Borough Business May 2017

BOROUGH

BUSINESS The voice of Kingston’s business community

Issue 4: Spring 2017

Tolworth looks to the future p10 The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce Business Rates - p16

Inspirational Leader - p 24

Getting Started - p 34

WELCOME TO

BOROUGH BUSINESS The Kingston Chamber of Commerce magazine for all Businesses in Kingston

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secondly, UK firms want reassurance that Brexit will not be the only item on the government’s economic growth agenda for the next few years.

The government’s revaluation of Business Rates became effective from 1st April and whilst, for some, the effect will be a reduction in this overhead, for others it will result in a significant rise in their business costs meaning they will have to find ways to increase their income or reduce their overheads in order to remain profitable. Any change to your business rates, either welcome or unwelcome, is unavoidable but, if you are facing an increase, there are some steps you can take to mitigate the effect and these are outlined in our cover feature on P.16

With some early signs of warmer weather and longer days, it’s good to have the feeling that Spring is definitely on its way. This season is frequently the time when we look to either refresh or change what we do and how we go about it and this is certainly the case with the Chamber here in Kingston.

Although our membership has grown steadily over the last two years we decided to make membership growth across the borough a key objective in our business plan for 2017 and I am delighted to welcome Natalie Crew, our new Membership Development Officer, who has just joined the team to help us to do this. (See Article P.5) Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union was triggered on the 29th March setting off a two year process for negotiations to establish a new strategic partnership between the UK and the EU. As the feature on P.6 states just prior to this the British Chamber of Commerce published a report, “Business Brexit Priorities”, and I thought I would just highlight a couple of key messages that the business sector has for Government. Firstly, business communities across the UK want practical considerations, not ideology or politics, at the heart of the approach to Brexit negotiations and, The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Preparations for the Kingston Business Expo are now well under way and, as in previous years, there is already a keen demand for stands, particularly in prime locations.

Part of London Technology Week, Expo day will be crammed with exhibitors, free seminars, workshops and great networking opportunities. So whether you are intending to join us for breakfast, exhibit or just come along for the experience, make sure June 14th is in your diary. (Further details P.23) The borough’s other key annual business event, the Kingston Business Excellence Awards returns for 2017 and this year the launch will take place at Chessington World of Adventures on 3rd May. With 11 award categories to choose from plus an overall Business of the Year Award any borough business new or established, large or small has an opportunity to win a coveted Awards Trophy. Look out for details on how to apply at www.kingstonawards.co.uk.

Finally, I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone involved in organising the Chamber’s inaugural Charity Golf Day which took place at Hampton Court Palace Golf Club. The day was a resounding success enjoyed by both players and spectators and the event raised nearly £1,000 for the Chamber President’s chosen charity Global Arts Kingston. A particular thanks to all the sponsors including NatWest, Surbiton Golf Studio and, of course, Hampton Court Palace Golf Club for being such fantastic hosts.

Jerry Irving

CEO Kingston Chamber of Commerce

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Welcome to New Members Chamber News Economy Members News Business News Spotlight on Tolworth Skills Update Members News Cover Feature What will business rates do to business growth Connectivity Ask the Expert Surbiton Food Festival Chamber Events Inspirational Leaders International Health & Wellbeing Focus on Finance A day in the life of....

Starting Up

4 5 6 7 9 10-11 12-13 14 16-19 20 21 22 23 24-25 27 28 30-31 33 34

Editorial and General Enquiries Guildhall, High Street Kingston upon Thames. KT1 1EU. 020 8541 4441 Email: office@kingstonchamber.co.uk Web: www.kingstonchamber.co.uk Chief Executive: Jerry Irving Publisher: Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing 3tc House, 16 Crosby Road North, Crosby, Liverpool L22 0NY Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com Published April 2017 © Benham Publishing and Kingston Chamber of Commerce Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com Production Manager Mark Etherington Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: mark@benhampublishing.com Media No.1533 Disclaimer Borough Business is published for Kingston Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to Kingston Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in Borough Business are not necessarily those of Kingston Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2017. Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content.

Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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Welcome to our new members Beacon Organisational Development Ltd Dr Neslyn Watson-Druee www.beaconorganisationaldevelopment.com

Blue Arrow Care Limited Lucy Challis www.bluearrowcare.co.uk

Business Doctors Kingston John Sweeney www.businessdoctors.co.uk/businessconsultant/kingston-upon-thames

Cullen & Co Lauren Cullen www.cullenco.co.uk

Goldsmiths Chambers Tim Welch www.timwelch.co.uk

Printland Limited Richard Taylor www.printland.ltd

Riva Media Harry Gibson www.rivamedia.co.uk

Rugosa Consultancy Ltd Rosemary Goodwin

Saladbox Rasha Ismail www.saladbox.co.uk/en

Smart Training Dominika Mroczek www.smart-training.com

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

chamber news

Chamber Welcomes Kingston Business Excellence New Awards back with a roar Recruit

The 2017 search for the Royal Borough’s best businesses – the Kingston Business Excellence Awards – will roar back into town with a special awards launch on Wednesday, May 3.

2016 Winners

Chessington World of Adventures theme park and zoo – home to endangered species such as Asiatic Lions and Sumatran Tigers – will host a free launch breakfast from 8.30am to 10am.

Firms are invited to come along to find out how to enter the 12 different awards categories which celebrate the successes and achievements of all sizes and types of local businesses.

Organised in partnership with Royal Borough of Kingston, Kingston

Chamber and Kingstonfirst, the awards are also supported by Kingston University, Tax Assist, McDonalds, Bentalls, CNM Estates, Kingston College, Antoinette Hotels and Exchange@Kingston.

Following a rigorous and impartial judging and

shortlisting process, the winners will be announced at a glittering black-tie Gala Awards Dinner in October.

The premier award, The Kingston Business of the Year, is chosen by an independent panel of judges. Last year’s winners, telemarketing company MeetingPoint, were selected from 50 shortlisted companies to receive their award at a fabulous Gala Dinner at the Kingston Holiday Inn.

Book your place at the 2017 launch by registering now at: https://2017kbealaunch.eventbrite.co.uk For further information contact info@kingstonawards.co.uk

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber has been successful in growing its membership year on year since 2014 and it has done this by introducing a number of new initiatives like “Meet the Chamber” and the Kingston Young Entrepreneurs Club.

One of our key objectives this year, however, is to significantly accelerate this membership growth and we decided the best way to do this effectively was to invest in a dedicated member of our team that would help us to grow the Chamber’s network across the Royal Borough. And so, I would like to introduce you to Natalie Crew our new Membership Development Manager.

Natalie comes from a background in media and sales, with a decade of TV production experience before pursuing a career in sales and relationship management. Natalie moved to Kingston 12 years ago, and has chosen to work for local businesses since then. Natalie joins us from Evolve Digital, a Kingston based web development agency, where she was Business Development and Account Manager.

Natalie loves all things local, and may already be a familiar face to some of our members through her voluntary work in two local schools, as well as the Kingston Royals Swimming Club, also a Chamber Member, where she is both Press Officer and Team Manager. On her days off she is most likely to be found on a tennis court.

Natalie says: “I’m thrilled to join the Chamber, and looking forward to working with the thriving business community of RBK. Kingston is such a great place to live and work, it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to become more involved in its business community at this exciting time in our Borough.”

I am sure she will meet you all over the next few months and I know you will make her feel very welcome.

Natalie’s portrait photo was taken by Chamber photographer Trevor Aston of Trevor Aston photography.

Trevor has teamed up with Mike Daly of greatvideo.co.uk to offer a special corporate profile shoot opportunity combining a professional head shot with a promotional video.

The next shoot will be on Monday 8th May at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, book www.trevorastonphotography.co.uk/profile-shoot/

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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economy Report sets out economic priorities for Brexit The British Chambers of Commerce has published a blueprint for the UK government ahead of the Brexit negotiations.

Titled Business Brexit Priorities, the report sets out the steps that business want to see the UK take, based on feedback from more than 400 businesses at 16 Chamber-hosted focus groups, along with nearly 20,000 responses to Chamber surveys.

It puts forward priorities for action across seven key areas where business communities want practical solutions and certainty.

BCC evidence confirms that Europe will remain a key market for UK exporters and importers well into the future.

As a consequence, it is imperative that the government achieves a pragmatic UK-EU deal that facilitates continued trade.

