suffolk SUMMER 2013 | www.iod-suffolk.co.uk
Cultural tourism
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CONTENTS
Welcome. Summer is here; we’re hoping for sunny days and good harvests, whatever our line of business. This is a great time to innovate, diversify and expand into new markets. If you’re ready to try new ideas this summer, don’t miss our report on the IOD Suffolk Annual Conference The Challenge of Change. “All-round inspiring,” say delegates. Cultural tourism is our theme for this edition, as we welcome lots of new visitors to Suffolk for the Britten centenary. Could this ‘cultural tourism’ create big business for years to come? Jane Chittenden finds out how we can maintain the ‘Britten impact’. Cultural tourism is big business for Suffolk this year, with the Britten centenary celebrations. But can the momentum be maintained year-onyear? Jane Chittenden aims to find out on page 16.
We also find out how diversification is paying off for Suffolk farmers. And we meet IoD Suffolk member Sally Butcher, who tells us about Realise Futures, a social enterprise that’s helping disadvantaged people in Suffolk. Have a great Summer! Email us at IoD-feedback@tilstonphillips.com or write to us at the address below. Jane Chittenden – Editor
Published by: Tilston Phillips Magazines Limited 141 Norwich Road, Ipswich IP1 2PP enquiries@tilstonphillips.com www.tilstonphillips.com
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Designed by: Toni Escriche Cover image: Scallop Sculpture by Maggie Hambling © Visit Britain/Rod Edward
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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 2013
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Contents
1
From the Chair
3
IoD Annual Conference Report
4
Forthcoming events
6
Across the region
8
Protecting the Director
11
PR and Marketing
13
IoD Suffolk Events
14
Cultural Tourism
16
Company News
18
A word from the accountants
19
Motoring review: Honda Civic
20
Company cars
21
Social Media
22
Motoring review: Volvo V40
23
Sartorial style
25
Farming diversity
27
Leisure
28
Business books
31
Member profile – Sally Butcher
32
Commitment that brings certainty to your business 01473 346046 www.poundgates.com Pound Gates St Vincent House, 1 Cutler Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1UQ Pound Gates & Co Ltd, trading as Pound Gates, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, and is an ISO and Investor in People accredited company.
WELCOME
New members to Suffolk branch Iain Macaskill Academy Class Matt Wheeler Animus-HR Ltd Des Smith Aspall Paul Taylor Azpects Ltd Jane Cattermole Bay Tree Va Ltd Simon Gray EEEGR Graham Lee Graham Lee Consultancy Richard Powell Healthy Ambitions Lorna Moore Invest Smarter Seminars Ltd Matthew Tytherleigh Lexacom Colin Hammond N7 Ltd Jon Walters Proverb2 Ltd Rodney Kerr Railway Management Services Ltd Sally Butcher Realise Futures CIC John Howard Ripple Public Relations Ltd John Lane Skybox Security Ltd John Spice Spice Property Consultants
IoD Suffolk membership benefits • • • • • •
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 To find out more about joining IoD Suffolk branch please contact: Caroline Kearney Suffolk Branch Administrator 07917 699 498 caroline@iod-suffolk.co.uk Institute of Directors Suffolk Branch 25 Wilding Drive, Grange Farm, Kesgrave Ipswich IP5 2AE www.iod-suffolk.co.uk Follow @SuffolkIoD
From the Chair Can you afford to ignore your own professional development? We tend to spend a lot of time and money on developing our products and services but, in my opinion, not enough on developing ourselves. I’m still buzzing with excitement following our recent conference, held at Stoke by Nayland. It was incredible to feel the energy in the building during the various sessions of the day. The opportunity for delegates to get off the treadmill for a few hours, connect with each other and take away practical things to “do differently” will, I believe, pay them dividends. As our conference chair, David Hall, put it, it was the chance to spend a day with the “Board you cannot afford”. One of our keynote speakers, Damian Hughes, worked at Manchester United for a time. He mentioned Sir Alex Ferguson’s philosophy about his team’s success: "Manchester United never get beaten. We may occasionally run out of time but we never believe we can be beaten". Fergie’s recent retirement prompted BBC Radio Suffolk to run a short piece on
leadership, for which I was invited to comment. Whatever your footballing allegiance you can’t question that his record will cement his place as one of the greatest managers of all time. In considering the sorts of attributes he demonstrated I initially thought of his work ethic, steely self-belief, and absolute mastery of his subject. But in the highpressure and big money world of football, these are really “a given”. What has provided Fergie with the edge, for me, has been his ability to communicate a vision and to instil a mindset in his team to work together and expect success. I think that’s what made him a great leader. Hope you enjoy the issue and have a fantastic summer.
Luke Morris June 2013 IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 3
IOD ANNUAL CONFERENCE REPORT
‘13
Rising to the Challenge
More than seventy members and guests took time out to consider the Challenge of Change at the IoD Suffolk annual conference at the Stoke by Nayland Hotel in May. “A great day,” was the verdict of county chair Luke Morris.
Left to right: Rob Thacker, Pound Gates; John Matthews, Ensors; Damian Hughes, Liquid Thinker; Nicola Furmston, Barker Gotelee; David Hall, The Ideas Centre; Brad Warwick, Crafted and Luke Morris, Chair, Suffolk IoD.
Can you tell the difference between a buzz and a din? If you can’t you’re unlikely to be able to run a successful restaurant. That was one of the many tips from restaurateur Fernando Peire, the main after-lunch speaker at this year’s Suffolk IoD conference. On this occasion, no one could mistake the very positive buzz created by Fernando and his fellow speakers.
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One of the toughest aspects of the current economic downturn has been its length. Business owners are used to ups and downs but few have experienced weakness of demand for anything like this number of years. Everyone is looking for change. That’s not easy to make, hence the decision by the Suffolk IoD committee to focus on change and how to achieve it for this year’s showcase event.
Damian Hughes, founder of Liquid Thinker and Professor of Organisational Psychology and Change at Manchester Metropolitan University, got the morning off to a great start. The former England schoolboy footballer and Manchester United coach talked about the natural fear of change and ways to overcome that fear. He explained how, when working with sportsmen and women, it was
mind games – audience participation during the session with Damian Hughes
persuading them of the importance of their reaction to events that did most to improve performance. One practical step to making change more achievable was to talk about the issues in the right sort of way, he said. Too often, we think of problems as being personal, permanent and pervasive. We had to see them and talk about them as external, temporary and specific. The best leaders, he said, were good listeners because they were always looking for that extra 1%. It was an engaging, interactive session delivered with real authority and integrity. David Hall, director of the Ideas Centre, chaired the day and kept things moving with characteristic charm and energy. Drawing on experience of work with BT he talked about the value of knowledge held by a business. In 1980, he said, that knowledge might have given the company an advantage for 50 years. By 2020, any company could be overtaken within a year. The morning syndicate sessions covered bank loans, tax, the working environment and change myths. Delegates reconvened for lunch and further networking opportunities. Fernando Peire, a director of the Michelin-starred Ivy, made the Restaurant Inspector programme for Channel 5. The insight and wit that made that series a success was fully evident in his afternoon keynote presentation. He talked about his first restaurant in Chelsea, which closed not long after attracting zero clients on its second night open. After that, he moved The day was sponsored by:
Professor Damian Hughes
to the Ivy and was a key member of the team that built it up to the point, in the late 90s, when it was probably the most famous restaurant in the world. New owners came in and he left, returning a few years later after it had been sold again. This time he had the authority to make the changes he thought necessary to turn it round. He replaced more than half the staff, updated the food, changed the booking systems and introduced a set menu. Throughout, he was guided by what he believed people want from a night out in a restaurant – a good time. The food, he said, had to be good but it was still only one part of the total experience. The most important part of the business was the staff. There were lots of questions for Fernando; mostly about change but one about the many celebrities he’d entertained at the Ivy. Who had made the biggest impression? David Bowie. The afternoon syndicate sessions dealt with employee engagement, marketing, insurance and diversity. David Hall expertly drew together the various strands of learning and discussion. After a final round of business card swaps, delegates left determined to meet the challenge of change. The day was sponsored by Ensors, Barker Gotelee, Pound Gates and Crafted. One delegate’s verdict: “Great keynote speakers, great conversations with fellow delegates, all round inspiring.”
