses run Apprenticeship starts available in September, January, May Full time Sept – July – usual academic year. 17

Uncover your potential to be©

Room for Thought Creating a thinking environment

‘What are you thinking?’ It’s a common enough question, and one that asks us to permit access to our thought processes. The responding question is, ‘Will you listen?’ My client was willing to experiment with working in a ‘thinking environment’. At first it was strange, even daunting for them – the idea of having my complete, interested, focussed attention. Would they sound stupid? Would they be interesting enough? Would they be respected after sharing their inner world?

Written by Jacqueline Hall www.deborahco.com

Could they take someone looking steadily at them, totally engrossed in, and wanting to hear their thoughts?

18 rmbusiness.co.uk

Could they take someone looking steadily at them, totally engrossed in, and wanting to hear their thoughts? A myriad of questions whirled in the atmosphere and could not be answered until they gave it a try. And spoke. What a revelation. One reflection started the adventure. One idea birthed another. An old thought came to prominence, and said out loud was refreshed. Now vocalised it spouted wings and flew. Carried aloft in the air of my client’s excitement, it returned bearing its own fledgling. They empowered themselves to do something about a particular matter. They strategised the resolution. They laid a foundation, and in those minutes saw how to finish building the resultant

structure, and whose skills they could utilise. I gazed at them keenly interested in what they would say next. When they fell into silence, travelling on the cloud that was their thought pad, I gave them space to move. We were both freed from the anticipation of interruption or addition. Their words could gradually be released, not crammed into hasty breath. They didn’t have to edit before publishing their reflections. Their thoughts were theirs without the augmentation of mine. They left energised to act. To have your thoughts received is a gift, to listen to them is a privilege. Can you afford not to be heard?

Contact me on 07801 031502, or info@deborahco.com to explore further. Also check out my website at www.deborahco.com.

Carried aloft in the air of my client’s excitement, it returned bearing its own fledgling.

work force development

What makes us get up in the morning and do what we do? What gives us our drive and enthusiasm? What sufficiently motivates us to become successful?

“Life is like riding a bicycle you have to keep moving… or you fall off!” Albert Einstein Riding a bike is like running a business, we have to innovate, change, improve, transform, and diversify; we have to keep pedalling, because if we stop our business has the danger to just fall over and get over taken by other businesses that do keep pedalling. What motivates us to keep going? What works as a driver for some needn’t necessarily work for others; and what works now needn’t work in three or five years’ time. In business, it’s about having that constant burning flame inside you that needs stoking to not only keep it going, but to turn it into a raging fire, and with that raging fire burning deep inside you, nothing is impossible to lead you on that road to success. Success takes desire, takes focus and takes consistent action to keep pedalling the bike to keep your business going. In the last ten years of owning my own business and helping numerous organisations to achieve their goals, I have found that often people who are ambitious and work hard, still sometimes fail to reach their goals. So is there something fundamental that’s missing? You could have a great product but without a great marketing plan put into action, not enough people are going to know your product even exists. You can be a hard, dedicated entrepreneur and business person, but if you have no business plan to measure yourself by, how do you know if you are achieving your goals?

What can we do to increase our odds of succeeding in whatever business we’re in? Create your goal and work towards it. Being overly concerned about whether you’re doing the right thing or not in the beginning can prevent you from ever getting started. The important thing is to take that first step. And remember he who has not made a mistake has made nothing. Once you start, start to measure your results. As you take action, you’re going to need and get feedback. Find a confidant, a mentor, a coach who can offer you constructive unbiased feedback and praise when it is due. Get some grey hair on board! Compare your results to your ultimate outcome, your goal. Are you any closer than when you started or are you further away? Once you obtain feedback and results act on them, they offer you the opportunity to be in a better position to focus on what needs to be improved. Do what makes you happy Some people pursue a dream, but even if they never reach it they continue to pursue it, but they are still happy to do so because they are doing what they love on a daily basis. What’s the point of pursuing a goal that doesn’t somehow add to your enjoyment in life? Utilise your business plan as your main motivator. Keep up to date with information regarding your industry. Find out what the top people in your field are reading and subscribe to the same magazines. If you do the right things (which can change) for a long enough period of time, you are very likely to succeed. When you come across something that motivates you or makes you feel inspired…Write it down, remember it, refer to it and practice it! Take action, because not to take action is pointless.

Competition £1500

prize competition Three organisations or companies will win a FREE business overview report up to the value of £500. The report will be based on a confidential (three hour maximum) conversation with the organisations principles and a consultant from The Business Guru. Details of what a business overview report consists of can be found at www. fordhamhenderson.com All you have to do, in no more than 500 words, is describe why you believe your company or organisation would benefit from a free business overview report. For an entry form please visit www.fordhamhenderson.com/competition Closing date: 30th September 2013. Prize draw to be awarded no later than 31st October 2013. Terms and Conditions apply… All entrants must be submitted by the closing date to: RM Business Magazine.

And finally… Have fun along the way, enjoy what you are doing and seek praise from that grey haired person. If you wish to take your life and your business to that next level then take consistent action. Innovate, change, improve, transform and diversify all the time; steer clear of self-doubt, reward and praise, seek help, remain motivated all the time and remember… keep pedalling, because if you stop you just might fall off your bike!

David Henderson Co-Founder and Principal Consultant Thebiznessguru.com

Why Are Graduates Good FoR Businesses: The Great University Debate

Students everywhere are excitedly getting ready for their academic journey. But will there really be the highly coveted job after the investment, or do businesses not want to invest in graduates?

90%

of full time first degree leavers were in employement 6 months after graduating

20 rmbusiness.co.uk

It’s September already, which can only mean one thing – the start of the academic year. Or is it? With the current average fee now standing at just under £9, 000 per annum, will students still want to attend the university of their choice, and even if they agree, will businesses want them anyway? The inconvenient truth is that unemployment figures are still painfully high, and rising. So should school leavers jump straight into work with both feet, or maybe even start their own business? Well actually, both universities and businesses should be fighting over themselves to nurture the special young talent that we have right here, and not let it slip through their fingertips. Why? Because it could benefit you! Elizabeth Gooch, CEO of e.g. solutions, a Staffordshire IT firm claims that her sector is really missing a trick with regard to sourcing the next generation of talent. It is no surprise that the IT sector in particular has seen some of the toughest competition for placements over all areas of business, but it may shock you to discover that the strongest competitors are always the graduates. As this is the generation that is easily the most computer literate, Ms Gooch has found that they are the perfect people to solve the lack of IT skills the country has. “From our recent experience of committing to recruiting graduates, offering such placements adds significant value to the companies that take them, and to British technology SME.” And she has a good point. CEO’s are getting younger; step forward Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Pinterest’s Tracey Chou, also known as, the business idols for the next generation of leaders. Not to mention the 762 super-rich graduates from Oxford and Cambridge University, inspiring their peers all by themselves. And despite the reputation of these two esteemed establishments, one third inherited their wealth. This of course means, that the remaining two thirds of the Oxbridge alumni worth more than £20 million, made their fortune through their own ideas and efforts.

work force

So now you want one, how do you go about hiring a graduate? here's five top tips: 1. Most firms will specifically request to see experience, but often for graduates this is not always feasible. So instead look at their CV to see the type of work they have done; least of all to see whether they have a good twork ethic and will be a valuable asset to your team. 2. Make sure the job role is clearly explained. This will save you time as you will only have to screen appropriate graduates, and will save the graduate a possible red face from applying for an inappropriate job. So while there will remain the eternal debate of whether leaders are made or taught, one thing is for certain, universities teach skills that pay out for businesses. We will all be in agreement that the most important thing for any business is their staffing, so why should you consider hiring graduates over experienced staff? Well, let’s start by talking business; you will see a return on your investment. By hiring a graduate you can offer them a paid internship of a few months to see whether they fit with the company, and especially whether they can add anything to it. Just think of what past graduates like former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy or Manchester United CEO David Gill have achieved. But if your graduates are not quite right, you’ve just employed a cost effective member of staff without the commitments of a long-term contract. Plus you’ve given somebody new some invaluable work experience. The real worst case scenario would be tying your business up with someone with years of experience and so think they know it all. Moreover graduates will have the type of infectious enthusiasm that can only be found from someone fresh out of university. They know they have the world at their feet, but hey, they have worked hard to be in that position. Now you can channel their burning desire to work, and filter their enthusiasm all around the office until it affects their other colleges and gives the company as a whole a much needed boost. Plus as we have mentioned the unemployment rate, so they will be some of the most loyal employees you will ever find. More so if you give them a chance to make a difference in the company and they can really see its growth and theirs. This is more likely than you would perhaps think, as they have spent three years minimum problem solving and team building, so they are ready to make a positive difference to your work place.

3. Appreciate that hiring a graduate does mean hiring a brand new employee. They will not have much experience, if any, of the working world – so offer them formal training. 4. Offer them a fair and competitive salary, so graduates want to work for you. An average starting salary for a graduate is around £18K. You would be wise to keep this figure in mind when creating the position. 5. When you have chosen your graduates to interview – use the time to look forward to see what they could potentially do for our business, rather than what they can do now.

