IN ASSOCIATION WITH HARLOW & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
o6 FLEXIBILITY
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change” Albert Einstein
REAL STORIES ABOUT REAL PEOPLE IN BUSINESS
ISSUE 06 JUNE 2018
Stories H D C C
No ads. No clutter.
Harlow Stories Magazine is created by Magnificent Stuff www.magnificentstuff.net
Issue o6
Hello This issue is themed FLEXIBILITY (and that’s not simply because we have a piece on the brilliant ‘Bounce’ ladies). Being flexible in business has always been important but is likely to become progressively more so in the next couple of years. The shadow of BREXIT looms large with no one –
“There are times when I am so unlike myself that I might be taken for someone else of an entirely opposite character.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Stories
June 2018
the Powers that Be included – seeming to have an inkling as to the terms of the departure. For those of us who trade abroad these are uncertain times. GDPR has come and gone (thankfully!) – and hopefully we won’t be mentioning it in this publication again! But it raises interesting opportunities in marketing terms. With ‘opt-in’ e-mails averaging a c.10% return, many companies who relied on this form of marketing to generate leads will need
Produced with thanks to: Magnificent Stuff Content & Production www.magnificentstuff.net
to find other methods. Social media becomes evermore important, as do more traditional methods of marketing. So, we’re clear that we need to be flexible moving forward. But to be frank, haven’t we always been? Harlow has a great history of proud and successful businesses, and the continued growth of the Town and the remarkable developments due in the next few years, are sure to see the influx and
MW Studio Design & Layout www.mwstudio.uk BMS Mailing & Fulfilment www.bestmailing.co.uk
growth of a good deal more. Bring it on, we say – and if we at Harlow Stories and the Chamber of Commerce can help in developing and documenting those businesses,
With thanks to Harlow Council for their help with this issue.
then that would be magnificent too. We’re very flexible!! As always we love to receive feedback from readers and any ideas and suggestions to help us spread the Stories messages are gratefully received!
We hope you enjoy Emma, & Steve from Magnificent Stuff Story telling marketers
07834 760627 @harlowstories
@harlowstories
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HDCC Noticeboard
Welcome Welcome to the June edition of the Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce magazine. As you read this we are either currently at the 9th Harlow Business Exhibition or we recently exhibited there. Thanks to everyone who has come along to our meetings this year. We have had a variety of speakers talking about different aspects of the town. The next 3 meetings in June, July and September continue this theme. Our meetings are free to members. Nominations are coming in for the 2018 Harlow Business Awards which launched in April. The Community and Business Awards dinner takes place at the Manor of Groves on October 4th. This is always one of the highlights of the year. We are keen to attract more local organisations to the Chamber of Commerce. With over 200 members, we are ideally placed to introduce people in the business, voluntary, education and public sectors to each other. Details of our monthly meetings and some other local events can be found on our website calendar. We are involved in a number of exciting initiatives underway in Harlow. I hope to be able to say more about them in the next edition of Stories. IAN HUDSON General Manager, Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce www.harlowchamber.co.uk Tel: 07817 778870
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Join the HDCC! The Harlow and District Chamber of Commerce is where local business, public sector, education and voluntary communities come together for mutual benefit. Joining is a great opportunity to increase awareness of your organisation, find out what’s happening in Harlow and to get to know and understand local businesses. You’ll also get to meet business owners and people in all sectors. If you are not sure about joining the HDCC why not come along to a meeting to experience what we are all about? We welcome visitors and you will be able to network with other Harlow businesses (bring along plenty of business cards). The application form can be found at www.harlowchamber.co.uk/ join-the-hdcc
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New Chamber Members Caridon Property Services LETTING AGENTS
Contact name: Paul Jackson www.caridon.co.uk
Emskills FUNCTIONAL SKILLS EXPERTS
Contact name: Helen Georgiou www.emskills.org.uk
Harlow Cricket Club
Harlow & District Business Exhibition As both a showcase of the region’s businesses and an ideal one-stop-shop for networkers, the Harlow Business Exhibition has become the place to be since its inception in 2010 Free to visitors and open to exhibitors at a reasonable price, it has become an annual hub for all kinds of companies and services from around Harlow and beyond.