Fernando Peire
IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 5
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
‘The East of England: Keeping the lights on’
Golf Day with Ipswich Building Society
Economic Breakfast with Graeme Leach
TUESDAY 2 JULY 2013 7.30 – 9.30am Seckford Hall, Woodbridge, IP13 6NU IoD members and guests £27.50 (ex VAT) Non-members £41.50 (ex VAT)
TUESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2013 In aid of Cancer Campaign in Suffolk Stoke-by-Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa Keepers Lane, Leavenheath CO6 4PZ
WEDNESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2013 7.30 – 9.30am The West Wing at Ickworth Bury St Edmunds IP29 5QE IoD members and guests £27.50 (ex VAT) Non-members £41.50 (ex VAT)
Make a diary date now for our ‘East of England: Keeping the lights on’ business breakfast with guest speaker Simon Gray, CEO of The East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), the industry association for energy in the East of England which represents over 390 members across the supply chain. EEEGR is a non-profit, business-led group committed to the sustained development of the energy sector in the East of England and the continued success of its members. These operate throughout the energy sectors from oil, gas, wind, wave & tidal, bio-energy and nuclear through to decommissioning, carbon capture & storage (CCS), distribution and transmission and conventional generation. eeegr.com
Our events programme is kindly sponsored by:
Ipswich Building Society has very kindly offered IoD Suffolk the opportunity to partner them for their annual charity golf day at Stoke by Nayland’s Gainsborough Course, offering beautifully undulating terrain and four substantial lakes which will provide golfers of all abilities with a challenging test of their skills. Before starting at 11am we welcome you to join us for coffee and bacon rolls to set you up for the day ahead. Once you have finished the course we invite you to relax and enjoy a BBQ supper on the terrace. These refreshments are included in the entry fee. This is an excellent opportunity to entertain clients, business partners or use it as a team activity and all for an excellent cause. To enter a team of 4 people and display your company banner on a hole costs just £325. Single golfers can take part for £75 per person. Or you may wish to sponsor a hole for £100. Money raised will go to Cancer Campaign in Suffolk, which helps people throughout the county before, during and after cancer. Funded entirely by voluntary donations, Cancer Campaign in Suffolk fund the John Le Vay Cancer Information Centre located in Ipswich Hospital’s oncology department. For more information or to book your place on the golf day please contact Joanne Palfrey at Ipswich Building Society by calling 01473 278435 or email joannepalfrey@ibs.co.uk
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Book now for our Economic Breakfast event with special guest speaker Professor Graeme Leach, the Institute of Director’s Chief Economist and Director of Policy. Professor Leach always gives a very insightful take on how the UK economy is doing and the economic risks the country faces with regards the euro zone. Enjoy a full English breakfast (vegetarian option available) and an excellent perspective on how Government and EU policy affects your business.
BOOK YOUR EVENTS To book any of our events you have the following options: Book online at www.iod.com/suffolkevents Contact our Suffolk IoD branch administrator Caroline Kearney Telephone 07971 699498 or email caroline@iod-suffolk.co.uk Caroline will take credit card bookings or invoice your business. Use our booking form – Each of our events has a marketing leaflet with a booking form you can return by post. If you have not received a leaflet and would like to receive one please contact Caroline Kearney.
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IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 7
ACROSS THE REGION
Banking on new accounts
Screening boost for patients
On your bike – on the train
The Post Office has launched three new current accounts – designed to appeal to different customer needs – in partnership with Bank of Ireland UK.
A pioneering cycle hire scheme has been launched at Norwich railway station – offering travellers the chance to book a bicycle along with their train tickets.
The initial pilot will be in 29 branches in East Anglia, providing insight into how the Post Office could adapt its offering before a full launch planned for next year.
The initiative, by train operator Abellio, has 30 cycles available for day hire, offering a quick, healthy and eco-friendly way to get around the city.
The new accounts are being introduced ahead of the new seven-day switching regulation to come into effect in September, which will make it easier for customers to move from one bank to another.
A Suffolk healthcare practice has unveiled its newest technological addition – making it the first independent private practice in the county to offer patients advanced screening. Gilmour Piper will now be delivering diagnostic ultrasound scanning from its Ipswich practice. This means those suffering from sports or muscular injuries can receive an even clearer assessment of their soft tissue or jointrelated problem.
The accounts will give customers a onestop option to service all their financial needs, from current accounts to mortgages and travel money. It is also hoped that they will generate increased income for sub-postmasters, supporting the financial future of 11,500 branches across the UK.
Physiotherapist and partner Mark Newman said: “Ultrasound imaging has long been regarded as an important evaluation tool by those working with sports professionals. This facility will give us even more opportunity to quickly and dynamically assess patients to create the right treatment options.
Greater Anglia MD Ruud Haket said: “Norwich is a popular location for commuters who cycle to the station. We committed to provide cycle hire facilities as part of our franchise bid, so we are pleased to fulfil that promise on time and hope that many passengers, including visitors to Norwich, will take the chance to cycle round this fine city. “We will continue to work with partners to further upgrade cycle facilities, across our network.” For more information visit http://greateranglia.oxatis.com/
“This tool will make such a valuable difference to so many people – whether they’re a professional sports player or have persistently suffered with nagging muscular discomfort.”
Concern over rural economy Rising unemployment, shrinking profits and plummeting confidence in countryside businesses has taken the rural economy to the brink of a further recession, according to a survey by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and property advisers Smiths Gore. Data from the Rural Economy Index for the 2013 first quarter shows agricultural and non-agricultural rural businesses suffering. All eight indicators fell across both types of business, with agricultural faring worse. The optimism in 2012 has gone because of bad weather, poor harvests and rising price of livestock feed. The measure of optimism is down 40% compared with the same quarter last year.
8 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
Sales have fallen in the past six months with orders and profits expected to be lower in the next 12 months. Farming businesses expect to employ fewer people. Non-agricultural businesses are feeling less optimistic although they still expect higher profits in the next year despite actual sales shrinking and the number of business enquiries falling. Hopes for higher employment faded with fewer non-farming businesses expecting to employ more people. CLA East regional director Nicola Currie said: “This comes when the Government’s priority is growth. Therefore, even though
farming is resilient and keeps going, whatever the weather, we call on the Government to reduce negative impacts of over-regulation. We want to see a broadband infrastructure that is effective, affordable and available to all. This will encourage rural businesses to fully embrace the principles of growth.”
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ACROSS THE REGION
Does your website pass the test? site. It will also measure how well your social media rates, whether search engines can find you and, crucially, how your website ranks compared with competitors.