Small businesses and talent management: Use It or Lose It Small businesses in today’s world have many challenges to face. There is legislation and red tape, computer programs which are designed for use by 3000 people rather than three and every sick absence or day of leave affects someone else’s workload. Human Resources may amount to the individual who manages payroll, rather than being the focus of an entire department. So if dayto-day operational activities are the company’s first priority and raft-building awaydays seem to be designed for large organisations with more money Team Role Summary Descriptions than sense, how and why should the SME handle its people issues? Find out what makes your people tick A company works most effectively when the organisation and the individuals within it are striving towards a common goal. The best way to grow your company is to promote talent and look for ways that individuals and the company can move forward together. This will ensure that your company retains talent and can use it to best advantage. Large organisations offer the kind of career ladder which some small businesses sometimes cannot, so how do you recognise and promote talent? People tend to like things they are good at doing. The first step is to identify strengths and weaknesses, so that each person is given the best chance of success. Belbin is a practical, accessible tool which gives individuals a language to talk about how they work and what they can offer. Belbin Team Roles are nine clusters of behaviour, nine distinct ways that people can contribute and interrelate with others.

Diagram 1

Each of these unique behaviours is useful in the workplace. For example, Monitor Evaluators are impartial, logical and dispassionate. Plants are original, creative problem-solvers. Shapers provide drive and momentum to keep things moving (see diagram 1). © BELBIN® 2012

22 rmbusiness.co.uk

‘BELBIN®’ is a registered trademark of BELBIN UK.

www.belbin.com

work force management

Belbin Team Role Preferences Each of us has propensities towards certain roles: some will come naturally (Preferred Roles); some may require a little effort but might be cultivated (Manageable Roles) and others may be so difficult that we avoid them altogether (Least Preferred Roles). One person doesn’t need to play all nine Team Roles: instead, it is important to play to your strengths and manage your weaknesses. If you have a Least Preferred Role of Shaper, find someone else in the team with this Preferred Role: he or she is likely to be a much more natural fit and will probably enjoy it a lot more. Of course there may be times when everyone needs to knuckle down and get the job done, people will not always be able to do the work they find most fulfilling, but the closer the match between individual and job in Team Role terms, the longer they’ll last and the better job they’ll do. Belbin reports articulate where individuals might best contribute and provide words and phrases they can use to describe their preferred working styles. For example, a Resource InvestigatorCo-ordinator is well-suited to work as a facilitator: As a small company, you have the advantage of flexibility, so use it to best effect. If your Resource Investigator-Co-ordinator doesn’t have sufficient opportunity to facilitate and network with others, make the necessary changes. Encourage people to swap work, exchange roles and be flexible about “who does what”, until you find the best fit between talent and task. In the short term, it may cause some upheaval, but in the long run, it could uncover hidden talents within the team. Help people work together No one person can cover all Team Roles, so it is crucial that individuals work together. Implementers are needed to help turn a Plant’s ideas into workable plans; Resource Investigators are required to prevent the team becoming too inward-looking; Co-ordinators, to draw efforts together and ensure that the team understands and works towards its objectives. Individuals in the team need to understand where others can contribute, so that each person can best fulfil their potential. The Team Role Circle shows the top two

Belbin Team Role contributions for each team member by showing their initials in the relevant segment of the circle. The roles are categorised into groups: Action, Social and Thinking. The Team Role Circle provides an opportunity for discussion and analysis within the team. You might want to explore where there are too many people playing one role (might there be conflict or territorial behaviour?) and where there are gaps (is anyone playing this Team Role? If not, is it required and might anyone be able to cultivate a manageable role to make up for the shortfall? Manage people according to Role Once you know how an individual best contributes and how the team fits together, ensure that people are managed appropriately so that they continue to work as effectively as possible, even if the working environment and job function change.

Team Strengths: •

so more inventive, less traditional training and development methods will be required. Once you and your team understand Belbin Team Roles, you have a valuable shorthand for everyday use; a practical lexicon to identify talent and help people work more effectively.

Use your understanding of an individual’s behaviour to find out what motivates the individual and speak to them in their language. For example, don’t rush a Monitor Evaluator: they need time to come to the right decision. Implementers like to make a plan and stick with it, so only make changes when strictly necessary.

• •

Team Weaknesses:

Specialists love learning about their subject area and have a capacity to manage their own workload. Let the Specialist identify training courses and areas for development, whilst ensuring that the subjects identified will benefit the organisation, not just the individual’s interest.

• •

By contrast, Resource Investigators are energetic and lively, flitting from one thing to the next. As such, they are unlikely to want to undertake a long, dry classroom-based course,

•

For further information please visit: www.belbin.com or call 01223 264975

Meet the Award Finalists The wait is over as the ﬁnalists of the 2013 Havering Business Awards are revealed. More than 100 companies, individuals and organisations entered the awards for categories ranging from Apprentice of the Year to Growing Business of the Year.

The finalists are:

Green Award

Swan Foundation Thames Chase Trust � Enterprise Plants Limited � �

Apprentice of the Year

Georgia Cosma, Neopost Ltd Ellie Ford, The Vanilla Room � Sasha Chauhan, Havering Mind � �

Growing Business of the Year Total Assist C&D Cleaning Services � A1 Pharmaceuticals � �

Best Small Family Business

Hamilton’s of Hornchurch Ltd Surevent Ltd � Abbey Antiques & Furnishings Ltd � �

Innovation Award

Kiss Chase Creations ADDER Digital Technology � Metro Security (GB)

Best Hospitality in Havering � � �

� �

Kidspace Romford Ltd Queen’s Theatre Spice of India

Best in the Community (Business)

Romford Shopping Hall RUBI UK Ltd � Romford Contemporary Arts Programme � �

Best in the Community (Charity)

Marketing Excellence � � �

Positive Media Acumen Design Havering Beauty Academy

New Business of the Year Anesta Broad Photography Total Site Projects Limited � Doggie Delights � �

Outlook Care The Brentwood Road Gallery � Thames Chase Trust � �

Staff Training and Development

Best Small Business

Divine Water Plumbing Heating & Electrical Ltd Heavenly � Joanne Wood Design Ltd � �

Business Person of the Year

Paul Falltrick Hairdressing New Beginnings Nurseries Ltd � Adsec Group Ltd � �

Streets Ahead �

Justin Rich, Total Assist Kerry Larcher, The Vanilla Room � Amarjit Shokar, Romford Mazda � �

�

Swan Foundation Lakehouse Contracts Ltd

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Business to Business

Robert Wittridge, RM Magazine Jason Crowe, Total Site Projects Ltd Sarah Walters, Romford Contemporary Arts Programme

� �

� � �

Customer Care

Havering Business of the Year

� �

RM Magazine RUBI UK Ltd � Sanders Solicitors

The Vanilla Room Ideal Transport Ltd t/a Ideal International � Heavenly

The Vanilla Room Pinney Talfourd LLP Solicitors � Right Choice Insurance Brokers Ltd

BOOK NOW! TEL: 01708 433602 Friday 4th October 2013 • Thames Chase www.haveringbusinessawards.co.uk 24 rmbusiness.co.uk

2013

Hosted by Rory Bremner

Book Your Ticket!

2013

Whether you are a ﬁnalist or not, all are welcome to the awards ceremony on 4th October. Tickets for the lavish event in Pike Lane, Upminster, are £80 each plus VAT and include pre-dinner drinks before you sit down to a ﬁve-course meal with wine. This is the night where careers and businesses get a fantastic boost and even if you or your business are not entering into the awards this year, it’s a great opportunity to network with like-minded people.

Evening Sponsorship Opportunities

For more details call 01708 433602 or email bookings@ haveringbusinessawards.co.uk

If you want to raise your proﬁle by being part of the Havering Business Awards organised by Havering Council there are plenty of ways to sponsor the awards ceremony without breaking the bank. Get your business name known among the many businesses represented on this great networking night for as little as £75. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of sponsoring the event at Pike Lane, Upminster, get in touch with the awards team on 01708 560056.

Sponsors include:

Organised by:

sales & marketing

Increase Sales with Social Media Optimisation You need to start caring about SMO (social media optimisation) because social networks, when used the right way, are driving traffic to websites and online stores. If you think about the traffic coming from social media, it is in essence a “referral,” meaning that they have seen someone else post about your business and have made the decision to take an action. When posting on social media, you really need to think about two things for optimisation:

Written by Warren Knight www.warrenknight.co.uk @wvrknight

Social Media Optimisation is now a very important part of how businesses should be working online. If you aren’t keeping track of your social media activity as a business, you won’t know what your online consumers want from your business.

1. How interesting, relevant and fresh your content is. 2. How easy your content is to share across all of your networks. Technology is constantly changing and will continue to change. Innovation will always be a part of our online success and you will need to make sure you are keeping up with new additions by optimising your social media. To make sure you are getting the best out of your social media you need to consider the following 3 things;

1. Working as a team - without the CEO or MD on board with the strategy along with the rest of the business hierarchy, it won’t work. You all need to work collectively as a Always remember that the team, to make sure that you are all on success of your social media the same page.

optimisation will depend on the team you have around you

2. Be patient and resourceful - It will take time to increase your sales using social media optimisation so you will need to be patient. Don’t rush your strategy until you are 100% of what you want the outcome to be.

26 rmbusiness.co.uk

Also, use all of your resources and connections to build the best social media strategy possible. 3. Focus - If you have done all the research and planning for your social media strategy, you should be confident enough to follow the plan through – making sure it has an impact. This doesn’t just happen… it takes focus. You’re social media strategy isn’t the only thing that needs focus, you must be concentrated on your business from day one otherwise everything you do from then, will fall apart. Always remember that the success of your social media optimisation will depend on the team you have around you and how they adapt to a change in technology. You will also need to make sure that you have your analytics monitored constantly and have alerts set up so that you can easily track your progress. Social Media Optimisation is crucial for your businesses success. If you want to create a great online personal through social media you need to make sure you have an optimisation strategy in place.

3 Top Ways to Promote Yourself Self promotion is a large part of getting yourself known and increasing the number of contacts that you work with. We take a look at some of the top ways and approaches for you, that will get you promoting yourself like a pro.