The key recommendations in the report are: • On the Labour Market, the Government should provide certainty for businesses on the residence rights of their existing EU workers, provide clarity on hiring from EU countries during the negotiation period, and avoid expensive and bureaucratic processes for post-Brexit hires from the EU • On Trade, the government should aim to minimise tariffs, seek to avoid costly non-tariff barriers, and further

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existing EU free trade agreements with third world countries, and expand the trade mission programme • On Customs, the government should develop future customs procedures at the UK border in partnership with business, seek to maintain the UK’s position as an entry point for global businesses to Europe • On Tax, the government should guarantee that HMRC is appropriately resourced to help businesses through the transition process, and provide clarity on whether VAT legislation will continue to mirror current core VAT principles • On Regulation, the government should ensure stability by incorporating existing EU regulations into UK law and maintaining these for a minimum period following Brexit, and ensure that product standards are aligned with, and recognised by, the EU to keep UK products competitive

• On EU funding, the government should maintain UK access to the European Investment Bank, and ensure there is no funding ‘cliffedge’ for areas in receipt of EU funding • On Northern Ireland, the government must avoid any return to a hard border, so that businesses can move people and goods as freely as possible.

Adam Marshall, BCC Director General, said: “Business communities across the UK want practical considerations, not ideology or politics, at the heart of the government's approach to Brexit negotiations.

"What’s debated in Westminster often isn't what matters for most businesses. Most firms care little about the exact process for triggering Article 50, but they care a lot about an unexpected VAT hit to their cash flow, sudden changes to regulation, the inability to recruit the right people for the job, or if their products are stopped by customs authorities at the border.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

The everyday nitty-gritty of doing business across borders must be front and centre in the negotiation process.

"What’s also clear is that the eventual Brexit deal is far from the only thing on the minds of the UK’s business communities.

An ambitious domestic agenda for business and the economy is also essential so that business can drive our postBrexit success.

“Firms across the UK want a clear assurance that Brexit isn't going to be the only thing on the Government's economic agenda for the next few years.”

Marcus Mason, Head of Business at the BCC, and author of the report, said: “Since the historic vote on June 23, we have worked with Chamber business communities all across the UK to determine their key priorities for the Brexit transition.

“This report brings those practical priorities together and urges the government to adopt them in the forthcoming negotiations. Chambers of Commerce stand ready to help the government shape a pragmatic and practical approach to the coming transition, so that firms can continue to trade successfully with customers and suppliers across Europe and around the world.”

members news Kingston on the international map Kingston Council is attracting global interest in its regeneration programme following its visit to MIPIM Cannes to showcase development opportunities.

The four-day event was attended by more than 5,000 international investors, 4,350 developers and 23,000 visitors.

With Kingston’s population set to increase by 16 per cent over the next 20 years, new homes as well as social, leisure and transport infrastructure will be vital to the borough’s continued success, as well as attracting the right type of investor.

The regeneration process has already begun under Kingston Futures, the council’s regeneration arm, working with investors such as CNM Estates, British Land/USS and Berkeley Homes.

While the market for prime central London cools off, Kingston has been buoyed by demand for homes in the more affordable ‘London donut’ and saw average prices rise by 4% in the

12 months to January 2017, while in the same period prime locations such as Westminster recorded a drop of 0.8% (ONS).

Some of the development opportunities available in the borough include the Kingston town centre Cattlemarket carpark with adjoining land and the council will also be looking for partners to fulfil the vision of a new ‘community heart’ for New Malden with the development of residential, retail, leisure and community facilities at the Cocks Crescent site.

Additionally, the council will shortly be looking for a joint venture partner for the regeneration of the 8.6 hectare Cambridge Road Estate in Norbiton.

While the borough already enjoys good access to Central London, the proposed arrival of Crossrail 2 will speed up journey times significantly while providing opportunities for growth in

and around station areas, with all 10 of the borough’s stations earmarked as stops on the anticipated route.

Speaking at MIPIM Cannes, Chief Executive Charlie Adan took part in the panel debate “London’s towns – creating the right mix” on the importance of public engagement in enabling growth.

She cited the Berkeley Group’s initiative to involve residents in the commissioning of architects and design plans at its Old Post Office site in Kingston Town Centre as a great example of community involvement and an approach the council wholeheartedly supports.

The message was that Kingston is a good place to do business, and that the area is committed to working with the right partners and developers, alongside communities to create great places.

Kingston’s International Youth Arts Festival Boosts Business Now in it’s ninth year, the UK’s biggest multi-arts festival for performers aged under 27 will take over the borough this July, as 30,000 visitors come to see some of the best new work from talented rising stars.

More than 200 events will take place between 7th - 16th July including: theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual arts, spoken word, circus and carnival; featuring acts from near and far. It is a truly international arts festival, with Kingston hosting touring arts companies from China, USA, Ghana, Russia, Sweden and Nigeria – to name a few.