Just like cars, websites need an MOT every now and then. Award-winning digital marketing agency Itineris is offering businesses free website health checks. These will cover topics such as compliance, how well your website is marketed, user-friendly ranking, keyword analysis and what Google thinks of the
Crawford Gillan is taking over from Colin Firmin who has held the voluntary post since the partnership was established four years ago to encourage more people to take up the sport, enabling them to enjoy the health, fitness and social benefits of playing golf. Crawford has recently retired from editing a series of community magazines. Previously, he edited the Evening Star in Ipswich, worked for national newspapers – and IoD Suffolk magazine. He was also manager of the Suffolk ProHelp group (Business in the Community), an associate lecturer at the Open University Business School and updated a book on the use of English in the media. He said: “Golf is a wonderful game but, unfortunately, it has sometimes suffered from seeming to be rather inaccessible to some people, for a variety of reasons. Part of my new role will be to help remove such barriers – real or imagined – and to persuade people to try golf and to discover what a really great game it can be, whether you are aged eight or eighty! “The partnership’s stated aim is to introduce more people to golf, regardless of age, gender and background. What is perhaps not widely known is that golf is 10 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
The value of creative thinking was well illustrated by Dr David J Hall at an Ipswich business breakfast networking event in May.
Matt Horsup, head of sales and marketing at Itineris, said: “Most companies have a website and are doing some form of digital marketing, but the majority don't know how effective these activities are. With the internet moving so fast, it’s no longer enough just to have a presence online and you need to know if your website is effective. “We analyse the site from a number of perspectives and present the report to you. This is free and without obligation. Best of all, our reports are delivered in plain English – designed to be understood by everyone, not just your technical team.”
New chairman for golf partnership A former regional newspaper editor has been elected new chairman of the Suffolk Golf Partnership.
Time for you to think again?
one of the top five sports for people with a limiting disability and the partnership is committed to ensuring that its programmes are inclusive and provide opportunities for everyone.”
Dr David Hall explains the strategic role of creativity at the breakfast event
In his presentation ‘Think again – the strategic role of creativity’, arranged by West Suffolk College, at IP-City, Dr Hall demonstrated how creativity can remove the blockages in everyone’s minds and unleash the power of ‘thinking afresh’ to produce ideas that are both new and useful. He said: “The world is changing at an ever-increasing pace, but decisions and behaviours are based on models of ‘reality’ derived from the past. We need to find ways of challenging these patterns to free up thinking and generate fresh ideas that feed innovation and transform organisations.” After serving as CEO in a range of companies across market sectors, Dr Hall created The Ideas Centre. He became visiting professor for Business Creativity for the University of Bedfordshire in 2007 and now leads a network of creative business people in the East of England. He will be starting a new creativity club in Ipswich soon. To find out more, call 01284 716246 or email s2b@wsc.ac.uk
PROTECTING THE DIRECTOR
AN OPEN ROAD AND A FAST CAR So said one of the country’s most senior divorce judges, Lord Justice Thorpe, when he was out voted by two other judges in the Court of Appeal in the case of Prest v Prest and Others, a case decided in October 2012.
Mr Prest and some of his companies were appealing against the £17.5 million divorce settlement awarded to his ex wife of fifteen years by the High Court the previous year. She had originally sought £30 million and he had offered £2 million, having claimed that he was significantly in debt. Mr Prest’s evidence at trial has been described as “deceitful and shambolic” and the trial judge pointed to many court orders that had been breached and many orders for costs made against him as a result. Mr Prest was found to be “a wholly unreliable witness” whereas Mrs Prest was “careful and honest”, as was one of her main witnesses, a former business associate of her ex husband’s! The judge had found that Mr Prest was the effective owner of all of the companies and they operated however he dictated. On that basis they should be considered assets of the marriage and therefore open to Mrs Prest’s claim. The distinction between property of the marriage and the assets of the company
Contact Philp Hoddell Birkett Long LLP 01206 217300 philip.hoddell@birkettlong.co.uk.
has always been a difficult one for the courts. Where a business person owns all or most of the shares in a company and is also one of, if not the only, director there is bound to be a claim that the value of the company is his and therefore must be brought into account. However, two of the judges in the Court of Appeal said that this was not necessarily the case and there needed to be a clear distinction between the legal identity of the company itself, and the identity of the shareholders of that company. The Court of Appeal’s judgement is welcome news to business people (less so to their former spouses) and gave rise to the judge’s comments in the title to this article about the opportunities it provided to the business owner. Because of the importance of the subject, and the amounts of money at stake, it is perhaps inevitable that Mrs Prest appealed from the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court sat in judgement last month and a decision is expected later this year. The court has to decide whether the assets of the company of which one
spouse is the sole controller can be treated as assets to which that spouse is entitled for the purposes of divorce legislation. If Mrs Prest is successful, it will be business as usual in the divorce courts. However, if the majority view of the Court of Appeal is upheld, then business earning spouses will be able to conduct their usual business without the fear of the divorce court taking a share of it. Philip Hoddell is a specialist in family law; contact him for advice on any aspect of divorce.
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12 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
PR & MARKETING
Award-winning restaurant makes a splash Restaurant owner Minar Miah looked me in the eye and said: “You want my chef to take a bath in curry?”
In our busy world the smallest angle can often create the biggest splash. It was true in 2012 too when Jackpotjoy.com planned a campaign to position playing bingo as a bit of fun and raise brand awareness.
“A bath in curry, in the centre of Manningtree, during November?”
“Suggesting a client takes a bath in curry is not my usual approach, says Ripple director John Howard. “But it was the right approach for the right client.
The event caught the eye of hundreds of residents who saw their restaurant willing to be daring to help others as staff at the award winning restaurant collected donations for the BBC’s Children in Need appeal from delighted passers-by. Journalists from the broadcast, print and online media all reported the story, a twist on the British bath in baked beans, ensuring hundreds of thousands of the restaurant’s potential customers saw the news, including on one front page.
So the team floated a giant rubber duck up the Thames generating coverage in almost every national paper and with ITN television.
“The Mogul is establishing itself deeper within the community through public relations. After the bath in curry, Ripple arranged for Minar to cook lunch at his town’s primary school. “The children learnt about Bangladeshi culture through food, Minar helped his local school, and again gained extensive media coverage further establishing his business within the community.”
Minar Miah and colleagues at the Mogul restaurant in Manningtree on the Suffolk/Essex border.
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IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 13
IOD SUFFOLK EVENTS
Greater Anglia aiming for realistic perceptions Ruud Haket, Managing Director of train operator Abellio Greater Anglia spoke at Hintlesham Hall on 13th March giving members and guests an opportunity to hear about the improvements introduced by the firm over the past 12 months for business travellers. Abellio, a subsidiary of Netherlands Railways, runs 1,900 trains each week day for the Greater Anglia franchise and serves 174 stations across the region. The initiatives include contingency planning for bad weather, adding an additional 140 customer service staff and installing service update screens. Mobile ticketing and online season tickets have also been introduced. To improve communications Twitter updates are now sent from a central control room and 1,650 blackberries have been given to staff. A new alliance with Network Rail means fewer weekend line closures. Speaking at the event, Ruud Haket said: “The theme of the short franchise is
Ruud Haket, Managing Director, Abellio Greater Anglia
customer service and continuing to improve performance. Over-crowding can only be addressed with replacing Inter-City trains with larger trains, so it is important for business people to give their input to the specification on which our budget is set. We want to build local relationships.”
He ended by saying that perceptions needed to be influenced in what people should expect from a transport network. He urged business people to take part in the consultation on the contract specification for the forthcoming 15year franchise.
