Island grown Produce from a green Island
Also in this issue... BETTER BUSINESS
SPECIAL REPORT
COMPANY PROFILE
CHAMBER MATTERS
A business plan is just as important for an established company as a new one – is yours fit for purpose?
TravelSafe – this Island transport initiative benefits customers and operators by helping cut anti-social behaviour
The Royal Hotel in Ventnor goes from strength to strength, driven by a desire for excellence
Reporting on member benefits, Chamber people, new members, and event dates for your diary
CONTENTS
FEBRUARY 2010
President’s foreword
I
’m writing this piece while the country is in the grip of the worst winter weather for several decades – hopefully by the time you read this it will all be a dim, distant, thawed out memory. There is a fine line to be drawn between being prepared for rare and extreme weather events and the huge cost of having enough of everything in place ‘just in case’. I feel that, maybe, businesses and individuals could perhaps take more responsibility for their own patches (where possible) and leave the Government, Council, Highways Agency etc. to keep the main routes moving. Certainly, in our businesses, we will now be looking much more seriously at our own contingency plans, because there is no doubt that our weather is becoming more unpredictable. The announcement of contracts for large offshore wind farms to both the east and west of the Island will certainly kick up some lively debate. It will be interesting to see if the ‘antis’ really will support offshore wind when it starts to become a reality or whether they will stick to their guns on a ‘no turbine’ policy? Despite the doom and gloom of the past eighteen months, many retailers reported record sales and footfall over the Christmas and New Year periods with many people attracted by the bargains and pre-VAT increase. Likewise, UK manufacturing output was significantly better in the last months of 2009 and house prices continue to rise in a measured way. Hopefully, these factors are signalling a sustained and steady recovery without the ‘overheating’ that can cause more problems. Karen and I recently ‘adopted’ a two year-old Labrador from one of our lads because he was struggling with university, part-time work and his landlady wasn’t keen on the dog. It’s just like having one of the boys back again aged 14! Rex is a handsome and intelligent dog but he’s landed like a whirlwind of chaos and disruption into our once steady lives. Emptying the bins, eating everything in sight, dragging you along the road, taking up three quarters of the bed in the morning and play fighting with our other dogs are just some of his lesser crimes. That’s on top of the several hundred pounds of vet’s bills for vaccinations etc. You may have seen the film or read the book ‘Marley and Me’ – well I think we may re-write it as ‘Rex and Me’. We love a challenge and we love our pets – we must be bonkers! By the next issue, we should have an election date and my foreword will, I promise, be a little more serious – until then take care and enjoy the spring.
2
NEWS A round up of business news
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BETTER BUSINESS Your business plan should be your road map for success - is yours fit for purpose?
11 THE EXPERT’S VIEW Information and communication technology
12
FEATURE Island grown – produce from a green Island
15 THE EXPERT’S VIEW Money matters
18
SPECIAL REPORT TravelSafe – helping cut anti-social behaviour on Island transport
Steve Porter, President IWCCTI
19 THE EXPERT’S VIEW Legally speaking
22 Published by The Knowledge Zone Ltd
Contact the team ib@theknowledgezone.net
For more great content visit
Editor Steve Sleight
Administration and enquiries Tanya Sleight
www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
Art Editor Karen Holloway Editorial team Louisa Mamakou Zara MacAlister Sara Coombes
TKZ
tanya.sleight@theknowledgezone.net
Advertising Sales Amanda Bartlett amanda.bartlett@theknowledgezone.net
0118 934 4208 For IW Chamber Editor (Chamber) Kevin Wilson kevin.wilson@iwchamber.co.uk
Managing Editor (Chamber) Zoe Stroud
While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of Island Business magazine the publishers do not accept any liability or provide any guarantee that the information is accurate, complete, or up to date. The publisher and its employees and contractors have used their best efforts in preparing these pages and this publication but make no warranty of any kind, expressed or
implied, with regard to the information supplied. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or the IW Chamber of Commerce. The Knowledge Zone Ltd. and its employees and contractors shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the providing of the information offered here.
www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
Contact TKZ The Knowledge Zone Ltd. 5-9 Baring Chambers 13 Denmark Road, Cowes Isle of Wight PO31 7EX 01983 245505 ib@theknowledgezone.net www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Mill Court, Furrlongs, Newport Isle of Wight, PO30 2AA 01983 520777 chamber@iwchamber.co.uk
A Royal experience – driven by a desire for excellence
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Island Business magazine is printed by Crossprint, an ISO 9001 registered printer based on the Isle of Wight.
YOUNG CHAMBER The Young Chamber Challenge
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CHAMBER MATTERS Reporting on member benefits, chamber people, new members, and diary dates
31
To join the Chamber call 01983 520777 Island Business magazine is printed on 75% recycled paper and 25% from sustainable sources
COMPANY PROFILE
CLASSIFIEDS Our classified section
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THE BACK PAGE RUBS – Really Useful Business Stuff – plus Steve Blamire’s musings on Island seaside resorts, together with Rupert Besley’s unique perspective 1
THE STARTING LINE BY THE EDITOR
H
appy New Year to all our readers. The team here at Island Business Magazine and Island Business Online wish you all a much more prosperous year in 2010 than we all suffered in 2009. Let’s hope that the turn of a new decade marks a better time for all Island businesses and residents. The snow at the beginning of the year made it difficult for many businesses to get started after the holiday break. For us it coincided with interviewing farmers and food suppliers for our Island grown feature (see page 12) and it proved a timely reminder, if any was needed, of the tough conditions often faced by all those involved in agriculture. Despite the conditions, though, everyone we visited with our cameras was really friendly, helpful, and passionate about their businesses. If every Island business person was as committed as this group we’d probably lead the world! As you will read in the feature, the food sector surprised us with its vitality, despite the recesssion, and the sheer variety of great businesses we’re fortunate to have on the Island. The shift by consumers towards healthier food which is produced locally has clearly benefitted the sector and they’ve responded really well to grasp the opportunities on offer. There’s a lesson there for all of us. Next month’s feature will examine the hospitality sector. So, if you’re involved in corporate hospitality in any way, as a supplier, organiser, or running an event which provides hospitality opportunities please do get in touch with your story. Remember, too, that we always want your business news for the magazine and Island Business Online. The website continues to grow, with lots of video content, a calendar of events, directory of services, and daily updated news on local, regional, national, and international business stories – don’t forget to visit! Contact the editorial team at: ib@theknowledgezone.net or telephone 01983 245505. Visit Island Business Online at: www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
IN THE NEXT ISSUE March 2010 Published 2 March • Hospitality – giving your guests a special experience • Web design for business • Intellectual Property – owning your own creations • Company Profile – Bookers • Birthday special – the Chamber’s 100th anniversary • Chamber Matters – monthly update 2
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Snow down for Island businesses
Fun for some but problems for many
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hops with no customers, hotels with no guests, owners and staff unable to get to their premises – January’s snow and ice caused havoc for many Island businesses. Those who did struggle in said they were hampered by ungritted roads and pavements which deterred customers. But it wasn’t all bad news. Many businesses showed their resilience by staying open and working round the clock to fulfil orders. Coppid Hall Farm Dairy, for instance, managed to deliver milk to all their Island customers , including doorstep deliveries, although it took many hours of effort and stubborn perseverance to beat the weather. Godshill Organics also went above and beyond the call of duty to reach all their customers despite the conditions. A snap survey of Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry members showed that there was some dismay at the Council’s inability to clear roads and pavements in town centres and industrial estates. One manager said that no gritting or clearing had been carried out on a Newport industrial estate since snow fell a week earlier. A number of businesses reported that towns and cities on the mainland seemed to have coped much better. “People travelling to Southampton and Portsmouth said there were no travel problems whatsoever,” said one. And a Newport trader said: “This has been the worst winter ever. We have had some really bad days. People were deterred by messages which told them
Credit: Sara Coombes / TKZ
not to venture out unless it was absolutely necessary, so most spent their time queueing in supermarkets.” In Cowes, retailers said the benefits of good trading over Christmas and New Year had been offset by a week of bad weather. “It just shows how important it is to keep a financial cushion, so we can survive freak conditions,” one said. A guesthouse proprietor in Ventnor reported that there had been no milk, vegetables or bread supplies for three days, and when deliveries arrived, stock quickly disappeared in panic buying. “No post, no guests, no rubbish collection – miserable!” he said. The Chamber’s general manager, Dean Pascall, said: “It was the worst snowfall for a generation, so it has been a real test for everyone. Business people on the Island are resilient and resourceful and most will survive. It was a tough time that also cost the Island economy a lot of money in lost business, but our members tell us that, generally, things started to pick up again fairly quickly, so we expect the damage to be short term only.”
Difficult trading conditions continue
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mployees are expected to endure another tough year in 2010 as businesses continue to face an uphill struggle in difficult trading conditions. The British Chambers of Commerce’s latest Monthly Business Survey reveals that 63% of businesses are planning wage freezes or pay cuts, while 18% are considering the removal of benefits, such as bonuses and gym membership. The squeeze on the employee pay packet is an indication that companies do not see economic conditions dramatically improving in 2010, despite hopes that the end of the recession may have arrived in the final quarter of 2009. A very fragile recovery was highlighted in the survey, as a majority of firms
(67%) stated that they would operate at the same or reduced capacity levels in the first quarter of 2010. David Frost, Director General of the BCC, said: “2010 is going to be a crucial year for the UK’s economy. The private sector must be allowed to generate investment, growth, and jobs by reducing the tax and red tape burden; support and incentives must be provided where needed; and the economy must be rebalanced away from debt and the public sector. “From what businesses tell me, they will get on with the job of creating wealth and employment, but they simply need government to get off their backs and let them do it.”
