SBT
SBT POWERED BY:
ISSUE 444
FREE
SUSSEX BUSINESS TIMES
THE SMALL SHOREHAM-BASED BUSINESS MAKING BIG MOVES IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY WE CHAT TO 67 DEGREES
AN SBT SPECIAL FEATURE AS WE CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2021 COUNTY BUSINESS CLUBS VIRTUAL AWARDS NOMINATIONS OPEN
BUDGET 2021 OVERVIEW
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975
1
2 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 3
Relaunch of the new County Business Clubs Sussex Community Platform
COMING SOON
Content Hub
Community
Marketplace
Growth Services
Your Business | Your Community | Your Platform www.countybusinessclubs.co.uk
4 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
SBTWelcome
WE LCO M E
Welcome to the latest, packed issue of SBT
Spring is in the air and with the latest government announcement, the road map to return is in place and there is truly light
at the end of the tunnel. There is definitely an air of optimism around and I am getting a positive vibe from the community in my various meetings over the past couple of weeks.
This month we had great pleasure in speaking with County Business Clubs latest Value Added Partners, 67 degrees as we chat to founders Laura Coleby and Justin Woodford for this month’s cover feature.
To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March and Women’s History Month, the issue is packed with a selection of great news and articles from some amazing Sussex Business women. This also includes a month of great events from the team at Plus X with their ‘Trailblazing Women’ online events calendar.
County Business Clubs have more exciting announcements this month so watch this space as we continue with our ethos of collaboration over competition and welcome new partners and members. We are delighted to announce this months latest Value Added Partners 67 Degrees, Extech Cloud, Plus X, Gaydio and Silicon Brighton all of whom will be able to provide support, great content and advice for all our members.
We have also announced our next Virtual Business Awards for the Sussex business community in partnership with Network My Club, on Thursday April 22nd, start nominating NOW! This issue is once again packed with insights, advice and great content across a variety of sectors, written by the Sussex business community for the Sussex business community. Thank you all as always for your continued support and we look forward to a brighter few months ahead. I hope you enjoy the issue, Sam Thomas, Managing Director
VALUE ADDED PARTNERS
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 5
Issue 444
07 17 21 Cover 444
Managing Director/Publisher Sam Thomas sam@thebusinessgroup.co.uk 01323 819 012 Production & Design Kim Butler Accounts Clare Fermor accounts@thebusinessgroup.co.uk 01323 819 016 Published by The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Unit 1a Swan Barn Business Centre, Swan Barn Road, Hailsham, BN27 2BY Printed by L&S Printing Limited Hazelwood Close Worthing BN14 8NP 01903 821005 www.ls-printing.com
All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Sussex Business Times Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Sussex Business Times Magazine assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisement contained within Sussex Business Times Magazine. All prices featured in Sussex Business Times Magazine are correct at the time of going to press. Copyright The Business Group Sussex Ltd. 2020 ©
6 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
27 31 35
Monthly News
International Women’s Day Special
SBT Finance
MHA Carpenter Box – Budget 2021 Special
SBT Legal
How to Evict a Tenant – MayoWynne Baxter Employment Law: Self employed or Worker?– By Alex Jones 365 Employment Law
SBT Property
We catch up with Eightfold Property
SBT SPeople Management & Recruitment
Now is the time for business owners to prepare for cost of redundancies
SBT Cover Feature
We chat to 67 Degrees Owners Laura Coleby and Justin Woodford
41
SBT Sales & Marketing
49
SBT Tech
57 65 69 73 79
SBT Charity Special
87
Challenging perceptions through marketing – An interview with Stephanie Prior | It’s Time to Re – Re-emerge with Learning Cog | How and Why to prioritise business reputation in 2021
A packed SBT Tech section as we hear from NWT on Diversity matters, Silicon Brighton supporting digital growth | Truchallenge founder Tim Chase| Launch of Robus Automation
Table Talk Foundation Launches in Sussex Plus who are the Sussex Cancer Fund?
SBT Motoring
The value of Britains most popular car colours – April 2021: Changes to electric company car tax - bought to you by Rivervale
SBT Networking & Events
Being an effective Networker of the future
Chamber News
We see the return of Chamber News as we hear from Ana Christie, Sussex Chamber and Brighton Chamber’s Basecamp En-route Event
SBT Lifestyle
BOOST Mood with Kate Cook and an exclusive online cooking demonstration from Steven Edwards
SBT Ask The Expert
This months Ask the Experts are James Kelly, Storganise – Bonamy Waddell, Bon insight and Jeremy Taylor, The Company Connector
SBT MONTHLY NEWS SPECIAL
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY SPECIAL
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 7
MO NT H LY N E WS SP EC IA L
Public Sector membership club, Boundless, announces new CEO Colin Slinn steps up as part of a new-look executive team Monthly News
Boundless, the UK membership club for civil service and public sector workers, has announced Colin Slinn as its new CEO.
Colin, who has been with Boundless since 2004, previously held the role of Chief Financial Officer and has 25 years of experience as a finance professional. He has also worked within the senior finance team at Lloyds TSB Private Banking and at American Express Global Network Services. Brighton-based Boundless, which was formed in 1923, has a national
membership in excess of 230,000 and has recently won praise for its campaign to raise awareness of the UN’s Public Service Day which had previously flown under the radar in the UK. Now, at a time when the British public is increasingly aware of the work done by those in the public sector, Boundless is focusing on helping its members to make the most of their free time, helping to improve their work-life balance and general wellbeing. Colin is joined on a new-look executive team by Chief Operating Officer Peter Worster, previously Managing Director at business transformation and marketing strategy business Worster Ltd.
Lisa Parrott has been appointed as the new CFO, bringing a wealth of financial expertise from Saga Plc, a FTSE 250 company, where she has spent the majority of her working life. In her most recent role, Lisa was Group Finance Director for a group of entrepreneurial insurance, conveyancing and property data SMEs at CLS Group Services Ltd. Darren Milton, a board level brand and marketing strategist who has been with Boundless since 2009, moves from his role as Head of Brand & Marketing to become the business’ new Chief Marketing Officer. For more information, please visit www.boundless.co.uk.
Sussex sees wave of COVID entrepreneurs Finds research from accountants Kreston Reeves Monthly News
Sussex has seen a wave of COVID entrepreneurs with 27% more businesses registered in 2020 than in 2019.
The research from accountants, business and financial advisers Kreston Reeves is based on analysis of corporate databases that draw on information provided by Companies House in 2019 and 2020. In Sussex, 14,825 new businesses were incorporated at Companies House, an increase of 27% on 2019 when just 11,646 new businesses were registered. Across the UK, 772,002 new businesses were incorporated at Companies House in 2020, an increase of 14%.
8 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Commenting on the research, Jake Standing, a Partner and member of the Growth Advisory Team at Kreston Reeves said: “Times of crisis are often a source of inspiration for entrepreneurs as they look to capture an opportunity, and that is true of 2020. The South East has seen a wave of COVID entrepreneurs, far outstripping business start-ups across the rest of the UK. “It should, of course, be noted that many of these new incorporations will be subsidiaries of existing businesses looking to expand their offerings, but we believe that the majority of them will be new businesses where the individual has taken time in 2020 to think about the direction they want to head. Some will remain small, operating from home, but others
will grow and help build our postCOVID economy. “Government support has focused to date on supporting existing businesses that have been impacted by the global pandemic, and that is as it should be. But government should also look to measures to support this new wave of entrepreneurialism to help them grow and become the engines of tomorrow’s economy.” There is a wealth of freely available advice and guidance on successfully growing a business. In addition to www. krestonreeves.com, businesses may also wish to explore www.locateinkent.com, www.coast2capital.org.uk in Sussex, and www.gov.uk/business-support-helpline.
MON T H LY N EWS S PECIA L
Midnight expands client portfolio with global alternative fuels producer
Midnight Communications, an award-winning PR agency based in Brighton, has been appointed by Waste Knot Energy, an innovative fuel manufacturer that supplies pellets made from waste materials as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
L: Flo Powell & R: Alex Hankinson
Primarily targeting
Monthly News
key decision makers at power stations
and manufacturers
of cement and steel,
Midnight’s objectives are to educate
audiences on the benefits of using these pellets, which are ideal for high-energyuse industries. These benefits include
decarbonisation, high energy content, reduction in waste going to landfill, reduced costs and fuel security.
“Ultimately, Midnight aims to raise awareness of, and preference for,
Waste Knot Energy as the alternative
fuel manufacturer of choice and drive
the sale of its pellets among potential
customers across the UK and beyond,”
said Midnight’s joint managing director
Midnight made a compelling pitch and,
innovative and making great strides in
delivered some significant results.”
are very excited to be appointed.”
Waste Knot Energy is building eight
Waste Knot Energy joins a raft of market
which will source local commercial
industry sectors such as construction
paper, card and non-chlorinated
Flo Powell. “The company is highly
helping to fight climate change, so we
following its appointment, has already
production plants across the UK,
leading B2B clients across a breadth of
and industrial waste such as wood,
and professional services.
plastics, before turning it into high
Roger Ferguson, managing director
Middlesbrough, is almost complete
mission is to enable large scale energy
early as May this year.
emissions and minimise the amount of
For more information, please visit
a communications agency that could
www.wasteknotenergy.com.
at Waste Knot Energy, added: “Our
users to slash their costs and carbon
waste going to landfill. So, we needed
quality fuel pellets. The first, in
and is to begin receiving waste as
www.midnight.co.uk and
spread this message far and wide.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 9
Acumen Business Law Top 50 Fastest-Growing Businesses in Sussex Acumen Business Law, the Brighton & Gatwick based law firm, has launched its Top 50 Fastest-Growing Businesses in Sussex initiative. Powered by data from mnAI (the world’s first AI-powered deal-flow search engine for the private investment markets), Acumen Business Law will formally recognise the top independent businesses that have seen substantial growth over the last 12 months. The purpose of the initiative is to identify and provide recognition to local and regional businesses for their outstanding growth year on year. We were lucky enough to chat to Penina Shepherd, the firm’s founder & CEO, to find out a little more about Acumen Business Law and why they have chosen to recognise Sussex’s finest businesses. Why now have you chosen to recognise the Top 50 Fastest-Growing Businesses in Sussex? After one of the toughest years in the business world, Acumen Business Law wants to celebrate some successes too. To say it has been a difficult year will be an understatement. The sudden halt of everyday life, had a devastating effect on many businesses who had to deal with a substantial reduction of income as well as the need to adapt overnight to new requirements such as home working, social distancing and the complexity of the government’s furlough scheme, which wasn’t always as flexible as the most recent version. It also meant businesses had to learn to operate with reduced staff, with those furloughed unable to have any input into the day to day running of the business. I am therefore in awe of those Top 50 Businesses who have managed to continue with their successes throughout this period, and as such, this recognition is even more deserved.
How are you identifying the Top 50 businesses? We instructed the local marketing agency, Creative Pod, to find a local business that can offer the required advanced technology and they recommended using the MNAI software. They explained it’s an intelligent system which pulls data from nine million data points, to produce data on UK companies in real-time showing the top 50 fast growing businesses in the area. The system uses parameters such as annual accounts, shareholder details, companies house information and more to amalgamate the selected criteria we wanted to recognise. What tips do you have for a business in Sussex, looking to take the next step? With the recent announcement from Boris Johnson, we can see there is now some light at the end of a very long tunnel. It’s been a bumpy ride for us all, but it’s now time to pick up the pieces and go full steam ahead again. This is the time to rely on the community that so many have built upon throughout the years, who trust you and will be there for you. It’s this community which we, at Acumen Business Law, have built over a decade that has stood by us and helped us come out the other side. For some businesses, they did all they could to fight through, but Covid-19 has brought circumstances that meant they simply cannot survive, and my heart and thoughts go out to the employees and people behind those businesses. I hope with the recent roadmap announced, they can now redirect their energy and come out emerging in a different format. How would Acumen celebrate the Top 50 Fastest-Growing Businesses? The Top 50 businesses will shortly be contacted by post with their certification, along with recognition across our
www.acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk | 01273 447 065 | Follow us on social media
10 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Penina Shepherd, CEO & Founder, Acumen Business Law
social media platforms. I’m then looking forward to meeting each and every one of them when it is safe to do so, to present their trophy and I am very excited to hear their business stories which we aim to feature on various blogs and our social media channels. We also hope to celebrate their success in our next Acumen Business Convention, our annual event that we have been running for over a decade at the Grand Hotel in Brighton with approximately 300 business leaders present. The 2019 event had to be postponed, but we are all very excited to plan the next one, which will be the perfect place to showcase these success stories. About Acumen Business Law They are an award-winning, innovative and dynamic Law Firm, specialising in business and commercial law. In a bold move in the legal industry, they scrapped the hourly rate system and operate solely on a fixed fee-pricing model for all non-contentious matters. Democratically run by all, with no secretaries, letters dictation or pretension - just modern, approachable, smart lawyers and top notch support of a different kind.
(And if you happen to see a lawyer in flip flops - not to worry, that’s just one of the ways they do happy!) The revolutionary vision and business model have been remarkably successful and the firm was listed in the Financial Times’ Top 50 Groundbreaking & Innovative Law Firms in the UK and Europe and were voted as the UK Rising Star by the Observer and have won many other prestigious local awards. Watch this space… If you are one of the Acumen Top 50 fastest growing businesses in Sussex, you will shortly be contacted by post with your certification, along with recognition on social media, before meeting over Zoom or face to face with Penina, when the national lockdown ends, and it is safe to do so. You can also follow Acumen Business Law on social media, where each finalist will be announced: Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
www.acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk | 01273 447 065 | Follow us on social media www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
11
International Women’s Day A Seat at the Big Table Every year on the 8th March, women across the globe celebrate International Women’s Day. It provides a great
Monthly News
opportunity for
women in business and communities
to come together to
celebrate successes, share experiences and inspire others too.
Last year, Healys Women in Business hosted MAKING HERSTORY at Brighton Palace Pier. Over 150
professionals attended the event and
the energy was electric. Award winning comedy coaches ‘Funny Women’
hosted their ‘Her-larious” workshop, which got guests on their feet;
chanting and laughing in mixed teams. The event’s sense of togetherness and empowerment was irresistible and led to a range of 150 women in business,
12 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
showcasing confidence through public speaking, use of humour, team work and more.
The event also included a panel of some of Sussex’s leading Women in Business.
Each panellist had their own experiences and perspectives which were interesting and inspiring to listen to. We explored finance, competing in corporate
environments, barriers in existing work
models, aging, imposter syndrome, and
juggling family responsibilities alongside work commitments. These discussions highlighted that in recent years there
have been positive changes that have supported women to lead and make
history. However there was more that
still needed to be achieved to overcome existing barriers.
Last year IG reported that only five
percent of FTSE 100 companies were
directed by women. This field remains
highly dominated by men who make up
the remaining 95%. Data also shows that women in business still struggle more so then their male counter parts for venture
capital (VC) investments. In 2019, research commissioned by former Chancellor,
Philip Hammond, showed that female-led start-ups receive just one penny for every pound of VC investment in the UK. This
compares starkly, according to the British
Business Bank and Financial Times, to the 89% of funds invested in all-male start-up
teams. The remaining 10% of funds go to mixed gender teams.
These statistics remind us that women in business are still seeking to break
MON T H LY N EWS S PECIA L
of clients to broaden professional connections, as well as provide
advice and support. Don’t let any
perceived barriers prevent you from
seeking professional advice as there are people like us who are willing to explore how we can help you. Embrace Confidence: Regardless of age, gender or
race, it is essential that you do
not focus on what has historically worked against women. Whether it is a job interview, a new
meeting or networking event, remember you (like everyone
else) have already earned your seat at the table. Although
social barriers exist and can be
through that ‘glass ceiling’ to establish
Expand Your Professional Network:
ascension and business progression.
One of the causes of this inequality is
accept this. Our focus is much more
business networks that support
be achieved. Whenever possible, live
makers. Although networking can be
the journey of growth, and embrace
an equal playing field for career
For women of colour in the workplace,
this glass may be even harder to break, with the statistics being even lower.
I remember reflecting on my experiences as a woman in business when listening to speakers at MAKING HERSTORY
International Women’s Day event last year. I remember questioning whether I considered the barriers that I had
experienced (or sometimes witnessed) to
be a reflection of my gender, race or both. This year, Forbes reported that there are no black CEOs and CFOs in the UK’s 100 largest companies in the
FTSE-100 index. Recent statistics also highlight that just under 1% of venture capital investment in the UK went to
black entrepreneurs across the last 10
years, with black female entrepreneurs receiving just 0.02% of this funding.
Many of these issues require institutional reviews and further support to establish a more inclusive and diverse playing field in business. However there is
increasingly more support available.
extremely challenging, it is ultimately our decision whether we choose to
the lack of accessibility to the required
invested when it is spent on what can
business ventures or to the key decision
in the minute; rise to challenges, enjoy
extremely daunting, it’s a must in order
every minute.
to maximise your business and profile.
