Business News Extra August 2014

Food fan introduces a taste of Macedonia 3 Who has the best customer service? You decide 4 Car suppliers turn out to be Kelly’s heroes 5 Company remains a breath of fresh air 7

Aug 2014

getsurrey.co.uk/business in association with

Action activities are a hit As Guildford Borough Council looks to maximise its income, adventure activities are drawing tourists to the town, which is why the borough helped fund the Wild Wood Adventure site

By Nick Edmondson

Nick.Edmondson@trinitymirror.com

Eager children prepare to tackle the new Wild Wood Adventure site in Stoke Park, which has already lured many new visitors to Guildford.

ACTION-PACKED activities are attracting more people to Guildford as the town adds new strings to its tourism bow.

Dozens of new jobs have been created and hundreds of new visitors have been lured to the borough with the opening of two attractions in recent months.

Guildford Borough Council and climbing company Craggy Island worked together to open the new Wild Wood Adventure site in Stoke Park, thought to be the largest tree-top activity site in Europe.

The project costs rose considerably as the attraction was planned, with the council investing £381,000 and Craggy Island making up the remainder of the £880.000 project cost. However, the site is already experiencing a great response and it has created 18 new jobs.

In July, Guildford’s first trampoline centre, Airhop, opened and has employed more than 50 part- and fulltime workers.

Rob Mitchell, director of Craggy Island, said the partnership with the council meant ‘everybody wins’ as the council looks to maximise its income by making capital investments.

“We were looking to get involved with tree-top adventures and we saw that this

would be the perfect site,” he said. “It just so happens that this came at a time when the council was keen to explore new ways to increase its tourism income, and this was a positive way to do that.

“When they came on board the project transformed. We were looking at something much more simple, but the council supplying the work on the reception area and car park meant we had more budget to make something special, and that is what we did.

‘When Guildford Borough Council came on board, the project transformed.’

Rob Mitchell Director of Craggy Island “It’s about attracting new people to Guildford.

“This is too much for Guildford alone. The council now has a site which will attract visitors who go on to spend money in the area.”

General manager Danie Rushmer, added: “We have recruited 18 people as instructors and administrators for Wild Wood. Some have progressed from our Craggy Island indoor climbing centre where they started as amateur climbers and trainees, and others have been recruited from the immediate local area.”

She added: “Both at Craggy and here at Wild Wood, we believe in recruiting and training from within where we can.

“Obviously the skills from both businesses are transferable and it’s been wonderful to see some of our trainees come through the training.

“The first month of trading has been fantastic. There is particular interest in corporate groups and children’s parties. I am confident we will recruiting again soon.”

Craggy Island runs the site and pays the council a £40,000 rent each year for the next 25 years, meaning the borough will begin to see pure profit after nine years.

Meanwhile, Airhop jointowners Karl Godau and Darren Hedges took the personal risk of self-funding the new trampoline centre, which was 18 months in the making. Mr Hedges said: “We had to spend a lot, but we are confident in the area and in the audience. This is a successful business model in the US and in Australia, and with the weather in the UK we know that there will always be an audience for indoor activities.

“Things are going well. This is definitely a destination for people to travel to and that has to be good for Guildford as well as good for us.

“It is a good thing for the town and people of all ages are looking to get active and take part in these activities.”

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August 2014

My first job HSBC has opened a new Surrey Commercial Centre in Guildford.

Existing and new customers will be welcomed to the new centre, based at One London Square, Cross Lanes, Guildford, where the commercial team of 26 currently help manage and support more than 2,400 relationships.

As well as the move to new premises, three new International Relationship Management roles have been filled to ensure that the bank’s growing customer base will be met with the highest levels of service.

The move comes as HSBC recently committed £100 million of lending to support ambitious businesses in Surrey through its SME Fund.

With 2014 marking a turning point for businesses in the area, the new lending has been made available to support those looking to capitalise on the UK economic recovery to invest in growth.

Dean Lochrie, HSBC commercial director Guildford and Surrey said: “This investment in upgrading our commercial centre reflects our commitment to supporting quality businesses in the area.

“In recent months we have seen an increasing number of businesses wishing to move their banking to HSBC, largely through the increased lending facilities we have made available to SMEs to support their business growth plans, and we are looking forward to building on this success in our new premises.

“HSBC’s global footprint and international expertise continues to attract interest from a wide range of businesses in the Surrey region, and this new modern and spacious commercial facility will give us the opportunity to cater for the growth in demand for our banking services.”

ALMOST one in four senior managers in the South-East have not seen their pre-recession pay cuts end, even with the current upswing in economy.

A survey shows that just under 25% of senior management in SMEs across the region were forced to take around a 5% to 10% pay cut during the economic decline .

Mike Randall, CEO of Close Brothers Asset Finance, which conducted the recent survey highlighting the problem, said: “It’s surprising to find pay scales are still reduced for many senior managers across the South East. The recession increased stress levels, both at work and at home with many worrying about issues like reduced income and financial security.

Now, even though the economy is recovering, it seems many will be feeling the same.”

Editorial Director Marnie Wilson Group Deputy Editor Mark Miseldine Business News Tony Green Commercial Manager Amanda Ducas Regional Sales Manager Ian Bresman

Jim Parks, creative director of Guildford Book Festival What was your first job?

The first time someone paid me regular money for an honest day’s work was in a tiny old fashioned green grocer’s shop in the little Dorset town of Shaftesbury when I was 16. It was a great summer job as it came with the novel perk of free fruit in addition to my wages. I ensured I made my way through all the exotic treats, kumquat, papaya, passion and star fruit all came home in a little brown bag of natural delight.

How did you get from there to where you are today?

I moved to Guildford when I was 21 with a bit of retail experience and a passion for entertainment.

Virgin Games Centre, a video game store, was opening in North Street and I knew that I wanted to spend my working life with products and industries that I loved.

All the jobs had been filled but I managed to persuade the area manager to take me on as a volunteer, working one day a week on my day off from my existing job. A few months of unpaid work paved the way for all that followed. They offered me a job which ultimately put me

in touch with the gaming giant Nintendo and a way into their marketing department as a junior product manager.