NEWS
FEBRUARY 2010
Green energy and green jobs prospects
New power package for Island’s leisure and hotel industry
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T
he Isle of Wight and Hampshire could play a big role in the massive expansion of offshore wind in the UK, with the capacity to generate enough energy to power over 600,000 homes and potentially creating thousands of jobs. The Crown Estate, owner of the UK’s coastal seabeds, has granted rights to energy companies to develop the world's biggest expansion of wind energy. It brings the potential to see an additional 32GW of clean electricity feeding into the UK grid, on top of 8GW from previous rounds. 32GW is enough offshore wind energy to supply nearly all the homes in the UK and will mean an extra 6,400 turbines. Investment in UK offshore wind overall could be worth £75 billion and support up to 70,000 jobs by 2020. The next generation of offshore wind farms that will be developed under the licenses will require larger and more efficient turbines, capable of generating 5MW of power. Developers include West of Isle of Wight Zone, Eneco New Energy who have plans for an offshore wind farm able to deliver 0.9 GW of power. SEEDA welcomed the announcement with Oona Muirhead, Group Executive Director of Strategy and Support, saying: "SEEDA welcomes the news that E.O.N. and Eneco have been awarded the licenses to develop new offshore wind www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
farms off the Hastings/Brighton and Isle of Wight coasts. "The announcement will provide significant supply chain opportunities for existing companies based around the newly licensed wind farms and South East ports such as Newhaven, Shoreham, Portsmouth, and Southampton stand to benefit as key conduits for access to the wind farms. However, energy companies warned that the development will require the building of a massive new 'supergrid' in the North Sea with Denmark, Germany and Norway, at the cost of £25bn, to transport the energy to shore. The supergrid would also deal with the peaks and troughs caused by the variable nature of wind and integrate with other renewable resources such as tide, sun, and hydro-electric, across the supergrid’s partner countries. The project will also need a "gigantic new harbour" say the energy companies, to deal with the equipment needed to build the turbines as well as new boats. There are worries over the cost of the project, which is estimated to need £100bn from the energy companies to ensure the wind farms are built by 2020, especially as energy companies are heavily indebted. There are also fears that jobs will go abroad because of a lack of capacity, especially after the closure last year of Britain's only wind turbine plant, Vestas, on the Island.
seminar this month sees the UK launch of an electricity and gas purchasing package, exclusively for the Island’s leisure and hotel industry. The package will only be available to members of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry, and is designed to achieve significant reductions in energy costs. The Chamber, working in association with ENER-G, says the event will also provide money-saving advice for businesses across all sectors, including energy procurement, saving money on lighting, smart metering, the role of the Carbon Trust, and sources of funding for energy-saving products. Chamber general manager Dean Pascall said: “We’re keen to do what we can to give Island businesses the benefits that will help them the most, and we believe this new package will help many to cut their costs.” The event will be held at Newclose Cricket Ground, Newport, at 1030 on Thursday, 18 February. Places can be booked by contacting the Chamber at: chamber@iwchamber.co.uk
Chamber Ball delivers charity funds
G
uests at the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Cowes Week Ball are always generous in their support of the Chamber’s chosen charity, and last year’s was no exception. Our picture shows Zoe Stroud, group marketing manager for the Chamber, presenting a cheque for £840 to Frank Fletcher on behalf of the Ellen MacArthur Trust. The Trust takes people aged from eight to 18 sailing to help them regain confidence on their way to recovery from cancer, leukaemia, and other serious illnesses. 3
NEWS
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Learning star Sarah takes the web behind bars
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manager who brought elearning and internet access to inmates at HMP Isle of Wight has had her efforts recognized with a prestigious national award. Sarah Snowdon, head of The Isle of Wight College’s access to learning department won the 2009 Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) STAR Award for innovation at a glittering national ceremony at Old Billingsgate, London. Sarah was instrumental in introducing e-learning and limited internet access to the prisoners at the Category C Camp Hill site of the prison. "I like helping people who have lots of barriers to learning," said the 34-year-old head of department, "if I can get one person to find employment rather than
Sesquicentennial celebrations The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), one of the country’s leading business groups, celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Established in 1860, the organisation now sits at the heart of a national network of accredited Chambers of Commerce, including the Island, serving over 100,000 businesses across the UK which employ more than five million people. BCC Director General David Frost, said: “The BCC has been in business for 150 years. During that time we have helped hundreds of thousands of companies grow, generate wealth and create jobs in their local communities. “Chambers are uniquely placed to help businesses of all sizes, and this role is even more important as the UK economy moves from recession to recovery. Chambers will be at the heart of this drive, ensuring that we help create the best possible environment for business in the future.” The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry celebrates its own landmark this year, too – it reaches its official one hundredth birthday in March. 4
re-offending then it’s all worthwhile. "Guys in prison don’t have internet access because of the trust issue," explained Sarah. "Understandably there is a security issue and it is easier just to provide no access to electronic communication. One of my challenges when I started in 2007 was to form an elearning strategy and bring in internet access so prisoners would have the IT skills required to get back into employment after their release.” Sarah’s strategy had to take account of everyday practicalities such as the fact that only prisoners due to be released relatively soon would take maximum benefit, because longer term inmates could find their new skills out-of-date by the time they were released due to the lightning fast advances in the world of IT.
SeaSafe make investment in manufacturing
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sland-based SeaSafe Systems has invested a six figure sum in new lifejacket manufacturing equipment at their Cowes factory. SeaSafe Systems is a long established manufacturer of marine safety clothing and has demonstrated its committment to manufacturing in the UK by investing in new machinery for making lifejacket lungs. By bringing the specialist technology inhouse the company can now make and assemble all parts of a lifejacket at their large factory on the outskirts of Cowes. SeaSafe is best known for its range of coats and jackets with concealed lifejackets, which are worn by professional mariners the world over. Now, their 'Voyager' coat range, featuring a hidden lifejacket, is available to recreational and racing sailors. What is not so well known is that SeaSafe has now become a major UK force in lifejacket manufacturing. As one of the few European-based companies with lung making machinery, the company now supplies lifejacket lungs to several other leading European makes of lifejackets, in addition to producing and marketing its own range of SeaSafe branded lifejackets. www.seasafe.co.uk
The Events Venue With A Difference Cowes Yacht Haven is host to some of the largest and most prestigious events in the boating calendar and is the ideal venue for your event, whatever the scale. With our superb waterside location, complete event management service and full conference facilities and equipment, we promise you will have an event to remember.
Manufacturers of Timber Frame Extensions In today’s congested world extra space is a sought after benefit. Building onto an existing structure is becoming the preferred option rather than moving. We are able to offer full site assistance from initial measuring up and discussing aspects of the build through to supplying a team of erectors for the frame construction.
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Benefits of Timber Frame: • Speed of construction, 30% quicker that traditional build. • Quality controlled factory production ensures accuracy. • Cost effective, reduces overall build costs. • Environmentally friendly, sustainable and energy efficient. • Lightweight components idea for difficult land conditions.
New full colour brochure NOW available For a free site survey and estimate please call
01983 522188
email: sales@gibbstimberframe.co.uk website: www.gibbstimberframe.co.uk www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
TEL: +44 (0)1983 299975 www.cowesyachthaven.com Cowes Yacht Haven, Vectis Yard, High Street, Cowes PO31 7BD
Fax: +44 (0) 1983 200 332 | info@cowesyachthaven.com
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NEWS IN BRIEF Vikoma wins lucrative MOD contract Cowes-based Vikoma International Ltd, has begun work on a contract worth more than two million pounds to supply hydraulic powerpacks as part of a Ministry of Defence contract. The powerpacks have been designed and developed specifically for the end user, to provide power for pumping operations in challenging environments across the world. Three different designs are being manufactured to suit varying environments and operational requirements. Vikoma was awarded the contract on the strength of its design and manufacturing capability, along with its reputation for quality. Healthy eating cookery courses Red Funnel Holidays started 2010 by offering new healthy eating cookery courses at the Four Seasons Cookery Academy in Fishbourne. Three, two-night residential courses were held in January and early February, with more to come, to give visitors the chance to learn healthy eating cookery techniques and recipes, as well as time to explore the Island and experience its fresh local produce. Unlocking the value of your innovations The Solent Team at South East Innovation and Growth are offering a new resource called Inngot, a service that unlocks the value in your innovations, to help you find customers, partners, and funding. Following its launch last year, more than 100 innovative businesses have already registered with Inngot. For more information visit: www.inngot.com
Island websites up for Hantsweb Awards Three Isle of Wight based websites have been nominated for the finals of the Hantsweb Awards. The Real Island Food Company has been nominated for Best Business Innovation website; the Isle of Wight Council was nominated for the Best Public Services website; and the Ellen MacArthur Trust has been nominated in both the Best Life Changing website category and the Best Charity or Voluntary Organisation website category. You can vote for your favourite website from the list of finalists for the best 'Public Voted' award. Vote by 21 February at: www3.hants.gov.uk/hantsweba wards/publicvote.htm 6
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Tourists to benefit from going car free
I
sland tourism businesses are being urged to take part in a new ‘car free scheme’, offering discounts to bus and train users. The scheme is the brainchild of Lois Prior, CoDirector of the Big Green Island Project Community Interest Company. She said: “Many visitors are still likely to bring their cars on holiday, but we hope to encourage them to take a few car-free days to explore the Island, too. There are many attractions offering cut-price entry, and accommodation providers offering other discounts for bus and train users, but when I looked more closely at how
these discounts and incentives were promoted, I could see that there was a huge gap in communicating these benefits.” Businesses who offer an incentive to bus and train users will become members of the scheme, with use of the logo, stickers, and a place on a new web site. The web site will promote the business and give details on their discount, closest bus routes and a place on the web site map. For more information, contact Lois at lois@greenislandproject.co.uk or phone 07890 115547. www.car-free-scheme.org
Stop smoking with Chamber Health
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hamber Health’s campaign for a healthier Island has been stepped up with new stop smoking groups. The groups are an extension of the health screening in the workplace programme, which is run together with the Island NHS Trust. Josslin O’Toole said health screening identifies how many smokers there are. “If we feel there are people who want to stop and would benefit from being in a group, we will discuss this with the organisation, and start
advertising on the premises,” she said. Four groups are already in place: at Clarkes Mechanical, Romahome, Sydenhams, and for parents at Barton Primary School. Josslin leads each group through a 12 week course which costs just £7.50, and includes Nicotine Replacement Therapy, although this is available free for people on benefits. Chamber Health is a social enterprise, which is a subsidiary of the IWCCT. Businesses wishing to consider setting up a stop smoking group can contact Josslin, Health Care Assistant, Chamber Health, at josslinOtoole@iwchamber.co.uk
Art therapist expands in Chale
N
icola Gibbs gave up a successful career as a commercial artist to help people achieve spiritual development through art. Her success has now led her to convert a disused chapel at Chale into an art and activities centre. Nicola, of Godshill, discovered Spiritualism and has found that art enables children and adults to connect with what she calls their ‘higher self’. She runs classes at The Oracle Gallery in Godshill, and their popularity means she needs more space, which is why she plans to open the new centre. Nicola said: “You could say I teach selfempowerment through art. I create a relaxed atmosphere and help people to begin painting by instinct. The results are remarkable. Having the extra space at
Nicola Gibbs
Chale will mean we can exhibit and sell the work that is produced, and also broaden it out to include other creative arts, such as music.” www.nicolagibbs.com
employerservices
We’ll save you time and give you money We’ll find you talented employees in your area, and could offer you £1,000 for the trouble.
it pays to work with us To find out more visit businesslink.gov.uk/itpays
www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
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NEWS IN BRIEF Island MP reacts to closure of tax office Andrew Turner, the Island's MP, has reacted angrily to the news that many of the services carried out by the tax office at Apex House in St. Cross Business Park, Newport are to be withdrawn, with the loss of 37 jobs. Mr Turner said: "This is a stupid and shortsighted decision, which I believe will lead to lower tax collection, a particular worry in the current economic climate." The face-to-face advice service is to stay on the Island, but may be moved to a more central location. Island woman makes a world of difference Julia Richards, from East Cowes, has been chosen from over 1,100 applicants to win a place on the Vodafone Foundation's 2009 World of Difference UK Programme. The programme gives 500 people from across the UK the opportunity to work for a charity of their choice. Julia will spend her two-month placement with the Earl Mountbatten Hospice in the Fundraising Department promoting their monthly Lottery Islandwide. "I was thrilled to be chosen," said Julia. "I’m really excited and looking forward to justifying Vodafone's faith in me to make a difference at the Isle of Wight’s only hospice."