A huge thank you to all of the
There are a range of networks in
businesses who have partnered with
and innovative professionals including
& promote International Women’s
Women in Business, Sussex County
Brighton Gin, Cloud9 Insight, Clearline
Network my Club, Ladies Lunch Club,
Palace Pier, Dynamic, Funny Women,
Sussex that attract a range of friendly
Healys Women in Business to support
Sussex Innovation Network, Healys
Day. Investec, MHA Carpenter Box,
Business Club, The Boundary Club,
Recruitment, Gemini Print, Brighton
Platinum Business Club, Mumtrepreneur
My Brighton Hotel
Brighton and many more.
For more information about Healys
Get Professional Support:
commercial service offerings for
Network Club, Women of Colour
Seek experienced corporate and
LLP and their available corporate & entrepreneurs, please don’t hesitate to visit their website.
commercial lawyers, accountants and financial advisors! One of the perks of
working as a Business Development & Marketing Manager at Healys LLP, is
having the opportunity to work alongside some influential women who are leaders in their fields. Our team support a range
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 13
MO NT H LY N E WS SP EC IA L
Yellow fish announce new ownership
Maria Valentine steps back from the business but remains on the board
Left: Laura Pace. Right: Maria Valentine
Monthly News
Launched in 2003,
content-driven projects as well as large
across a broad portfolio of household
creative agency
AXA, SITA and PTC.
Fresh and Campari.
the Brighton-based quickly garnered a reputation for
delivering innovative event and
marketing solutions - grabbing the attention of big-name clients and
achieving the accolade, in 2015, of one of the fastest growing female-owned
small businesses. And it’s an enviable
reputation that has seen the agency post year-on-year organic growth, attract
some of the very best industry talent and expand its remit - delivering solutions for Dixons, Samsung, EE and PTC Therapeutics to name a few.
And whilst the pandemic has brought
scale virtual events for clients including
“Handing over the reins to a business you
Commenting on being the new owner
I adore, was never going to be easy.”
joined as MD, I was bowled over by the
have built and nurtured, and in an industry Says Maria Valentine “But I know the time is right - and more importantly, I know that Laura is the right person to move
the business forward, to write the next
chapter of Yellow Fish. And whilst I will be
taking some time to assess some exciting new opportunities - I will remain a part
of Yellow Fish, in an advisory capacity,
and will continue to be active within the industry I love and I’m excited to have
more time to contribute in other areas’.
huge challenges for many businesses,
New owner, Laura Pace, joined Yellow Fish
particularly hit hard - Yellow Fish has
experiential agency, Hot Pickle, where she
with events and experiential agencies successfully pivoted, adapting its
offer to deliver a number of brand and
14 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
brands including: Magnum; Hovis, Hello
in March last year from London-based
held the role of Business Director. In the
eight years with the agency, Laura worked
of Yellow Fish, Laura says: “When I
extraordinary talent in the agency and
the quality of the work. It is hard not to fall in love with a business like Yellow
Fish and when the opportunity came up to take over the business, I instinctively knew it was the right decision. Maria has built a happy, vibrant creative
culture that extends to the long-term
relationships we enjoy with our clients. And whilst Maria is leaving some big
shoes to fill - I’m excited to continue to grow Yellow Fish, to explore new
waters and consolidate its reputation as a leading independent full-service creative agency.” www.yfish.co.uk
MON T H LY N EWS S PECIA L
Story of Sussex Wine Families by the Glass
Launched on International Women’s Day by award-winning wine journalist Liz Sagues, Sussex by the Glass is the story of wines, vines and two pioneering families of Ridgeview and Bolney. With interviews from
Monthly News
the people behind
both wineries and a
focus on their leading female CEO’s, the
book captures the wonderful stories and images, celebrating the trials, tribulations and triumphs.
Author Liz Sagues: “I wanted to add
to the information available on English
wine, but in a different and very human way. The stories of Ridgeview and Bolney are timely and special, and
weaving an overall picture of wine
in Sussex around them was exciting
and rewarding for me. I hope readers will enjoy the words as much as fine English wine.”
The book is published at a celebratory
moment with Ridgeview Wine toasting
25 years in 2020 and Bolney reaching its 50th birthday in 2022. Written, designed and printed in Sussex, the book is
illustrated with more than 100 colour
photographs. With education in mind
it also focuses on sustainability issues,
tourism and a month-by-month account of activity in vineyard and winery.
Importantly, it stretches beyond the
individual stories to explain the past and
present significance of Sussex in England’s fastest-growing agriculture sector.
Liz is a natural storyteller who has
managed to unearth some behind the scenes gems captured with beautiful
supporting images, embodying the spirit behind the pioneering rise of the Sussex family wine businesses.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 15
MO NT H LY N E WS SP EC IA L
Trailblazing Women online events #TrailblazingWomen celebrates the women in our business community that are innovating for social, environmental, and political good – in Brighton and beyond.
Monthly News
To mark #Interna-
Joining us is Erika Brodnick, Sky News’
and #WomensHis-
software companies Karisma Kidz
tionalWomensDay
resident parenting expert, founder of
play! Both women are part of the BRITE innovation programme.
and Kami, and board member of the
FRIDAY 26TH MARCH
Brighton has partnered with women’s
Nangia, angel investor, advisor to female
The final event is taking place on March
ish to curate a month-long series of
– a company set-up to democratize and
the women in our business community
Hughes, the designer of MarinaTex,
mental, and political good – in Bright-
alternative to plastic film using fish
toryMonth, local Innovation hub Plus X
APPG for Entrepreneurship; Deepali
business network Found and Flour-
founders, and co-founder of Alma Angels
events. #TrailblazingWomen celebrates
demystify angel investing; and Lucy
that are innovating for social, environ-
a new biodegradable material and
on and beyond.
waste and algae that’s transforming our
All of the Trailblazing Women online
approach to plastic pollution.
events are ‘pay what you can’ with
FRIDAY 19TH MARCH
WomensCentre, so save the date:
Games
all proceeds going to @Brighton-
https://events.plusx.space/trailblazing-women/
MONDAY 8TH MARCH
// Panel | Women Innovating for Good
// Interactive talk | Serious About In this interactive interview, we’ll meet two female founders that are carving
a path in the male-dominated gaming industry. Sarah Ticho of Hastumi and
Hazel Reynolds of Gamely Games will
A lunchtime panel with three entrepreneurs
chat about their stories, how they’re
through innovation, technology and
level, and their tips on how to run a
Sheldrake, founder of Found & Flourish.
can expect some live interactive game
on a mission to create positive change
taking gaming innovation to the next
financial empowerment. Chaired by Lara
kind business – and, of course, you
16 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
// Masterclass | Art + Activism
26, a conversation with community
leaders and local business women, details to follow. TICKETS
We are offering a pay-what-you-can
ticket option, with all proceeds going
to our charity for the month, Brighton Women’s Centre (BWC). BWC has
been supporting self-identifying women in the Sussex area since 1974 – all
donations will contribute towards their food bank, therapy, and peer-to-peer support services. However, we want these events to be as accessible as possible. If you are unable to make a financial contribution to BWC at
this time, we are also offering a free
ticket option to this event at checkout. Anyone with a ticket is automatically
entered into a raffle to win a month’s free desk space at Plus X Brighton.
SBT FINANCE
BUDGET 2021: HOW WILL IT AFFECT YOU? BY MHA CARPENTER BOX
SBT FINANCE SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 17
Budget 2021: How will it affect you?
On 3 March, Chancellor Rishi Sunak had a difficult task in this Budget: to indicate how he might balance the Government’s books in the future, while still having to pay out huge sums to support the economy. He said that he would
Finance
continue to provide
‘whatever it takes’ to
protect businesses and jobs during the present
crisis, while being honest about the need
to ‘fix the public finances’ and setting out his plans to build the future economy.
After spending more than £400bn to
mitigate the effects of the pandemic,
it was inevitable that Mr Sunak would
have to raise taxes somewhere – but he
was bound by an election promise not to raise the rates of Income Tax, National Insurance Contributions or VAT during the life of the Parliament.
18 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Despite predictions of Capital Gains
Tax changes, it will be Corporation Tax
instead that increases, but not until 2023, and after extra tax reliefs have been
offered for investment in the meantime.
There will also be the less visible effect of freezing personal allowances and other
reliefs until 2026, increasing the tax take year by year as inflation pushes more people over the limits.
Measures to mitigate the impact of Coronavirus
The Chancellor began by setting out further measures to provide support for businesses and individuals
suffering from the financial effects
of the pandemic. The monetary amount of these items, as set
out in the Budget forecasts, is far
greater than the impact of most tax announcements.
• Extension of the Coronavirus
Job Support Scheme (‘furlough payments’) to September 2021 across the UK, with employer
contributions to salary from July
•F ourth Self Employment Income Support Scheme grant covering
February to April 2021 to claim from late April, similar to first three grants – and newly self-employed people who filed
2019/20 tax returns by 2 March may be eligible to claim for the first time
FI NA NCE •F ifth Self Employment Income Support Scheme grant covering May to
September to be claimed from late
July, varying in amount according to
the fall in turnover during the pandemic
•N o further support announced for
people working as directors through their own personal companies
•6 -month extension of the £20 per week Universal Credit uplift, with
an equivalent £500 grant to eligible Working Tax Credit claimants
•R ange of ‘Restart’ grants for
businesses reopening after lockdown
•R ecovery Loan Scheme from 6 April
2021: government to guarantee 80% of eligible loans from £25,000 to £10 million to give lenders confidence to support UK businesses, with some
other loan schemes coming to an end on 31 March 2021
•B usiness rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure premises in
England continues for first 3 months of 2020/21, followed by a 66% discount for the rest of the year.
•5 % reduced rate of VAT for hospitality and leisure industry extended from 1
April to 30 September 2021, followed by 12.5% intermediate rate to 31 March 2022
Extended reliefs
An extension of Stamp Duty was
predicted, and the Chancellor took on
board comments from the property sector regarding a cliff edge from 1 April 2021. •N il rate of Stamp Duty Land Tax on
property transactions up to £500,000 extended from 31 March to 30 June
2021, with £250,000 threshold up to 30 September 2021
•D uties on alcoholic drinks and fuel frozen for the second year running
Changes for the upcoming tax year (2021/22)
•S mall increases in main Personal Allowance, Basic Rate Band and National Insurance thresholds
confirmed, as already announced
•L ifetime Allowance for tax-advantaged
• Establishment of ‘Freeports’ enjoying
pension funds, Inheritance Tax nil rate
significant tax breaks announced
amount, ISA subscription limits all
areas to be discussed with devolved
band, Capital Gains Tax annual exempt
in 8 areas of England, with further
frozen at 2020/21 levels
administrations
• No increase in CGT rates announced,
contrary to some speculation in advance
Compliance
31 March 2023
of increased efforts to crack down
investment by companies: 130% of
compliance. The Government intends
plant for two years from 1 April 2021
and new technology for HMRC in order
(50% for ‘special rate’ assets, and
revenue between now and 2025/26.
•C orporation Tax rate remains 19% until
The Budget includes several mentions
•N ew ‘super-deduction’ for
on avoidance, evasion and non-
qualifying expenditure on general
to invest £180m in additional resources
can be deducted from taxable profit
to bring in £1.6 billion of additional tax
cars are excluded)
• Trading losses (up to £2 million)
£100 million will also be invested in
for companies and self-employed
a Taxpayer Protection Taskforce of
years instead of the usual 12 months,
within COVID-19 support packages.
losses against pre-pandemic profits to
has been one of the success stories
businesses to be carried back up to 3
1,265 HMRC staff to combat fraud
making it possible to set current
HMRC’s ability to distribute money
obtain a repayment
of the pandemic but giving the cash
claims: payable tax credit not to
taking the risk that the system can be
& NIC liability
find the people who took advantage.
‘off-payroll working’ (IR35) rules, which
How we can support you
private sector employers from 6 April
Hub which includes our Budget
•C ap on Research and Development exceed £20,000 plus three times PAYE •N o significant changes announced to
to people who need it has involved
exploited. They are now going to try to
will apply to large and medium-sized
We have created a dedicated Budget
2021, as previously announced
Summary as well as comments from
Tax measures coming into effect later •P ersonal allowances and income tax
rate thresholds frozen at 2021/22 levels
our team.
We will review the new proposals to ensure we offer our clients the best
until the end of 2025/26
advice to help them remain as tax
pension funds, Inheritance Tax nil rate
at MHA Carpenter Box Financial
exempt amount all frozen at their
manage investments and pensions in
•L ifetime Allowance for tax-advantaged
efficient as possible. And our colleagues
band and Capital Gains Tax annual
Advisers are always on hand to help
current levels until the end of 2025/26
these turbulent times.
current level of £85,000 until 31
For more information, please visit
• VAT registration threshold fixed at March 2024
•C orporation tax rate on profits over
www.carpenterbox.com/budget2021 or call 01903 234094.
£250,000 to increase to 25% from 1
April 2023, with the current 19% rate applying to profits below £50,000
and a tapering calculation on profits between £50,000 and £250,000
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 19
Our thinking starts with you “They are excellent in every respect and I am absolutely delighted with the service we receive. Everything has been done in a first-class manner. We know the next period is going to be uncertain, however, with MHA Carpenter Box’s help, I look to the future with confidence.”
Standing still is not an option In today’s environment you need an accountant that does more than just numbers. You need a trusted adviser that helps your business thrive. With our relationship led service, we look to understand the opportunities and challenges faced by you and your business. Our focus is always on client service, with open and honest relationships.
We’re here to help Audit and assurance Accounts and business consulting Tax planning Digital solutions Financial planning
www.carpenterbox.com Now, for tomorrow
20 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
SBT
LEGA L
LEGAL
HOW TO EVICT A TENANT BY MAYO WYNNE BAXTER
EMPLOYMENT LAW: SELF EMPLOYED OR WORKER?
BY ALEX JONES, 365 EMPLOYMENT LAW
SBT LEGAL SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 21
How to Evict a Tenant
Many tenancies come to a natural end, but sometimes a landlord will have to take action to get the property back. By Paul Rooke, Solicitor, Mayo Wynne Baxter Solicitors If you want to end
Legal
the tenancy to regain possession of your property, you will
need to serve notice
on the tenant. If the tenant does not leave after you have served a valid
notice, you will have to apply through
the courts for an order for possession. There are two different procedures
available to the landlord to terminate an assured shorthold tenancies (AST).
22 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
The first step is to give notice to
on which the Section 21 notice is given.
your tenant.
• Must not be used where the landlord is
If the AST has expired and it is a no-
•C an only be served where the landlord
fault eviction, then you can use the
procedure set out in Section 21 of the
prevented from retaliatory eviction.
has complied with all legal requirements.
Housing Act to terminate an AST. A
Also, the minimum notice period
• Must be in the prescribed form.
months. If the tenant does not leave
section 21 notice:
to be given in a Section 21 is six
• Cannot be served within four months
the property within the notice period,
• Is only valid for ten months from the date
you need to terminate the AST during
of the day on which the tenancy began.
court proceedings can be issued. If
LEGA L the minimum notice period is reduced.
For example, where at least six months’ rent is unpaid the landlord need only
provide four weeks’ notice to the tenant before issuing court proceedings.
If a tenant does not leave a property within the notice period following
service of a Notice (be that a section 8 or section 21 notice) then the
next step would be to issue court
proceedings which must be issued to obtain possession. A landlord must
not evict or make attempts to evict a
tenant without obtaining a court order. To seek to evict a tenant without a court order is an offence.
There are two different court procedures
Paul Rooke
then the Order for Possession will need to be enforced.
in place; an Accelerated Procedure and
Except in certain circumstances, and at the
Procedure can be used where:
be carried out until the end of March 2021.
• I t is a written tenancy.
The limited circumstances by which
a Standard Procedure. The Accelerated •T he tenancy is an AST.
•T he landlord is only seeking
possession of the property and the claim does not include a claim for payment of rent arrears.
time of writing, residential evictions cannot
it will be possible to carry out a residential eviction include -
• Action against trespassers which the occupier is unknown.
• Where the court has ordered
Subject to a defence being filed by
possession on the ground of anti-
that the AST has been ended by service
violence, or false statement.
the tenant, if the judge is satisfied
of a Section 21 notice and the Claim
social behaviour, nuisance, domestic • Where the rent arrears outstanding is at least an amount equivalent to six
the fixed term, then you can use the
Form has been served on the tenant
the Housing Act. The grounds for
be made without a hearing. The tenant
Housing Act and include:
possession of the property within 14
out evictions this does not mean that a
within the Accelerated Procedure then
proceedings can be issued and a Notice
months’ rent.
procedure set out in Section 8 of
then a Possession Order will generally
obtaining possession are set out in the
is then usually ordered to give vacant
Despite the difficulties with carrying
•R ent has been unpaid for a period of
days. Where the claim does not fall
landlord should not take action. Court
the Standard Procedure must be used.
of Possession can be obtained.
The court normally sets a hearing date
If you need help gaining possession of
paying rent.
The hearing will be at least 28 days after
then get in touch. We are here to help.
of the AST.
the court will either order possession or
www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk
o eight weeks where rent is paid weekly or fortnightly.
o two months if rent is paid monthly. o t hree months if rent is paid quarterly.
