suffolk AUTUMN 2011 | www.iod-suffolk.co.uk
Bribery and Business
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CONTENTS
Welcome. In a world of frequently changing parameters it’s often difficult to know the best business decisions to take. With companies increasingly under pressure to secure deals, what extent can corporate hospitality be rolled out to clients without risking being in breach of the new Bribery Act? In this issue we take a look at the Act’s implications, and how it potentially could impact on your business – indeed it appears that genuine hospitality isn’t the target at all. We also examine the rising cost of doing business in the UK and in particular the extra challenge of dealing with the vagaries of exchange rates and soaring costs of commodities for businesses in our region. Elsewhere we showcase developments in local business and explore key regional issues discovering that after a relatively quiet period in the commercial property market, there are signs of confidence returning. Jonathan Tilston
11 Published by: Tilston Phillips Magazines Limited enquiries@tilstonphillips.com www.tilstonphillips.com Designed by: Alan Brannan Design www.alanbrannandesign.co.uk Printed by: Healeys Print Group Unit 10 – 11 The Sterling Complex Farthing Road Ipswich Suffolk IP1 5AP
All rights reserved. Reproduction, in part or in whole, without the prior consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The content of this magazine is based on the best knowledge and information available at the time of publication. All times, prices and details of events were correct at time of going to press. The views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers, proprietors, the Institute of Directors or others associated with this production. © Tilston Phillips Magazines Limited 2011
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33
Contents
1
IoD events
2
From the Chair
3
Across the region
5
Corporate news
12
Adapting lifestyles
13
UK Business
14
IoD member – Adam Clark
18
Corporate news
20
Bribery Act
21
Corporate communication
24
IoD events
26
Commercial property
30
Corporate news
33
Culture
34
Leisure
35
Corporate hospitality
36
Charity
37
Business books
38
Business start-up
39
Member profile
40
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 1
IOD EVENTS
Join us for one (or more) of these not-to-be-missed events and enjoy meeting fellow business leaders while you relax with good food and wine.
AUTUMN EVENTS
Employment and Commercial Law Update 13TH OCTOBER 2011 8.00 am-10.00 am Isaacs on the Quay Join us for this informal breakfast and networking event. Priya Nainthy, Jackaman’s Employment Law Partner will be joined by Jackaman’s Commercial Property Law Partner, Mark Rowlands together with consultant Howard Wright to provide a business briefing covering topical issues on employment and commercial law.
Big Society and Business Joint Event with Suffolk Chamber 3RD NOVEMBER 2011 7.45 am-10.00 am Seckford Hall Hotel, Woodbridge Goldie Sayers – The Suffolk Slinger
Annual Dinner Suffolk’s Olympic hopefuls share their journey to London 2012. 19TH OCTOBER 2011 7.00pm Hintlesham Hall Hotel, Hintlesham Ipswich IP8 3NS Join us for an exclusive dinner at the beautiful Hintlesham Hall and share the experiences of Suffolk’s top athletes as they prepare to take part in the 2012 Olympic Games. The evening promises to provide a fascinating and compelling insight into the lives, hopes and dreams of our Olympic athletes, headed up by Suffolk’s very own Goldie Sayers who narrowly missed the medals in the Beijing Olympics. Together with other athletes from our region she will share her experiences and aspirations for London 2012. Nicknamed the ‘Suffolk Slinger’, Newmarket born Goldie Sayers is a world class javelin thrower. As a double Olympian and eight times national champion she has an enormous chance of securing a medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.
The evening will commence with a drinks reception followed by a fabulous 3 course dinner. Shaun Peel, BBC East Olympic Correspondent, will interview the athletes, providing an opportunity to draw parallels between striving for Olympic victory and achieving success in business, where goal setting, team work, determination and coaching are all part of the critical path. The event is a wonderful opportunity to show your support for Suffolk’s Olympic heroes, learn from their experiences and meet likeminded business professionals in a fantastic setting. Tickets cost £50+VAT for members and £70+VAT for non members. We anticipate that this event will be extremely popular and early booking is recommended.
What does Big Society really mean to business? Is it a smokescreen to hide spending cuts or a real opportunity to realign the relationship between government and individuals? Join us to hear the views of senior representatives of the Institute of Directors and the British Chambers of Commerce.
Business Growth Taxation opportunities (and pitfalls) 23RD NOVEMBER 2011 8.00 am-10.00 am Wherstead Park As businesses start to look forward into 2012 and plan for expansion, it is crucial to appreciate what the Government are doing in terms of the taxation regime that will both support and hinder this growth. Join us for breakfast and hear Robert Leggett, Corporate Tax Partner at Ensors Chartered Accountants discuss the forthcoming changes to tax reliefs on business investments.
Christmas Drinks 8TH DECEMBER 2011 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Contact Caroline Kearney to book your place on: 07917 699498 or email: caroline@iod-suffolk.co.uk.
Put the date in your diary now for our Christmas Drinks Party, with wine and canapés for members and their guests.
For further information and to reserve your place at any of our events please contact Caroline Kearney – Suffolk IoD Branch Administrator. Telephone: 07917 699 498 | Email: caroline@iod-suffolk.co.uk | www.iod.com/suffolk/events
2011 programme is kindly sponsored by:
2 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
WELCOME
New members to Suffolk branch Martin Dupee Banham Zoo Ltd Roger Beaton Beatons Group Richard James Birketts LLP Stephen Appleby Brown & May Ltd Peter Young Burnbank Ltd Peter John Rutt Castons Consulting Ltd Robert Skillicorn Certis Europe Ltd David Roth Christchurch Court Ltd Alex Wise Concise Public Relations Ltd David Conway Richardson Dialight Ltd Kathrin Wright Essex County Coucil Adam Clark Green Spark Productions Ltd Mark Richards Mardi Foods Ltd Nigel Phipps Moody's Investors Service Ltd Bryn Maidman Taylor Wimpey East Anglia Mark Edmonds Taylor Wimpey East Anglia David Weir University Campus Suffolk Stephen Ward Vanilla Recruitment Ltd Richard Harrison Robert Garner
IoD Suffolk membership benefits • • • • • •
From the Chair Although much of the news with regard to the UK economy has in recent weeks been gloomy, Suffolk has seen two excellent good news items in recent weeks.
IoD Travel Services IoD Car Rental IoD Director’s Liability Insurance IoD Professional Indemnity Insurance IoD Home and Contents Insurance IoD Health Plans For a complete list of the current affinity member benefits, please see www.iod.com/speciallynegotiated
The announcement of the £11m worth of funding for high speed broadband together with the County Council’s £10m should mean that in the not too distant future the whole of the county will have access to the level of service essential to a modern economy. Hard on the heels of that news was the decision by Government to include Lowestoft in the latest list of 11 enterprise zones. I am certain that the enterprise zone status will attract new investment to one of the county’s less well off areas and thereby produce new employment opportunities. IoD Suffolk will do whatever it can to make this a success. Paul Winter
To find out more about joining IoD Suffolk branch please contact: Caroline Kearney, Suffolk Branch Administrator on 07917 699 498 or caroline@iod-suffolk.co.uk Institute of Directors Suffolk Branch, 25 Wilding Drive, Grange Farm, Kesgrave, Ipswich IP5 2AE www.iod-suffolk.co.uk IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 3
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4 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
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ACROSS THE REGION
‘Superstars’ get set for action
The Eastern Enterprise Hub – the social enterprise charged with nurturing entrepreneurship in the East of England – has launched a new campaign to grow the number of start-up businesses in Suffolk.
The Enterprise Superstars campaign, which includes the testimonies of 17 of Suffolk’s business leaders and entrepreneurs, aims to inspire individuals from all walks of life to realise their dreams as an entrepreneur or to motivate those who aspire to be an ‘intrapreneur’ – someone who will make a real difference in an established business. The Superstars have been recruited on the basis of their business backgrounds and for their ability to tell a compelling story of their own journey to entrepreneurialism. They will be available for speaking and other engagements all over the county.
Lunch will be gold star event Gold medal winning athlete Dean Macey will be guest speaker at a fundraising lunch in September.
Suffolk SportsAid Foundation
They share a common passion and enthusiasm to pursue their vision and it is this self-belief the campaign hopes to instill in others. The Enterprise Superstars will be called upon to share their experiences, giving presentations, taking part in Q and A sessions and being interviewed – in businesses, colleges, in the classroom or just about anywhere where there is a desire to foster innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. To book an Enterprise Superstar visit www.eehub.co.uk or ring 01473 527100.
The Suffolk SportsAid Foundation event, at Ipswich Town Football Club, on September 23, will be raising money for aspiring local athletes. As a decathlete the ‘Dean Machine’ was a 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medalist and world silver and bronze medalist. He is also known as a presenter, pundit, and commentator. Dean Macey started as a triple jumper before opting for the decathlon. He was also on the books of Arsenal as a youngster but gave up football to train for the World Junior Championships in 1995. He was the inaugural winner of BBC Sports Personality of the Year Young Personality in 1999
helping Suffolk’s Sports people to succeed
The SportsAid Foundation was launched in 2007, inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to create a legacy for Suffolk. In partnership with Sports Aid and Suffolk Sport, the foundation’s aim is to raise money to support Suffolk’s talented sportsmen and women to achieve their goals.
Suffolk SportsAid Foundation helping Suffolk’s sports people to succeed
It has already awarded more than 70 grants to Suffolk’s most talented up-and-coming sportsmen and women.
S IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 5
They were incredibly helpful, efficient, friendly and soon pointed me in the right direction. I’ll use them again. Miles Vartan, Managing Director, Miles Vartan Consultancy Limited
FREE skills advice for Suffolk businesses call 01473 694838 email leapbusiness@ucs.ac.uk
6 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
ACROSS THE REGION
NOW STUDENTS CAN MARKET THEMSELVES
It is open to students from a wide range of backgrounds but who have a common interest in wanting to extend their marketing knowledge and improve their qualifications.