COMMUNITY SPORTS CLUB
Contact name: Ben Eversden www.harlowtowncc.co.uk
Office Wizards BUSINESS SUPPORT
Contact name: Carol Byatt www.office-wizards.co.uk
Pangea FX DELIVERABLE FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Contact name: Stuart Plummer www.pangeafx.co.uk
The organisers, a dedicated team of Harlow business specialists, are currently gearing up to present the ninth exhibition – to be held this year at the Manor of Groves Hotel, High Wych. With around 70 exhibitors promoting their companies, and upward of 500 visitors arriving to be introduced to, or to further their acquaintance with the Harlow business community, this event offers a perfect opportunity to meet new people and generate new business. There will be prize draws throughout the day. To be eligible visitors should pre-register at www.harlowbusinessexhibition.co.uk
The date: June 14 2018 The time: 10am-4pm The location: The Manor Suite, Manor of Groves Hotel, High Wych, Sawbridgeworth CM21 0JU Admission for visitors is FREE Parking on site is FREE
The PAH Charity PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL
St Elizabeth’s College
2018 Harlow Business Awards
CARE & SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY
The awards are open to any business or organisation operating in the
Contact name: Kat Pulford www.stelizabeths.org.uk
another. Entry is free and an organisation can enter or be nominated for any
Contact name: Graham Norcott www.pah.nhs.uk
Harlow and District area. You can enter your own organisation, or nominate number of categories. Details can be found at www.harlowchamber.co.uk
Whiskers Solicitors LAW FIRM
Contact name: Shalini Subherwal www.whiskers.co.uk
Completed forms must be returned to Ian Hudson at Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce, Civic Centre, Water Gardens, Harlow CM20 1WG or by email to irhudson@gmail.com before 30th June 2018. Shortlisting will take place in July. Presentations are at the end of August. The Awards dinner on October 4th will combine the 8 business categories with the Heart4Harlow Community Awards. For more information, please contact Ian Hudson on 07817 778870.
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Dear Reader Studying flexibly – the key to fighting social injustice in higher education Social justice and skills have been my compass since entering politics. As Education Select Committee Chair, these priorities have got me thinking about higher education. What is the point of university if the disadvantaged do not have equal access or great employment destinations? What is the objective of higher education if it does not play a major role in addressing our country’s ever-deepening skills deficit? What purpose is higher education serving in light of the oncoming march of the robots, where automation and artificial intelligence will take millions of jobs from working class and middle class alike? Rt. Hon. Robert Halfon MP Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Matching, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering & Chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee
Our higher education sector is one of this country’s greatest strengths, but fees have increased and maintenance support is falling. At a time when students and industries seek options other than the traditional three-year, full-time degree, studying flexibly is becoming less and less feasible. It is for those reasons that I have been vocal in my defence of the Open University (OU) and degree apprenticeships. Focusing on these priorities would make flexible study more feasible and take more people to the ladder of opportunity. So why is the OU different and what is it doing to allow people to study flexibly? The genius of the OU is that, through flexible learning and no A-Level requirement, it allows millions of mature students – some in work (currently 76 per cent) and some families, including single parents – to access higher education and get a degree. Perhaps one of the great education reforms of the twentieth century, the Open University represented the democratisation of higher education, ensuring that the many could benefit alongside the few. Through flexible learning, it provides a real ladder of opportunity in terms of social justice. This becomes clear when you look at the demographics of its students; one in 12 of all disadvantaged students in the UK study at the OU and 24,000 students with disabilities are enrolled there. Embracing the apprenticeship revolution, the OU also offers degree apprenticeships and has the ambition of being the top degree apprenticeship provider in the country. Providing degree apprenticeships means that students have the option to earn while they learn and get a high quality skilled job at the end, and leave education with no debt. Against a backdrop of increasing difficulty to study flexibly, degree apprenticeships are growing in popularity. Cambridge has announced that it will roll them out this September. Coventry, Nottingham Trent and Sheffield Hallam are all expanding their provision. Flexible study is the key to allowing more people to climb the ladder of opportunity. Whether we focus on degree apprenticeships or build on the OU’s model, it’s vital that we focus on flexible study to help people towards the ladder of opportunity. Climbing the ladder will help them get the education, skills and training they deserve, to achieve the jobs, security and prosperity, they and our country need.
Very best wishes, Robert
Rt. Hon. Robert Halfon MP
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Just outside of Harlow… Stansted BNI > Meets every Thursday at the Novotel at 6:15 for a 7am start. This is a friendly group which turned over £2.2m of business between its members last year. If interested please contact Steve Chew at steve@magnificentstuff.net
Business Networking Stories continue to be massive advocates of business Networking and we would highly recommend it to all in business – to grow your connections and little black book, to share ideas and to collaborate. Bear in mind that with the exception of The Chamber, a number of the groups below operate a ‘one member per business type’ policy, so it’s always best to make contact before turning up. Remember to always take business cards. A lot of these groups will have ‘Power Teams’ or similar groups, where members of related industries work and communicate closely together. It’s often worth getting to know these people in the group most closely associated to your industry.
Harlow and District Chamber of Commerce > The HDCC promote
a number of events throughout Harlow: www.harlowchamber.co.uk/events. For more information, contact us on 01279 271104.