The Rose Theatre is the festival hub, with events also taking place at venues all over Kingston. The market square will see two weekends of live staged music and entertainment and a professionally-curated carnival.

The International Youth Arts Festival is delivered by local charity Creative Youth, and

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

supported by partners and sponsors including Royal Borough of Kingston, Kingston University, Kingston College and Kingstonfirst.

With so many visitors coming to Kingston – some as groups spending up to 10 days in the area – it is an excellent opportunity to make sure that the town’s increased footfall heads in your direction. Customers will be looking for places to stay, eat, drink, shop - and to find out about services they may need in the future.

Being associated with such a high-profile creative cultural event lets people know what sort of business you are, and when the whole town gets behind the festival – that lets people know that Kingston is the place to be. The festival is

fast becoming an important staging post for rising stars on the road to the Edinburgh Festival.

Alongside an incredible line up of award-winning drama, music and comedy, for 2017 Kingston’s International Youth Arts Festival will also be hosting the impressive culmination of Kingston RPM; records, people and music, a Heritage Lottery and Arts Council-funded project focused on the town’s fascinating musical heritage.

Tickets for headline events are now on sale at the Rose Theatre, with more to be revealed over the next few weeks. iyafestival.org.uk 020 8549 2120

New Change Skills from the BPM-D Academy The world moves fast, now more than ever. New skills are essential to manage this change.

Automation and sophisticated technologies are playing an increasingly significant role in society, with both manufacturing and service sector jobs rapidly evolving.

Through this there is only one constant– CHANGE Businesses can be successful without understanding this, but they cannot stay ahead of the game for long without embracing change as a necessity for long term, sustainable success.

Focusing attention on just one aspect of your business is a common pitfall when attempting to respond to challenges; often this only delivers a fleeting boost to overall results. To deliver maximum value, an end-to-end understanding of what your business does is needed. When you have this, it becomes possible to identify the areas where your efforts and investment will realise the greatest return.

An effective management of business processes provides this understanding. By drawing out process knowledge from within your organisation, process management practitioners can create visible, tangible assets to communicate exactly what your business does, and identify key areas for immediate attention.

Start your journey in becoming a process management practitioner at the Kingston-uponThames based BPM-D Academy. Offering a series of face-to-face training workshops designed and delivered by process management experts, attendees learn to deliver real results through practical application of business process management.

Sessions cost £250 per person, with discounts available for group bookings.

To find out more, visit www.bpm-d.com/academy or phone 020-8546-2412.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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business news Kew Gardens celebrates record visitor numbers with offer on corporate venue hire 20% off corporate events

Shelly Motors joins Mitsubishi network with special launch event MORE than one hundred guests turned out for the official opening of Shelly Motors’ new Mitsubishi outlet in Epsom.

held at any of our stunning venues *

2016 was a stunning year for Kew Gardens, with record visitor numbers, the opening of The Hive installation, our first ever Science Festival, and an overwhelmingly successful Christmas festival. We would like to celebrate our success, which we’re confident will continue throughout 2017, by offering businesses 20% off corporate venue hire.

"Everyone had a fantastic time at our company away day. The staff at both Kew and the catering company were very attentive and helpful. We could not have asked for any more. Would definitely like to come again!"

With 330 acres of beautifully landscaped Gardens, whether it’s a product launch, corporate away day, or drinks reception, Kew is the perfect place to host your event, with a whole range of activities available to keep your guests occupied. From tours around Kew’s glasshouses to treasure hunts around the Gardens, we’re more than happy to accommodate your needs. Our venue spaces are unique and varied – from a Georgian cottage once inhabited by royalty, to a stunning glasshouse with floor to ceiling windows, there is nowhere quite like Kew.

"All staff - Kew, caterers and AV were fantastic and helped make our event as special as it was.

The personal approach you offer to your clients makes a huge difference - thank you."

Lisa Donaldson, Luther Pendragon

Alexa Dizon, Down's Syndrome Association "A wonderful environment for our seminar. Having the gardens to explore was a great bonus to the rest of the event we held."

Five Paper barristers' chambers

*Offer is valid for events held from Monday-Wednesday and booked before 31st December 2017. Please call the Kew Gardens sales team on 0208 332 5641 and quote ‘Kew offer 20%’.

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

The UK’s newest Mitsubishi dealership on Felstead Road boasts a stunning and welcoming five-car showroom and state-of-the art workshop.