From September, University Campus Suffolk (UCS) is adding a new course to its curriculum – MA Marketing.
The course requires a further year of study – two years for part-time students. UCS enlisted the help of the Ipswich-based marketing and communication specialists, White Space, to offer practical insights into successful marketing strategies. Shaun Bailey, chief executive of White Space and chair of the Direct Marketing Association Agencies Council, said: “In the ever-changing marketing environment, we recognise the importance of understanding the latest topics and techniques so that we can make sure our clients are at the forefront. “This is no different in a formal education capacity. Students must be aware of what is going on in the ‘real world’ so that when they are ready to step into the workplace, their knowledge is fresh and relatable – not just straight out of a textbook.”
New protection laws for temps
UK ‘MUST GRASP WIND ENERGY OPPORTUNITY’
Legislation designed to protect temporary workers from being used as cheap labour come into force on October 1.
The UK needs to create a supply chain to reap the economic benefits of the wind energy revolution, according to a recent report. According to the report, the UK faces a huge challenge in developing offshore wind over the coming decade. The 13GW scenario set out in the government's National Renewable Energy Action Plan requires a tenfold increase in capacity between now and 2020.
After 12 weeks in the same role with one employer, agency workers will be entitled to basic pay parity with directly employed colleagues, including the hourly rate and some extra entitlements, as well as corresponding working conditions. They will also have ‘day one rights’ from the start of their assignment, including access to childcare, transport and a staff canteen, as well as the right to be informed of permanent roles in the company. Employers and agencies who fall foul of the rules face legal action with fines of up to £5,000 per worker. The advice to employers is to engage with agencies and look at the use of agency workers as well as the longevity of contracts.
The report says it is vital the UK gains the greatest possible value from this expansion through jobs and wealth creation. Crucial to this, it says, is establishing a supply chain.
The UK needs to create a supply chain to reap the economic benefits of the wind energy revolution, according to a recent report. ‘Making green growth real: UK offshore wind supply chain’ outlines the conclusions of a meeting of the offshore wind industry convened by the Royal Academy of Engineering and OrbisEnergy, the East of England technology, innovation and incubation hub for offshore renewables.
Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council’s portfolio holder for greenest county, economy and skills, said: "It’s well known that the offshore wind industry is a critical source of future energy supply for the UK and is a sector of the economy which has still to fully mature. This report not only highlights the challenges in developing a UK supply chain, but proposes solutions that can drive growth"
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 7
Business Direction
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ACROSS THE REGION
Birketts joins top 100 law firms
Silk Pearce design is streets ahead
Birketts closed its financial year in May with an impressive increase in sales compared with previous years.
Branding and design consultancy Silk Pearce has secured a major Cambridge city centre showcase for its latest work – a series of striking site hoardings for CB1.
This has propelled the firm into the national top 100 law firms by turnover and sees the firm climb 21 places to position 91. Birketts’ CEO Alistair Lang said: “To reach our highest ever target in excess of £23million of sales would have been good, but to beat it by several hundred thousand pounds to almost £24million is a great achievement by all involved.
“All offices have been able to build a good momentum during the year, particularly with the new Chelmsford team settling and delivering the goods. Generally this growth in fee income is the result of increased market share rather than a general uplift in the economy, with a number of sectors remaining challenging in terms of activity. The range of legal services provided and the broad base of skills in the firm have helped us enormously in the face of a sluggish market place." This performance underlines Birketts’ commitment to growth and business development, having merged with Wollastons LLP, an established firm of Essex solicitors, in September 2010. Birketts now has offices in four regional centres – Ipswich, Cambridge, Norwich and Chelmsford – with a staff of 390 and 53 partners.
Familiar face is back at GT
Almost 400 metres of hoardings were completed to protect the 26-acre CB1 site next to Cambridge railway station and to signal that the building and redevelopment work was under way. CB1 is being jointly developed by Brookgate and Network Rail into a new city hub for business, shopping and leisure.
Leading financial and business advisory firm Grant Thornton East Anglia has welcomed a familiar face back to its corporate finance team.
Silk Pearce’s design – which is being used on the hoardings as well as advertising, literature and other promotional materials – uses a play on the letters C and B, encouraging everyone to ‘see the future’ and ‘be part of it’.
David Howes returns as corporate finance manager after a two-and a-half-year break working as a finance controller for large companies in the commercial property and healthcare sectors in Norwich.
Derek Ford, director at Brookgate, said:“Silk Pearce has come up with a thoughtprovoking, cutting-edge design that will be carried across all promotional materials for CB1. The hoardings are functional but also decorative street art that we hope will fire the community’s imagination as we transform this site and the area around the station into a new city quarter.”
In his new role, David will focus on expanding Grant Thornton’s corporate finance presence across the East of England, working from the firm’s Ipswich, Cambridge and Norwich offices. David, who recently gained an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, said: “It’s great to return to Grant Thornton which is the firm I trained and qualified with. I especially enjoy working with the entrepreneurial, ownermanaged businesses which form a large part of the firm’s client base and I’m looking forward to the challenge of further building Grant Thornton’s corporate finance presence throughout the region.” David, a qualified charted accountant, first joined Grant Thornton in 2003 after graduating from the University of East Anglia. He initially focused on audit before specialising in corporate finance.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 9
a 7.00pm - Drinks on arrival at The Mansion
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10 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
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ACROSS THE REGION
THE NEVER-ENDING STORY The Never Ending Mural is a community-led project inspired by the Ipswich Art School Fundraising Appeal and brought to life by artist and curator John D Edwards.
Never Ending Mural is working for local, national and international partners
The project, supported by Ipswich Borough Council, began on the Waterfront in June, with the help of more than 50 project volunteers. Thousands of visitors to the Ip-art launch weekend and to the Maritime Festival have already seen what a positive impact the mural is making. Further artwork is to be installed along the Civic Drive and St Matthew's Street underpasses in the autumn and local businesses are encouraged to get involved. The project has already received support from more than 30 businesses.
Ipswich Central and the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce have also pledged their support. Volunteers behind the project have organised a business lunch in partnership with Novotel Ipswich on Monday, October 2, and they welcome businesses to take advantage of this free event to find out more about the project and how to get involved. For more information or to book your place at the lunch visit: www.ipswichartschool.co.uk or email: ipswichartschool@ipswich.gov.uk.
Never Ending Mural volunteer Peter Longstaff interviewing business sponsor Folley Electrical Services
Volunteers painting the Never Ending Mural on Ipswich Waterfront
The refurbishment has seen more than half the store updated. The most radical change has been to the exterior, where most of the frontage has been replaced.
The brand line-up is comprehensive and includes most of the names you would expect to see in a leading fashion retail store. For those who cannot visit in person, there is a cross-section of ranges at Coes.co.uk
New-look store suits Coes down to ground Coes of Ipswich now covers three floors and offers one of the largest selections of men’s fashion and footwear in the country. The Norwich Road store also houses womenswear and sports departments. Recently refurbished, Coes has a modern décor. There is also a free customer car park. The latest development came in at £750,000 – good news for the local economy as Coes used mainly local contractors, builders and tradesmen.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 11
CORPORATE NEWS
Here comes the bribe By Andrew Fleming, Partner – Blocks Solicitors
Now that the dust has begun to settle, following the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010, we can start to see more clearly the true effects of the legislation, rather than panic at the alarmist comments being made at the time of its introduction. The Act tidies up the jumble of common law and statutory offences which had previously governed anti-bribery laws. It covers situations of both bribing others and being bribed, linked to the concept of ‘improper performance’, which is fairly widely drafted, but is an objective test based on breach of good faith, impartiality or a position of trust. There does not need to be an intention of corruption, as was previously required, as a necessary ground for the committing of an act of bribery.
The Act refers to 6 guiding principles of: • proportionate anti-bribery procedures which are practical and clear • commitment from the top down to create an honest business culture within the organisation • informed and regular risk assessments • due diligence procedures in high risk areas • adequate communication within the organisation • constant monitoring and review of procedures
More radically, it introduces an offence of failing to prevent bribery for commercial organisations, which, in effect, requires businesses to put in place adequate procedures to prevent bribery.
The consequences of a conviction for bribery may be an unlimited fine plus, in the case of individuals, custodial sentences of up to 10 years. Accordingly, it is vital that these internal procedures are put in place as soon as possible.
There is no exemption for the making of facilitation payments in the Act, although the accompanying guidelines do stress that individual circumstances will be taken into account where payments have been made. Importantly, the guidelines make clear that bona fide, reasonable and proportionate hospitality, promotions or other business marketing expenditure will not constitute a criminal act. It is for the prosecution to make the case that any such hospitality is disproportionate and aimed at securing unfair financial or other advantage.
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Retirement & Tax Planning Wills & Probate www.blockslegal.co.uk info@blockslegal.co.uk 12 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
ADAPTING LIFESTYLES
Encouraging statistics are showing that the people of Suffolk are increasingly receptive to the idea of adapting their lifestyles to become more eco-friendly.
East of England receptive to change Being a SME, there has not necessarily been the time or resource in-house to assign to a high degree of travel planning but, fortunately for Varega, most of the processes were easily implemented with the help of Fresh Ways to Work. Nicholas Corfe, Varega’s commercial director, said: “In these difficult economic times, SMEs have to constantly look for new ways to cut costs, whilst never compromising on the quality and level of service provided. Two of our core company aims are both achievable using Fresh Ways to Work – saving money and helping play our part by reducing our impact on the environment. And we have done this by looking at reducing the cost of travel.” “It really couldn’t be simpler, but it seems that for many businesses it is always one of those things that you never get around to doing, something else always has to take precedence. And that’s why the free travel planning service provided by Fresh Ways to Work is so good – because they’re there to encourage, motivate and show you just how easy it is to implement.”