Harlow BNI > Meets every Wednesday at the Park Inn Hotel at 6:30 for a 7am start. BNI networking follows a strict agenda designed to maximise results – a formula that has proven itself over many years. If interested please contact Robin Stretton at Robin@bnisoutheast.co.uk Harlow Professionals > Meets on the last Friday of the month at the Football Club. This is an informal meeting with no need to book – just turn up with loads of business cards and enjoy the (free) lunch with other Harlow professionals. WIBN Harlow > Women in Business
Networking meets at Miller and Carter in Harlow. This women-only event meets at midday one Tuesday each month. More information can be found at www. wibn.co.uk/groups-members/harlow/
Stansted Business Breakfast > Included here as a number of Harlow-based businesses are involved. Informal and friendly networking group, meeting at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Stansted Airport every second Friday at 7am. Contact Eric Chorley on eric@guardhome.co.uk Herts and Essex Entrepreneurs > Meet The Town
Saffron Walden – a fair distance but an excellent group meeting every second Tuesday, 7am at Uttlesford District Council offices. Contact James de Vries on 07711 3440677
Recommended: Meetup & Eventbrite > These are fantastic resources for info on the latest and closest events, they even select relevant gatherings based on your personal interests. Facebook > An odd concept for
a recommendation for business networking but a couple of groups do stand out, notably Networking Herts and Essex www.facebook.com/ groups/NetworkingHertsandEssex/ and Networking Cambridgeshire www.facebook.com/groups/ networkingcambridge/, both of which avoid advertising and are run by the marvellous Kim Wallis.
If you would like to list an event or business networking opportunity in the next issue of Stories please get in touch: info@magnificentstuff.net
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F L EXIB IL IT Y There are certain hackneyed old adages that have the annoying tendancy of actually being true, ‘Adapt or Die’ being one of them. The pace of change in business is unrelenting. If you’re not flexible you’re very likely to go under…
Entrepreneurial business favours the open mind. It favours people whose optimism drives them to prepare for many possible futures, pretty much purely for the joy of doing so.” Richard Branson
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Flexibility in Business Things in life don’t always go as planned; this is the same in business.
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’M NOT TALKING ABOUT MAJOR CRISES such as the ceiling falling down, but the small, niggling issues which throw unexpected curveballs in the way of your roaring success. But do you know what? It’s okay. It’s okay because as humans, we adapt to change and this is all part of the ability to be flexible. From a marketers point of view, we have to be flexible. Every day brings a whole list of tasks which are assigned to a number of clients. One minute I find myself writing a blog for a Harley Street surgeon, and the next I could be waist-deep in a Wordpress site for a local charity group. This being said, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being flexible in my business allows me to steer clear of boredom as every day brings new challenges, new successes and above all, new opportunities. Based on my experience, I have compiled my top tips which will help you maintain flexibility in your workplace: Rebecca Hartgen Account Manager, Magnificent Stuff
Top tips to maintain flexibility
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DON’T SET YOURSELF UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT Feeling disappointed can have huge repercussions in any situation. It will kill your motivation, hinder your decisions and subsequently restrict your flexibility in the future. Although it’s always good to ‘aim high’, don’t set yourself unrealistic goals! If you expect too much from yourself then your clients definitely will.
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DON’T JUST DO WHAT YOU’RE TOLD I’m not telling you to be rebellious here; I’m saying go above and beyond. Take action to help others if you can and they will be sure to help you in the future when you need a hand. This not only allows you to be flexible but encourages others to do so as well.
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DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER Accepting things as they first appear is typical; we’re only human! However, try and look at things from different perspectives. This will enable you to accept other people’s opinions when expressed and therefore will give you the flexibility to understand and adapt if need be.
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DON’T LACK AMBITION Ambition is what keeps us moving forward. Keep developing your vision and your goals – it’s amazing how we will compromise our ‘plan’ to achieve them!
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Flexible working
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AST YEAR SAW THE OPENING OF Launchpad, a new co-working space in the centre of Bishop’s Stortford. It offers freelancers, start-ups and small to medium sized businesses a flexible and cost-effective place to work.