During the opening event, guests enjoyed a champagne reception with canapés and a cookery demonstration by award-wining local chefs, marking a major milestone in the history of family-owned Shelly Motors, which has been operating in Epsom since 2007.

Managing Director, Aaron Jameson, said: “We’re delighted to represent Mitsubishi in this part of Surrey, with its class-leading range of products, and looking forward to welcoming Mitsubishi drivers to our purpose-built site, which offers a comprehensive after care service, in addition to new Mitsubishi models and Mitsubishi Approved Used Vehicles.”

“It was fantastic to see many of our loyal customers, friends and suppliers join many new faces for our opening event, which was a brilliant evening.”

He added: “As a family-run business we are proud to be a long-standing part of the community around Epsom and focus on delivering the

highest standards of care to our customers throughout every stage of their vehicle’s life.”

Shelly Motors’ spacious showroom is a light and airy space with a relaxing seating area where customers can enjoy complimentary hot and cold drinks, free wi-fi, and live television.

A state-of-the-art workshop and team of skilled, manufacturer-trained technicians offer an after care service that includes Mitsubishi Approved servicing, repairs, warranty work, parts and accessories, while its forecourt displays a wide choice of Mitsubishi Approved Used Vehicles in addition to a range of new Mitsubishi models in the showroom.

The opening has created seven new positions, including three manufacturer-trained technicians, two sales executives, a sales administrator, a service advisor, a parts advisor and after care manager and a brand manager.

To find out more about Shelly Motors Mitsubishi, please visit www.shellymotors.com, pop in to the showroom on Longmead Industrial Estate, Felstead Road, Epsom

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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spotlight on...

Tolworth

looks to the future Tolworth is a place where a respect for the past mixes with a desire to shape the future and work has been under way on various regenerations projects designed to map out the years to come.

Those behind the moves, including Kingston Council and associated organisations, are building on a community that has a long history. Indeed, Tolworth was mentioned in the Domesday Book, when it was called Taleorde.

Like much of the area, its early history was largely rural but by the late 19th Century/early 20th Century, things were changing, driven by a population that was growing due in large part to the development of the brickfields that created so many jobs and the construction of the Tolworth Sewage Farm, both in Red Lion Lane, now Red Lion Road.

The reason the sewage farm was so important was because, with a

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proper sewerage system, Tolworth was ripe for expansion and the decades that followed saw steady development with a range of companies setting up in the area.

Recent initiatives have focused on supporting that diversity of business while preserving links to the past.

Among those initiatives has been one to preserve the area’s important architecture and Kingston Council has been

developing a strategy that will build on the borough's unique heritage, including that of Tolworth.

The Heritage Strategy is designed to complement other plans such as the council’s Tolworth Regeneration Strategy, which seeks to support investment in the area. It will be used to support bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other grant-awarding bodies for money to improve historically significant buildings.

Another important sector in Tolworth is retail and recent times have seen plenty of work by a variety of organisations to support both big-name and small independent traders.

One of the area’s biggest attractions – literally - is the Tolworth Tower, built on the site

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

of the former Tolworth Odeon Cinema and opened in 1963.

At 265 feet high with 22 floors, it is home to a mixture of residential and commercial uses.

The area also has a strong artistic tradition, including a strong link with some of music’s big names.

Indeed, David Bowie launched his Ziggy Stardust stage show with the Spiders from Mars at the Toby Jug pub in Tolworth on 10 February 1972.

Other bands to play there included Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Yardbirds , King Crimson and Black Sabbath.

Tolworth’s link with arts continues with the arts centre The CornerHOUSE, (previously known as the Douglas Centre).

The CornerHOUSE is a community arts centre for the people of Tolworth, Surbiton and the surrounding areas.

Created in 1995 through the conversion of the church hall, this exciting theatre space has showcased a wide range of drama, dance and music from visiting professional companies to that of its own in-house groups. It is run entirely by volunteers.

Community Clean Up: Broadoaks A team of volunteers came along to the Broadoaks Community Clean Up on Sunday 26 February. The weather was changeable but positive attitudes and community spirits were there in abundance for the whole day and the results speak for themselves.

If you are interested in organising a community clean up, email neighbourhood_management @kingston.gov.uk Neighbours: Share a Big Lunch on Sunday 18 June The Big Lunch, the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours, is fast approaching, and this year the initiative has joined forces with the Jo Cox Foundation to launch The Great Get-Together.

