The Official Magazine of Somerset Chamber of Commerce
June / July 2017
Somerset firms take share of ÂŁ2.3 million business boost 18 | FEATURE
6 | CHAMBER NEWS:
Somerset Business Awards officially open for 2017
22 | #WELLCONNECTED:
Take a look at the latest pictures from our latest events
26 | MEMBERS NEWS:
Bristol Airport celebrates 60 years of flying
Creating opportunities to connect – stimulating business growth for Somerset
Get in touch to find out how we can help your business grow
Become a member today - membership packages starting from as little as ÂŁ150 per year
somerset-chamber.co.uk T: 01823 444924 E: membership@somerset-chamber.co.uk
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CONTENTS First Word Patron News Chamber News Focus On Members Area Feature #WellConnected The Big Interview Members News
4 5 6-9 10-11 12-17 18-21 22-23 24-25 26-31
Business News Town Chamber News
32-33 34
Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Chamber. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced, transmitted or stored in print or electronic format (including, but not limited to, any online service, any database or any part of the internet), or in any other format in any media whatsoever, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in the magazine, Somerset Chamber do not accept any responsibility for any omissions or inaccuracies it contains.
Somerset Chamber of Commerce Equity House Blackbrook Park Avenue Blackbrook Business Park Taunton, Somerset TA1 2PX
Editorial and advertising: E: marketing@somerset-chamber.co.uk T: 01823 444924 Printers: Print Guy, Somerset Design by: Thoroughbred Design & Print, Somerset
12 | MEMBERS AREA BATH & WEST: IN PICTURES
5 | PATRON NEWS
10 | FOCUS ON
32 | BUSINESS NEWS
24 | THE BIG INTERVIEW
We are social @chambersomerset
Watch us on YouTube
Find us on LinkedIn
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Get in touch FIRST WORD A hung parliament, what odds would you have had two weeks prior to Election Day? In fact you could have got odds of 12/1, which could have made a few a tidy profit. With a hung parliament there will be a further period of uncertainty with the inevitable horse trading, which will not be good for UK PLC let alone businesses in Somerset. What the business community needs with Brexit negotiations just round the corner, is a clear mandate and starting position, which has been thrown into question with the result, so would be sensible to delay proceedings for a short while. Businesses are adept to forming alliances, consortia and coalitions when important interests are at stake as can be seen in the Hinkley Supply Chain, therefore we should expect the same of our politicians. With regards to the Somerset political landscape, there was no change, with each of the MPs being re-elected and increasing their share, with all bar one gaining over 50% of the vote. At the very least from a county perspective, that will provide a certain degree of stability. We are living in interesting times, but the country needs to move forward with one consensual voice. As we head into the summer, I remain optimistic and encourage focusing on the positives, celebrating success. What better way to do that by businesses entering the 2017 Somerset Business Awards, with applications now open.
Dale Edwards CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Marketing
Carla Tier
Marketing and Communications Manager T: 01823 444924 | M: 07702 537630 E: carla.tier@somerset-chamber.co.uk
Scarlett Scott-Collins Marketing Coordinator
T: 01823 444924 E: scarlett.s.collins@somerset-chamber.co.uk
Membership
Alistair Tudor
Membership Sales Manager T: 01823 444924 | M: 07912 054195 E: alistair.tudor@somerset-chamber.co.uk
Events
Loren Gray Events Manager
T: 01823 444924 | M: 07821 950379 E: loren.gray@somerset-chamber.co.uk
Brooke Gilbertson
Advanced Business & Administration Apprentice T: 01823 444924 E: brooke.gilbertson@somerset-chamber.co.uk
Hinkley Supply Chain
Chris Langdon
Hinkley Supply Chain Project Lead
OUR PATRONS Contact us to find out what benefits Somerset Chamber Patrons receive. T: 01823 444924 E: membership@somerset-chamber.co.uk
T: 01823 443425 | M: 07771 791736 E: chris.langdon@hinkleysupplychain.co.uk
Sam Evans
Business Liaison Officer T: 01823 443425 | M: 07525 809274 E: sam.evans@hinkleysupplychain.co.uk
Alan Windsor
Hinkley Supply Chain Data Coordinator T: 01823 443425 E: alan.windsor@hinkleysupplychain.co.uk
General Enquiries T: 01823 444924 E: manager@somerset-chamber.co.uk
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PATRON NEWS BT Community Fibre Partnerships (CFP) BT is working with hard-to-reach communities across the south west (SW) helping those in the so-called ‘final five per cent’ of the UK not covered by fibre broadband rollout plans. BT has committed to help these communities find a fibre solution and develop localised plans to make affordable fibre a reality. Fifty SW communities have already signed up, with over 6,000 premises set to benefit from faster internet. A £2 million fund created by BT allows communities to apply for match funding up to £20,000 if it also serves the local school. Communities set to benefit in the region include English Bicknor in the Forest of Dean. Many villages with broadband speeds of under 2Mbps have applied for a subsidy through the government’s Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme e.g. Snowberry Walk, near Bristol and Up Hatherley near Cheltenham. Around 50 firms on the Southwell Business Park, Dorset, are also set to benefit from superfast via a CFP. So too is Otter Brewery in the Luppitt Valley, Devon. Patrick McCaig, MD, said: “Fast, effective broadband is an essential part of modern day business. Increasingly, we are communicating online with customers and suppliers and the technology should help office employees become at least 10% more efficient.” BT is also working closely with developers to bring fast broadband to new sites. Locking Parklands near WestonSuper-Mare will benefit following a partnership between Openreach and St Modwen Homes, Cavannah Homes’ Crownhill development near Plymouth and Taylor Wimpey’s development near Cheltenham.
For further information visit www.communityfibre.bt.com
Cornish Mutual announced as latest Somerset Chamber Patrons Cornish Mutual, a South-West based insurance firm, have been announced as the latest addition to the Somerset Chamber’s group of Patron companies. Cornish Mutual provide insurance for farms, homes and landlords, as well as other types of business insurance across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. Alan Goddard, Managing Director, said, “Cornish Mutual is the insurer of choice for a growing number of rural businesses in Somerset. With a team that lives and works in Somerset, we are committed to forging links with businesses in the county. Being part of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce is a great way of sharing ideas and establishing relationships with other businesses – something we think is particularly important in rural areas. We look forward to getting to know other members of Somerset Chamber and contributing to the business community across the South West region.” Commenting on the announcement, Dale Edwards, Chief Executive of Somerset Chamber, said “Cornish Mutual are a company which I have admired for a number of years due to their customer-first focus. As a mutual organisation owned by its members rather than shareholders, they act in the best interests of their membership base, and share similar values and ethos to that of Somerset Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to a long, prosperous and reciprocally beneficial relationship with Cornish Mutual and in particular their Somerset team.”
Spirit of enterprise is flourishing Somerset’s network of Enterprise Centres continues to flourish with all five centres at full capacity and their tenants taking on staff. The Highbridge Centre held a successful Somerset Day event and has just remodelled a hub area into three larger spaces to allow existing tenants to grow and recruit more staff. The network of centres – with others in Dulverton, Minehead, Frome and Wheddon Cross – is now home to more than 60 businesses employing more than 100 staff. They have been established by the County Council to help small and medium size businesses set up and grow. In addition the Somerset Energy Innovation Centre was built to support local businesses working with the energy sector. Earlier this year, in response to the growing demand for space, the Minehead centre was converted to add an additional floor. There are also exciting plans progressing to open centres in Wiveliscombe and Wells, plus an extension to the Highbridge centre. Councillor David Hall, Cabinet Member for Resources and Economic Development, said: “Small business is the lifeblood of this county’s economy and that is who our network of enterprise centres is aimed at. A vibrant economy is vitally important and it is great news that the centres are fully occupied and helping business create jobs”.
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
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CHAMBER NEWS
Somerset Chamber launches Ambassador Programme To help our prospective members get a better feel for the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, a group of active, enthusiastic Chamber members have volunteered to become Chamber Ambassadors. As Ambassadors, they will offer advice and guidance, discussing the services and events available from the Chamber, and sharing real-world examples of how membership has helped them and their businesses. The Ambassadors will be regular attendees at our events and will be signposted during introductions. As long-term members of the Chamber, they will be liaising closely with us around our activity and upcoming events.
The role of the Ambassadors is to: • Look after new members who are at their first event, by facilitating networking and introducing them to other members • Give practical, real-life examples of how membership has benefited their business, and offer advice on how other members can profit in the same way
• Regularly attend our events and be happy to discuss membership • Demonstrate a good awareness of membership services • Attend regular meetings with the Chamber to be updated on our activity
We appreciate that often our members are our biggest advocates, encouraging businesses to join the Chamber and supporting our activity across the Somerset business community. Please look out for our Ambassadors at some of our events, they can be recognised by their ‘Ambassador’ badge and will be listed at the top of the delegate list.
Learn a little more about our Ambassadors… Rebecca Bevins
Helen Hawkins
“I think we’ve been a member for 9 or 10 years now. We started as Pardoes Bevins HR Ltd before reverting to Rebecca Bevins HR Ltd.
Outposts Ltd have been members since 2014.
Rebecca Bevins HR
I volunteered to be an ambassador as I know how much the Chamber membership has benefitted our business and I’m happy to talk to anyone about that! Hopefully I can provide a reliable and trustworthy account of what being a Chamber member really means, what you get for your membership and how to make it work for you.”
Outposts Ltd
“For Outposts, the Chamber has been a great source of support in developing our business, in terms of networking but also skills development with the various events that we have been able to attend. We would like to help spread the word so others can also benefit as we have done. We are most looking forward to meeting and inspiring new and potential members and being able to give them firsthand accounts of the benefits available including building their network and professional development events. We, of course, hope to continue doing the same ourselves and with new members will come new opportunities for all of us.”