'Fit and kit' your own fishing boat with GRP Laminates This winter, a number of south coast fishing firms are taking advantage of Island-based GRP Laminates' unique 'fit and kit' option to customise brand new 11 and 12 metre boats ready for next season. The South Boats Special Projects' catamaran platform is a tried and trusted solution for commercial fishing and dive companies. Now, as part of the ongoing partnership between South Boats and GRP Laminates, the boats are being made available as ‘part builds’. GRP technical director Bob Bennett explained: "We mould the hull, superstructure, deck, consoles, seats and so on as separate elements anyway. Now we are simply making the parts available to people who have the ability to finish it off and do some elements themselves." For more information visit GRP Laminates’ website at: www.grplaminates.com and South Boats Special Projects at: www.southboatssp.co.uk
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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Lottery makes winners of players and businesses
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undreds of Islanders have benefited from the Isle of Wight Lottery – either by winning a cash prize, or receiving help for a new business. Launched in 2001, it was the first lottery in England developed specifically to create employment opportunities. Since then, it has helped provide more than 900 jobs, by providing interest free loans to new and expanding Island companies. Along the way, it has paid out more than £1.5 million in prizes to more than 900 people – and some people win more than once! People like Felicity Young, a nurse at St Mary’s, who won the top prize of £2,000 just before Christmas. She has been paying £1 a week for her Lottery ticket since 2005, and this is the second time she has won a cash prize.“ The money came at just the right time for me,” she said. “We had an urgent building job to pay for, and winning the Lottery was a real blessing.” Like many other Lottery subscribers, Felicity joined the Lottery because it supports the local community. “Winning is wonderful,“ she said, “but I think paying £1 a week is my small contribution to the Island community, and it is good to know that the money
goes to help local people.” Maureen Nicholson, of Hunny Hill, Newport, is thinking of changing her address after winning the £2,000 top prize for the second time in two years. “I’ve told the neighbours, and they can’t believe it. We think they should call it Money Hill now!” she said. Mother of four Maureen joined the Lottery five years ago on the death of her close friend Rita Puckett, who also played the Lottery. “I wanted to take her place,” she said. “She was always telling me what a good cause it was, and I signed up straight away. So anything I win is because of her.” The Isle of Wight Lottery is a division of the Island’s Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry. It operates on a non-profit basis, and all proceeds are directed into a loan fund which is used to provide interest free loans to start-up and expanding Island businesses. For more information, and to sign up, go to www.isleofwightlottery.com
Businesses win too with the Lottery
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loan from the Isle of Wight Lottery was high on the menu for Lorraine Coster and Serafin Fernandez when they opened their tapas restaurant three years ago. Now, they’ve applied for another interest free loan to help fund the further development of their business. Lorraine and Serafin run the El Toro Contento in Ventnor and aim to extend the choice of food on offer in 2010. Their plans for the next phase of development include the installation of a Spanish woodburning oven and the creation of a new Caribbean menu at their other venue in Ventnor, the Pintxo Playa. Lorraine said: “The Isle of Wight Lottery helped us get off the ground so it made sense for us to apply again. The process is rigorous and it certainly helps you to be clear and methodical about what you
are planning to do.” She said it was not easy to find business finance, particularly as they moved to the Island from Spain without any credit references. “The Lottery has been a lifeline for us,” she said. “We have paid off our first loan, and now that we’re ready to build up the business we decided to apply again.” All proceeds from the Isle of Wight Lottery are directed into a loan fund and loans, which are assessed by an investment panel, are provided interest free to start-up and expanding Island businesses. The IW Lottery also supports the Start up Business Training programme and through this has also given support to over 500 local people entering selfemployment.
FEBRUARY 2010
www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
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BETTER BUSINESS
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Research your market
Is your business plan fit for purpose? Everyone recognises that a start-up business needs a plan but how many established businesses maintain and regularly update their business plan? Is it time that you reviewed your plan and made sure that it is fit for purpose?
I
f you're starting a business, your plan is everything. Your brilliant idea is just that – an idea – unless you put it in a market and commercial context. The business plan defines the context – and without it you won't be able to raise funds or convince anyone of the merits of your idea. Once you've got the business up and running, the business plan becomes your road map. It should set out the whys, hows, and whens of your business future. In short, it's your recipe for success. Your plan should define your business goals, set objectives and show how you intend to meet them and in what timescale. It should include market research, staffing requirements, sales projections, cashflow, and profit and loss forecast. As well as being essential for explaining your ideas to others, the process of writing the plan will help you understand the business to the level of detail you need to make a success of it. The complexity of your plan will depend on the size and type of business you run. When you're starting a small business 10
The Island Business team explores the vital art of business planning you'll probably only need a simple business plan that can develop alongside your business. Initially you'll focus on the idea, the market for it, potential demand, and how you'll produce your product or service, how many people you'll need, and how you'll market and sell it. Remember, the plan needs to be realistic, to include a timescale, and it must incorporate measures of success. Although most start-up business plans won't need all the parts that a more comprehensive plan would contain, businesses that require high levels of investment or have higher levels of risk require much more planning if you are to convince investors, partners, banks, and other interested parties of the viability of the venture.
Your business plan will benefit from having good information about the market opportunity. A plan is only as good as its assumptions and you need to be able to support those assumptions. A useful source of information is the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which you can find at www.statistics.gov.uk along with their Publication Hub at www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/. If you need more specific data it may be available, at a price, from a specialist provider such as Mintel. You can also conduct your own research by speaking to friends and family or asking your potential customers for their opinions.
“Plan to succeed – and you have more chance of doing so” Writing a business plan Writing the plan is not as daunting as it sometimes sounds and it can be a straightforward process that helps clarify long term goals and measure progress. If you've never written a plan before, or even if you have, it can help a lot if you take advantage of the help that is available from business advisers at organisations such as the IW Chamber of Commerce, Business Link, and the Solent Innovation and Growth network. Business Link offers a step-by-step guide to writing a business plan on its website – www.businesslink.gov.uk/businessplan and www.bplans.co.uk is another very useful site which offers good advice and downloadable templates for producing business plans and marketing plans. Although a business plan need only contain text and financial data, it is definitely enhanced by including images, graphs, and charts. Don't make it too dense and difficult to read and consider having it professionally laid out to help make it attractive and easy to read by busy bankers or investors. A good way to get started is to write your plan in stages that match your needs. The first stage might be written to allow you to discuss the idea with potential partners, staff, or other key
CHAMBER INTERVIEW THE EXPERT’S VIEW
FEBRUARY 2010
What's in a plan? Information on the business What type of business is it and what are its goals and objectives? What is your product or service and how are you going to sell it? Who are your customers? What does it cost? What premises will you be using? What staff do you need? Have you considered your information and communications technology needs?
Market analysis What's the market and where does your product or service fit in? How big is the market and how much money is spent on products or services similar to yours?
INFORMATION & COMMUNICATONS TECHNOLOGY Information and communications technology is crucial to many businesses. In his Expert's View column Jonathan Thornton, Technical Services Director of Rydebased IT provider, PC Consultants offers his views on how to get the best from ICT. sponsored by
Profile your customers Who are your competitors and how are you different from them? What's your USP?What are your sales projections?
Marketing strategy How will you get the edge on the competition? What about the advertising/marketing budget? What media best reaches your audience?
Management Who will be running the business and how are they qualified? How will responsibilities be divided?
Financial Where will the money to pay for the start up or expansion come from and how will it be spent? Have you developed appropriate forecasts with sufficient explanation (sales, profit and loss forecast, break-even analysis, etc.)? Will you need to be VAT registered and is this accounted for in your sales analysis & financial projections? people. As you develop the idea and need to sound out funding sources you’ll want to add more detail, including market research, sales projections, and a financial section with a basic sales and expenses forecast, and simple profit and loss. Remember, it is usual to include a minimum of three years financial projections. Developing your financial forecasts will help you plan your expenditure and match it to income and investment requirements. When your business is up and running, update your plan regularly to keep it up-to-date, realistic, achievable, and allround fit-for-purpose. Ask for help If possible, find a friend or colleague with business experience who is willing and able to critique your plans. A business owner can easily become too close and too passionate about the business to be able to take a big picture view. Having someone who can play devil's advocate when needed can be a great help. Fortunately, if you don't have suitably qualified friends Business Link can offer their support free of charge, with a dedicated Business Link Adviser available to assist you. Don’t forget to involve your bank manager by showing him or her your plan and asking what help and advice they can offer. Contact: Business Link: by calling 0845 600 9 006 or visit: www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry: www.iwchamber.co.uk Solent Innovation and Growth Team: www.innovationgrowth.co.uk/solent/ www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
Does your small business need a server?