The LEAF index study (Low Energy Alternative Futures) has shown that in the East of England 90% of those surveyed are willing to change their daily routine to make for a ‘greener life.’ Not only this, but the survey also found that financial help would encourage people to change.
The latest business to sign up is Varega. This Basepoint-based business provides a range of sales, marketing and advisory services for international manufacturers seeking to grow their business in Europe.
This news is a boost for the Fresh Ways to Work campaign. One of the toughest challenges has been that some people have a reluctance to make lifestyle changes when encouraged to use a greener and more sustainable method of transport.
Although Varega are an Ipswich-based company, their focus is firmly on international markets. And while it would be easy to clock up huge amounts of air miles to ensure all clients, suppliers and partners are happy, they have resisted this costly and environmentally-unfriendly method, and instead use alternative solutions.
However, these statistics and the fact that yet another Ipswich-based organisation has adopted the free travel planning service provided by Fresh Ways, paves the way for an optimistic, sustainable transport future for Suffolk.
These methods include travelling by train 90% of the time for UK business trips and using webinars and teleconferencing to conduct meetings. Environmental concerns were a big part of the decision to use webinars and public transport.
He added: “As an employer, I feel we have a duty of care to make sure our employees are fit and healthy, not least because healthier workers make more productive workers! It’s with this in mind that we are encouraging all staff to use sustainable methods when travelling – whether that be walking, cycling or taking the bus.” Sharon Payne, project manager for Fresh Ways to Work, said: “We are now nine months into our campaign and it’s heartening to see our plans being adopted by local businesses such as Varega. I can’t stress enough how simple it is to implement a travel plan, but what a difference it can make to bank balances, fitness levels and eco-friendly concerns. “We urge other Suffolk businesses to get in touch on 01473 265256 to see how we can help.”
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 13
UK BUSINESS
Up, up and away – the rising cost of doing business in the UK As if running a business wasn’t enough at present, some companies face the extra challenge of dealing with the vagaries of exchange rates and the soaring cost of commodities. For those reliant on sourcing either commodities or manufactured products abroad, rising prices, a weak pound and uncertainties about the future add to the difficulties.
We spoke to Malcolm McGready, a partner at Ensors accountants. His job demands that he keeps an eye on foreign markets and we asked him for an analysis of the current situation. (We acknowledge, of course, that any opinion may seem hopelessly out of date just a month from now. Who knows what the autumn may bring?) We then caught up with Paul Dawson, of Deben Transport, a company he set up with just one truck in 1987. It now turns over £33million a year. With 200 or so trucks in his fleet, he’s all too aware of rising commodity prices and the price we pay for a weak pound.
We are where we are Malcolm began by explaining the present position. “We had a short-lived period of stability when things did appear to be getting back to normal. But now concerns are resurfacing and we’re hearing the dreaded phrase ‘double dip recession’. “Issues around the strength of the US recovery have reverberated throughout the global economy, manifested by the credit downgrade for US government debt.
14 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
“At the same time, China has its own issues to contend with. Inflation and internal pressures will limit its growth. China exports much to Europe and the US, and slow growth in these markets dents its own economy,” he said. “The eurozone crisis is far from over either. This is all happening at a time when the world is seeing an increase in commodity prices – oil (partly as a result of the Middle East crisis) food and other raw materials such as copper and steel,” he added. Taken together, these factors are raising real fears of a second period of recession for major economies and the possibility of a second credit crunch if the inter-bank market freezes on the back of concerns about banks lending to one another as a result of exposures to foreign debts, for example. The trouble is that volatility breeds volatility – and in these conditions the only winners are traders. Volatility leads in turn to uncertainty and it is the expectation of uncertainty that can become a self-fulfilling prophesy. In such a situation, people seek certainty by selling volatile equities and looking for safe havens such as gold and commodities. Previously, sovereign debt was considered a safe haven – but the US downgrade and eurozone issues have made people think twice.
Malcolm has serious concerns about the future of the eurozone. “The Europe saga will continue to add to uncertainty. We have seen Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain under the spotlight, then more recently Italy and France. France would be much more of an issue as it is a much larger economy. “The cornerstone to stability for the euro is the French and Germans working together and they have been making overtures to that effect to calm the markets. For Germany, however, there is an inherent conflict – to continue to bail out the euro or not? “It’s a complex decision for Germany as the eurozone is its biggest market so, by not providing support, it risks cutting its own throat. But how far will it go? Political pressure in Germany is mounting against continued support for the euro and Germany’s latest growth figures, showing sharp slowdown, will only add fuel to the fire,” he explained. It is critical for us, despite being outside of the eurozone, to recognise that we exist in a global economy. Even companies based in the UK and supplying only UK customers will be affected by the global economic situation for the foreseeable future.
£
££
Recovery is going to be slow and gradual and businesses must face up to this, says Malcolm. “One thing is clear – the problems of the past few years aren’t going to go away. If anything, they are likely to keep resurfacing over the coming months and that will make recovery seem even farther away.” But it’s not gloom for all. There is opportunity in almost any situation. Distressed sales provide opportunities. Also, owner-managed businesses seeking an exit may have held back for the past two or three years waiting for valuations to increase. The prolonged, L-shaped recovery may be the spur to these companies to sell up. For businesses with cash or healthy balance sheets, this may be good news. But what about those UK businesses caught up in export and import markets, whose fortunes may seem to be outside of their control? A weak pound favours exporters but there needs to be a market there in the first place. Key export markets for the UK are the US and the eurozone. As they struggle, so do we. Companies dependent on imports are likely to be the worst hit by a weak pound. This feeds into their cost base and then the question is: Can they pass the cost on to customers?
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Rising food prices
This is arguably one of the reasons why the price of petrol hasn’t fallen on the forecourts. It is also why food prices are rising, coupled with commodity prices generally. The UK is a massive importer, importing manufactured goods, cars, fuel, food and other commodities – way beyond its exports. A cursory glance at haulage traffic heading out of Felixstowe, or an inspection of place of origin of anything from furniture to clothing, electronics to sports equipment and much more, clearly demonstrates this. Malcolm’s analysis and view of the future coincides with what many others are saying. Talking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme in August, reporter and presenter, Evan Davis met with winners and losers, optimists and pessimists. He reflected on why more expensive raw materials can be seen – as he says – as a “whopping great tax” on the UK economy. He explained that in a more “traditional” recession, we might reasonably have expected commodity prices to fall, but this is definitely not the case now. In fact, some commodities have increased two-fold or more compared with just two years ago. He spoke to Mervyn King, governor of the
Bank of England, who is optimistic that these prices may fall and normal service be resumed. For many though, this view is overly optimistic. Jim Rogers, one of the world’s leading commodity traders and based in Singapore, told the BBC that even if there is worldwide recovery, demand will outstrip supply which will – in turn – keep commodity prices high.
But there are winners, farmers among them. Many believe that finally we are seeing a rebalancing of commodity prices. Farmers, Evan Davis explained, are for the first time in years seeing a more realistic price for their crops. One farmer’s winter wheat crop, grown primarily for animal feed, was fetching around £150 a ton, compared with a low last year of just £98 (and £200 in February). So it’s good news for farmers, many of whom say they could not continue to produce foodstuffs at prerecession “bankruptmaking” prices. At the other end of the scale are those whose businesses rely on increasingly expensive commodities such as oil. Since the UK imports more raw materials, food and finished goods than are exported, the increase in fuel prices feeds through to many areas of life. ➤
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 15
UK BUSINESS
Radical changes made British manufacturers have been forced to make ‘radical’ changes to how they work as soaring materials costs put them under ‘more pressure, says Nick Clark, writing in The Independent on August 22. He reports that a survey from manufacturers’ organisation, EEF, and the Royal Bank of Scotland found that almost half of the companies surveyed had overhauled products or processes in response to rising prices – 40% of firms had looked to renegotiate existing contracts with their customers. Reflecting this, almost half of manufacturers cite managing input prices as a growth challenge, up from a third a year ago. Peter Russell, head of manufacturing at RBS, told The Independent that companies were mindful of further rises in input costs. “Looking out to the next 12 months, the direction of commodity prices is very uncertain,” he said. “But most manufacturers are building further price increases into their business plans.” While some companies may have been relatively insulated from the increasing cost of commodities, few can have escaped the impact of rising fuel prices. “For the man – or woman – in the street it is hard not to be affected and disposable incomes have been hit hard,” says Malcolm McCready. “If I want to replace my car, it will cost me more as a result of the exchange rate – certainly for any imported car – and a major component is steel, the price of which has risen because of commodity price inflation. “One way or another that makes my disposable income seem smaller. The result is that I will spend less and that diminishes my ability to buy their product or service,” he added. Hauliers, of course, are particularly badly affected. Evan Davies spoke to one who said that higher oil prices affected him every which way, and his experiences were shared by Paul Dawson, of Deben Transport.
“Fuel now accounts for something like 38.5% of my overheads,” he said. “Just a couple of years ago, that would have been 33-34%. It was 36% last year. It’s a lot more obviously, and it affects cash flow, too. “To try to keep costs under control we buy fuel in quantities of 200,000 litres, currently at about £1.09 a litre. Only two years ago that was about 88p, and it has been as high as £1.15. With prices fluctuating, we have had to bring in ‘fuel surcharges’ for our customers. If we have to pay more for fuel we pass that cost on, and if it costs less, then we pass the saving to them too,” he added.
Paul explained that the costs of running his business have rocketed and he foresees an upward trend – 80% of the cost of fuel is paid in duty, he says, a figure expected to rise again in the next Budget, having been frozen this year. The costs of commodities such as rubber and steel have since gone up sharply too – he is currently paying around £77,000 for trucks compared with £56,000 four years ago. “This all feeds directly into the prices that people are paying in the shops – it’s inescapable. We move goods by rail and by road, but the costs are increasing everywhere, and – of course – prices in the shops reflect the effects of a weak pound,” he added.