Eight years later I left the gaming industry as head of European marketing at Sega and went to work in the music industry, where our company put on Nelson Mandela’s tribute concert in Cape Town in 2003. My final corporate role was in the movie business as an international marketing director at Universal Studios.

I took time out to work on a labour of love, building our own house in Guildford.

It was a wonderful experience and tremendous fun developing all new skills in a new sector.

My love of marketing and entertainment never waned during my time in a hard hat and when the opportunity to take on the role of creative director at Guildford Book Festival came along it seemed like a job written especially for me. My wife, Adele Parks, is a multi-million selling author so we have lived in the publishing world for the past 14 years.

The chance to shape, develop and lead a book festival for the benefit of readers

Creative director of the Guildford Book Festival Jim Parks.

and for Guildford itself was irresistible. After joining last year, it has been a delight to bring together literary superstars here in our town.

What lessons has your career so far taught you?

My motto is: ‘enjoy what you do, and do it well’. We all have to spend a huge amount of time at work so why not try and find pleasure in what you do. I am also a firm believer in making your own luck by identifying opportunities and chasing them hard, volunteering to take extra tasks, developing new skills and trying new things.

What does the future hold?

Following a transformational year in 2013, where our average event audience increased by 85%, I believe that the opportunity for growth is huge. I am focused on developing Guildford Book Festival into a bigger event that will benefit local readers, local business and will bring additional tourism into the town. Importantly, too, I want Guildford Book Festival to become a bolder highlight of the annual literary calendar. We are ideally situated to become one of the UK’s major literary festivals and I am very excited about making this happen.

Turtle Tots comes to town

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publication Published by Surrey & Berkshire Media at Stoke Mill, Woking Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1QA. Registered at the Post Office as a newspaper. Printed by Trinity Mirror Printing Reading at 8 Tessa Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 8NS

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A MOTHER of two boys, who worked with Team GB’s synchronised swimming team, has set up in Surrey to teach those skills to toddlers.

Rachel Davies bought the franchise for Turtle Tots baby swimming classes in January and is based at the Lockwood Day Centre, in Westfield Road, Guildford.

The 40-year-old was a lifestyle advisor for the team GB synchronised swimming team, based in Aldershot,

until funding was cut earlier this year. She said: “I would look after those athletes away from the swimming pool – everything else in their lives and their education to help that athlete develop as a person for when they came out of that world.”

The synchronised swimming team lost its funding in February but she had already made the decision to leave.

“With the UK Sport funding disappearing, we were

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Rachel Davies (centre) of Turtle Tots, with parents and babies.

really disappearing as well. It made the decision easier.”

On July 15 the centre was visited by Liz Westwood from Home Start Guildford which is supported by Turtle Tots Surrey. “When I launched Turtle Tots Surrey, I bought the territories of Farnham and of Guildford to Reigate,” said Mrs Davies.

“I thought Home Start Guildford was a good charity to support for nought to fiveyear-olds – working with

mothers and toddlers.”

Home Start volunteers help struggling young families in a range of ways.

Mrs Davies is the mother of two boys, Max and Fraser, and has worked part-time as a baby swimming teacher for five years. “You learn as babies the properties of water, you gain confidence and playing from an early age makes you safe,” she said.

“It’s good fun and it’s good to have a bonding session.”

August 2014

Spreading the word about the taste of Macedonia

By James Watkins

james.watkins@trinitymirror.com

A FOOD enthusiast from Guildford who relocated to Macedonia, has launched a business bringing the taste of the country to homes across the world.

Philip Evans and his wife Anna grew up in Surrey’s county town before moving to Macedonia in 2009, to work with a Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Describing himself as ‘not a chef but passionate about food’, Mr Evans ended up on a television show where he was introducing foods and recipes familiar to the English, such as poaching an egg, and which were not common in Macedonia.

After spending time in the country, he wanted to market the quality food he was experiencing and sell it abroad, at first focusing on his take on a sweet roasted pepper relish called ajvar which, to make pronunciation simpler for overseas customers, he changed to aivar.

He described it as having a naturally sweet taste and creamy texture, adding: “It is a really tasty healthy product.

“We wanted to keep the original name,” the 33-yearold said. “We thought maybe no one knows the name now, but no one knew humus or pesto and they got used to it.”

The former George Abbot School pupil said Macedonia has great food, but not necessarily the know-how on how

to brand and package the product.

“We are seeing people really fall in love with it,” Mr Evans said. “We have got 22 products now in the range, including jams and ingredients for cooking, which are all traditional ingredients from the region.

“We are growing new products and looking for new sites.

We sell to 13 different countries including Dubai, Norway, Australia and Switzerland. We are always looking to expand into new markets.”

The food is aimed at the middle class, those whom, Mr Evans says, can pay good money for good food.

He and his wife first took their product, called Pelagonia after the region in Macedonia

were the products are grown, to a food show in Kensington in 2011.

They rented a space and got interest from a company in Reading which distributes the products to the independent market, and they got Waitrose on board. When the couple originally moved to Macedonia they did not have any children. Now, with two youngsters, they come back to Surrey for a few months each year and Mr Evans said that the Guildford connection has made the product popular in the area.

As well as Waitrose, the product is available from outlets such as Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, Seasons Deli in Woking, and Secretts in Guildford.

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Philip Evans, second left, who has started a food business influenced by Macedonia with staff Rathiya Jeevaranjaan, left and Stephen Leatherbarrow, right, and deli owner Victoria Ward.

MedPharm expands headquarters A Surrey Research Parkbased company has announced a further expansion of its Guildford headquarters.

MedPharm Ltd which develops, tests and manufactures formulations for skin, nail, nose, lung and other mucosal tissue is increasing laboratory and office space by a third to meet demand for its services.

The new laboratories and offices, combined with the opening of its Good Manufacturing Practiceapproved clinical trials materials manufacturing facility, in Q4 of 2013, means MedPharm has doubled in its size in a year.

Dr Malcolm Parry, director

David Peters will become a curate at St John the Baptist, in Wonersh.