• The tenant has persistently delayed
when serving the claim on the tenant.
•T he tenant has breached the terms
the court issue the claim. At the hearing,
As with a Section 21 Notice, the
minimum notice period to be given is six months. However, in limited situations,
make directions to progress the claim.
a property or in recovering rent arrears
0800 84 94 101
Where the tenant does not leave the
property by the date set by the court
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 23
Employment Law: Self Employed or Worker?
Many of you will have seen the recent reports on the UK Supreme Court Uber Case (Uber V Aslam and others). The affect of this decision on the status of workers cannot be underestimated. In UK Employment
Legal
law, those offering
services, do so in one of three situations, the genuinely
employed, the genuinely self employed or workers. The simple position in law is that employees are entitled to all
employment rights, and the genuinely self employed none (other than some basic non discrimination rights in
services). The middle category of worker
24 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
is a category who, on the face of it,
should probably be employees, but
cannot quite get over that hurdle, the best example being agency workers. Workers, in law, are entitled to basic
employment rights, such as the national minimum wage, holiday pay, and
non-discrimination rights. They are not entitled to claim unfair dismissal.
Prior to the Uber case, the test for self employment was led by the contract
between the parties. Various questions were asked: What do the terms
say? Do they reflect the reality of the
relationship? Is the contract an attempt to avoid worker rights or can it be seen as a genuine self employed contract? Other non contractual tests are also
applied to determine true status, such
as control, integration into the business,
and the economic reality of the situation. The Uber set up is well known,
LEGA L be able to take a fare, it was deemed
through their own service company,
were entitled to be paid the National
an employee. The Public Sector has
working time. This meant that they
Minimum Wage for that full duration, and accrued holiday rights on that
basis. Other work rights such as non-
discrimination, whistleblowing etc, also flow from this.
Whilst finding worker status in the
individuals, the Supreme Court also
set out further how that status should
be determined, and narrowed the test. In simple terms, if a situation should
be a worker one, then it will, and any contract, even if negotiated in good
faith, that seeks to avoid that status
will not be valid. The simple position
is that a worker/employer negotiation can rarely be equal, and therefore
calling a status self employed, and Alex Jones
contracted on that basis, will in most
but are treated for tax purposes, like been following that model for several years, and from April, the private
sector will do the same. Companies that hire individuals through IR35,
can almost certainly expect those individuals to have worker status. 4) A gency Workers – An agency
arrangement used to circumvent status, will almost now certainly
fail on that basis. Genuine agency arrangements ie short term and
limited, will probably still survive the
test, but long term placements at an end user, by an agency, are clearly
on the analogy of the Uber case, and attempt to avoid worker status, and will likely fail in avoiding it.
cases fail, and worker status will
The simple position in the past is
customers download an app, then order
individuals rights to offset unequal
the contractual position, that will be
by the app to them. At the time of the
those rights will not work.
(but no longer), the drivers did not
This decision is obviously fundamental
The customer then got a specific
it is difficult to see how those who
As far as Uber (and potentially others)
licence plate details etc.
worker status. It also has massive
arrears that they owe the 40,000 drivers
Uber’s defence was that there was no
following areas:
weren’t required to accept work, and
1) On call self employed organised
apply. Parliament legislates to give the taxi, and the driver is allocated
original employment tribunal hearing
relationships, and an attempt to avoid
see the job until it was allocated.
in the gig economy industry, and
notification, naming the driver, giving
engage workers in that area can avoid
mutuality of obligations, that the drivers
implications, in my view, in the
when they did accept work, it was
services eg plumbers, electricians etc,
took the view, that the case was about
but work through another organisation
a limited and defined job. They also
who do not run their own business
unpaid wages in respect of the workers
that provides them with the work;
in the case only.
2) C onstruction Workers, who are
The Supreme Court found
often engaged on long term
individuals, finding that they were
short notice, to be placed on site,
purposes, but more importantly, that
limited time worker basis;
overwhelmingly in favour of the
projects, and have to be available at
workers for employment rights
but do so on a self employed or
they were workers for the duration that they were working, in other words,
whenever they turned the app on to
that business was able to rely on
much more difficult now, and in many cases impossible, to the point where
engaging individuals as workers will be the only option.
are concerned, the sheer scale of the they engage will be vast!
Please always take advice on any staff related issues.
By Alex Jones, Managing Director, 365 Employment Law Tel: 01903 863284
ajones@365employmentlaw.co.uk www.365employmentlaw.co.uk
3) IR35 and off payroll individuals, who are placed in an organisation, but
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 25
Does your business need help? During these unprecedented times, many businesses are struggling so we would like to help. We are offering free general guidance on: • Unpaid invoices & contract disputes • Commercial landlord & tenant issues • Professional Negligence • Commercial insurance claims
• Trading Standards & consumer complaints • Shareholder & Partnership disputes • Employment claims & compromise agreements • Franchise disputes
Call us on 01273 223290 or visit www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk/here-to-help
www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk 26 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
SBT PROPERTY
WE CATCH UP WITH EIGHTFOLD PROPERTY AGENCY AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS
SBT PROPERTY SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 27
We catch up with Eightfold Property
Well, it’s been an interesting time to say the least recently and again we are back in a supposed lockdown! In our role as agents
Property
in the commercial
property sector, one of the benefits is
that you get to see
patterns emerging before others do
sometimes more often than not with
the requirements that hit your desk (or dining room table these days). Further
patterns can be seen as a result of the
28 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
deals that you agree and complete as
well as the mindset you live your life with and have a continual interest as to why
you are often seeing the trends you do in the various property sectors.
Indications appear to be that secondary/ suburban locations are becoming more popular and stronger trading locations
than in previous years. Despite not being
able to go inside we will have all recently seen massive lines of customers outside the local Coffee Shops, Butchers &
Bakers (will we see the return of the candlestick makers?).
Over the last few months, we have seen a real surge for secondary positions
and have completed lettings to home
furnishing retailers, coffee shops, hair
P RO PE RTY
affordable and close to home? I think
COVID has been the unity it created in
this could be a major factor.
communities in the first lockdown. Across
As opposed to those looking for a
encouraging people to shop local.
geographical change giving up the
local shops helped allow this whereas
so much home working, new customer
forced this upon some shoppers. I
small commuter towns. Whilst not in
we reverted to using local butchers,
fresh air and treat yourself to lunch or
than not experienced a better product.
providers, tattooists, and several other
retail therapy still exists!
So changing times, lifestyle changes,
main city centres in spite of Covid and
Another important factor could surely
from home, planning changes, small
businesses, we are seeing many that are
are just a few of the reasons that are
save costs on rent and most importantly
much stronger and potentially taking us
business rates can be eradicated by simply
such as 15-minute cities!
& beauty operators, financial service operators in locations outside of the
social media, we saw many campaigns
career change are those looking at
Constantly being in the vicinity of your
commute and working from home. With
limited delivery slots at supermarkets
bases have been created in villages and
know from my own personal experience
the office, the need to pop out for some
fishmongers & grocers and more often
coffee, get a haircut or indulge in some
online sales, parking charges, working
the economic climate.
be cost! Whilst it doesn’t apply to all
business rates relief and shopping local
So we ask ourselves what is the reason
looking to adapt their model so they can
making suburban trading locations that
giving strength to the suburbs?
dead costs such as business rates! Where
back to the past and creating names
I guess first of all we have to ask
moving to more secondary and possibly
owners choosing to locate to these
sensible choice for operators where they
economic situation, both pre & post-
adopt the profit is sanity viewpoint.
of people jumping out of the rat race
Shopping local is another big factor...
destiny, looking for premises that are
of the real positives to come out of
for this shift in shopping pattern that is
ourselves, who are the business
smaller premises this is quite simply a
spots and why? As a result of the
can save a significant sum of money and
Covid are we seeing a greater number and looking to control their own
01273 672 999
max@eightfold.agency www.eightfold.agency
a big factor indeed, I believe. One
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 29
30 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
SBT
COVER FE ATU RE
PEOPLE MANAGEMENT & RECRUITMENT
NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE COST OF REDUNDANCIES ADVICE FROM EASTBOURNES, HR DEPT
SBT PEOPLE MANAGEMENT & RECRUITMENT SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 31
Now is the time for business owners to prepare for the cost of redundancies
Smaller businesses looking to reduce their workforces should urgently prepare for the costs of redundancies, following changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme made late last year. That’s the warning
HR
from human resources experts The HR
Dept, which provides human resources
advice and support for more than 6,500 small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the UK and Ireland.
Rule changes last December mean that
furlough grants can no longer contribute towards notice pay, a fact of which
32 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
The HR Dept believes many smaller businesses are unaware.
Its experts believe this will prove a major challenge for some small businesses,
many of which are struggling to survive this crisis, once the furlough period comes to an end.
Serena May, director at The HR Dept
Eastbourne, Brighton and Hove, said: “Last year, employers could use the
furlough grant to cover the redundancy
notice period, topping up the remaining 20 per cent to full pay. Employers
might not realise that this 80 per cent contribution towards notice can’t happen again.
“As things stand, changes in furlough
rules mean that the employer will not be able to use the furlough grant and will need to pay the notice in full, without Government support.
P EOP L E MAN AGEM EN T & R ECR UITM E NT
Left: Serena May Right: Sue Beeby
“Other employers may not understand employees’ statutory rights to notice periods, or age factoring when considering redundancy pay.
“In any case, employers need to
be aware of these issues and start
preparing now, as time for consultation processes and time and cost for
statutory notice need to be factored in. “Particularly where the employees facing redundancy have long service – this is
likely, as they are the most experienced and will have been the most expensive
to make redundant last year and remain on furlough – the coming costs could well push businesses under.”
Having continually welcomed the
Government’s efforts to support the
UK’s small business network through
this crisis, The HR Dept has played an
important role in lobbying for change to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
(CJRS) since it was rolled out last spring. The company successfully campaigned
for the introduction of a flexible element
to the scheme, as well as helping ensure that the changes happened in July,
rather than August as originally planned.
avoid a mass of insolvencies further down the line.
“Otherwise, there is a serious risk that
Now it is recommending a further
businesses which delay the redundancy
grant to contribute towards notice pay
period will face significant costs,
change to the rules to allow the furlough
process until the end of the furlough
again, as was the situation last year.
especially regarding long-serving
Serena May said: “If the furlough grants
employees.
could be put towards notice pay again,
“These could sink the whole business,
redundancy process now. Then, if the
the redundancy costs, through the
they simply retain the employee and
winning situation for anyone involved
cost to the business or the taxpayer. If
importantly, as well as the taxpayer and
employers could potentially start the
with the Government picking up all
situation proves less dire than expected,
National Insurance Fund. It’s not a
stop the notice period – at no additional
– the business or the employees most
the redundancy still needs to take place,
the Government itself.”
been absorbed.
For more information about The HR Dept
much of the notice pay cost has already
visit our webiste www.hrdept.co.uk
“It wouldn’t cost the Government
any extra – the Exchequer is already
contributing furlough periods during this time anyway. However, with the reality of redundancies rapidly approaching,
this measure would let small business take those decisions now, so we can
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 33
34 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
SBT COVER FEATURE
SMALL SHOREHAM-BASED BUSINESS MAKING BIG MOVES
WE CHAT TO SIXTYSEVEN DEGREES
SBT COVER FEATURE SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 35
The small Shoreham-based business making big moves in the automotive industry Cover Feature
Who are 67 Degrees?
with large car supermarkets, small
a team of like-
and franchised groups, tailoring their
who specialise in
needs. The team provides expertise
this small Shoreham-based business is
67 Degrees is
independent and specialist dealers,
minded individuals
services to suit each client’s individual
The story so far...
developing impactful websites and offer
in website design, SEO, social media
67 Degrees began life in April 2016,
to the automotive industry. The SME is
creative content writing and more.
adding to its already impressive portfolio
By creating innovatively engaging
creative marketing services exclusively
winning hearts and minds in the industry,
management, PPC, PR support,
of car dealer clients.
products and providing a variety of
Supporting a cross-section of
creating a sought-after brand which
customers, 67 Degrees works
36 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
key marketing services, 67 Degrees is has got the industry talking about how
taking on the goliath’s of the industry.
founded and driven forward by codirectors Laura Coleby and Justin
Woodford who had previously worked
together for a number of years. With a background in all things automotive, Laura and Justin set out to create a
bespoke service for car dealers looking to redesign their websites.
COVER FE ATU RE
It wasn’t long before Stuart Harvey
joined the pair which enabled them to introduce and offer a number of
marketing services too. The trio soon
began to reap the rewards of bridging a gap for a more personalised and
unique service that was being sought
had been renovated to accommodate a
number of independent businesses. It’s a unique setting for a unique set of people who have come together for their love
of all things automotive as the company continues to expand.
after by car dealerships across the
Putting the wheels in motion
with the welcome addition of Susie
67 Degrees is proud to work with a
UK. Soon after, three turned to four Ancell as account manager. Having
quickly established themselves as a serious contender in the market, 67
Degrees relocated to new premises in
2019 which prompted an exciting new chapter for the company, growing to over 10 team members.
Shoreham Airport is now the place that 67 Degrees calls home; the team moved into one of the original airplane hangars which
variety of car dealers from all over
the UK. The company isn’t bound by
location or type of dealership and has won pitches from some big players in
the industry, who have actively sought
out a provider that can offer a personal
service and provide the highest level of
World, luxury supercar specialists
Premier GT, and franchise giant Wilsons
group. Their pool of clients demonstrates 67’s diverse and skilled offering, taking businesses to the next level through
class-leading automotive websites and
services, where customers can enjoy an exceptional user experience.
This success has led their clients to
accomplish numerous award wins at
industry events within categories such as; Used Car Website of the Year,
Best Car Website of the Year, Social
Media User of the Year, amongst other notable achievements.
support and guidance.
The future of automotive marketing
Among their portfolio of clients are; used
Car dealers no longer want a one-size-
car supermarket leaders Big Motoring
fits-all solution and that’s where 67
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 37
C OVE R F E AT URE 67 Degrees ever-expanding portfolio has seen them launch a brand new website for franchise giants, Wilsons group.
The site is almost a year in the making and proves a very exciting time for 67 Degrees as the team makes in-roads
into the franchise car market. Wilsons
is the largest family run multi-franchise dealership and used car supermarket
in the South of England; their website will revolutionise the way in which
customers can purchase a vehicle. With car dealerships up and down the
country having been forced to close their doors during recent weeks and months,
owners have sought alternative solutions to keep businesses running and meet
customer demand. As the appetite for online purchasing grows, 67 Degrees
have worked to create a seamless endto-end ecommerce experience.
Wilsons customers can now fully transact online by using the new visually exciting website which
seamlessly brings together its vast offering of partner manufacturers.
David Wheatcroft, managing director at
Wilsons, says, “I am very excited for our new partnership with 67 Degrees. This
is the first of many advances for Wilsons as we strive to become one of the Degrees comes in. Dealerships want to stand out from the crowd by offering
something that will push boundaries for them as a business.
To meet this demand the team has
created a platform that allows them to create bespoke websites with an
exceptional user experience, alongside additional features to enhance their clients’ day-to-day lives and daily
processes. As the need for ecommerce solutions becomes ever more
prevalent, the 67 Degrees team has
been working increasingly hard over
the past 12 months to develop a fully
integrated end-to-end buying journey for their clients.
38 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Members of the 67 Degrees team have
market leading dealerships, by offering
like AutoTrader and other automotive
software available.”
the knowledge that has helped
The rise in popularity of electric vehicles
marketing solutions.
their wings into the world of EV. So too
The team is proud to be an automotive
first EV specialist customer to the family
company with a difference by putting
a brand new website for R Symons. The
what they do. They deliver outstanding
retail specialists in this ever-expanding
long-standing partnerships with dealers
for the 67 team...
previously worked for industry leaders media providers, where they gathered them to provide exceptional digital
the most up-to-date technology and
means that car dealerships are spreading have 67 Degrees who welcomed their
design and marketing services
at the end of last year, when they created
quality customer service at the heart of
dealer is one of the original independent
results which has seen them establish
market and have had nothing but praise
for years to come.
Driving business beyond the forecourt
Director Richard Symons, says, “We chose 67 Degrees for our website
COVER FE ATU RE
redesign and they’ve been nothing
short of amazing throughout the whole process. From the initial consultation
and discussion on design ideas, right
through to now managing our website and helping us keep the content up-
to-date. The private WhatsApp group
where we can share ideas and request
amendments is a really great touch with such a personal service. We can’t wait
to keep working and building together.” Making a statement Sheer hard work and determination has seen Laura and Justin lead their team to success, having picked up over 20 awards and commendations for their agency services and client relations at major industry events. They have been regular winners at the annual
prestigious Car Dealer Power awards,
where for three years in a row the team have been recognised.
In 2018, 2019 and 2020, 67 Degrees has
been crowned winner of the Website
Provider for Independent Dealers award, having dug deep to provide unrivalled
support to its customers. Upon winning
their most recent Car Dealer Power award which was voted for by the car dealers
themselves, the event’s organiser praised the team’s efforts, by announcing...