“Niche intellectual property based businesses – such as technology and pharmaceuticals are in a strong position as are those in businesses dealing in scrap, or other commodities where there are global shortages or high prices.” Low exchange rates, of course, do attract inward investment to the UK, as would any move to lower corporate taxes. But uncertainty may stymie that.
£ 16 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
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“The greater the uncertainty, the less willing business is to invest in what it sees as a risky proposition. As a general comment, as we saw after Lehmans, uncertainty can lead to a period of under-investment as businesses wait and see what will happen.” Of course, if Britain could export more and import less, then everything would be rosy in the garden again. Or would it?
An upward spiral
Malcolm takes up the theme: “If a large part of your inputs depend on global prices (whether or not you export them) this will increase your cost base. Other things being equal, exporters should benefit.
Malcolm adds: “There is clearly a desire to keep companies here and to attract new ones. There will be some early headline cases, but investment decisions are made over the medium to long term. And I think it will be a little while yet in the current circumstances before we see any great influx of additional inward investment.
Indeed, companies are increasingly looking overseas for markets. With UK, European and US markets suffering, the desire is undoubtedly there to expand eastwards. But that’s not all plain sailing. Each country has its own idiosyncrasies, so accessing the local knowledge that will help any would-be exporter to understand foreign markets – particularly the Far East – is essential. Having said that, as more business is done globally, it becomes easier as processes become more standardised and/or a support network develops. The past few years have clearly shown that the UK is no longer solely in charge of its own destiny – certainly in commercial terms, but in many other ways, too. It may seem for many that while politicians across the world debate, set targets, bring in new taxes and austerity measures, for many of us, it’s a matter of gritting our teeth and hoping for the best!
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IOD MEMBER
Adam Clark elected to Suffolk IoD committee Adam Clark, who has a background in events and live performance and is managing director of event management company Eventuoso and audio visual production company AV Unit, has been elected to the Suffolk IoD committee.
Adam, who brings considerable business and event management experience to the committee, says: “I was delighted to be invited to join the Suffolk IoD and am looking forward to working with the other committee members to help move Suffolk IoD forward. We want to make a real difference to local professionals.”
Together the two companies cover every aspect of event management, production and audio visual communications technology and provide a full set of services to help organisations engage their audience through face to face events and media productions. Originally from Newcastle, Adam studied in Cardiff and, working for Welsh National Opera, toured the country before moving to Ipswich to join the Wolsey Theatre Company. He has a background in large scale touring theatre, technical management and lighting for the film and events industry.
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IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 19
CORPORATE NEWS
New name. New look. The same team of experts, here to help. On Thursday 1st September 2011 Jackaman Smith & Mulley solicitors became ‘Jackamans’. Whilst the firm will continue to offer the same high level of expertise and service as before, it will build on its past successes to meet the challenges of the Legal Services Act which comes into force in October. To reflect the new approach, the firm has brought its image up to date. Records show that the firm has undertaken few rebranding exercises over its life of around 200 years. The firm can be said to have begun with Simon Jackaman who by 1799 was practising law and held a number of civic offices. His son Simon Batley Jackaman then took over, succeeded by his sons Henry Mason and William Batley Jackaman, and the firm became Messrs Jackaman & Sons. In around 1895 the firm became Jackaman, Sons and Miller when H W Miller paid £1,200 for a 12 year partnership agreement. After another spell as Jackaman & Sons, the company was taken over by Neville Haywood Smith, formerly of Gudgeons Prentice, Stowmarket and in 1938 the name changed to Jackaman, Sons & Smith. 1947 saw Walter Horace Mulley’s involvement which resulted in the name Jackaman Smith & Mulley. Mr Mulley died in 2008 at 99 years of age.
In recent years the firm has grown as a result of a number of acquisitions and mergers. Within the last year the firm’s Commercial Law team was strengthened by the recruitment of Howard Wright as a Consultant. Howard joins Mark Rowlands, our Commercial Property partner and Priya Nainthy, Employment Law partner. Jackamans offers new businesses a free half-hour consultation. Paul McGrath, Managing Partner of Jackamans, says “Our excellent service to the local community has enabled us to flourish for 200 years. We are looking to the future with confidence – a confidence which is reflected in our striking new identity.”
Howard Wright
With offices in Ipswich, Felixstowe, Diss and Harleston, Jackamans is now a six partner firm with around 50 employees. For further information call Krystyna Smithers on: 01473 255591 email: krystyna.smithers@jackamans.co.uk or visit our website: www.jackamans.co.uk Priya Nainthy
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BRIBERY ACT
BRIBERY OR HOSPITALITY? that is the question Jack Straw’s Bribery Act received parliamentary assent in the dying days of the last government. The reaction was immediate – and furious!
Andrew Clark, writing in The Observer at the beginning of April, said: “The backlash was so vigorous that you would have thought the government was banning boardroom biscuits. Business leaders began fulminating about corporate hospitality.” Could entertaining a client to see England’s finest at Lord’s become illegal? What about dinner at Claridge’s for a government official? Christmas gifts of champagne or gold fountain pens? All these could conceivably lead to imprisonment in Straw’s new era of joylessness, he mused. Kenneth Clarke MP (Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice) set about diffusing the situation, explaining that corporate entertainment is fine as long as it is not explicitly intended to induce improper behavior, ie lead to corruption. As time has rolled by, there is still confusion over what does – and does not – constitute ‘bribery’. In many ways, the past year or two have highlighted even greater need for the monitoring of reward for information and preference. Two years ago, jaws dropped at the parliamentary expenses scandal, which, while not actually bribery, did uncover widespread wrongdoing and demonstrate the presence of corrupt behaviour at the highest level. ➤ IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 21
BRIBERY ACT
We Britons have been similarly thunderstruck at the denials and goings-on of Fifa, with Lord Triesman, former Football Association chairman, claiming he was asked for ‘favours’ from four different parties, in order that they might support England’s World Cup bid. And more recently, the onion skin layers of the phone-hacking scandal are being peeled back, to reveal ever more (alleged) contemptible stories of widespread wrongdoing. So should we not welcome steps to bring transparency to the UK’s business dealings? Jonathan Russell, writing in The Daily Telegraph recently, said: “The Bribery Act is designed to bring the UK in line with international norms on anti-corruption legislation. It will make it a criminal offence to give or receive a bribe. It will also introduce a corporate offence of failing to prevent bribery.
But, according to Simon Bowers, writing in The Observer in July, the SFO has bigger fish to fry than the three-person advertising agency taking a client out for a slap-up Christmas lunch. He explained: “The Serious Fraud Office has more investigators working on overseas bribery investigations than on complex and large-scale probes into suspected whitecollar crimes originating in the City, raising concerns that tackling the very biggest UK fraud cases may be slipping as the agency’s top priority. “The SFO is determined to rebuild its credibility in overseas bribery cases after the messy end to its probe into a defence contract between BAE and Saudi Arabia damaged Britain’s reputation for fighting corruption. Its then director had been persuaded by government officials to drop the inquiry because of an unspecified conflict with ‘national security’.”
“Under the powers granted by the new law, prosecutors, essentially the Serious Fraud Office, will be able to prosecute both domestic and foreign companies, providing they have some presence in the UK. Bribes committed in the UK and abroad could be prosecuted under the Act.
Budget cuts could well scupper these good intentions. Bowers added that the SFO has recently taken on additional responsibility for investigating and prosecuting under the terms of the new Act, but no new funding was available to help do the work.
“Some experts have argued the new law could put British companies at a disadvantage as it goes further than similar legislation in other jurisdictions. Under UK law, bribes offered to public and private officials or executives will be illegal,” he added.
The director of the SFO, Richard Alderman, had said he had 82 investigators deployed on existing corruption cases, almost all working on fraud offences under previous legislation. Just 72 were devoting their time to City investigations.
22 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
And, Alderman told the journalist that with its annual budgets falling by 10% to £35.9million and further cuts over the next three years down to £30m, it was likely that resources will be spread so thinly as to lose the core purpose of the organisation. To go back to basics, however, the 2010 Bribery Act was aimed at updating legislation 105 years old, which was itself designed to clamp down on backhanders, sweeteners and brown envelopes (or – more recently – supermarket carrier bags) stuffed with cash, the kind of transaction supposedly used to grease the palms of foreign potentates. Just to remind ourselves of the scale of this now outlawed activity we can think of the BAE scandal. It appears from some reports that top brass at the Ministry of Defence were entertained no fewer than 52 times in one year by the global company, which has business interests in the development, delivery and support of advanced defence, security and aerospace systems. Contravene the Bribery Act now, however, and as an individual you could face up to 10 years in prison. A company could be landed with unlimited fines. While the Ministry of Justice says there is no intention to ban legitimate hospitality, it could be argued that the statutes are open to different interpretations.
We asked Paul Stevens, of Ipswich solicitors Jackamans, to give his interpretation. He believed that there had been widespread scaremongering and the situation – as regards most businesses – was quite straightforward and reasonable. With a few simple measures put in place, there should be nothing to fear for decent people going about their business.
On the face of it, it looks like we’ll have to give up treating clients to lunch, or to a Christmas box of a bottle of whisky, some nice toiletries or whatever. Is that the case? “The Government did not intend that genuine hospitality or similar business expenditure, which is reasonable and proportionate, should constitute an offence provided the person who receives the gift of hospitality is not under any obligation to confer business on the donor.”
Will it really come down to small gifts like that, or is the intention to catch out the big boys like BAE? “You are right that the history behind the Bribery Act 2010 was pressure upon the UK by the international community to ensure that prosecution would follow in appropriate cases such as the Saudi arms deal.”