Work experience will offer panoramic views A SENIOR property surveyor will continue in his day job – having become a curate at his parish church.

David Peters, from Wonersh, is head of residential country business at London property consultancy Knight Frank.

Last month he was ordained and will become a curate in St John the Baptist church.

“This is an opportunity to continue to live out my Christian principles and influence people in the workplace and bring an understanding of the pressures of working life to the church, enabling me to communicate the message of hope and counter-cultural living, as modelled by Jesus,” he said.

Mr Peters has been a licensed minister for more than 20 years and said he is looking forward to being able to take a more involved role within both the church and community.

In order to be ordained at Guildford Cathedral by the Bishop of Dorking, the Rt Revd Ian Brackley, Mr Peters trained for three years on an evening course at Wycliffe Hall – part of the University of Oxford.

He will continue in his role with Knight Frank, looking after sales and professional teams across the country, while giving his time at the church, which was, probably, Saxon but which has been rebuilt several times, and restored in 1901.

of the Surrey Research Park, said: “This expansion by MedPharm showcases how world class healthcare and medical research companies at the research park are excelling nationally and internationally as pioneers in their industries, and contributing to the strengthening of Britain’s economy. The news also illustrates the success of the park’s model in facilitating the growth of technologydriven companies and supporting cluster and researchbased initiatives, which drive innovation and its commercial application in the medical and healthcare sectors.”

The economic impact of the Surrey Research Park, and

its tenants, is well-known. An independent report by the UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) last year concluded the park has contributed between £580 million and £625m annually to the regional economy, since its development.

A recent study put the contribution of the University of Surrey at £1.4bn gross value added (GVA) – the value measure of its goods and services – annually, of which the Surrey Research Park contributed £450m in 2012.

Dr Andrew Muddle, CEO of MedPharm, said: “To accommodate our ever-increasing range of services and staff, we have added laboratory and

office space to our company base on the Surrey Research Park. This is a symbol of how our business has gone from strength to strength in the provision of formulation development and manufacturing services to clients and the ongoing work on proprietary drug delivery technologies.”

The medical-related R&D work on the research park is set to increase further. ANGLE plc has recently established a new laboratory on the park for its medtech subsidiary – Parsortix – to work on personalised cancer treatment, and The University of Surrey’s new Vet School, opening this September, is embracing the “One Health” philosophy to

foster inter-disciplinary collaborations for improving human and animal health, and will train the global veterinary leaders of the future.

Surrey Research Park is a major centre of excellence in technology, science and engineering, and is widely regarded as the best of its kind in the UK. The Research Park is owned, developed and managed by The University of Surrey and is close to its campus in Guildford. The 70-acre – 28.33 ha – low-density development provides a highquality working environment for more than 110 companies, engaged in research, development and design activities.

Surrey firm works with Algerian Space Agency on new satellite ENGINEERS in Guildford have teamed up with the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) to build a new satellite used to monitor global disasters.

Called the Alsat-1B, it is based on a platform built by the team at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), in Guildford, with 18 ASAL engineers helping with the assembly and testing in Algeria.

It is hoped that this will allow the country to learn and develop new skills, with 18 students from Algeria also coming to the University of Surrey.

The venture is a result of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in March in Algiers between ASAL and the UK Space Agency and which aims to enhance collaboration in space programmes.

Under the MoU, a nanosatellite project in collaboration with the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey, has also been agreed.

Alsat-1B is continuing the work of Algeria’s first satellite Alsat-1A, a 32-metre multispectral Earth observation satellite, which was also designed and manufactured by SSTL. Alsat-1A was said to be a pioneer of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation when it was launched in 2002, and was successful, proving very important for Algeria’s monitoring of natural resources, forest fires and locust plagues, and contributing satellite data to global disaster monitoring.

Dr Matt Perkins, CEO of SSTL, said: “The space agency in Algeria helped lay the foundation for the success of the consortium of nations that make up the Disaster Monitoring Constellation, pooling imaging data for the common good and providing satellite imagery to the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters.

The Alsat-1B satellite

“We are delighted to co-operate with Algeria again to realise Alsat-1B and to extend

the latest satellite technologies to the next generation of engineers, cementing a long

and fruitful relationship between SSTL and ASAL.” A spokesman for ASAL said: “ASAL is very pleased to be working again with SSTL as selected suppliers of Alsat-1B, a medium resolution Earth observation satellite.

“We formed a good partnership with SSTL during the production and launch of Alsat-1 in 2002, which remained in service for many years.

“One of the most important facets of this contract is the very high quality of training that ASAL require, and SSTL and the University of Surrey have a proven track record of delivering this.

“Lastly, we are pleased to announce that our ASAL engineers will complete the assembly and test of the satellite at our new assembly, integration and test (AIT) facility in the new Centre for Satellite Design (CDS) centre, located in Oran.”

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August 2014

Public urged to vote for smooth operators Time to choose who you think provides town’s best customer service

According to Experience Guildford, offering great customer service will boost footfall in the town’s shops.

By Mark Miseldine

mark.miseldine@trinitymirror.com

Experience Guildford, the town centre’s Business Improvement District (BID), launched its Customer Service Awards on July 11.

Now in their second year, the awards aim to recognise and reward those businesses that consistently shine when it comes to offering their customers excellent service.

Open to Guildford residents and visitors, people are invited to vote for their customer service heroes from within six categories, covering both independent and national operators and trading across the retail, food and drink and leisure and lifestyle sectors.

As part of Experience Guildford’s ongoing initiatives to support town centre businesses, the awards add to a calendar of events that aim to strengthen and reinforce the successful retail and leisure offering of our county town.

Commenting on some of the business support activities introduced by the BID, Amanda Masters, general manager of Experience Guildford, said: “Providing tangible businesses support to BID members was one of the major focus areas identified during the consultation and development of Experience Guildford.

“As a retail and leisure BID, our spotlight is on supporting the service and hospitality businesses of the town, where levels of customer service can make a

dramatic impact on profitability. Earlier in the year we introduced free customer service training workshops for small businesses, in association with the National Academy for Retail, an initiative we aim to replicate in 2015.