Centenary visit to CLAAS UK Trevor Tyrrell, CEO of CLAAS UK, hosted a very enjoyable visit by IoD Suffolk members and guests on 25th April to the company’s Bury St Edmunds site. The event coincided with CLAAS UK’s centenary celebrations and the tour got everyone close up with the company’s world class agricultural machinery. CLAAS UK’s investment in its product range of tractors and harvesters has enabled it to meet the increasing challenges of a growing world population and dwindling resources, and therefore to optimise harvesting.
Trevor Tyrrell, CEO of CLAAS UK, explains the company’s world class machinery
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CULTURAL TOURISM
Cultural Tourism: can Suffolk build on the ‘Britten impact’? Benjamin Britten’s centenary is big business for Suffolk’s tourism industry this year, but how can the momentum be maintained year-on-year? Jane Chittenden aims to find out. The Britten centenary is bringing record numbers of visitors to the region, with a year-long programme of concerts, films and arts events. There is musical involvement for everyone, which was always dear to Britten’s heart: community productions and children’s events alongside concerts with world-class professionals. In Aldeburgh, enterprising local businesses are getting in on the act. There’s a pop-up restaurant on the beach for preBenjamin Britten on Aldeburgh Beach - 1959
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performance suppers, Britten afternoon tea at the Brudenell Hotel and plenty of other offers to tempt the cultural tourists. And across the region the Familiar Fields programme celebrates the special places that have a Britten connection, encouraging visitors to explore some of the most delightful (and hidden) parts of Norfolk and Suffolk. It’s a golden opportunity for towns such as Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Lowestoft to promote their attractions.
The centenary celebrations could help to change visitors’ perceptions about the region’s cultural wealth. Suffolk isn’t a high priority on the national map of must-see cultural destinations – but it should be, with year-round attractions such as the Sutton Hoo ship-burial and Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, together with a packed calendar of festivals and cultural events. It’s no secret that the cultural tourism potential of the county is under-
exploited, but how can Suffolk build on the benefits of this year’s ‘Britten impact’ for the long term? Cultural tourism expert Helen Palmer offers some advice, writing in the Guardian recently: “It’s not a quick fix. It’s not simply a new style of marketing. It’s about understanding the collective cultural offer of a destination.” You’ve got to understand everything that makes up a distinctive cultural offer, she says, everything from festival and exhibition programmes to public transport and local places to stay. Then there’s the quality of the local independent shops, restaurants and pubs to consider. And how easy is it for potential visitors to find trusted advice about what’s on offer, in a way that will appeal to their individual preferences? What’s being done by business leaders to help Suffolk to keep up the momentum on cultural tourism? The New Anglia Cultural Board works with New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to develop cultural aspects of the regional economy (its board members include leading cultural organisations in the region and the two county councils). Last summer they commissioned a study of the areas of the cultural and creative economy with the most potential for growing jobs and developing skills, with particular reference to tourism and the arts (the value of heritage to tourism had already been investigated in earlier studies). The summary report from this study has just been published, which highlights many places across the region with the potential for following on from this year’s success with the Britten centenary. A detailed action plan for the economic growth of cultural tourism offer is being
Brazil comes to Suffolk this autumn: Festa Literária Internaçional de Paraty
developed by the New Anglia Cultural Board. It’s a new experience for the cultural and tourism sectors to work closely together and they are already looking at how the information they have about visitors and audiences can be shared to encourage people to stay longer and enjoy more of the varied cultural offer. This will also help to develop new products to attract more visitors. “The New Anglia Cultural Board is working hard to attract as much investment as possible to support the cultural tourism project,” says the board’s chair Helen Wilson. “Once we have some building blocks in place and have secured some investment we will be working in the main with destination management organisations (DMOs) to promote their areas, and this will of course include hospitality, as well as cultural attractions.” Arts Council Cultural Tourism funding is due to be launched this summer, with £3million available to local culture and tourism partnerships. The New Anglia Cultural Board will be preparing its bid as soon as the bidding framework is in place, to help Norfolk and Suffolk to grow the value of cultural tourism across the region.
And to grow that value, there will need to be plenty of high quality cultural events in the pipeline. After Britten, what’s next? Can Suffolk maintain its world-class standard? Yes, it can. Brazil is coming to Aldeburgh this autumn with FLIPSIDE, a sensational literary festival of Brazilian literature, art, music and dance. It’s a mini-version of the legendary FLIP (Festa Literária Internaçional de Paraty), which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and has inspired many literary festivals across Brazil. It’s never been delivered outside Brazil before, and the organisers have chosen Suffolk for its international debut. There’s no doubt that the Britten centenary has helped to raise the region’s profile as a cultural destination; Norwich’s status as the first UNESCO City of Literature is an important factor too, and there are many other reasons why Norfolk and Suffolk could become the must-see region for cultural tourists. There’s never been a better opportunity to attract new visitors all year round.
IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 17
COMPANY NEWS
Strategic Partnership working together to offer more Suffolk based independent insurance brokers Ryan Insurance Group and independent financial advisers Clayden Financial have formed a strategic partnership to offer their clients a range of complementary services. The two companies have a similar client-focused culture; combining tried and trusted expertise with attention to detail and personalised service, and will be working closely together to offer clients a range of financial services and general insurance services. Ryan Insurance Group is a long established independent broker and offers expert, unbiased insurance and risk management advice to help both personal and business clients alike find the right products from amongst the myriad available on the market. The company is also a member of UNITAS, a national alliance of 13 independent brokers.
Clayden Financial prides itself on providing a confidential and professional financial advice service and between them their advisers have over sixty years’ experience in the financial services industry.
Ryan’s clients will now have easy access to our comprehensive and flexible range of propositions including wealth management. They will also have the advantage of dealing with true specialists who know the importance of giving consistent and professional advice�.
Ryan’s Managing Director Tim Ryan said, “In order to develop a professional and robust financial planning service to our customers, engaging with Clayden’s is the right choice for us. Quality and service is a culture shared by both businesses and we are looking forward to developing our propositions further�. Clayden’s founder and Managing Director, Leigh Clayden commented, “The partnership with Ryan Insurance Group is an exciting step forward for Clayden’s. There is a strong synergy between our companies, both in the type of clients we look after and the approach we have to doing business.
Martin Cornell, Tim Ryan, Leigh Clayden, Mark Debman
Contact: Martin Cornell, Clayden Financial Planning, 1 The Constable Court, The Street, Belstead, Ipswich IP8 3LY Tel: 01473 730090 Email: martin@claydens.com www.claydens.com or: Mark Debman, Ryan Insurance Group, Crane Hall, London Road, Ipswich IP2 0AL Tel: 01473 343490 Email: mark.debman@ryan-group.co.uk www.ryan-group.co.uk
N EW S TRATEGIC P ARTNERSHIP OF FULLY INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS
Working together to provide a comprehensive and flexible range of financial planning, insurance solutions and risk management for private and business clients
www.claydens.com 01473 730090
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18 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
A WORD FROM THE ACCOUNTANTS
A new outlook Samantha Meadows reflects on her role as Audit Manager and the challenges faced by her clients in the agricultural sector My recent promotion to Audit Manager has resulted in a change in outlook on my professional career. I feel completely responsible for my clients and ensuring that they receive the best service possible, with as much proactive advice and help as they need from the right member of our team. I am also responsible for a group of people and making sure that they are motivated and happy to come to work each day in order to give our firm their very best! We all know that times are tough and I think it is fair to say that everyone has to work harder in order to maintain results. Many of my clients are in the agricultural industry, where it is certainly true that the last few years have proved to be very difficult for arable and livestock producers. This challenging time has not been helped by the wet weather we saw in the
autumn and the cold weather we have witnessed so far this spring. The results of the 2013 harvest are yet to be seen but at this point many farmers are just hoping for the best. Unfortunately the weather is not something that anyone can control or predict, but our firm does have years of experience working with agricultural businesses. In addition to the routine compliance requirements our team has the skills and experience to help with all financial matters, including tax planning and managing cash flows. Please contact me if you feel Larking Gowen can help you. For more information on how we can help, please contact Samantha Meadows on 01473 833411 or at samantha.meadows@larkinggowen.co.uk
Samantha Meadows, Manager
This article is designed for the information of readers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, information contained in this article may not be comprehensive and recipients should not act upon it without seeking professional advice. Larking Gowen is registered to carry out audit work in the UK and Ireland by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. ŠLarking Gowen.
IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 19
MOTORING REVIEW - HONDA CIVIC 1.6 DIESEL
Style and economy - perfect for the business user Keeping on top of fixed costs is essential for any business and this is no more obvious than choosing what car to equip yourself and your staff with. For a number of years it has been the received wisdom that the only sensible route to having a car as part of your remuneration package is to go your own route and lease or rent on a personal basis – or indeed purchase a car out-right. Increasingly, however, the economy figures claimed by numerous manufacturers are staggering, particularly compared with what was possible only a few years ago and this, coupled with the low CO2 figures is making ‘old-style’ company car leasing a very attractive proposition. But let’s be honest, those 70+ mpg figures are hard to achieve in real life – or are they? For the past week I’ve been driving the Honda Civic with its highly acclaimed 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine. It comes equipped with an array of instrumentation that urges you to consider taking the more economical option at every turn.
The entirely British assembled, Honda Civic with its impressive 118bhp 1.6 i-DTEC engine
It’s not however short of driving pleasure and because of this it doesn’t manage to tame the tiger inside me. That said however, I’m reliably informed that I’m topping 60+ mpg and not really aware that I’m simultaneously saving the planet. Indeed with the EX spec I’m not really in want of anything, the integrated satellite navigation works effectively – saving me a two hour nose to tail experience on the M25 when I discovered the oh-so-helpful ‘detour’ option and I never really knew how much I needed a rear parking camera before I experience one! That’s in addition to the hands free telephone system is intuitive and works perfectly and for those of us, like me that are increasingly shifting to cloud based systems there’s an array of functionality –
a USB socket, a video input socket and another socket that I have no idea what it does, but I’m sure those clever guys at Honda have been busy future-proofing the vehicle, particularly when you consider this is all standard kit and not selected from an expensive options list. Indeed it manages to position itself as a serious contender in the business market, it’s smart, but not flash; it’s very clever both technically and also how it uses the internal space. Levels of specification are very good and I sense that it's a car that would be a breeze to own and drive on a daily basis. What’s not to love! To arrange a test drive call Sophia Henderson at John Banks Honda on 01473 654506
Enough with the donkey work. We’ll do thing s The Honda Way – bringing all the information on the
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together for you in one place. So you have time to ac tually enjoy your afternoon coffee. Or more realistically, reply to those emails you haven’t quite got round to yet.
New Civic 1.6 i-DTEC Diesel 78.5mpg combined 94g/km CO2 £0 road tax 120 PS of turbo-charged power 13% BIK £215 a month Business Contract Hire*
JOHN BANKS HONDA Honda House, Felixstowe Road, Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0DE Call 01473 654506 or visit www.ipswich-honda.co.uk
Fuel consumption for the Civic 1.6 i-DTEC range in mpg (l/100km): Urban Cycle 70.6 (4.0), Extra Urban 85.6 (3.3), Combined 78.5 (3.6). CO2 emissions 94g/km. Model shown: Civic 1.6 i-DTEC SE Manual in optional Alabaster Silver Metallic. *Contract Hire Terms and Conditions: Contract Hire available to Business users only. Contract Hire rental is based on Honda Contract Hire for the Civic 1.6 i-DTEC SE Manual only. Rentals are based on 6 months rentals in advance followed by 35 monthly rentals starting month 2 with 10,000 miles per annum, non maintained and no metallic paint. Excess and other charges may apply dependent on the mileage and condition of the vehicle at the end of the contract. All rentals are subject to VAT at standard rates. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. Honda Contract Hire rentals are available across the Civic range on a three year/variable mileage per annum, maintained and non maintained. Vehicles must be ordered between 2 April 2013 and 30 June 2013 and then registered, delivered and funded by 31 July 2013. Offer applicable at participating Honda Dealers and is at the promoter’s absolute discretion. Subject to model and colour availability. Promoter: Honda (UK), 470 London Road, Slough, Berkshire SL3 8QY. Honda (UK) is a division of Honda Motor Europe. Registered in England and Wales No 857969.
20 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
MOTORING
Company Cars: Green doesn’t have to be dull! “There’s no point in me having a company car; the tax bill will be sky high unless I drive a milkfloat”, is a comment I often hear from clients.
Robert Leggett, Partner Ensors Chartered Accountants
Certainly, the benefit-in-kind on a Range Rover Evoque can reach an eye-watering 32%, but you don’t have to drive Toyota’s Prius to have a sensible tax charge. Your company car tax bill is based on three things; the original list price of the car, it’s level of CO2 emissions (which will provide the percentage of the list price which is taxed each year), and your tax rate. The biggest factor you can control is the emissions. Fortunately, the CO2 emissions on new models have plummeted down in recent years, so company cars should not be dismissed out of hand. For example, the Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC SE has a list price from around £19,520 and emissions of 94g/km, giving a BIK rate of 13%. This means £2,538 (£19,520 x 13%) is added to your taxable income, and if you are a 40% taxpayer your annual tax bill would be around £1,016. Whereas the Volvo V40 D2 is only marginally more, it has a list price from around £21,870, and emissions of 88 g/km, also giving a BIK rate of 13%. This means £2,836 is added to your taxable income,
and if you are a 40% taxpayer your annual tax bill would be around £1,135. A couple of points to note. Firstly, running older company cars is often prohibitively expensive; the benefit-in-kind is still based on the original list price not the current value of the car, and emissions are probably higher. Secondly, company provided fuel is rarely worth it; the extra tax charge is penal, and is economic only where the private mileage is exceptionally large. For those to whom free fuel is imperative, revisit high end “twin cab pickups”. Some of these (but not all!) are taxed as vans, giving a highly beneficial regime for free fuel. Companies can even provide a company car to, say, the director’s family members. Consider teenage children who have recently passed their driving test; although the car will be taxed on the director, if a small, low emission car is chosen the tax bill might be just a few hundred pounds, and the running costs (including the astronomical insurance bill!) can be paid by the company, with Corporation Tax relief.
It is also worth thinking about the company’s position. Emissions thresholds for Capital Allowances have recently changed. Emissions now have to be 130g/km or less for the car to attract 18% writing down allowances; cars with higher emissions only attract 8%; this is a real trap for companies, as it will take around 28 years to get tax relief on 90% of their expenditure! If you want 100% allowances, you now have to buy a new car with emissions of 95 g/km or less; and two such vehicles are reviewed in this edition, the Honda Civic and Volvo V40. Whether a company car is right for the individual will depend on many factors, including what sort of car they want, the likely running costs, and the number of business and private miles driven. However, it is worth doing some calculations to compare the cost of a company car with personal ownership. In the latter case, the business would simply pay a mileage rate for business miles, and the cost of running the car would need to be met out of taxed income.
IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 21
SOCIAL MEDIA
Doing the business with social media In our previous article in IoD Suffolk Spring 2013 we talked about choosing which social networks to join and how to get started. In this issue we focus on what you hope to achieve, who your audience is, how this fits into your overall marketing plan and how you will measure progress.
What are you hoping to achieve? It is crucial to understand the reasons for using social media and how it can help you reach your business goals. You may be embracing it to help spread the word about your products, driving traffic directly to your website where people can buy online or get in touch with you. If this is the case, your social media strategy can be simple – highlight special offers, star products and testimonials from customers. If you have many products or services, or if you often release new products and services, you have a good opportunity to link to them frequently. If your product or service is fixed and you don’t often have new things to say, you may want to highlight the features and benefits of your product or service using a different strategy. Posting links to news articles about your industry can provide a valuable service to your followers and establish you as an expert in that field. You may also already have a thriving blog or email newsletter, to which you post opinion pieces, company and industry news. You should use this to boost your social media posts by linking to these articles each time you post them – automatically if possible.
Who do you want to communicate with? You will need to have a good idea about the type of person you are trying to communicate with using social media. This could be the kind of people you are hoping to attract, or the actual demographics of existing customers and followers. 22 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
The type of person can affect the tone of voice you use. Are you targeting consumers and, therefore, able to use a more light-hearted, personal tone? Or are you trying to speak to business leaders, which may require more serious and technical language?
to see the percentage of people finding your site through social media, rather than via a web search. With some clever analytics on your site, or exclusive offer codes posted on your social media channels, you can tell which social media campaigns directly resulted in sales.
How does this fit in with your existing marketing strategy?
If your social media activity is not about making sales but about increasing brand awareness then the number of retweets /reshares of your content could be a key metric to look for.
Your social media activity ties in with all other marketing activities – your blog, leaflets and brochures produced by the company or local advertising. Try to be consistent and maximise the opportunities to be heard. You will also need to decide how much of your time and budget should be focused on social media and whether that time is spent valuably or if it could be used on other marketing efforts.
How will you measure progress? Too often, companies measure social media progress simply by the number of followers their profiles have. This can be misleading as there are often many spam accounts following you, or perhaps other companies who you follow and are following you back for reciprocation but have no interest in what you are posting. The best way to tell if your activity is productive is to ask your followers and customers directly – find out where they heard of you, or if they noticed your social media activity. You can also check your website statistics
A social media policy for your company Put all this down in a social media policy – a living document that will change and grow as your company does, but which details what your goals are, who your audience is and how you will track progress. It should contain guidelines about responsibility, the tone of voice, which kind of articles to link to and how frequently to use each service. Revisit this strategy often to check that it is working and make changes if necessary. www.rubious.co.uk 01473 356403 www.twitter.com/rubious www.facebook.com/rubious
MOTORING REVIEW - VOLVO V40 D2
What would Simon Templar have done? Volvo’s V40, sees the return of a compact five-door Volvo for the first time since the mid1990s bringing with it a freshness and vibrancy to an increasingly competitive segment.
My first encounter with the Volvo brand was watching Roger Moore careering round Elstree Studio’s back lot in the iconic Volvo P1800 in his role as Simon Templar in Leslie Charteris’ The Saint. Unbelievably, the TV series finished its original broadcast run in 1969, and ever since I have always associated the marque with a cool stylish sophistication that befitted suave British spies. That was until I was of driving age. By then the line up of cars offered focused on safety and reliability and were often dismissed as too ‘boring, predictable and un-involving to drive’ and certainly not a desirable brand for ownership for a young man in his early twenties. But a lot has happened in the intervening decades and although its stylish Swedish origins have never deserted its cars, the merits of the brand have fluctuated. However I for one think things are on the up for this car maker with its impressive ‘all new’ V40.
This is the first Volvo to be produced since Ford sold the marque to the Chinese carmaker Geely. It's a great-looking vehicle: broad, low-slung and curvaceous, with attractive deep creases at the front and sculpted headlamps. In keeping with the main prestige competitors, the rear seats are a little cramped and the boot is surprisingly deep but compact, yet the interior still feels light and uncluttered.
considering as a company vehicle. The D2 diesel engine is stronger and more flexible than the figures suggest and the mid-range SE Lux trim level bags you all the important kit you will need.
It may have Chinese backing, but it still has that sophisticated purposeful Skandi feel to it.
But if your priorities are sharp design, great safety provision and driving something a little bit different, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get ahead of the pack and join the increasing number of satisfied Volvo drivers.
Indeed for my money, it’s Volvo’s first proper premium hatchback and is a great car that rivals the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class – it really does demand to be taken seriously. Certainly, driving the car along the Suffolk coast was a real pleasure, it handles well and is engaging to drive, eagerly gripping the road but without being too thirsty. Indeed the fuel consumption is key to the car’s success, and makes it well worth
The V40’s main challenge will be convincing buyers headed for German premium brand showrooms to make a detour.
And what car do I drive myself, you ask? Why a Volvo V70 – T5, clearly something of the marque’s cache clings! To arrange a test drive contact Adam Noble at M.R.King & Sons, 46 Quay Street, Halesworth IP19 8EY Tel: 01986 874464 sales@mrking.co.uk www.mrking.co.uk
IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 23
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24 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
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SARTORIAL STYLE
Ties... Once adorning the necks of every male in every office in every country, this significant little strip of silk is struggling to maintain its stronghold in the working environment. It was all looking so positive for the tie, finishing the twentieth century on a high note and all manner of sporty, highbrow, dressy or full-bodied neckties had returned from virtual fashion obscurity to the forefront of style. However, with a shift from traditional to the more casual attire now seen in the workplace, ties have been left facing their most serious challenge to date. In fact, in some office environments, the tie-less executive has now become the symbol of a new management style. Next year marks 150 years since the first ready-made tie was mass-produced and entered the market, and at Coes, we’re striving to ensure that this stalwart of British fashion is not forgotten. Clubs, schools, leather, paisley, skinny, kipper;
this symbol can convey a wealth of meaning to all who see it. A tie can make or break the final outfit. A poorly knotted, low-quality tie can immediately colour your impression of the wearer. However, a good-quality, firmly-tied necktie offers a mark of confidence and respect. A tie’s quality is appreciated by what is called its ‘hand’. The ‘hand’ is the tactile property of the tie; the quality of its fabric and the method, plus the characteristics of its construction and production. This in turn creates its weight, texture, volume and fall. A fine tie has a “good hand”. When you pick it up and lay it across your palm, the feel of it will be pleasurable and substantial.
The necktie’s role in contemporary men’s fashion will certainly need to change. Hopefully its appearance will signify the wearer’s desire to embrace a dressier, more authoritative image. And perhaps in time, men will come to regard the necktie as proof of individuality, something that sets him apart from the crowd.
William Coe, Coes of Ipswich 20-28 Norwich Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2NH Telephone: +44 (0) 1473 256061 Fax: +44 (0) 1473 254531 E-Mail: info@coes.co.uk
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coes.co.uk IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 25
FARMING DIVERSITY
Diversification pays off for Suffolk farmers Suffolk farmers produce some of the finest food in the country, and they’re finding innovative ways to survive and thrive in difficult times. Jane Chittenden talks to three farmers who’ve diversified their business.