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There are a range of services available at Launchpad: 50 hot desks, meeting rooms, high-speed broadband, lockable storage, kitchen facilities, registered business address and access to advisors such as accountants and lawyers and a range of business events and mentoring workshops. Launchpad has been very well received by the local business community. It already has a number of regular users, from start-ups to established companies, representing a range of business sectors. They are enjoying three months free hot desking with no tie-ins. In addition to hot desking space for smaller businesses, Charringtons House, where Launchpad is based, also has a number of larger serviced offices which will be available later this year. For more information or to book a hot desk, meeting room or office, please visit www.launchpadstortford.co.uk or call 01279 502250
“As a business starting out it can be tough and expensive to grow. Hosting meetings in your living room or local coffee shop just doesn’t look very professional! That’s why Launchpad is ideal. My guests are greeted in a proper reception area, I have a business address and can use one of the stylish meeting rooms to host my clients. It’s made a huge difference to the way I work.” Max Max Louis Creative
“Launchpad is a friendly co-working space with excellent facilities in a bright, modern environment. It’s a great alternative to working from home and the three months free hot-desking is a bonus. I love the buzz of being surrounded by creative, like-minded people and have already made some good contacts. Come and join us!” Sally Bromham Winning Words Copywriting
The importance of being flexible…. in business
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HEN I STARTED MY BUSINESS, I had fixed ideas about the kind of work I was going to do. Ideas about how I was going to find that work and ideas about how I was going to carry it out. Two years later, did my ideas materialise into reality? Some, but by no means all of them. Firstly, I built my website and waited for people to contact me because I thought this was going to be my main revenue stream. But I couldn’t have been more wrong, I do of course get clients from my website, but the majority of my work comes from networking and social media. I had to get used to the idea that networking was going to be an important part of my business life. That standing up and giving an account of myself was going to be a necessity. Secondly, the type of work I imagined doing, typing, diary management, proofreading, research. I do all of those to one degree or another, but I didn’t dream I would turn into a minute-taker specialising in one-to-one HR meetings. I had no idea that research or proofreading would play such a large part in what I do. But it’s all worked out well because I was flexible. If you want to run a successful business, you must be prepared to have your expectations challenged and adjust your view of how your business might evolve. Lisa Dellow A Virtual Presence Online Business Support www.avirtualpresence.co.uk
Being flexible with GDPR YOU SHOULD ALL KNOW BY NOW THAT GDPR BECOMES ENFORCEABLE ON 25th May 2018. It is intended to extend additional protection for individuals and their data, providing greater transparency and control over where their data is saved and used. Whilst the GDPR is good news for customers, it is going to force some change on marketers. As we all review our marketing choices, I would like to suggest a number of ways that traditional mail could help you ensure success in a GDPR world.
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YOU WON’T NEED CONSENT FOR DIRECT MAIL If you can meet the conditions for legitimate interest then you won’t need consent for postal marketing whereas you may need consent for email & SMS marketing and some phone calls. Due to the challenges involved in gaining consent to GDPR standards, brands may have some customers they can only reach by postal mail.
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BRANDS WILL HAVE FEWER REGULATORY UNKNOWNS WITH MAIL As mail in not in the scope of Privacy & Electronic Communications Regulation or the proposed e-Privacy Regulation – which has no clear timeframe for implementation yet – brands may have fewer regulatory unknowns when contacting customers by mail in comparison to electronic channels.
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MAIL OFFERS HIGHER RESPONSE RATES THAN EMAIL In a world where trust and frequency of communication are increasingly important, mail is statistically proven to be more widely welcomed by recipients and offers higher response rates than e-mail. Consumers recognise that mail takes more effort than email. So when it is used, it reassures them that companies recognise and value them.
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IT’S EASY TO STAY IN TOUCH VIA MAIL While people are more likely to have multiple email addresses, including ghost ones they do not check – people generally only have one residential address.
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THE POWER OF UNADDRESSED MAIL Door drops offer targeted services that are delivered with addressed mail that enables companies to engage audiences without using personal data.
In other words GDPR with Mail is an opportunity to be flexible and increase success in targeting your market.
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FLEXIBILITY
FLEX APPEAL Diversification is vital to ensure that brands continue to connect with today’s customer. We look at how brands are branching out to survive.
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RANDS CERTAINLY DON’T HAVE IT easy these days. It isn’t enough to just be a name on some packaging. They have to be relevant, have an element of brand flexibility and to speak to a wide variety of customers but without losing their core identity or in any way being perceived to be inauthentic. Branding used to be pretty simple exercise – find something that works and stick with
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it – now it is all about flexibility both in terms of presentation but also with regards to what is on offer to the consumer. The most brilliant example of this is Google and its Doodle. The first Google doodle appeared in 1998. By today’s standards it was basic – just the instantly recognisable logo with a stick figure behind the second “o”. It was posted in honour of Burning Man Festival
and a way of letting everyone know that Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin would be escaping to the Nevada desert, so wouldn’t be on hand should the servers crash. Since then the Google logo has been immersed in Hokusai’s Great Wave, turned into the cast of the Muppets and, most famously, rendered as a Pac-Man game that people could actually play.