“The Customer Service Awards further highlight the importance of good customer service in relation to the economic success of our town, and are an initiative we are thrilled to be introducing for the second year.”

High levels of customer service are a proven key differentiator for successful retail and leisure businesses, they are also one of the key attributes that can raise the profile of the high street as opposed to online retailing.

Focusing on improving and rewarding good customer service within our towns will ultimately drive footfall and economic success.

Initiatives such as the Experience Guildford Customer Service Awards go a long way to raising standards across a town by benchmarking those businesses who exemplify in meeting and exceeding their customers’ needs.

James Kirkpatrick, vicechairman of the Experience Guildford board and franchisee of both McDonald’s branches in Guildford, added: “Guildford has so many top quality attractions that help set it apart from our neighbouring towns.

“The standard of our retail offering is one of these attractions and high standards

Guildford said: “We have had our award on display since we won it last year and are still incredibly proud of it. It means an awful lot that not only our guests, but other ‘competition’ could have voted for us.

“We aim to improve on our service all the time and with a goal to win the award, it just pushes us harder to be the best.”

With voting open for a second year, the Experience Guildford Customer Service Awards 2014 give the public a further opportunity to commend and reward the town’s businesses who they feel offer fantastic service.

The awards are a great way to raise the profile of Guildford, helping attract visitors to the town who can be sure of high standards of service and a friendly welcome – USP’s that ensure the town continues to stand out as one of the region’s favourite retail and lifestyle destinations.

Leanne added: “Experience Guildford is such a great way to get all the businesses working together to make Guildford a town worth visiting, and these awards really show that everyone running a business works so hard to achieve the best results.”

of service need to complement this offering.

“Personable, quality service is key to ensuring a prosperous high street, and the BID are collectively committed to driving valuable footfall into the town centre.

“The awards promote the right behaviour that supports this commitment, helping businesses such as my own gauge their standards, reward the best performers and motivate ground level, customer-facing staff.”

Public votes for the Customer Service Awards can be placed until September 1 at www.experienceguildford. com, with one lucky voter being drawn at random at the end of the voting period

to win £500 to spend in the town. Once the public vote has closed, the three businesses receiving the highest number of votes from each category will then be shortlisted, with an overall category winner selected following a review by an independent judge and ‘secret shopper’.

Winners of each category will be announced at a ceremony on October 8 at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, along with the winner of the Experience Guildford BID in Bloom floral window dressing competition.

For details of the Experience Guildford Customer Service Awards and to register your vote, visit www. experienceguildford.com.

Naming six of the best

Best service award inspires restaurant workers to improve With more than 100 food and drink businesses in Guildford, visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a venue to dine out or enjoy a couple of drinks with friends and family.

Jamie’s Italian, in Friary Street, is one of a chain of 36 national restaurants operating under the brand, focusing on providing great food in a relaxed and friendly environment.

The restaurant also won last year’s Experience Guildford Award’s food and drink customer service category, based on national operators.

Leanne Tester, restaurant manager at Jamie’s Italian,

Focusing on support: Amanda Masters, general manager of Experience Guildford, at last year’s Customer Service Awards.

Leanne Tester, from Jamie’s Italian in Guildford, accepts the restaurant’s Best Customer Service Award 2013 from Experience Guildford’s Stuart Craggs.

The categories for this year’s awards reflect the diversity of the town, and visitors are urged to vote for the businesses that shine in delivering outstanding service for each category.

The Surrey Advertiser is getting behind the awards again this year, urging readers to be involved by putting pen to paper or voting online to help crown the town’s customer service stars.

The six categories available are listed below, along with the 2013 winners: l Retail (National) – Virgin Money; l Retail (Independent) – The Bear Garden; l Food & Drink (National) – Jamie’s Italian; l Food & Drink (Independent) – Coffee Culture; l Leisure & Lifestyle (National) – Radisson Blu Edwardian; l Leisure and Lifestyle (Independent) – G Live.

August 2014

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DEPtech pitches in at Royal Society final A GUILDFORD biomedical technology company has gone head to head with its peers in the final of a competition held by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

DEPtech was shortlisted in the Emerging Technologies contest and battled it out against 19 other teams to be crowned the winner at the society’s headquarters, in Piccadilly on June 25.

Unfortunately, the team missed out on the prize of a one-to-one mentoring session and £10,000.

DEPtech’s pitch included a machine it has developed called 3DEP, which uses electric fields to find the unique electrical ‘fingerprints’ of cells in seconds, using a lowcost, disposable chip.

The 3DEP could be used in applications from cancer diagnosis – where it is already in clinical trials – to drug discovery, cancer research, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

On being selected as an Emerging Technologies final-

ist, DEPtech chief executive officer, Dr Brian Page, said: “We knew that our patented 3D dielectrophoresis technology would bring many benefits to many disciplines.

“Trials in cancer diagnostics, stem cell research and electrophysiology have reinforced this prospect. We really welcome the Royal Society of Chemistry in helping us navigate the road to successful commercialisation.”

Dr Aurora Antemir, the Royal Society of Chemistry’s industry programme manager, said: “The process of translating a scientific innovation into a product or service that creates value, or that customers will pay for, is difficult.

“The Royal Society of Chemistry recognises the potential of innovators in the chemical sciences to contribute to economic growth in the UK. But we also recognise that it’s really hard for innovators to make that jump from the lab bench to market because they don’t have the commercial know-how.

Michael Hughes, from DEPtech, makes the company’s pitch at the final of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies competition.

“That’s why we set up the Emerging Technologies com-petition – to connect the brightest ideas in the chemical sciences with commercial expertise in large multinational companies, and to the right business networks to make technologies that have big potential more

investment ready.”

Anne Milton, MP for Guildford, congratulated DEPtech on reaching the final of the competition, saying she was delighted.

“It is always great to hear when local companies get recognised nationally,” Mrs Milton said.

Award for innovative research park Andrew Gilroy and Mike Savigar of Kelly’s Storage, with Charlotte Harris and Sarah Hart and one of the storage company’s new Isuzu pick-ups, arranged by car company Kendall Cars Ltd. Picture: Jake Darling. SA144162.