“With physical showrooms closed,
dealers up and down the country turned
to their websites to keep their businesses running. It was the website designers
that burned the midnight oil to get them up-and-running when they needed it
most. Our winner is a small firm with big ambitions and a fantastic reputation;
their clients couldn’t praise them highly enough. Our winner is 67 Degrees.”
Laura explains why the award means
so much to the team, she says, “We’ve been fortunate enough to win this
award for three consecutive years now,
however, this year’s win feels particularly special given the global situation we find
ourselves in. When Justin and I started the business, we pledged to provide
fantastic customer service teamed with hands-on support and guidance. “Winning the award reaffirms our
approach and its testament to the
hard work of our team - alongside
the support of our customers - to be
announced as winners once again. We are extremely passionate about what
we do here at 67 Degrees. Many of us
have worked in the automotive industry for many years now and we have a real desire to see our customers and the wider sector performing well.”
67 Degrees were also recently
recognised locally at the inaugural
Virtual Business Awards Sussex, where
they were shortlisted in Sussex Success Story. The category was created to
recognise a business in Sussex that has served as an inspiration and achieved or celebrated a significant milestone, despite it being a very difficult year.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 39
C OVE R F E AT URE Festival of Speed, the Geneva International Motor Show, as well as embarking on their
own adventures, which has included a road trip to the
world-famous Nürburgring
in Germany - home to major motorsport events like Formula One.
Taking on 2021 Laura and Justin are looking
positively towards the future and have heavily invested in the company’s offering by
developing an ecommerce
product, which is now being rolled out to customers. The team is also excited to be moving into bigger
premises within their current building which cements
another milestone moment in 67’s journey. Reaping the rewards
67 Degrees also takes its corporate
So what’s in store for 67 Degrees? As
seriously. The company proudly
the opportunity for new team members
industry’s dedicated charity - by
new additions to the fold. Laura and
fundraiser. A social highlight in the
like-minded individuals to join them and
challenge sees teams travel across the
social responsibility (CSR) very
the company continues to grow, so does
supports Ben - the automotive
and this month, they’ll welcome further
taking part in its annual Bangers4Ben
Justin are continuing to actively recruit
automotive industry calendar, the
be part of 67’s future.
UK to a European destination in their
Laura explains, “Thanks to continued
under the hammer to raise vital
themed ‘bangers’ which then go
growth and some exciting new projects
funds for the charity.
talented and passionate people to help
Supporting local causes is also a
a new challenge and want to be part of
sponsoring Search Seven’s upcoming
to hear from you.”
place on Thursday 18th March. The
The company is part of the Brighton &
charities, including local children’s
in the pipeline, we’re on the hunt for
shape our business. If you’re looking for
priority for 67 Degrees, who are
our award-winning team, then we’d love
Virtual Interactive Pub Quiz which takes event is raising funds for 10 different
Hove Living Wage Campaign and offers
charity Rockinghorse.
hours, a work-from-home policy, a birthday
The 67 Degrees team are a regular sight
events and team-building days out.
the Goodwood Revival and Goodwood
many perks, including; flexible working day off, as well as tickets to motoring
40 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
at annual automotive fixtures, such as;
Justin says, “The UK automotive industry is extremely resilient so
we’re feeling very optimistic about it bouncing back post-pandemic.
We’ve already seen a huge uptake
in requests from our clients who are
keen to offer and integrate ecommerce solutions to their sites and thanks to
this demand, other dealers are keen to jump on the bandwagon too.
“It’s an exciting time for us as a
business and when we reflect on
the last few years and how far we’ve
come, we feel so proud of what we’ve achieved and we can’t wait to see
what 2021 has in-store for us as we branch out further as a brand.”
Discover more about the company
online by visiting 67degrees.co.uk.
SBT
P RO PE RTY
SALES & MARKETING
CHALLENGING PERCEPTIONS THROUGH MARKETING
AN INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE PRIOR
IT’S TIME TO RE...
RE-EMERGE WITH LEARNING COG
HOW – AND WHY – TO PRIORITISE BUSINESS REPUTATION IN 2021
ALEX HANKINSON, JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR, MIDNIGHT COMMUNICATIONS
SBT SALES & MARKETING SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 41
SA L E S & MARK E TI NG
Challenging Perceptions through Marketing: Racism One of my favourite aspects of marketing is its power to connect people and promote powerful messaging. Regardless of what product or service you are selling, there is opportunity to lead, be creative and add value to people. Marketing is the key to making people
Sales & Marketing
aware; it cultivates a brand or individuals’ credibility. It can support trust and loyalty
from customers and enhance value through a variety of platforms and technologies.
First impressions of a person are usually made by a variety
of symbols; what they wear, accents, language and or values
they promote. Whether it is one’s personal profile or the brand or institution they represent, there is constant opportunity to create, support and share powerful messaging.
Last year the world witnessed national and international
movements that challenged social narratives. Captain Sir
Thomas Moore reminded us of the importance of giving during a time of fear and panic, through his dedication to fund raising for those who needed help. His leadership and goodwill was contagious and within weeks, politicians, businesses and
individuals were promoting and supporting togetherness through a range of charitable campaigns for the NHS and key workers. The Black Lives Matter Movement took precedence after
the world watched the unlawful killing of George Floyd in the
United States. This resonated with the global community and on a local level, led to 12,000 people taking to the streets of Brighton to protest and show their support for equality. This prompted Brighton & Hove City Council to consider ways of tackling the issue internally and externally. Brighton &
Hove City Council lacked diversity and it needed to be more representative of its residents. Therefore the council made a pledge to become an anti-racist city.
42 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
All of the above were powerful campaigns driven by the media. We have also seen marketing used to promote
negative messaging through false media and extremist
groups. However, this is not a new tactic. When exploring
history, there is evidence to suggest that racism has been marketed to the public as a means to support capitalism.
In many ways, racism has operated as a business model, justifying exploitation and division of people (physically &
mentally) on a global scale. This has ultimately effected the decisions and perspectives that we make every day.
If we are to challenge stereotypes that may justify the over
policing of young black men, or the lack of diversity in leadership or even commercial ideologies of beauty and intellect, we need
to consider where these ideologies came from, what keeps them alive and how we can change the narrative.
SAL ES & MARKE TI NG
Leading with Pride
presented on the vehicle with the person
Sin’ reminded viewers (and in many
outlook on the police and their role within
previous decades, it must have seemed
of guerilla marketing and its power to
Channel 4’s recent TV series, ‘It’s A
who is driving it. It provides a different
ways educated viewers too) that in
the community. It is a fantastic example
nearly impossible for members of the
promote and influence people.
love considered a sin, could be a love
Brighton’s Cultural Identity
celebrate as many people do today.
contributed to other modern factors of
The celebration of Pride is one of the
or our Green led council. However when
of Brighton and Hove. The city holds
cultural history and its modern diverse
successful Pride events in Europe,
embrace this.
the annual festival. But we must not
During Black History Month, I interviewed
required to push Pride to become the
During our discussions, we explored a
today. Originally established as Brighton
place in Sussex. In the early 20th century,
was formed in 1972 by The Sussex
under a third were volunteers) arrived
however there is much opportunity
first march in July 1973. It wasn’t until
Europe. During the fifties and sixties’,
the city was a canvas, it is exciting
to increase significantly, which led to
of women from the Caribbean to support
how much could be done to promote
LGBT community to imagine that a
that millions could openly take pride to
The city’s diverse identity has arguably the city, such as our choice of local MPs
greatest commercial achievements
it comes to celebrating the city’s rich
and hosts one of the largest and most
community, we have been slow to
attracting over 300,000 people to
overlook the commitment that was
Cuthbert Williams MBE with Latest TV.
and around the city, as well as the
movement that we have come to know
range of untold historical events that took
to Brighton & Hove.
& Hove Gay Pride, this movement
over 15,000 Caribbean soldiers (just
The council’s pledge is a challenge,
Gay Liberation Front and formed its
in Sussex in preparation for fighting
to be made by enhancing equality. If
the nineties that the festival began
Sussex Hospital also recruited hundreds
to consider and explore what and
traction from sponsors, venues and
the National Healthcare Service.
valuable messaging that we wish for the
began in 1996 and has grown from
If we go back further to the 19th century
creative artists. Pride in Preston Park
thousands of tourists who are attracted
city and beyond to embrace.
strength to strength ever since.
in Brighton, we can find that The Duchess
Racism goes further than stories in the
Although there is more to be done, there
woman of colour to be welcomed into the
should be working on eliminating. But this
and the LGBT community’s commitment
a young black slave, who was captured
from all backgrounds to work together
attention of a nation and beyond. In
Queen came to admire the girl’s natural
something that I am keen to support
in social ‘norms’ and values.
1862, she gave Sarah sanction to be
on the Tourism, Equality, Culture and
Today, it is not unusual to pass through
Such historical facts provide a different
promoting the city’s support for the
identity and the people who have and
of Sussex, Megan Markel was not the first
news, it is a narrative that all marketers
is no doubt that the marketing of Pride
Royal Family. Sarah Forbes Bonetta, was
cannot be done alone; it requires leaders
to fight for equality has captured the
and later given to Queen Victoria. The
to move forwards collectively. This is
many ways, it has contributed to a shift
demeanour and intelligence and in August
through my position as a Standing Invitee
married in St, Nicholas Church in Brighton.
Community Committee for BHCC.
Brighton & Hove and see marketing
narrative in understanding the city’s
For more information on Brighton &
LGBT community. From business
continue to live here.
https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/
cars – the Pride event and its values are
Whether this has been overlooked or
If you’re interested to explore how your
When a police car with rainbows and
explore in maximising the city’s cultural
this initiative, please don’t hesitate to
cannot help but identify the values being
but the businesses that operate within
prior@brighton-hove.gov.uk
branding, public transport, to police
Hove’s Council’s pledge, please visit: becoming-anti-racist-city
constantly being promoted to us.
ignored, there is so much opportunity to
business could potentially support
Pride messaging drives passed, I
offering not just to support its community,
contact Stephanie Prior, at: Stephanie.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 43
It’s time to RE…
As we begin to move away from what seems to have been the hardest few months of lockdown, I have been discussing with lots of clients, business owners, colleagues and friends the idea of it being a time for us to RE… We are in the midst
Sales & Marketing
of the biggest global
change that we have ever had to face
within our lifetimes.
This is a state of being like nothing
we have ever known because we are all going through it together; yet our
individual experience of the pandemic
is different from one another. You’re not imagining it; nobody seems to want to talk right now. Messages are brief and replies late. Meetings are postponed.
Talk of video catch ups are perpetually put on hold. It’s not you! It’s everyone.
44 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
We are fatigued. We are unsure of
what will happen next. The outlook is optimistic, and business looks set to jump back. Yet at the moment many
of us are being cautious and waiting tentatively to take our next step. We
are tired of saying ‘I can’t wait for this to end’; so we say nothing, keep our
heads down and get through each day. Depending on where you are at, and
Re-emerge
verb: re-emerge emerge again; come into sight or prominence once more. The idea of now being the time to RE, is based on the idea that things have changed. What will it be like for you as you continue in new and different ways? Your customers have
how you have been doing, is it now
changed and are working differently,
Re-start? Re-motivate? Re-invent?
back your prominence and excite your
the time for you to Re..? Re-focus?
it is time for you to do the same. Take
Re-emerge?
customers even more than before.
SAL ES & MARKE TI NG Here are a few RE’s to think about as you begin to move forward… Re-Plan:
To Plan again, to make a different plan
than the one you had before. What has
changed in your customers business and
how much does your plan need to change to reflect this? It would be very easy for us to move forward with the plans as
they were, which might be the right way
forward for you. If everything has changed, then what do you need to re-plan? Re-Focus:
Some of us may have become
unfocused recently. Or may be so
focused in one direction we may not be seeing the other options. Take
some time to look around and re-
focus your attention. Write down your top priorities...and keep them in view. Identify what does NOT deserve your
attention. Cut out the distractions and
Ric Hayden
stop all that multi-tasking.
without a thought of how. Take some
positives. It has allowed us time to
Re-Learn:
re-connect and re-board yourself, your
has supercharged change and led to
time to think how we can re-motivate,
look at current working practices. It
The concept of unlearning and
people, and your customers.
shifts in traditional ways of working
As the futurist Alvin Toffler wrote: “The
Re-flect:
even decades to happen. My biggest
those who cannot read and write, but
to you. If you look in a mirror, you will
realise, again, that it’s our human skills
relearn.” Take some time to understand
on your past experiences, you look at
challenges, and that as we re-board,
need to learn, unlearn and relearn.
you reflect on from the past that can
that will always be the most important
Re-Connect:
confidence do you have? What can you
relearning has never been more relevant.
that may have otherwise taken years or
illiterate of the 21st century will not be
Something that reflects comes back
highlight is how much it has made us
those who cannot learn, unlearn, and
see your reflected image. If you reflect
that will get us through our toughest
your own skill set and what you may
them once again thoughtfully. What can
re-focus, and re-connect it is people
support you moving forward? What new
thing for us as we Re-Grow.
The dictionary definition of re-connect is
learn about yourself?
Ric Hayden is the Owner and
again after becoming separated’. Who
What is your RE that you need to do
‘to join or be joined with something else
Managing Director of LearningCog.
are all the people you need to re-connect
right now to help you grow?
LearningCog specialise in developing
the last year that you can re-connect with
I have heard several people call
and knowledge they need to succeed
with? Who have you lost contact within
and supporting businesses with skills
and continue to build relationships?
2020 a write-off, a time where things
and grow.
Re-Board:
Re-Frame this as a year of pivotal
www.learningcog.com
were allowed to slide. We prefer to
Many millions of people are beginning to
moments. The global pandemic has
biggest mistake businesses can make
are far reaching for us all, yet during
return to work from being furloughed. The
been truly devastating and the effects
right now is to simply slide back to work
this time there have also been many
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 45
How – and why – to prioritise business reputation in 2021 Alex Hankinson, Joint Managing Director, Midnight Communications Businesses with a
Sales & Marketing
strong reputation
set themselves up
for stellar long-term
performance. A good
reputation endures, helping to win
greater levels of customer trust and
endorsement. It also secures the best and most loyal talent and engenders goodwill that withstands rockier
times. All this interlocking good karma feeds into the bottom line. A great reputation, authenticity and skilful
46 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
communication have never been more business critical.
Edelman’s latest Trust Barometer makes for fairly grim reading. Trust levels
amongst consumers have dipped,
reflecting a new zeitgeist characterised
by mistrust, scepticism and volatility. The results are fairly woeful for government
and the media, where misinformation and perceived double standards in a year of pandemic and societal crisis have seen public confidence plummet.
However, there are signs of a gentle
upswing for businesses. They are now rated the most trusted institutions
globally, with a 61 per cent trust score.
And, of the four institutions – businesses, government, media and NGOs –
businesses alone are considered to be both ethical and competent.
Out of the gloom, perhaps this is
a cause of optimism for business
leaders? Edelman’s research suggests there is now an expectation for CEOs
SAL ES & MARKE TI NG to lead on societal issues and fill an
information void left by governments. So, how as businesses, do we fulfil these expectations?
Here are a few ways to drive reputational value.
1. Articulate your purpose
Business-facing and consumer-facing
brands alike need a purpose (and that excludes making a profit!). Audiences
need to understand what the business stands for, what its values are and what it believes in.
The pandemic has made people even more alert to brands and businesses
which have kindness and empathy at their core - these values should run through all communications strategies, from social media to PR and internal comms. 2. Be authentic
We’ve seen an uptick in media interest for CSR stories as people are craving good news stories to counteract the
pandemic headlines. But it’s important to be authentic with it and to display a dose of humility. Companies who can
demonstrate they are a force for good in the world and who operate sustainably will see their reputation boosted and stand the best chance of success. 3. Talk to the troops
For many businesses their teams are the bedrock of their business.; if you look
after your team, your team will look after your business.
Yet internal comms can sometimes get overlooked in the mix. Are you
sharing enough knowledge and insights with your team to help them be your greatest ambassadors?
One of the heart-warming things we’ve noticed recently is the fabulous ‘side
effect’ of a new PR and media relations push: enhanced staff pride. Have you
got a splash in the national media, some
business’ search engine ranking.
press, some local media love for a charity
This is important to catch the eye
morale booster! I think we can agree that
intent but not actively looking for your
incisive thought leadership in the trade initiative? Show the team – it’s a huge
of people who are searching with
everyone is in need of a lift right now.
individual business.
4. Prove competence
It’s also important to have a well-
CSR. Demonstrating competence and
stories and articles featured in a wide
comes to business credibility.
want to partner with a business that is
A thought leadership campaign properly
has strong expertise (placements in key
marketing channels, is an opportunity
socially responsible (CSR stories).
