Business April 2013

RM BUSINESS

lifestyle

ISSUE 1

business Havering Business Awards 2013 Entries open 1st May

Franchising

We look at a different approach

Essex Networking Get involved in local business

RM EXCLUSIVELY ESSEX

Heston Blumenthal Why he’s not worried about the recession

1

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The RM Business Team Editor in Chief Tony Wittridge tony@rmbusiness.co.uk Editor Amber Sudbury amber@rmbusiness.co.uk Art Editor Jade Warrington jade@rmbusiness.co.uk Brand Sales Manager Rob Wittridge rob@rmbusiness.co.uk Sales Manager Simon Parry simon@rmbusiness.co.uk Networking Barry Hicks whatson@rmbusiness.co.uk

From the

Editor Welcome to the very first edition of RM Business. Putting this issue together has been an incredible insight into the community that surrounds us. Supporters, contributors and well wishers have flooded our phones and inboxes with offers of support and counsel, to which we are extremely grateful. Thank you. We hope that you enjoy this issue and the many more to come plus all that it has to offer.

The Leveson inquiry has now been an ongoing topic of discussion, of which we have been drip fed information over the past couple of years. Many interesting, outrageous and unlawful insights have come to fruition as a result and the debate remains; are we better off for it?

Former News of the World reporter Paul McMullan gave us all a rather grim insight into his unethical stance on reporting, stating that ‘privacy is for paedos’ and that newspaper sales defined the public interest. Well I hear that there’s quite a buoyant market for drugs, but we all know that’s wrong.

Administration Brooke Warrington brooke@rmbusiness.co.uk

The introduction of a press regulator with the intention of restoring public trust in the conduct of newspapers was welcomed by the House of Commons, despite Mr Cameron promising not to introduce any laws relating to the press during his term. The proposed editorial code will be written by a committee consisting mainly of editors and journalists, although Lord Leverson did suggest that newspapers should continue to self-regulate and have no interference from the government over what they publish.

Other Contributors: Katie Flynn, Jessica Groom, Hayley Baldwin, Warren Knight, Yvonne Bendall, Cllr Michael White, Cllr Ron Ower, Claire Ward and Sarah Hurst

This does not mean that free speech is dead as so many are declaring, we still have a right to our own opinion, instead now, newspapers must take caution before printing stories that contain information that could potentially destroy the life of another person; only seems fair.

One of the most interesting pieces of information gathered from the inquiry was learning that one of Hugh Grant’s middle names is Mungo.

Amber

Amber Sudbury Editor

Tony Wittridge Editor in Chief

Want To Talk To Us? 01708 475789 www.rmbusiness.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @RMbusiness and facebook.com/rmbusiness

Published by RM Magazine Ltd. Please note that while the publishers take care to be accurate, no liability will be accepted under any circumstance should any of the contents of this magazine be incorrect.

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Contents 30

10 10

Business Focus

32

What’s on

16

Work Force

34

Lifestyle

22

Sales & Marketing

38

Car Review

28

Money Matters

40

Technology

30

In Borough

42

Classified

22

Tweets of the month 6 rmbusiness.co.uk

Lord Sugar @Lord_Sugar, 18 March 13 Can you believe the proposal in Cyprus. Unless I am going nuts are they saying they will simply take 10% or more from people’s bank account?

Rand Fishkin @randfish, 21 Mar 13 "If you build something of value that attracts visitors & Google changes the rules, you’ve still built something" Deborah Meaden @DeborahMeaden, 15 March 13 I agree with principal of the under occupancy charge with local discretion #bbcqt can’t be right there are homeless whilst rooms are empty.

Duncan Bannatyne @DuncanBannatyne, 18 March 13 Delivered the cake & the winner is very happy with it. I am taking a silent bow.

Zig Ziglar @TheZigZiglar, 20 Mar 13 "People often say that motivation don't last. Neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily."- Zig Ziglar

this month’s news

The Leveson in layman’s The Leveson Inquiry aims to improve the national newspapers’ relationships between the public, police and politicians. While it supports the freedom of the press, it encourages the highest ethical standards.

This inquiry has recently developed. It has been announced that a press regulator would be established through the vehicle of a Royal Charter, with the power to order errant newspapers to publish prominent apologies and to fine them up to £1m if they breach ethical standards.

David Cameron spoke of his hope for these regulations. “I’m confident we’ve set up a system that is practical, that is workable, it protects the freedom of the press, but it’s a good, strong self-regulatory system for victims, and I’m convinced it will work and it will endure.”

Venue Solutions A new conference and events destination is on the map to serve East London and Essex.

Havering College of Further and Higher Education is making its state-of-the-art facilities available for hire as part of an exciting initiative for 2013.

The award-winning college in Hornchurch, Essex, is the premier choice for businesses and the public sector seeking a quality flexible and competitive location for professional meetings, exhibitions, conferences and training sessions.

Hi-tech state-of-the-art recording and performance studios are also available.

For further information contact Estates Department 01708 462733 estates_helpdesk@havering-college.ac.uk www.havering-college.ac.uk Havering College of Further and Higher Education Ardleigh Green Campus, Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch Essex RM11 2LL

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you may be

interested in...

A must own classic repackaged to inspire and guide a new generation, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff reminds us that there are more important things to worry about than rush hour traffic and the inability to locate a pen when you need one.

Dr Richard Carlson teaches us, in his gentle and encouraging style, simple strategies for living a more fulfilled and peaceful life.

Learning to put things into perspective and making small daily changes, including surrendering to the fact that sometimes life isn’t fair, Dr Richard encourages you to focus on the bigger picture and ask yourself, ‘Will this matter a year from now?’

8 rmbusiness.co.uk

Q&A

Imagery should be one of your first considerations Q&A with Tony Wittridge, Positive Media Do you think that the photography industry has grown over the past couple of years or do you think that the recession has affected it at all?

With the explosion of digital cameras and mobile phones that can upload directly to social networking sites, photography is more a way of life than just an art-form. Commercial photography can now account for up to 25% of many businesses advertising budgets, so I would say the industry has grown over the last few years and will continue to do so.

What do you think is the most successful part of using photography in a business i.e. images for adverts, websites etc Imagery should be one of your first considerations in all forms of advertising, flick thorough any magazine or website and see for yourself how you are drawn to any of the images on show, the better the image, the more pull it has.

What benefits are there when using a professional photographer to shoot a company’s products?

For me it’s consistency, if your products all look good in a constant format, your promotions in either print or online give a professional feel almost regardless of the subject matter.

How does an unprofessional product image affect the impression that a consumer may have on that company and its products?

I have persuaded customers in the past to remove images even it means that the piece becomes text based. Bad images will not sell your service or product, it only hi-lights the fact you under estimate your customer.

Would you like to see more people show an interest in the photography industry?

Personally yes, there are lots of creative people in Essex and competition is always good, it’s the only way to continually improve standards and service.

How important is it to get the right images to represent a business’s product or service?

This is a subject I cannot stress enough, a good image can grab a potential customer’s attention in a way nothing else can.

9

HESTON:

“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE...”

10 rmbusiness.co.uk

business focus

Why Heston Blumenthal’s passion for innovative food continues...

Heston Blumenthal could arguably be described as Britain’s most ambitious chef. A self-taught chef who has risen sharply to become one of the world’s foremost authorities on food and especially known for his fantastical creations, he finds inspiration for his experiments everywhere.

His flagship restaurant, The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, with its three Michelin stars, his numerous books and television shows and appearances… despite all this success, it seems not too much of it has gone to his head. His humility in character apparently transfers easily over to his business ventures.

“It’s great that The Fat Duck has succeeded without being a grand venue itself,” he says.

“It doesn’t have grounds, a lake at the front or a view of the ocean. It’s a little old cottage on the side of the road that has achieved what it has because of what goes on inside it.”

The restaurant continues to enjoy success despite the on-going recession putting a squeeze on people’s finances. People always need to eat – and they are evidently not cutting back on eating out when the experience is so highly valued.

“No matter what kind of industry you are in, I think there are business fundamentals that are particularly important during times of austerity,” he says. “For me, everything comes down to food, service and value for money. Value for money isn’t always to do with how much you pay; you can have value for money at a really expensive restaurant and be totally ripped off at a cheap one.

“I think service might be even more important than food,” he continues. “If food goes out as it should do, then it’s the service that will make or break whether a customer will come back. For us, time has never been more important, and when we go to a restaurant we want to be relaxed; we want to have a good time. If food is served properly, friendly and humanly, then people will invariably have had a great experience.”