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
CHAMBER NEWS
Lizzie Ginbey & Barry Tottle Teapot Creative “Teapot Creative has been a member of the Chamber for just over three years. We are lucky enough to have won the Business of the Year 11 - 25 Employees Award. This is a huge accolade considering we have only been in business for 7 years.
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We were delighted to be asked to join the Ambassador squad and couldn’t wait to get on board. Hopefully we can help other people gain as much as possible from their membership and encourage new people to join the chamber based on the fantastic experience we have had as members ourselves. Teapot love being out and about and meeting new people so we are looking forward to the social aspect of the role. We also are hoping that being Ambassadors will help us meet new potential clients and partner with other Somerset businesses. Being part of the team of Ambassadors will undoubtedly help enhance our local profile.”
Julie Grant Blueloop
John McCarthy ActionCOACH
“Blueloop have been members of the Somerset Chamber for thirteen years.
The team at the Chamber are very supportive to many local businesses, offering great connections and opportunities. Their role aligns very closely to the aims and objectives of my business, which is all about enabling businesses to grow and increase profitability. So being an Ambassador just made perfect sense, and the team are a lot of fun to be working with.
Blueloop really wanted to help promote the benefits of being a Chamber member to other organisations who are considering joining. For any company wishing to take advantage of the professional services of the Chamber, who have access to over 550 members in Somerset, there are opportunities to collaborate and network with existing verticals and across a vast range of diverse industries. There is great business support and guidance available from the Chamber staff and we wanted to promote the Chamber to let people know what a difference it has made to our business and its growth. The fees are great value and we really enjoy being part of such a great community.
I hope to help as many businesses as possible gain maximum benefit from their Chamber membership, and also to facilitate great connections across our county. By doing so we can all maximise our business opportunities and make Somerset a thriving and successful business community.”
We can only look forward to meet new and interested organisations for the Chamber and being able to endorse the Chambers. We simply want to be able to give a contribution back to help and support the group by letting them know how much we respect and have benefitted ourselves.”
Karen Morledge Plum
Derek Smart
“Plum Communications & PR has been a member since we were founded in 2010. As the MD of Plum, I recognised the benefits that being a member of the Chamber of Commerce offered me as a new business in Somerset and I continue to benefit from even further from our membership since Plum has successfully grown over the last seven years.
“I have been a member for 16 years but have a suspicion that it was before 2001. If memory serves me correctly there were only a handful of members then.
“I have been an active member for three years, since 2014.
Communications & PR
I was delighted to be appointed as an Ambassador and I’ll continue to do what comes naturally to me; recommend the Chamber to other business in our wonderful county, where I believe there’s some value in them being a member. I’m looking forward to wearing my new ‘Ambassador’ badge with pride at future Chamber events and talking to lots of other businesses in future. Somerset is a really fantastic place to live, visit and do business and I’m proud to champion all of that; always.”
Amberley Management
My loyalty to the Chamber is obvious and my commitment has automatically meant that I have always endeavoured to encourage people to become a member. So being an Ambassader is simply an extension of what I have always done. But now formalised. The name badge will now indicate a more official recognition and have a greater level of influence in conversation with nonmembers and be a ‘go to’ for members with enquiries to make. In short I hope to be adding value and helping the membership to grow.”
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CHAMBER NEWS
Somerset Business Awards officially opens for 2017 Back for its 13th year, the prestigious Somerset Business Awards officially launched on Tuesday 6 June 2017, with an audience of more than 50 influential business people, at the Mount Somerset Hotel in Taunton. Dale Edwards, CEO of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce – organisers of the Awards – officially opened the Awards, saying, “Year on year we receive more and more entries, which is testament to the recognition Somerset Business Awards provides. The two new categories for 2017 opens the awards to even more potential winners and we are hugely proud to be able to honour successful businesses within Somerset with these accolades. We actively encourage all businesses to enter and share their fantastic work from within the county.” The Awards culminate with a spectacular black-tie ceremony, taking place on Friday 20 October 2017, at Wellsprings Leisure Centre in Taunton – which has the capacity for more than 400 VIP guests to celebrate outstanding business in Somerset. Mike Cahill, Partner at Albert Goodman, comments on the firm’s return as main sponsor saying, “The Somerset Business Awards are the only county wide annual awards that recognise and celebrate business success and we are immensely proud to be sponsoring for the eighth year.” Beki Sharman, Account Manager, and Charlotte Goodby, Account Executive, both of ADPR – sponsors of the Marketing and Promotions Award – hosted the ‘How to Enter’ workshop, emphasising the great benefits the Awards can have for any business and encouraging those to enter. Mark Bolton, Director at Yeovil College, also joined the stage to share the many benefits they experienced as winners of the Business of the Year 51+ employees Award in 2016. Supported by a host of successful Somerset businesses, the annual business Awards welcomes five new sponsors this year. PKF Francis Clark; sponsoring the Business of the Year 26-50 Award, TDA; judging the Business of the Year 1-10 category, Teapot Creative; sponsoring the New Business of the Year Award, Claims Consortium Group; two-time winner and now sponsor of the Service Excellence Award, and Ashfords LLP; who take on the improved Somerset Manufacturer & Producer Award. The Awards are free to enter for all Somerset based businesses, not just Somerset Chamber of Commerce members, and businesses must nominate themselves. To enter and for further information, please visit: www.somersetbusinessawards.org.uk. The Awards will officially close for entries on Monday 21st August 2017 at midday.
The Somerset Business Awards is active on Twitter, please follow @SomBizAwards for all the latest news and updates with #SBA2017.
BCC: Businesses must take action to prepare for new data protection responsibilities With a year to go until the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into law, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging businesses to start preparing to ensure that they are compliant with the legislation when it comes into force. From 25 May 2018, all businesses that hold personal data will have to guarantee that their data procedures are fit for purpose and compliant with the new regulation. While the GDPR is an EU-initiative, the UK government has already made it clear that the legislation will still take effect in the UK after Brexit. Businesses that are found to be noncompliant risk potential fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual worldwide turnover. Chambers of Commerce around the country are urging their members to start taking the necessary preparations to ensure they are ready for the regulation. Steps for businesses to take include: • Document what personal data the company holds, where it came from and who it is shared with. Firms may want to consider organising an information audit or speaking to a data expert • Review current privacy notices and plan for any necessary changes needed before the implementation deadline • Check procedures to ensure that they cover all the rights individuals have under the new rules, including how to delete personal data or provide data electronically if needed • Review how the company seeks, obtains and records consent from individuals, and whether any changes are necessary • Ensure the right procedures are in place to detect, report and investigate a personal data breach • Determine whether a Data Protection Officer is required, and designate one if so, to take responsibility for data protection compliance and assess how the role will sit within the organisation. For more steps on preparing for the General Data Protection Regulation, businesses should revert to the Information Commissioner’s Office checklist. David Riches, Executive Director at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “Businesses need to be proactive about ensuring they are ready for the new data protection regulations when they come into force this time next year, and not leave preparations until the eleventh hour. Those firms that don’t fulfil the necessary responsibilities leave themselves vulnerable to tough penalties, not to mention public scrutiny. “With twelve months to go, there are a number of procedures businesses should be reviewing to determine what changes may need to be introduced to be compliant. Businesses that are already vigilant about their data protection responsibilities won’t be unduly burdened by the new legislation. “The General Data Protection Regulation is intended to reflect modern working practices in the digital age, and will strengthen consumer trust and confidence in businesses. It will establish a single set of rules across Europe, which will make it simpler and cheaper for UK companies to do business across the continent, even after we leave the EU.”
CHAMBER NEWS
An overview of the BCC Manifesto
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‘BCC Election Manifesto: Brexit and Beyond’ On 2 May 2017, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) launched ‘Brexit and Beyond’, the Chamber Network manifesto for General Election 2017. The Chamber manifesto calls for the new government, which will be responsible for negotiating the terms of the UK’s departure from the European Union, to provide business communities with clear answers to the pragmatic and practical questions around how Brexit will affect their day-to-day operations, including hiring, customs procedures and regulation. However, business communities across the UK send a very strong message that the election cannot – and must not – be about Brexit alone. The next government must deliver a bold and clear strategy to support economic growth across all regions and nations of the UK. Action is needed on a range of domestic fronts, including improving the competitiveness of the UK’s business environment, upgrading physical and digital infrastructure across the country, and supporting local growth.
A Contract with British Business Chamber business communities across the UK will judge the next government against five key criteria:
• Business Environment: Lower costs, higher skills • Local Growth: Unlock business growth across all regions and nations • Infrastructure: Revolutionise physical and digital connectivity • Trade: Stronger practical support alongside trade deals • Brexit: The best possible deal between the UK and the EU
LOCAL GROWTH Unlock the potential of local business communities. Deliver clarity on future devolution deals – ensuring a strong local business community voice and maintaining the place-based focus of the Industrial Strategy to ensure growth across the whole of the UK. INFRASTRUCTURE Revolutionise the UK’s physical and digital infrastructure. Ensure that the whole of the UK has access to superfast broadband, better mobile connectivity, and deliver investments in the strategic schemes that will unlock the economic potential of the regions and nations. TRADE Support UK exporters to drive economic growth. Expand trade support programmes, enabling continued access to existing EU-FTAs, and leverage Chambers of Commerce, which are best placed to provide strong export support in all regions of the UK. BREXIT
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Deliver a globally competitive business environment. Ensure the best business environment possible, with a relentless drive to improve the skill set of tomorrow’s workforce, without clobbering firms with ever-higher upfront costs.