- especially important for professional
Together, all these components should
Trust and reputation extend beyond
considered and eclectic spread of
showcasing expertise is king when it
array of digital media outlets. People
joined up with PR, social and other
to shine a light on your team’s expertise
commercially active and innovative (news), industry, national and business media), and
services and B2B service brands.
fit together to weave a strong narrative
Over the years we’ve had a handful of
reputation.
campaign might mean they have to give
6. Does your brand measure up?
isn’t the case. Most businesses accept
maintain a strong reputation can be let
valuable door opener and builds their
of-date website.
the phone starts ringing more.
If you’ve worked hard to generate media
Your audiences consume multiple
social media engagement, make sure your
LinkedIn, the local paper, vertical sector
visitors stop to browse. And don’t forget to
ensure your business has a presence
fresh content that reinforces and marries
clients worry that a thought leadership
and support your digital presence and
away their trade secrets for free. This
Finally, all this great work to build and
that offering a nugget of expertise is a
down by a tired visual identity and out-
reputation. And they soon agree when
coverage, signpost great content or build
media – whether that’s scrolling through
digital shop window looks the part when
media or the broadsheets, so try to
populate your site with incisive, helpful and
across a broad spectrum of media.
up with your PR and comms themes.
It’s a powerful endorsement for your
In 2021 it’s never been more vital for
relevant media and on average people
and keep communicating to ensure they
business to be featured in high profile,
businesses to nurture their reputation
will need to see your business’ name
are trusted, memorable and chosen –
seven times before it sticks.
now and in the future.
5. Hone your digital footprint:
www.midnight.co.uk
awareness in a couple of key ways.
01273 666 200
Digital PR supports reputation and builds
hello@midnight.co.uk
High authority placements on credible
media outlets with relevance or domain authority (how influential Google
considers them) are gold dust to boost
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 47
Digital, design & branding
We are a full service creative agency specialising in design, web and marketing. Founded by three passionate creatives.
whitespace.studio 4 St. Georges Place, Brighton BN1 4GA 01273 258000 / hello@whitespace.studio 48 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
SBT
COVER FE ATU RE
TECH
DIVERSITY MATTERS
BY NEW WORLD TECH CEO, GLEN BALLARD
SUPPORTING DIGITAL GROWTH, PIER TO PEER WITH SILICON BRIGHTON
TRUCHALLENGE, AN INTERACTIVE PLATFORM
FOUNDED BY TIM CHASE
AUTOMATE, DON’T TOLERATE
FOUNDED BY BRIGHTON BASED SISTER DUO
SBT TECH SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 49
Diversity Matters
In this article, the third in a series of four, NWT CEO Glenn Ballard discusses why there has never been a more important time to recognize the importance of inclusion and diversity (I&D). His perspective
Tech
is grounded in his
extensive experience within global
organisations in the
IT sector and more recently managing a large professional services firm, whose success depends on attracting and
retaining diverse talent and leveraging it
to create unique solutions to address the complex problems its clients face.
50 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
“In my experience in the IT sector,
women, people with disabilities, older people and ethnic minorities are still
underrepresented in the industry. Tech
companies are still predominantly white, male and young. We had considerable feedback from our February article on
Women in IT, which clearly demonstrates that diversity is an industry-wide
problem – but thankfully one that is finally being talked about openly.
I believe strongly that diversity in the
workplace matters, not only because it makes sense in purely business terms (gender and ethnic diversity, inclusion and performance go hand in hand*),
but because it creates a more balanced and inclusive environment where ideas and actions can be tested, and the
best course of action selected. It is well
recognised that businesses with diverse
workforces are typically more innovative
TECH respectful environment where everyone can contribute and be counted.
At the core of NWT is an unwavering
commitment to I&D. We are committed to gender balance, parenthood,
disability, sexual orientation and gender
when faced with the awkwardness of
speaking on screen? And does everyone have the technical capacity or living situation to do video calls?
Flexible work and telework have long
environment and strongly
by women, who often shoulder the
believe that the diversity of our people helps us to work better together and
drives greater innovation for our clients and communities.
On a personal level I am worried
however that there is a very real risk
that I&D will fall off the central stage as priorities in many companies
change because of COVID-19. Many
been seen as either necessary or desired disproportionate burden of family care. But telework, once a luxury for some, is now a necessity. Historically, the
women (and men) who did flexible work or telework were often perceived as
less committed to their careers. Will this
gender-biased assumption now be put to rest when everyone, from the CEO to the administrative assistant, is teleworking?
companies are facing an incredible
What will responsibility look like at
devastating losses of revenue,
others telework long past the eight-
degree of disruption including
dislocations to operations and supply
chains and challenges to liquidity and solvency. Others are having to cope with unexpected spikes in demand. I believe that the qualities that
characterize diverse and inclusive
companies – notably innovation and resilience – will be much needed to
help companies recover from the crisis and profitable and grow faster.
and will contribute to the wider effort
companies recover from the pandemic.
social cohesion. Innovation is needed,
Cultural diversity brings in ideas
help heal our wounded workforce. The
foster effective communication from
and carry their varied experiences is
in experience and problem solving
unprecedented times.
experiences and gender diversity
The coronavirus outbreak also unearths
I&D is about understanding, accepting
efforts. Do video-conferencing calls,
us unique. By nurturing a culture
people work from home, help remove
ensure that they build and maintain
conference protocols helpful to ensuring
home as some people are laid off and hour workday? Most people do not
have a home office elegantly framing
themselves for a video call, with books
and fine art as a halo around them. But we can glimpse into their lives and see
that men have generally always played a smaller role in childcare and family
obligations. Have stay-at-home dads or male partners learnt more about what their significant other juggles daily?
to revive economies and safeguard
At some point, be it in a month or
not only to defeat COVID-19, but to
glean lessons in the wake of the
and traditional wisdom that helps to
numerous ways different people think
other cultures; age diversity brings
what we need to help us navigate these
from people with different historical
do we see them become even quieter
identity and equality for all. Our goal is to provide a truly inclusive work
Characteristics that are much needed as
learn more from quiet staff members, or
brings in investment and innovation.
some important questions around I&D
and respecting what makes all of
which have become mainstream as
of diversity, an organisation will
unconscious biases? Are video-
a collaborative, supportive and
that all employees are heard? Do we
in a year, we as society will try to
pandemic. We are sure to learn the
value of science, crisis preparedness and leaders who tell us truths. But
if those are the only major areas of
reflection, we will be missing out on a fundamental lesson: that diversity is imperative to our survival.” www.newworldtech.io
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 51
Supporting Digital Growth, Pier to Peer
Silicon Brighton has a mission: to drive digital growth in the Greater Brighton region. Propelled by a
Tech
shared belief that we can achieve more
collectively than on
our own, co-founders
Steve Rackley, Phil Lewis and Matthew
Quinn set up the knowledge sharing and networking platform in 2019.
While Brighton has a thriving digital tech sector – worth over £1bn per
annum to the local economy – with
its collaborative, entrepreneurial and
socially-responsible spirit, great support systems, transport links and top
52 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
universities, and impressive track record of digital business successes, they saw incredible potential for further growth.
In addition, after seeing scale-up after scale-up leave the city due to lack of
investment (often following the money to London), they wanted to draw
attention back to Brighton as a place to absolutely invest in.
Since its inception Silicon Brighton has
been doing this by providing individuals with free opportunities for networking, training, up-skilling and development;
helping people take their careers and
businesses forward without having to sacrifice their location.
Working hand-in-hand with the region’s tech community, their events and
meetups covering a broad spectrum of specialist areas help freelancers,
full-timers and fans of all things digital
to gain essential knowledge, skills and connections.
Some of their most notable meetups include:
• Marketing Talk – a community
TECH
for marketers honing their craft, exploring topics every marketer needs in their toolkit.
• Brighton Gophers – workshops, talks
and discussions for those interested in
and economy is in jeopardy if its
develop digital services. This type of
Silicon Brighton Co-Founder Steve
all about.”
“Independents help celebrate our
Alex Preece, COO & Co-founder of
indie shops and businesses are lost, Rackley said about the campaign:
the Go programming language.
individuality and are a vital part of
salespeople, business owners and
of liberalism - a place where anyone
of selling, or just to understand more
belong - removing the bland high
• South Coast Sellers Club – for
Brighton’s makeup. They give a sense
those looking to break into the world
and everyone can feel welcome and
about it.
street chains so common in other
to answer the big questions in product
down through generations, supported
industry leaders.
most affected by lockdown. After
• Product Unleashed – which sets out
while bringing fresh perspectives from
cities. Many stores have been handed their families, and are some of the we’ve survived this pandemic, we
Silicon Brighton has also made a point
want the region to thrive, which
address it by forming new groups, assist
protect our independent businesses.”
audience and moving online, and open
So far volunteers include web
to identify gaps in the meetup space and
means working together now to
existing meetup groups in growing their up more opportunity for the tech sector
to support non-tech businesses, such as their full-day event last year which raised over £2000 for the NHS to aid those on the front line.
Their most recent initiative, Our
Brighton, matches local independent
businesses impacted by the pandemic with tech advisors who can offer free and impartial guidance on how to
utilise technology and adapt to a nowpredominately digital world.
Recognising that the city’s culture
community action is what Brighton is
developers, video producers, financial consultants, animators and marketing
specialists, offering a range of support from moving products and services online, increasing digital marketing
global SaaS platform Tillo, added:
“It’s great to see initiatives like this
happening locally to help our city’s independent shops adapt to - and
grow - in a virtual world. We’re thrilled to be supporting such a project.”
More information about Our Brighton and how to get involved, either as
a volunteer or business in need of assistance, can be found at www.ourbrighton.com
For those working or interested in
Brighton’s tech sector, you can join Silicon Brighton’s community for free and sign up to their monthly
newsletter for digital industry news, advice and events at
www.siliconbrighton.com
presence, pivoting processes for
remote working, improving existing
websites, content creation, and more. On joining the campaign as a
volunteer, Co-Creator of inclusion
consultancy Watch This Sp_ce, Mo Kanjilal said: “We are delighted to
be involved in this brilliant initiative. So many businesses need help to
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 53
TruChallenge an interactive platform
In modern day it can be challenging to reduce children’s screen times while managing the pace of everyday life. TruChallenge is the
Tech
ideal interactive
platform founded by
Tim Chase, a second time dad and social
media entrepreneur, to encourage young people to engage in their hobbies. The platform has been designed to host
challenges to showcase unique skills
and to inspire new tricks to try. Chase’s eldest son had a huge influence on
why he wanted to build the platform,
as through their time spent together he was able to recognise the frustrations
parents have in the “ease of giving your
54 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
child ‘the iPad’. To combat this, Chase has made it his mission to create a
recognised platform that can engage and educate children, getting them
ignited with new passions while still engaging with technology.
TruChallenge, founded in 2016, saw an amazing response to its first challenge back in 2017 with The ‘Keyl Skillz
3-round challenge’ which resulted in
two winners. The challenge achieved 2
million views globally. The engagement
of the challenge left participants feeling proud of their entries, particularly one
of the co-winners who expressed their
admiration of self achievements despite having Autism. The platform has been
specifically designed to allow individuals to submit videos to an audience to get recognition for their talents - some of
which are seen by incredible footballers. After gaining 2 million views in 3
weeks for their first challenge, Chase knew there was a huge appetite for
the new platform. In November, The
‘favourite trick challenge’ was set by
Manchester United player, Fred. There was an astonishing response to this,
where Fred had a 243% engagement
TECH the positive mental outcomes of
getting involved with your hobbies. The challenges encourage users to
participate in sport related activities as they are active and exciting however the site is not just football related.
Being invited on Good Morning Britain with Piers Morgan, Silva was able to promote the use of the company for
individuals who are finding lockdown difficult. Chase also uses the power
of TruChallenge to help raise money for mental health charities as he
understands the effects of this new way of life.
It can also be hard for sports stars in
lockdown without the encouragement of their fans and supporters, so the platform is beneficial for everyone
involved. Brazillian legend Roberto
Carlos recently set a daring challenge to recreate his physics defying 1997 free kick, this saw an incredible response
with people all over the nation trying to increase on his social media. More than anything, TruChallenge aims to engage with aspiring youths which it achieves through these interactive challenges. Noticing the positive feedback, the
company was in a prime position to offer their service to schools to help improve students at home learning.
With children using technology a lot
more in recent years, security and safety of online interactions can be hard to
control with growing access to different
social medias and websites. As a father of two, Chase knows the importance of
ensuring everyone is safeguarded on the
internet and working with brands like the United Nations and IBM, TruChallenge has been able to ensure their platform is secure to upload quality content.
The company became partners with
the UN to host a Hackathon. This is a global scheme to work with methods to defeat certain objectives, in this
case COVID-19. TruChallenge was their perfect partner as they include and
elaborate ideas from the public, creating
master his technique. Jimmy Bullard
this community feel.
from SoccerAM was nominated by
This tight link to the UN has led
attempts, nailed the incredible freekick.
DQInstitute working on the project
just over two million views in the first
of educating families and schools on
SoccerAM. This has opened up a whole
up to the age of twelve suffering from
has taken off massively since it’s launch
is to provide a safe online space for
company is on a fundraising round so
their futures. For Chase, technology is
capitalise of their success.
lives massively, just like it did for the
For more information about working
2017. Social media doesn’t have to
opportunities please contact Tim directly
the former footballer and after many
TruChallenge into contact with
Streaming it on the show, there were
#DQEveryChild. The movement is a way
48 hours across TruChallenge and
internet safety due to 60% of children
variety of doors for the company which
online abuse. TruChallenge’s objective
in 2016; with this recent success the
children as technology is inevitably in
they can take it to the next step and
a blessing as it can impact individuals co-winner of ‘Keyl’s challenge’ in
with TruChallenge or investment
be a dangerous place if it is securely
tchase@truchallenge.co.uk
managed and TruChallenge proves this
with it’s growing feed and engagements. Gilberto Silva, a TruChallenge investor, Arsenal Invincible and World Cup
winner, supports the company to help build its platform as he recognises
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 55
TEC H
Automate, don’t tolerate
• New automation (RPA) start-up set to smash the goalposts for small businesses • Founded by Brighton based sister duo as a pandemic project • Working to make automation accessible for all sizes of companies • Virtual robots will save time, reduce costs and increase operational efficiency Thanks to female
Tech
entrepreneurs (and
sisters), Becky Sharp and Emma Booysen, founders of Robus
Automation (robusautomation.com), long days of boring, repetitive, time sapping administrative tasks, are a thing of the past.
The Brighton-based, tech start-up helps companies of all sizes, but with an
emphasis on SMEs, automate repetitive work using virtual assistants. Bots that
never sleep, are easy to train and never make mistakes. Their aim is to make
automation accessible to everyone, by
offering affordable solutions which can be implemented using existing software and
IT infrastructures. “Using the latest UiPath technology, we provide everything from pay-as-you-go, pre-built bots to highly complex solutions requiring bespoke
development. As an example, one of our existing bots will process all your bank reconciliations using Xero accounting
software.” explains Becky, co-founder. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) robots are capable of mimicking many, if not all,
digital human actions. They can open and read emails, move files and folders, copy and paste data, log into applications, fill in forms, extract data from documents, make calculations and much, much
more. Robots are fast, easy to train,
infinitely scalable and 100% accurate. “Instead of replacing employees, our bots are designed to support them
56 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
by becoming their
virtual assistants,” Emma reassures.
“These robots are not
designed to take away people’s jobs. They’re here to take away the
mundane tasks, freeing up people to be more
creative and innovative - doing all the things robots can’t.”
Robus want to
Becky Sharp
humanise RPA stripping away
jargon, making
the technology
accessible and
comprehensible.
Becky has always had a passion for helping SMEs,
working closely with
business owners and providing business support services.
Emma’s background
is in client and project
Emma Booysen
management of
software and data
solutions, which she now uses to guide and support their customers. During
lockdown – witnessing a boom in home working and a now obvious
realisation that time is money - they spotted a gap in the market.
Chris Duddridge, VP of Sales for
UiPath said: “It’s inspiring to see the
founding of an allfemale team at
Robus! The team’s drive to make robots accessible and affordable to the SME and commercial market can only be seen as a positive step.”
SBT CHARITY
TABLE TALK FOUNDATION LAUNCHES IN SUSSEX
PROVIDING FOOD EDUCATION TO CHILDREN IN THE COUNTY
WHO ARE THE SUSSEX CANCER FUND?
A CHARITY CELEBRATING THEIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY
CHOSEN CHARITY PARTNER:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 57
Table Talk Foundation launches in Sussex
A new charity has been launched in Sussex to help provide food education to children in the county as well as providing support for members of the hospitality sector who have fallen upon hard times. Table Talk
Charity
Foundation was the brainchild of local business owner
Daniel Wade but has
been bought to life with the help of eight fellow trustees.
Dan, this is very different to your
other business. What has made you
58 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
launch a charity?
a high level. This is where my love for
Yes, it is very different to my health
cooking started.
is in hospitality and it’s an industry I
After leaving school, I attended catering
first job was in my local bakery icing
as a chef for 3 years and was fortunate
doughnuts. The bakery was owned
some great chefs including Gordon
everything was made from scratch to
I am massively into my sport and started
insurance business! My background am extremely passionate about. My
college and trained as chef. I worked
all the cakes and putting the jam in the
enough to do work experience with
by some close family friends and
Ramsay and Jean Christophe-Novelli.