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or most small business owners focusing on running the business is top priority.As such, any investment in computer systems will generally occur gradually over time. Perhaps you start with a single computer, storing your email, files and software applications locally.A new employee starts and along comes another new computer. Files are shared on removable USB drives, emailed to one another or at best some form of file sharing is used. Backup and file management is normally non-existent! A server is a broad term usually used to describe a combination of hardware and software designed to provide services to client computers. For a small business this would traditionally take the form of a dedicated computer offering file, email and print services combined with a managed backup system. Instead of individual files being stored locally on each computer, the file server role allows you to centrally store and organise data. This can avoid having multiple versions of important documents in numerous different locations, whilst the ability to easily set file permissions and access rights ensures your confidential data stays private. Exchange Server is an example of a powerful messaging and collaboration software product developed by Microsoft. Emails are centrally stored and distributed within your company as an alternative to directly downloading them to individual PCs. The ability to share information is not limited to email but can include contacts, calendar items and tasks. Antivirus and anti-spam protection can be enabled at server level
creating a first line of defence against threats, while remote working through Outlook Web Access or a variety of mobile devices provides you access to your email from anywhere. Hardware can be replaced but what about your valuable files and data? Some studies have suggested that 60% of companies that lose their data will shut down within 6 months of the disaster. Servers are designed to provide higher levels of inbuilt redundancy and physical protection against data loss compared to a desktop PC or laptop. Multiple disk drives and automated backup systems all help protect your data and build 24/7 reliability. Perhaps when you think of servers, you think of large scale racks in temperature controlled data centres. But these days a server can look very similar to a desktop PC, taking up similar amounts of power and space. Servers need not cost the earth, with nearly all vendors offering entry-level systems, including solutions from manufacturers such as Dell, Fujitsu, and HP. At the same time Microsoft products such as Windows Server Foundation and Small Business Server provide the software geared to grow as needed to suit your business. Having a correctly specified and designed server is just another way of making I.T. work for you, improving efficiency and productivity in your business. Contact: Jonathan at PC Consultants on 01983 811711 www.pcctechservices.co.uk Jonathan.thornton@pcconsultants.co.uk
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FEATURE
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Brownrigg Poultry
Sue Brownrigg
Paul and Sue Brownrigg started farming sheep about 20 years ago. They used to sell a few turkeys at Christmas: "For a bit of pin money really," said Sue. "The poultry business has expanded and we're probably the most well-known on the Island now." Paul and Sue also farm sheep and cattle and the business is split equally between the poultry and the livestock: "We couldn't farm all of our acres without doing the livestock, and the poultry side has expanded off the back of it, they work quite well together," said Sue. At Christmas, Brownrigg Poultry sell around 2,000 turkeys. Most stay on the Island but Sue and Paul also supply one mainland farm shop: "We get other mainland enquiries from the mainland, but I think the ferry fares might put a dampener on it," said Sue. Sue realises the importance of the Farmers’ Markets as an opportunity to educate her customers about where their food comes from but also to encourage people to buy local: "Buying local is how it should be, you're more responsible within your own community if it's your name on the product. "People like coming out to farms, they like coming out to see where things come from," continued Sue. "We're planning to open ‘The Farmers Weekend Joint’ farm shop to sell more of our own products." Brownrigg Poultry supply the Co-op with eggs and Sue is complimentary about the supermarket: "Co-op genuinely are committed to local communities, they've got their own farms and they understand the whole system completely."
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Island grown – produce from a green Island If there's one word to describe the Island's food sector at the moment it would be vibrant. Over the last few years, as the food culture has changed, Island producers have been carving out new opportunities, responding to consumer wishes, and getting closer to their customers.
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he food sector has seen some major changes in recent years and now there are several converging factors, which are changing the market and which offer opportunities for local businesses across the sector. In the last month, the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership (IWEP) published its food sector survey, DEFRA launched its 20-year food strategy, and the Government announced a new grocery supply code of practice. We asked Peter Kendall, NFU President, who was visiting
Steve Sleight and Zara MacAlister explore the Island’s food sector the Island amidst January's snow, how the food sector has changed in recent years. "There's been major consolidation, the same as the mainland," he explained. "It's been a really gruelling time, (but)
FEATURE
FEBRUARY 2010
there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel and more optimism. "There are smaller businesses growing up to meet local needs," he continued. "It's part of the food culture that's evolving, people want to know where their food's coming from. That creates an opportunity."
Little Duxmore Farm
The strengths of local food Clearly, a major change that's bringing great opportunities is the increasing demand for higher-quality food, preferably produced locally, with greater traceability and less environmental impact. IWEP’s survey found that 43% of Island farmers and growers are planning to expand, with an increase in direct supply to consumers a common feature of their plans. Processors are also planning to expand, with 80% expecting to grow to meet the demand for local produce. Among the priorities of DEFRA’s new 20-year food policy are enabling people to eat a healthy and sustainable diet and ensuring a resilient food system. Commenting on the local survey and DEFRA's strategy, Brian Friend, IWEP Chairman said: “The Island’s agricultural, forestry, and fishing industries generated an output of £30m in 2007 and provided 2,200 full-time jobs. "With the recent publication of DEFRA’s food report, and the interest and demand in local food, now is the opportune time to get behind the food sector.” Many local producers and retailers have already reacted to meet consumers' demand for local, quality food. The Real Island Food Company, for example, was started by Jackie Phillips and Rachel Foy in 2007 when they launched an online shop and home delivery service for Island produced food. Jackie explained: "We wanted to bring a new customer base to local food, to reconnect people with food, and to make it easy and fun to buy. "Now, we have two refrigerated vans delivering Island wide to residents and self-catering holiday visitors." They are also busy expanding with a range of Island Kitchen ready meals, a new mail order website (www.islandfoodandgifts.co.uk), and they’ve bought a shop in Niton. An example of the power of consumer choice is free range egg production, which has grown from 16% of the UK egg market to just under 40%, with www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
Isle of Wight Grain
Chris Sprackling
Matt Bowman
Matt Bowman started his own milling business in 1995 and five years ago moved to his current mill in Havenstreet where he mills a range of flours and produces his organic Stoneground Flour. Two years ago Matt branched out into selling eggs: "It was a natural progression on the farm, the chickens are not only fertilising the land to allow us to grow cereals for the milling business, but we're also getting eggs from them as well," said Matt. Little Duxmore Farm currently has 1,700 hens, with the only organic eggs on the Island, and some free range eggs too. "The eggs are sold on the Island, primarily into the farm shops, the schools, and the delicatessens. We've got contracts with Tesco and the Coop, so that keeps us busy on the egg side," said Matt. On the flour side the mill produces around 600 tonnes of flour each year: "We've got flour in absolutely every sales outlet we can on the Island, but that's not enough to sustain the business, so sadly most of our flour does go off the Island," said Matt. Matt believes that the Island food sector could work together more efficiently to really make a difference to the local economy: "We could perhaps help each other out a bit, give each other more advice about the market and what's available." Despite this Matt is positive about the future of Island produce: "You only need to go down to the local Farmers' Markets to see some very good ideas and some top quality products.
Isle of Wight Grain was founded in 1978 and now has around 50 members. It enables even the smaller Island farms to store their grain safely and economically. Chris Sprackling, Store Manager for IoW Grain said: "By joining together and pooling their resources the farmers can have a fully fledged grain facility, it's much easier to do it through the co-operative than it is to try and do it individually." One advantage is that the grain can be blended as Chris explained: "Not everyone produces top notch stuff, some are over, some are under. There's a very strict grading system, and all milling wheat should be 13% protein. You don't get paid any more for having 13.5%, which some people will achieve, but somebody else will only achieve 12.5%, so put the two together and you've got 13% and you've made some extra." IoW Grain ships to various destinations in the UK as well as Europe. "We don't see the UK as our natural market, there's plenty being grown in England and they don't have to cross the water to get it – so we see southern Europe and further afield as our main destinations," said Chris, adding that they do ship to some UK destinations such as Hull, Liverpool, and Ireland. IoW Grain encourage their members to think about quality not quantity. With the help of people like Chris the farmers decide which grains are best to plant for the following harvest, "It's a two year cycle from when you're deciding what you're going to grow to when you actually sell the grain,” said Chris. “We will advise them as to which varieties we can best sell into which markets and they will plant accordingly."
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FEATURE The Isle of Wight Cheese Company
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Sharon Orchard
Richard Hodgson, hands-on with cheese
Richard Hodgson started making cheese in 2006. Giving up a career as a film editor, he went to agricultural college and learnt how to make cheese before setting up his own cheese making facility in the Island's Arreton Valley: "The hardest thing about getting started was having to learn how to become a cheese maker but also learn how to run a business at the same time," said Richard. Yet within a few months of starting as a commercial cheese maker, his Isle of Wight Blue Cheese won Best English Cheese 2007 at the World Cheese Awards and came within a whisker of winning overall: "I went to the awards ceremony in London and I felt like a bit of an imposter because you had all these guys who had been making cheese for generations and I'd only been making cheese for 16 weeks, but I think a lot of that was down to the quality of the milk we have here." In setting up his business Richard hoped to be able to support the local dairy farmer: "One of the things we offered the farmer was a better price for the milk, and we hoped that we could factor that in to the cost of the cheese." Isle of Wight Cheese is made at Queen Bower Dairy, and the cows are just 25 metres away from the vat used to make the cheese: "In terms of food miles it's about as short as it could possibly be," explained Richard. A grant from the Rural Development Leader Plus scheme has meant Richard is able to make the cheese more efficiently: "This has enabled me to spend more time looking at ways in which I can potentially take the business forward and expand," said Richard.
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Sharon McNally
Sharon McNally started Sharon Orchard about 15 years ago. "It was a hobby that got out of hand, and we've just continued to grow," she explained. Sharon and her partner had lots of support when they were starting: "There is a lot of help out there for small businesses; we were put on to South East Food Group and they have lots of courses. I've been on one recently about jam making, it was really helpful," said Sharon. Sharon is also the chairperson of the Isle of Wight Farmers' Market. Held once a week in both Newport and Ryde the market is open to all Island producers. Sharon likes the market's community spirit: "It's nice to see regular faces, we get to know people and what products they like." Sharon is passionate about educating young people about local produce. Last year they held a Farmers' Market at Cowes Primary School: "It's nice to teach youngsters about fresh food," said Sharon, "and to get the produce out there so people know who we are and what we can offer." Her advice for others who want to start their own produce company is to start small: "It's hard working for yourself and getting out there to sell the produce." For Sharon the reward comes when people try her products and come back to buy more: "It's lovely having those compliments, it's nice to think that you've grown, made, and sold that product.”
Waitrose, M&S, and Co-op now selling only free range or organic eggs. Sue and Paul Brownrigg of Brownrigg Poultry farmed sheep and cattle but expanded into poultry and are now a large supplier of free range eggs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, and game birds. They too have recognised the benefit of expanding further into the supply chain and having closer contact with consumers. Brownrigg Poultry offers Island-wide delivery, is part of the Farmers' Market in Newport and Ryde each week, and Sue and Paul are opening a farm shop in time for Easter. “We supply direct through the Farmers’ Market, farms shops, hotels, and restaurants," explained Sue. "We pluck on a Monday, prepare everything on a Wednesday, deliver to hotels on a Thursday, and do the Farmers' Markets on a Friday and Saturday. "We intend to sell more of our own products come April, when we launch our new Farmers Weekend Joint Shop." Matt Bowman runs The Stoneground Flour Company at Little Duxmore Farm in Havenstreet. and mills around 600 tonnes a year, including organic flour. Matt started an organic egg business two years ago to supplement the milling company. "It was a natural progression. When I converted the farm into organic we needed a mixed system to utilise the natural fertilisers. We do organic eggs and a small amount of free range eggs, which we supply to all the local schools. "We only sell the eggs on the Island, primarily into farm shops, the schools, delis, and through Tesco and the Co-op." Father and son, Harold and Alan George run Coppid Hall Farm and have also extended their business, as Alan explained: "If we didn't have the retail side the business wouldn't sustain itself." The milk produced by their cows grazing pasture at the Havenstreet farm is pasteurised and bottled on site and Howard and Alan provide a daily delivery across the Island. "We're trying to cut down the food miles." explained Harold. "We deliver six days a week and cover a few places on Sunday as well. But we work it out every month to see if we can save food miles." Nothing could be more local than Isle of Wight Cheese's milk supply. Their unpasteurised milk from the herd of Guernsey cows at Queen Bower Dairy
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
FEBRUARY 2010
MONEY MATTERS No business survives without managing its money well and our Expert’s View on money matters is here to make sure you don’t miss a trick. This month, Ian Ralph, director of Harrison Black, highlights points to consider when setting up a new business, aimed particularly at those new to self employment. sponsored by
Getting the basics right when forming your business
Credit: Sue Brownrigg
travels just feet from the dairy next door. Richard Hodgson, said: "The milk we use has a higher butter fat content, it's much creamier all year round, and that's excellent for cheese making. The vat is 25 metres from the cows, so in terms of food miles it's about as short as it possibly could be, and it's excellent for us because we have full traceability on where our milk comes from."