Key car suppliers are Kelly’s heroes after 4x4 solution

By James Watkins

james.watkins@trinitymirror.com

TWO Guildford companies are working together to improve a service for people who want their belongings kept in storage.

Kelly’s Storage Ltd, based in Westfield Road, delivers mobile storage ‘pods’ directly to customer’s doors, which are loaded with possessions before being taken away to be stored.

The company claims that due to an increase in popularity, the trailers used to transfer items need a more robust vehicle to cope with the larger sized belongings they are picking up from their customers.

Kelly’s teamed up with Kendall Cars Ltd, which has been supplying them with

rental vehicles for more than 20 years, and who suggested a solution.

“It was while discussing business that Kelly’s mentioned some of their concerns about their vehicles and the issues they were experiencing,” a spokesman for Kelly’s Storage Ltd said. “The first part was obvious, take a vehicle that could tow a heavier load but use an automatic gearbox to save burning out clutches and, in addition, use 4x4 drive to improve safety.

“Kendall negotiated a deal with Isuzu for five pick-ups and put together a tax effective funding package for Kelly’s. Kendall even organised a 4x4 driver training day for Kelly’s staff to help them make the most of these new vehicles.

“And just so you know

what you are looking at, the pick-ups are being wrapped in the Kelly’s green colour.”

Kelly’s was recently announced as the only storage company to appear in The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For 2014 list, and has been awarded the highest possible three-star rating from the Best Companies award.

“This prestigious award focuses on employee feedback in areas such as wellbeing, personal growth and leadership,” the spokesman said.

“The generous company also scored in the Top 25 for Giving Something Back, largely due to their charitable initiative, which has so far raised more than £100,000 through local, fully funded and organised sporting events.”

Barnett Hill maintains quality rating A WONERSH country house estate has been awarded a four-star tourism rating for the second year running.

Sundial Group’s Barnett Hill has achieved the rating

by Visit England’s Quality in Tourism for the standard of its guest accommodation.

The assessment looked at all aspects, from rooms and facilities to customer service and food, and also focused

on recent changes made to the venue as part of a major refurbishment programme, which began earlier this year.

Tim Chudley, Sundial Group’s managing director, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have once again been awarded four stars by Visit England under their Quality in Tourism scheme.

“The accolade demonstrates our commitment to

providing an excellent guest experience and is also testament to the hard work of our team at Barnett Hill.”

Visit England’s Quality in Tourism assessment is used to provide customers with guidance on the quality of accommodation across the UK, including facilities and services, to make potential guests aware of what they can expect before they book.

SURREY Research Park has won the UK Science Park Association (UKSPA) 30th Anniversary Award, presented for ‘the most successful innovation environment’.

The award recognises excellence in providing access to new markets, contributing to technology development, assisting with research linkages, providing sources of competitive advantage and increasing business to business interactions.

“We’re delighted for this recognition from UKSPA,” said Dr Malcolm Parry,

director of the research park, in Frederick Sanger Road, Guildford.

“Since the initial development of the research park nearly 30 years ago, we have been committed to developing innovation capacity and actively supporting the growth of knowledge-based firms here, and this award is testament to that.”

Surrey Research Park plays a major role in developing new technologies and contributing to the UK’s reputation, internationally, for innovation in science,

technology, engineering and medicine.

It claims to have played a major role in helping regional employment in knowledgebased sectors, and the park’s annual economic contribution to the regional economy is reported to be more than £500m since its development in 1985.

The park is seen as a major hub for innovation in the South East of England and many companies have been formed there.

UKSPA chief executive, Paul Wright, said: “Malcolm

Parry and his team have worked extremely hard to support the development of the park, and that work has now been rewarded by UKSPA colleagues recognising the strength of the research park model, and voting it best in class.

“Earlier this year it was the first science park in the country to achieve the UKSPA Aspire award, which recognised innovation excellence, and this latest award is further confirmation that Surrey Research Park continues to go from strength to strength.”

Woolford and Co staff have celebrated the chartered accountant’s 25th anniversary. Standing, from left: Jacky Wilman, Claire Booth, Paul Webb, Bridget Carman, Angus Rendall, Tim Davies, Shirley Kay, Margo Sullivan and Fiona Binge. Seated in front are company directors Peter Wilman, Julia Wigram and Laurence Binge.

Accountants enjoy many happy returns A CHARTERED accountants in Esher is celebrating its 25 years in the business.

Woolford and Co was established in 1989 with two partners and four staff, and has now grown to around 40 members of staff, which includes accountants, tax specialists, IT and marketing experts.

The company aims to retain close links with former colleagues, with many atten-

ding events such as the staff versus clients cricket match at Esher Cricket Club.

It also supports the Walton Firs Foundation, a charity that provides leisure and educational activities to youth groups on its 28-acre site in Cobham.

Julia Wigram, a partner at Woolford and Co, said: “As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are very proud that a large number of

clients have been with us for more than 10 and, in some cases, more than 20 years; a rewarding achievement that we attribute to the continuity and professionalism of our team.

“From the outset we have recruited high calibre professionals with extensive experience. The firm has also adopted flexible work practices and embraced new technology, including an IT

network that allows staff to access work from home, which has helped the business retain staff and to grow.”

The company provides business advice, accounting, audit and related services to start-ups, established businesses and individuals. The team also provides tax expertise, including UK corporation tax, UK personal tax and advice on international tax structures.

6

August 2014

International trade vital for county firms We must get behind British exporters and show support for the International Festival of Business Chambers of Commerce mark the start of the International Festival of Business (IFB) – a series of events spanning 61 days to promote international trade and exports. ExportSurrey, a partnership between Surrey Chambers of

Commerce and Surrey Connects, recognises the importance of putting Surrey businesses at the forefront of international trade, and encouraging even more businesses to start looking to new markets overseas.

This is why ExportSurrey will be present at the festival, taking place in Liverpool, which will focus

on how UK companies, large and small, can create new international and domestic business-to-business relationships, allowing them to tap into new, high-growth markets for their products and services.