Blumenthal’s approach to food comes from the thrill of creation – taking inspiration from all sources, however unlikely, that he encounters wherever he goes and from the people he meets.

He believes there is a misconception that food is all about taste – and the several hundred dishes in development at his lab could be seen as something of a mission statement.

“I think we’re all looking to change food, just at different levels,” he says. One of his earlier TV shows, Heston’s Michelin Impossible, was aimed at transforming offerings within various national institutions such as within the NHS and at the cinema. But for people watching at home their equivalent transformation could be preparing something in a different way, or turning a sauce on its head to re-invent vegetables or meat.

Reinventing vegetables seems to be something at the forefront of Blumenthal’s mind: “If you have ambition and versatility then what you can create in food becomes pretty much endless. Vegetables will always offer you that more than anything else because of the way you can prepare, blend and dress them.

“For me, onions and potatoes represent entirely that versatility. They’re so simple yet the options are incredibly complex – the flavour, the texture... everything.”

Of course, such simplicity wouldn’t quite reflect Heston’s persona – that of a culinary magician who has inspired millions to experiment just like he has – and so dishes such as cucumber ketchup with roasted scallops bear his mark.

In his most recent TV series, Heston’s Fantastical Food, he created supersized versions of meals and treats, evoking the wonder of childhood food.

This is all part of the feeling of excitement he aims to generate through his creations – the experience being the overriding factor.

“I think people do need to be more excited about fruit, vegetables, and meat for that matter,” he says. “I feel that public health campaigns have probably gone too far in that they only talk about nutrition. We need to get back to people enjoying their food for the smell, the flavour and the overall eating experience. If you turn people on to that within the right kinds of foods, then the health aspect will take care of itself.”

11

business focus

Turning franchising

on it’s head Franchising hasn’t always had the greatest of reputations and has sometimes been associated with high fees and low profits. The Go30 franchising business model does things differently, providing a complete ready to go business in a box, no monthly fees, and an award winning brand that is set to achieve great heights of success.

How was the Go30 franchise brand born?

The Go30 Franchise was an idea that we had in mind, but had not really planned to start looking at in more depth until later in 2013. Then in on 30th Nov 2012 we won “Ladies Only Gym of The Year” in the UK which has changed things somewhat.

We started to get approached by interested parties wanting to open their own Go30 gym, and because of this, we have brought plans forward very quickly.

The first Go30 outside Romford opened in March.

What do you think sets you apart from other gyms?

We have learnt through true experience about how not to franchise, which has given us all that we need to know on how to approach things differently. In many respects, we have turned franchising on its head by taking away all of the reasons why so many franchise relationships turn sour. We’ve removed the costly monthly fees that make the business relationship very difficult.

12 rmbusiness.co.uk

How can someone decide if franchising is for them?

If you are the kind of person who has a wealth of enthusiasm, energy and the desire to succeed, then it is very much something that I would recommend to anyone. The purpose of a good franchise is to find a product or service that you can honestly believe in and be proud of so that you can sell it. Then it is down to making sure that the Franchise company are also the kind of people that you can work with as well, because if not, the relationship will be difficult from day one, which is not a good start.

What has been the biggest obstacle that you have faced and how did you overcome it?

Our biggest challenge was deciding how to take our product to market. We have a strong background in advertising and marketing which has given us the knowledge that we need to provide a consistent message to our potential customers.

Being innovative and listening to our customers gave us the majority of the answers that we needed, and in doing so, has shaped the business that we are today.

Has there ever been a point when you’ve just wanted to throw in the towel?

Yes, many times! Running your own business presents many issues, sometimes even on a daily basis in the early days of getting started.

All I can say is that these are the things that shape you and the business for the future. For me, it is not what the problem is, it’s how I can solve it for the benefit of the business, then it’s what can I learn from this to make sure that it does not C happen again?

M

It’s all about process of improvement, which Y admittedly can make you want to throw in the towel, but sticking with what you believe in hasCMto be your driving force.

MY CY

Where do you see the Go30 brand in 5 years’ time?

CMY

We have a strong background in advertising and marketing which has given us the knowledge that we need

Easy, there are 1067 towns in the UK accordingK to a Google check that I have just done! So a very simple answer would be to say that I’d like to see a Go30 gym in every town across the UK. It would mean that we would have caught the imagination of would-be franchisees to get involved in a business that has changed the way in which traditional franchisees have operated.

What advice could you give to anyone wanting to start a franchise?

Do your homework and due diligence first.

Research the brand that you want to get involved with and see what their vision is for the future; does it match with yours? Can you work with these people? Do they inspire you to do great things?

Are they just about the money or is there some substance to how they go about their business?

These are many questions that we have looked at over the years and have responded to in the Go30 Gym in a Box approach; it really has been born from true knowledge and experience on how not to franchise a business.

To contact Wayne please email wayne@go30.co.uk

2013

The dawn of a new business era in Havering – are you ahead of your time?

The Havering Business Awards now in their ninth year, is your chance to put yourself, team member or your company in the spotlight. 2013 inspired by the Art Deco times of the 20th century, we feel we relived the 'depression' of the 1930s and are ready to start the 'roaring' twenties all over again.

Councillor Robert Benham, cabinet member for community empowerment says, “I am very proud to say that Havering has a wonderful mix of business types, from manufacturing to marketing many of which are amongst the best in the world”.

Last year's Havering Business Person of the Year, Warren Davis from Ignite said, "I'm overwhelmed, and that's the best way to put it. It's quite emotional as I really didn't think I would win”.

Acumen Design won Best Business in the Community, Director Ray Calder said, “It means a lot to everyone, especially during these struggling times, it makes us extremely proud to take this award tonight”.

01708 560 056

www.haveringbusinessawards.co.uk 14 rmbusiness.co.uk

Entries will open on 1st May 2013 To apply Call: Click: Visit:

The awards helpline on 01708 560 056 www.haveringbusinessawards.co.uk Awards Workshop. Email to book your place info@haveringbusinessawards.co.uk

The categories for 2013 are:

Why enter?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• Networking at Workshops • Access to Marketing Consultants to assist with your entry • Appraisal from independent judges • Widespread publicity and recognition • Entry to the Online Havering Business Directory • Networking at the Finalists Breakfast • Winners logo for 2013 for use on stationary and marketing materials • Finalists will recieve 2 free tickets to the awards ceremony and MORE networking!

Apprentice of the Year Best Business in the Community Best Hospitality in Havering Business Person of the Year Business to Business Customer Care Award Excellence in Marketing Employee of the Year Green Award Growing Business Havering Business of the Year The Innovation Award New Business of the Year Staff Training & Development Award Young Entrepreneur of the Year Small Business of the Year

Please note these are subject to change.

Sponsorship What better way to get involved with the Havering Business Awards 2013 than become a sponsor of the event.

We have sponsorship opportunities available from £75.00 so call 01708 560056 or email info@haveringbusinessawards.co.uk for more information.

RMBUS1

15

work force

Can you afford not to have an

Apprentice?

Who will run your company when you retire? The issue of an ageing workforce is a very real concern for many businesses.

With close to 900,000 16-24 year olds currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), where are the skilled professionals and those with a trade going to come from?

The Government led Apprenticeship scheme looks to tackle this problem. Traditionally, apprenticeships have been delivered in industries such as engineering, plumbing and carpentry – although this is still very much the case, there are actually now over 250 programmes to choose from. Courses include anything from Business Administration, Supporting Teaching to Learning in Schools and Floristry. There is even an Equine Apprenticeship programme! The scheme allows young people to gain a nationally recognised qualification, and hopefully, long term employment.

So why are the NEET figures still so high? The programmes that are available require the support of employers. There still seems to be a large amount of businesses afraid to invest their time and money on the youth of today, perhaps due to the bad press that they sometimes receive. Unless something changes, the UK will end up with droves of unmotivated, unskilled workers, causing a serious problem for the economy, which we will be unable to fully recover from.

Employers need to realise the huge benefit that a young person can bring to the workplace.

Apprentices tend to be eager, motivated, flexible and loyal to the company that invested in them. Young people can bring exciting and fresh ideas, plus ways of working that can help a company evolve.

Taking on an apprentice is easy. There are a large amount of specialist training providers and local colleges that offer an excellent service. They will source a person for you and prescreen them so that only suitable candidates are put forward for interview.

As apprenticeships are work-based programmes, the majority of the training is completed at the employer’s premises; the rest is usually delivered by the provider that you are working with. This is to ensure minimal disruption to the working week.