James Foskett, James Foskett Farms Fresh vegetables and salads We’ve been growing crops in the Deben Valley for more than 50 years. My father bought the farm in 1955; it was a traditional mixed farm, growing malting barley, sugarbeet and vegetables for Covent Garden’s wholesale market. We’re on very light land here, and the climate in East Suffolk is exceptionally dry, which creates difficult growing conditions. But we also have mild winters in this coastal region, so we’re ideally suited for growing early vegetable crops. Irrigation was installed in 1964 and that enabled us to transform the business. We were able to turn poor grade land into something that’s highly productive. We’ve concentrated on potatoes and onions, selling to the supermarkets through packers. And five years ago we started growing organic vegetables too. Most of our production is for early vegetables that are harvested in June and July, so we’ve still got time to put in fertility-building crops to put some goodness back into the soil for the following year. Like all farming, it’s a gamble with the weather – you’re in the lap of the gods. We can control irrigation, but we can’t control excess rainfall or the lack of sunshine. Across the farm we use about 250 acres of crop covers to make the crop earlier and to give the crops some protection. We’ve recently diversified into hydroponics, producing trios of ‘living lettuce’ that are popular with the supermarkets. We’re adding new varieties of vegetables to our organic range: 26 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
butternut squash, green beans, mangetout peas, sweetcorn, beetroot and carrot. And we have a specialist line in
seed potato production. Our plan is to expand on this base, producing top quality vegetables early in the season.
William Buchanan, Gressingham Foods The Gressingham Duck We have a unique breed of duck, the Gressingham Duck. It’s a family business; my father started it in 1971 when he came here from Northern Ireland, and now my brother and I run it. Dad was a chicken farmer; we’d been through the Edwina Currie egg-scare in the late 1980s and he wanted to diversify the business by processing the birds on the farm and also by selling and marketing directly, so duck ticked both of those boxes. But the problem with traditional breeds of duck was that you got half a duck on a plate, typically with orange sauce, and rather a lot of fat and bones but not much meat. The Gressingham Duck solves that problem. It’s a cross between the Aylesbury Pekin (the white farmyard duck) and wild mallard, which is much smaller but has a very high breast meat yield. It’s meat with character, a delicate gamey flavour and succulent; and it’s easy to cook. It was first bred by the late Peter Dodd in Lancashire in the 1980s and now we own the brand: we are the only people worldwide who can breed and sell Gressingham Duck.
We guarantee the quality and provenance of our birds because we handle every stage of the process ourselves from the egg to the end-product. Provenance is very important for consumers nowadays, whether it’s something you order in a restaurant or something you buy to cook for supper.
We’ve got plans to just keep growing. Even in the recession we’ve managed to grow a little each year. We’re focusing on new products and recipes, anything that helps to make our Gressingham Duck a specialoccasion product.
Jonathan Simper, Simper’s Shellfish
small enough to be virtually emptied at low tide, so there’s clean water flushing in from the sea at every tide; and there’s no major town upstream to cause pollution.
Oysters and mussels
We work quite closely with the Colchester Oyster Company. They have vans going regularly to London with their oysters; once you’ve got vans going into London you might as well sell other things. They’re good customers for our mussels
and at this time of year they’re good customers for our asparagus too. Most of the oysters we produce at the moment are the Pacific oysters (also known as rock oysters). Our long-term plan is to reintroduce the native oyster into the Deben estuary. We have put a few thousand native oysters in and we’re currently working with a partner in the industry to make this happen commercially in a big way.
We’ve been farming in this part of the Deben estuary for 200 years; our farm is on the banks of the River Deben, with about half a mile of river frontage. On a small farm like ours it’s important to diversify. We’ve always had our old wooden boats and some fishing; we also have the largest area of asparagus in Suffolk. Then we’ve got some Red Poll cattle; and we farm the shellfish – the oysters and the mussels – in the river. We set up our shellfish farm when my son joined the business. By the summer of 2011 we had everything in place to allow us to sell Deben oysters and mussels to the public. We’re very lucky with the Deben; it’s got very clean water compared to most other local shellfish waters, which have much bigger and wider rivers. The Deben is
IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 27
LEISURE
Make hay while the sun shines ... For many businesses in this region the weather can play a huge part on how successful they are, whether it is in agriculture, tourism or the service sector. The summer season is the time many of them rely on to generate income to remain successful. Coming out of a particularly long and protracted winter, it has been good to see some sunshine and it is amazing how much more friendly everyone is when they see the yellow globe in the sky.
Stuart Robertson Director of Golf – The Doctorgolf Academy Ufford Park Hotel, Golf & Spa Ufford Park, Woodbridge IP12 1QW Telephone: 01394 383480 Email: doctorgolf@uffordpark.co.uk Facebook: The Doctorgolf Academy Twitter: @doctorgolf247
There will still be challenges to overcome in all industries but, as long as plans have been put in place and staff trained, there is no reason that this summer should not be as successful as others in the past.
My advice is to get out and learn to play golf. It will reward you in so many ways. Lots of companies use this game to their advantage – can you afford to miss out?
During these difficult times it has been even more important to continue to develop relationships with clients, customers and suppliers (over a drink, a meal, or on a golf course, which are always favourites for this).
Dining at Hintlesham Hall Two course lunch and coffee £18.00 per person Three course lunch and coffee £23.50 per person
Available Monday – Saturday
Sunday Lunch Two course lunch, coffee and chocolate truffles £19.50 per person Three course lunch, coffee and chocolate truffles £25.50 per person A La Carte A La Carte menu available for lunch and dinner seven days a week (excluding Sunday lunch time)
For reservations please telephone 01473 652334 www.hintleshamhall.com email: reservations@hintleshamhall.com
28 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
Although the social media circles have been good at widening our appeal to future customers and letting the world know about what we do or offer, it is the face-to-face relationships developed with our contacts that will help us continue to do business through the tougher times. The challenge remains that, while we are at our busiest – doing all that is necessary to run the daily business – we often neglect the serious side of developing relationships with the people we will later rely on during the off season.
Meetings at Hintlesham Hall • Whether you wish to hold an important seminar, or a private banquet, Hintlesham Hall is the perfect choice for any event.
• The Hall’s four individually styled
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• Outdoor space for team building. • 33 individually designed, luxuriously furnished bedrooms.
• Exceptional twenty-four hour and eight hour delegate rates available.
Free trial membership for readers of IOD Suffolk Magazine.
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Ipswich Sports Club, set in idyllic grounds and just north of the town centre on Henley Road, is pleased to offer the readers of the IOD Suffolk Magazine a FREE TRIAL WEB 1-DAY PASS, which entitles the bearer to use of all facilities for a day.
WELCOME TO THE CLUB GET YOUR FREE TRIAL
If it’s a game of racketball, squash or indoor tennis, a studio class or gym workout, the club has it all. Prior booking is required via the club reception on 01473 251143.
To redeem this special offer scan the QR Code opposite, print out and bring the pass with you for your special trial.