Will it really be applicable to small businesses, and, if so, how will it be policed? “The Act does apply to every individual as it is an offence to pay or receive a bribe either directly or indirectly. It applies to businesses large and small, which can commit an offence where a bribe has been paid on their behalf by an associate, including employees and agents. “It is a defence to have adequate procedures in place to prevent bribery and every business should carry out a risk assessment and put in place appropriate and proportionate procedures to the risk. “A small business which does no trade overseas faces low bribery risks and will require relatively minimal procedures. Every business should, however, have a procedure to ensure this defence is available should the worst happen.
“It is likely that policing of the Act will, as usual, be conducted through the Police Specialist Units. Prosecutions will be authorised by the DPP or the director of the Serious Fraud Office if a conviction is more likely than not and if it is in the public interest.”
Is it possible to draw a line between what is actually bribery and what is the natural gratitude you would show to a good customer? “Yes, it is. My answer to this is the same as the first question, namely that the gift must be reasonable and proportionate, to cement good business relations, and that the recipient is under no obligation to confer business on the donor as a result such as to induce an improper performance of their functions.”
Is it really more about the methods a company uses to attract new business, rather than maintain an existing relationship? Or is there really no difference in the eyes of the law? “There really is no difference in the eyes of the law. It is important to look at the definition of the offences, namely bribing a person to induce or reward them to perform a relevant function improperly, requesting, accepting or receiving a bribe as a reward for performing a relevant function improperly, and using a bribe to influence a foreign official to gain a business advantage, be they existing or potential business providers.”
“So, the overall message seems to be that unless you are running a large, high-profile business you have no need to worry, provided that you behave in a reasonable and ethical way.” Indeed, Paul Stevens’s view does seem to echo that of the Serious Fraud Office and their interpretation of the Act. Reporting for The Daily Telegraph, Jonathan Russell also spoke to SFO director Richard Alderman. He reported that Alderman does not expect small companies to put in place extensive anti-bribery procedures. He says that in very small companies a simple message to staff to say the company will not tolerate bribery is enough. As a result, we can expect investigations to focus on large companies paying out big bribes and to focus on foreign companies – or at least bribes paid in foreign lands. Russell added: “For him the Holy Grail is to create a culture in which companies feel confident to engage with the SFO on how they should be policing themselves and their peers. If the SFO can generate a culture of self-reporting the vast majority of its work will be done. “To do this Mr Alderman needs two things. He needs a significant scalp to show the corporate world that his Bribery Act stick is to be feared. He also needs to demonstrate that his door is open to those that want to engage.
Is this a well considered piece of legislation, or does it just have too many inconsistencies?
Alderman also told Russell: “If people come to me they will find that my door is open. They can come through it and talk to me. And they will be allowed to leave by the door, too.”
“My first reaction to the Bribery Act was that it appeared to be like other recent legislation which broadens regulation, adding expense to businesses requiring them to guard against an unlikely risk, and creating the possibility of committing an offence without being aware of it.
All this, of course, should appeal to the British sense of fair play. Whether fair play alone will be enough to win huge international contracts, of course, is open to debate.
“On review, I think that the Bribery Act – which replaces many earlier acts on bribery (including the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906) – does simplify our awareness of bribery and brings it into the 21st century. “For most businesses, compliance with the Act will not be a major imposition but it would be wise to carry out a risk assessment and create a procedure which is relevant for your business, with training for staff. Anti-bribery clauses should be included in all standard terms of business and all commercial contracts.
It may be that the scandals that have rocked Britain in recent years will now be consigned to the history books, but somehow that seems unlikely. The good news for the rest of us is that we can place the order for that favourite single malt for a customer and sleep easy in our beds with a clear conscience.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 23
CORPORATE COMMUNICATION
Expanding communication opportunities In the 21st Century, face to face conferences and meetings still form an important communication tool for businesses wishing to convey key messages to their public. The aim now is to extend the audience and prolong the lifespan of an event. Creating discussion opportunities was a key objective of the Summer Conference organised by the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) and held at the Great Yarmouth Race Course in July. The event set out to explain the scale of future growth of the energy sector within the region in the next decade and to demonstrate the business opportunities that would result. AV Unit provided audio visual support for the EEEGR conference and Adam Clark, Managing Director of AV Unit based in Ipswich, said: “It was great to see the delegates interacting in this way, using Speed Dating as the focus to talk. Creating deliberate opportunities to meet new people and discuss key topics in small groups is a hugely effective way of moving the debate forward and creating new business opportunities. It is something that is often overlooked or taken for granted that it will just happen naturally, but time set aside for ‘networking’ is often ineffective without structure or enablers to help. The meetings industry has evolved over the years and now incorporates tools and technologies that go well beyond the humble overhead projector. Firstly oratory gave way to visual slides, and now the interactive approach is here. The challenge for the future is to remain relevant and to enhance the communication opportunities available. Communication has become global and constant and this provides not only a challenge, but also an opportunity for conferences. In the past, a meeting has only been relevant to those attending, and only for the period of that event. Today, a conference can be seen live and delegates can participate from the other side of the world, and discussion about the topics can continue long after the set has been removed. In its simple form, video conferencing can be used to bring experts to an event where their physical presence is often not an option. More importantly, this medium can be used to expand the audience beyond the meeting room, enabling remote audiences to watch and to participate in discussion. This, and online platforms, can enable participants to connect virtually, to arrange meetings or simply to network.
24 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
The real bonus is the opportunity to extend the lifespan of the event. Web based social media and networking perpetuates listening, not just hearing, inviting response and exploration of a subject. The power of interest groups on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook discussing material delivered on DVD, websites and YouTube is only now being fully exploited. The opportunity for organisers of meetings is to identify the target audience beyond those who are likely to travel. Thinking creatively will allow companies to get their message to far more individuals than will ever fit in a room.
Speed dating with energy If the aim is to extend the communication opportunity at a conference, then getting people to talk together is a good start. Speed dating, not often associated with the business sector, was used as a catalyst to talk at a recent regional summer conference held for the Energy Industry. Networking is often stated as the secondary purpose of an event but, left to their own devices, delegates all too often migrate towards those that they know and miss the chance to develop discussion in a wider sphere.
“There are a number of technological and traditional solutions that facilitate this process and integrate nicely into the live event format. At many events the audience is the biggest asset in terms of combined knowledge and experience but also the biggest investment in terms of their time. Using technology to maximise their engagement and simultaneously harness their ideas and thoughts is a very worthwhile investment.”
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Seckford at Christmas With Christmas just around the corner, Seckford Hall offers options to suit all needs, whether celebrating with colleagues, clients, family or friends. Enjoy a festive three-course lunch or dinner in the restaurant, where parties of up to 30 can be catered for, or enjoy one of our superb party nights from £31.50 per person. The hotel is also taking bookings for New Year’s Eve in the beautiful surroundings of the main restaurant. Enjoy a special three-course menu at £45 per person in the company of family or friends – the perfect recipe for a memorable evening. Under the leadership of highly talented head chef Mark Archer, the kitchen at Seckford Hall has truly evolved, using largely local produce to develop its menus. The growing number of regular clients is a testament to the restaurant’s success. Christmas is no exception, with the menus being carefully designed to cater for all tastes. From Dedham Vale venison, Red Poll fillet of beef to the traditional locally reared turkey. For more information, including Christmas party and dinner bookings, call Sonia Colchester on 01394 385678 or visit www.seckford.co.uk IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 25
Question Time Dinner
IOD EVENTS
Award-winning broadcaster Rachel Sloane was the chair of IoD Suffolk’s annual Question Time Dinner held at the Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds in June.
Taste Bites at Suffolk Food Hall Question Time panel: Standing (left to right) are Rosemary Bensley (Pharmarama); Paul Winter (Ipswich Building Society and Chair, IoD Suffolk); Rachel Sloane (Broadcaster). Seated are Graeme Leach (Chief Economist, IoD) and Steven Law (Ensors Chartered Accountants).
Oliver Paul of Suffolk Food Hall hosted this delectable summer event when members and guests enjoyed some of the finest Suffolk food produced locally.
Following a drinks reception and dinner, panel members rolled up their sleeves for a lively debate with IoD members and their guests. Introduced over 5 years ago, the Question Time Dinner has become a premier event in the IoD Suffolk events calendar, with members enjoying the opportunity to debate some of the hot local and national issues affecting local business.
Left to right: Oliver Paul (Suffolk Food Hall); Chef Joe Blanchard; Stephen Unwin (Cawston Vale); Paul Winter (Ipswich Building Society and Chair, IoD Suffolk) and Alastair Butler of Blythburgh Pork.
Special guests were Stephen Unwin of Cawston Vale and Alastair Butler of Blythburgh Pork, two Suffolk companies which have excelled in promoting their food and drink brands nationally. Following drinks and canapés Stephen and Alastair gave an insight into their businesses and answered questions from the floor whilst Suffolk Food Hall chef Joe Blanchard prepared braised belly of pork and apple sauce using Blythburgh Pork and Cawston Vale juice. Guests enjoyed tasters of Joe’s dishes as well as a delicious ‘Suffolk’ buffet.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 27
B -4 DAY 2 FLIE /DA GER TE
FORTIS’ tradition is supporting the development of new technologies like the world’s first self-winding wristwatch, the legendary Harwood Automatic, in the early twenties. Today, as well as in the past major developments in watches result out of sportive or military requirements. Thus the FORTIS Official Cosmonauts Chronograph was developed upon request and became the official equipment for space missions and onboard the International Space Station ISS in 1994. Later, a mechanical alarm function was developed to complement the automatic chronograph movement: The worldwide unique alarm calibre, the patented FORTIS F-2001 C.O.S.C. certified Chronograph Alarm. This year’s highlight is a limited edition of automatic wristwatches that commemorates a very special mission: “MARS 500”. Organized by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the FSA Roscosmos a scientific experiment will end in November ‘11 after 520 days. For the first time in space exploration a real-time simulation of a flight to planet Mars takes place in the Moscow based institute for biomedical problems (IMBP), in a special isolated habitat environment of the scientific research centre. FORTIS is the official mission time keeper and presents the B-42 BLACK MARS 500 as Day/Date and as a chronograph, both in a limited series, bearing the official mission logo.