MOO’s NFC Business Cards

Get Signed up to LinkedIn

Be a People Person

NFC stands for Near Field Communication, where a wireless conversation is conducted between two pieces of closely held electronics. It is used in travel passes and door entry systems and is now in many phones.

Social networking sites have been around for a few years now, yet there’s always something new to discover. A great way to increase the number of contacts that you have is through social media, and with so many users (there’s half a billion on Facebook alone) you can’t afford not to get out there, and the two most common are Facebook and Twitter. Hashtags and trends allow you to join the forever growing online conversation, as well as sharing short posts/images/links.

Although it seems like an age-old tip, it cannot be beaten. Attending networking events is a great way to mingle with other business people and to get noticed. Networking may seem like a painful activity to many, however it can give you ample opportunity to meet a group of people that you could end up doing business with; it also allows you to create new social circles.

MOO have now created a business card with the same NFC technology, so when it’s touched to a smart phone, the phone follows an instruction. You can decide which instruction you would like the chip to give the phone, with the most popular being to download your portfolio, play music or a video, load a webpage, show a map linking to opening hours etc or adding and saving your contact details. Not only will the receiver of the card be absolutely amazed, you can almost guarantee that they won’t be forgetting you in a hurry!

Another site, specifically for business people is LinkedIn. This is strictly for business people that want to connect with similar people, or potential business partners. Most of the content shared is links and short posts which usually generate conversation between connections. Companies can have their own pages which people can follow and users will be updated each time something new is posted. Google+ is also a site growing in popularity amongst business people.

With so much new technology, networking events have changed over the years, and now there are so many platforms that allow you to connect with people, and once you’ve met these people, it’s time to start building relationships. Using their contact information (from the business card you should have received), you can drop them an email and reintroduce yourself, go on to build your relationship and find out more about them. Just remember to be polite and friendly, as no one wants to feel harassed into working with you. 27

commandments of E-mail-marketing Thou shall not use long subject lines You should aim to keep your subject lines short and relevant; try to stick to 40 characters, including spacing. Remember that it will be the first thing that your customers see, so it needs to entice them into opening the email. Give them a brief overview of what they can expect to read.

Thou shall keep contacts up to date It’s not unknown for people to change their contact information, and it’s your job to ensure that you’ve got it correct. There are several ways that you can keep on-top of your customer’s ever-changing details. The first is through social media; you can use this as a way of checking that their email address and postcode are still the same. Also, you can use your news letter sign-up as a way of gaining correct information.

Thou shall not bore customers The last thing a customer wants to read, is paragraph after paragraph of how you can offer great deals. Aim for 2 or 3 sentences to ensure that you keep the reader interested. When receiving these types of emails, customers usually scan through to look for key words that appeal to them, so if there is too much text, they won’t be able to do this. Once you’ve typed what you want to say, try to remove as many words as you can with the text still making sense.

Thou shall ensure emails bring value to customers One of the biggest challenges in email marketing isn’t getting people to read them; it’s getting them to read them on a regular basis. If the customer doesn’t see that there’s anything in it for them in every email, they probably won’t read them. Try adding something extra that everyone will want to read, for example, top tips or instructions. This is inexpensive yet could be seen as valuable by more customers.

Thou shall be recognisable You should try to keep a theme throughout. If your company uses catalogues as well as a website, you should keep a similar layout on both. This should also run through to your emails, so at a quick glance the recipient will recognise who it is from. Being recognisable could mean that your customers keep your emails and take the time to read them.

Thou shall not assume your email campaigns are working You need to analyse everything in great detail to find out what works and what doesn’t. You should view your opened, unopened, bounce and click through rates and analyse them. Keep records of each set of emails and compare them with the previous set. It’s okay to get it wrong - as long as you don’t make the same mistake twice.

Though shall not spam customers Despite having a great deal that you can’t wait to show your customers, you need to ensure that you’re not emailing the same customers all the time. Too many email marketing campaigns from the same company within a short period of time can reduce the likelihood of the customer opening them. Focus on each customer segment and set a weekly/ monthly limit of the amount of emails they can receive.

Thou shall work to grow one’s database You will need to work in order for your database to grow; it won’t just happen on its own. Communicate with your customers, enabling you to grow stronger relationships with them. Give them the option of receiving their invoices via email; in return you’ll receive an up-to-date email address list that can be used for marketing.

Thou shall not be impersonal Use customers’ name where it is relevant. People feel as though the email is more personal if it is directly addressed to them. Find out as much information as you can as it will always benefit you. A great way of doing this is by newsletter signups, rather than just asking for an email address, be creative. Find out the customer’s name, region that they live in, age, interests, etc. This can help you to target certain offers to certain people.

Thou shall realise email marketing is a strategy, not a tactic Be friendly with your customers; send welcome emails containing the latest products, sale items, special offers and the option to change their preferences. Have another email set up for when your customer have left products in their ‘basket’ for more than 24 hours without checking out. Rather than looking like you’re stalking them, simply ask if there was a problem with the site and give them the option to click and complete their order.

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sales & marketing

What Happened to the QR Code? The QR, or Quick Response code, resembles a square barcode seen in shops, magazines, and even business cards. So why don’t more people use them? Last year around three million people in the UK used their smart phones to scan a QR code. Pretty good going right? Well actually that is still just of 10% of users, so why are we so out of love with the poor QR code, it makes no sense. It was originally designed by Toyota back in 1994 to help track vehicles by their VIN – but it is now much more mainstream and you will struggle to find any items that do not have the small square on them somewhere, as they are able to store an amazing about of data such as a URL in the form of an image. Even marketers have said on countless occasions that QR codes are a cost-effective way to bring both the digital and physical worlds together. But because they are free and quick to generate, they are carelessly placed on just about every item, advert and medium imaginable, which has caused the public to quickly lose faith in the idea, as they are not seen to be nearly as useful and effective as they actually are. Deaglan MacFarland, digital strategic planner at Spark44, the in-house marketing agency for Jaguar agreed: “The worst examples are always when QR is deployed without thinking about consumer insights. QR coding on motorways all reveal terrible ideas they fail to put consumers at the core of digital marketing strategies.” But being the default choice is still not enough for Kat Hannaford, editor of Gizmodo: “Advertisers pay no attention to the post-scan experience. Services from Blippar is a far better example. ‘The ‘trigger’ is encoded in a picture, meaning companies don’t have to insert an ugly QR code on their advertising.”

or at a magazine advert to receive a coupon. But how would people know where to scan, what would be the trigger that marks those images special. An ugly, intrusive square full of squiggly lines? The single biggest issue with QR codes is the issue of having to use an app to scan the code. This is time consuming and clunky. A preloaded QR reader that is always on would be miles better, and all that you would need to do is point and you’d be ready to go; ready to view the content hidden within. And considering that Apple and Android made-up 87.6% of all smart phones sold last year, a pre-loaded QR reader would solve the time consuming problem. And it has been proven that the QR code can be successful – why else would huge brands like Starbucks, Google and Coca Cola would want to use them? They have just given their customer a little bit extra, not just directed them to their own website. There is a space for the QR code, and there is even space for growth. QR codes can have a positive impact by saving people time or even helping them. And perhaps the most successful use of the QR code was implemented by Tesco Home Plus in South Korea. A ‘virtual subway market’ was created in Seoul, using their WiFi access, to allow commuters to shop and scan QR codes on pictures of produce. Therefore they were able to shop without actually visiting the store, causing people to say “It was really convenient and fun!” and even “Thanks to this subway market now I can enjoy the free time after work.” The results also speak for themselves. The number of new registered members rose by 76% and online sales increased by 130%. QR codes should be used in a practical way to get the most for customers. The only limit then is your imagination when trying to get your brand image across, and who knows, you could create your own virtual subway too, and I bet you never thought you could make your virtual imagination a reality.

So the solution may be visual QR codes that are integrated into the image. Or perhaps image-matching technology that is being developed, so that when the customer points their phone at a logo they will get their website, 29

using Google+ for business Using Google+ for business may not yet be as common as using other social networking sites, but we don’t need a crystal ball to tell us that it will be. There are already thousands of businesses using Google+ all over the world, and they’ve already realised that it’s best to get in quick. It’s another way to distribute information to a different group of people, and as the main goal is to get your business out there, where better to do so than on one of the most popular search engines around? The more social media platforms that you are on, the better it is for your business; so don’t see it as a chore to learn another set of skills. Instead, think of it as your business tree growing an extra branch, an awesome branch lead generating branch. Who should use Google+? Any business that wants an online presence should be using Google+. It’s thought that the combined Google empire, is making companies that are not using Google+ less likely to show up in search results, which is why it’s best to get yourselves out there. Why should you use Google+? Face it, you have no chance competing with Google’s forever growing kingdom; you might as well comply. What do I put on Google+? • Company news • Links to your blog • Links to useful content • Images • Videos • Specific content for a specific group of people Google+ is a bit of everything really, it’s like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn all merged into one. People will follow your company because they’re interested in what you’re posting about. Keep it relevant to your business and they’ll love it. How frequently should I post? A rough outline would be about 2-3 times per day, however it depends what you want to share and who you want to share it with. Google+ uses ‘Circles’ which is where you can group people together based on a common interest or any similarity they share i.e. you could have a Circle for colleagues. When you go to post an update, you can select which Circles will see it, or you can choose to post it to everyone. Don’t be mean and leave Circles out, every one of your contacts should see a post from you at least once per day. 30 rmbusiness.co.uk