GREAT FACILITIES
For further details about Ipswich Sports Club visit: www.ipswichsportsclub.co.uk
• Tennis • Squash • Racketball • Hockey • Gym & Studio • Social Events
We are a unique private members’ sports club boasting a range of excellent sports facilities just on the edge of Ipswich. With professional coaching sessions available, a function room and many social events, we pride ourselves on our friendly and welcoming atmosphere! To find out more, pop along and see us or simply visit our website.
www.ipswichsportsclub.co.uk Ipswich Sports Club, Henley Road, Ipswich IP1 4NJ T: 01473 251143 | E: enquiries@ipswichsports.co.uk
IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 29
milsoms meetings! kesgrave hall absolutely cutting edge telephony, super fast internet and broadband facilities available fantastic facilities, including:
- 3 fully equipped private meeting rooms. Bunker 1, Bunker 2 and The Mess - team building space and breakout areas - bar-brasserie restaurant and/ or private dining - 23 bedrooms with exceptional 24 hour delegate rates - exciting new partnership with Cisco
meeting, training or conference? book with us today on 01473 333741 for a full specification visit www.milsomhotels.com/meetings 01473 333741 | hall road, kesgrave, ipswich, suffolk, IP5 2PU
LOOKING GOOD AND FEELING GREAT? Or is your branding a little tired and in need of refreshing? A new image can rejuvenate your business and attract new customers – that’s what our clients say about our recent branding campaigns. So if you’re ready for a creative fresh approach, contact Paul Newman or visit our website to find out how we can help take your business forward.
30 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
ALANBRANNANDESIGN ▲
www.alanbrannandesign.co.uk
BOOK REVIEWS Winning without Losing: 66 Strategies for Building a Wildly Successful Business While Living a Happy and Balanced Life by Martin Bjergegaard, Jordan Milne Profile Books Ltd £10.39 Whatever your job is, chances are you find it hard to switch off. Today, we work longer hours, at weekends, at home and on the move - while the office is only ever a click away via smartphones and the Internet. But as much as we assume that this is the price of success - it doesn't have to be this way. Martin Bjergegaard and Jordan Milne are here to show you how to build your business into something big, sustainable and widely recognized - and still lead a happy, whole and balanced life. In sixty-five short insights, they re veal strategies and methods which will allow you to combine professional success with putting friends, family and happiness first. Their Efficiency Boosters will increase your effectiveness, while you'll learn all about how to avoid Time and Energy Wasters and build a New Mindset that gives you to optimism and enthusiasm needed to succeed. So wave goodbye to guiltily checking your emails on a date, or getting home when your children are already in bed - this is your route to winning on every level. The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott John Wiley & Sons Inc £11.89 David Meerman Scotts marketing bible has become a modern day business classic. This is the book every ambitious, forward-thinking, progressive marketer or publicist has at the front of their shelf. Business communication has changed over the recent years. Creative ad copy is no longer enough. The New Rules of Marketing and PR has brought thousands of marketers up to speed on the changing requirements of promoting products or services in the new digital age. This is a one-of-a-kind, pioneering guide, offering a step-by-step action plan for harnessing the power of the Internet to communicate with buyers directly, raise online visibility, and increase sales. Its about getting the right message to the right people at the right time - for a fraction of the cost of a big-budget advertising campaign.
The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business by Jim Stengel John Murray Publishers Ltd £20 'This is the most important - and fascinating - book yet written about how the digital age will affect our world' Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs. From two leading thinkers, the widely anticipated book that describes a new, hugely connected world of the future, full of challenges and benefits which are ours to meet and harness. The New Digital Age is the product of an unparalleled collaboration: full of the brilliant insights of one of Silicon Valley's great innovators - what Bill Gates was to Microsoft and Steve Jobs was to Apple, Schmidt (along with Larry Page and Sergey Brin) was to Google - and the Director of Google Ideas, Jared Cohen, formerly an advisor to both Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton. Never before has the future been so vividly and transparently imagined. A breakthrough book - pragmatic, inspirational and totally fascinating. Whether a government, a business or an individual, we must understand technology if we want to understand the future.
St Joseph’s College
BUSINESS BOOKS
Informal Open Morning Friday 14th June 2013 9.30am-12pm Whole College Open Morning Saturday 12th October 2013 9.30am-12.30pm
A co-educational Independent Day School for 3-18 year olds with boarding facilities. Scholarships and bursaries up to 100% of fees available. A Christian School in the Lasallian Tradition. Belstead Road, Ipswich, England IP2 9DR Telephone: 01473 690281 registrar@stjos.co.uk www.stjos.co.uk
IoD suffolk | summer 2013 | 31
MEMBER PROFILE
Sally Butcher DIRECTOR, Realise Futures
Sally Butcher is a director at Realise Futures, the community interest company spun out of Suffolk County Council last year to provide work and learning opportunities for people with disabilities and disadvantages. Sally leads the Community Learning and Skills Development part of the organisation. It now employs more than 400 people in Suffolk and beyond. Sally will be joining the IoD Suffolk committee.
The emergence of social enterprises like Realise Futures has been one of the most interesting business developments of the past few years. Tell us a bit more about what it does. Realise Futures comprises more than a dozen businesses. We support people getting into employment via training and guidance. We run a manufacturing business making outdoor play and public space furniture. We have a printing business. We make signs. We offer landscaping and packaging services. We’ve catering and horticulture businesses. And we provide the National Careers Service on behalf of the Government for the whole of East Anglia. We pay proper salaries. We make good products and deliver first class services. While our remit is diverse it means we can offer a
wraparound package to individuals and companies alike. We aim to make money and have a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people.
and concern for the environment. I wasn’t born in the County but I was brought up here. I think I understand it and I do love it.
You started your career in the private sector and then had ten years with Suffolk County Council before moving out with Realise Futures. How are you finding your new role? It’s very exciting. We’re now a good size; big enough to be able to make a difference but small enough to be able to do things quickly and efficiently. All our businesses, we think, have potential to grow. And we think we can get more service delivery contracts outside the County. What we do has been hidden, if you like, within the County Council. Once we get it known and understood we think we’ll get a lot more business. Jimmy’s Farm at Wherstead is one of our newer clients. We’ve made signs and a play tractor for them. That sort of thing would not have happened before.
What’s the idea behind your involvement with the IoD? We need to become a recognised part of the local business scene. Much of what we do could be sold to other businesses. We’ve a strong track record in training, in particular. But we need to develop our understanding of what potential clients want. We are flexible. We can adapt our products and services. But we need a better understanding of the market. Plus, the old private/public split is breaking down. We have every bit as much need to be promoting and lobbying for business in Suffolk as any other IoD member. We’ve got things about this sort of business to learn. The IoD is particularly good at helping people working at board level continue to develop. And, hopefully, we can spread a bit of understanding of our goals and purpose, too.
Social enterprises have no choice but to be rooted in their local areas. How does being in Suffolk shape Realise Futures? The fact that there are a lot of small businesses in Suffolk helps us. People are used to the sort of size of enterprise we run. And there’s quite a tradition of selfsufficiency. We aim to work with traditional rural skills but also to benefit from newer developments like tourism
Enough of work; what would be your ideal day off in Suffolk? I’d go for a walk with my husband round the grounds at Ickworth House. We’d have lunch in Bury St Edmunds, then a bit of shopping. I love all the independent shops in Bury, then to Ravenwood Hall for supper. Perfect! And all within 20 miles of home.
Are you a member of the IoD? Join us and you’ll discover a unique mix of opportunities to learn and be inspired by interesting speakers; meet other directors, senior managers and professionals and enjoy a variety of social occasions with a big member discount.
32 | IoD suffolk | summer 2013
Many of our members take advantage of other IoD benefits including the superb meeting space and facilities in Pall Mall, London, which are FREE to use; FREE one-to-one expert advisory sessions and FREE business information queries answered within 24 hours.
As an IoD Suffolk member you are also entitled to free access to a dedicated workstation in the new e-touchdown on the 5th floor at Eastern Enterprise Hub in the James Hehir building on Ipswich waterfront. See www.eehub.co.uk For membership details email caroline@iod-suffolk.co.uk
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