Supermarkets A factor that promises to help small local producers in their relationships with supermarkets is the new grocery supply code of practice which aims to control the power that large grocery retailers wield over suppliers. The NFU's President Peter Kendall commented: "Having an enforcer with real bite, to make sure there's fairness in the supply chain, is absolutely vital to the farming industry." One supermarket that does support the Island's food sector is the Co-op whose attitude to local suppliers was praised by many we spoke to. Matt Bowman said: "There are a lot more of us who have got involved with the Co-op than any other supermarket. We do a four egg box that goes into the Co-op, which we did specifically for them as something unique." Lucy Avison, Customer Insight and Events Manager at The Southern Co-operative, explained their thinking: "The issues of food provenance and development of local sustainability have increased in profile and importance. The Isle of Wight is host to a wealth of outstanding growers and food producers, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to provide our customers with the best of what it has to offer."
Collaboration The food sector has not always been known for collaboration between producers but Isle of Wight Grain is an example of a very successful arrangement. The co-operative store occupies a dockside site in Cowes where it stores 15,000 tonnes for its Island members and elevates a similar amount of members' grain over its own ship loader for mainly European destinations. Matt Bowman says that Island food businesses could be better at working together but cites the grain group as a great example of suppliers working well together: "99.9% of farmers on the Island are members of the grain group, so they all work together as a co-operative to get their cereals in one place and to market www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
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ou've made that important decision to run your own small business; your product or service appears to be sound and you have sufficient funding in place. Don’t forget those other important areas in connection with your new business, some of which are highlighted below. Is your business to be set up as a self employment, a partnership, or a limited company? Factors such as size, complexity, risk, asset ownership, succession and tax planning may decide the choice. You must notify the Revenue and Customs within three months of commencing a new self employment. You will also have to register for Class 2 National Insurance unless your self-employed profit is below £5,075 and you apply for exemption. Registration for Value Added Tax is compulsory when your turnover reaches £68,000, or immediately if you take over an existing VAT registered business. Remember you will be collecting VAT on behalf of the Customs and Excise and care should be taken to budget for the likely quarterly return. Ensure you are aware if your goods and services are standard rated, zero rated or exempt from VAT. Seek assistance if in doubt. If you work within the construction industry scheme, ensure you are registered as a CIS contractor or subcontractor. You will not be able to get paid unless you do so! If you plan to employ staff, an employer’s PAYE scheme will be needed, together with the knowledge to operate it
effectively. All employers must have an understanding of basic employment law, obligations and duties. If in doubt, seek assistance! Budget for those income tax bills. A company pays its tax nine months after its financial year end. An unincorporated individual normally pays tax on 31 January and 31 July each year. Beware the trap of that first year in business, when you may pay no tax for eighteen months and then may have a nasty catch up charge. Ask your accountant or tax advisor to give you an estimation of your future tax bills to avoid unexpected shocks. Consider if you need insurance cover for public liability, employer’s liability, interruption to your business causing loss of profits, cover for physcial assets, health/sickness. Also, be aware of laws and regulations in connection with your work. You will be expected to know them. And finally, don’t forget those books and records. You have obligations to various authorities to keep adequate records, however small your business. If you are a cash trader, you should keep your prime daily income record. If you raise invoices to your customers, these should be sequentially numbered. Keep the records up to date and they will be a valuable tool for your business and decisions you make. Contact: You can contact Ian Ralph on 01983 524731 or email: ian@harrisonblack.co.uk. or via the web site: www.harrisonblack.co.uk
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FEATURE
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT Island produce on the hoof
Godshill Organics Lee Illman
Godshill Organics is a family run business selling everything from organic fruit and vegetables, to organic cleaning products. Lee Illman, Manager at the farm shop in Godshill said: "We pretty much tick every box, you can do your full weekly shop with us. "The shop has been open for five years now and has got a massive range of products; it's an award winning farm shop that has been recognised all over Hampshire," explained Lee. Maintaining their organic status is hard work. Godshill Organics are certified by the Soil Association who can call in at any time to test the soil, the work is labour intensive which makes it expensive, but Lee really enjoys it: "Every day I work with a smile on my face. You're out in the fresh air, providing people with a massive service, you're looking after people's health and you're helping the planet." Godshill Organics have big plans for the future. They have recently employed an on site chef who bakes fresh pies and pastries: "They've gone down an absolute treat, both in the shop and at the Farmers' Markets," said Lee. "We're also offering local organic meats, butchered onsite and you can have your sausages made in front of you." Godshill Organics are also planning to open a café: "We want to offer good organic food at a fair price. As well as that we're looking this year to undergo new initiatives such as wine and cheese evenings and gala days; it's going to be a good 2010 for Godshill Organics," concluded Lee.
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Credit: Sue Brownrigg
them and get them off the Island.” (Ed: or to Matt for milling). But he added: "I think more could be done for local producers to work together and help each other out a bit more." IWEP's survey found strong support for an Island Food Group. Respondents said the sector needs a clear identity, specialist advice, opportunities for networking, marketing support, and collaboration. Sharon McNally of Sharon Orchard and Chair of the Farmers' Market, said: “We work incredibly hard to produce quality local food and we just don’t have the time to seek funding and facilitate the opportunities which could help us grow. Any additional resource would be invaluable to us.” IWEP's Chief Executive, Graham Biss said: “We are now proposing to seek support and funding to establish an Island Food Group to give additional support for food sector businesses.”
Infrastructure needs As hard as the food sector works they are constrained by infrastructure needs. In particular, to sort out the disposal of animal waste, whether that be fallen stock or waste from farms and even butcher's shops. Matt Legge of the Island's NFU branch agreed that waste disposal needs to be resolved: "We don't have a facility on the Island. At the moment burial is allowed in certain places where you can meet environmental conditions, and there is also a limited service where some stock is taken off Island. “But with support from the Economic Partnership avenues are being explored. We have one group that is keen to put in a facility and hopefully we'll have a solution that's there for the long term.” Another important issue is the lack of
an abattoir on the Island and IWEP's Graeme Biss commented: "The Island does suffer from lack of key items of infrastructure. But with an abattoir it's about viability. We've got to ensure that these infrastructure items can sustain themselves. Quite clearly it is a barrier, when we are looking to move along the food chain." If a solution can be found to the infrastructure needs then the Island food sector looks set for a positive future thanks to the increasing demand by consumers for local, quality food they can trust. Island food businesses have responded well to the opportunities and the great variety of local food on offer suggests that there is a future for an Isle of Wight food brand. Matt Legge is confident about the Island's food sector: "It's very vibrant at the moment, there's a much more positive outlook on the future. “I'm particularly pleased that the general public show a much greater interest in where their food comes from and how it's produced, and I think the Isle of Wight has a lot to offer." Potentially, the Island's two key sectors, tourism and agriculture, can help each other. The strength of the Island's food sector benefits tourism by adding another reason to visit our green isle, while food producers profit from the valuable audience that tourism brings to their backyard. Perhaps both sectors could be served by a collaborative approach to the marketing of an Island brand that is recognisable by both audiences.
Read and watch lots more on this story and the companies featured on Island Business Online.
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PO38 2JN Tel: 01983 551 201 info@chalegreenstores.co.uk Chale Green Õ Stores
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SPECIAL REPORT
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Safer travel benefits customers and operators
TravelSafe – encouraging safer Island travel By helping reduce anti-social behaviour on the Island's transport networks, the Community Rail Partnership's TravelSafe initiative is providing real benefit for customers and the transport operators.
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nti-social behaviour on buses, trains, and ferries can be a real deterrent to the use of public transport while costing the operators money in damage repairs and lost revenues. Not only that, but there's an environmental cost too as people resort to their cars rather than travel on public transport. The Community Rail Partnership (CRP) aims to create a sustainable future for rail on the Isle of Wight but its TravelSafe project also incorporates all the Island's transport operators, striving to make the experience of public transport safer and more pleasant for customers. "The CRP is really keen on promoting learning and skills through encouraging young people to work together who may 18
not have met each other in the past," said Bobby Lock, Rail Development Officer for the Isle of Wight. They achieve this by creating TravelSafe partnerships in the Island's schools. TravelSafe partnerships were set up by the CRP in schools across the Island in 2007. The groups are made up of young people of mixed ages and abilities who work together to spread the message of TravelSafe through marketing and brand awareness campaigns. TravelSafe started out as a poster campaign but the project continued to grow and develop and in July 2009 the TravelSafe DVD and book were published. TravelSafe began when the transport operators saw the potential of working together to improve the public transport
Zara MacAlister reports on the innovative project network across the Island. Kerry Jackson Marketing Manager, Wightlink said: "The way to improve Island transport is to have better connections. Our ferries meet with a lot of Island Line Trains and the buses as well, but if we can improve some of our connections it improves the whole public transport realm." Working together wasn't the only goal of TravelSafe – it will come as no surprise that although rare on the Island, there are cases of anti-social behaviour on all forms of public transport. These vary but can include bullying directed at other transport users, or even staff, as Steve Roscoe, Service Delivery Team Leader for
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
FEBRUARY 2010
Funding sources for TravelSafe: £14,000 Learning and Skills Council (LSC) £5,000 from Designated Community Rail Development Fund (DCRDF) £5,000 from Extended Services £3,500 from Post 16 Transport £3,265 Police – Crime and Disorder Fund £3,000 Transport Providers
LEGALLY SPEAKING Legal issues are something that a business ignores at its peril. Our legal eagle delivering his Expert’s View is Lance Terry, Partner at Glanvilles LLP. In this month's column, Lance examines the concept of force majeure. sponsored by
Additional funding has now been secured for the Red Tie Theatre Company to run a TravelSafe Week in schools with plays and workshops. Please contact Rail Development officer Bobby Lock on 07779 999844 for details.