Work with businesses to secure the best possible deal with the EU. Protect the status of EU nationals in the UK, develop future customs procedures in partnership with business, deliver day-one regulatory stability when the UK leaves the EU, and ensure that there is no hard border between Northern Ireland
To view the full document, please contact marketing@somerset-chamber.co.uk SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
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FOCUS ON: MANUFACTURING
Job creation within UK manufacturing at 35-month high UK manufacturing employment has risen for the tenth consecutive month in May, with rate of jobs growth the fastest since June 2014, according to the latest Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The UK manufacturing sector sustained its current growth momentum, with May’s PMI standing at 56.7 – only slightly down on April’s 57.3, a three-year high. Manufacturing production and new orders both reportedly expanded at above survey average rates, thanks to the ongoing strength of the domestic market and a solid rise in export business. Once again, the weak sterling exchange rate is proving beneficial to UK manufacturing exporters, with more
businesses being prompted to promote and launch new products in foreign markets. Incoming new export orders rose for the thirteenth straight month. Expansion has had a largely positive impact on UK manufacturers’ business sentiment and job creation. Optimism regarding the outlook for production levels in 12 months’ time rose to a 20-month high, with more than half (56%) of businesses forecasting output to increase. Head of Manufacturing at Barclays, Mike Rigby commented: “Fears of a 2017 slowdown don’t yet seem to be feeding through to the UK manufacturing sector as it continues to report growing levels of investment and employment, as well as healthy order books.
“Exporters have continued to take advantage of a weak sterling, which has kept British exports competitive on a global stage, and at a time when the world economy is showing signs of improvement. However, rising cost pressures are still circling, not only from elevated import costs, but also from the growing effect of domestic costs from sources such as energy and staffing which will all contribute to fuelling inflation. “Although manufacturers have resisted passing on these costs to date, the expectation of price rises is becoming more apparent in the sector.” UK Head of Manufacturing at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, Dave Atkinson said: “Manufacturers are continuing to take advantage of the low value of sterling and creating new relationships in existing and emerging markets, with many using this opportunity to build on Britain’s reputation for world-class, quality manufacturing. “At home, there are more challenges as firms are facing inflationary pressures and a slow-down in consumer spending. Many are responding by implementing price rises and our Working Capital Index shows that the sector has been buying stock at the fastest rate in six years as a hedge against rising import costs. “While a third successive month of decline is disappointing, we see a sector that continues to expand, which we hope will see confidence remain above the long-term average in the months to come.” Jonny Williamson, The Manufacturer.
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
FOCUS ON: MANUFACTURING
South West manufacturers report 58% productivity boost A total of 58% of small to medium size manufacturers in the South West have reported that business productivity increased in the last quarter, covering January to March 2017. The latest quarterly Manufacturing Barometer for the region, which surveyed 115 companies across the South West’s manufacturing sector about their businesses performance, also found that 66% of respondents saw an increase in sales turnover over the preceding six months. This represents a 17% increase on the same period last year. The Barometer is compiled by SWMAS, part of Exelin Group, in partnership with Economic Growth Solutions. Commenting on its key findings, Simon Howes, Managing Director of Exelin Group, said: “This report shows that South West manufacturers are finding workable solutions to cracking the ‘productivity puzzle’. “Creating efficiencies in the workforce, along with streamlining business operations and processes, are all significant challenges in the manufacturing sector so it is very encouraging to see so many business leaders report improvements. An increase in sales for a majority of respondents is likewise cause to celebrate. “However, it is also telling that 64% of businesses reported skills and expertise as key challenges. While it is fantastic that so many manufacturers are expecting further increases in sales (71% of those surveyed), if additional skilled workers cannot be found, pressure to find further efficiencies will increase. “The solution is to ensure your business is performing to its utmost potential. Our business improvement consultancy is working with manufacturers of all stripes to create people development and system improvement programmes that deliver tangible results. In one case we enabled our client Mulberry, the luxury fashion house, famous for its handbags to implement a new factory layout, which significantly reduced work in progress, improved material flows and created space for additional production line capacity, demonstrating that productivity improvement is an achievable goal.” To view the full findings of the Manufacturing Barometer, please visit: https://www.swmas.co.uk/knowledge/ manufacturing-barometer. To learn more about how Exelin can help deliver lasting performance improvements for your business, please visit: www.exelin.co.uk.
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The Low-down on: Automation Automation is already a prominent feature of the manufacturing landscape and already offers numerous benefits including improvements to efficiency, quality and safety. Automation is now also not just applicable to the manufacturing process but is also increasingly being applied to previously manually operated end products. This is true of the increasing application of self-driving cars and automation is even making in-roads in the construction industry with examples such as the first drone-guided robot self-driving bulldozer trialled in Japan. However, with the ever-increasing sophistication of artificial intelligence and machine learning, automation will soon come to mean something completely different, going beyond robots that can build and assemble by following a predefined sequence and ending with robots that can evaluate a task and react accordingly. These automated robots of the future will be able to decide for themselves what process the object in front of them requires and adjust their behaviours to suit the situation, perhaps even eventually being able to diagnose and repair problems with various products. The ideal smart factory, or as GE calls it, Brilliant Factory, will allow software to receive an order and automatically order production on new units, dispatch design requirements to designers should a new product be required, and use sensors linked to AI to spot defects and predict if machinery maintenance is required.
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MEMBERS AREA
The Royal Bath & West Show
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
MEMBERS AREA
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Rupert Cox, CEO of The Royal Bath & West of England Society, gives his review following the 2017 Show The Royal Bath & West Show is over for another year! Attendance did not quite hit the heady heights of 2016, but nonetheless just over 140,000 people enjoyed attending England’s last remaining Royal 4-day Show. From a business perspective, the Show is now profitable after a few years of limited surpluses and while some might say that, as a charity, we are not in existence to make huge surpluses, it is vital that as any business we make enough to reinvest in our showground and in our case, invest in our charitable objectives of the “encouragement and improvement of agriculture, manufacture, commerce and rural crafts” through education and knowledge transfer in the “West of England”. The Show costs over a million pounds to organise – and that is just the direct costs, so we, like every other business, must work hard to bring in the revenues required to exceed costs by 65% or more and this years Show will achieve this. Using technology and social media to push sales, we have seen big increases in online ticket sales; more interesting and valuable trade stands, fantastic support from over 130 business sponsors who invest in the Show, as well as administering nearly 10,000 competitive entries from a jar of honey to a Hereford Bull; from a flower arrangement to a truckle of cheese; a burly sheep shearer to a piece of art; and a farrier to nationally renowned Show Jumpers. The Royal Bath & West Show is a regional show of national significance evidenced by the arrival of the Prime Minister on the first day. She witnessed the British Cheese Awards and the British Cider Championships – two competitions that are at the heart of the county’s food and drink sector that attract interest from across the globe as more such products are now attracting export interest that the Society tries to nurture. International interest was also evident with EURASCO (the European show association) hosting their AGM with us as did the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth. For me personally, I have the dream job in Somerset! My farming background and the experience gained from leading the Somerset Chamber of Commerce for nearly nine years has equipped to lead the iconic Royal Bath & West of England Society – the host of the Royal Bath & West Show. If you haven’t been to the Show; then you must come next year, and if you want to support what we do, we would be delighted to chat to you about sponsoring some of the activities that we present to 140,000 customers.
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MEMBERS AREA
MEMBERS AREA: UPCOMING EVENTS Tuesday
Raising the Bar #6: Putting your people first
27 June
What can you do to retain good staff, help keep motivation levels high and ensure your team develop new skills and competencies? Join us for breakfast with guest speakers from Rebecca Bevins HR, Hinkley Point Training Agency and Hinkley Point C Jobs Brokerage. Time: 07.30 – 9.30 Venue: Oaktree Arena, Highbridge Cost: £20.00 includes coffees and bacon baps (members only)
Wednesday
Business to Business (B2B) Dinner, Yeovil
5
July
Our next Business to Business Dinner takes place in Ilchester. Join us for a three course dinner in a friendly and relaxed setting with multiple opportunities to network throughout the evening. Time: 19.00 – 22.30 Venue: Northover Manor, Ilchester Cost: £30.00 (members) £60.00 (non-members)
In association with
In association with Sponsored by
Wednesday
Meet the Expert: International Trade
28 June
Thursday
Small Business Accounts Workshop
13 July
Wondering whether now is a good time to start exporting? Or are you already exporting and need advice? Hilary Charman, International Trade Advisor for The Department for International Trade Southwest is hosting a series of free 1-2-1 appointments exclusively for Somerset Chamber members.
Calling small business owners… want to improve your grip on the financial side of your business? Join us for this halfday workshop in association with Wessex Commercial Solutions on what your accounts should be telling you to enable you to make informed decisions when running your business.
Time: 10.00- 14.00 Venue: Somerset Chamber Office Cost: Free (members only)
Time: 09.00 – 13.00 Venue: Somerset Chamber Office Cost: £45.00 (members) £90.00 (non-members)
In association with
In association with
MEMBERS AREA
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*All costs include VAT unless otherwise stated
Thursday
Summer BBQ
20 July
The Somerset Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend a Summer BBQ at the Shrubbery Hotel in Ilminster. Join us for a relaxed networking event and take the opportunity to meet new contacts in this charming setting. Time: 17.30 – 20.30 Venue: Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster Cost: £15.00 (members) £30.00 (non-members)
Friday
Meet the Expert: Cyber Security
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August
Is your website and customer data appropriately protected against possible cyber-attacks? If not, why not attend a free 1-2-1 with Blueloop Ltd for top tips on how to improve your businesses’ cyber security. Time: 10.00- 14.00 (hourly appointments) Venue: Somerset Chamber Office Cost: Free (members only)
In association with
Wednesday
MD & CEO Forum
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Time: 19.00 – 22.00 Venue: Helyar Arms, Yeovil Cost: £38.00 (members-only)
Wednesday
August
This quarterly forum led by Dale Edwards, CEO of the Somerset Chamber is designed to bring together key decision-makers from similar sized businesses to discuss common growing pains over drinks and supper.