Mark Pearson, CEO Surrey Connects, said: ‘We are delighted to announce our support of the International Festival of

Business, and look forward to engaging with attendees throughout its duration.

What really sets the IFB apart from other festivals are the representatives who will be there in person from overseas markets, such as suppliers and investors. As a proud advocate for Surrey businesses trading internationally, this is exactly the kind of practical support

August

4 Mon

Surrey Chambers Golf Society Open 18 Golf Competition, Kingswood Golf & Country Club, Kingswood, Tadworth. Members £58, non-members £71 plus VAT

1pm

8.30pm

5

Tue

Chamber Connections – Guildford, Guildford Cathedral, Stag Hill, Guildford. Members £10, non-members £20 plus VAT

8am

9.30am

14 Thu

Chamber Connections – Surrey Heath, Cafe Bar Restaurant, Camberley Theatre, Knoll Road, Camberley. Members £10, non-members £20 plus VAT

8am

9.30am

21 Thu

Chamber Connections – Elmbridge, The Hilton Hotel, Seven Hills Road South, Cobham. Members £10, non-members £20 plus VAT

8am

9.30am

30 Wed

Chamber Connections Betchworth Breakfast, Hartsfield Manor, Betchworth. Members £10, non-members £20.

8am

9.30am

To book, visit www.surrey-chambers.co.uk or call 01483 735540 (All prices are exclusive of VAT)

Tap into wealth of resources at Surrey Business School Entrepreneurial and innovative are words synonymous with Surrey Business School at the University of Surrey.

Eager to engage and interact with the Surrey business community and share in the world leading bank of knowledge that has promoted the business school to rank as the UK’s 20th most successful.

Surrey Business School is

the home of the Business Insights Lab which brings academic research together with business and industry to put the latest ideas into practice.

Combining insightful academic thinking with practical application, they help to test the hypotheses that drive real business experiments.

Not only is their research focused on real-world problems, they also place student

enterprise at the heart of their school. Companies can really engage with students, academics and practitioners to test new ideas and get rapid feedback, all to the benefit of Surrey business.

Surrey Chambers are pleased to announce that Surrey Business School will be joining their illustrious patrons in order to expand their business engagement.

“We are very keen to

ensure that our members are able to tap in to this wonderful resource, with new seminars, events and projects, it is an exciting opportunity to expand our members resources and opportunities” said Jon Jagger, President of Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

If you would like to know more about the programme planned with Surrey Business School contact gary.hayes@ surrey-chambers.co.uk.

that can really help businesses take that first step towards exporting, and find new untapped markets for their products by making real, face to face connections.

Providing UK businesses with access to networking opportunities, both domestically and abroad, is essential to securing long term economic growth. With

Accredited Chambers of Commerce acting as Britain’s premier private sector source of international trade support for business, we believe the IFB will help to put Surrey on the global map.”

Statistics show that exporting businesses are 11% more likely to succeed than those which only serve domestic markets. We really

must get behind our exporters and encourage new exporters if we are to stand a chance of achieving the Prime Minister’s target of increasing exports to £1tn by 2020, and help them to seize valuable opportunities overseas.

If you would like advice on trading internationally please contact sarah.butcher@surrey-chambers.co.uk.

Surrey Chambers launches campaign for affordable homes Make sure your business has its say on housing This week Surrey Chambers of Commerce launches its campaign to ensure that Surrey delivers enough affordable housing to meet the needs of the business community.

Housing prices in Surrey are known to be among the most expensive in the country, high demand plus high incomes have driven prices to an all time high.

As Surrey strives to maintain its reputation for a highly skilled workforce to meet the needs of businesses, failure to attract new staff into the area due to rising costs could have a detrimental affect on the economy.

Surrey’s dynamic innovative business community has driven economic success to exceed growth expectations.

Businesses show concern at the increased lack of affordable housing and cite it as a barrier to recruiting and retaining staff.

Louise Punter, CEO of Surrey Chambers of Commerce, said: “Surrey’s businesses are now feeling the consequences of their economic success.

“Traffic congestion, shortage of land for new and expanding businesses, labour and skills shortages and the lack of affordable housing is now placing pressure and impeding business growth.”

The Chamber supports the proposition of significantly increasing the building of more homes and investment in infrastructure and recognises the need to provide mixed housing tenures and size allying this with mixed use development.

Keith Churchouse, Chairman of the Guildford Business Forum, added: “Guildford Business Forum is obviously keen to see commerce expand and grow in our borough.

“One of the key issues

identified by the forum is that of the need for affordable housing.

“Guildford is one of four towns identified as a growth town with the Enterprise M3 LEP programme and this offers the opportunity of commerce and job creation, along with many other benefits.

“Our borough is a recognised economic hub and we should work to enhance this significant attribute.

“However, without the ability to attract and retain key workers within the borough in affordable properties, this could create potential barriers to growth and our future economic prosperity, something the borough greatly benefits from.” n If you are a business located in Surrey and would like to take part in the housing debate please email carol. squires@surrey-chambers. co.uk .

Be part of the network - find out how Surrey Chambers of Commerce membership can help your business at www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

August 2014

Investment watch

7

Keeping an eye on the markets

Russian sanctions look set to challenge world markets

By Philip Scott

Head of Advisory Stockbroking at SI Capital Current Overview The downing of a civilian aircraft has been blamed on a Russian missile and geopolitical tension has escalated to levels not seen since the Cold War. Hot on the heels of an already dim view of Russian actions in eastern Ukraine, the risk to stock market levels is now heightened and it is somewhat remarkable how resilient share prices have thus far proven to be.

The imposition now of significant wide ranging European sanctions on Russia will starve the country of access to European capital markets; the ability for their banks and oil companies to raise finance necessary for day to day business requirements. Such actions will also now impact the UK directly as many of our companies trade and or have investment interests in Russia.

Philip Scott of SI Capital.

BP, for example, is the largest foreign investor and Shell will certainly suffer with its plans in Siberia through sanctions against exporting high tech oil equipment to Russia.

Russia is bolstering its defences by raising interest rates to fight against demand to get capital out of the country; rouble bonds are yielding high risk levels of over 9%.