Mother’s Day 2018, Paralympics 2018 and UK Elections Doodles
In amongst all this creativity, you never lose sight of it being Google’s logo. It is a masterstroke of both rule breaking and an example of how the parameters of a brand’s identity can be stretched. It isn’t just visually that Google stretches its identity – although known predominantly as a search engine, it has become so much more than that, branching out into being a mail provider through Gmail, an online advertising and publishing service through AdWords and AdSense as well as providing news, translation services and a way of getting from A to B wherever you are in the world. With the recent addition of Google Home it has taken control of your living environment and music consumption and in the not-too-distant future, if Waymo, its autonomous car brand, succeeds it will be Google driving you where you need to go. It is a diversification strategy that has ensured that Google has continued to explore new markets allowing it to retain customers as well as gaining new ones. Diversification isn’t something exclusive to technological companies – it is becoming a vital way for brands to survive. “Understanding social trends then keeping up with them is one of the critical strategic issues for luxury players,” explains Paurav Shukla, professor of marketing at Essex Business School in an article on Luxury Society. “Many luxury brands have decided to move beyond their niche and diversify very quickly into other market spaces, which the consumer may not necessarily associate with their image of a particular brand.” The most obvious example of this is Virgin. This multi-faceted billion pound business started out life as a record shop. Now you can exercise, bank, travel and watch
Virgin Galactic
television all under its banner. Virgin’s diversification was unusual at the time because the brand expanded into areas in which it had no prior experience – the only thing that connected these new ventures was Virgin’s reputation. Having made a name for itself as a business for whom superlative customer experience was key, it moved into areas – banking and air and train travel – where the customers were not being well served. Virgin offered a way of doing things differently, better. However, despite Virgin’s many successes, it does serve as a cautionary tale. Because it built its business on superlative service once that started to falter customers lost faith more quickly than if it had been built on something more concrete.
successfully moved into the hotel industry as has Armani, while Hèrmes has gone from a saddle maker to a renowned watch brand, luxury handbag maker and purveyor of silk scarves. Any brand consultant worth his rather woolly job title will tell you brand flexibility is the future but what individual names need to work out is how to diversify in a way that is, above all things, authentic and that makes sense to the customer, after all, as Shukla said: “The ‘experience’ a brand provides and the emotional connection it creates will often determine if it survives.” Mark Welby MW Studio www.mwstudio.uk
Virgin had become what Antonio Marazza, general manager at Lander Associates, a brand consulting firm, identified as an icon brand. Writing in Forbes, Marazza described an “icon brand” as one that has “powerful universal values or stories that are instantly recognisable”. The trouble with this is once that story is deviated from or the core values are no longer being upheld, the brand will suffer. Marazza used the example of clothing retailer GAP, which has struggled since deviating from its “American classic” narrative. Which is why Virgin Galactic has become so important for Richard Branson. Space travel carries the notion of pushing the boundaries of possibility and it is this core value around which Virgin is regrouping.
“If you’re changing the world, you’re working on important things. You’re excited to get up in the morning.” Larry Page
Not all brand diversifications are tales of success and failure. Bulgari has very
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THE RACE IS ON Organised by Harlow Civic Society, with the support of Places for People and Architecture & Design Services, the Harlow Architectural Design Awards have been running for three years and celebrate the best designed buildings completed in the last year. The aim of the Awards is to encourage architects, developers and property owners to help Harlow become an even better and more beautiful place in which to live.
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E WANT YOU TO NOMINATE YOUR favourite new architectural designs, both residential and non-residential. Residential projects can be any project relating to a home, be it a great looking new house, a refurbishment which is particularly stunning or an excellent extension – no matter how big or small the budget! The nonresidential category is wider and covers any project, whether a commercial or community building, or a mixed-use development, perhaps a wonderful sports facility like last year’s winner – Harlow Rugby Club.
Nominations in both categories are now open and will close at the end of July 2018. Residents will then be asked to vote on the ultimate winner from a shortlist of entries drawn up by our expert panel. This same panel will select a winner in each category,
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based on residents’ voting results. The winning buildings’ architects will be presented with a custom-made glass trophy to retain for a year, designed by local artists from Parndon Mill; Harlow’s creative hub, and the owners will get to keep a commemorative plaque for display on their building. To nominate your favourite building completed in the past year, please visit: www.harlowarchitecturaldesignawards.org.uk
“We think there is something rather special about the way that Harlow has been designed and these Awards are all about extending and enhancing our design heritage.” Paul McLintic, HDA Awards
Former Pearsons Education building, Edinburgh Way
Mary Parsons, Group Director of Placemaking and Regeneration at HADA, sponsors Places for People, said:
Mark Cotton, Principal of Harlow’s leading architectural practice, Architecture & Design Services, said:
“Places for People is delighted to again support the Harlow Architectural Design Awards. We are committed to creating high quality development and great places. It’s a chance to showcase the best of the town and for local people to share which buildings mean most to them. There’s been some surprises in past years and we look forward to seeing this year’s nominations.”