Annual Charity Golf Day
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August
We are delighted to welcome golfers of all levels to our 11th Annual golf day, this year in aid of chamber members reminiscence learning. The day comprises of a relaxed golfing tournament followed by a two course dinner, auction and raffle with the aim of raising much needed funds for the chosen charity. Time: 10.00 – 20.00 Venue: Taunton Pickeridge Cost: £60 (per golfer) £240 (per team of four) (breakfast and dinner included)
In association with
Sponsored by
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
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MEMBERS AREA
New Members Welcome to our newest members of the Somerset Chamber. Clark Handling & Storage Equipment Ltd Manufacture Mr John Clark T: 01308 293052 www.clarkhandling.co.uk Cornish Mutual Insurance Miss Sara McAllister T: 01872 246263 www.cornishmutual.co.uk Crisp Professional Development Skills and Training Mrs Roselle Brenchley T: 01392 409198 www.crisp-cpd.com Elizabeth M J Jones Limited Construction Miss Elizabeth Jones M: 07393 300090 liz@elizabethmjjones.com Engineering Energy Ltd Engineering Mr Colin Nutman T: 01179 544770 www.engineering-energy.co.uk Harriet Brine Marketing / PR Miss Harriet Brine T: 07468 515858 www.harrietbrine.com
Hawksmoor Investment Management Finance Mrs Rebecca Fournier D’Albe T: 01823 217777 www.hawksmoorim.co.uk Highline Access Ltd Construction Mr Kevin Young T: 07717 203183 www.highlineaccess.com IMSM Health and Safety Mr Frank Tiley M: 07817 990467 www.imsm.com KPMG Finance Mr Ian Brokenshire T: 01752 632292 www.kpmg.com Pitney Fabrication Co Ltd Construction Mr Tim Walrond T: 01458 274501 www.pitney-fabs.co.uk
Quidos Property Services Mr Philip Salaman T: 01225 326895 www.quidos.co.uk Sharp Business Systems Design Print Mr Chris Griffin M: 07740 839230 www.sharp.co.uk/gb Somerset Finance Finance Mr Michael Carr T: 01278 555455 www.somersetfinance.co.uk South West Growth Service Ltd Business Consultancy Mr Andrew Southall M: 07715 177083 www.southwestgrowthservice.co.uk Weston Electrical Services Construction Mr Adam Sweetland T: 01934 425030 www.wesgroup.co.uk
Prudent Health Cover Insurance Mr Tony Pizii T: 01823 272066 www.prudenthealthcover.com
For more information on Somerset Chamber membership and what we can do for your business, please contact Alistair Tudor, Membership Sales Manager on 01823 444924 or email alistair.tudor@somerset-chamber.co.uk
Member Profile
Name: Kevin Young Company: Highline Access Job title: Director What we do: Rope Access (also known as Abseil Access and Roped Access) is a method of work positioning that allows a multi-skilled technician to descend or ascend on ropes, anywhere on a building or structure regardless of size or access difficulty. We work on Office blocks, Churches, Bridges, Listed Buildings, Cranes, and Telecoms Masts to name but a few. Once in position we can carry out any number of tasks. This could include Cleaning, Building Maintenance, Bird Control, Surveys
and Masonry Repairs. We also install and test safety systems which includes guardrails, anchor bolts and lifelines. What makes us special: We have been trading since 2002 and take safety very seriously. We have a broad range of experience and are one of the few rope access companies
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MEMBERS AREA
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Latest Member to Member Offers As a member of Somerset Chamber, all member business employees are able to take advantage of our great range of member to member offers. To post your own offer or to view all our member to member offers, visit:
www.somersetchamber.co.uk/membership
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Somerset Chamber members receive 15% off White Bruce business development finance services. Call 01172 301955
The Gothelney Farmer are offering a 15% discount for any Chamber member Call 01278 651276
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in the UK to be Helifix approved installers (manufacturers of helical wall ties, fixings & masonry repair systems). We provide all of our operatives with their own safety equipment which is regularly inspected & updated and meets the “Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations - LOLER”. This ensures quality control and tractability. All operatives are trained under IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) training scheme and we always have a Level 3 Supervisor on site. We operate our business in line with ISO 9001 and are SafeContractor and EXOR approved. The driving force behind Highline: To work locally, provide a quality service, keep busy and be varied in our work.
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FEATURE
The South West Growth Fund: Somerset firms take share of £2.3 million business boost Somerset businesses are now benefitting from their share of grants totalling £2.3million from the South West Growth Fund. These first grants from the fund, which was launched last year by Plymouth University’s GAIN team, SWMAS Ltd, South West Water Business Services and the Western Morning News, will deliver 300 new jobs for the region. Supported by the Regional Growth Fund, the £8.7million South West Growth Fund supports transformational projects in businesses, primarily in manufacturing, marine and digital industries and is set to create a total of 1,000 new jobs. The grants will support major expansions and allow a number of manufacturing and engineering firms to invest in the latest equipment to fast-track their growth and help them to compete nationally and internationally.
Businesses are now being encouraged to submit full applications by 12 August 2017 to have a chance of securing a slice of the remaining fund. Eligible manufacturing businesses can access expert advice from SWMAS Ltd, whose manufacturing
specialists are on hand to provide independent technical knowledge and practical training for staff, helping firms make informed investment decisions and then supporting the deployment of new technologies into their production processes. Each successful business will also receive free water and energy audits provided by South West Water Business Services as a continuation of their mission to help regional businesses be more efficient. Adrian Dawson, Head of GAIN at Plymouth University said: “The South West Growth Fund is the latest round of RGF funding to have been secured for the South West by GAIN and regional partners. Together these funds now total more than £20million and are forecast to support the creation of nearly 2,500 new jobs. “As a University, we are particularly pleased that these grants will create a number of high level jobs, helping more of our graduates to stay in the South West as well as boosting innovation across the region.” Simon Howes, Managing Director of SWMAS Ltd, said: “This scheme is unique, combining both funding for capital investment and expert on site support. It is delivering growth to our region and driving productivity improvements for our ambitious clients continuing our 13-year history of championing manufacturing in the South West.”
High growth businesses across the region, from Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Dorset to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly can still apply for grants of up to £1million by visiting: www.gaininbusiness.com/swgf
Who’s benefited so far? Teapot Creative Teapot Creative are a multidiscipline design, web and digital marketing agency based in South Somerset with a passion for people and helping our clients to build successful businesses. We’re lucky enough to have a large and varied range of clients from local SME’s to international enterprise level businesses all of whom are treated with the same level of care and attention.
A year ago we were given the opportunity to become the UK’s Premium Partner Agency for the rapidly growing PrestaShop eCommerce Platform. This was an amazing opportunity but we did have a problem. We weren’t set-up to deliver the services required for us to fulfil the terms of the agreement. To be able to say yes we needed to up-skill and expand our team which meant investment. We contacted the South West Growth Fund to see if they could help. I have to admit that I wasn’t optimistic about gaining any financial help, I thought that funding was something reserved for bigger city based businesses not a small rural company like Teapot. I was pleasantly surprised a week later to be sat in a meeting with a SWGF Project Officer discussing the level of funding available to us. Two weeks later we received approval for more than £20,000 of funding to help grow our business. The business impact of the PrestaShop opportunity and the growth funding that allowed us to take that opportunity have been dramatic. We have employed four new staff and our team have received extensive training enabling us to train other agencies and deliver the highest quality of services to our rapidly growing customer base. We would like to say thank you to the South West Growth Fund for helping Teapot Creative to become the business we are today and providing the springboard for us to achieve even more in the coming years. Ade Lewis, Director
FEATURE
Mages Group
Dan’s Engineering
A third generation family business in Cheddar is redeveloping its facilities, thanks to a £63,000 grant from the South West Growth Fund. Electrical and mechanical engineering Chamber Member Mages Group is aiming to increase its 22-strong workforce thanks to the new equipment and training which the grant has funded.
A Bridgwater metalwork firm is expanding its premises and its team. Dan’s Engineering, Somerset Chamber member has secured a £15,000 grant through the South West Growth Fund and is now extending its building by a third to create a new fabrication workshop.
Established in 1960, Mages Group is now run by its founder’s son, Anthony Mages, and supplies businesses across the region with round-the-clock electrical and mechanical services, as well as manufacturing bespoke solutions. Starting out as a small team servicing local agriculture and quarries from their small workshop beside the Cheddar Reservoir, Mages Group can now offer work of any scale to most industry sectors. Mages Group is using the South West Growth Fund grant to give its facilities at Cheddar Business Park a complete overhaul. With a new test facility, CAD (computer aided design) system and CNC lathe, the firm is aiming to increase its output while keeping costs down whilst maintaining quality for its customers. The firm has expanded its electrical division and already appointed two new electricians, an apprentice and a member of administrative staff in anticipation of its growing capacity. Speaking on behalf of the new management team Ben Mages said: “This investment will help us increase efficiencies and also improve the appearance of our premises, which needs to reflect the professionalism of the business. By being more efficient we aim to keep costs down for our customers and maintain our long term reputation for quality work.”