The qualifications are designed to infer competence - relevant units are chosen after discussions with the employer, which means that the apprentice will be completing a programme that has high relevance to the job that they are carrying out. As the employer, you must give your apprentices an induction into their role, you are also responsible for paying your apprentices’ wages (currently a minimum of £2.65 per hour). The Government are extremely keen to push this scheme, so much so that there is currently an Employer Incentive in place, offering a £1500 grant, which is accessible to companies that meet the criteria.

The National Apprenticeship Service (www.apprenticeships.org.uk) has been created to give all the advice and guidance that you will need to make the first step in securing your company’s future. The question is; can you afford not to?

16 rmbusiness.co.uk

● New Apprenticeships

opportunities for 2013 ● Apprentices generate

sustainable growth for employers ● Business funding

and incentives are available

Apprentice’s Opinion

For more information on our quality assured apprenticeship opportunities contact:

Jessica Groom, 18 Hornchurch

Katie Flynn, 17 Hornchurch

our Business Services Team

My name’s Jess and I have been doing an apprenticeship at RM Magazine for nearly 2 months now; I’m really enjoying my time here.

I really like doing a variety of tasks for both magazines and social media. Since I’ve been here, I have learnt how to use different social media apps, update information in Wordpress and research subjects so that the information can be developed and used. I enjoy doing bits that will feature in the RM lifestyle magazine, such as researching ‘what’s on’ and what films are coming out that month. I think this is a really good opportunity for me to learn and get to know more about social media, plus learning what goes into making the magazine so good.

Being an apprentice is a great opportunity to gain experience in a working environment, as well as receiving qualifications during this time. I started my apprenticeship two months ago and I think it will be a great opportunity for me. During my short time here I’ve already learnt so much. My role is to research and produce material so that it can be used for social media. I now know how to use a range of different software and understand a lot more about social media and the importance that it has. I enjoy the variety of work I am set; I sometimes contribute material to the RM lifestyle magazine and the RM Business magazine, which keeps the job fun and interesting.

01708 462800 employerenquiry@havering-college.ac.uk www.havering-college.ac.uk Havering College of Further and Higher Education Ardleigh Green Campus, Ardleigh Green Road Hornchurch, Essex RM11 2LL

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work force

These suits were made for working You revamped your CV, ticked all their boxes and now it’s time for the all-important interview.

But the tailoring doesn’t end at your résumé.

In an interview, a first impression can easily become the last. It’s obvious that novelty ties, scruffy hair or an eye-popping cleavage will get you nowhere, but to stand out in a good way, it’s all in the detail.

“Dress one step up from the job you want,” says career coach Ros Toynbee, of www.thecareercoach.co.uk. “If you’re unsure about what to wear, check the dress code with the company before the interview date.”

Of course, one dress code won’t unlock all trades. “What you wear differs depending on your industry,” says Toynbee. “If you’re in a bank or a professional service, you want to exude authority; navy, black or grey suits will give you that.”

On the other hand, if you’re going for a job in the creative sector, boring suits are so last decade!

Play around with the cut and colour and pick a suit that reflects you. Trousers and jackets come in various styles, but nothing will look good or professional if it doesn’t fit properly. “If your wardrobe is out of date, consult a personal shopper in a department store who will show you clothes that are right for your shape and make you look confident for no extra fee,” says Toynbee.

Artistic skills can be further shown through the texture of clothes. If you have customised a shirt or made a collar, wear it and use it as an example of your imagination. Such small details like this can go a long way. Carefully styled accessories show that you pay attention to detail, for example cufflinks are perfect for adding sophistication while some reflect your passions.

Don’t let your clothes button up your chances of bagging that job!

18 rmbusiness.co.uk

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Eat, drink and be motivated

Say goodbye to afternoon slumps and unmotivated mornings by eating your way to a boosted work ethic.

Everyone has those days where you can’t concentrate and everything is far too much effort, but why?

It’s probably because of what’s in your stomach, not your head.

The role of food in maintaining optimal concentration and motivation levels is paramount.

“Any deficiencies of the essential vitamins and minerals in the diet may have an effect on the brain’s ability to function properly,” says nutritional therapist Claire Ward. Below, Claire shares six foods with us that will not only help you in the office, but will help improve your consentration levels in the long run too.

FOODS FOR FUEL 1.

Omega 3 Oily fish (salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines), flax seeds and walnuts help improve the brain’s ability to think and process. They are also anti-inflammatory, meaning they help the brain function optimally.

2.

Vitamins A, C, E. Antioxidant foods such as berries, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage can help with blood flow to the brain, which will supply the cells with more oxygen. These are also anti-inflammatory.

3.

Caffeine Green tea and dark chocolate are the best sources, as they contain specific anti-oxidants that improve brain function and decrease cell death. Caffeine is good in moderation and when you need an instant boost, but excessive intakes will have the opposite effect.

4.

Dopamine Foods such as ripe bananas or sunflower seeds are high in dopamine, a brain chemical involved in increasing motivation and concentration.

Caffeine also increases dopamine levels.

5.

Vitamins B6 and B12 Foods high in these vitamins improve the brain’s cognitive functioning, plus they help in preventing diseases like alzheimers and dementia. Whole grains and nuts are high in B6, dairy and seaweed is high in B12, and eggs, fish and meat are also high in both.

6.

Fibre Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and beans are high in fibre, which help sustain a regular energy level because they keep blood sugar levels stable.

Don’t know what blood sugar levels are? We’ve got it covered.

20 rmbusiness.co.uk

STEADY, SUGAR Brentwood nutritionist Sarah Hurst says the best way to maintain motivation is to keep your blood sugar balanced. “If your blood sugar levels are low it is likely to affect your mood and concentration levels,” she says.

To keep your blood sugar levels balanced, follow her principles: 1.

Don’t skip breakfast Your blood sugar levels will be low when you wake. A breakfast like porridge or eggs on wholegrain toast will provide you with sustained energy levels throughout the morning.

2.

Include protein and carbohydrates in every meal and snack Protein helps to slow down the release of carbohydrate from foods, so combining the two will keep your blood sugar balanced and you’ll feel fuller for longer.

3.

Eat little and often Long gaps between meals can make your blood sugar levels drop, which leads to sugary snack cravings. Aim for three meals and two snacks every day so that you’re eating every few hours.

4.

Exercise Regular exercise is a great way to manage stress and boost endorphins produced in the brain, which are natural mood boosters.

5.

Get fresh air Daylight is important for vitamin D production. Dwindling levels of Vitamin D may be a contributing factor to low mood and motivation, especially during winter.

For more information about nutrition, contact Claire Ward at www.nutrikindnutrition.com, or Sarah Hurst at: www.rejuvenatenutrition.com.

Cheesy team building activities to avoid

Team building activities; those are three words that fill employees with dread.

Embarrassment levels usually reach a toe-curling level, but as much as we dislike the majority of activities, we couldn’t resist putting together a list of the top 3 cheesiest team building activities that we’ve come across.

Trust ‘The Human Spring’

Ice Breaker ‘The Human Knot’

Communication ‘Survival’

Each member of the group chooses a partner and stand facing each other with their palms touching. Each person should lean forward and hold each other up, taking steps backwards until only you and your partner are holding each other up. Not a great exercise for those suffering with sweaty palms or those wearing slippery shoes.

Everyone stands in a circle and puts their right hand into the middle. They clasp hands with someone across the circle. Repeat with your left hand but hold onto someone different. The group is now in a “knot”. The object is for the group to untangle itself without releasing anyone’s hand. Arms pulling in different directions and frequent rubbing up against strangers – that’s dignified.

Tell the group that their aeroplane has just crashed in the sea, there’s a desert island nearby and there’s room on the lifeboat for everyone plus 12 items that they’ll need to survive. The team can choose which items they want to take and once they’ve come up with the final list, ask them how they decided and how highly they rate each item. This exercise only emphasises that no one in that room is on a dessert island.

21

everyone’s online and it’s

booming

As we sat chatting in a coffee shop no more than 10 minutes from the We Are FSTVL site, Nikki Gordon explains where the inspiration for an Essex based dance festival came from, and the role that social media has played in their phenomenal ticket sales...

Going behind the scenes of event promotion, where do you start with something on that scale?