How did the snow affect your contractual obligations? The TravelSafe initiative was created by the Community Rail Partnership
Southern Vectis told us: "Bullying not only affects young people, but it can also affect my staff. I've had staff remove themselves from duty for four or five weeks due to stress. " Clearly this time off work has implications for the businesses running the transport network as well as the individual staff. Other incidents can include vandalism and Southern Vectis often find the bills for this run into the thousands. "Each time a school coach is withdrawn from service it can cost up to £500 per day," explained Steve Roscoe. The ferry companies also find vandalism a problem: "We've had incidences where television screens have been smashed while general acts tend to be graffiti on toilet doors or ripped and damaged seats," said Kerry Jackson. For Red Funnel it's the same story: "Only last week we had the Red Osprey broken into and all the contents of the fruit machines stolen," said Darren Button, Terminal Operations Manager for Red Funnel. Island Line Trains find the problems are more to do with the sheer number of students on peak time services: "With the school kids, sometimes they are all very eager to get onto the trains, and people tend to push forward. We have had incidents where people have been pushed getting onto the train," said Tony Dickinson, Island Line Trains' Station Manager. For the TravelSafe partnerships and the projects associated with them, Bobby Lock has secured over £20,000 of funding. That has come from a number of sources including the transport providers and the police. Amazingly, even during the current recession Bobby didn't struggle to secure funding: "Raising the money wasn't difficult at all; that didn't surprise me because climate change and anti-social behaviour are such hot topics at the moment, but I was expecting it to take longer," said Bobby. "TravelSafe was something which ticked everyone's boxes, and organisations were happy to be associated with such a positive and beneficial project." www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
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he snow in January seriously affected the ability of a large number of businesses across the UK to deliver goods or provide services in accordance with whatever contractual terms they may have agreed. Many businesses found that their normal operations were severely disrupted because staff could not get into work or vehicles could not travel on the roads or because of one of a host of other effects of the sudden heavy snowfall. However, where a business has a contractual obligation, for example, to deliver certain products by a particular date, the occurrence of some event beyond the control of that business, such as extreme adverse weather conditions, will not necessarily excuse the business from meeting that contractual obligation. Hence if the business does not perform its obligations as provided for in the contract, it will be in breach of contract and potentially liable for damages unless the contract provides for what will happen on the occurrence of some event such as a heavy prolonged snowfall. Thus, many commercial contracts or standard terms and conditions will contain a provision called a force majeure clause. Although the term force majeure (which is derived from French law) is well known in the commercial environment, it does not have a precise legal meaning in English law. Therefore it is essential that the contract clearly spells out what is meant by force majeure.
In its most basic form, a force majeure clause will stipulate that a party will not be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations (and may provide that such performance is suspended) where this is caused by some event beyond that party’s reasonable control. Often such clauses will go on to list various events which will be considered a force majeure event for the purpose of that clause. A more comprehensive force majeure clause may also include provisions requiring the party affected by the event to serve notice on the other party and to take reasonable steps to mitigate the effect of force majeure event. The clause may also provide that if the event continues for a certain period of time, the contract may be terminated. In practice, when negotiating contracts, parties often pay very little attention to the force majeure provisions in the contract (if indeed any are included). It is only in times of some unforeseen event arising, like the recent snowfall, that the parties will have to pull the contract out of the bottom drawer to see what protection, if any, the contract may afford them – and that protection is to be found in a well drafted force majeure clause. Contact Lance at: L.Terry@glanvilles.co.uk www.glanvilles.co.uk 01983 527878
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SPECIAL REPORT
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Police Sergeant Jennings
The benefits Getting the whole community involved in TravelSafe ensures a commitment to the success of the campaign: "Any scheme or initiative where people come from all over the community and start to think about the problems and how to solve them is excellent as far as I'm concerned," said Paul Jennings, Newport South Safer Neighbourhood Sergeant. "Travelsafe partnerships are about encouraging people to behave responsibly and well on public transport," said Bobby Lock. The students learn about the transport networks and understand more about the society they live in and the importance of building a strong community. For Carisbrooke High School student Azaria Wood, TravelSafe has opened her eyes: "It's shown me how different ages can all work together because they want to help the same cause." Police Sergeant Jennings believes that the level of crime on Island transport is already low but considers the problem to be how people feel while on public transport: "The fear of crime is something my team work on a lot and that's the main reason we wanted to be involved with TravelSafe, to reassure the public." Island Line Trains are also aware of the negative impact anti-social behaviour can have on their business: "There is no doubt that if people witness anti-social behaviour whilst travelling on public transport it can be very off-putting," said Tony Dickinson. If people don't feel safe on public transport, they won't use it. That could inflict damage on the Island’s transport 20
network, and ultimately have a long term negative effect on the environment: "We all have a duty to reduce our CO2 emissions, and traveling on public transport is one way that we can achieve that end," said Bobby Lock. Positive results Public transport on the Island is getting safer as awareness of potential problems increases through community involvement, and Bobby Lock is confident of the success of the CRP's projects: "TravelSafe has meant that the transport providers now talk to each other and share information. So we're able to keep on top of bad behaviour, and when it does occur put things in place to stop it." Steve Roscoe is aware of the benefits of talking directly to his customers: "TravelSafe has helped us with a number of issues and behaviour on the school buses has improved over the last year and a half. It's good to be able to speak with the younger people who want to use our product sensibly." Jonathan Lamb, Manager for Wightbus has also been pleased with the success of TravelSafe: "We have been impressed with the great interest displayed by the students involved and the growth in their awareness of the problems and costs incurred by transport operators when children misbehave." Tony Dickinson, too, has been impressed with the young people's attitude towards the project: "It was a really great project to be involved in, there was a real feeling of ownership from the students and everyone involved."
"I wasn't very good on public transport but since I've come on TravelSafe I've realised how bad I was. It's not just about your journey it's about everyone else on that bus or train, and you've got to be more considerate." Azaria Wood
The future for TravelSafe The Community Rail Partnership is involved in other projects as well as TravelSafe and they are certainly making a difference to the Island transport network. Tony Dickinson said: "We've seen a steady reduction in vandalism over the years with the support of the Isle of Wight CRP in establishing community based projects at several of our stations." The TravelSafe DVD was shown in school assemblies in September 2009 to encourage the schools to start their own TravelSafe groups to tackle issues relevant to their area. TravelSafe is continuing to grow on the Island and is even branching out to the mainland. Bobby Lock is continuing to raise funds to create more partnerships and to enable future projects. These will allow young people to go out into the communities and gain an understanding of the role of different transport and their historical and future importance to the success of the Island both socially and economically. You can watch the TravelSafe video on Island Business Online. For more information visit: www.isleofwightcrp.co.uk
www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
21
COMPANY PROFILE
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Food and drink are vital ingredients of the Royal experience
The grand entrance hall
A Royal experience William Bailey has Royal blood in his veins – he was born in the Royal Esplanade Hotel in Ryde, and has been the proud owner of the Royal Hotel in Ventnor for fifteen years.
The Royal Hotel is going from strength to strength, driven by a desire for excellence Kevin Wilson investigates their passion for improvement 22
T
he Royal Hotel is celebrating its best ever summer, was packed out for Christmas and New Year, refurbished its rooms, rebuilt its website, and launched a new outdoor catering subsidiary last month with £50,000 worth of advance orders. But William continues to plan ahead, and told Island Business to expect another news announcement very soon. The desire for continuous improvement has fuelled the Royal Hotel’s development since William bought it on
impulse from Trust House Forte, and immediately committed to £2 million worth of improvements. “It was known as the Forte outpost,” he said. “Staff were sent here as a punishment, or so the story goes. We had to re-do everything – the building, the rooms, the customer service – everything.” If that sounds like a mountain to climb, it is an analogy that William would approve of. He took up mountaineering 10 years ago with his son Gregory, and believes the techniques required to conquer sheer ice faces have served him well. “Mountaineering teaches you the importance of teamwork, logistics, and a can-do attitude,” he said. “It has taught me a lot, balancing out my impulsive instinct with the need to plan and think things through. Nowadays, it is my son who wants to say yes to any mountaineering challenge, while I am the one agreeing, but only on condition that we think through all the issues first!” Success on the mountain demands the same attention to basics as is required in business, and William believes teamwork is at the heart of the Royal’s success. Of more than 50 staff he inherited when he took over from Forte 15 years ago, only two were still there after a year. “My biggest mistake was when I took over the hotel and believed that the staff would respond to what I was trying to
COMPANY PROFILE
FEBRUARY 2010 The stage is set for another outside catering event
We are passi passionate onate about good food We care about abou ut our communities comm We help look k after the environment en Love Local Food Love Food? d? TTry ry our selectio selection of the finest Isle of Wight produce, d available availa il ble bl from f the th following following ll i Co-operative stores:
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Visit Vi sit our website: websit www.thesouthernco-operative.co.uk -oper p ative.co.uk www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
23
COMPANY PROFILE
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
William Bailey in a rare moment of relaxation in the Royal Hotel garden
do,” he said. “But there was little recognition of the need or the importance of improvement.” Now he has what he calls “60 people all pulling in the same direction”, and all of them are employed all year round, helped by the fact that the Royal also owns and runs the luxury Chalet Royale close to the ski resort of Megeve in the French Alps. The chalet can be booked for £15,000 a week, complete with two chefs, other staff from the Royal Hotel, and a visiting masseur. The idea of building the chalet at a cost of £1 million was planted in William’s mind by poor service and facilities he experienced in the same resort. “I realised that my staff would do a great job running a chalet,” he said, “and it would give them a change of scene. Most of all, it provided a sensible way of keeping the team together all year round. Everything depends on the team, I am fortunate to work with all of them, and so I try to look after them. My experiences have made me quite ruthless about this, I suppose – but you just cannot afford to take chances with staff in this business.” 24
The other vital ingredient is food, and William is proud of the fact that his hotel has achieved two AA rosettes for food every year. As he pointed out, there are hotels who achieve more rosettes, but the Royal – a four star hotel with 54 bedrooms – is one of only a handful of comparable size establishments to consistently achieve the standard. “On a normal evening in the summer, we can expect to be catering for around 150 people in our restaurant,” he explained. “It’s tough to deliver that level of quality for that number of people, every single time.” And, naturally, this success is down to the team, too – in this case, a brigade of 14 chefs under the leadership of Executive Head Chef Alan Staley, Head Chef Dan Maskell, and Chef de Patissier Steve Bott. Between them they have worked in Michelin-starred restaurants throughout the UK and Europe including: The Savoy, Chewton Glen, JSW, Le Poussin, and Penny Hill Park. Now this focus on food has been extended into a new outside catering business, Royal Catering, which was launched last month complete with 10
Scaling a sheer ice face
extra staff and a new refrigerated van. It’s a big investment at a time when many businesses are reining back in an economic downturn, but Mr Bailey is bullish about the future. “There is always the temptation to cut back when times are difficult, but that can mean compromising on the quality of the goods and services you supply, and you can quickly find yourself in a downward spiral,” he said. “We have decided to invest and expand, and the number of bookings we have taken gives us plenty of encouragement.”
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25
COMPANY PROFILE
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT A view of the Royal Hotel garden
William is equally upbeat about the Isle of Wight, but believes the Island needs to adopt the same desire for continuous improvement if it is to stay in the premier league of UK destinations.