DON’T

POST BORING LINKS Okay, the idea is to get your business out there but that doesn’t mean you need to post a link from every page on your website to your Google+ account. Once they’ve seen one page they’re bound to look around, it’s much less impressive if the link they’re all excited about is something they’ve already seen. USE TOO MANY STOCK IMAGES We all love a picture, it’s a well-known fact. Plus they work wonders on your Google+ account, but when we search online and stumble across ‘your’ image, it kind of takes the shine off, you know? What we thought was a moment captured to be shared with a specific few, is in fact available for the whole world to see. Ooh the deceit. POST FOR THE SAKE OF IT If your company deals with vehicle hire, for example, this doesn’t give you an excuse to link a video of your favourite part of The Fast and The Furious. Just because there’s people in cars doesn’t make it relevant. At all. IGNORE CONVERSATION The beauty of Google+’s Circles is that each person in a Circle should have something in common with each other. If you have a Circle for technology lovers, you can share your exciting, shiny, new discovery with them. This is sure to spark a conversation, don’t ignore it! Embrace the interaction, ask questions, expand it, let it blossom into a debate, do anything but ignore it! It’s not all about sales you know Social media is all about giving your business a voice and getting it heard. Don’t just use Google+ to link to your ‘special offer’ page; use it to show some personality. Share images, videos and links that are relevant to your company. Get to know your followers, find out what they do and don’t like and get them in Circles. Then post updates that you know they will enjoy and will get them talking. Humanise your business a little, after all it is run by real people.

sales & marketing

Jargon buster Circles You can organise the people you follow on Google+ and those who follow you by grouping them into Circles. For example, you could create a family Circle, a work Circle, and a friends Circle. It’s a way to organise your followers, just like ‘lists’ on Twitter. When you publish content on Google+, you can choose which Circles to share that content with; you can share the content with everyone in all of your Circles, or make it public for anyone to see. Stream A Google+ Stream is where the updates from Google+ members in your Circles will appear. It is updated in real-time. The text box at the top of the Google+ Stream is where you can enter your own updates with people who have you in their Circles.

+1 This button is similar to the Facebook Like button. When you see the +1 button, click it to share a link to the content as an update in your Google+ Stream, the button could be on a website or a blog. Tag You can tag other Google+ users in your posts and they can tag you in theirs. To Tag someone in a post, simply add a ‘+’ or ‘@’ before their name and they will receive a notification. This is a great way to start a conversation. Messenger Originally called Huddle, Messenger allows you to turn group conversations into a group chat with your mobile.

Hangout Using Google Hangouts means that you can video chat with up to 10 other people.

Size Guide

New Government UC & RTI – Help or Hindrance? Listen up, and this is important - Universal Credits. You know, the biggest overhaul to the benefit system that the country has ever seen to be rolled out nationally in October? And the big changes look set to affect both businesses and individuals. So the real question is, how will it affect you?

The big idea behind Universal Credits (UC) involves many changes; most notably the monthly benefit payment. So what does this mean? Well, we will see: Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Child Tax Credits, Housing Benefit and Tax Credits, all replaced by one universal credit. So far so good, the name at least makes sense, but does the idea behind it?

Well UC have been introduced by the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) to provide a solution to the unemployment problem in this country. The slogan; ‘simplifying the welfare system and making sure work pays’ is supposed to counter the criticisms of the old system – where those in receipt of the benefits were accused of prolonging their payments, as they were earning much more than they would It takes into account the fluctuation of if they were working.

earnings by adjusting payments monthly that are submitted by the employer through PAYE Real Time Information submissions every time the employee receives a payment.

But now, the government hopes that the changes, commencing in October, will simplify the system as a whole and make it easier for individuals that are out of work or on a low income, to only claim the benefits that they are entitled to. In other words, the claimant will now apply online and get paid once a month, directly into their bank account. This is a stark contrast to the old system, which saw weekly or two-weekly payments, but Iain Duncan Smith has stated that “it’s much more aligned with

32 rmbusiness.co.uk

how people receive wages, so it’s preparing people for the world of work.” So although well intended, small, medium and especially the self-employed will feel the effects. And the question you are probably already asking yourself is; ‘will the changes make it more difficult to own my own business?’ Which in turn makes RM wonder whether or not the changes will deter new start-up’s altogether? After all, obvious flaws already exist, and for our money, the most obvious is the new responsibility of reporting PAYE monthly to the DWP rather than the one-off annual report that currently exists for HMRC. For the self-employed, this is a huge administrative burden, especially when they may be new and their real focus and passion lies with making their business a success, not additional boring admin and paperwork. And the new system will be stressful too, affecting an estimated eight million people. The purpose of the new timely and costly system is to reduce fraud and ensure that both businesses and employers pay tax accurately, and everyone will receive the benefits that they are entitled too. A further flaw is that losses arising in one month are not carried forward for offset against future income. For example, an entrepreneur who works as a seasonal trader could easily generate 90% of their annual income in just one month. Under the new arrangements, losses they will have built up during the preceding months will be ignored – leaving >

money matters an inaccurate jump in income that doesn’t wholly represent their business. But it is a good idea. It takes into account the fluctuation of earnings by adjusting payments monthly that are submitted by the employer through PAYE Real Time Information submissions every time the employee receives a payment. But there will be consequences for those that report incorrect data – accident or not. Extra effort will therefore have to be taken to ensure accuracy, but it has been reported that even AAT and other tax representative bodies are concerned about the new regulations, which could deter entrepreneurs from setting up a business. However, what happens if you make an incorrect calculation, apart from least of all making your employees very unhappy, as it could affect what they receive as Universal Credits. There really is no denying that there will be more paperwork – every time an employee is paid you have to report it. And every time they are paid they will be checking over it with a fine tooth comb for errors, which could cause a fractured relationship between employer and employees – another shame. So if you operate your payroll in-house, it might be an idea to encourage employees to sign off timesheets that are then checked by the admin or clerk. You could also issue dummy payslips for employees to check before you send the final RTI off to HMRC. If your payroll is done externally, perhaps work with them to see how they could ensure prompt and accurate RTI submissions. So while most people would agree that the benefit system did need to be revised and the UC system offers a solution, many are worried about what SMEs and entrepreneurs will face, not to mention the uncertainty and confusion that still remains. The best advice though is to just keep up to date on the DWP website, they will know all of the information and rules first.

‘simplifying the welfare system and making sure work pays’ Department for Work and Pensions

Robertson Milroy

Chartered Accountants & Tax Advisors • Tax Advise including Capital Gains Tax & Inheritance Tax Planning • Audit, Accountancy, VAT, Payroll etc • Personal Tax Returns • Retirement Strategies & Estate Planning • Business Start-Ups • Strategic Business Planning & Advice • Corporate Finance

Free Initial Consultation

01708 475220

mail@robertsonmilroy.com | www.robertsonmilroy.com Coopers House, 65a Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 3AT

Your 5 Step Guide to Taking Card Payments It is a competitive world out there, yet over 80% of Independent Businesses still process card transactions through their bank. Is this necessary for you? At Annecto we want to address that question today, along with several other important ones that we’ve been sent since starting out. Advice that will help when thinking about starting to take payments, or indeed switching providers. I’m looking to accept cards for the first time, what’s the best solution for me? Initially, there are two simple choices to be made. a) You need to look at whether your trade is one that expects to process the occasional card transaction, such as a plumber, or b) Whether processing card transactions will be fundamental to your business. Deciding this will set you off in the right direction. If it’s the former, then a ‘pay-as-you-go’ facility would work best for you. This is a Card Reader that links to your Smartphone and will cost you a small set up fee, typically £60 with transactions charges in the region of 2.75%, but you are not tied into any contract. If it’s the latter, and you expect to be processing hundreds of card payments a day, then you would need a Chip & Pin terminal. There are a variety of options, contracts, and prices available here which we will cover a little later. Which Bank should I choose? It’s a common misconception that you have to choose a bank to process your credit & debit card transactions and, in fact, they will encourage you to do this when opening your business account with them. In actual fact, there are a number of Independent companies out there who can probably provide you with a better value proposition and much better rates, such as Annecto. So, don’t just buy on price. Find out what service they will offer: a) Do they have one point of contact for all your questions? b) Is someone local who can be on hand to install your terminal? c) Is there is someone to assist you with your business moving forward and growing? 34 rmbusiness.co.uk

Don’t just settle for the first provider that comes along. Like buying insurance, shop around and make sure you are being looked after. How do I choose the right terminal for my business? There is a wide range of options out there, but let’s break them down into three distinct types: a) Countertop b) Portable c) Mobile The vast majority of retail businesses will need a Countertop terminal that sits by the check-out and is plugged into the power supply and telephone line. If there is only one point of sale, the till, then this is your option. Hospitality businesses such as restaurants/hotels will need a portable terminal whose base is plugged into a telephone socket whilst the actual terminal can be carried to the table – it connects to the base unit via Bluetooth, just as a cordless phone at home would. Mobile terminals can used anywhere a mobile signal exists and are ideal for deliveries, market traders or anyone who is truly mobile. This is becoming more and more prevalent as businesses change. Even now, retailers are providing staff with tablets to aid in the reduction of queuing time. Make sure that whichever terminal you chose, it can work on a standard telephone line and a Broadband line plus it can also process Contactless transactions as this will ‘future proof’ your terminal. What do I need to watch out for when choosing my supplier? Watch out for hidden fees and misleading contracts. My biggest frustrations in this industry are the hidden fees, the lack of transparency and the poor advice

given to Independent businesses. That’s one of the main reasons for setting up my own business. I saw the flaws and I wanted to change things.

cannot be ignored. There is plenty of information out there so get informed before you go down the road of taking payments. If you need advice, call us at Annecto.