I think going back now, I’m 36, I started putting on parties when I was about 18 in London and Local places like Romford. I started hosting small rooms for other established promoters; it’s strange how I got into it. There was certain vodka around at the time called ‘Blavod’, I don’t know if it’s still about, it’s a black vodka. They wanted to break into the music industry to get their vodka into places, so they approached one of my friends, he was a DJ at the time, and they said to him, ‘we want to get the vodka into certain clubs, do you want to put a party on and we’ll sponsor it? It’ll help promote the vodka and will be a way for them to get into the clubs, so he spoke to me and I said ‘yeah, I’m up for that, I’ll give it a go! We planned the party and they dropped out at the last minute, we thought ‘oh well, we’ll put a party on anyway because we’ve done all the work’. I think Mix Mag ended up covering it. That’s how I got into it, that’s what I remember, it’s a bit hazy! I think the promoters used to give me like a pound for everyone of the fliers I gave out.

Before that, you were a graphic designer for about 8 years?

Yeah I was a graphic designer for 8 years. When I was doing the little parties, there wasn’t any money in it so my full time job was a graphic designer which I’d been doing since I was about 17, through to 24.

when you’re thinking about planning any business, you don’t just put a shop in the middle of a field, you go to a city centre where there are people There comes a point when you realise that your future is limited, unless you buy a club or you’ve made millions that life will come to an end. It’s not something that you can stay in. There’s no future as a promotions manager, by the time I had reached the age that I am now, I’d either wanted

22 rmbusiness.co.uk

to have bought my own venue or be running my own business, like the festival.

I think a lot of it comes down to luck and some of it is chance. If my friend from all those years ago didn’t say, ‘let’s do this little party’, I may not be where I am now. It’s weird how you get to a place.

The timing worked out really well and we got the investment that we needed. Previously we had spoken to, going back 2 years no, we started creating the model and putting the budgets together. I think it was Media 10 who own the Ideal Homes Show and Essex Polo that we were speaking with, we thought they might be interested in coming on board as investors. Then there were a couple of others that we thought may be interested, but when we met with Media 10, they didn’t come up with anything. I’m sure they will be kicking themselves now.

The other investors that we were speaking with didn’t feel right for us, we wanted the investment and then be able to run with it with us making all of the decisions, but some investors have this idea that because technically it’s their money, they want this and that, and have hidden agendas, so we decided not to go with them. Then we came across the investors that we have now. They’ve invested in some really good stuff, so we got all the investment in place. In September we set up the office, just over there (points up the road towards Upminster station) and started to do the bookings organically, it all started to come together, well, with a bit of luck!

So the site for the festival is 22 acres; how do you start planning to use the space, in terms of where things are going to go?

Well we’re planning to only use a little bit of the site to keep it condensed, creating a nice vibe.

At the moment, we’re looking at sight maps and drawings and saying right ‘a tent goes there, that goes there, the food goes there’, we’re going to have street food, personally I don’t like the burger vans that you usually find at festivals, there’s going to be an element of that but it will be nice, the street food culture is massive as well.

sales & marketing Where do you go about finding the people that you need to be involved?

It’s quite overwhelming when you look at the amount of staff and companies that you have to use. Immediate staff, we have about 6 that work in the office and they’re either people that used to be my assistants from my old jobs and that I know well, we’ve got a couple of interns who help us out. We’ve got one of the best licensing companies in the business, Continental Drift, they work for Bestival.

So how did you start to promote the event?

What was one of the first steps, was it mainly through the website?

Yeah we got a really nice website done as a starting point, created a Facebook fan page in December, which has just grown phenomenal amounts.

Over 21 thousand likes...

Yeah, well it’s about 22 and a half thousand now which is…huge...Yeah, it’s bigger than a couple of our competitors who have been going for a few years; it’s growing every day. We’ve got a huge Facebook campaign behind it plus lots of different elements; we’ve got a 150 grand marketing budget that we’re spending constantly from December to May, and it’s all working really well. If we carry on going, we’ll sell out really soon.

freedom. I think that’s what keeps us different from other festivals because it’s a bit more personal as well.

Apart from the logo, what kind of plans do you have to keep the branding fresh? Is there anything else to come?

I think that at the moment, we’re at the point where everything is out there promotional wise. With the online banners we’re focusing on each stage one at a time, so last week we done a Kehakuma week, which is one of our main stages. Everything is concentrated around them, the design, all of the social media, everything, and we adapt the design to compliment what they do. Then this week it’s Cocoon, we’ve done the Cocoon design and integrated it with our design. Because it’s quite an open design, we can work around anything. Even though it’s different, people still know what it is.

Are you doing anything with local businesses?

Well we’ve printed over half a million fliers as part of the campaign, which is UK wide, but around here, we’re in all of the shops that will take us, the majority have been in the staff rooms at Bluewater, Lakeside and Westfields. The thing

with printed media is that it’s quite a hard one these days, whereas everyone’s online and it’s booming, the online stuff is what’s driving it.

It’s funny, I think Charlotte from Geordie Shore picked up one of our fliers in Newcastle.

She took a picture of it and put it on Instagram.

It got about 5000 likes and she tweeted it to 1million people; you can’t really buy that.

So social media has played a big part in it then?

Yeah it’s been the biggest thing, definitely.

Facebook and Twitter mainly?

I’d say 97% of people are on Facebook, my mum’s on Facebook! People are constantly on it; if you’re on a train travelling to work, people are on it.

When they’re on the toilet, they’re on it. When they’re having a coffee, they’re on it, wherever they are, they’re on it! So that is a big part of it.

So would you attribute most of the sales to social media marketing?

Yeah the social media is definitely the biggest thing and it will continue to be, it’s the future; it’s been about for a few years but now it’s peaking. @weareFSTVL

So do you put that down to your marketing strategy?

I think it’s just everything really, the marketing, the brand, the DJ’s, where we are, the whole thing just works really well. It’s a really good business model, when you’re thinking about planning any business, you don’t just put a shop in the middle of a field, you go to a city centre where there are people, or you sell something that you think is high quality so people will travel in for it. The whole business model just works, every element is working well together. I was quite surprised at how fast the tickets have sold!

You have a lot of different illustrations for the festival...

There’s about 6 illustrations altogether and they’re all different. We have an illustrator that creates a bespoke illustration for us and then the centrepiece for We Are FSTVL always stays the same, so that’s the logo, but then the illustration just gives us some creative freedom to change it whenever we want, and you still know what it is because it all ties in so, yeah it has worked really well. It keeps people interested because the campaign is so long; it’s about 6 months long.

You don’t want to see the same thing over again People get bored so yeah, we change things as we go along and it’s just nice to have that creative

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sales & marketing

Building a Successful Brand For many years now I have been helping individuals bring their passion to life and build a business, with a brand that has true meaning. Just having a great product and good customer service is no longer enough. You need to have a business that is not only remarkable, but a business that is driven by its consumers.

To build a successful brand you have to have a devoted following. For you, as a business owner to be the preferred service over and above your competitors, you need to have a brand that your customers can relate to and believe in. When you achieve this, your customers will not only support you, but share your business too.

Warren Knight, CEO of Gloople www.warrenknight.co.uk @wvrknight

Having a brand is not just about access, convenience or great customer service - these are in fact requirements that most brands take for granted on a daily basis.

The way technology has changed over the last five years has completely changed how we market to our customers. We would see brands using TV and radio commercials to “push” their company on to us and almost force us to buy the products to get the desired outcome they have scripted. This has changed. We no longer trust advertising as much as we trust peer-to-peer recommendations.

For a brand to be a success in the current climate, you need to be social, local and mobile.

By social I mean being interactive through social media channels. Just having a Facebook Business Page or a Twitter account isn’t enough. You need to be communicating with your followers on a daily basis so that they know you are interested in what THEY want. By local I mean using companies like FourSquare to share promotions when people check into the location of your business and finally, mobile. With companies like Amazon and eBay showing a 20% increase in shoppers spending their hard earned cash on mobile and tablets, you need to make sure your business offers a multi-channel experience.

Two things you need to take into account when building your brand: 1. What is your USP? When I sat down with the team at Gloople, we had a clear understanding of what makes our business unique and remarkable. You need to do the same. If you can’t define what makes your brand better than your competitors, your customers won’t see you as a market leader.

2. How do your customers see YOU? Your business needs to be about its customers.

Sometimes, you need to take the emotional connection that you have with your business out of the equation. Take the time to speak with many different people to understand how they perceive your strengths, then use this information as you create your personal brand.

Are you ready to build a successful brand?

24 rmbusiness.co.uk

How did Apple get its brand name?

In the biography of Steve Jobs, Jobs told Walter Isaacson that he was “on one of my fruitarian diets” and had recently returned from an orchard and thought that the name sounded “fun, spirited and not intimidating.”