“Harlow has a unique architectural design that can be seen, not just in individual buildings but in their relationships and the way they work within the structure of the town overall. We are once again looking to engage with residents in the appreciation and further development of our surroundings.”
Kao Data Centre, Harlow Enterprise Zone
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HA RLOW E NTERP RISE ZON E
Significant developments will take place on the Harlow Enterprise Zone during 2018 at both the Kao Park site and the new Harlow Science Park.
Kao Park
Harlow Science Park
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HE FIRST DATA CENTRE BUILDING was completed at the beginning of this year and was formally launched in February 2018. This is one of the most technologically advanced and energy efficient data centres in the UK and is the first of four buildings that will sit on the Kao Park site – the location where Sir Charles Kao invented fibre optic technology in 1966. The development has already been shortlisted for two awards at the annual Data Centre Solutions event in May for Energy Efficiency Project of the Year and New Build Project of the Year.
EVELOPMENT ON THE PHASE One 27 acre green field site is commencing in 2018. This site will provide a mix of spaces from start-ups to global headquarters targeting science and technology businesses in the Life Sciences, Advanced Manufacturing and ICT sectors. The infrastructure phase of the work is nearing completion at the London Road site. The first main access road, competed last year, will open in May and the spine road through the site will complete this spring with all landscaping to follow in the autumn. Harlow Council has now confirmed the names of these two new roads – the former will be called Newhall Way (since it will be the main access road to Newhall) and the latter will be called Maypole Boulevard (respecting the history of the site that was formerly known as Maypole Corner and hosted the Maypole Sports & Social Club). The first buildings will commence construction in late May/early June. These are a 15,000 square foot Medical
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Technology Innovation Centre for Anglia Ruskin University and a 30,000 square foot speculative office building targeting medium sized companies looking for ‘move-on’ space. Both buildings will complete in early 2019 and are to be constructed by McLaughlin & Harvey (www.mclh.co.uk). Promising discussions are also under way with a range of other companies looking for space on the new Harlow Science Park. These include: •A couple of local electronics companies seeking more prestigious premises from which to grow their businesses. • A global life sciences company • An Indian pharmaceutical company • A space satellite technology company from the Oxford area seeking growth space Further information on the Science Park can be found at the dedicated website – www.helloharlow.co.uk and also on Twitter @Harlow_SP
Harlow Carnival is back!! The street carnival, which was a regular popular event in the town in the past, returned last year as part of the Harlow is 70 celebrations.
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ringing back the carnival proved to be a huge success, with over 600 taking part and around 5,000 people lining the streets. Over 25 floats were involved last year along with schools, churches, scout groups, dance clubs, cheerleaders, live music and scout groups – all orchestrated by an enormous ‘army’ of volunteers. Building on that success Harlow Council have organised another event for 2018. Harlow carnival will take place on Sunday 26 August, setting off from Bush Fair Shopping Centre at midday, make its way down Tillwicks Road to Howard Way, past the Stow (where it will go down First Avenue and turning into Fifth Avenue) before making its way into the Town Park at around 2pm. This will all be in time for the popular Linkfest music event, which this year will take place on the Showground and Bandstand. This year the route has been extended and it is hoped that more groups and organisations will take part. There is still time to get involved!! Residents, voluntary groups, social groups and commercial businesses are all invited to take part in the carnival parade. To register your interest please contact the team on carnival@harlow.gov.uk Any business interested in Carnival opportunities can also contact us at carnival@harlow.gov.uk
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LinkFest is back this year and is set to be bigger than ever!
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RGANISED FOR BANK HOLIDAY weekend (25th & 26th August) and is taking over the showground in Harlow Town Park to create the ‘LinkFest Harlow Performing Arts Festival’. As well as the usual mix of great music on the bandstand, there will be numerous other attractions on the showground, including more activities from Pet’s Corner and a main marquee containing performing arts and theatre. Acoustic music performance will take place throughout the event as well as a classic car show and The Outlaws Motorcycle Club will be hosting a bike show with more than 50 bikes (including custom bikes).
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In common with previous events Linkfest 2018 will boast a plethora of food and drink outlets and both Harlow Town FC and the Rugby Club will be hosting activities for the kids. Phoenix Resources will also be hosting a craft area. The evenings will see a Soul Club in the marquee with a variety of DJs. On Sunday 26th Harlow Carnival’s floats will arrive at the showground at the end of their route and link up with the festival. Some of the original (and cover) bands performing this year are: • • • • • • • •
Guns 2 Roses Red Alert Steve Forward The Stollians Roxoff Satan’s Empire Funky Voices The Heaters
More details of the artists can be found on the Linkfest Facebook page There will also be side stalls, a charity area and a local business section. If you would like the chance to promote YOUR business at one of the biggest FREE events in the area please get in touch via email to linkfestinthepark@live.co.uk If you would like further details of the event or any of the organisations mentioned in the article please use the email address above or contact Harlow Stories.