I’ve seen multiple companies claim that they can fix or cap your prices for the duration of the contract, they can’t! If you read the small print in their contracts or the detail on their web site then they also state that they can’t, this is poor selling at best, miss-selling at worst. Another common complaint is to do with contract length. All banks and independent companies will ask you to sign into a contract for 24-48 months which is perfectly OK, so long as you know what you are signing into. With any standard lease or rental contract for any product you purchase, you would expect to pay up the remainder of the contract if you cancelled early. E.g. Car Lease / PCP plans or Mobile Phone Contracts. Do not sign with any company that will charge you a cancellation fee on top of the remaining rentals. Ask what happens when the contract expires, are you tied into a secondary (or rollover) period? If so, be very wary of these. What is PCI DSS? These are the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards that Visa & MasterCard mandate that any business accepting card payments has to adhere to. These are extremely important to work with and

save 30% by switching to Annecto Reduced Rates Faster Transactions Better Service

Don’t forget, ask your current / future provider to assist you in becoming compliant with these regulations, if they can’t or won’t then you may wish to consider a different supplier. I feel as though I’ve painted a picture of an industry lacking in professional advice and poor service, which is quite deliberate as sadly, that is the truth. At Annecto we are looking to become one of the founding members of a new Association made up of Card Payment Professionals, plus we are backing the campaign to provide support for Independent Retail (www.independentretail.co.uk). Please contact us if you need help or advice.

Website: www.annectouk.co.uk Email: hello@annectouk.co.uk Linkedin: AnnectoukLtd Twitter: @annectouk

It’s easy to switch, call us now on

0800 131 0049

All Annecto terminals will be set up and tested before they are delivered to you, therefore we know they already work. They will have your merchant number and details already loaded so all you have to do is to plug it in and you are ready to go.

Countertop Terminals

Mobile Terminals

Ecommerce

Portable Terminals

Contactless

Virtual Terminal

Call 0800 131 0049 Email hello@ annectouk.co.uk Online www.annectouk.co.uk

The Importance of Contracts the employee is required to do and what they’re entitled to receive. It states the company’s policies and procedures as well as the employee’s disciplinary code. Without a contract, it would be hard to take action against an employee who is not behaving in the correct manner and they would have the right to claim that the rule doesn’t exist.

Benefits

What is a contract?

A contact is an agreement between both the employee and employer and specifically states the employee’s rights, responsibilities, employment conditions and duties. These are known as the terms. The contract needs to be stuck by until the end date, unless the employee gives notice that they’re leaving or they are dismissed. The contract of employment is an integral document and failure to have one could result in the employer receiving a fine or another form of punishment. A contract regulates the terms and conditions of the employment between the employer and employee. Broken down, it explains what

The main benefit of having a contract in writing is that it gives a level of certainty. This is useful for both the employer and employee as it contains the specific terms of the agreement and can be used as evidence in any dispute. If there is ever an issue where an employee takes the employer to a tribunal stating that their employer has broken a verbal agreement, the contract can be used to back up either side. This is why employers need to write a good contract. Having a contract could also increase customer loyalty. If your customer found someone that could supply them the same goods for a cheaper price, for example, your contract could state that they have to give you a certain amount of notice or the opportunity to try to match the competitor’s price. You are likely to gain loyalty from these terms, as people ordinarily do not like change. If you can offer them the cheaper prices they won’t have to swap and can therefore keep the relationship and familiarity of your company as well as getting the cheaper prices.

legal

How NOT to write a contract:

Example:

No Headings

No Definitions Example -

A contract needs headings. Roughly 70% of contracts written lack them; which is thought to be bad business practice. It’s highly unlikely that anyone would refuse to sign a contract because of this but it doesn’t look great without. It’s hard to find specifics when there are no headings and they really don’t take up that much time.

No Definitions

If unspecific business terms are used in the contract, it’s more likely to be refused. By including the definitions in the contract, it stands a better chance of being accepted because without, the employee may feel as though they’re being ‘tricked’ by the unfamiliar jargon. Everything needs to be specified, for example, instead of saying ‘the company’ the contract should use the actual name.

Terms Not Numbered

There should be numbers included next to each term so that it is easy to read. This also makes it easier to refer to the different terms, as you can use the numbers instead of the whole paragraph. Small details like this really do make a contract more appealing as they’re simple and easily read.

No Structure or Layout

“Except as expressly permitted by Publisher in writing, all photographs with the same subject matter specified in a Work Order that Photographer creates pursuant to an opportunity obtained through that Work Order will be deemed Photographs and will be subject to the exclusivity and all other provisions of this Agreement.”

Reasoning -

This term isn’t correctly worded as there are no details as to what some of the words mean. The word ‘opportunity’ is vague. As well as similars and seconds being covered by the client’s exclusive rights, so are any photographs containing the same subject, regardless of whether they’re created independently.

Alternative -

A better way of wording this term would be “Except as expressly permitted by Publisher in writing, all photographs with the same subject matter specified in a work order that Photographer creates while working on the assignment obtained through that work order will be deemed Photographs and will be subject to the exclusivity and all other provisions of this agreement.” Using roughly the same amount of words, everything is explained clearly.

For those who do include titles or headings, they hardly ever make them bold or pay attention to the structure or layout at all. This is why most people find it a chore to read a legal document; there’s no focus on presentation. Terms should be stated to-the-point and then exactly what the employee can and cannot do should follow in a brief yet detailed explanation. A contract should avoid any complex paragraphs as they’re likely to confuse the employer, let alone the employee.

failure to have one could result in the employer receiving a fine or another form of punishment

Symons & Gay

LLP Solicitors

01708 744211

www.symons-gay.co.uk | office@symons-gay.co.uk

Symons & Gay LLP was founded in 1911 and has been in business in South Street Romford ever since. Symons & Gay have an experienced team of Solicitors and support staff offering different areas of legal expertise, including Domestic & Commercial Conveyancing, Wills, Probate, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Deputyship, Litigation, Landlord & Tenant, Employment and Family Law. The firm provide Legal Aid where applicable. Symons & Gay feel their success is due to them being a friendly and approachable firm. We like to think that clients will receive professional advice but in a relaxed manner. The firm have Lexcel, the Law Society’s quality accreditation along with CQS, the Law Society’s conveyancing quality scheme. The firm offer a home or hospital visit for those unable to get to the office. We also provide a free 30 minute no obligation consultation.

Sustaining Business Sustaining Communities Small businesses aren’t just based in the community; they are a fundamental part of that community. Businesses and communities are intrinsically linked and impactful on each other. At a very basic level, if your business isn’t making a profit and you haven’t got money in your pocket, you’ll spend less cash locally. It also means you are unlikely to take on any new employees and you might even have to make people redundant. Conversely, if your local community isn’t flourishing people have less money to spend in your business, staff might be stressed and less productive and business crime could become an increasing issue. If like many other small business owners you also live in the same or an adjacent area, these reciprocal impacts are multiplied significantly.

When I first broached the subject the owner said, “No, I don’t really do anything to support my local community.” But with a little bit of digging, I discovered that a) he serviced the local boys club mini coach free of charge, including providing a free recovery service if they broke down; and b) for years he has been offering work experience to youngsters that had been excluded from mainstream school and several of them became employees; in fact, his number two was one of those lads! Plus, of course, he frequently provided raffle prizes or contributed to local charity collections. He had a small waiting area for people to collect their vehicles and I suggested he featured pictures and information about these activities; customers would love it and he should be proud of what he is doing. Businesses talking about their community engagement activities will encourage others to get involved; and I strongly believe if you are doing good you should gain commercial benefits for doing so. The caveat of course is always, always be authentic. So are you doing anything to support your local community? Do you have a strategic approach? Are you involving your staff? Are you sharing details about your community activities with your customers and potential customers?

We all know there are problems in society and most of us will have views on the cause and who is to blame. But blame isn’t going to cure the problem. We need to look forward and take action ourselves; if business and community work together they can both benefit. “In terms of power and influence you can forget about the church, forget politics. There is no more powerful institution in society than business... The business of business should not be about money, it should be about responsibility. It should be about public good, not private greed.” Anita Roddick The Body Shop grew to be a very large organisation, but it started as a small business with those ethics. And however small we are we can make a difference. Over 3 million businesses in the UK are sole proprietors. Even small actions multiplied by 3 million create big impact! What never ceases to amaze me is the number of small businesses that do have some level of engagement but aren’t even aware of how much they are really doing. In other words, they don’t adopt a strategic approach. My favourite example is a vehicle repairer in Basildon.

There isn’t a one-size-fits all suggestion of what you should be doing. It will vary according to the size, nature and capacities within your business. But the options are huge: fundraising, volunteering, mentoring, pro-bono work, using local suppliers, supporting charity black tie events, employing an apprentice, offering work experience and much more. If you get involved you’ll be making a difference, you’ll feel good – and if you have staff these activities are great for staff engagement and morale boosting. The Organisation for Responsible Businesses, in partnership with Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Southend Voluntary Association and several business groups are launching a Business and Community Charter which will award businesses on a rolling basis for their community activities. The project will be launched nationwide in conjunction with local councils. If you would like more information, please contact Jill Poet on 01702 468387.

Jill Poet managing director of the Organisation for Responsible Businesses (ORB) www.orbuk.org.uk www.ResponsibleBusinessStandard.org.uk

business for the soul

What Makes a

? s s o B Good

Firm but Fair

Approachable

A scary boss is firm, a nice boss is fair but a great boss is both. A business needs someone who sets rules, but at the same time treats everyone fairly. If everyone had a boss that they could walk all over, the business just wouldn’t work as there would be no sense of authority. On the other hand, if a boss was unfair towards employees, this wouldn’t be acceptable. This is why the two go perfectly with each other; you need someone who has no problem leading, yet treats everyone fairly.