Writing in his 2006 book iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon, Apple’s co-founder Steve Wozniak explains it like this: “It was a couple of weeks later when we came up with a name for the partnership.

I remember I was driving Steve Jobs back from the airport along Highway 85. Steve was coming back from a visit to Oregon to a place he called an “apple orchard.” It was actually some kind of commune.

Steve suggested a name – Apple Computer. The first comment out of my mouth was, “What about Apple Records?” This was (and still is) the Beatles-owned record label. We both tried to come up with technical-sounding names that were better, but we couldn’t think of any good ones. Apple was so much better, better than any other name we could think of.”

Later in 1989, Jobs’ fears saw fruition and Apple Records sued Apple Computer Inc over trademark violations. In an interview with MIT newspaper during 2006, Wozniak was again asked about the basis behind Apple’s name. Wozniak confirmed that it was Jobs who thought of the name, and that it came to him after he spent a few months working on an Apple farm. “After trying to think of better and more technical names, both Jobs and I realized that Apple was a good fit,” he told the newspaper.

Your Dedicated Events and Conference Venue in East London

sales & marketing

Repetitive, keyword stuffed and illegible ramblings; How’s your content marketing strategy?

CEME Conference Centre is a purpose-built event and conference venue located close to The City, Docklands & Stratford’s Olympic Village.

A modern contemporary building offering innovative, stylish, flexible and highly competitive solutions for all event and meetings requirements from two to 400 people.

Over the past few years, content creation has rapidly become a hot topic for digital marketers, and this year the online world will see more content produced than ever before despite 64% of marketers saying that producing good and relevant content is their No.1 challenge.

In the past, the production of content hasn’t always been pretty. We have seen a plethora of nonsensical spun articles distributed to various content sharing websites with the pure intention of gaining a higher page rank. Although this hasn’t completely ceased, these sorts of tactics are no longer practiced in the frequency that they used to, thanks to Google’s continual updates and best practice policy.

Opting for a good content strategy is a great way to attract new customers and establish your business as knowledgeable and specialist. You may not get the business today, you may not even get the business in a few months time, but when a consumer needs a product or service that you can offer, by already establishing and nurturing an online relationship with them, you will be the first business that they will enquire with when they begin their search.

CEME Conference Centre Marsh Way, Rainham, Essex, RM13 8EU T. 020 8596 5151 | E. events@ceme.co.uk

Visit www.cemecc.co.uk now to discover our 26 rmbusiness.co.uk exceptional rates & packages

Conference Centre

marketers face isn’t in developing the strategy or knowing where to share the content, the issue is with producing the amount of content needed to communicate consistently and effectively.

If you can imagine the time that it takes to research and write one 500 word blog post, and then consider the time that it takes to find good images so that the post looks interesting and engaging, you can see how the time taken to produce this one piece can add up. Producing a decent amount of content is challenging, hence the reason why past efforts have consisted of outsourcing most writing tasks to people in other countries where this service is extremely cheap; below £4 per article to give you an idea.

This £4 article would then be spun to create 10, 20 or even 50 versions of the same piece. The quality of writing was usually poor, unhelpful, and at times, illegible, reflecting poorly not only on the company that published the content, but also on the content sharing sites themselves, adding to the increasing amount of useless information on the web.

Thanks to Google and their continual updates, the internet is now a much nicer place to browse.

Simply put, to employ an effective content I like Google. You may have noticed the gradual strategy, you will need to: shift in your search results when browsing the web, you may not have, but either way the change 1. Establish the questions that your target market has definitely happened; repetitive, keyword is asking. stuffed, illegible ramblings are no longer present 2. Create exceptional content that answers those on the first page of Google, most of the time questions anyway.

3. Share your content and share the knowledge.

For an effective online marketing approach, try This three step process is key to building long and not view your content strategy as the quick road trusting relationships with your consumers. to achieving higher search rankings and obtaining that fought after No.1 spot on page one, instead, Marketers are clear that this is the strategy that use your strategy as an opportunity to show they need to be focusing on and this year has consumers and peers exactly what your business seen a substantial increase in readily available can do, what you have to offer, the knowledge and easily shareable, interesting online content. that your business has and exactly how much you Working incredibly well and with a long care about solving the issues that trouble online foreseeable future, one of the main reasons for consumers. Do this, and you’ll notice that your the success of this approach is due to the focus page rank will slowly but surely climb the Google being placed back upon catering for the needs ladder, all on its own. of the end user; the customer. The issue that

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money matters

Top 5 Apps: To help you manage your finances Keeping track of finances can be a tedious task to manage and it’s easy to put off if your business requires you to focus your attention elsewhere. Getting back on track isn’t easy once the paper work has built up and a deadline is fast approaching, but, we’ve found the top 5 apps to help make this task a little less time consuming.

Wilson Field finance (Free, Apple Store and Google Play) If you have a query or question that needs answering, this app could be a handy one to have.

Not only does it help with financial management, it also offers guidance on business recovery, individual debt, and financial solutions. Business owners have the opportunity to use an expenditure calculator to work out their cash flow, and there’s also a comprehensive list of do’s and don’ts. Expert advice in the palm of your hand.

28 rmbusiness.co.uk

Expensify (Free) Keeping track of your expenses is always tedious, and rather than having to spend time copying receipts and collecting the required paperwork; download this handy app in minutes. You can do everything all in one place: log mileage, import credit card purchase history and generate IRS-ready eReciepts in a flash. Also, take a picture of a receipt and attach the image to your expense report then submit it from your iPad there and then.

Easy to use and a huge timesaver. 4*

InDinero (Free) Every business can struggle to get an accurate overview of their financial situation without a plethora of pieces of paper, web pages and rough calculations. This clever app pulls information from various bank and credit card accounts, giving a clearer picture of current financial information as well as forecasting the future; it also suggests budgets that can help you improve your money management. Simple to use and a lot less confusing than the traditional methods of book-keeping, you can view your businesses cash flow and see exactly what’s coming in and out.

All of the calculations are done for you. New App.

Invoice2go Plus (Free) As a business owner, it is vital you are able to handle invoices, estimate costs, manage billing, collect payments and report your financial position without taking up too much of your time. This smart little app helps you to do all of these with ease, and you don’t even have to be in front of a computer! You can manage up to three invoices at a time, so no need for piles of paperwork. 4*

BillTracker (£1.49, iPhone) As the name implies, this app assists you with the management of your bills. Whatever the bill, whatever the size, you will be alerted.

You can view upcoming statements, track paid bills and store websites and numbers; you’ll never miss a payment or over-pay again. 5*

Robertson Milroy

Chartered Accountants & Tax Advisors

interest in business banking

Tax Advise including Capital Gains Tax & Inheritance Tax Planning

When opening a business bank account, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. There are always a multitude of offers and rates for you to compare such as the in-credit interest rate (AER), as this is a priority to some; according to recent studies, interest rates are at their worst. Although some rates are continuously changing, the other prioritised factors can sometimes be more important than the AER. Another important factor is the saving rate. Sylvia Waycot, a Financial Expert from Moneyfacts, claims that savings rates are decreasing and borrowing rates are steadily increasing. There is one term that you need to look out for when browsing and that is the ‘Introductory Rate’. This phrase has proven to fool many. Out of the top 10 big banks, 9 of them admit to using attractive intro rates and consumers frequently do not realise that this is only an introductory rate lasting for a short period of time (usually 1 year), before decreasing dramatically, as shown in the table below.

Saving Rates Account Name/Type Nationwide E-Savings Co-Operative Smart Saver

Intro rate (1 year)

Lloyds Easy Saver Lloyds Advantage Saver

Personal Tax Returns Retirement Strategies & Estate Planning Business Start-Ups Strategic Business Planning & Advice Corporate Finance

Normal rate 0.45% 0.25%

1.60% 1.80%

Audit, Accountancy, VAT, Payroll etc

0.10% 0.20%

The third factor that may be of importance when opening an account is its free banking period, as some banks have a longer free period than others; some do not have it at all. Look into everything that the account has to offer rather than choosing a bank simply because it gives a long free banking period.

Free Initial Consultation

01708 475220 mail@robertsonmilroy.com www.robertsonmilroy.com

Before you apply for an account, prioritise what is most important to your business. A business that has a priority of long term savings, one of the best accounts is a Nationwide E-Savings account, as this has one of the highest savings rates.