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B M - 42 A DA R Y/ INE DA M TE AS TE R
Official supplier to aviation and space The world’s first manufacturer of automatic wristwatches since 1912 swiss Catalogue and further information: www.fortis-watches.com
ION D EDIT LIMITE ATIC M SPACE
5 Church Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1DH Tel: 01394 389666
S NAUT OSMO B-42 C TE A DAY/D
TS AU N O SM PH CO GRA 2 O B -4 R ON CH
B DA -42 Y/ BL DA A TE CK
LIM B-4 IITED E 2B LAC DITIO KM N ARS
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COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Green light given for very desirable office developments in Suffolk After a relatively quiet period in the commercial property market Penn Commercial is proud to be instructed on five new office schemes. A prestigious new office development on Ipswich’s popular waterfront has the go ahead. Nearby, Archant has announced plans to redevelop the printing site incorporating the East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich Borough Council and Ipswich Central have an ambitious Masterplan to connect the waterfront, education sector and town centre
Ideal for a prestige Headquarters for a professional company, the building will be constructed to a Grade A specification. The Link in Lower Brook Street, Ipswich will fill a much needed gap, bridging the town centre and waterfront. The proposed mixed use development will include, offices, retail, restaurants, hotel and multi storey car park with potential up to 160,000 sq.ft.
At Whitehouse Road the second phase of the Quantum Business Park is being launched. The Havens Business Park, opposite the Port of Felixstowe, is ideal for the international shipping and logistics companies working out of the container Port.
Neptune Marina, at the eastern end of the waterfront development and adjacent to UCS is already home to Sanctuary Personnel who took 5,800 sq.ft. over two floors earlier this year. Phase two will enjoy panoramic views over the bustling Neptune Quay and will be opposite the new Travel Lodge Hotel. The building will comprise 11,500 sq.ft. accommodation with on site car parking.
At Whitehouse Road, Quantum Business Park will provide for buildings between 5,0006,000 sq.ft. – ideal for call centre, outsourcing, insurance, shipping or administrative functions. There is allocated car parking and easy access to the main A14. Artisan UK Developments have fast tracked a design and build programme to deliver buildings earlier for occupiers. A headquarters building of 20,000 sq.ft. has been designed specifically for a call centre or administrative HQ. In Felixstowe Penn Commercial are offering five acres at The Haven Exchange. This is a popular setting close to the dock gates and where there are already a number of bespoke offices occupied by Cory Brothers, Hanjin and Maritime.
The House, 16 Museum Street
Buildings can be delivered from 2,000 sq ft upwards to occupiers’ requirements and with a good car parking ratio.
The House and St Marys Court, Museum Street Ipswich, have been fully refurbished and ready for immediate occupation. The buildings are available for sale or to let and both benefit from full a/c and car parking. From 3,000 sq ft to 17,000 sq ft.
With a number of shipping companies moving operations out of London and ongoing development of the dockside, the remaining land is likely to be developed for shipping and logistics HQs or may appeal to an owner occupier working out of the port.
For a personal and proactive service commercial agency • property management • lease renewal • rent review • valuation • epc assessment
01473 211933 www.penncommercial.co.uk Commercial property blog website: www.commercialpropertyblog.info Penn Affiliates: www.penncommercial.co.uk/affiliates Penn Commercial sponsoring, in association with Ipswich Sports Club, Louise Jukes – British GB handball athlete competing in London 2012 Olympics.
PERSONAL We invest time in understanding your objectives and provide a personal approach to build an unbeatable working relationship.
Advice Line:
0845 603 1585
"Relialibility with a personal touch that is second to none" Client feedback
The Specialists in office interiors sales@sourceoneconsulting.co.uk www.sourceoneconsulting.co.uk Based in Ipswich with branches in Cambridge, Letchworth & Nottingham.
FA C TO R S
BESPOKE KITCHENS, BATHROOMS, BEDROOMS, HOME OFFICES, HOME CINEMAS & MORE
www.angliafactors.co.uk visit us online
01473 610 192
34 Gloster Road Martlesham Heath Ipswich IP5 3RD
ask for advice
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IoD suffolk | summer 2011 | 31
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Seckford Hall Hotel & Restaurant
Christmas at Hintlesham Hall
milsoms meetings! kesgrave hall
Festive Fayre Lunch Available Mon to Sat from 21st Nov to 30th Dec (excluding 26th Dec) Glass of Bucks Fizz or Mulled Wine and canapes on arrival, a delicious choice 3-course menu, coffee and mince pies. ÂŁ34.00 pp Our Famous Party Nights Bring your party to our party. Fantastic Value. Bucks Fizz and canapes – choice 3-course meal, coffee and mince pies. Then onto the dance floor or just relax with friends in the lounges. Friday’s – ÂŁ51.00 pp. Weekday’s ÂŁ46.50 pp – Please see our website for selected dates. Hintlesham Hall Gift Vouchers For those ‘difficult to buy for’ gifts. Any Value – The ideal gift presented in a beautiful folder – Just phone and we do the rest.
01473 652334 tracy.carter@hintleshamhall.com www.hintleshamhall.com
32 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
- 3 fully equipped private meeting rooms - team building space and breakout areas - bar-brasserie restaurant and/or private dining - 23 bedrooms with exceptional 24 hour delegate rates
book your meeting, training or conference today! 01473 333741 | hall road, kesgrave, ipswich, suffolk, IP5 2PU visit www.milsomhotels.com/meetings for full specification
CORPORATE NEWS Dummett Copp LLP, a firm of patent and trade mark attorneys, based in Martlesham Heath have celebrated 25 years in business with an evening of celebration at Seckford Hall Hotel.
Celebrating 25 Years
Dummett Copp continue to be the only firm of patent and trade mark attorneys based in Suffolk and are proud to be able to offer a friendly and cost-effective service to local businesses wanting to obtain protection for their products and services both in the UK and around the world. The evening was a chance to thank clients and associates for their support over the past 25 years and an opportunity to get together and meet people who are usually at the end of a phone call or email.
Among the guests were the original founding partners, Peter Dummett and David Copp, associates from Europe and the US, and many local clients. Luckily the weather held to provide a glorious evening of food and activities. Guests competed to be the best, or at least not the worst, at archery and laser ‘clay’ pigeon shooting, as well as giant Jenga and Connect 4. Clients and staff alike were happy to have a go and some, worryingly, were pretty good shots!
The current partners, Peter Gemmell, Rob McLean, Alison Simons and Nick Jackson, are hoping the next 25 years prove as successful as the previous 25 and that the firm are able to continue to support both new and established businesses in the area. If you would like to speak to a member of staff about protecting your intellectual property please telephone 01473 660600 or contact us via www.dummett.com We offer all new clients a free half-hour’s advice.
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 33
CULTURE
Ipswich School tunes up for second festival “Congratulations on a brilliant first festival,” wrote Julian Lloyd Webber, who gave a cello concert and masterclass at Ipswich School’s first Festival of Music last September. This year’s festival, from September 21-27, is sponsored by Seven Telematics. “We are particularly proud to be associated as the event represents such commitment, dedication and courage from those performing,” said Warwick Dunnett, managing director. “These are attributes that we look for as employers, and we are keen to encourage the promotion and development of such worthy qualities.” The celebrity recital and masterclass will be given by inspirational young violinist Chloë Hanslip. Another successful feature of last year’s festival, the Afternoon Tea, is also being
repeated. The Farrington Ensemble, sponsored by Waitrose, will entertain the audience while tea is served. The festival bar is being run by the The Greyhound pub, on Henley Road, and the school’s own catering team are offering homemade teas and icecreams from local suppliers. “We offer a range of music, from medieval to modern, to involve young and old audiences,” said festival director William Saunders. “We are particularly pleased that so many local companies are supporting us this year, including Larking Gowen, the East Anglian Daily Times, JCB Creatives, Reed Digital, Boydens, and Cowper Griffith, as well as the Old Ipswichian Club, the Suffolk Organists’ Association and other anonymous donors.”
Owner Dan Lightfoot and barman Dick Mainwaring at The Greyhound, Henley Road, Ipswich, where they are offering festival-goers a 15% discount on food.
Tickets are on sale now, at www.ipswichregent.com 01473 433100. See www.ipswich.suffolk.sch.uk/music Student Season Ticket £20 (all events except Afternoon Tea).
34 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
LEISURE
We are nothing without a happy customer Although there are a few encouraging signs in certain businesses, it is still very apparent we are not out of the recession yet.
If all your workforce, even those that may not be customer-facing, are aware of how important it is to be customer-focused, you will be gaining an advantage over those companies/businesses that do not.
If you are a business that is finding it difficult to come through these tough times you really have to look at what you are offering your customer base.
To reach the top of any profession it will take commitment to the end goal and largely depend on the relationships you develop along the way. For a golf professional, the three-year training programme will incorporate teaching, sports science, tournament admin, rules, psychology, physiology, retailing, business management as well as customer relations, including social media – it’s not just being able to hit a ball where you want to!
Are you offering a unique product or service, or do you have competition in either section? If you have competition, what do you offer that your rivals don’t or can’t? Why would a customer choose you over your competition? In some cases this may be purely down to location but, for others, it may be because of the staff and service. Now, more than ever, is a perfect time to look at the staff you have on board and develop/ coach/train them to be fully customer-aware. The consumer has the ultimate choice as to whether they choose you or a competitor; it is down to you to ensure all your staff are fully aware of this as, without continued custom, some jobs (including theirs) may be superfluous.