“taking over the showground in Harlow Town Park to create the ‘LinkFest Harlow Performing Arts Festival”
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Entrepreneurs
KIMBERLEE PERRY
Founder & CEO ((Bounce)) Kim moved to settle in Essex after living in London and the sunny Australian shores of Sydney when her fitness business on mini trampolines ((BOUNCE)) took off astronomically – and it all started in Harlow... “
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HE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAVE been brilliant when it comes to embracing ((BOUNCE)) and I think that’s because in part, Harlow as a town has a vibe that’s on-par with my business motto, ‘FUN, FRIENDLY, FIERCE’ - it’s about being supportive of others, being happy and being determined to achieve. I think residents in Harlow have a lot of gumption, they’re out and about, vocal, interested, it’s buzzing and I love that about where I live. Australia in comparison is actually super laid back and from the perspective of a business owner, that ‘casual customer’ isn’t really what you need”. Kim enthuses.
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((BOUNCE)) is a jump fitness workout to energising music, but as it’s low impact on the joints thanks to the trampoline mat which absorbs 87% of shock. Our workouts are 3 times more effective than floor-based fitness which also means it’s efficient in shedding calories, plus appeals to almost every age and ability – probably the main factors in its rise to success. Like any innovative idea ((BOUNCE)) evolved from a genuine need. As a new mum herself Kim recognised that gym contracts and membership commitments were a huge factor putting people like herself off from keeping fit and exercising. “parents find it difficult to commit time if they have to leave kids behind, and focusing on their health and wellness gets put to the side”. The ((BOUNCE)) model has been created with a focus on financial flexibility for attendees, classes are pay-as-you-go and operate in community centres, local halls and primary schools, keeping prices affordable and classes easily accessible throughout the UK. Most studios also offer Child Friendly classes enabling attendees to conveniently bring children along to
join in with the class or to watch/play on the sidelines. It really is a fun and friendly atmosphere. Kim’s extensive qualifications in both dance and fitness ensure that the workouts performed are unlike anything found in a traditional gym and the creativity in all of the routines and new classes offered are what keep people coming back for more, it becomes an addiction. Kim started ((BOUNCE)) in 2014 with just 8 trampolines in Paringdon Sports Centre, Harlow. As the classes grew Kim identified a further need for a franchise model, and so developed a training course for instructors and a clear company value proposition to ensure consistency throughout the 200+ studios from Devon right up to Glasgow in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. Continuing to invest locally ((BOUNCE)) moved to bigger Headquarters in Harlow earlier this year.
Entrepreneurs performing at events or behind the computer. With studios in Australia and NZ the time difference means that when the UK is starting work, I can evaluate activity in the Southern Hemisphere. I spend a lot of time with my management team talking about how their departments are going and new ideas for the business. I usually grab a sandwich on the go or I’m grocery shopping once I’ve finished at the studio. If it’s a ‘Mum Day’, you can bet we’re doing something incredibly active: swimming, gymnastics, football, hiking. My son, Jasper loves to burn off energy - fortunately I’m fit enough to keep up with him! Q: How did you select the people closest to you in business? I am fiercely loyal and very trusting of my friends and so I expect that back from those who I form personal and business relationships with. I am very upfront in my thinking and that makes working with me pretty clear. If you start out in any sort of union being clear and genuine about what you will give and what you need back from that person, then I think a positive relationship will form. I really rate those who go above and beyond to deliver with lots of tenacity.
Q&A with Kim Q: What one tip about being a working mum can you share? Don’t be too hard on yourself. I have extremely high expectations which can spill into not being relaxed and happy in my personal life. I look at things practically and allocate Mum Vs. Days in the office, you can’t be everything to everyone. Balance is the key to ‘working smarter not harder’. Success is about doing your best with the time and resource you have available whilst trying to find fun and enjoyment in everything you do. Q: What does your daily routine look like? I start with a coffee and getting my 4 year old ready – no easy task any parent will agree! I’m usually at the studio most of the day choreographing new routines for ((BOUNCE)), teaching classes,
Q: What lesson would she pass onto a budding entrepreneur starting out in business now? 1. Do the things you don’t really know how to do first (before the easy things). 2. Breakdown tasks step-by-step and apply common sense problem solving the gaps. (‘fake it till you make it’). 3. Octopus arms in business, reach out to different sources and support systems. Give back to the people that help you along the way, be good at building relationships and always work on how you come across to others. No one starts out being great - but every great success started out with someone thinking they can be great, so when you do achieve a sense of success, absolutely love that moment and let it feed your entire soul and push you to do more.