Free Banking Period Account Name/Type Lloyds TSB Monthly Price Plan Co-Orerative Bank Business Direct Plus Barclays Business Credit Interest HSBC Small Business Natwest Standard

Length of Period 6 Month 18 Month N/A 6 Month N/A

A Lloyds Advantage Saver Account would be best for a business that is looking to save money for a shorter period of time as it has a high introductory rate. Although other factors need to be looked at, The Co-Operative Bank Business Direct Plus account offers an 18 month free banking period.

Coopers House 65a Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 3AT

*rates correct at time of print

29

DEVELOPING ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS START-UP ACTIVITY Councillor Michael White, Leader of the Council for London Borough of Havering Havering is perfect for anyone who is starting a business or looking to relocate. It has great transport links; London Liverpool Street station is only 16 minutes away by train from Romford, and there is a train to London Fenchurch Street from Upminster and Rainham. You can also get the tube from Upminster, Hornchurch and Elm Park.

Rainham is fast becoming a centre for business.

Tesco is soon to open its new distribution centre, and the railway station offers high speed transport links to London. To encourage growth, we have launched a new business start-up programme in partnership with Kingston Smith LLP.

‘A Winning Start to Business’ is part of the Council’s Havering is home to nearly 8,000 businesses initiative to promote growth and, in particular, to develop but we are looking to expand that entrepreneurial business startup activity. The Top 20 local Business growth is essential to the quality of life accountancy firm Kingston Smith LLP has been of our residents. Successful businesses, large and selected to run the programme. small, create jobs for local people and raise the level of local economic activity.

Kingston Smith LLP will provide the full range of advisory and compliance services to We have very successful towns which have entrepreneurial businesses, helping ownertheir own unique offerings. Romford is a highly managed businesses to succeed in Havering. successful commercial centre with high street It will deliver the service using its team based stores and big-name brands as well as the historic in Romford. market. Hornchurch is our cultural quarter and the high street is home to many successful small The resources and expertise of the firm will be businesses. made available to start-up businesses through oneon-one meetings, mentoring sessions, seminars

30 rmbusiness.co.uk

and workshops, all of which will be free to those entrepreneurs and businesses wishing to be part of the programme. The programme will be delivered through Kingston Smith LLP’s office and the Havering Skills Academy in Romford.

The Council also offers to help all new and existing local businesses and we have a range of services available through our Economic Development Team working with the Chamber of Commerce, the FSB and many more.

In addition to on-line information resources, there are specialist advisors who can offer help on an individual basis for a range of issues including: • • • • • •

Planning Licensing Food safety Events Grants Jobs and employment

•

• • •

Health and safety at work Trading standards Farming Law

We also run regular free business events, workshops and seminars, open to local businesses and entrepreneurs.

in the borough

ENCOURAGING INNOVATION IN HAVERING The Havering Business Awards aim to promote the borough as a place to do business. The awards have been running for nine years and are a highlight of the business calendar in the borough. They play a major part in building a strong business to business network across Havering.

The Awards culminate in a high profile awards ceremony, which encourages existing businesses to stay in the borough and new businesses to move into Havering.

The awards were created to inspire local businesses and showcase business success in

Havering as well as encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and community spirit. It is important to recognise local companies who think about the future of their business, and the wider community.

Winning an Award can establish a company as a leader in its field. Many of the businesses who have won awards have seen an upturn in business and raised profile in the community.

Some winners have gone on to win further acclaim in the London Business Awards.

Havering is now considered as a good place to live, work and do business, rewarding, excellence, innovation and recognising best practice.

More information about the awards can be found at www.haveringbusinessawards.co.uk

SET CLEAR OBJECTIVES AND CLARIFY YOUR THINKING Women in Business This is a networking group for women in business, whether they are a business start-up, micro business, SME or hold a senior position within a company.

Members can attend free workshops, listen to driven experienced speakers, exchange information and assist fellow members. The group also provides tools and resources, along with support and encouragement, to help them to realise their full potential.

The networking events and website generates new contacts to help people to stimulate the growth of their company and also boost the economy of their local area. But before you plan to expand any further, you need a business plan.

Preparing a plan will help you to set clear objectives and clarify your thinking. It will help monitor finances and profitability, set targets for performance and help provide early warning for when you might need to revise it.

Bear in mind that anyone reading your plan will need to understand the essentials of your business

quickly and easily so, very simply, it should cover the following areas: • Your plans and objectives for the business and how you propose to put them into action, including highlighting skills and expertise of staff that will be helping you to achieve your goals.

• Details of your product or service.

• Your Unique Selling Point.

• Target markets and marketing plan.

• Your projected financial performance including a cash flow forecast showing how much money you expect to flow in and out, profit and loss predictions and a balance sheet.

A business plan is often seen as a one-off exercise when a new business is starting up, however the plan should be updated on a regular basis and used as a tool to monitor performance. It will discipline and inspire you to achieve, really it will.

Maybe the thought of writing a business plan scares you and I perfectly understand that, so look out for ‘How to Write a Business Plan’ workshops coming up soon.

For more details go to: www.haveringwomeninbusiness.co.uk

NO MORE RINK FOR ROMFORD Each month Havering Residents Association Councillor Ron Ower will bring you a variety of views, news and arguments on local topics.

Whilst Ron was elected in May 2010 to represent Upminster with the highest vote ever for a councillor in Havering, he had previously represented Cranham from 1978 to 1990. He did not seek reelection due to business commitments.

As you read this, one of the boroughs most beloved and well known recreation facilities, Romford Ice Rink, is due to close. The Rink was opened in the mid-eighties and has been the home to Romford Raiders Ice Hockey team plus thousands of skaters.

Entering into a deal with supermarket chain Morrisons, Havering Council plan to sell the rink and are currently planning to build a Leisure Centre in Mercury Gardens, Romford using the cash from the sale.

The good news is that the centre will house a new swimming pool and ice rink. The bad news is that the project is several years away from commencing, leaving the skating community homeless.

It is my understanding that the Conservative controlled administration intended to provide the skating communtiy with a temporary ice rink, enabling skaters to continue to ice skate.

Unfortunatly now however, the Conservatives have said that a temporary rink will cost £1.5 million and that they cannot afford this.

If a temporary rink is not found, over 500 children who currently train there will either have to travel to Lea Valley or Chelmsford.

Where there is a will there is a way - provide a temporary ice rink!

31

THE RM BUSINESS GUIDE to

NETWORKING

Written by Barry Hicks These regular pages will keep your business in touch with what’s going on in Havering and Essex and surrounding areas with networking events, opportunities and educational help and improvement courses for your business.

Networking is continually changing.

With the current economy many businesses who take their position for granted may find that by not seeing what’s going on and not being involved with this ever changing business world they will lose out.

If you are in business please be positive, proactive and most importantly have your fingers on the pulse for that next opportunity.

If you get one idea, inspiration or opportunity from these pages, I hope you will spread the word about the RM Business networking pages. Networking is all about sharing your success with others, which in turn creates more business.

If you have any networking news, or are involved in organising a network group or event in the coming months, please email me the details for consideration to be included on these pages. whatson@rmbusiness.co.uk

32 rmbusiness.co.uk

The RM team visited the Havering Business Expo on Friday the 8th March held at Myplace, Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill. The Expo was open from 8.30 to 3pm at the new state of the art venue recently used for BBC’s Question Time.

The Myplace venue is Havering’s first zero carbon building making it the borough’s greenest building and one of very few in the UK with a zero carbon rating. There were plenty of goodies to be had as well as 40 exhibitors, presentations throughout the day and a restaurant to have lunch. What more could you ask?

Amongst the exhibitors was a mixture of large and small companies based in Havering and Essex, which gave it a vibrant atmosphere.

The presentations included Marketing, Debt Collecting, Networking, Driving the Business Forward, Real Time Information, New to Business, Council’s IProcurement Process, Apprenticeships and the Benefits of entering the Havering Business Awards.

There were many networking opportunities available during the day with exhibitors and other delegates.

I could only stay a couple of hours, but made several useful contacts.

Havering wants to encourage business and this event certainly did that.

For further information of London Borough of Havering Events please telephone 01708 432871.

what’s on ESSEX BUSINESS CLUB

The first Tuesday of each month, except for January and August. (7:30pm to 9:30pm) Ideal for the new business start-up, feeling its way into the business community, and small business wanting to expand. The Essex Business Club is a member-run networking and support organisation for businesses in Essex. www.essexbusinessclub.org.uk

ESSEX BUSINESS NETWORK

Southend (2nd April 7am) Romford/Ilford (3rd April 7am) Brentwood & Barking (11th April 8am) Chelmsford & Witham (12th April 7am) southend (30th April 7am) The premier networking group in Essex, bringing you events at any time of the day.