The adage of ‘people deal with people’ is never more appropriate, so whatever you can do to have or keep a happy workforce the more likely you will retain and possibly build your business through these difficult times. Find out what your staff like to do in their spare time or what reasons they have for coming to work and then try to set up a
FELIXSTOWE FERRY GOLF CLUB 1880
Ferry Road • Felixstowe Suffolk IP1 1 9RY
reward system that would appeal to them – if they like clothes, offer shop vouchers. If they like football, offer tickets to a match. If they go to the gym, offer to pay a month of their membership or, if they play golf, buy them lessons with the pro. Once you have staff performing for their reasons, not yours, you are more likely to have happier staff and this effect will be shown to your customers.
Stuart Robertson Director of Golf BEST WESTERN Ufford Park Hotel, Golf & Spa mail@doctorgolf.co.uk www.doctorgolf.co.uk
U F F O R D PA R K H E A LT H & S PA W H E R E I T I S A L L A B O U T YO U
Have you made sales calls/visits to your clients without too much success? Then FELIXSTOWE FERRY GOLF CLUB might be able to help… Why not invite your clients to a COMPANY GOLF DAY where they will have the opportunity to play on one of Suffolk’s most prestigious courses being voted by Golf World as one of the top 200 golf courses in the country. Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club can not only offer your company taylor-made packages, but we have two excellent courses – the 9 hole Kingsfleet course and the 1 8 hole Martello course. We believe the stunning views, the challenging courses, friendly Clubhouse and excellent catering will make your visit a memorable one
Lu x ur y The rma l S ui te w it h Hy dr o Po ol, Mi ne ral G r o t t o , F o o t S p a s, A r o m a S t e a m R o o m , S o f t S a u n a , Fe a t u re S h o w e r s & I c e Fo u n t a i n . Sp a ex p er ie nce s f ro m £ 20p p. R e s i d e n t i a l s p a b re a k s f ro m £ 8 5 p p . Op e n t o n o n m e m b e r s , 7 d a y s a w e e k .
Call
08 44 477183 2 to book
or visit w ww.uf f ord pa rk.co .uk/ sp a
For full details of prices please contact our Club Secretary, Ray Baines
tel: 01 394 286834 email: secretary@felixstowegolf.co.uk
MORE THAN JUST A GOLF CLUB www.felixstowegolf.co.uk
Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1QW.
U
UFFORD PARK HEALTH & SPA IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 35
CORPORATE HOSPITALITY
Corporate Hospitality and rewarding your employees at Christmas Belt tightening, watching cash flow and working cleverer and more effectively are business watchwords and phrases in these challenging economic times. As budgets are reined in on many areas of business, can the presence of corporate hospitality justify any place in the marketing budget and if so, is Christmas perhaps the excuse we need and how should we tackle it? Christine Bond, commercial manager at Trinity Park Events, the commercial trading arm of the Suffolk Agricultural Association, gives some points to consider.
A business relationship is not just for Christmas.... An invitation to enjoy corporate hospitality at the festive season could be the start of forming, developing and cementing business relationships lasting well into next year. Planned, well thought through and carefully targeted, it can be a cost effective powerful tool that will reap rewards well after the festivities. Government guidance on last year’s Bribery Act, which will not outlaw corporate hospitality, came into force on July 1, reassuring businesses that Bona fide hospitality and promotional and business expenditure that aims to improve the image of a commercial organisation, products and services, or establish relationships, is recognised as an established and important part of doing business.
Keeping the budget to less than £150 per head if you are also entertaining staff is within the “allowable amount” that is non taxable as stated by HMRC. Ensure your event is tailored to their likes and dislikes, make it appropriate to the client’s company policies. Check the health and safety and insurances are all covered. Choose an activity that reflects your brand and company ethos and make it creative. Target your guests carefully – you want the decision makers to attend. Make it convenient for them; they are far more likely to say yes.
As you plan consider a few basic principles:
Consider how the event will run and how you look after the guests and the practicalities. Make it easy for them.
First identify the ultimate outcome to your bottom line. What is your potential return, or is it just the first stage in building your relationship?
There is nothing worse than inviting your prospects to an amazing event where they have to sit for hours in the traffic, or park away from the venue.
Don’t forget you don’t have to go overboard. I expect many of us would love a corporate ski weekend or to be wined and dined at one of the many major sporting events happening during Olympic year, but research has revealed that sometimes a spend of about £70 on a great dinner allowing good conversation, can be more effective.
Make them feel special and pay good attention to them. Ensure you pick an event that allows you to interact.
36 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
Christmas is a good time to entertain as the season contributes to the overall feel of the hospitality and for many businesses the time constraints are slightly eased.
Rewarding your Employees at this Festive Time Finally Christmas is also a good way to reward your employees. Just because you are a small business or small department in a larger organisation does not mean you have to miss out on the big party experience. By booking tables at a full scale event you can benefit from a great three or four course dinner, with music and dancing and entertainment together with exciting attractions, such as steam carousels, dodgem cars, Ferris wheels, at a fraction of the cost of hosting your own event. Trinity Park has several such businesses that take a couple of tables at our Christmas events as a way of thanking their staff. It means the staff all have a good night out without work time taken up with social administration and planning. It is their way of saying thank you and a good team building exercise as well as a great networking opportunity. By July Trinity Park Events had sold at least two thirds of places available at its Full of Eastern Promise themed Christmas parties. There are still places available on December 3, 8, 10, 15, and 22 December 2011 should you want to treat your staff. Tables are for 10 people and ticket price inclusive of dinner, dancing and entertainment is £54.95. For bookings call 01473 707119 or visit the website at: www.trinityparkevents.co.uk
CHARITY
Genesis Orwell Mencap teams up with PR agency namesake Suffolk PR agency Genesis PR has adopted its namesake Genesis Orwell Mencap, the Ipswich based provider of services for people with disabilities and their families and carers, as its nominated charity for the coming year.
The partnership was formed following Genesis PR’s rebrand from its former name Project PR in May, which caught the attention of Genesis Orwell Mencap. The two organisations began to talk and felt that as well as sharing the same name, there was huge scope to work together. Nino Serritiello, chief executive of Genesis Orwell Mencap, said: “Although our two organisations share the same name, we obviously operate in very different fields but like any business, we can always benefit from professional PR and marketing support. “We are very much looking forward to working with Genesis PR and hope the partnership will be mutually beneficial.” Genesis Orwell Mencap provides a range of support services and activities for people with disabilities from its site in Wright Road, Ipswich and in the community. The organisation also runs social enterprises including Genesis Garden Furniture, the Green Bike Project which repairs unwanted bikes, pottery, soft fabric and glass crafts.
Rachel Cass, senior account manager at Genesis PR, said: “Each year we work with one or two local charitable organisations and provide our services free of charge. The fit with Genesis Orwell Mencap is perfect and we hope our support over the coming months will make a real difference to the organisation.” Genesis PR will provide pro bono PR support as well as strategic marketing advice to help the charity raise its profile across Suffolk. The agency will also donate the proceeds of any fundraising activities over the next 12 months to the registered charity. One of the first projects Genesis PR is helping with is publicity for a special Health and Wellbeing Day on 21st September, which Genesis Orwell Mencap is organising for people with learning disabilities and long term health problems. The event aims to help people discover new ways to lead a healthier, happier life and is being held at Genesis Orwell Mencap’s centre in Wright Road, Ipswich. It includes free fun sessions and demonstrations in massage, reflexology,
aromatherapy, therapeutic art and music, exercise, healthy eating and more. There will also be the chance to meet and talk with some of Suffolk’s health professionals and wellbeing experts. The Health and Wellbeing Day is being hosted by Genesis Orwell Mencap and organised in partnership with Felicia Robinson, health and wellbeing support manager at Suffolk County Council and the Expert Patient Programme Support Network (EPPSN). The EPPSN helps people with long term health conditions to help themselves through free, self management courses.
For further information about Genesis Orwell Mencap visit: www.orwellmencap.co.uk or for further information about Genesis PR see: www.genesispr.co.uk
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 37
BUSINESS BOOKS
BOOK REVIEWS CHAVS – The demonization of the working class by Owen Jones Published May 2011 by Verso Books £14.99 In modern Britain, the working class has become an object of fear and ridicule. From Little Britain's Vicky Pollard to the demonization of Jade Goody, media and politicians alike dismiss as feckless, criminalized and ignorant a vast, underprivileged swathe of society whose members have become stereotyped by one, hate-filled word: chavs. In this groundbreaking investigation, Owen Jones explores how the working class has gone from ‘salt of the earth’ to ‘scum of the earth’. Exposing the ignorance and prejudice at the heart of the chav caricature, one based on the media’s inexhaustible obsession with an indigent white underclass, he portrays a far more complex reality. Moving through Westminster’s lobbies and working-class communities from Dagenham to Dewsbury Moor, Jones reveals the increasing poverty and desperation of communities made precarious by wrenching social and industrial change, and all but abandoned by the aspirational, society-fragmenting policies of Thatcherism and New Labour. The chav stereotype, he argues, is used by governments as a convenient figleaf to avoid genuine engagement with social and economic problems, and to justify widening inequality. Based on a wealth of original research, and wide-ranging interviews with media figures, political opinion-formers and workers, Chavs is a damning indictment of the media and political establishment, and an illuminating, disturbing portrait of inequality and class hatred in modern Britain.