Most employees would want their boss to be approachable; all communication between the boss and employees should be regular and encouraged by the boss. An approachable boss tends to leave their office door open, and removes any barriers that employees feel that there may be. A good boss would be willing to discuss any problems with employees without the situation being uncomfortable. Bosses should work on building relationships with their staff and finding out what they’re all about, without being too personal.

Tolerant

Motivational

Leads by Example

A good boss needs tolerance; no one wants to see the newbie getting shouted at by the boss for not knowing how many times to knock before entering the their office. A good boss should be kind and empathetic towards their staff and genuinely care about their welfare. A tolerant boss would understand that some tasks may take a while for some people to pick up, whereas for others it may take minutes, allowing employees to learn from their mistakes, without being screamed at or made to feel sub-standard.

Your boss should be motivational; they should want to see you succeed and offer you opportunities in order for you to do so. A motivational boss will regularly remind staff of the company’s goals and aims, as well as personal ones. Each employee should have their own aims, and their boss should encourage them to achieve them. Your boss should want to see you just as good at your job as they are at theirs, and provide positive feedback with suggestions to improve, that’s if there are any!

Even though the boss is in charge, a good boss would lead by example. Some believe that there’s no better way for a boss to show employees the correct way to work than by working this way themselves. Just as a boss shouldn’t treat employees any different and rules should apply to all; a good, fair boss would also comply with these rules.

Open to opinion? Maybe. But there is also a solid list that is shared by all employees, which outlines their bosses’ top traits. We decided to take a look at the top 5, and look at why they make someone a good boss…

car review

This month’s car news

ULTRA LOW INSURANCE CONFIRMED FOR MG3 The new MG3 has been awarded Group 4E insurance rating – making it one the cheapest superminis around. This is good news for new drivers, and with prices starting from £8, 399 they won’t be the only ones driving away happy.

BMW EXTENDS PRESENCE ON eBAY INTO AFTERSALES MARKET Marking two years of partnership with eBay, BMW is now driving change in the aftersales market with the launch of a Value Service page, making it even easier for customers to find good value and excellent service with BMW Dealers.

For more information visit www.RMbusiness.co.uk

40 rmbusiness.co.uk

SIMON CLARIDGE AND ALFA ROMEO CREATE UNIQUE ‘DESIGNER PARKING SPACES’ IN OXFORD ST Artist Simon Claridge and Alfa Romeo, have teamed up to create DEALERS SAY 38% OF CUSTOMERS ASK ABOUT CO2 EMISSIONS London’s most stylish parking spaces of icons from Kate Moss to Dealers are reporting a rise in the number of consumers asking them James Dean. Anyone that parks there will receive a 50% discount for CO2 information as part of the used car buying process, according on their parking charge at Q Parks. to the latest survey from vehicle information expert, .

UK AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING CONTINES GROWTH TREND DEALERS SAY 38% OF CUSTOMERS ASK ABOUT CO2 EMISSIONS UK car manufacturing is up 7% on last year, with home market Dealers are reporting a rise in the number of consumers asking them demand up 37.5% in a month – in time to support new plate for CO2 information as part of the used car buying process, according change in September. to the latest survey from vehicle information expert, .

thurrock Chambers hr force

lifestyle

Exporting made easier A major part of Essex Chambers’ work on behalf of businesses is in processing documentation for exporting.

With the UK’s economy growing only slowly and the Eurozone economies remaining in the doldrums, exporting to the rest of the world is something that companies are looking at with interest.

The growth in International Trade over the past decade has led to an increase in both the demand for Trade Finance and in the degree of sophistication with which it is delivered by an increasing array of banks and financiers.

However, the thought of doing so and knowing how to complete the right documentation is something that is potentially off-putting to any business thinking of going down the exporting path. Help is at hand though from the Chambers, through the wide range of training courses, they run for both novice and experienced exporters.

Trade Finance often has a kind of mystic wrapped around it, and it’s certainly misunderstood by bankers, financiers and their clients, and this course will attempt to demystify the whole area of Trade Finance by using a number of practical exercises and case studies helping to explain the solutions in an easily understood manner.

One such course is “An introduction to export operations” being held in the autumn at the Chambers’ offices in Colchester. This is an entry level course designed to provide an overview of the Terminology, Procedures and Documentation used in the exporting process and to promote awareness of the responsibilities and obligations of all parties.

There has never been a greater appetite within the financial sector to support International Trade, but customers need to understand how to exploit that appetite. This course will help importers and exporters understand which facilities will meet their needs and how to negotiate with their banks to obtain potentially larger facilities and reduced lending margins.

Attendees should gain an overview of the exporting process from first enquiry to arrival of the goods at destination and the course will highlight the possible pitfalls that can await the unwary. This seminar is designed for those new to the problems of exporting and for experienced exporters who need to update their knowledge. No prior knowledge of exporting is assumed. It is suitable for staff from both small and larger companies involved in shipping/dispatch, sales and customer service staff, finance and accounts staff, junior and senior management, freight forwards and trainees at all levels.

These are just two of the courses run by the Chambers each year to help work your way through the potential minefield of exporting. To find out more about them or book a place on them contact the Chambers’ International Trade Manager, Debbie Joyce, on 01206 765277 or email debbiejoyce@essexchambers.co.uk Full details of all courses and Chambers events can be found at www.essexchambers.co.uk

Help us stamp out dodgy traders and protect your business by signing up to our Buy with Confidence scheme Councillor Michael White, Leader of the Council for London Borough of Havering The saying, ‘one bad apple spoils the barrel’ might sound obvious, but unscrupulous companies who go on to rip off hard-working residents make it hard for honest businesses to trade in what is an already tough climate says Leader of Havering Council, Councillor Michael White. We are rightly proud of the diversity of the local businesses in the borough. But where the majority ply an honest trade, a small minority try to get away with making money by unscrupulous means, ripping off hard-working residents and making a tricky financial environment even more difficult for shops and companies who play by the rules. Well no more. We’re asking business owners in the borough to join forces with us and help the Council take on dodgy businesses by signing up to the Council’s Buy with Confidence scheme. This nationwide programme is open to all traders and vets applicants from a set of strict criteria with signed up members going on to gain independent accreditation. And in such uncertain times, such a positive mark of approval from a reputable source such as the Council can only be a boom for business. To be approved, traders have to demonstrate to the Council that they are able to follow a set of guidelines put in place to further strengthen consumer protection. Guidelines include: • • • •

Complying with relevant consumer protection legislation Ensuring all staff are properly trained for work Responding promptly and correctly to all customer complaints Getting CRB checks for all staff which carry out work in people’s homes.

42 rmbusiness.co.uk

So how will signing up to the Buy with Confidence scheme help your business? •

Approved members will get independent, and most importantly, reputable recognition of your high business standards

•

A certificate of membership that can be displayed on business premises

•

Use of the Buy With Confidence logo on premises, vehicles, documentation, products, and advertising

•

Increased consumer confidence

•

A stronger relationship with regulators based on assistance and advice

•

A named contact for your business within Havering Council’s Trading Standards team

•

A mediation service in the event of a consumer dispute which cannot be resolved between the parties concerned

•

Training opportunities

For more information about the Buy with Confidence scheme contact the Council on 01708 433484 or visit the website http://bit.ly/15iQB7Q

in the borough

women in business Firstly, I want to say huge congratulations to all of he Finalists in the Havering Business Awards. What a great evening you will have on the 4th October at the Gala Dinner at Thames Chase.

(or connected to on LinkedIn or Facebook). They may be getting them managed professionally, or they may just be getting useful information from their blogs etc. Either way, it won’t hurt for you to follow them too! Ask other businesses for recommendations; they may be able to point you in the direction of a social media star that you may not have otherwise found.

For those of you that sadly were unsuccessful, please don’t be dis-heartened. Call Claire, on 01708 560056 for feedback on your entry, and look at the experience as a learning curve. Follow a varied selection, read their blogs, Come back stronger next year and I’ll be there like their Facebook page, observe and really to support you! get to know them. Moving on to this month’s topic. Have you noticed that suddenly, the world is full of Business mentors, Coaches, Strategists and Social Media consultants? Is it something you are considering to help promote your company? Well there is no doubt that Social Media is here to stay, but is it for you and your business?

Assess their information. Is it useful or just a sales pitch? Start a dialogue with them and see if you are comfortable with them. Consider if you are getting anything useful out of the relationship.

Business on 11th September 2013 at 5.30pm, a FREE event I hold regularly at Havering College of Further and Higher Education and let’s learn together. Carla Marasek, a Social Media Consultant at Bee Spotted is our guest speaker. Carla will be sharing tips and tricks on how best to maximise your social media presence and discussing the all-important question, is Social Media worth investing time in and does it work? Please feel free to bring along friends or colleagues who you feel may also benefit from this evening. There will be an opportunity for you to network and share a light buffet. Book your place ASAP as there are limited spaces available! Please call 01708 432047 or email Katrina.gilbert@havering.gov.uk

Think about how else you promote your business, how you currently advertise and think It’s difficult to decide, so here are a few ideas about social media as part of a mix that is to help you on the journey. Firstly, look to see complementary to your current marketing plan. Yvonne Bendall what your competitors are doing with social Business Development Officer media, and more importantly, look at the social Never used Social media? Then I have a great London Borough of Havering media people that they are following on twitter opportunity for you. Come along to Women in 01708 432871/07908751749

Infant Explosion Councillor Ron Ower

The huge explosion of Infant children requiring education has not passed Havering by. High numbers of parents have requested places for their children this September, and this has led Havering Council in Upminster to build a large extension on Branfil School, Cedar Avenue. The extension replaces the terribly dilapidated infant building that should have been replaced years ago. Whilst here we fully agree that the buildings needed to be urgently replaced, my local Resident Councilor colleagues and I are concerned that many children that live more than a mile away have been offered

minster

Branfil School, Up

a place at Branfil, thus bringing in more cars to an already busy area. In addition to the above, Havering Council plan to spend more than £1.2 million on providing extra class rooms at 12 primary schools for the provision of 17 “bulge “ classes both in Reception year and in other year groups. The Council has said that Bulge classes are a temporary expansion, normally by a single class in one or more year groups, which will not necessarily lead to a permanent expansion. We will wait and see. Clearly Havering has a great name for Education.