Essex Business Network takes an organic approach to getting to know each other, and to starting business being referred between members. There are no referral pressure points! The success rates of the group members are a testimonial to the networking equation. www.essexbusinessnetwork.co.uk

ESSEX BUSINESS FORUM

(4th April 6.30am - 8.30am) Essex Business Forum is an association of professional business people and owners of established and reputable SMEs based in Essex which represents every trade and profession, and with the addition of an extended network of businesses in highly specialist fields. www.essexbusinessforum.com

NEXUS NETWORKING ESSEX

Great Warley (4th April 6.45am - 8.30am) Nexus Networking is an exciting new group of business professionals and trades-people meeting in Brentwood, Essex. We are open to new members from right across the county as well as North-East London.

The purpose of Nexus Networking is simple - to help you develop the contacts, skills and knowledge to grow your business and boost your profit! Invest your time wisely and make the introductions that really pay off. www.nexusnetworking.co.uk

QUEENS THEATRE FRIDAY BREAKFAST MEETING

CORPORATE GOLF DAY

This is a free event, all you buy is any refreshments you want. Contact the Queens Theatre to register or turn up on the day. www.haveringbusiness.co.uk

Steeped in history, but with a modern feel, Thorndon Park golf course is an Essex gem. www.sfh.org.uk

Hornchurch (5th April 7.30am - 9am) Friendly low cost and effective FSB & Queens Theatre in conjunction with HCCI & London Borough of Havering Friendly low cost and effective.

BARKING AND DAGENHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Barking (9th April 6pm - 8pm) Welcome to the Barking and Dagenham Chamber of Commerce, one of the leading business support organisations and a voice for business. We are a membership and not for profit organisation and our aim is to promote the furtherance of trading, to defend the interests of those doing business and to help enhance the economic success of businesses.

Sponsored by Prontaprint Barking. www.bdchamber.co.uk

Brentwood (26th April) ST FRANCIS HOSPICE This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a round of golf in this exclusive club, network with local businesses and support Saint Francis Hospice.

NEWHAM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Stratford (April 26th 7am - 9am) The Chamber represents and supports local businesses in the London Borough of Newham and surrounding areas.

As the official independent representative of business in the borough, they take pride in their ability to provide support, information, advice and networking opportunities to our members. www.newhamchamber.com

NELE MEETINGS

Hornchurch (30th April 12noon - 2pm) 2 hours of pure informal and relaxing networking, giving businesses in the room Braintree (24th April 5.30pm - 7.30pm) the opportunity to network and get to know Knowing how to network and who to one another properly. We are not a closed network with is a key success factor for group and are looking for business of all SME’s. Ignite runs a Business Network on shapes and sizes to join us for a couple of the last Wednesday of each month for local businesses to meet and learn from each other. hours once a month. www.nelemeetings.co.uk www.ignitebusiness.org

IGNITE BUSINESS NETWORKING

HAVERING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Havering (24th April 5.30pm) This is a networking group for women in business, whether they are a business startup, micro business, SME or hold a senior position within a company.

Members can attend free workshops, listen to driven experienced speakers, exchange information and assist fellow members.

A must attend event for any Women in Business www.haveringwomeninbusiness.co.uk

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Brown in the

BOARDROOM

Mahogany. Brown does not come richer or more luxurious than this. The colour has to be deep and the quality lush, which is exactly what you get with this Rotary watch and accessories from DSquared2. Deep brown makes a subtle but outfit-altering change from failsafe black.

These pieces can be teamed perfectly with a crisp white shirt and brown trousers, or add texture to a tan suit. Indulge in this chocolate colour, and show you mean business.

1. Belt £114 2. Shoes £447 3. Rotary Watch £325 4. Glasses £212

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Orange in the

OFFICE

Brighten up your office outfit with a slice of orange from ALEXANDER MCQUEEN. These vibrant accessories radiate luxury with their exquisite materials and intricate details, perfect for spring. It’s so easy to rely on the classic little white dress or black trouser suit, but adding a splash of colour to your mundane monochrome look will give your foolproof style a citrus infusion. From intense tangerine to pale coral hues, orange has various shades, so find one to suit your colouring first. Don’t be shy; work it!

1. Bracelet £160 2. Scarf £165

3. Shoes £370 4. Bag £1,475

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WraitH

And the World Stood Still At the Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly presented the world debut of Wraith, the most powerful and dynamic RollsRoyce in history. At its heart lies hallmark Rolls-Royce attributes of luxury, refinement and hand-craftsmanship, but the new model from the world’s pinnacle super-luxury marque also presents a unique character defined by power, style and drama. With just a hint of the noir.

In profile, Wraith’s sweeping fastback design gives the car its unique character. Bold lines, tension in the panels and a raked rear screen evoke the image of a world class athlete, poised in the

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starting blocks. Further expression of dynamic intent can be seen in Wraith’s deeply recessed grille, wide rear track and dramatic two-tone presentation.

Coach doors open to reveal a sumptuous interior complete with softest Phantom-grade leathers and expanses of wood called Canadel Panelling.

Named after the famous cove in the South of France where Sir Henry Royce and his design and engineering teams spent their winters, this contemporary and tactile finish sweeps through the interior, cosseting four occupants in a space bathed in light and warmth.

The interior ambiance is complemented by Starlight Headliner, a Bespoke feature available beyond Phantom family cars for the first time.

Over 1,300 fibre optic lamps are hand-woven into the roof lining to give the impression of a glittering, starry night sky.

Performance delivers on the promise of Wraith’s styling. Power delivery is effortless, but dramatic, thanks to a V12 engine married to an 8-speed automatic ZF transmission. 624 bhp / 465kW is available to the driver while the 0-60 mph sprint is achieved in 4.4 seconds, compared with 563 bhp / 420kW and 0-60 in 4.7 seconds for Ghost.

car review From 1,500 rpm 800 Nm of torque is available (780 Nm for Ghost), while a wide rear track, shorter wheelbase and lower roof height further contribute to the most powerful, involving driving experience of any Rolls-Royce in history.

The car’s suspension has also been tuned to minimise body roll and discreetly amplify feedback when cornering; while steering weight is heavier at high speeds and lighter at low speeds adding to the spirited drive.

A more polished, effortless driving experience and even better response brings a new, more dynamic dimension to the famous Rolls-Royce trait, waftability.

likened to a contemporary on-board valet.

Voice activation commands, for example, come with a one-touch call button located on the steering wheel. A destination no longer requires manual input from a navigation menu, and route assistance begins immediately, on-screen and via audio guidance following a voice command such as “navigate to Piccadilly in London.”

Additional improvements in communications come in the design and functionality of the elegant Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller. This allows navigation through on-screen functions using a touch pad that features pinch and pull functionality to echo smart phone usage. Letters can also be ‘drawn’ onto the pad by hand rather than by scrolling through a series of available characters on-screen.

UK prices are yet to be announced, although in Europe the Wraith is expected to be priced at €245,000 (Approx £213,000) Pocket change really!

First deliveries of Wraith will be made to customers in the final quarter of 2013.

To find out more go to: www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

However, Wraith is no GT bruiser. Agility improvements have been achieved with absolutely no compromise to the sensation of riding on a bed of air. Furthermore, the debut of Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) technology takes the powertrain to a new level of effortless delivery, one that perfectly suits the Rolls-Royce brand.

Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS data to see beyond what the driver sees; it anticipates his next move based on location and current driving style, then selects the most appropriate gear for the terrain ahead. Corners, motorway junctions and roundabouts are all anticipated in advance meaning Wraith is constantly poised to deliver on its promise of performance.

A more polished, effortless driving experience and even better response brings a new, more dynamic dimension to the famous Rolls-Royce trait, waftability.

Advances in mechanical and electrical technology deliver systems like head-up display, adaptive headlights and Wraith’s keyless opening boot.

But improvements in connectivity have taken the human-machine interface to a new level of sophistication, a suite of aids that could be

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Technology From a James Bond style watch, to a pocket sized projector, here are the latest gadgets designed to assist you in the office and ease the load of your working day.

COOKOO watch Stay connected with your social life without even touching your phone with the Cookoo Watches. These stylish analogue Watches connect via either Bluetooth smart or Bluetooth 4.0 to your iPhone or iPad keeping you updated with your phone.

The Cookoo Watch will alert you for incoming calls, missed calls, emails, SMS, calendar reminders, alarms, low battery, and even alerts you when you leave your phone behind! And if all that wasn’t enough, this watch will also sync with Facebook to receive notifications and other features such as checking into locations.