TMB Patterns “40 years in business is an incredible achievement, our history and long-standing industry experience are key elements to our success. The immediacy of our service has contributed to our growth” Martin Baker, Managing Director of TMB Patterns Ltd. Starting up in June 1977, Bridgwater based TMB Patterns is still owned and managed by Martin Baker. TMB Patterns is a cutting edge thermoforming toolmaker with diversification into sub-contract machining for the nuclear and aerospace sectors. With a multi-million pound turnover employing over 70 highly trained staff many of which are from the local community, servicing a truly international market. With the ever-increasing demands for machines to run both fast and
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efficiently, tooling is getting larger and more complicated, this has led to major machinery investments. At the beginning of 2017 TMB Patterns with the support from SWGF invested in new surface grinder with a maximum bed size of 2000 x 1200; which is one of the largest surface grinders in the UK. The surface grinding machine was part funded with the aid of a grant provided by the South West Growth Fund (SWGF), a grant programme funded by the Governments’ Regional Growth Fund and managed by Plymouth University in partnership with SWMAS Ltd. With a
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
The business which specialises in steel design, welding, fabrication and installation, has just achieved Fit for Nuclear status. The larger workspace will better position the firm for servicing nearby Hinkley Point, as well as taking on bigger projects for existing clients. As a grant recipient, Dan’s Engineering has also received advice from South West Growth Fund partner SWMAS Ltd, who have supported the business in making its space work more efficiently. The expansion, which is due for completion in the autumn, is also creating new skilled jobs by enabling the firm to take on five new qualified fabricators. Jodie Puddy quality manager of Dan’s Engineering said: “We predominantly provide services for the water utilities and food production sectors, but this expansion will help us secure work in new areas. Our order books are full and we have even had to turn away potential new contracts and customers due to lack of capacity, so the expansion will help us meet our current needs as well as positioning us for the future.”
total investment in the Perfect grinder machine of £182,000 the effort was worthwhile. With that and the support provided by RK International the whole process has been straightforward.” As the company looks to the future TMB Patterns is aware of the importance of keeping and developing the skills of its workforce. By working with the local college, TMB Patterns continues to train and develop via the apprenticeship scheme. This along with continued investment, TMB Patterns is still actively looking to be innovative and maintain its position within a thriving but competitive market for the next 40 years. www.tmb-patterns.co.uk
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FEATURE
South West Leadership Academy
Chamber Heroes
Yeovil College and the Somerset Chamber of Commerce are delighted to announce the launch of a South West Leadership Academy.
Every business has its heroes – and Chambers of Commerce are no exceptions.
Numerous business leaders throughout the region have described challenges around recruiting and retaining the workforce they needed, frustrations around productivity, lack of central support – including the quality of leadership and management development – and repeatedly articulated was the lack of space and time needed to really consider how best to lead their businesses to prosperity. In response, Yeovil College, Somerset Chamber and partners, have developed a Leadership Academy to provide as many of the answers its members, associates, colleagues and partners collectively can conjure. Director of Employer Engagement at Yeovil College, Mark Bolton, said, “The Academy really is all about being ‘stronger together’, using our direct and indirect relationships to bring the experts in particular leadership fields into the academy as facilitators every month to support us develop the leadership and management capability throughout the region, so that we may drive a more prosperous business community.” To ensure the Academy stays true its aim of increasing regional prosperity through confident and highly capable leaders and managers, the Academy will be run on a not-for-profit basis, with surplus being directed to bring in increasingly higher profile and world leading leadership development resources. As part of the Academy fee, participants gain membership for three years, giving them six days of leadership development, access to a further 30 days of additional development, and free participation in over 30 networking events, all delivered by the best leaders and leadership coaches in the UK. Mark Bolton further comments, “The development days are very practical. Our brief to our facilitators who have highly successful careers as leaders is; give us your best nuggets of wisdom, and turn them into a simple toolkit that we can all use the next day. Obviously there will be a good sprinkle of leadership theory underpinning the toolkits, but the aim is to equip us all with the knowledge and tools to make an immediate, practical difference. Each month, the development day will be based upon a different theme; Introduction to Leadership and Management, Excellence Through People, Change Management, Finance for Business, Communication in Business and Business Improvement, are just some of the topics which will be covered.” The very first event will be held on 7 September 2017 at a prominent venue in Somerset, with more details to be released in the next few weeks. The Academy is now open for membership and all enquiries should be directed to employerengagement@yeovil.ac.uk. Yeovil College and Somerset Chamber have stated this is a collaborative venture and are particularly keen to hear from those who have encountered a great leader or coach throughout their career. Readers can get in touch by contacting employerengagement@yeovil.ac.uk. A full itinerary of the next 12 months is available upon request.
The British Chambers of Commerce team recently had the privilege of hosting seven exceptional Chamber employees, who have collectively served Chamber members in their areas for over 233 years, and inviting them as our guests to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Take Jennifer Hurley, who has worked for South Wales Chamber for over 44 years – and has been the face and voice of the Chamber’s export documentation business for over four decades. Or Tim Bailey, of West and North Yorkshire Chamber, whose passion for export means he is still innovating with new digital services as he approaches his 35th work anniversary. There’s Anne Marie Hughes, of Glasgow Chamber, who produces the city’s premier business publications and is the heart of the Glasgow Business Awards – who joined the Chamber as an office junior 33 years ago. Lisa Wroe leads Greater Manchester Chamber’s events programme – after 34 years on the team. Jill Smith supports policy work across the Tees Valley for the North East England Chamber, 35 years after starting as an apprentice. Dave Roberts of West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber leads on documentation work and as an export trainer for staff across the region. Both he and Wendy Chaplin of Suffolk Chamber, also an international trade and documentation specialist, have over 25 years’ service to their respective Chambers. These are just seven long-serving Chamber heroes. Amongst the more than 1,500 people working for accredited Chambers of Commerce across the United Kingdom, there are many, many more. Each and every Chamber staff member is part of what I like to call ‘civic business’ in the UK. Many work, often for decades and for less financial reward than they might earn elsewhere, for the direct benefit of the local business communities they serve. They become trusted advisers, not just to Chamber members, but also to local charities, government agencies, schools and colleges, and budding entrepreneurs. They provide exceptional customer service to over 75,000 Chamber member companies – and their five million employees. They help thousands of businesses trade overseas, using their knowledge of customs processes and different markets to help firms export and import successfully. Many inspire and train the next generation, guiding young people through apprenticeships and careers fairs, serving as governors at local schools, and mentoring one-to-one. Year after year, they sustain Chambers as private-sector businesses, operating in an always-complex, always-competitive environment. People sit at the heart of every single business, regardless of its size, sector or location. Chambers of Commerce – who are in business for business – are no different. So here’s to the everyday heroes in each and every accredited Chamber across the land – who help our proud, passionate local and regional business communities grow and thrive. Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce
Somerset Energy Innovation Centre
FEATURE
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The Somerset Energy Innovation Centre is a bustling and increasingly vibrant place for the HPC and wider low carbon energy supply chain to base their Somerset operations. With key tenants including EDF and major Tier 1s such as Kier Bam, Costain and G4S, alongside local consortiums HOST, FACE, SPS and Somerset Larder, the Centre is home to many businesses that are creating new partnerships and drawing on the skills, expertise, products and services of companies across Somerset. The Centre is seeing an increase in working together, collaborating to both win work and more generally support the project. With the demand for space and a location near to the project as well as key suppliers growing, a new suite of dedicated desks is being made available. These dedicated desks are offered on easy in/easy out terms in a shared space amongst other suppliers where businesses can base their HPC lead. It gives businesses a presence in the building, provides their team with the chance to bump into the right people over a coffee and most importantly offers them the chance to communicate their capabilities to fellow tenants. Dedicated desk users are introduced through the newsletter to all tenants at the Centre, added to the Tenant Directory, invited to the supply chain events,tenant breakfasts and have discounted rates on all meeting and board room bookings. If you would like to find out more about the dedicated desk offering or indeed the Centre in general, please don’t hesitate to contact the team there and perhaps take the opportunity to drop by, see the facilities and find out if it could work for you.
info@seicentre.co.uk | 0117 403 4655 | www.somersetenergyinnovationcentre.co.uk
Hinkley Basecamp With an increasing amount of inward investment and local growth on the back of the HPC opportunity, Hinkley Basecamp is the portal for the HPC supply chain seeking workspace near to their site operations. Like an iceberg, there is often a large support team working hard behind the scenes to support the many complex projects that make up a new power station. Suppliers need space for teams of people who are essential to HPC, but just not wearing hard hats and boots on site. Hinkley Basecamp provides a portal for those suppliers needing to locate flexible space in the key locations of Bridgwater and Bristol, from which they can base their operations. With a fantastic range of space available, the Hinkley Basecamp team are busy helping businesses move into the area, not to mention supporting local businesses that have outgrown their existing accommodation and need more flexible workspace to grow with them, as they seek to win more work though Hinkley and the wider economic growth it brings to the county. If you are seeking space, or have high quality office space available and would like to be a Basecamp partner, then check out www.hinkleybasecamp.co.uk
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
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#WELL CONNECTED Somerset Business Awards Launch
Office 365 Workshop
p The Mount Somerset Hotel, Taunton - Dale Edwards speaking
p Steve Bloomer, Springboard IT (Speaker)
Business to Business Dinner, Highbridge
p The Mount Somerset Hotel, Taunton - Mark Bolton, Yeovil College p Caroline Phillimore, Poolbridge Accountancy Ltd; Sam Evans, Somerset Chamber of Commerce
p Beki Sharman, ADPR; Mike Cahill, Albert Goodman; Dale Edwards, Somerset Chamber; Mark Bolton, Yeovil College; Charlotte Goodby, ADPR
p Hannah Hill, Poolbridge Accountancy; Alistair Tudor, Somerset Chamber of Commerce; Debbie Morris, Concillium HR
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
#WELL CONNECTED
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Meet the Neighbours, Dorset Somerset Young Professionals Event
pq Hornsbury Mill, Chard
p Steve Bulley, Dorset Chamber of Commerce; Julie Grant, Blueloop Ltd; Darryn Knowles, Blueloop Ltd
p Richard Howes, Kontrolit; Ash Phillips, Yena Global
TWEETS QES Breakfast Briefing
@chambersomerset
Great to hear from Mark from @YeovilCollege on their success at last year’s @SomBizAwards #SBA2017 @AG_LLP
Great to meet @chambersomerset at launch of the @SomBizAwards today, and sponsors of the awards @AG_LLP @pkfFrancisClark @ACMoleAndSons @PropertyTaxNerd
p Helen Lacey, Red Berry Recruitment; Karen Morledge, Plum Communication & PR
We’re looking forward to the #B2B dinner with @chambersomerset @events_scoc and meeting businesses from the #Somerset region. See you there! @ItecUK
Great Q&A at @events_scoc @TheIoD #cybercrime event today at which we spoke on GDPR and cyber crime prevention @dale_scoc @AlisonHernandez @southwestcsc
p John Endacott, PKF Francis Clark
Great lunch with @chambersomerset and @DorsetChamber. @WRFCA reminded us of the skills brought to business by cadets, reserves and veterans. @WessexLinda Interesting Q&A discussion on skills shortages in #Somerset & the #SouthWest. Good points made @Helen_Lacey and @dale_scoc #QES @TangierCentral
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THE BIG INTERVIEW An Interview with…
Justin Sargent, CEO of Somerset Community Foundation. Somerset Community Foundation manages over 70 charitable funds set up by local businesses, trusts, families and local authorities. Since 2002 they have awarded over £7m in grants to thousands of local causes in Somerset, led the £1.5m Flood Relief Fund appeal in 2014, and devised the award-winning Surviving Winter campaign. Justin is married to Sally, a photographer, and they have three children.