CHA RITY they live a healthy life and make good
choices when it comes to their diets. I also remember watching Jamie Oliver
many years when he went on his famous ‘Turkey Twizzler’ campaign and I was
shocked about how little vast amounts of children understand about the food they eat. This has stuck with me and I
really wanted to use my passion for food in a productive way and having my own children made me really want to help others as best I can.
Can you explain a bit more about what the charity will do?
Table Talk Foundation has two main objectives.
The first is to provide food education
to children in Sussex. We will provide
grants to primary schools in Sussex to fund the ‘Adopt a School’ programme which is run by the Royal Academy of
Culinary Arts. They have been running these classes for 40 years and have
the expertise in this field. There are five
sessions run over the course of a school year and these include bread making,
food seasons and even visiting a farm to understand food providence.
Our second objective is to help
members, past or present, of the
hospitality sector who have fallen upon to miss playing rugby and working as a chef, you do not get any weekends off so I decided to stop cooking.
However, the skills I learnt during my time as a chef really helped when I
launched my business 11 years ago.
Teamwork, communication, and hard graft all have helped me. But more
importantly, learning about where food
comes from, the seasonality of food and how to eat healthily are also skills I use on a day-to-day basis.
Since becoming a father 4 years ago, I was keen to pass these skills onto my
son (and now my daughter) to make sure
hard times. To help us with this, we have teamed up with Hospitality Action who are a national charity who have been going since 1837!
Why is this important?
Providing food education to children is
obesity with just over 60% of the UK adult population being classified as overweight or obese.
This has a knock-on effect to wider
society. We spend more treating obesity
on the NHS than we spend on the police force, fire service and judicial system
combined! This is a worrying trend that needs to be broken.
We want to teach kids in a fun and holistic way which can also inspire
them to join the hospitality sector after education. As with my story, even
spending a few years in the sector can give life skills that you could not get anywhere else.
In then makes sense for us to try and support members of the hospitality sector and that’s where Hospitality Action comes in. It is an industry
that has so many high points but it’s no secret that people in hospitality work long hours in high pressure
environments and this can take its toll on mental health. There are also high
levels of addiction issues in the sector whether this is alcohol abuse, drug abuse or gambling.
We will be providing grants to Hospitality Action to help them carry out their work. This involves proving short term grants to people to help pay for utility bills,
proving a counselling service for people
to access or providing winter fuel grants for retired members of the sector.
massively important to help them make
You have an impressive list of trustees
diet. Children are a blank canvass and
There are 9 trustees in total and each
better choices when it comes to their will soak up knowledge if it taught in the right way.
Childhood obesity has more than
doubled over the past 10 years. 1 in 3 children are classed as overweight or obese by the time they finish primary school. This then leads into adult
involved; how did you choose them? person has their own strengths. One
thing we all have in common is a love for food, drink and hospitality.
We have a food expert with TV chef and restaurateur, Mark Sargeant and a drink
expert with Tamara Roberts who is CEO of Ridgeview Wine. We also have Tom
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 59
C HAR I T Y
Surgey who built his reputation locally
working at Ridgeview before setting up his own drink’s consultancy business. We will be running lots of different fundraising events through the
Foundation and Jess Aggarwal comes
from an events management background where she worked in hospitality sector. Jess is very much a driving force in
Table Talk Foundation and has been instrumental in the launch.
Then I approached business leaders that I have massive respect for. Ian Posyden, Noel Preston, Jason Edge and Chris
Ketley. They are all people I have known through the local business community for several years and people I trust to help us with our cause.
chef teacher to deliver the Adopt a School programme for us.
your charity partner for the year? We will
to them making better food choices
money for the foundation whether that is
with food at an early age will lead
support anything that you do to raise
in later life which can help fight the
a bake sale to a sky dive!
obesity crisis we have in this country. We would love to create a ‘Table Talk
all the way from primary schools to
How can people in Sussex find out
engagement with parents.
Our website is the best place to find
If this is successful, there is no reason
events. Our website address in www.
schools can adopt. We see this working secondary schools as well as creating
why we could not replicate this across more counties.
As I mentioned above, we are going to be
possibly can. To help us do this, we will be looking to recruit a full-time
60 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
important for us as a new charity! Follow
us on social media and share our content.
We just want to provide fun,
as many children in Sussex as we
Finally, just spreading the word is
Foundation Training Syllabus’ which
How can the Sussex business
educational cooking classes to
If you like what we do, why not make us
We think by getting children engaged
What are you hoping to achieve in the longer term?
please support these by buying tickets.
community help?
running some amazing fundraising events and each one will have a food/drink
theme. So, any business owners that are ‘foodies’, these are not to be missed so
more?
our more and keep up to date with the tabletalk-foundation.com.
We are also on all the social media sites
so just search for ‘Table Talk Foundation’ and you should find us!
CHA RITY
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 61
C HAR I T Y
Who are the Sussex Cancer Fund?
It feels strange for a charity celebrating their 40th anniversary to be asked this question as you would think that with a history of service this long we would be well known. But the truth is we
Charity
have been quietly
supporting patients
and cancer services in Sussex for four
decades just a little under the public
radar. Originally set up by Dr George
Deutch and other cancer centre staff to create a fund to buy additional
equipment and patient comforts and
also to fund medical research projects but with the ultimate aim of providing the best possible cancer care to patients in Sussex.
The Sussex Cancer Fund is now
run by just two part-time staff, Julia
62 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
and Joanna with a board of Trustees
with Dr David Bloomfield, Consultant Oncologist at the helm. Our small
size means we have incredibly low
overheads meaning more of the money we raise goes to help cancer patients, and also means we are very flexible
and can respond to staff requests for equipment or help very quickly.
What does the Sussex Cancer Fund Do? Put simply we buy equipment,
additional patient services, carry out
refurbishments and building projects, and fund cancer research, essentially
everything the major national charities do but the money we raise stays here
in Sussex. The Sussex Cancer Fund
really are unsung heroes as it is likely
that every Cancer Patient in Sussex has benefitted in some way from something the Sussex Cancer Fund has provided.
We realise that having cancer treatment
is tough both physically and emotionally; we try and make the process a little
more bearable. Gestures like providing decent tea and coffee, music in the
radiography suites, an up to date glossy
magazine to read right through to having your own patient gown to preserve dignity are small but appreciated
touches we provide patients. One of the most recognised patient benefits is the
CHA RITY
provision of the Sussex Cancer Fund
car park, receiving daily treatments is
stressful enough without having to worry about where to park.
To help ease treatment effects we
also provide therapeutic massage and medical acupuncture. Our medical
acupuncture run through CBAS and
currently based in Brighton has been especially well received and we have a long waiting list, even longer now
due to COVID restrictions but in 2021 once restrictions are eased we are
hoping to extend the service to other areas providing satellite clinics so
people don’t have to travel so far and
also some group work where patients can gain support from other patients going through similar experiences,
receive treatment and learn some selftreatment techniques.
In terms of the equipment we buy, it
can be anything from small items like thermometers and I-pads through to state of the art medical equipment
costing thousands and thousands of pounds. Improved Patient Care and
treatment effectiveness and efficiency
are at the heart of all our purchases and by supporting the NHS in this way we
hope to provide the best possible cancer care in Sussex.
In the early years, much of our
work involved refurbishments and
building work including the complete refurbishment of the Sussex Cancer Centre at the Royal Sussex County
Hospital. Again this was with patient
comfort in mind. We wanted to move
from the stark dentist waiting room style and create a softer more coffee shop like areas to ease patient anxiety. We
We invested £1.6million into the Horizon
project and still contribute £50,000 every year towards its running costs.
Our research projects have gained
momentum and we have supported
projects looking at a very broad range of cancers from Brain Tumours and Breast
Cancer, Leukaemia and Bladder Cancers to name just a few. Some of our projects have gone on to gain international
recognition and it is great to feel we are contributing to the world’s fight against cancer from here in Sussex.
created quiet rooms where patients can
How are you asking the Business
in a more comfortable space. Our most
Along with most charities COVID
receive difficult news in a private and ambitious project was the Macmillan Horizon Centre. The Sussex Cancer Fund wanted to create a supportive hub for cancer patients, where they
could receive advice, access additional services and even attend specialist
cookery and exercise classes. Realising the project would have been too big for
the fund alone we worked in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Care, and
Brighton and Sussex University Hospital
Trust to create this much-needed facility.
Community to help?
has had a devastating effect on our
fundraising activities, we had an 80% drop in fundraising income in 2020. Although we punch well above our
weight in what the charity achieves,
we rely very heavily on our supporters
to raise funds for us, with such a small team we don’t have the resources or funds to put on our own flashy
fundraising events. This is why even before COVID we were starting to
reach out to the business community
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 63
C HAR I T Y
to help us. Being a relatively unknown
charity it is hard for us to gain corporate support when we can’t promise the
level of exposure of the big charities,
so we have started recruiting Business Ambassadors to help raise our profile with the hope that our additional
publicity could help generate some
much-needed fundraising. With the
numbers of patients growing year on
year and the expectation that one in two of us will require treatment for cancer at some point in our lives we still have an
awful lot of work to do…..please help us. We Hear from Ambassador Shirley Price of SFC
Writing this made me look back to check when it was that I agreed to become
an ambassador for SFC and it was 31 October 2017.
I really can’t believe it has been that long. When I was told about the
business ambassadors role with SCF I did not have to think twice about
wanting to help them. Sussex Cancer Fund keep their overheads to a
minimum so that almost every penny
raised can goes directly towards helping their patients in very tangible ways.
64 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
You can literally spend as much or
as little time helping as you have the
time to spare. You can share a social media post whilst doing your own
social media, or whilst networking
online or in person you can be having conversations and if the opportunity
comes up, ask if the company you are speaking to is looking for a charity for their company to support.
An example of a how you might
help is: You may be having a casual
conversation with a friend, customer or supplier who may mention that
their office is moving and they will
be getting rid of notice boards. You could send a quick email to SCF to
ask if they have a need for any notice boards, and then introduce the two
parties to enable them to liaise. This
has cost you a two minute email. It has saved the person / company having to make arrangements to get rid of the
items, it has saved SCF having to buy some. A real win/win situation.
This is what an Ambassador for Sussex Cancer Fund can do to help:
• Share SCF social Media posts through
your business (& personal) social media
channels. We are on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• Write guest blog posts on the SCF site about your personal stories
• Wear two hats to networking events by represent yourself and SCF at events
• Encourage your organisations to
participate in SCF fundraising activities
• Post your own messages through social media about SCF
• Find speaking opportunities at
business events & networking to raise SCF’s profile
• By helping us find Business partners for sponsorship opportunities
It is all about being open and receptive to what is being said around you and planting little seeds in other people’s
minds to see how they too might be able to help in some small way. If 100 people
help in a small way, suddenly that is a lot
of help and huge results can be achieved. A huge thank you to SCF for all that they do to help so many in so many ways!
SBT MOTORING NEWS
THE VALUE OF BRITAINS MOST POPULAR CAR COLOURS
REVEALED: UK’S MOST POPULAR CAR COLOURS COULD LOSE YOU MONEY
APRIL 2021: CHANGES TO ELECTRIC COMPANY CAR TAX
BROUGHT TO YOU BY RIVERVALE LEASING
SBT MOTORING NEWS SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 65
MOTO RI N G N E WS
The value of Britain’s most popular car colours Revealed: UK’s most popular car colours could lose you up to £6.8k Brought to you by Rivervale Leasing www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk/car-leasing/
Are the most popular
Motoring News
car colours leaving us out of pocket?
We compared the
price of 21,000 cars
being sold online to see how the colour
of paint can affect your car’s value. Grey
remains Britain’s most popular car colour, according to the latest SMMT data, with 397,000 new registrations in 2020. Black comes in second place with 324,000,
followed by white at 283,000 and blue at 276,000. To show you the scale of these numbers, we visualised the UK’s choice of car colours from 2015 to 2020.
Brits’ wallets left black and blue as
popular car colours have the lowest resale value
Our study shows that black and blue
cars sell for the lowest amount, when 66 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
compared to the average £10,050 sale
value of all 21,000 cars analysed. While it’s a very common colour, black cars
are shockingly 68% less valuable when
selling, which could mean losing out on £6.8k. The data also shows that blue
cars, our third most popular, drop in value by 30% or £3k, on average.
Brits with the most popular choice aren’t
affected as much, although grey cars still may result in a negative resale value. We
found grey cars to be 14% less valuable, or a loss of £1.4k.
Top 5 car colours with the lowest resale value
Cars that go for gold have a 4.5x higher resale value than black
DVLA data suggests that gold is
number 13 on the list of the UK’s most popular car colours, which might be unlucky for some, but not when it
comes to selling. Our research reveals that the highest-value car colour is
gold, with an average resale price of
46% more than the average, or £4.6k. Compared to black cars, gold paint results in a 4.5 times higher resale
value, even though much fewer Brits choose to drive a gold car.
See the top five car colours with the highest resale value – you might be surprised to see some of the least popular colours among them.
Top 5 car colours with the highest resale value
Unpopular colours could net you up to £2.8k more when selling – except pink
MOTOR I NG N E WS
Comparing the top five least popular car
We found that the lowest-selling colour
‘The psychological reasoning behind car
turquoise and bronze – our analysis
those that weren’t, here are the colours
and with good reason. When you look
colours – multicoloured, pink, maroon,
shows you could get up to £2.8k more when it comes to selling.
The only one of these unpopular colours which results in a loss is pink, which
is infamous for limiting a car’s appeal,
after Katie Price’s Range Rover ‘wiped
£3,000 off its value’ with a pink paint job,
from 15 out of 20 brands was black. For you might need to avoid. • Abarth - white -£3,983
• Alfa Romeo - turquoise -£4,579 • Land Rover - silver -£12,721 • Volkswagen - pink -£9,372 • Volvo - purple -£4,925
according to HPI.
Why do Brits choose the same
Drive a yellow Merc? Get up to £38k
valuable?
more than any other colour when selling When looking at manufacturers and
their colour options, yellow MercedesBenz cars prove to be the most
lucrative in our study. Drivers could
get up to £38k more than the average
selling price of a Mercedes if they have a yellow model.
Things also look bright if you have a
car colours, even if they are less
Rivervale’s Group Marketing Manager Bud Johnston said: ‘There are many
reasons why we might prefer minimalist
colour has been considered for years,
at the popular colours, grey, black, and white, they are conservative. When
driving, we want to make our journey
seamless and safe, and these colours are less likely to trigger attention and other road users.
‘The least popular colours would all be
labelled as unconventional. For example, pink is a bold statement colour. When
added to the cultural consideration as a colour of femininity and pampering, it’s appeal as a vehicle colour is niche at best.’ - Lee Chambers
car colours, like wanting the exterior and
Get more news and advice in the
seats are neutral, you want the outside
statistics on what your car’s colour
interior to match. If your dashboard and
of the car to complement them. We also
might pick certain colours purely because they’re more popular historically.
Rivervale blog, including more
says about its history. If you’re
thinking of selling your car and don’t
want to think about depreciation value
any longer, don’t forget to see our latest car lease deals too.
gold Audi or a multicoloured BMW.
‘However, as so many more cars
£21k more than other models made by
are of course going to be more of these
Methodology
affect the selling price, as there are lots of
We analysed 20,921 seller listings on
market for an unpopular colour have less
price of all cars to be £10,050. This
Both car colours could net you around the manufacturers.
See our visual as we reveal 20
manufacturers and their highest-value paint colours.
Black is back as the lowest value
registered are grey, black or white, there coloured cars up for sale. This could
models available. Drivers who are in the
choice, so might have to pay more to get the car they want.’ - Bud Johnston
colour for 75% of manufacturers
The psychology of car colours explained
Unsurprisingly, as black proved to be
We asked psychologist Lee Chambers
same result for 75% of manufacturers.
car colours.
the least valuable colour overall, it’s the
to explain more about the meaning of
Auto Trader to find the average selling data was broken into 18 car colours
with an equal number of cars recorded per colour (1,300), except in cases
where the colour of cars was fewer than this number. In this instance, the maximum number of listings
was recorded, including pink (682), turquoise (520) and maroon (233).
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 67
MOTO RI N G N E WS
April 2021: changes to Electric Company Car Tax
With the approach of April comes the beginning of a new tax year, and the end of a lucky break for those with electric vehicle company cars, who have enjoyed 0% taxable benefit since April 2020.
Brought to you by Rivervale Leasing www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk/car-leasing/ All is not lost, though.
Last year, it was decided that the Benefit
more and more companies to consider
vehicle would be reduced to 0% of
traditional gas engine.
more desirable option. This was always
Though the figure is admittedly rising,
to an end in April 2021.
considering electric vehicles should
When a company car, it’s a great perk.
Electric company car benefit
one of the highest priorities of the UK
provides personal benefit, it’s also taxable.