While Russia has huge gas supplies, it is not as profitable as oil and their challenges to maintain their obligations to the international capital world are getting harder.

The screw is being turned and markets are slowly waking up to it. Russia is, however, hardened to hardship and their ability to survive should not be underestimated.

Turning to the UK specifically, it is encouraging to see the size of economy back above that of the pre credit crisis peak in 2008.

There remains much to do as inertia alone would see

national income rising over time. The big macro question for markets remains the timetable for raising interest rates and the potential impact of such a move.

Mark Carney’s (BOE Governor) semantics are changing and risks associated with not raising now pose bigger threats than to commence steady increases sooner rather than later.

Consensus thinking is now for a rise before the end of the year.

Individuals and companies with debt will be most at risk but the central bank needs to weigh up multiple factors in steering the economy higher which would include preventing asset bubbles bursting (say, in the housing market).

Sterling has appreciated 11% versus the dollar and 10% versus the Euro over the past 12 months. The strengthening trend is likely to continue. An increasing number of export reliant companies are blaming lower profits on foreign exchange translation.

A recovering UK, whilst

positive, can also bring headaches to some if rising interest rates bring an appreciating domestic currency.

Stock specific comment The airline sector has lost altitude as warnings from a handful of European operators have dented expectations. IAG (British Airways / Iberia) is arguably more insulated with its Transatlantic and South American focus and its stock is down heavily over the past five weeks.

The shares seem to be stabilising ahead of results in the next few days. I suspect the stock offers some value at 330p although it is a high volatility investment.

Aberforth Smaller Companies Investment Trust has investment appeal at 1060p in my view. Well managed by the Edinburgh based boutique and with a “value” approach, the NAV per share is at £11.70. This puts it at a 9% discount which is the largest I can recall.

Low levels of borrowing in the portfolio and with a

handy 2.2% income yield, this represents a sensible and diversified way to play the UK Mid to Small cap area of the market. Top holdings include Qinetiq, JD Sports and RPC Group and the total market value of the company is £1 billion.

Income focused investors should probably look at GSK which warned on profits a week ago.

The market leading pharmaceutical giant has a strong pipeline of new drugs but is under pressure in the respiratory area which is important for earnings. Bribery allegations in China have not helped sentiment but with the dividend increased, the stock yields 5.5% on a forward basis.

A longer term total return candidate for the bottom drawer.

This report was written by Philip Scott, Director and Head of Advisory Stockbroking at SI Capital on 31/7/14 when the FTSE 100 was trading at 6785.

Firm still a breath of fresh air two decades on Keeping customers at the heart of the business is key for Atrium Air Conditioning Ltd

By James Watkins

james.watkins@trinitymirror.com

A WOKING air conditioning business which grew out of the managing director’s bedroom is celebrating 20 years of being in the industry.

Atrium Air Conditioning Ltd was formed in June 1994, shortly after its founder Gary Hall was made redundant and decided to attend a basic business training course being run by Guildford Borough Council.

Mr Hall said that in the early days of the company he was a lonely figure sitting in a bedroom of his terrace house with only a small desk, garden chair, fax, phone and a writing pad.

“Projects in the early days were thin on the ground however work did come in,” Mr Hall said.

“As the business grew we subcontracted out all of our maintenance, installations and repair works to a local air conditioning company which served us well as this prevented large overheads in the lean times.

“1996 saw the purchase of Atrium’s first computer.

“Having no idea about

computers I decided to study the subject in more detail in the evenings to see how I could make Atrium a better more efficient business.

“Developing a database/ estimating programme from scratch was a major step forward for Atrium.

“Computerised accounts were also added.”

It was not until 1998 that Mr Hall hired his first employee, who was the boss of the first company he worked for when he left school in 1982.

The pair worked on the tools by day, whilst Mr Hall would be quoting projects by night.

This continued for about a year when in 1999 a second trainee engineer was taken on.

“Over the next few years more engineers were employed and Atrium was flying,” Mr Hall said.

The office was then moved from Mr Hall’s bedroom and into a purpose built lodge at the side of his house.

“From the start I had a great understanding that our customers are the most important part of our business,” Mr Hall said.

“Without them our

business would not exist. This is a company ethic.

“Although the business has grown over the years I have tried to keep the growth relatively small to give our customers that friendly family feeling and personal touch.

“Each member of my team has a direct involvement in key business decisions making them feel valued and a voice within the business.”

He said the use of computers has led to swift responses to emergency call outs, the ability to track jobs and the capability to store the history of works completed for each customer.

“Atrium attributes much of its success to the management’s ability to predict how changes in the economy may affect businesses while accommodating the ever changing demands of potential and existing customers,” Mr Hall said.

“Whether it is to satisfy the constantly changes in attitude to the environment or providing systems that minimise running costs, Atrium sources systems from a wide range of UK suppliers.

“Training of our engineers is a priority ensuring that

systems are installed with the latest technology in the shortest possible timescale.”

He added: “We have

The Atrium Air Conditioning Ltd team.

cultivated a diverse range of clients from property developers to office building owners and tenants, retail

premises, leisure facilities and specialist areas such as IT server rooms.

“In recent years we have

become specialist in the design and installation of large residential properties to a number of our developers.”

8

August 2014

Hyundai dealer pulls up in ‘motorpark alley’

halow project fundraiser Anna Jezeph (front) with Charley Brown’s owner Marie Brown (right) and staff members Laura Paffett, Sarah Bowen and Charley Brown holding a cheque for the charity, raised at the opening of a new salon in Madrid Road, Guildford. Picture: Alistair Wilson. SA141892.

Charley Brown’s opening raises more than peanuts

By Becca Taylor

becca.taylor@trinitymirror.com A HAIR and beauty salon has expanded its Guildford services with the launch of a new branch in the town.

Marie Brown, owner of Charley Brown’s salon, opened the new outlet in Madrid Road last month with a charity night for Guildford’s halow project.

The salon offers hair extensions, haircuts for

special occasions and specialist keratin treatments.

Ms Brown took over her latest location in January and opened on June 19 with a new beauty room offering nail treatments and a refurbished main area.