When you were at school, what did you want to be when you grew up? I didn’t have a fixed idea but I really felt I wanted to do something that enabled me to get to know people and places and not just be stuck in an office. My gran had hopes of me becoming a country parson, but I didn’t quite get there!
What was your very first job? I started out awarding ‘Countryside Stewardship’ grants in Lancashire and then Herefordshire. It was a brilliant time that brought me into contact with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and enabled me to visit parts of our countryside I would never have seen otherwise. It was helped me understand better much more clearly the links between environment, society and economy.
What is the Somerset Community Foundation and how did you come to be involved? Somerset Community Foundation inspires local philanthropy, providing a simple and effective way to give locally. We work with number of local families, businesses, trusts and local authorities to help target more funding to our local charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Prior to joining the Foundation I spent two years in Lesotho working with local NGOs, nominally on environmental and food security. I was so inspired by these small groups, led by local people, tackling local problems in their own way usually with very little funding. The contrast with the approach of some of the international ‘boom and bust’ NGOs was striking (though I must add here that ‘Send a Cow’, based near Bath, was a terrific exception to the rule). When I returned to the UK I wanted to carry on this kind of work, supporting our local charities in the UK. I had not heard of Community Foundations, but the opportunity at Somerset Community Foundation fitted my aspirations for the next stage of my career.
What is your vision for the Somerset Community Foundation? I want the Foundation to become the ‘go to’ place for anyone or any business that wants to invest in its community. Businesses that want to support their local community can often be overwhelmed by requests for help and it can difficult to know which is the right one to support. We provide a simple way to help donors target their donations to effective and well-run groups that match their goals for their giving.
25 In what way does the ‘third sector’ currently integrate with the business sector, and how do you see the connection progressing in the future? People are often very cynical about why businesses get involved with charities at all. In my experience businesses choose to give to local charities because, first and foremost, it feels like the right thing to do. Personally I don’t think there is anything wrong with capitalising upon your support to a charity to convey your values as a business to clients and customers…as long as the relationship is not exploitative. We certainly should do more to celebrate giving in our country. There is also something really important about demonstrating your values to employees as well, and there is certainly much more that can be done for staff to get to know the causes their employer is supporting; if it is done well it helps with morale, motivation and recruitment. Many Somerset businesses are very generous in their financial support for local charities, but some of the most effective charities are not geared up to market themselves and fail to attract the support they need. Part of our job is to give donors a wider choice of causes that can make the best use of their donations, and then coordinate that funding to make it more effective. I would like to see more long-term relationships between businesses and charities that involves more than just funding. In particular many charities need short-term help with things like financial systems, ICT and governance. Senior managers of charities may benefit from access to training opportunities or coaching. I am also interested in how we can get more young people starting their careers to join charities as trustees – it can be very rewarding and help personal and professional development but also will help charities struggling with the governance and trustee succession. Finally we are beginning to see more ‘third sector’ organisations set up as social enterprises or establish trading arms that either directly deliver charitiable benefits, or deliver income to help charities thrive. Buying into these services can be a great way to support a worthy cause.
Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies? It’s all the usual stuff – photography, cinema, books, travel, cooking – but my secret is that I completed the world’s highest abseil down the Semonkong waterfall in 2004, all 204m of it, in possibly the record (slowest) time of about 50 minutes, with my eyes shut for most of it. The photo above shows the site.
What challenges and opportunities do you envisage the ‘third sector’ will face over the coming years? In Somerset we rely heavily on small, local charities. We know it is these organisations that are seeing the fastest rise in demand for their services while also facing the greatest challenges in funding. Around a third are running on little or no reserves and that leaves them very vulnerable: we don’t always notice when they are there, but we will certainly notice it when they have gone. The answer is, of course, more complicated that just getting more money into the sector, although that is important. We need to see more charities adopt business models that incorporate an element of income generation to become more sustainable, and that is why we have worked with Somerset County Council to develop a social investment programme to help new social enterprises start and grow. There is also, arguably, a case to be made for a reduction in the number of charities and the level of duplication but I think this is often overstated. (How often do you hear someone complain about there being too many independent shops on our high streets?) Many small charities simply do not want to grow and while collaboration can be really useful, it can also take a lot of time and energy that few organisations have to spare, especially across a county as large as Somerset.
Is philanthropy, both individual and corporate, on the rise in the South West and where do you see it going? There is certainly a rise of interest in giving in better and more effective ways. There is also, perhaps as a result of the collapse of Kids Company, more concern about choosing the right causes to support and that is leading more people to look locally for causes they can trust. That, in turn, makes our job at the Foundation more important. We also need to do more to explain the level of need in Somerset. From the level of mental health issues in young people to the impact of loneliness and isolation on older people, hidden below the rural idyll there are serious issues where our local play an incredibly important role. I am also having more conversations about a ‘venture philanthropy’ approach that can combine funding with professional support and that, I think, is a very interesting development. That in turn may involve more interest in social investment where we combine traditional grant-making with loans.
What is the best advice you have ever been given? Luck has nothing to do with it.
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
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MEMBER NEWS Rachael takes a hike for The Royal British Legion Rachael Brannagan, Regional Employer Engagement Director at Wessex RFCA will be taking on a mammoth challenge later on this year. She will be flying to India, where she will be trekking on behalf of The Royal British Legion in memory of her father, Robert Williams, who died during his service in the Royal Navy aged 35.
The Challenge begins at the foothills of the Himalayas in Dharmasala, from there Rachael and the expedition team will make their way up to the Bhagsunag Waterfall, after this point the team will set about tackling a peak a day over six days. They will either be sleeping in a range of disused Monasteries, in -5 conditions or getting back to nature in the good old great outdoors. Trekking for 6 – 7 hours a day in High Altitude is likely to have its own challenges but Rachael and the team are determined to finish on time, at the Baijnath Temple. Rachael’s charity of choice is The Royal British Legion, they provide lifelong support for the Armed Forces Community – serving men and women,
veterans, and their families. If you would like to sponsor her please go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Rachael-Brannagan Training so far has included: Trekking for 5 days in Costa Rica with some ex-serving Royal Marines • Walking between 10 – 20 miles regularly • Rachael will be completing the UK 3 Peak Challenge in August in preparation for the trek in September.
Ashfords LLP host charity hog roast for Alzheimer’s Society National law firm Ashfords recently organised and hosted a delicious hog roast at their Taunton office on Blackbrook Business Park to raise vital funds for the firm’s charity of the year, Alzheimer’s Society. The event raised nearly £600 for charity, and was attended by local businesses and a number of representatives from businesses located on the park, including from Clerksroom, Handelsbanken, Foot Anstey, Porter Dodson, City & Guilds, AC Mole,
Savills, Strongvox, Peter Brett Associates, AT&M Insurance, Kiddi Caru, Viridor, Francis Clark, Milsted Langdon and the Chairman of Somerset Care. The Chief Executive of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, Dale Edwards, also attended the event. Jason Squire, Partner and Head of Ashfords’ Taunton office, commented: “This was a fantastic fundraising initiative for our charity of the year, and we are thrilled to have raised almost £600 for Alzheimer’s Society. It was great to see such a positive turnout of guests from across the business park and the hog roast proved to be an excellent way to connect and continue to build on our relationships with the local businesses in Taunton.”
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
MEMBER NEWS
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BRISTOL AIRPORT CELEBRATES
60 YEARS OF FLYING – AND LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
Two very special aircrafts took centre stage as Bristol Airport celebrated 60 years of flying from its current site in North Somerset today.
Almost six decades to the day since the Duchess of Kent officially opened the Airport in May 1957, a Douglas DC-3 – a mainstay of commercial airline fleets in the Fifties – returned to Bristol for the first time since making its final passenger flights nine years ago. The Dakota lined up next to its modern-day equivalent – an Airbus A319 – which easyJet has named Spirit of Bristol to mark the Airport’s anniversary. Today Bristol Airport is flying high, with more than 8 million passengers expected to pass through the terminal during 2017 but back in 1957 the world was very different place. The airline industry as we know it today was still in its infancy and just 33,000 people used the Airport in its first year of operation – similar to a busy 24 hours today! The origins of Bristol Airport can be traced back to the city’s early aviation pioneers, forming out of a flying club at Filton funded by public subscription before moving to a site at Whitchurch to the south of the city. Following the end of the Second World War, a ten year campaign began to secure a new site for a municipal airport, finally settling on the former RAF base at Lulsgate. Bristol Airport is now England’s third largest regional airport, with direct flights to more than 120 destinations in 30 different countries. Having invested more than £160 million in new infrastructure and facilities since 2010, the Airport is well positioned to serve passengers across the South West of the UK, as providing a gateway to the region for international visitors.
Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, said: “Looking back over our 60 year history is a reminder of how far we have come from the days when flying was a special experience for a small number of people. Air travel today has made new sights, experiences and opportunities accessible to millions, but it is important we in the South West do not take our international connectivity for granted. “At Bristol Airport, we are incredibly proud of our past and what we have achieved in the last 60 years. We are also excited about our future and very mindful of the important responsibility we have to connect the South West and South Wales to the world and to keep pace with the growing demand for air travel that our vibrant economy generates. New aircraft technology, automation of passenger processes, digital disruption of established business models and, most importantly, the challenges of climate change all mean we will need to adapt and innovate as we write the next chapter in Bristol Airport’s history. “Over the coming months we will be updating our existing Master Plan, setting out long-term forecasts and future infrastructure requirements, to ensure we are best placed to meet this demand and these challenges. The views of customers, employees, neighbours and other stakeholders will be essential in shaping the Airport’s future so we will be consulting widely on our current thinking later this year.”
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MEMBER NEWS
IT students design new website for Somerset Day A group of tech-savvy IT students from Richard Huish College were chosen to complete a website design project for Passion for Somerset to help promote and celebrate Somerset Day. Ed Roper, Emi Witt, Melisa Huckle and Ryan Hughes, who all study the Vocational IT Extended and Subsidiary Diploma, took on the project back in March after being approached by the Chairman of Passion for Somerset, Nigel Muers-Raby. The students involved in the project were invited to join the ‘Celebrating Somerset Talent’ evening at the Temple Methodist Church on Thursday 11th May, which marked the official launch of the website (www.somersetday.com). Thanks and recognition was given to Richard Huish College and its students for its collaboration on this project, where they received an award for their hard work. Rachel Connor, IT Course Manager, commented: “The website project was a challenge, working to tight deadlines and a very specific brief but an excellent experience of working with a client on a real IT product. The students worked incredibly well as a team, coordinated by Ed who acted as project manager as well
as undertaking a lot of the coding. Ryan’s creativity was a real asset to the project; he came up the design, created the website template and worked on the aesthetic elements. Melisa and Emi were the driving force behind all the content and testing. I’m really proud of their achievements and to be awarded at the Somerset talent awards topped it off.” The website now proudly carries the tag ‘The Directors of Passion for Somerset would like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the students at Richard Huish College, Taunton and the team at Wyke Farms who have designed and built this website’. The celebration evening also included the work by Huish graphics student, Leala Jacobs, for the winning Somerset Day logo which has been prominent throughout the Somerset Day promotion. Nigel Muers-Raby Head of Marketing at Pardoes Solicitors and Chairman of Passion for Somerset, said, “We are delighted to have been able to collaborate with Huish and the hugely talented group of students. Somerset Day is all about celebrating Somerset, its products and its people and what better way to do this than to work with the future generation of our great county, Somerset.”
Website design team with Duke of Somerset The website can be viewed here www.somersetday.com
Leala Jacobs and Duke of Somerset
Time for a change... After 22 years of Executive Recruitment Amberley has re-branded to Amberley Management, removing the word Recruitment from our title. It is little known over recent years we have applied our Executive Search tactics towards finding potential buyers for SME owners, wishing to exit their business or bring in different skills. The unique route has proved to be very successful at finding the right person to buy into a business. For owners we are an excellent alternative to using a more typical Business Agency, to handle a sale. We are still actively involved in executive recruitment for senior level management roles. If you would like more information about any of our services, please do not hesitate to contact Derek Smart on 07860 714484. www.amberleymanagement.co.uk
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
MEMBER NEWS
Celebration of all things Somerset for a ‘plum’ business Somerset businesses were invited to help celebrate Weston-super-Mare based Plum Communications & PR’s seventh birthday with a vineyard tour and wine tasting event that also marked the occasion of Somerset Day 2017. The marketing and PR agency, based in Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare invited clients to join them at the Avalon vineyard in Shepton Mallet, the home of Pennard organic wines and ciders, for an exclusive tour of the vineyard.
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Lloyds & Colin Mear Taunton-based Colin Mear Engineering has secured a £250,000 investment from Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking to support plans to diversify into new markets. The company, founded in 1992, designs and builds machinery used to create packaging products for clients working in the food, drink and pharmaceutical sectors.
Plum’s guests included new client Exelin, the sister company of SWMAS. Exelin joined with other Somerset-based businesses at the event in May to share special Somerset Day cakes and sample some of the plum wine produced by Hugh Trip, who has been growing organically growing wines, mead and cider at Avalon vineyard since 1981. Karen Morledge, Managing Director of Plum, explained the significance of the event: “I think that successfully running a business should be celebrated every year, but the last 12 months have been a particularly challenging time so this milestone meant a lot to me. I wanted to say not only thank you to my fantastic clients and my colleagues, but also to celebrate just what a wonderful place Somerset is to work and all that our beautiful county has to offer. “I’m thrilled to be going in to our eighth year of trading in Somerset in really great shape; Plum is taking on new clients and continues to receive over 85% of new business as a result of recommendations and referrals. I have some exiting plans for the future and very much look forward to growing the business over the longer term.” Laura Lismore, Marketing Manager at Exelin which has recently appointed Plum as its PR consultancy, had this to say of the celebration: “Having appointed Plum just this month, it was wonderful to be invited to join them in a really beautiful part of our county and to enjoy the afternoon with them and other clients, discussing the thriving condition of Somerset’s economy. I’m very much looking forward to working with Plum over the next 12 months.” Plum was founded in 2010 and specialises in: property and housing; leisure and tourism; and professional services sectors in Somerset and the wider South West. Karen was recently appointed by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations as judge for the Excellence Awards 2017, the industry’s most prestigious awards in the UK, being hosted in London on the 6th June.
It secured the export finance facility from Lloyds Bank with support from the government through UK Export Finance (UKEF). The funding has helped the business complete new contracts oversees as it looks to diversify into supporting packaging businesses in other sectors. Paul Knight, managing director at Colin Mear Engineering, said: “This is an exciting time for us as we commit to new expansion plans. “We’re already one of the leading manufacturers of bespoke packaging machinery in the UK, but are very keen to establish a name for ourselves in new markets as we grow, to both spread risk and increase our opportunity base.” Andrew Lucas, relationship director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Colin Mear Engineering is a great example of a business that recognised the benefits of diversifying and has used trade finance to support their exports without damaging their cashflow.” Colin Mear Engineering is based on Combe Wood and employs 100 members of staff with an annual turnover of £11m.
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MEMBER NEWS
Calling all keen cyclists for St. Margaret’s Hospice St. Margaret’s Hospice is proud to launch its brand new cycling event, The Great Somerset Cycle, and is asking all keen Somerset cyclists to sign up and help raise vital funds for the hospice. Taking place on Sunday 6th August, participants will get to take in the full beauty of the Somerset countryside in summer, while enjoying a challenge in aid of St. Margaret’s. The event offers participants to start at either St. Margaret’s Yeovil or Taunton Hospice and cyclists can then choose whether they want to ride 38 miles (from one hospice to another) or, for the brave, 75 miles (from one hospice to another and back again). The majority of the ride will take place on quiet B roads which will be marshalled for safety with on-course mechanical support available. On the day of the event, registration will open at 8am and the ride will begin at 9am. Entry is £35 for the 38-mile cycle or £40 for the 75-mile cycle, and cyclists will receive a cycling jersey and medal to celebrate their achievement.
Richard Wallace, St. Margaret’s Events Manager, said: “We are really excited to bring this cycling event to Somerset and, with the differing start points and distance options, we hope it will appeal to cyclists of all abilities. Taking place in the summer it should be a beautiful ride that offers stunning views of the Somerset scenery. “As a Somerset charity, St. Margaret’s needs to raise over £7.5million every year to provide our vital care. It’s events like The Great Somerset Cycle that help us towards this target, enabling us to continue to provide support to thousands of local people facing a life-limiting illness.” For more information please visit www.somerset-hospice.org.uk
Yeovil College Performing Arts students win Pearson Showstopper Challenge Eight students from the College Performing Arts course have won the Pearson BTEC Awards Showstopper Challenge and will be performing at the 2017 BTEC Awards Ceremony on Thursday 6 July in London at the world-famous Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster. Pearson selected three winning acts (individuals and/or groups) who are invited to attend and perform live on stage at the 2017 BTEC Awards Ceremony. All performers will receive a special BTEC award and certificate. The performers were tasked to create a performance based on the word ‘Future’ and were given only 5 minutes to perform their piece.