Now, don’t panic, because this isn’t bad
for the foreseeable future as they strive
company cars will be taxable again,
and goals. While tax changes are vital
the rate is only increasing to 1%, until
everyone’s best interest for this figure
guaranteeing a continuation of minimal
concerning EVs aren’t going anywhere.
the next few years.
Here at Rivervale, we’ve got a variety of
Realistically, a 0% tax rate, whilst
to suit your business or personal needs.
sustainable figure in the long run.
car, find out a little bit more about doing
was always outlined in the plan, so
www.rivervaleleasing.co.uk
Motoring News
In fact, actually very little is changing.
First of all, let’s get
back to the basics of
company cars and benefit in kind.
Company cars and Benefit in Kind
However, because it is an asset that also
Benefit in Kind is the tax that employees must pay on their company perks,
such as a company car. The amount
that you’ll need to pay is dependent on
various factors, which include its overall value. For the purposes of this article, we’ll be focusing on the upcoming
changes, specifically for EV company cars, but for more information on
Benefit in Kind generally, take a look at our guide here.
Electric vehicle company car benefits So, what makes electric vehicles
different? Well, because they are a
much more environmentally friendly way to travel - due to not being powered
by traditional engines which use gas and release harmful emissions - the government has been incentivising
their use. One of the factors for the
calculation of Benefit in Kind in recent years has been emissions. Vehicles
producing lower levels of Co2 are taxed less as a result.
68 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
in Kind tax payable for a purely electric its P11D value, making them an even
intended to be temporary, and it’s coming
changes in 2021
electric vehicles over cars with a
company directors and their employees not be put off. Reducing emissions is
government, and will continue to be so
news at all. While it’s true that electric
to meet agreed climate commitments
it’s only by the slightest margin. In fact,
for economic health, it remains in
2022, where it will then rise to 2%,
to rise slowly and steadily. Tax benefits
monthly payments for these drivers over
leasing deals on all kinds of car models
enjoyable, was never going to be a
If you’re interested in leasing a company
The intended increase is slight, and
so contact us on 01273 433480 or visit
it won’t come as
a harsh shock to
any budgets. And, considering that vehicles with a
large production
of Co2 are looking to pay up to 37% in tax, it’s still a
fantastic deal, and
a huge incentive to continue to drive
SBT NETWORKING & EVENTS
BEING AN EFFECTIVE NETWORKER OF THE FUTURE BY NETWORK MY CLUB
SBT NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 69
N ETWORK I N G & E V E N TS
81% of businesses will combine physical and virtual networking. That’s according to 150+ business owners from the Network My Club 2020 member survey in December. Here, Founder and Managing Director, Bradley Hatchett, shares his views on being an effective networker of the future. Imagine a world with
Networking & Events
more opportunity.
Less time wasted. Better return on your time and
investment. This can be a reality with your networking.
Network My Club’s mission has always been to bring networking into the 21st century. Perhaps the pandemic has
propelled the evolution of networking? We can’t predict everyone’s future
networking behaviours. But one thing
70 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
is for sure – networking has always
been a long-term strategy. It still is. But are there now ways to make it more efficient? And more effective?
With the rise in virtual networking
events, there’s been an adoption of
technology. With that came an openness to change methods. We have adapted
and keep innovating our virtual events to accommodate this.
There are new options out there. Virtual events and physical events will be fighting for your time.
Effective networkers will embrace both
forms. Using one to compliment the other, depending on their personal preference. Combining both will mean more
opportunity, less wasted time, better
return from your networking and building a broader, more robust and diverse network. Let’s dive into how that can be done. Less time, less money, more efficiency Whether it’s commuting or travelling
to and from events or meetings. The
N ET WOR K I N G & E V E NTS the event to establish the need for a follow up conversation.
Your follow up process can
incorporate this blended approach to attending events too.
For example, during a virtual event,
you may set up to meet someone at
an upcoming physical event. Or during a physical event, you may arrange to follow up over a video call or inviting them to a virtual event.
This adoption of different forms of
networking and adapting your approach
Bradley Hatchett
can make your relationship building
more efficient. As it can when wanting to pandemic has made people realise
how much time (and money) they were
wasting. Putting a more significant value on how and where they spend it.
The same applies with networking.
People have identified inefficiencies in their previous methods.
With more choice across different forms (virtual and physical), businesses will be more selective with which events they
attend. Ultimately, where and how they spend their time.
Can that 4 or 5 hours spent travelling to/ from and attending that physical event
be better spent at a 2 hour virtual event? Will it be more effective to attend that
physical event to meet those people in person rather than virtually?
How do I see this playing out in the wider networking process?
Virtual events will play a big part in
meeting new people for the first time.
Or to keep interacting with connections
regularly, without the need to spend time travelling to events.
With physical events to compliment
that. Building relationships, trust and
familiarity. Making relationships more
grow your network geographically.
human and real.
Explore new regions with reduced risk
The impact of shaking a hand or
Pre-pandemic, building your network in
sharing a joke or story over a drink
will not die out. It’s in human nature to have that interaction.
But the need to go to an event you’ve
other regions and territories meant a lot
of hours wasted travelling to events. A lot of time spent at events in that particular area that ended up being ‘hit or miss’.
never been to before, where you don’t
Effective networkers can avoid that.
will be reduced. This can be done
Now, meeting new people in new
know anyone, just to meet new people, equally as effectively online.
Organisers should be factoring this in
too. By putting together a live and virtual event schedule. We certainly will be at Network My Club.
Interestingly, we’re learning lessons from our virtual events we can implement at our physical events.
We’re creating environments at our
virtual events to make networking online more efficient. For example, including specific one to one areas. These are
private tables of two where people can have conversations during the event.
Members are arranging what would’ve been their post-event follow up during
the event. Or taking 5/10 minutes during
regions can be achieved online.
How do I see the process working?
Introductions and initial conversations can be done by visiting an online
networking event in that new area. You establish that connection, introduction and start the relationship. Then
compliment it with live events. Live events
where you know you’ve established it to be a good fit to attend, already made contact and got face time virtually with others.
You reduce the risk of wasting time and money travelling to an event. The results?
• Time and cost saved
• Better qualified events best suited to
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 71
N ETWORK I N G & E V E N TS your business
• Improved conversations having already started that online
• An expanded network
• More referrals and new business. We expect to see this at Network My Club. For example, attending an event in London for our members in Sussex meant the
best part of a whole day out of the office. Now they can meet members in different
events to virtual (and vice versa). To
are, you’ll now further enrich your network
event platforms. Whether that be an
help and who can help you.
also operate and use different virtual event on Zoom or Remo for example. Agility and adaptability will be rewarded.
with a diverse mix of connections you can
What’s to come?
Not just in opportunity you unearth and
Live events will come back in a big way.
meet, it also sends a great message
virtual events will remain.
the diverse amount of people you’ll about you and your business.
Confidence to attend will grow. But
I wonder what response I would’ve got
regions at our online meetups, then select
Increase reach and opportunity
relationships and conversations.
In our 2020 member survey, 81% said
been laughed at or politely told it would
events in their networking activity. 6%
those people I thought would’ve said it
events. 7% said they will go back to
virtual events.
live events to attend to build on those
The difference now is they can do that knowing people in the room before
they attend or having already arranged
meeting another member at a previous online meetup.
As we expand into new regions,
members can continue to grow their
network with less risk without spending time and money attending, whilst
balancing attending events with a more remote way of working.
But this means adopting new methods virtually the right way.
Be a networking chameleon A member of Network My Club objected to the idea online networking worked. I
asked what kind of events they’d attended (and on what platform), what process
they follow and how they’ve adapted their methods to network virtually.
With a little advice and suggestion
in a change of methods, they’re now
converted. Prepared to be an effective networker of the future.
The principles of networking in-person and online are the same. But the
behaviours, best practices and etiquette are somewhat different.
Therefore, effective networkers will be
agile. They’ll be able to adapt from live
72 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
a year ago if I’d suggested a virtual
networking event. I’m sure I would’ve
they will include virtual AND physical
never take off. But, here we are, and it’s
said they will be going only to virtual
wouldn’t work that are most active at our
solely in-person.
For those waiting for ‘normal’ to return,
In summary? The opportunity for you
you could find yourself in a different
won’t be a return to ‘normal’. So you’ll
Maybe you will get back to what you
will be online and in-person. There
world to what you consider normal.
need to embrace it.
were doing before. But I can guarantee
If you aren’t, your competitors most
have moved with the times, putting
certainly will be.
themselves where the opportunity is.
More inclusive and diverse network
Predicting customer behaviours is the
Online networking is more inclusive.
us. Refining and recreating our offering
up to groups of people who previously
that is effective, efficient and inclusive.
events. We’ve now got members
We have a responsibility and added
have if it hadn’t been for online.
virtual or physical, as valuable, time worthy
It’s opened the world of networking
couldn’t or didn’t want to attend live
meeting each other that never would
This has enriched their networks with a
your counterparts and competition
exciting challenge for organisations like for businesses to network in a method
pressure to make any event, whether and productive for all as possible.
more diverse range of people. As a result,
It’s not a case of ‘going back’ to how
client base, supply chain, workforce and
the future of networking and embracing it.
this’ll no doubt lead to a more diverse
other areas of their business in the future.
things were, it’s a case of going forward to
That’s what we’ll be doing at Network
Some people dread walking into a room
My Club and I invite you to join us.
events. But there’ll now be a world to
Find our upcoming events and more
more comfortably and naturally.
www.networkmyclub.co.uk
of people. Some feel the same with virtual network in where everyone can participate
As the agile and adaptable networker you
information about online membership at
SBT CHAMBER NEWS
CASH REMAINS TOP CONCERN FOR LOCKDOWN-STRICKEN FIRMS ACROSS UK
BY ANA CHRISTIE, CEO SUSSEX CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BRIGHTON BASE CAMP: EN ROUTE
JOIN US ON FRIDAY 30 APRIL AND LET EN ROUTE BE YOUR WAYFINDER FOR 2021
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 73
C HA M B E R N E WS
Cash remains top concern for lockdown-stricken firms across UK By Ana Christie, CEO Sussex Chamber of Commerce Chamber News
Sussex Chamber of
firms reported
of an Accredited
from UK customers.
of 53 Chambers, all
reported increased
Commerce is part
decreased revenue
Chamber network
Only 19% of firms
represented by the British Chambers
revenue and 20%
of Commerce which sits at the heart
reported no change.
across the UK. We build relationships
When asked
locally, nationally and internationally with
long firms could
and with opportunities. Sussex Chamber
ran out of cash,
member benefits, designed to contribute
(23%) said less than
We are also a respected voice locally
figure rises to almost
of this unique network of businesses
on every level, connect your business
approximately how
other business, with decision-makers
continue until they
gives you access to a range of exclusive
almost one-quarter
towards the success of your business.
three months. This
and nationally.
one-third (31%) of
During the pandemic, the business
B2C service firms.
Ana Christie
group has successfully campaigned for
The results paint
only 42 per cent of full capacity, while
Having carried out a recent survey
landscape which has been severely
against a pre-pandemic level of 75
businesses, the results show they have
and massive changes in trading
companies reported they still have staff
multiple lockdowns.
suggest that without the huge amount
We have called on the UK government
companies to date, that business
When asked to rate the effectiveness
reopening, which was recently
been much worse.
support their business throughout the
workplace testing plans, and extending
Crucially, more support is needed
Scheme (CJRS), allowing firms to
businesses throughout 2021.
over a quarter (28%) of businesses
effectiveness rating. More than two-
Business conditions worsen
last more than a year. On average,
it has been very effective, with a further
continued financial business support.
a bleak picture of a business
all firms were averaging 57% capacity
on the impact of Coronavirus on
squeezed by repeated lockdowns
to 80 per cent. Almost half (48%) of
been pushed to the brink by the effect of
conditions. The survey results also
on furlough.
of government support given to
Rating the support from government
failures and job losses could have
of the various government schemes to
to set out a clear roadmap for
announced, advancing vaccination and key financial support measures for
Compared to October 2020, 61% of
74 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
crisis, the Coronavirus Job Retention
until firms can fully reopen, with just
furlough staff, had by far the highest
indicating they have enough cash to
thirds (68%) using this scheme say that
B2C firms are currently operating at
28% rating it as somewhat effective.
CHAM BE R N E WS
Other schemes with high effectiveness
British Chambers Director General Dr
cashflow being a major challenge for many
schemes (such as CBILS and BBLS)
“The last year has taken a heavy toll on
redundancies or business failures should
still the top concern, it is vital that the UK
Alongside a clear roadmap for reopening,
until firms can reopen and rebuild. Pulling
from a commitment to further accelerate
and would be akin to writing off the billions
wider workplace testing strategy that’s
Adam Marshall said:
ratings included Government loan
where 46% rated them ‘very effective’ and 44% rated them ‘somewhat
effective’, and the local authority
business grant scheme, where 45%
rated it ‘very effective’ and 40% rated
it ‘somewhat effective’. Business rates relief (49%), VAT deferrals (34%), VAT
cuts for certain sectors of the economy
(26%) were also rated as very effective. What firms may do if support expires in April
When asked what their business might
do if the government support schemes end according to published timetable
in April, 25% of firms overall said they would ‘make staff redundant’, 25%
would ‘reduce staff hours’ and 19%
would ‘cancel or reduce investment or recruitment plans’.
businesses across the UK. With cash flow
Government support end prematurely.
government keeps financial support going
business confidence will also come
the plug now would be a huge mistake
the vaccination programme and a
already spent helping firms to survive.
accessible to businesses of all sizes.”
Firms are desperate to start trading again
Support from Sussex Chamber
thinking about the future. To do so they
port businesses through its campaigning
for reopening, and they need time to get
benefits. Membership prices have been
additional taxes, and the security of
a range of exclusive member benefits,
support them should we see additional
ness success and help drive economic
so they can boost revenue and start
Sussex Chamber will continue to sup-
need to see a clear, evidence-based plan
efforts and via its extensive membership
back on their feet without unnecessary
frozen, to allow businesses to access
knowing that Government will once again
designed to contribute towards busi-
restrictions imposed at any point.
growth. www.sussexchamberofcom-
In the meantime, support must remain
259259 or email: info@sussexchamber-
merce.co.uk Contact us on 01444
ofcommerce.co.uk to find out how we
in place for firms that need it until a full
GROW
Events
Responding to the survey results,
DISCOVER Sponsorship
CONNECT WITH THE LARGEST BUSINESS International Trade Services
Referrals
ORGANISATION IN THE COUNTY Networking Forums
Training Events
International Trade Services
Networking
Sponsorship Young Chamber Referrals DISCOVER
DISCOVER
Kickstart Scheme
International Trade Services
Global Markets
Local and National DEVELOP Export
International Representation Documentation Training Trade Services Services Workshops
Forums
Policy
Export Documentation Apprenticeships Global Services Young Chamber
Chamber
Network
Forums
Training
Export Documentation Services
Voice Chamber Customs
Policy Forums
Networking Sponsorship
Networking
DISCOVER
Referrals
Workshops
Apprenticeships
Referrals
Events
INFLUENCE
Support Services
Support Services
GROW
Export Documentation Services
Support Global Services Markets Sponsorship
DEVELOP
GROW
Events
can help your business.
reopening of the economy is possible. With
Support Services
GROW
businesses, we can expect to see further
INFLUENCE
INFLUENCE
Voice
Local and National Representation
Global Markets
Workshops
DEVELOP
Voice AS A CHAMBER MEMBERINFLUENCE YOU'RE WELL Policy CONNECTED
Training
WWW.SUSSEXCHAMBEROFCOMMERCE.CO.UK
Apprenticeships
Workshops
Apprenticeships a5 half page 2021.indd 1
Young
259 Local and National Voice Young 01444 259 Policy Chamber Representation www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 75 Local and National
01/03/2021 09:56:23
C HA M B E R N E WS
Brighton Base Camp: En Route After the chaos and change of 2020, is your business treading a different path than expected this year? So, how are you planning to reach your destination? What kind of journey will you choose?
Join us on Friday 30 April and let En Route be your wayfinder for 2021. Chamber News
About Base Camp
and forging new ones – celebrating the
of Brighton Summit,
which makes our region such a dynamic
The younger sibling
spirit of our open-minded, quirky city,
Base Camp is a large-
place to live, work and do business.
scale virtual event
that brings together 200+ businesses
What to expect?
city’s diverse business community.
but there are plenty of opportunities to
footsteps of Base Camp 2020’s glowing
a morning of inspiring speakers,
and empowered for the year ahead.
networking sessions. You might want
Hosted by Brighton Chamber, it’s a
read a book in a quiet dark room or do
and entrepreneurs from across the
Brighton Base Camp is held virtually
Base Camp: En Route will follow in the
interact with other attendees. Expect
reviews, to leave you feeling motivated
expert-led workshops and structured
morning for strengthening relationships
76 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
to book the afternoon off to reflect, your follow-ups.
‘Brighton Base Camp Bananas was
positive high energy from beginning
to end. I met new people through the networking opportunities, was
inspired by the talks from a diverse selection of people and finished
feeling that it was time definitely well spent’ Nick Elliott: Booster
We have a brilliant line up of keynote
speakers and workshop leaders – and have already announced our first
keynote speaker, Alex Preece, Co-
Founder and COO of Brighton-based digital gift card platform, Tillo.