The new salon has also allowed the owner to take on more staff, and Ms Brown now employs 12 people between two sites.

She said: “My team have worked extremely hard and

we’re more like a family, so we all thought this salon would be a very exciting venture for us to all be involved in. My girls love a challenge and are looking forward to making this salon a success as well.”

The original Charley Brown’s salon, in Fairlands, has been open for more than three years, and in that time the team has built up a loyal client base who travel a long way for their treatments.

Ms Brown added: “We pride ourselves on our welcoming atmosphere, the clients visit us as much for the social aspect as they do to have their hair done.

“We are always on the look-out for new challenges, so another salon is never out of the question.”

The new salon’s opening night raised £500 for the halow project, which supports young people aged 16 to 35 with learning difficulties.

Up to 45 jobs are being created in Guildford following Richmond Motor Group’s £1.35 million deal to buy a prime showroom location that became available when a truck dealership collapsed.

The company, which already owns dealerships in Bognor Regis, Portsmouth and Southampton, acquired a 2.1-acre site on the Slyfield Industrial Estate.

Richmond Motor Group has earmarked the site for a major investment, creating a new state-of-the-art Hyundai car dealership.

Charles Wood, director of industrial and logistics at LSH in Guildford, secured the deal on behalf of administrators Duff and Phelps.

The Slyfield property was put on the market last year following the collapse of Iveco truck dealer, Grays of Guildford.

Mr Wood said: “This is a prime motor trade site fronting Moorfield Road on the Slyfield Industrial Estate, and it is the ideal location for Richmond Motor Group’s new venture.

“There are already several

major motor dealerships adjacent to this site so the new Hyundai dealership will be in very good company.

“After a long period in the doldrums, there are now clear signs of a recovery in the motor trade property market. This is the first significant automotive industry transaction for some years in the Guildford area and it is clear that the Slyfield estate is a magnet for the industry.”

The new Hyundai dealership has already opened to the public but three phases of development are set to begin this month to transform the site.

LSH’s building consultancy team has been appointed to co-ordinate the refurbishment programme to provide a modern retail outlet, and work is expected to be completed by November.

Michael Nobes, managing director of Richmond Motor Group, said the dealership would remain open while work takes place to build a 12,000 square foot showroom – tripling the size of the existing display area. Additional workshops and a valet area,

totalling around 9,000sq ft, will also be created.

Some 21 people from the local area have already been employed by Richmond Motor Group at the Guildford site, including trainee sales staff and technicians.

“We sell more Hyundais than any other dealership because we give people the best deals,” said Mr Nobes.

“I have been looking for a Hyundai dealership in the Guildford area for some time, and when the chance to take one over came up, it was a golden opportunity for us.

“It is ideally located in ‘motorpark alley’ – this is a prime site for us because all the big dealerships are here, including Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Ford and Vauxhall.

“This is a significant investment for us but Guildford is a place we wanted to be in and I’m pleased to be creating jobs and training opportunities for the local community.

“We are delighted to now be able to offer our deals in Guildford – and the people of Guildford have already responded by packing out our premises every weekend.”

A group of BizSchool pupils at Grayshott Primary School with headteacher Paul Davies alongside Katy Nash and Marie Woodgate from A&N Chartered Accountants, BizSchool managing director Andrew Kinniburgh and teacher Katie Foster

Workshops are just the business to put pupils in good company Guildford’s Nuffield Health Hospital has spent more than £450,000 on new equipment for laser eye surgery.

Laser kit puts hospital out of sight GUILDFORD’S Nuffield Health Hospital has spent more than £450,000 on new equipment for laser eye surgery.

The hospital has said the new LenSx laser cataract system is a technological breakthrough as it provides higher levels of precision and surgical accuracy.

It is claimed that resulting surgery could now allow patients to see better at all distances without glasses.

The equipment involves a bladeless, computer-controlled laser that allows a surgeon to plan and perform several of the most critical steps of cataract surgery to individual specifications that are not available with other surgical methods.

LaserVision, based at the hospital, has also invested in equipment to help surgeons more accurately position the lens in the patient’s eye.

Consultant surgeon Mike Tappin, said: “We believe we are the leading consultancy in Surrey for lens surgery and refractive eye care, and have made a significant investment in the most technologically advanced laser in order to remain at the forefront of eye surgery in the country.

“We are currently the only clinic in Surrey to have the LenSx laser and, as a result, are able to offer a premier

service to patients requiring the very latest techniques.

“Alcon’s LenSx is a huge step forward in cataract surgery. I am sure that in 10 years’ time it will be the standard in cataract surgery and far more widely available. For now, I am delighted we are leading the way.”

Surgery using the new laser is carried out under local anaesthetic and takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

BizSchool, which teaches children how to set up their own company, spent the last few weeks of the summer term visiting Surrey schools.

Father-of-three Andrew Kinniburgh, who founded the company for nine-to-15-yearolds, said: “We have had wonderful feedback from headteachers and pupils about our business courses, but are aware that not every school has the funds to use us. For this reason, we have launched a corporate sponsorship package to partner local businesses with schools that would like to participate.”

A&N Chartered Accountants, in Haslemere, offered to sponsor BizSchool at Gray-

shott Primary School. Sarah Rout from the accountants, said: “It was a perfect match for us. We are based in Haslemere and delighted to have an opportunity to support local school children.

“We help our clients to grow their businesses and improve performance and profitability, enabling them to meet their individual challenges head on and achieve their most important goals.

“At BizSchool they are raising awareness and building enthusiasm for entrepreneurial and other really practical business skills at an early age. It is very satisfying to be able to encourage young people to understand how business works and to

take part in it.”

Pupils at St Mary’s School, in Chiddingfold are also learning how to become future business owners as BizSchool delivers the course to Year 6 pupils there.

Mr Kinniburgh continued: “Our courses are flexible and teach young people everything they need to know about starting up and running a successful business.

“Then they actually do set up their own real business.”

Courses can be tailormade to last from one week to a whole academic year.

Companies interested in sponsoring BizSchool are asked to email andrew.kinni burgh@bizschool.org.uk, or call 020 8123 4661.