Still want more? Ok, how about the ability to take pictures and control your music?

There features are only the beginning, as the API will soon be released to the public, allowing anyone with developer skills to utilise the watch anyway they want. Impressive.

With most smart watches, poor battery life can be an issue but not with the Cookoo Watch.

Powered by a CR2032 button cell battery it will still be on your wrist while its competitors will be on charge; plus, when the battery finally dies, it is easily replaced without visiting the watch makers.

So what happens in the worst case scenario when you lose your Cookoo Watch? Well, even that has been thought of. Simply, open the Cookoo Watch

the EQUISO The Equiso is a dongle that turns your TV into an Android device. The Android-powered dongle plugs into your TV’s HDMI port and lets you run apps on the big screen.

It’s primarily designed as a streaming device, so you can run Android versions of HBO GO, Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, etc. and stream content to your TV.

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app on your phone, and you can instruct your watch to sound an alarm allowing you to listen out for it. This is all done via the Cookoo Watch app on your phone or iPad. We know this is probably too much stuff for you to take in so we’ll leave you with one more feature - The Cookoo Watch is actually waterproof to five ATM (approx. 50m/165ft) so it will work fine through rain, showering and shallow swimming.

Price: £109.95

technology

OPTOMA pico CRM software review PK-101 projector

Any well-developed business marketing class will teach you that businesses grow and succeed based upon the relationship that they have with their customers. Satisfied customers will continue to buy your products or use your services whilst referring your business to those that they know. Therefore it is paramount for any thriving business to keep their customers happy.

A key component when managing the relationship that you have with your customers, is to make sure that you choose the correct Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software for your business. This is a very successful marketing tool designed to help businesses benefit from the relationships that they already have with their customers, whilst creating a better experience for them overall.

Perfect for perking up presentations. Whip out the Pico Pocket Projector and you’re bound to impress. Not much larger than a pack of playing cards, this little projector will allow you to watch big-screen movies on the go, or cure insomnia with impromptu slide shows of your holiday.

Price: £219.99 www.amazon.co.uk

CRM software gives a business the ability to track each customer with an individual file.

The file document can track any orders that a customer has placed, plus follow any interactions that they have had with a member of the team. Employees can quickly recall an order placed by a client, look at their favourite products and up-sell by offering additional products that would fit the customer’s shopping habits. Each individual file will track emails, phone calls, face-to-face meetings, faxes and other forms of communication used by the company. Employees can take notes to highlight what the customer has said and refer to these notes in the future.

When customers feel that you recognise them as a person and not just a number, this helps to build and maintain strong relationships and devoted customers. CRM software will help your business discover new clients through referrals, keep your customers satisfied, and strengthen the clientele that you already have.

Here are 5 of the best rated CRM Software programs... *Ratings courtesy of iTunes App Store

Z-pen 1

Sales force Rated 10/10

2

Oncontact Rated 9.8/10

3

Sage ACT Premium Rated 9.2/10

A pen with the power to transform scruffy handwriting into tidy computer text. Inside the pen is a transmitter that beams all your scribblings and doodles from meetings to a USB drive that you can later link up to a computer at your convenience.

Price: £99.99 www.firebox.com

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Prophet Rated 9/10

5

AIMcrm Rated 8.9/10 41

rm

sponsored by rewards

Goodfellas Symons & Gay provides a broad range of legal services to private individuals and small to medium sized commercial organisations and non profit-making bodies of all types.

It undertakes work funded privately and work funded by the Legal Services Commission and other third parties.

T: 01708 744211 W: www.symons-gay.co.uk E: office@symons-gay.co.uk

Located in the heart of Romford’s town centre.

The Liberty is the region’s top shopping destination. With over 100 top name shops, including a wide range of fashion and lifestyle retailers, as well as many independent names, there is something for everyone.

T: 01708 746 529 W: www.theliberty.co.uk E: information@theliberty.co.uk

Our team includes cosmetic dentists, dental implant specialist, root canal specialist, orthodontist, general dentists, hygienists and care nurses. All our dentists have the highest level of training and experience and are involved in the training of other dentists.

We understand the amazing impact a beautiful healthy smile has on a person.

T: 01708 442114 W: www.perfectsmilespa.co.uk E: jas@perfectsmilespa.co.uk

How can you make sure your business runs successfully and efficiently? Do you sometimes doubt whether you are making the right decisions to use your resources effectively?

Our Business Simulations workshops give you the opportunity to run a virtual business, where you learn to improve your business performance & profitability.

T: 0208 556 8520 W: www.mybusinessplus.co.uk E: info@mybusinessplus.co.uk

Goodfellas is an Italian family run barbers in upminster, owned and managed by award winning hair dresser Giani Daniello. The team at Goodfellas boasts over 25 year of Italian academic experience and has in just over 3 years established Goodfellas Barbers as a favourite for many men looking for the perfect cut.

T: 01708 222555

This business was started to help any organisation, running commercial vehicles, save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

Our aim is to ease the financial pressure of fuel costs for you. We offer a customised, innovative and focused service to meet your needs and allow the greatest benefit to be achieved.

T: 01277 626571 W: www.fuelandhealthsave.co.uk E: info@fuelandhealthsave.co.uk

Conference Centre

If you are looking for top class entertainment at your corporate event then look no further.

He’s the master of mix and mingle, and does ticks quicker than you can say abracadabra. The man with the tricks Barry Hicks is a fantastic addition to any event, contact him today to see how he can add a bit of magic to your presentation.

T: 01708 551 530 W: www.magicenigma.co.uk E: admin@magicenigma.co.uk

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The Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) is a world-class research, skills, education and business campus in East London.

CEME is unique in linking education to business, helping to improve the skills and prospects of local people enabling them to find employment within the manufacturing, engineering and technology sectors.

T: 0208 5965400 W: www.ceme.co.uk E: info@ceme.co.uk

We offer free, impartial and independent advice to businesses; identifying and delivering training to meet business needs. One of the key goals of the service is to make sure that both the training and the skills advice are impartial, flexible, responsive, and offered at a time and place to suit businesses.

T: 01708 462800 W: www.havering-college.ac.uk E: EmployerEnquiry@havering-college.ac.uk

classified

Netlaw Media is an established UK based legal information, education & training organisation incorporated to deliver world-class SRA CPD accredited law events, conferences, training programs & on-line media to the UK, European and Global legal sectors and hold a record of selling out seven major law events in succession.

T: 0203 1764200 W: www.netlawmedia.com E: enquiries@newlawmedia.com

Established since 1993, providing HR business solutions to UK and International clients, varying in size from large organisations right down to those emerging businesses who do not have support from a professionally experienced and seasoned HR team. We add value by assisting businesses in getting the best from their people.

T: 01379 898784 W: www.pegasuspersonnel.co.uk E: hr@pegasuspersonnel.co.uk

Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry represents over 200 Businesses who employ over 2,750 people. We have been around for 25 years and now we have a new business address and a new partnership, working for business with the London Borough of Havering.

HCCI is the voice of business in Havering.

T: 07913 477 631 W: www.haveringbusiness.co.uk E: office@haveringbusiness.org.uk

Mullis and Peake LLP is one of the region’s largest and most respected law firms, with a team of specialists providing up-to-date, professional legal advice on all that matters to people and companies.

Serving many well established commercial clients, Mullis and Peake LLP enjoys a longestablished reputation for high-quality legal services.

LightWave Business is Cloud SaaS specialist.

We have developed websites and internet applications for over 13 years, working globally with Labour Government, Carphone Warehouse, Siemens Hearing and more.

We provide the complete package including Purchasing of Equipment and Services, IT Communications, Home/Office Support and Project Planning and Management.

T: 01708 784000 W: www.mplaw.co.uk E: office@mplaw.co.uk

T: 0845 5080247 W: www.l-w-b.co E: mail@l-w-b.co

The Deaf Agency helps to break down communication barriers between deaf and hearing people, providing flexible, competitive, stress-free communication support.

Positive Media believe that successful communication is at the core of every successful business. Piecing together the necessary components to create a winning marketing campaign entails creativity, passion and a successful understanding of the campaigns end goal.

Additionally, we also offer fun tailor-made Deaf Awareness workshops, British Sign Language workshops or a mixture of both, depending on your needs – useful for continuing professional development.

T: 07951 820341 E: infodeafagency.co.uk W: www.deafagency.co.uk

T: 01708 475767 E: hello@positivemedis.co.uk W: www.positivemedia.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT 01708 475789 www.RMbusiness.co.uk

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