“The Island has in the last five years become a sexy destination, and we must capitalise on that by investing in marketing and promoting ourselves,” he said.
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“The Royal has increased its marketing budget by 20 per cent this year, and we will go on investing, and improving. Can we say the same for the Island as a tourism destination? I’m not sure. There has been mixed support from the top for tourism. You can see the spend in other areas, and it is vital that we don’t get left behind.” Meanwhile, William is determined that the Royal Hotel will maintain the same level of improvement that has fed its growth and success over the years. “We don’t believe in taking our foot off the pedal,” he said. “Our guests expect the highest standards, and it is our job to make sure that – whatever any other hotel in the country is doing – they will find the best here.” The desire for excellence ensures that William and his team will continue to push to the summit. And just like real mountain climbing, they will then be ready to scale the next, even tougher, peak. For more information visit: www.royalhoteliow.co.uk
www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
27
YOUNG CHAMBER
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Parsloe from Medina High School, Kaya Paxton from Ryde High School, Mark Butcher from Sandown High School and Joel Packham from St Catherine’s School. The third heat, the Into the Blue Challenge, was delayed because of bad weather. Full details of this and the Liz Earle Challenge in the next edition.
Denise Dorley-Brown holds a Q&A session with Cowes High’s Young Chamber
Young Chamber Challenge Life has been challenging for Young Chamber (YC) students this winter – and there’s no sign of a let-up in the pressure.
S
tudents from Cowes, Medina, Carisbrooke, Ryde, and Sandown high schools and St Catherine’s School all competed to win a place in the April grand final of the 2010 Young Chamber Challenge. First up was the Minghella Challenge, hosted by the Minghella family, and held at Newclose Cricket Ground. The competition was to devise a new flavour of ice cream and market it for the second Minghella Film Festival which will take place from 12 to 14 March. Judges were Ian Jenkins from Thinking Finance, Martin Poynter from Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue, Mike Scott, General Manager at Newclose Cricket Ground, Tracy King from Lloyds TSB, and Gloria Minghella as head judge. Ideas included a candy floss flavoured ice cream with popping candy called ‘Candy Ice’, a ‘Technicolour’ variety, and the eventual winner; Roobarb and Custard flavour ice cream inspired by the classic television cartoon. The students in the winning team were Tobias Penner from Medina High School, Shannon Rich from Ryde High School, Bradley McLaughlin from Carisbrooke High School and Danielle Dyer from Sandown High School. 28
Kevin Wilson reports A new set of teams took part in the second heat of the Young Chamber Challenge, hosted by Southern Vectis at Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater. Their brief was to become a coach operator for one year, operating a fleet of hired coaches, arranging excursions, marketing their products and services, and showing that they could make a profit. This Challenge was introduced and set by Marc MorganHuws, Operations and Commercial Manager of Southern Vectis and was judged by Graeme Craig of Southern Vectis, Ian Jenkins of Thinking Finance, Mike Scott from Newclose Cricket Club and Denise Dorley Brown from Pertemps. The winners offered day trips, targeted at young people, to different places in the south of England. Their trips included sports tours, seaside visits and a trip to Thorpe Park, and they estimated a handsome profit in the first year. Students in the winning team were Mitchell Ward from Carisbrooke High School, Emily Sheen from Cowes High School, Robert
YC assist in Little Shop of Horrors Medina High School Young Chamber Council jumped at the chance to help with the school’s production of ‘The Little Shop of Horrors’. Students worked backstage and front of house, as well as in marketing the show. Held in December, it was Medina’s most successful production for 10 years. Learning about recruitment Students from Cowes High’s Young Chamber invited Denise Dorley-Brown, Island branch manager of Pertemps, the largest privately owned recruitment agency in the UK, into their meeting for a question and answer session. The students asked questions about recruitment agencies and how they work, what skills you need to be a successful recruitment consultant, and the training and qualifications needed for the jobs. Denise gave helpful tips about CVs and interviews and searching for jobs, and said: “I love my job. Finding someone a job gives me a real buzz, and working in recruitment is very rewarding personally, and – if you work hard – financially too.” Exploring accountancy A group of Young Chamber students at Sandown High School were interested to learn more about what it takes to become an accountant, and invited David Stevens, a Director of Bright Brown Accountants into their lesson for a question and answer session. David talked about the qualifications and years of training required to become fully qualified, and pointed out that the role of an accountant can vary depending on where you work. He also took the time to explain about profit and loss and cash flow forecasting, which the students were interested to learn more about to assist with their coursework. Theresa Duddigan, teacher at Sandown High School said: “This was a brilliant opportunity for the students to learn more, and it proved to be a very useful session.”
CHAMBER MATTERS
FEBRUARY 2010
C
hamber general manager Dean Pascall is excited about the challenges and opportunities which lie in wait during 2010, and beyond. Dean – who joined the Chamber after managing English Heritage’s sites on the Island – picks out the development of tourism, Eco Island and the highways PFI as the golden opportunities. “The Chamber celebrates its centenary in March,” he said, “but we will continue to look ahead, and it is pleasing to see that we are representing the Island’s business community on all these issues. ”We have recently been recognised by the British Chambers of Commerce as a centre of excellence for the products and services we offer, including Young Chamber, Chamber Health, our work on tourism, the Cowes Marine Cluster, and the Isle of Wight Lottery. We are at the moment the only Chamber in the country to achieve that level – an amazing result for the Island and for the great team who work here. “But it is important to recognise that each one of these areas depends so much on us working with other agencies, and partnerships like these are the key to the future – for the Island as well as for us.” It’s this ability to contribute to the Island’s economic future that attracted Dean to
Chamber People
the Chamber, and six months into the job he is keen to spread the message to all Island businesses about the benefits of Chamber membership. “The Chamber does a great job, especially in supporting small and mediumsized businesses that don’t have the infrastructure of the larger corporations,” he said. “The range of benefits we provide is excellent, but membership is also about plugging into a network of contacts and expertise and I really want to get that message across in 2010.” Dean is also keen to develop the Isle of Wight Lottery. “The Lottery is one of the unsung heroes of the Island’s economy,” he said. “People who subscribe for £1 a week make it possible for us to give interest free loans to new and expanding businesses. So far, we have given out more than £300,000 in loans, helping to create and preserve Island jobs.” Dean has had an interesting career – ranging from service in the Royal Marines, reaching Michelin standard as a chef, and running hotels on the mainland as well as the Island, including the Priory Bay. Now he is responsible for the day to day running of the Chamber, reporting to the chief executive, Kevin Smith, and loving every minute of it.
NEW MEMBERS Blade Runner Shipping Ltd 02380 337795 miros@bladerunnershipping.co.uk www.bladerunnershipping.co.uk Berth 33, Off European Way Dock Gate 4, Southampton, Hants. Operating out of the Eastern Docks in Southampton, Blade Runner Shipping Ltd offers a variety of services to its customers. Central to the services offered are the Motor Transport Barges, Blade Runner One and Blade Runner Two. Brook House Cottages 01983 740535 belinda@brookhouseiow.co.uk www.brookhouseiow.co.uk Brook House, Brook, Isle of Wight PO30 4EJ Holiday cottages. The Islandwide Tyre Company 07966715781 Flat 1, 1 Grafton Lane, Sandown, Isle of Wight PO36 8JN The Islandwide Tyre Company - your place - workplace - any place! Tyres, brakes, shocks, exhausts, batteries, servicing, valeting, MOTs arranged and work undertaken and much more. After hours call out.
www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
MSM Plumbing And Heating Supplies Ltd 01983 526685 01983 532518 markwoodford@msmplumbing.co.uk www.msmplumbing.co.uk Units 5 and 6, Plot 7 Riverway, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 5UX Plumbing and heating merchant, supplying to trade and retail. Hamstead Farm Cottage 01983 760304 jcool@hamsteadfarm.orangehome.co.uk Yarmouth, Isle of Wight PO41 OYE Self-catering accommodation
Pelican Racing 01983 201581/2 01983 201597 ash@pelican-racing.co.uk www.pelican-racing.co.uk 5 Birmingham Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7BH Sailing School. AAA Marine (Cowes) Ltd 01983 282777 01983 282111 neil@aaamarine.co.uk www.aaamarine.co.uk 1 Marina Walk, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7XJ Yacht Brokers and Yacht Charter Agents
Joan Ellis 01983 740924 joan@joanellis.wanadoo.co.uk Dream Cottage Main Road, Merstone, Brighstone, Isle of Wight PO30 4AQ Advertising copywriter/tutor.
Extras Catering And Recruitment Ltd 0775915627 lsarahflanagan@aol.com Western View The Broadway, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight PO39 0AN Catering equipment hire, weddings, party, table decor.
Open Sauce Systems 01983 220028 mike@opensaucesystems.com www.opensaucesystems.com 41 Seaview Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7UN Design and installation of bespoke telecoms and database systems.
Susan Brown 02073 537202 02075 832030 Smb9sb@aol.com www.2kingsbenchwalk.co.uk 13a Westhill Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7SF Barrister – provision of legal advice and
representation to clients. Authorised for public access so able to represent clients direct without the intervention of a solicitor.
Greenwood Mentors Ltd 01983 617168 07841 573732 drkennedy@greenwoodmentors.com www.greenwoodmentors.com The Boulders, Quarr Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 4EL Coaching performance mentoring service, delivered via the internet. To enable individuals and companies to maximise their performance/overcome obstacles.
Jason Swain 0787 203 9384 jasonswain_uk@hotmail.com www.jasonswain.co.uk Roseland, Church Hill, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight PO39 0EU Photographer
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CHAMBER MATTERS
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Energy efficient power systems can save money Some organisations are turning their backs on energy efficient power and heating systems because they fear that the savings such systems can produce are too good to be true, according to Chamber Utilities™.
G
ary Collins, National Business Manager for Chamber Utilities™, part of the ENER-G group, says that some organisations view the energy efficiency issue and the well-proven and successful technologies that go with it as a “dark art”. “We sometimes find ourselves in the bizarre position of being able to deliver savings of 25-30% only to discover that the client believes it is all too good to be true. The same organisations become enthusiastic converts once they see the systems working and delivering the kind of savings and efficiencies they previously thought a hollow promise. The problem is that some organisations don’t know what to believe and who to listen to. That makes no sense for them and no sense for the environment.” The importance of energy management in commercial buildings is underscored by
figures showing that commercial property accounts for 40 per cent of the EU's energy requirements and represents the greatest single opportunity for boosting energy efficiency. Research shows that more than one-fifth of the present energy consumption could be saved quickly by applying more ambitious standards to new and refurbished buildings. The need for greater efficiency is being driven by the Environmental Performance of Buildings Directive and the upcoming CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, which penalise poor energy performers. ``z````` Gary said: “Many businesses perceive energy as an onerous and inevitable overhead, rather than a resource that can deliver concrete benefits, if properly managed. Now more than ever, innovative technology from specialist companies such as ENER-G is readily available to businesses of all sizes.”