The weekend will see two days of community celebrations, culminating in The Big Lunch on Sunday 18 June.

It's a great opportunity to get people in your street together to share stories and learn more about your local area over a group picnic.

You can find more information about The Big Lunch at: www.edenprojectcommunities.com/ thebiglunch and more about The Great Get-Together at: https://greatgettogether.org

Go Cycle - Phase 2 consultations In the autumn 2016, Kingston council held public consultations for three Go Cycle routes - Kingston to Kingston Vale, Kingston to Tolworth and Kingston to New Malden.

The main proposals include: • Making improvements to the cycle routes between Kingston, Surbiton and Tolworth - along Ewell Road and Penrhyn Road.

• Providing more space for cyclists by providing a continuous cycle route along the entire Kingston to Kingston Vale corridor • Providing safer crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists across all three routes • Improving connections to Kingston Hospital, Kingston University (Kingston Hill campus) and Richmond Park by providing dedicated pedestrian and cycling facilities • Providing a segregated cycle lane serving Kingston University (Penrhyn Road campus) • Providing more space for cyclists via a continuous cycle route between Kingston and New Malden • Improving connections to the commercial area of Cambridge Road by providing dedicated pedestrian and cycling facilities The council received more than a thousand written and online responses to the three consultations and consultants are assessing the feedback received from the public.

Tolworth Tower

The Corner House

“Recent initiatives have focused on supporting that diversity of business while preserving links to the past.”

Photography courtesy of Cythare Cooper cythare@cythare.com facebook: cythare.com www.cythare.com

In Defence of Tolworth When we relocated our office to Tolworth in 2015, we had two types of response; ‘where?’ from people who didn’t know the area and ‘oh…’ from people who did.

In answer to ‘where?’ we’ve found that the easiest way to describe Tolworth’s location is ‘near Surbiton’.

We’ve also discovered that lots of people who work or have businesses near us, never use the ‘T’ word. They either claim to be based in Surbiton itself, or if they’re a little less shameless, they say East Surbiton. Amazon doesn’t recognize the word ‘Tolworth’. When you key in the post code, the delivery instructions automatically default to Surbiton. Maybe they don’t want to scare the drivers…

But there’s no need to be embarrassed about ‘Tolly’ because it’s actually quite a cool place. It’s where David Bowie launched his Ziggy Stardust stage show in February 1972 at the old Toby Jug. Other bands that played this venue include Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac and Black Sabbath. Tolworth is home to of one of the world’s most famous amateur football clubs, the mighty The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Corinthian Casuals and also hosts South West London’s most famous landmark, the unmissable Tolworth Tower.

Seriously though, we’ve come to realise that Tolworth is a very good place to base a business. With a good, reliable train service, Central London is only half an hour away. Tolworth is right on the A3 and less than 15 minutes from the M25. In terms of facilities there is a good selection of independent shops, cafes and restaurants plus Boots, Costa and an excellent M&S. The Travelodge hotel has recently been completely refurbished and a new Premier Inn is under construction.

Lidl are due to base their new UK headquarters in Tolworth which will bring jobs and prosperity to the area.

By Brett Hindson Cantor Hindson Consultancy Ltd www.cantor-hindson.co.uk

“The area also has a strong artistic tradition, including a strong link with some of music’s big names.

Indeed, David Bowie launched his Ziggy Stardust stage show with the Spiders from Mars at the Toby Jug pub in Tolworth on 10 February 1972.”

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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skills Success for Betsy Holland Hahn & Wills. have announced that Betsy McKenzie has completed the first stage of her apprenticeship.

Then in 2010, when graduate vacancies were thin on the ground and competition was fierce, with employers now wanting experience - the inevitable catch 22 – they employed a series of graduate interns for a duration of six months.

She will be commencing her Level 3 apprenticeship in Business Administration shortly.

HHW take pride in being socially conscious and have always felt it is important to support young people wishing to gain work experience.

For many years, they routinely offered a week of work experience to A Level students.

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The Apprenticeship Levy: what you need to know!

With only 3 working weeks away, the Apprenticeship Levy and its associated reforms are very much upon us!

They enjoyed watching them grow, gaining confidence, knowledge and, most of all. valuable and necessary experience. All the interns went on to pursue careers in finance.

The company’s efforts were rewarded at the end of 2016 when they were awarded the “Apprentice Employer of the Year” at the Kingston Business Awards.