ESTHER MILLS
Mauds Ice Cream Harlow Esther – originally from Northern Ireland – is the founder of Mauds Ice Cream, Harlow. “I grew up eating Mauds ice-cream, it was such a treat going out for a run in the car and stopping off and getting Poor Bear ice-cream. To this day it is still my favourite.”
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STHER SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN in 2007 in 152 Ulster Transport Regiment and later moved to Harlow to start a family. But whenever she returned to Ireland she would visit Mauds everyday for a ‘fix’ of Ice Cream. “Every year when I came back to England I would look to see if there was a local distributor and every year I was disappointed. I needed to bring the great flavours over to share.”
To find out more or to book a ((BOUNCE)) class near you visit: www.bouncefitbody.com
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Entrepreneurs
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Mauds was founded in 1980 by John Wilson – the Pioneer for Honeycomb ice cream – and Poor Bear Delight was born. The first Mauds Ice-cream was born in Northern Ireland in 1982. It was called Mauds after John’s mother. He gave it this name as a Mother’s day present.
AM UNBELIEVABLY LUCKY TO have found in photography the perfect mixture of creativity and getting to work with people. I thank my lucky stars every day that I get to do this unbelievably wonderful, important and fun job.”
Since then Mauds Ice-cream has become Northern Ireland’s busiest ice-cream parlour and has won over 17 Great Taste Awards as well as 5 Irish Food Awards.
Years ago, Elise Marks trained and worked as an actress but she found that there was always something intangible about the buzz of being on stage. One moment it was there and then it was gone.
Esther is the only distributor of Mauds Ice cream in the UK. She attends events in Essex and Hertfordshire. If you have a school fair, wedding, corporate event or a festival and you would like a novel (and fabulous) ice cream seller please get in touch. They proudly boast a 5 star food rating.
“With photography, however” the proof of my achievements, skill and experience is sitting in hundreds of galleries on countless hard-drives and – the best thing? I get to share those achievements with all my lovely clients and help them grow their companies.”
ELYSE MARKS Photographer As the old saying goes – do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.
“ I am very passionate about our ice-creams. There just isn’t any taste like it and I’m sure you will agree if you taste it too.” www.maudsharlow.co.uk 01279 957500
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“Of course, I’m not curing world hunger or anything but as we all know, now more than ever it is vital for businesses to have fresh, up to date images to share on websites and on social media. They are the proof of your past successes and the face of your brand and business. They are your story and helping you to tell that story is my job.” www.elysemarks.com 07932 038165
Life Stories
JOHN KEDDIE Former Vice President of Global Operations at GSK John Keddie now sits on the Board of Anglia Ruskin University and Chairs The Enterprise Zone. John shares his story.
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LEXIBILITY IN BUSINESS IS absolutely core to success. Life, and the world of work, is changing so rapidly, the need to be flexible in terms of ideas, thinking and action is critical or opportunities will be missed. For me, agility includes identifying new ideas, challenging the status quo, focusing on the customer, and doing it right first time. Standing still is not an option, as if you do, the world will pass you by. My story is fairly simple. I’m a scientist by background, with a PhD in biology. I got my first job aged 25 (!) working for the government as a scientific specialist, before moving on to Unilever Research in Liverpool. A few years later, I joined SmithKline Beecham, a global pharmaceuticals company, based in Epsom, Surrey. That company morphed into GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and I moved to work in Harlow in 2000. Working for GSK, I had a variety of jobs and started
to work internationally around 2001. I’ve worked in about 40 countries over the years, including China, Japan and India as well as visiting the US over 200 times. My last role with GSK was as Vice President, Global Operations, managing over 40 operations around the world. One constant theme has run though my career – the need to be flexible and to anticipate and adapt to change. What works for the Chinese may not work in India, and Australia is not the UK with sun! It is a different market and business needs to be flexible to succeed. Since leaving GSK, I have taken on a variety of non-executive roles, including joining the Board of Anglia Ruskin University, and most importantly, Chairing the Board of the Harlow Enterprise Zone. The EZ presents Harlow with a fabulous opportunity to develop the next phase of the town’s success – to attract high quality, high value jobs and to grasp the challenges of the next 20 years. We are agile in our thinking and flexible in our approach to attract the best opportunities for Harlow, but we all need to continue to seek the best ideas and innovative people to drive our success for the future.
“Agility includes identifying new ideas, challenging the status quo, focusing on the customer, and doing it right first time. Standing still is not an option, as if you do, the world will pass you by”
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Stories
“If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got” (Albert Einstein)
IN ASSOCIATION WITH HARLOW & DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
REAL STORIES ABOUT REAL PEOPLE IN BUSINESS