CHAM BE R N E WS
What will I get out of it?
You’ll get fresh perspectives and new approaches – quality conversations
with the bunch of brilliant like-minded contacts you’ll meet at Base Camp.
You’ll build connections and learn about new ideas to try in your own business. ‘Inspiring to listen to speakers and
reinforced what we’re all trying to do
with our businesses - to stay positive, grow and to come out the other side
of this really strong. I left feeling more connected to people’ Kerry Watkins, Social Brighton
Introducing Alex Preece
Alex Preece, COO and Co-Founder of Tillo will be joining as one of our
keynote speakers at Brighton Base Camp: En Route on 30 April.
He’ll share with us his fascinating
business journey, which is very much en-route! From starting his career
jumping out of military planes in the
British Army, to co-founding and selling multiple companies and becoming a serial entrepreneur and growing his
current multi-million pound venture. You might say that he’s always had a bit of a daredevil streak.
Who is it for?
Brighton Base Camp is for everyone in and around Brighton who wants to evolve and grow their business.
Whether you’re a big business CEO, a not-for-profit, an entrepreneur
or an employee looking for a bit of
inspiration, some variety in your day, or could use
with mapping
out where you want to go –
Base Camp is for you.
Starting Tillo five years ago with his business partner, Gareth, has seen the business grow into the market leading digital gift card platform,
connecting some of the world’s most popular brands with businesses
looking to incentivise employees and reward customers.
Alex has recently found himself right at
issued for free school meals to support disadvantaged families during the nationwide Coronavirus lockdown. The irony of this is not lost on Alex, who as a child went to school with free school meal tokens in his own pockets. At Base Camp: En Route, Alex will talk about his early years and military career have provided the motivation he needs to run the ultra-resilient and successful business he has today. We’ll hear about Tillo’s rapid scale-up, plus the challenges, changes and opportunities that have been presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. Join us to hear his fascinating business journey (plus other keynotes and
workshops) at Base Camp: En Route, on 30 April.
Brighton Base Camp: En Route Friday 30 April
Chamber Member ticket £40 Non-member ticket £50
the very heart of the nation’s response
Find out more and get tickets here
chosen to process the eGift cards
event/brighton-base-camp-en-route
to the pandemic, with Tillo being
https://www.brightonchamber.co.uk/
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 77
78 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
SBT LIFESTYLE
BOOST MOOD!
WITH KATE COOK, A NUTRITIONAL EXPERT OF 20 YEARS
JOIN STEVEN EDWARDS FROM ETCH.
FOR AN EXCLUSIVE ONLINE COOKING DEMONSTRATION
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 79
Boost Mood!
Kate Cook, is a nutritional expert of 20 years, a speaker, author of 8 books – The latest, “Positive Nutrition” sets out a simple road map to getting the best from our food. Kate has spoken in
Lifestyle
some of Britain’s
top companies and
continues to inspire
teams with her down
to earth style, twinkle in the eye, and
a practical sense of what is possible. www.katecook.biz
As we near a year Locked Down in our
own houses, with the threat of the virus ever present, the long haul of the past
year is definitely catching up with many
of us. Whilst we see glimmers of hope of
spring in the air, with the evenings getting
80 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
lighter, and mornings less chilly, we are, at the same time not out of the woods yet. A great number of us are feeling
lethargic and blue, finding it very difficult to motivate ourselves to feel optimistic
about the future. What we need to do is find some strategies to start turning the tide on our low spirit, creating a feeling or renewed growth and hope. That all
starts with a getting the right foundation
on what we choose to eat! But diet does not exist in a vacuum so I am going to
give you some other lifestyle foundations that might just get your mood heading upwards to the stars.
Diet Foundation
The first step to getting a better
outcome on your mood is to make sure that your basic biochemistry
is balanced – this is a fancy way of
saying that you need to balance the amount of available sugar in your
system. Glucose (sugar) isn’t a bad
thing when it comes to cellular energy but it is about balance. Our system
is fine-tuned at any given moment by hormones that control everything in
our bodies – the hormone that controls how much available sugar is in our
bodies is called insulin. Our bodies
L I FE STYLE
Kate Cook
are ancient systems, 200, 000 years ago, we didn’t have processed food or foods stacked with sugar – are
systems are primed to balance the
right amount of glucose that will give
our cells energy, but not cause toxicity. Insulin is adapted to allow glucose into the cells to give us energy, like a key in a lock, it turns the lock and allows the
sugar into the cell. The problem comes when there is just too much available glucose in the system – insulin has a
solution for that! The hormone acts as a fat storage hormone, and you start accumulating fat around the middle. In the old days, that fat would have
been for a rainy day, or a cold winter
but now, it is the first step to diabetes, a disease that means the ability to
control the levels of sugar in the blood have gone array. So what has this all
got to do with low mood? It turns out, that when our blood sugar levels are
fluctuating we can actually feel blue,
we can feel anxious, and we can feel mentally depressed.
The simple first steps to making sure
your blood sugar is balanced is to eat
real food, that is food found in nature. Plenty of vegetables, whole grain,
protein (meat if you eat it, otherwise good quality protein that isn’t in a
packet – eg NOT Quorn, or similar
– these foods are processed) Don’t eat refined food (especially breads
and pastas) and of course sugar is
like rocket fuel. In fact, may scientists like Dr Robert Lustig, think that sugar is actually truly addictive like a drug. Eric Clapton accredits sugar as the
gateway drug that got him into heroin.
Whilst you can feel temporarily high on sugar, what goes up must come down and mood can tank. Soul Foundations
Robert Lustig in his book “The
Hacking of The American Mind”
talks of other essential ingredients
control over, both for vibrant health but also to influence mood. 80 per cent of
all disease is reversible through lifestyle, and food is the area you have the most control over. Good food encourages a
healthy digestion, and the gut is thought
to have direct influence over your mood. Eating real food will help with this – but
definitely fermented foods such as kefir can give you a head start!
Lustig also talks of another critical C
of happiness – Connection. Many of
us will have sorely missed this element this year but reach out to a friend. Don’t get caught up in busy-ness,
finding community and connection,
and meaning are essential elements of that willow the wisp feeling of a contented, happy life.
to lasting Happiness, the C’s of
lasting contentment– The first one
being Cooking. Although boring, the
foundation of good health and lasting
happiness is being able to create your own food – food and what you put on
your fork is the biggest predictor of good health, and something you have ultimate
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 81
Join Steven Edwards from etch. for an exclusive virtual cooking demonstration
The event, taking place in aid of the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity, is a oneoff chance to see how a top chef creates their amazing dishes from scratch. Have you ever wanted
Lifestyle
to know how your
favourite restaurant
creates their delicious food? Or have you
got a question that you’ve always
wanted to ask a well-known chef to
help with your own creations at home?
Then why not join Rockinghorse for this special culinary evening?
At 7.00pm on Monday 22 March
82 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Steven Edwards, the chef-owner of
etch. in Hove, will be creating one of
his delicious dishes via a virtual ‘At the
Chef’s Table’ event using an interactive online event platform from REMO. Located on Church Road in Hove, etch. is a 12 table British tasting
menu restaurant by MasterChef: The
Professionals winner Steven Edwards, celebrating local and British produce using monthly changing menus.
The event, sponsored by Piglet’s Pantry, Fish Galore, City Utilities and Retail
Distribution Services, is taking place in aid of Rockinghorse Children’s Charity which is a cause Steven is pleased
to support: “I love working with local
charities and think it’s really important to raise awareness of the work that
Rockinghorse does. I have signed up for the Rockinghorse football team so it’s
nice to be able to support the charity it two different ways.
L I FE STYLE
menu for two from
a lifetime opportunity. And along with
from Piglet’s
sure to be a popular evening and the
packs from
events we are hoping to run.”
in Lewes.
Tickets for this great evening of
Stella Buckingham,
and along with access to the virtual
Manager at
delicious bottle of sparkling Italian wine
pleased to be able
and a signed recipe card from Steven
something really
yourself at home.
last year we have
To find out more or to buy a ticket,
run many face to
website at: www.rockinghorse.org.uk
etch, hampers
the fantastic raffle prizes available it’s
Pantry and gift
first of several ‘At the Chef’s Table’
Harvey’s Brewery
Events Fundraising
platform, guests will also receive a
Rockinghorse, is
from Butler’s Wine Cellar in Brighton
offer supporters
so that you can re-create the dish
special: “For the
“It’s an easy decision to work with them
and I really hope people will enjoy taking part in this event and help raise some
much-needed funds for this great cause.” Along with the 40-minute demonstration, attendees will also get the chance to
take part in a raffle with some fantastic prizes including a five-course tasting
entertainment cost £40 per household
been unable to
search ‘Chef’ on the Rockinghorse
face events due to
or call the charity on: 01273 330044.
the pandemic so we are really excited
that we have been able to arrange this amazing virtual event.
“To be able to learn directly from one of the best chef’s in the city,
ask questions about technique and
ingredients and even have a go at the recipe at home, it really is a once in
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 83
84 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
SBT ASK THE EXPERT
WHAT IS TAILORED SOFTWARE, AND WHY WOULD I NEED IT? BY JAMES KELLY, STORGANISE
TALKING DATA WITHOUT USING THE WORD DATA!
BONAMY WADDELL, DATA STORYTELLER, BON INSIGHT
THE WORLD IS LOOKING FOR CONTACT AND CONTENT
LOOKING FOR MORE COMMUNICATIONS, MORE CONTACT AND MORE CONTENT
SBT ASK THE EXPERT SPONSORED BY:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 85
AS K T H E E X PE RT
What is Tailored Software, and why would I need it? By James Kelly, www.storganise.co.uk Ask the expert
Compare yourself to a business making biscuits. You start off making lovely biscuits because you love baking. You give them to friends, and they like them telling you you’re onto a winner. Feeling bold, you start selling them and, hey presto, a small enterprise is born.
You soon get so popular that you need a bigger oven. And then some staff to help you package them up, deliver and sell them. Your next step is to get some machines which make the biscuits for you. All is going well; your systems and processes have grown with your biscuit baking success. Your business is No Different You started out doing what you love. You used spreadsheets to track your clients and sales. There were a lot of Word documents for Invoices and Budget sheets. A bookkeeper came along to help rein in your receipts and invoices. And this all worked well but then you started getting bigger, and the spreadsheets, journals and scraps of paper weren’t working. If you were selling biscuits, you would now be getting some machines to take care of the graft. Think of a piece of Tailored Software as the biscuit-making machine for your business. It takes care of things so you can concentrate on what you love to do. Get off spreadsheets and paper and on to software created specifically to work the way you want it to. We have been building systems and small processes for businesses for 9 years. Sometimes we are asked to build a simple way to track Quotes, Invoices and Purchase Orders. Other businesses need a centralised contacts database that can be accessed by all their staff, from home, the office, or on the move. Job setting, assigning tasks, tracking assets, even complete Music storage systems - anything your business does, can be catered for by having your own software made. The more niche your business, the less likely you are to find the perfect way of working available in a pre-built app. That’s where we come in, and have worked with some wonderfully diverse clients - Comedy Promoters, Sign Makers, Estate Agent PR Companies, Financial Institutions, Pharmaceutical Corporations, Energy Salesmen, Charities, Orchestra Fixers, Unions, Freighting Companies, Travel Agents; the list keeps on growing. It’s a rewarding process for the client • Staff become more engaged, because they are being listened to, and given a streamlined way of doing their job. • Managers can see reports instantly rather than waiting for complicated data to be collected • Business owners see growth potential with the huge amounts of hours being saved from all of their workers’ days. How long does this sort of thing take? We like to get the first draft to our customers within 2-4 weeks so they don’t lose interest.
86 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
ASK T H E E XPE RT
Talking data without using the word data! Bonamy Waddell, Data Storyteller, Bon Insight It seems many people
Ask the expert
aren’t keen on the word data. It can
sound so boring - but it’s not! And to prove
it, I thought I’d write about data without using the word data itself! (I’ve said it 3 times already – that’ll do!).
So – I want you to have a think
about your business processes for a
moment. Pick a couple of reports that get shared with clients, or an update that goes out internally every
fortnight. Now ask, why do those
reports exist? What insight do they
deliver? I wonder how often the reply might be “I’m not sure, we’ve just always done it like this.”
Now let’s flip it the other way and start with - what information is
required for me or my team to make business decisions? What is useful
for my client to hear in their monthly
update? It then shifts because it’s not just process for process-sake. You’re
really adding value to your team, your Board, your clients.
So how and where do I gather that
intelligence, I hear you ask? Here are two ideas to get you started: 1. C arry out an audit
Understand what intelligence already exists. This might include (but is not restricted to, by any means!):
a. Client intelligence: via client
satisfaction surveys, as well as your CRM database - easy to extract to
measure conversion rates, length of
client relationship, sector / service breakdown, geographic location,
and beyond – who owns this in your
that compare to your competitors?
d. Financial: again, this isn’t about
the financial nitty-gritty, but sales
organisation?
trends and how that maps to
social channel analytics, event
organisation, for example.
b. Marketing: campaign performance, attendance to name a few;
c. E mployee information: recruitment
performance from the rest of the
The point is this - using the business
/ retention rates, performance
intelligence (I could have used the ‘d’
and beyond;
alongside knowing what we need to
the Finance team (!), but what sales
all want that! It underpins all areas of
activities, for example.
answer to the question, “Why are you
management, Glassdoor reviews, d. Financials: leave the heavy lifting to
trends can be aligned with marketing
2. Fill your gaps
word here…!) that we already own,
gather, gives us confidence. And we
our decision-making. It gives you an
doing x, y, z?” – because the answer is the evidence you have gathered
Doing the audit means you know what
which will inform your next decision.
Playing the above 4 areas back, we
Eh voila! Talking data without saying
you know, but what don’t you know?! might see that:
a. C lients: are you completing regular
client satisfaction surveys and really
data. You’re welcome!
www.boninsight.com
listening to them? Does your CRM
track all fields – what sectors are you heavy / light in? Is there a gap in the size of organisation you work with?
Do you record new business win/loss debriefs? If you’re not gathering it, you can’t learn from it!
b. Marketing: taking an event as
an example, do you have a pre-
event survey to understand what
attendees want to get from it? And a post-event to assess how it all
went? This will shape your future events and set a benchmark;
c. Employees: do you carry out regular pulse checks to measure employee
Photo Credit: Lauren Psyk
wellbeing? Are you capturing the
reasons people leave? Do you keep Glassdoor updated, and how does
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 87
AS K T H E E X PE RT
The world is looking for contact and content
One of the by-products from the COVID19 pandemic’s closure of air routes and travel is a greater willingness for businesses to talk to each other across time zones and continents.
As we become more
Ask the expert
physically isolated
through working from home and are unable to travel, so we are
looking for more communications, more contact and more content.
This has been seen in an International Trade promotion project I set up 2
years ago to explore links with specific
destinations on the Gatwick Route Map for trade between the UK and those
destinations. I was deliberately targeting Tier 2 destinations – those places that
do not first come to mind, but still have
a thriving economy. As they are often in
the shadow of other places they seem to be more willing to engage.
It isn’t always easy to find the right
88 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
people in the right places but, in the
So what could this mean for you?
discussing closer ties were met with
In a nutshell, I believe that around the
majority of cases, any enquiries about interest. However, prior to COVID19,
there was also a request for me to visit that destination and explain further. Now that was fine for places like
Malaga, Oslo and even Sofia, but visits to The Philippines or Austin and San
Diego are a little more expensive and time consuming to arrange.
world there is a real hunger for contact and content. Reach out to new markets, make enquiries and be
open to the opportunities that are
there for you. Use your networks and start to explore – it’s still a big world,
but the distances feel smaller and the world is looking for your contact and your content.
Since the closure of travel routes, I have
For more, contact Jeremy on
with like-minded individuals in these other
thecompanyconnector.com
found it increasingly easier to engage
locations and we now have built a network of contacts in around 30 destinations. It
is a shame that there aren’t the flights, but Zoom, Teams and these other methods
bring me into daily contact with the world.
07831 148064 or jeremy.taylor@
You can also follow Acumen Business Law on social media, where each finalist will be announced: Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn
Is your business included in the Acumen Business Law 50 Fastest-Growing Businesses in Sussex?
After one of the toughest years in the business world, Acumen Business Law wants to celebrate some successes too! Providing well earned and deserved recognition to independently-owned businesses in Sussex who have seen substantial growth over the past twelve months. For more information, please visit: www.acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk/fast-growth-50
www.acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk | 01273 447 065 | Follow us on social media www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
89
Driving your Business Beyond the Forecourt Buying a car will never be the same again. The world of automotive has evolved and your customers buying habits have changed. Let us transform your dealership.
Web Design Social Media Management SEO & PPC PR & Content and so much more
The future of automotive marketing starts here. Get in touch today. 01273 007 855 info@67degrees.co.uk 90 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