New Look Guide The new-look 2010 Isle of Wight Accommodation Guide has been launched and is being distributed to Tourist Information Centres throughout the country.
EVENTS
Chamber Events =
The national marketing campaign included adverts in the Christmas edition of Radio Times, What's On TV, and TV Times, among many others. A digital version of the guide is available on www.gowight.com
30
Check our online calendar at www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk for details of all business events
The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry is also distributing the guide to individuals who are making plans for their holidays next year.
Chamber Utilities™ is one of a range of benefits available to members of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry. It provides a range of advice and services designed to save businesses money – reducing bills and carbon emissions. One of the best starting points is a Carbon Trust on-site audit, which is available free to members. Other services include energy efficient lighting solutions that can cut bills and emissions by up to 50% and smart metering and data reporting systems that enable businesses to monitor consumption. Building energy management systems and combined heat and power systems can provide a major boost to carbon and cost saving, while energy management and training services give businesses expert support in optimising energy usage. Alongside an energy procurement service to offer members help in negotiating competitive gas and electricity contracts, Chamber Utilities™ also provides water surveys that audit consumption, analyse bills and provide recommendations for efficiency. For help with all your utility requirements, or to register for a funded utilities assessment, contact Chamber Utilities™ on 0845 120 2423. www.chamberutilities.co.uk
Other Events =
10 February Maximising the potential of social media marketing From 0830 - 1100 at Millbrook Technology Campus, Southampton Call Katy Patterson on 01489 889 882
18 February Chamber energy seminar 1030 at Newclose Cricket Ground, Newport To book a place email: chamber@iwchamber.co.uk
10 February Meet Greet & Prosper Free Business Link seminar, 1730 - 1930 Lakeside Hotel, Isle of Wight Call Business Link on 0845 6009006
16 March Real Fish & Chips at The New Inn 3-4 March 1830-2100, £8.95 per Business South 2010 person Business exhibition at The Call 01983 520777 or email: Rose Bowl, Southampton sales@jobserveevents.com or chamber@iwchamber.co.uk call 01823 250579 23 March
17 February Winning Business Free Business Link seminar, 1600 - 1900 Lakeside Park Hotel, Isle of Wight Call Business Link on 0845 6009006
25 February Young Chamber Annual Conference Young Chamber event www.iwchamber.co.uk
5 March IW Chamber Centenary Event Chamber event Call 01983 520777 or email: chamber@iwchamber.co.uk
10 March Tourism Open Day Chamber event Call 01983 520777 or email: chamber@iwchamber.co.uk 12-14 March Minghella Film Festival Young Chamber event www.iwchamber.co.uk
Search Engine Optimisation Tourism Training South East Call 023 8062 5533 or email: train@tourismse.com
CLASSIFIEDS
FEBRUARY 2010
Our Classified section is the perfect place to advertise your products and services. It's also incredibly cost-effective with a classified ad costing from just £8 per column centimetre. Call 01983 245505 to book your classified advert. ACCOUNTANTS Harrison Black Pyle House, 136/7 Pyle Street, Newport PO3O 1JW 01983 524731 info@harrisonblack.co.uk www.harrisonblack.co.uk FINANCE Lloyds Bank Newport Business Centre, 22 St Thomas Square, Newport PO3O 1SQ 0800 056 0056 www.lloydstsbbusiness.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Karen Holloway Design For all your creative design and artwork requirements. 01489 692553 07515 947982 www.karenholloway.co.uk ICT PC Consultants Unit 1 Enterprise Court, Ryde Isle of WIght PO33 1BD 01983 811711 sales@pcctechservices.co.uk www.pcctechservices.co.uk PRODUCE Brownrigg Poultry Sheepwash Farm Godshill Tel 01983 840978 www.brownriggpoultry.co.uk Little Duxmore Farm Rowlands farm, Havenstreet 01983 885050 At the Farmers Market Friday - Newport Saturday - Ryde Stoneground Flour Eggs & Pasta
PRODUCE Sharon Orchard Producers of IoW Apple Juice, ciders, relishes, chutneys, & mustards. Smallbrook Lane, Ryde 01983 564595 Chale Green Stores Local shopping at its best 01983 551201 www.chalegreenstores.co.uk Godshill Organics Healthy Eating Centre 01983 840723 www.godshillorganics.co.uk RECRUITMENT Job Centre Plus Broadlands House, Newport 01983 273166 www.businesslink.gov.uk/itpays SOLICITORS Glanvilles Newport Isle of Wight Tel 01983 527878 www.glanvilles.co.uk TRAINING Creedence Training Academy & Consultancy Freshwater Isle of Wight info@creedencetraining.co.uk www.creedencetraining.co.uk 01983 759213 The Isle of Wight College Medina Way, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5TA, UK Tel: 01983 526631 info@iwcollege.ac.uk
HUMAN RESOURCES Linda Tillson Chartered MCIPD HR Consultancy Isle of Wight & Hampshire Helping you to manage your Staff by offering you practical and pragmatic advice, support and guidance, including : • Support with staffing issues – one-off or on a continuing basis • HR project work • Reviewing and/or writing HR documentation e.g. Employment Contracts, HR Policies, Staff Handbooks etc. Specialising in supporting small and medium sized local businesses. Phone : 01983 553524 • Mobile : 07767 882737 Email : lindatillson@btinternet.com
www.islandbusinessonline.co.uk
RECRUITMENT
Media Sales Executive
TKZ
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The Knowledge Zone is a digital publishing company which produces an exciting portfolio of products in print, online, and on screens. Our ideal candidate will have sales experience and a strong desire to succeed. The ability to work on your own initiative to grow a portfolio of customers is the most important factor. This is a telephone-based sales role and you will be required to generate new business through proactive calls and by using your own initiative. You should have: • • • •
An enjoyment of communicating by phone Great listening skills The art of persuasion A desire to exceed targets
Ideally, experience selling advertising in the publishing industry and an interest in digital media will be an advantage. For the right candidate, the earnings potential is uncapped, so if you think you’ve got what it takes then we can reward you. Generous basic + commission structure and training is provided.
In the first instance please send your C.V. by email to Amanda Bartlett, Sales Manager, amanda.bartlett@theknowledgezone.net
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01983527727 31
REALLYUSEFULBUSINESSSTUFF
THE BACK PAGE Our RUBS section is where we pass on stuff we come across that we think is really useful – it does what it says on the tin! If you have a tip that you think is really useful let us know and we'll share it here. Our Book Choice Our choice for a really good business read is Small is the New Big: And 183 other Riffs, Rants and Remarkable Business Ideas. Written by Seth Godin, taken in bite-sized chunks this book makes you think outside your sphere! £5.38 from Amazon, and well worth it. www.franchisedirect.co.uk Franchise Opportunities - Directory of Business Franchises for Sale. Franchise Direct UK is a dedicated resource with a wide list of businesses and franchise opportunities for sale. View an impressive article index relating to franchising, franchisee success stories, and more. Find your perfect franchise opportunity here. www.grantsonline.org.uk Grants Online – The UK’s most up-to-date and comprehensive grants information service www.hsbc.co.uk/1/2/business/paid/business-insurance/small-businessinsurance HSBC Business Insurance. Get 12 Months for the Price of 10. Apply by 14 February for offers! http://springwise.com Your daily fix of entrepreneurial ideas! Springwise and its network of 8,000 spotters scan the globe for smart new business ideas, delivering instant inspiration to entrepreneurial minds. Time to start the next big thing! www.envirowise.gov.uk Envirowise offers free, independent, confidential advice and support on practical ways to increase profits, minimise waste and reduce environmental impact. www.myvouchercodes.co.uk Voucher Codes are a great way to save money when you shop online. Sometimes known as promotional codes, e-vouchers, or discount codes, they are simply special codes which will get you a discount or money off the listed retail price of many goods, at a variety of different online UK retailers. www.eonenergy.com Buy online for E.ON's lowest priced gas and electricity for small to medium-sized businesses: Competitively priced products online - UK based customer service.
Cartoonist: Rupert Besley
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CHANGING TIMES THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Steve Blamire is known as a free-thinking and sometimes radical business consultant who contributes innovation and an inventive flair. In Steve’s monthly column, here and on Island Business Online, he’ll be musing on a wide range of subjects. Contact Steve at steve@steveblamire.co.uk
This month, Steve savours ice cream and the seaside while pondering the changes to Island resorts. Is Sandown the new Ventnor?
I
am a huge fan of faded seaside glamour and when possible I love to wallow in the tatty surroundings of former Victorian splendour. Whether it’s Bournemouth, Great Yarmouth, Torquay, or Margate I’ve indulged the delights of strolls on the promenades, ice cream from deck chairs, and twopenny pusher machines. There’s a strange sense of tragedy in how these great symbols of our empiric age have fallen from grace, but what still remains intact is the idea, the concept, the Victorian vision and spirit. Resorts really took off during the 1800s, predominantly as havens for the wealthy to ‘take the air’ and find some respite from the rapidly industrialising cities. The railways improved accessibility and then during the first half of the 1900s a series of government acts ensured dedicated holidays for the masses, which in turn led to an explosion in their popularity. The English seaside resort ruled supreme up until the 1980s when cheaper and more accessible air travel turned attention to the Mediterranean resorts. The 1990s saw the onset of stagnation before the 2000s started the slow rejuvenation process. Some have been very successful where others are still in the process of decay. If we look at the Island’s main resorts of Ventnor, Ryde, Shanklin, and Sandown we can map this process back over the past 150 years. The interesting part is how each resort has responded to the post-stagnation period. Ventnor has probably seen the most profound rejuvenation, once a little run-down, lacking in confidence, unsure of its future.
Then slowly things began to change, empty shops began to fill up, old redundant buildings got make-overs, new restaurants opened, and slowly a new confident, exciting Ventnor began to emerge. Ryde has always had an edgier urban feel, like a port town only without a port. Like Ventnor the past decade has been good to Ryde, Union Street is now full of bars, restaurants, and shops and the general malaise that hung over the town during the 1990s has now dispersed. Shanklin, although someway behind Ventnor and Ryde seems to be carving out a new identity through an interesting mix of boutique retail, bars, and restaurants. And finally we get to Sandown, definitely the slowest to respond to the challenge of resort stagnation and I guess still very unsure of its future and identity. Over the past decade I have spent many an afternoon chomping on the obligatory ice cream whilst contemplating the future of the town, searching for something to signify that it’s moving again, but it has only been over the last few months that I have started to feel excited about its prospects for the future. Something has shifted, its time has come. It has a fantastic beach, great attractions, great retail potential, a solid residential base, significant development opportunities, excellent rail links, a south facing aspect, and masses of hotels prime for redevelopment. So gather round potential retailers, hotel developers, second homers, and investors, I am officially declaring Sandown the new Ventnor. Oh no it isn’t…oh yes it is!
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