The students are performing a powerful interpretation piece aptly named ‘Warned’ which is about the affects humans have on the environment and how we are choosing to ignore the warnings we are given and just watch as the world slowly
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
MEMBER NEWS
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Boldscan’s glamping tents scoop VisitEngland 2017 awards VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2017 have named The Dandelion Hideaway as the Winner and Longlands as a Finalist in the brand new Glamping category. Both sites have Tsavo safari tents from Somerset glamping equipment manufacturer, Albion Canvas at Boldscan with stylish interiors including wood burning stoves, en suite bathroom, a large living and dining area and two bedrooms. MD, Steve Hansford, commented, “The Dandelion Hideaway and Longlands were amongst our first clients, so we are thrilled that they have received such a prestigious award. The trend for this idyllic escape from the high tech world has really taken off and we are currently setting up sites from the Isle of Wight to Scotland. It is great that VisitEngland have officially recognised this unique holiday and the word, a blend of Glamorous and Camping, has even made the Oxford Dictionary*. ” Boldscan originally set up in 1990 to create canvas vehicle covers. They were quick to spot the potential for Glamping, devising a range of high quality tents; from safari style, to bell and futuristic geodesic domes manufactured in Wellington, Somerset. The first clients were mostly farmers looking to diversify, but they have also set up sites at holiday parks and zoos, including The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Chessington World of Adventures Resort. In addition, a unique clear span (ie no poles) canvas Clubhouse has provided the solution for cafes at chic galleries like Hauser & Wirth and award winning cheese makers, Quickes. In addition to advising on planning permission, green finance, supplying and fitting out the tents with kitchens, wood burning stoves and even en-suite bathrooms, the company offers an after sales maintenance programme.
collapses around us. We need to make these changes for ourselves, our future selves and for our children. Aidan Spencer, Performing Arts student, said: “We’ve had a great amount of support and encouragement throughout the course. I’m looking forward to performing in London it will be an amazing experience!” Lucy Scott, Performing Arts Lecturer at Yeovil College, said “I’m so proud of the students for their dedication. They’re a passionate group and an inspiration to all striving to progress in the Arts industry. They are some of the most talent first year students I have ever had the pleasure of teaching and they have set the bar incredibly high. “The win is hugely deserved and this is a chance for the students to show just how talented they really are both as individuals and as a group.” The BTEC Awards Showstopper Challenge is open to all current BTEC students aged 14 or over.
For further information please contact: www.albioncanvas.co.uk * 1. Glamping (noun) A form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping: ‘glamping is likely to satisfy any city slicker seeking a little refuge in nature — without foregoing any of life’s luxuries’
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BUSINESS NEWS
Reducing childcare costs for working parents in Somerset Find out more about two new government schemes introduced to help parents with the cost of childcare.
30 hours funded childcare
Which families will qualify?
From 1st September 2017, the government is increasing the entitlement to funded childcare for 3 and 4 year olds from 570 hours per year to 1140 hours per year for eligible working parents.
• Both parents must be working (including self-employed)
This means many families will be able to claim up to 30 hours per term-time week for each of their three or four-year-olds. If stretched across 50 weeks of the year - this works out at up to 22.8 hours per week. These additional hours can support employees of businesses across Somerset who are struggling with their childcare costs, or who may be looking to increase their working hours. The potential savings for working families could be up to £5,000 per year!
• Both need to earn on average, at least the equivalent of 16 hours on the National Minimum or Living Wage per week (at least £120 per week each) • Both must earn less than £100,000 a year Parents must apply for this new offer at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk Fuller terms and conditions of the offer can be found on our Somerset County Council page via www.somerset.gov.uk/eye30
Tax Free Childcare Tax Free Childcare is an online payment account, topped up by the Government, which parents use solely to pay their childcare costs. For every £8 that families pay in, the Government will make a top-up payment of £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 for disabled children). Tax-Free Childcare will be available for children under 12 years old (under 17 years old for disabled children) and can be used to contribute towards nursery, childminder and after-school care. To be eligible, parents must be in work (including self-employment) and each earning at least £120 per week and not more than £100,000 per year. The offer will be introduced to parents with the youngest children first and gradually rolled out so that all parents will be able to apply by the end of 2017.
You can find out about all government childcare offers at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. Parents can use the online childcare calculator to see which offer best suits them.
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017
BUSINESS NEWS
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Business Emergency Resilience Group say ‘prepare’ An initiative of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Duke of Rothesay, the Business Emergency Resilience Group (BERG) helps businesses and communities across the UK to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies such as flooding, cyber-attacks and civil unrest. BERG’s 10 minute plan is designed to help small to mediumsized businesses prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, such as flooding, cybercrime and civil unrest.
“I have no time to prepare my business for potential disruptions”. “It might not happen to my business, so what is the point”? The biggest barriers to being prepared are not making time and thinking it will not happen to your business. It happens to many businesses and those without plans learned the hard way. Download the 10 Minute Plan from the Business in the Community website and follow the three simple steps.
Take 10 minutes to help prepare your business Whether you are a large, medium or small business disruptions can happen anywhere at any time. Disruption to people (customers and staff) and logistics (supply chain, utilities and transport) are the most frequently occurring problems
Following these straight forward practical steps could lessen the impact on your business, and reduce insurance premiums and claims. www.bitc.org.uk
Unfortunately, small and medium-sized businesses are often more vulnerable and major disruptions can often prove fatal. Taking time to plan and prepare your business can save you time and money when something untoward happens.
Human error to blame for almost half of all data breaches Human error accounts for almost half of all data breach incidents, a review of data from the Information Commissioner’s Office has suggested. Analysis by Egress Software Technologies also revealed that the healthcare sector suffered – with 2,247 – the highest number of incidents between January 2013 and December 2016. These accounted for 43% of all reported incidents in the time period.
Egress said analysis of the 221 incidents occurring between October and December 2016 revealed that the top-ranking incident types were:
24%
Theft or loss of paperwork
Other principle 7 failure
19%
The sector with the second highest number of reported incidents was local government, with 642 or 11% of the total. Egress said that while healthcare had the highest volume of incidents, others were increasing more rapidly. The courts and justice sector experienced the most significant increase in incidents, up 290% since 2014, placing it in the top five worst affected sectors by the last quarter of 2016.
22%
Data faxed/posted to incorrect recipient
9%
Data sent by email to incorrect recipient
5%
Failure to redact data
Tony Pepper, CEO and co-founder of Egress, said: “While it’s clear there is a security problem in healthcare, these figures show that it is as much about internal activity as external threat. “There’s no doubt that someone inadvertently emailing a spreadsheet containing sensitive patient details to the wrong person isn’t as good a headline as a ransomware attack, but that does not diminish the threat it poses.” Earlier this week the ICO imposed a £150,000 monetary penalty on Basildon Council after it published sensitive personal information about a family in planning application documents that were made publicly available online.
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TOWN CHAMBER NEWS
Taunton Chamber of Commerce There were a number of changes at the Taunton Chamber of Commerce following the AGM in April. Colin Barrell stepped down as President after serving for a period of 5 years, Nick Farrant the Treasurer retired from his role and Chamber Administrator of Ten Years Jane Burden also retired. The new team of President - Nigel Pearce, Vice President - Adam Townley, Treasurer - Laurence Basset, and new Administrator Caroline Kelly look forward to the challenge of keeping the Chamber moving forward and supporting our members. The Chamber has had a successful series of events during the past months, which have included a breakfast at the Taunton Tourist Centre to celebrate English Tourism Week, where we heard about the initiatives being brought forward to promote Taunton as a tourist destination and as a good place to do business. In April the annual Business Bursary Awards were held in conjunction with the AGM. Awards sponsored by local businesses were presented by The Mayor to Business Studies students from two of the four secondary schools in Taunton. Colin Barrell also attended the annual award ceremony at Richard Huish College in his last appointment as President. Education also featured in our May event when we visited the Taunton Campus of Taunton and Bridgwater College to
hear about plans for University College Somerset and the development of new courses, particularly those which will be led by employer requirements. In addition to our events the Chamber has also attended meetings of the Taunton Economic Advisory Board. Nigel, in his new role as President spoke on behalf of the Chamber in radio interviews on BBC Somerset regarding ‘The availability of retail units in the town centre’ and ‘The potential impact, should Taunton Flower Show, move from its current home in Vivary Park’.
For more information on Taunton Chamber of Commerce or to book for an event please contact Caroline: office @taunton-chamber.co.uk or visit our website: www.taunton-chamber.co.uk
Affiliate Town Chambers & Business Associations Axbridge Chamber of Commerce T: 01934 733078 | E: maggie@paceforliving.co.uk www.axbridgechamber.co.uk
Levels’ Best Community Interest Company T: 01935 851280 | E: enquiries@levelsbest.co.uk www.levelsbest.co.uk
Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce T: 01278 228004 | E: talk@bridgwaterchamber.org.uk www.bridgwaterchamber.org.uk
Shepton Mallet & District Chamber T: 01749 681413 | E: alan@stonessa.co.uk www.shepton.biz
Bruton Chamber of Commerce T: 01749 813291 | E: brutonchamber@gmail.com
Somer Valley Chamber of Commerce T: 07530 042627 | E: plenty.jon@gmail.com www.somervalleychamber.com
Burnham-on-Sea Chamber of Trade & Commerce T: 01278 238959 | E: deryk@kds-interiors.co.uk www.burnhamonseachamber.org Cheddar Chamber of Commerce & Industry T: 01934 742326 | E: huw@riversidecheddar.co.uk www.cheddartradersassociation.co.uk Frome Chamber of Commerce T: 01749 342255 | E: president@fromechamber.com www.fromechamber.com Ilminster Chamber of Commerce T: 01460 240554 | E: info@ilminsterchamber.org.uk www.ilminsterchamber.org.uk
Taunton Chamber of Commerce T: 01823 230898 | E: office@taunton-chamber.co.uk www.taunton-chamber.co.uk Wincanton Chamber of Commerce & Trade T: 01963 34327 | E: info@wincantonbusiness.co.uk www.wincantonbusiness.co.uk Wiveliscombe & 10 Parish Business Group T: 01984 684777 | E: secinfo@10pbg.co.uk www.10pbg.co.uk Yeovil Chamber of Commerce T: 01935 804999 | E: secretary@yeovilchamber.org www.yeovilchamber.org
SOMERSET VOICE | THE MAGAZINE OF SOMERSET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JUNE/JULY 2017