THE RM BUSINESS GUIDE to

NETWORKING

Written by Barry Hicks Since the last editorial a lot has happened. There are many more events to choose from, and belonging to so many groups and networking clubs is great because you have a broad base to cover and the events give you the opportunity to meet many different people, people that you may do business with in the future. The hard part is prioritising which ones to go to with the hope that the events you miss out on will not be detrimental to any future possible business. I think if it is right for you and your business, I would suggest that you focus on business networking clubs where the members pass referrals to each other every week. Some are very good at this, but it depends on what sort of business you are running and whether this will generate much new work. In my opinion these groups are good for certain types of businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, however if you are a specialist business that not everyone will require, I would think carefully before joining such a group because you may not be able to offer the referrals to other members or receive sufficient leads to make it worthwhile. There is always the exception to the rule but experience will determine what path you take, which depends on your personality, your product or service you offer and your ability to meet customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations. If you have any networking news or involved in organising a network group or event in the coming months please email me the details for consideration to be included on these pages.

44 rmbusiness.co.uk

This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s featured event is the RM Business Networking Evening on Tuesday 30th July, held at the Vertigo Lounge, Hornchurch. The RM Team arrived at 4.00pm to prepare for the event which was due to start at 6.00pm. Registrants started to arrive at 5.30pm and continued to stream in. Everyone was greeted by the RM team with a RM Name Badge, which entitled them to gain entry to the venue. By about 6.20pm the downstairs was packed and the RM Team moved the first 40 registrants to the second floor for the presentations. I had the pleasure of being MC for the evening, and after a brief introduction welcomed our first speaker Simon Fordham of Biz Guru who gave a talk on Motivation in Business and how we can motivate ourselves. This was then followed by Amber Sudbury of Positive Media who gave a very succinct and snappy presentation on Social Media. After these short presentations, the second floor group were ushered to the top floor for drinks, food and networking. These presentations were then repeated for the next group before they joined the others for networking... I am sure everyone gained something from the presentations. We had about 100 people attend on the evening, and for our first networking event was pleased with the atmosphere and the registrants who attended.

It was great to see the Leader of Havering Council, Michael White and Yvonne Bendall of LBH Regeneration, in attendance. I also spoke to Sharon Saunders of the Essex Chamber of Commerce, plus a few executive members of the Havering Chamber of Commerce, and many other well known local business owners and companies. Everyone stayed longer than expected, and on leaving were presented with the latest RM Magazines in their goody bags. The aim of the evening was to demonstrate on how ahead of the competition we are, and how much we can give back to our advertisers and readers, bringing together all of the businesses that support us for networking opportunities. A vote of thanks must go to Darren and Vernon and their staff at the Vertigo Lounge for providing the hospitality. Also a mention for John and Alan of Fox Tailoring for providing the men suits mannequins which were on different floors. And lastly thanks must go to the RM Team and to the registrants for making the effort to attend and making it such an enjoyable networking event. We at RM are looking forward to our next event. Do not miss it!

whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Tuesday 3rd September

Friday 6th September

Essex Business Network

Southend, Park Inn Palace Hotel - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Brentwood Chamber of Commerce

Breakfast Meeting Marygreen Manor, 7.45am www.brentwoodchambers.co.uk/events.php

Chelmsford Golf Club - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Havering Chamber of Commerce Queens Theatre, Hornchurch - 7.30am www.haveringbusiness.co.uk

Essex Business Network Essex Business Club

Moulsham Mill, Chelmsford - 7.30pm www.essexbusinessclub.org.uk

Wednesday 4th September Essex Business Network

Witham, White Hart Hotel - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Biscotti Brentwood

Marygreen Manor, Brentwood - 10am www.businessbiscotti.co.uk/essex/brentwood. html

Redbridge College - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

sunday 8th September

Select Networking

Ninja Networking

Chelmsford Golf Club - 7am www.select-network.co.uk/our-group

Eppnet Business Networking

The Bell Epping - 7.15am www.eppnet.co.uk Contact Tom Arnold 07971962617

Thursday 5th September Nexus Network Group

Meet De Rougemont Manor - 6.30am www.nexusnetworking.co.uk/index.php

Essex Business Forum Brentwood Meet Warley Park Golf Club - 6.30am www.essexbusinessforum.com

BNI Barking & Dagenham College

Integrity Chapter - 6.45am Stephen Webb contact 01708855125 Saftey Assured Ltd

Essex Business Network

Basildon -Campanile Hotel - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Brentwood Networking Group Old Brentwood Ashwells Road - 8am Contact, Colin Kirby 07717855435

Essex Business Network

Brentwood Marygreen Manor - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

64 Wharf Road Chelmsford, Essex 12pm

Tuesday 10th September Essex Business Network

Southend, Park Inn Palace Hotel - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Wednesday 11th September

BNI Barking & Dagenham College Integrity Chapter - 6.45am Stephen Webb contact 01708855125

The Business Cafe

The Barn Brasserie, Great Tey - 6.45am www.businesscafe.biz

Essex Business Network

Basildon - Campanile Hotel - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Brentwood Networking Group Old Brentwood Ashwells Road - 8am Contact, Colin Kirby 07717855435

Essex Business Network

Brentwood, Marygreen Manor - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Friday 13th September Essex Business Network

Chelmsford Golf Club - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Essex Business Network

Witham, White Hart Hotel - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Monday 16th September Ebang

Select Networking

Chelmsford Golf Club - 7am www.select-network.co.uk/our-group

Meet Haywain Beefeater Conference Rooms 3.45pm www.businessadvisoressex.co.uk

Essex Business Network

Tuesday 17th September 2013

Redbridge College - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Eppnet Business Networking

The Bell Epping - 7.15am www.eppnet.co.uk Contact Tom Arnold 07971962617

Thursday 12th September Nexus Network Group

Meet De Rougemont Manor - 6.30am www.nexusnetworking.co.uk/index.php

Essex Business Network

Southend, Park Inn Palace Hotel - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Wednesday 18th September Select Networking

Chelmsford Golf Club - 7am www.select-network.co.uk/our-group

Essex Business Network

Redbridge College - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Essex Business Forum Brentwood Meet Warley Park Golf Club - 6.30am www.essexbusinessforum.com

whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Eppnet Business Networking

The Bell Epping - 7.15am www.eppnet.co.uk Contact. Tom Arnold 07971962617

Thursday 19th September Nexus Network Group

De Rougemont Manor - 6.30am www.nexusnetworking.co.uk/index.php

Essex Business Forum Brentwood Warley Park Golf Club - 6.30am www.essexbusinessforum.com

BNI Barking & Dagenham College 6.45am Stephen Webb contact 01708855125

Essex Business Network

Basildon -Campanile Hotel - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Brentwood Networking Group Old Brentwood Ashwells Road - 8am Contact, Colin Kirby 07717855435

Essex Business Network

Brentwood, Marygreen Manor - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

London Borough of Havering & HCCI Harefield Manor Romford - 5.30pm www.haveringbusiness.co.uk

Friday 20th September Essex Business Network

Chelmsford Golf Club - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Essex Business Network

Witham, White Hart Hotel - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Tuesday 24th September Essex Business Network

Southend, Park Inn Palace Hotel - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Old Brentwood Ashwells Road - 8am Contact, Colin Kirby 07717855435

Essex Business Network

Southend Peers Breakfast

Brentwood, Marygreen Manor - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Wednesday 25th September

London Borough of Havering Leaders meeting in conjunction with HCCI

Park View, Chalkwell Park - 7.30am www.networking-on-sea.co.uk/mtgs

Select Networking

Chelmsford Golf Club - 7am www.select-network.co.uk/our-group

Essex Business Network Redbridge College - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Eppnet Business Networking

The Bell Epping - 7.15am www.eppnet.co.uk Contact Tom Arnold 07971962617

Thursday 26th September Nexus Network Group

De Rougemont Manor - 6.30am www.nexusnetworking.co.uk/index.php

Essex Business Forum Brentwood Meet Warley Park Golf Club - 6.30am www.essexbusinessforum.com

BNI Barking & Dagenham College 6.45am Stephen Webb contact 01708855125

The Business Cafe

The Barn Brasserie, Great Tey - 6.45am www.businesscafe.biz

Essex Business Network

Basildon - Campanile Hotel - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

*For up-to-date information please visit www.rmbusiness.co.uk

46 rmbusiness.co.uk

Brentwood Networking Group

Harefield Manor Hotel, Romford - 5.30pm www.havering.gov.uk/Pages/index.aspx

Barking & Dagenham Chamber of Commerce

Big Yellow Self Storage Company Barking - 6pm www.bdchamber.co.uk

Friday 27th September Essex Business Network

Chelmsford Golf Club - 7am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Essex Business Network

Witham, White Hart Hotel - 8am www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

Monday 30th september Business Growth Show Victoria

Westminster London - 9am - 3pm www.thebusinessgrowthshow.com/event

Modern Day

Hepburn lifestyle

TOP £45

BELT £9.50 JUMPER £35.00 AUTOGRAPH SKIRT £49.50

BAG £39.50

48 rmbusiness.co.uk

YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO CREATE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION Especially for that all-important first interview for the job that you have always wanted, or when meeting a new client to promote your products and services.