The Global Minotaur – America, the true origins of the financial crisis and the future of the world economy by Yanis Varoufakis Published August 2011 by Zed Books £12.99 In this remarkable and provocative book, Yanis Varoufakis explodes the myth that financialisation, ineffectual regulation of banks, greed and globalisation were the causes of the global economic crisis. Rather, they are symptoms of a much deeper malaise which can be traced back to the 1970s; the time when a ‘Global Minotaur’ was born. Just as the Athenians maintained a steady flow of tributes to the Cretan beast, so the ‘rest of the world’ sent incredible amounts of capital to America and Wall Street. Thus, the Global Minotaur became the ‘engine’ that pulled the world economy from the early 1980s to 2008. Today’s crisis in Europe, the heated debates about austerity versus further fiscal stimuli in the US, the clash between China’s authorities and the Obama administration on exchange rates are the inevitable symptoms of the weakening Minotaur; of a global ‘system’ which is now as unsustainable as it is imbalanced. Going beyond this, Varoufakis lays out the options available to us for reintroducing a modicum of reason into a highly irrational global economic order. An essential account of the socio-economic events and hidden histories that have shaped the world as we now know it.
Solvency II – Stakeholder Communications and Change by Gabrielle O'Donovan Published August 2011 by Gower Publishing £75 Your stakeholder communications needs to be robust, at every level, to secure Solvency II compliance and gain internal buy-in for Solvency II as the new business-as-usual. If your Chief Executive fails to communicate to the markets your organization's ability to deliver on the E.U. Directive, or if a local Regulator finds that your Board has been slipshod in communicating and embedding a risk culture internally, leading to a fail in the ‘culture test’, your ability to operate in the Solvency II world will be questioned. ‘Solvency II: Stakeholder Communications and Change’ explains how to avoid these and other related risks. Gabrielle O'Donovan demonstrates how to approach stakeholder management and communications in a structured and disciplined way, which is framed by the EU Directive's general governance requirements. She shows you how to use stakeholder – and change – management techniques to establish, implement and maintain effective cooperation with all levels of the undertaking and with external constituents. She outlines the basis for effective programme reporting and communication to internal and external stakeholders and shows how stakeholder communications has a key role in supporting people through change. Based on the author's original research, ‘Solvency II: Stakeholder Communications and Change’ is well-structured, readable and above all essential for all involved in Solvency II implementation.
Please join us at our
WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN MORNINGS 23 September 2011 – 9.30am – 12.00pm (Informal Open Morning)
8 October 2011 – 9.30am – 12.30pm
38 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
A co-educational Independent Day School for 2-18 year olds with boarding facilities. Scholarships and bursaries up to 100 per cent of fees available. A Christian School in the Lasallian Tradition. Belstead Road, Ipswich, England, IP2 9DR Tel: 01473 6980281 registrar@stjos.co.uk www.stjos.co.uk
BUSINESS START-UP
Last word... As I write this, I’m getting ready to go back to school next week. As part of the first cohort of students at the School of Social Entrepreneurs, it’s been good to have a summer break, but I’m now raring to go back and make full use of our last few months at the School. Autumn will see Got To Read up and running as a social enterprise, and delivering its first pilot project to support literacy and the enjoyment of reading.
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In the build-up to the summer break, my mind was very much focused on all things to do with communications; the values, marketing, branding and overall image of Got To Read. Immediately it felt like a challenge: how can the friendly, warm, approachable image that seems essential for community engagement be reconciled with the professionalism and business awareness that potential funders and service commissioners will expect to see? The School helped my thinking with this during a session about marketing and communications where we described our brands, outlined their values and developed key messages. Bridget Parker, the School’s new Marketing and Communications Manager, gave feedback on these and any existing materials we had, and gave valuable advice on policing our brands. We were treated to a lively witness session from Emma Hibbert, Head of Corporate Affairs at Adnams. Emma introduced us to the idea of the ‘brand reputation bank’ and gave us practical and illuminating examples of how Adnams had managed their ‘bank’ over the past year. And, last but not least on this subject, I’ve been working with a fellow student, Saraid Cann, who has been very generous in helping to format a communications strategy for Got To Read. We share an interest in using a model called Social Return on Investment as a method of measuring impact, so working together on how this should be built on and reflected in communications has been mutually beneficial. The pilot scheme for Got To Read, which will be in the Gainsborough area of Ipswich, is now rapidly taking shape. Over a six-month period Got To Read will be working with a range of partners, including the Ipswich Academy, Gainsborough Library and the Suffolk Book League, to develop an exciting series of reading promotions.
Tracy Bose learning to spin plates at Great Cornard library
There will be some great opportunities coming up for local businesses to get engaged with the project. We’ll be looking for sponsors for high-profile events, for volunteers to support others with their reading, and for people who actually want to take part and read.
Got To Read now has a logo – so far it’s generating a Marmite response. People either love it or hate it, but does that mean it’s at least memorable? I’d love to hear what you think. Tracy Bose tracybose@btinternet.com M: 07939 972792
IoD suffolk | autumn 2011 | 39
MEMBER PROFILE
Simon Gibson DIRECTOR – ATKINSON BOLTON CONSULTING
What is your business mantra? Since the business was established 10 years ago, we have driven ourselves to continually deliver world class service. Understanding that “product” is much the same across the financial services profession, we recognised early on that our differentiation was how we dealt with our clients, made and kept our promises, and perhaps most importantly of all how we communicated. It says ‘creating and preserving wealth’ on our letterhead and in big letters above our reception area.
What values do you stand by? Personally, I believe that having integrity, a sense of community and (where appropriate) providing leadership are all key. I have a strong ethical view of how business should be done too. I am also passionate about teaching children and young people the value of money. (We also run our own charity, the ABC Charitable Trust (East Anglia)).
Financial services professional Simon Gibson runs Atkinson Bolton Consulting with co-directors James Bolton and David Thurlow, the company having been established in 2001. They have developed an enviable reputation for their work with companies and private individuals and now have a team of 39 including five highly qualified financial advisers at the firm’s Newmarket office.
For the business values, as above, providing an ethical, reputable, innovative service led proposition to clients (both private individuals and corporate entities) remains our permanent goal.
How are you tackling them? Given my answers above, there’s not much we can do on the external issues other than remain vigilant and up-to-date on matters that may arise. The less of a surprise they are to us (and our clients), the better we can deal with the outcome…
How do you keep services fresh and innovative? This is a brilliantly timed question. We have a business plan that sets out our vision for the “state of the nation” (Atkinson Bolton Consulting) on 31st December 2015. In August and September 2011 we are refreshing our service propositions, checking that they still deliver what our clients need, and ensuring that our business is “future-ready” – this regular reviewing of an already successful brand has stood us in very good stead over the years.
How have you grown your reputation? It may sound clichéd, but making and keeping our promises really means something to our clients (and us!). We have won many awards in recent years (we are currently Money Marketing Investment Advisers of the Year), and that helps too – confirmation of our abilities from others. We regularly ask our clients to comment on what we are doing, and how we are doing it – we want to hear the good, bad and ugly (though we hope not to hear too much (if any) of the last two). Our clients use words like approachable, reputable, secure, friendly and professional when describing Atkinson Bolton Consulting.
What are your biggest headaches/challenges? Though we are not backward in commenting on the macro-economic outlook, geopolitical issues and the like, meaning that we have to keep our finger very much on that ‘pulse’, external challenges are usually bigger
40 | IoD suffolk | autumn 2011
to us than internal ones – so-called Black Swan events, as seen in recent years, these have caused our biggest headaches. We have a solid, professional relationship with (and respect for) our regulators, and a great team of people who share our values.
What do you look for when recruiting the best staff? Enthusiasm, interest in pursuing a career and a general willingness – our brand is all about professionalism and our values are important – a great attitude is also good to find, as is potential, which we are more than happy to develop. Of course, for particular roles we also need particular skills, not least the appropriate professional qualifications. In 2010, 22 of our team earned 29 qualifications between them .
Finally, how do you find Suffolk as a business location? We love Suffolk – but then we love Cambridgeshire, Norfolk… I am Suffolk born and bred, so have a natural affinity with the county. However, in our business, providing the services that we do, we need to connect with people and our location means that we are well placed to do business in all of East Anglia, and beyond.
We supply an extensive range of ceramic, porcelain, glass and natural stone wall and floor tiles. Our showroom has a comprehensive display with the majority of products being exclusive in our region. To complement the quality of our tiles we have the wonderful Roca and Laufen sanitaryware on display along with the very stylish Bisque radiators. Ancillary products include underfloor tile warming systems, Lithofin cleaning and sealing products, various grouts and adhesives, showers and shower screens.
36-38 Woodbridge Road Rushmere St Andrew Ipswich IP5 1BH T: 01473 617050 E: info@foxwoodceramics.co.uk
Life is short. The new SLK.
Join us to discover more. Summer is nearly here and so is our dynamic new SLK. Launching soon, it will set hearts racing with its aggressive looks and thrilling performance. Highly responsive new-generation engines together with taut suspension and agile handling ensure that you always feel close to the road. Be one of the first to experience it, just call in or call us for a test drive. To find out more contact us on 01473 232232 or visit www.mercedes-benzofipswich.co.uk
Mercedes-Benz of Ipswich The Havens, Ransomes Europark, Ipswich IP3 9SJ 01473 232232 www.mercedes-benzofipswich.co.uk Official government fuel consumption figures in mpg (litres per 100km) for the SLK-Class range: urban 28.5(9.9)-32.8(8.6), extra urban 51.4(5.5)53.3(5.3), combined 39.8(7.1)-43.5(6.5). CO2 emissions: 167-151 g/km. The new SLK-Class range starts from £29,980.00 on-the-road. Model featured is a new Mercedes-Benz SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY at £33,110.00 on-the-road including optional 18" alloy wheels at £715.00, sports suspension at £205.00, Nappa leather upholstery at £1,355.00, headlamp wash at £210.00 and metallic paint at £645.00. (On-the-road price includes VAT, delivery, maximum Road Fund Licence, number plates, new vehicle registration fee and fuel). Prices correct at time of going to press (06/11).