If you are starting your first job after leaving school, college or university, it is vital to ‘ look the part’ and to have an outfit that is easily maintainable and durable.

Every time we meet someone for the first time, we create an impression in the first 30 seconds, good or bad. Our intention is to make it good.

Bear in mind...YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Help, you cry out. ‘Where’s mum and dad,’ is the normal cry for help. Need not worry, help is at hand. Call The Fox Tailoring Helpline, 01708 438761 or email john@foxtailoring.com.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

• • • • • •

Is it the suit we are wearing? Is it how our hair is styled? Our handshake? How we speak? Our teeth and fingernails? Our shoes?

HOW DOES THE BUSINESS START UP WARDROBE WORK? We have 3 package options. PACKAGE ONE.

It is the overall package, ie everything that is mentioned above. Some of these are down to the individual, and the others FOX TAILORING can help with. How?

THE FOX TAILORING BUSINESS START UP WARDROBE. We appreciate that if you have to wear a suit/ jacket and trousers for business, economically its not always possible to have 3 - 5 outfits in your wardrobe....YET. We also appreciate that to have just one outfit is not enough. By the end of the week it would look shabby and creased, you would not feel good and certainly would not look good.

A 2 piece Ready to Wear wool suit, in either Black, Navy or Grey plus 3 cotton shirts and 3 silk ties, all coordinated: £375. (RRP £500) PACKAGE TWO. A 2 piece Made to Measure wool rich suit. Select from over 80 fabrics plus 3 cotton shirts and 3 silk ties, all coordinated: £499 (RRP £700). PACKAGE THREE. A 2 piece Made to Measure pure wool suit in a durable hardwearing fabric. Select from 100 fabrics plus 3 cotton shirts and 3 silk ties, all coordinated: £599 (RRP £845) We know that one outfit is not enough and we have already stated that. We therefore offer advice on how to get the best out of your garments, how to look after them and monitor the wear and tear, whilst making additions to your wardrobe as time goes by so that everything works well together and has longevity. Basically, Fox Tailoring can be your ‘Clothing Doctor’. Investing in your wardrobe is investing in your future. Presentations can be arranged either at Corporate Organisations, Exhibitions, Schools, Colleges, and Universities. Alternatively if you are an employer and have employees that need grooming help and advice, then individual consultations can be arranged.

Essential Upgrades: Operating Systems

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September is here, marking a fresh start for many and a fresh war between Windows 8.1 and the OS X Mavericks from Apple. So if you’re in the market for a shiny new laptop, then you’re going to want to ensure that your brand new operating

system can maximise productivity and even more importantly, save face in front of your colleges. So, to ensure that you make the right choice with your money, we have complied a comprehensive guide of all of the latest operating systems.

OS X MAVERICKS:

Apple has classified their Maverick software as ‘the next iteration of its desktop software.’ Indeed, the world’s largest technology company has unveiled a total overhaul of their operating systems – a potentially dangerous move considering how, to date, they have remained both the customer and the critics’ choice. But those with their technological ears firmly to the ground this year will have heard the news about the new iOS7 software for the iphone and ipad. In particular the brutal comparisons to Andriod. So are Apple’s slick new designs old hat? Well the new maverick operating system does add numerous new features, some of which are borrowed from Apple’s iOS look and feel, such as the new Maps, iBook app and an improved Finder tab. So far so similar. So what’s different? Among the highlights includes better support for multiple displays. So if you’re busy at work or at home and want to open more than one monitor to really get to work, then

50 rmbusiness.co.uk

you’ll rejoice in the fact that you can now get your menu bar and dock up on all of your screens. You can also open an app and have it working in full screen mode and still use the other monitor. If you are the proud owner of both an Apple TV and an HDTV that link to each other – you now have the power to turn the TV into a working display, complete with menu bar and dock. Or in the words of Apple, when you drag windows and full screen apps, you ‘supercharge’ your displays. So while it is evident that it has been influenced by the iOS7, it won’t have the same ‘flat’ look. But it will have the hugely popular app, Linkedin built in. Indeed Linkedin have confirmed that it will be integrated throughout OS X Mavericks. So from the release date, you will be able to update your profile picture from iphoto, use safari to share to Linkedin and see all of your notifications in the notification centre, meaning that you’ll soon be able to network effectively from the comfort of your office chair.

{

techonology

Windows 8.1

Windows 8 was undoubtedly modern, connecting business people with customers and clients all over the world. So why does it need updating? The new Windows 8.1 software brings new manageability, mobility, security, networking capabilities and overall, a whole new experience. The main focus of the update is to allow the forever-growing group of tablet users a powerful yet modern operating system. Some of the features of Windows 8 have been renewed and others have been created. So what exactly is this new business focused upgrade offering and why is it so essential? NFC Tap-to-pair Printing allows a user of a Windows 8.1 to simply touch their device onto an NFC-enabled printer and the two will be paired. This saves spending annoyingly unnecessary time searching for the correct printer. The best thing is that you don’t need to specifically go out and buy a whole new printer; simply attaching an NFC tag to your existing one will enable this feature.

The devices at the Windows 8 launch were embedded with radios that were separate components within the devices. Once upgrading to Windows 8.1, you will receive increased power savings and longer battery life, as well as it supporting embedded wireless radio. With the new Windows 8.1 update, there are more ways to view different apps on the screen at once. You can resize app windows, share a screen between two apps or have up to 3 apps on each monitor. This is perfect for when you just can’t decide which app to choose between.

Avant Browser So what exactly does Avant have to offer? The Avant Browser Build 110 has ‘Video Sniffer’ technology and yes, the feature is just as exciting as the name! The browser can detect videos in the content of the webpage that you are browsing and allow you to download them with just one click. So no, there’s no actual sniffing of videos, but the ability to watch and share them over and over again.

Although Avant is less popular to us among the long list of browsers, the Build 110 download is definite must. A browser that claims to be ‘ultra-fast’, ‘reliable’ and ‘user-friendly’ is surely worth a try? With several new versions of the browser being released in just the first 7/8 months of the year, you can guarantee that it will always keep you up-to-date with some of the most brilliant and unique features.

Accurate clicks can be annoying for those with a large screen. Mouse Gestures enables you ‘draw’ the command on the screen, meaning there’s no need to waste time hovering perfectly over the exact place you need to click. Some may say this is lazy, but we say they need to try working on a large screen! Avant Browser also promises to block pop-ups and ads, protect and memorise passwords and ‘Online Bookmarks’ allows users to access their Bookmarks anywhere: at home, at work, even in an internet café. This browser isn’t currently compatible with iOS. 51

RM Business Networking Event On the evening of 30th July we decided to finally take the plunge and host our very first networking event. And why not? After all, we had spent weeks prepping and polishing, and more time than we would care to admit composing the email invite list through people we had met networking – proving that yes folks, it does work! But then again so does good old-fashioned advertising, and as we arrived at the venue unfashionably early, we saw the groups of attendees full of new faces starting to arrive too, providing a new experience for us all. Luckily our nerves didn’t show, mainly because we had a good team on our side, which as we all know, is the foundation to any kind of business success. For starters; Darren and the rest of the lovely people at Vertigo Lounge had kindly opened just for us on their day off. This provided one of the most unique venues for a networking event that we can think of. If you haven’t been to Vertigo Lounge yourself yet, why not? It’s the unique, chic bar, and café, situated right in the heart of Hornchurch. But even more than the striking modern exterior and miles of glass windows is the fact it is set over three floors, and each has a different theme – great for a night out but perfect for a networking event. The ground floor bar area made sense to be the hub where everyone could ‘mingle like they were single’ – Which was surprisingly effortless for everyone there, maybe helped by the fact this was also the same floor as the bar?

‘...we arrived at the venue unfashionably early, we saw the groups of attendees full of new faces starting to arrive too, providing a new experience for us all.’

52 rmbusiness.co.uk

The middle floor was the platform for our guest speakers. Barry Hicks played host, and rightly so. You may recognise him from RM Business Magazine, as he is our networking guide. First up was our magazine’s Business Guru, Simon Fordham. He spoke confidently about business motivation, and why some people are just more successful than others, despite many people having good ideas. The references throughout, ranging from Maslow to Homer Simpson kept everyone inspired and motivated. The perfect mood for our very own editor, Amber Sudbury’s presentation about social media and creating your story. Your good ideas need to be translated to other people effectively for them to become great ideas. Plus she artfully explained the importance of social media to market your business. >

And Vertigo Lounge also saw this as the perfect opportunity to showcase tasters of their latest business menu, with their savoury dishes and particularly the prawn wrap enjoyed by all. So after we were all a little more informed we all went back downstairs to finish off the social evening. Yes, it was a networking event, but the relaxed atmosphere of Vertigo and the cocktails allowed everyone the opportunity to talk to people they never normally would, ranging from Councillor White, members of Natwest Bank, Mercedes Benz and new faces such as Re-Chic Boutique. RM believe this is what networking should be all about – a friendly atmosphere creating natural conversation and good business links. Everyone can always grow a little bit bigger and be a little bit more successful, but you need to know who to talk and where to go to be truly successful and actually happy. It’s the most basic formula, and speaking of which, wasn’t it Maslow again who said to achieve the ultimate self-actualisation you need to be truly fulfilled – so look out for the next RM event and go out there and network, you don’t know your own potential.