Kingston College has an integral role to play in shaping skills development, employment and training for your business’s current and future workforce.

It is clear that the levy will encourage your business, whether you are in the non-levy or levy paying category, to consider how you may increase your Apprenticeship intake and/or embed the programme as part of your organisation’s succession planning strategy.

The changes follow the Government’s policy ‘The Future of Apprenticeships in England: 2020 vision’ which set out new procedures to put employers in the driving seat, increase the quality of Apprenticeships, simplify the system and give employers greater purchasing power.

As an active member of the Kingston business community, delivering training across a wide range of industry sectors to over 300 apprentices, it is very much our duty to support the Borough’s economic well-being. These are exciting times for the Borough with a number of projects such as the Telephone Exchange; the redevelopment of the Gas works site and the Eden Walk retail centre.

It is therefore critical that you are fully armed with appropriate

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

information and incentives to consider the Apprenticeship product as an integral workforce development plan that creates local employment for the future generation.

You will be pleased to hear that there are incentives to encourage your business to employ apprentices; for example the Government’s current Apprenticeship funding policy outlines a fully subsidised funding model for businesses employing less than 50 employees (with a pay bill of less than £3m) to recruit a 16-18 year old apprentice.

In addition, there is a £1,000 incentive payable to all employers, irrespective of business size who employ a 16-18 year old apprentice.

We would therefore like to cordially invite you to attend future employer workshops which will be held at Kingston College in the coming months, details will be posted on the Employer section of our website kingston-college.ac.uk along with other useful information to support your business.

Neel Bidessie Head of Enterprise and External Relations, Kingston College

apprenticeships New levy comes into force as employers are urged to take on more apprentices The way the Government funds apprenticeships in England has undergone some dramatic changes with larger employers now required to contribute to a new levy to finance the system.

The campaign highlights the wide range of benefits that apprentices can bring to a business. New analysis in support of the campaign highlights that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are set to recruit 202,000 new apprentices in the next 12 months, helping more young people get their foot in the door at leading companies across the country.

Additional research also highlights the many ways in which apprentices boost the businesses they work for: • more than 24,000 apprentice-employing SMEs in the private sector reported that hiring an apprentice has helped them win business

The Apprenticeship Levy means that from April 6 larger companies will need to pay 0.5% of their NIC pay bill for the tax year on the Apprenticeship Levy.

Employers will then be able to access funding for apprenticeships through a new digital apprenticeship service account.

An employer will have to pay the Apprenticeship Levy each month from 6 April 2017 if they: • have an annual pay bill of more than £3 million • are connected to other companies or charities for Employment Allowance which in total have an annual pay bill of more than £3 million Employers who aren’t connected to another company or charity will have an Apprenticeship Levy allowance, introduced to ensure that only employers with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million will pay the levy.

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Apprentices who have been accepted on to an apprenticeship programme before 1 May 2017 will be funded for the full duration of the apprenticeship under the terms and conditions that were in place at the time the apprenticeship started.

Whether you pay the levy or not, the digital apprenticeship service will help you to: • select an apprenticeship framework or standard • choose the training provider or providers you want to deliver the training • choose an assessment organisation • post apprenticeship vacancies The Government hopes that the changes will encourage more employers of all sizes to take on apprentices and also runs the Get In Go Far campaign to promote the idea.

• 3 in 4 SMEs that employ apprentices report increased productivity thanks to apprenticeships with product/service improvement • nearly all (96%) SMEs report at least one business benefit to hiring an apprentice However, says the Government, there is still more to be done to ensure employers of all sizes gain the skills they need for their workforce.

Almost three-quarters of SMEs still remain to be convinced about the merits of taking on an apprentice.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Robert Halfon said: “We know that apprenticeships give people of all ages and all backgrounds a ladder of opportunity to get the skills they need. That is why more than 90% of apprentices stay in employment after their scheme ends.

“It’s fantastic to see that so many SMEs are taking advantage of the programme, ensuring they get the workforce they need but we must do more to encourage SMEs to come on board and hire more apprentices.”

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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members news Join the dynamic Love Kingston RideLondon 100 Cycling Team Riders taking part in the world’s largest cycling event will be pedalling through the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames once again this Summer and Love Kingston has 18 guaranteed places available for people who live, work and learn here to join its Prudential RideLondon Surrey 100 team on Sunday 30th July 2017.

Image courtesy of Karen Powell

Celebrating the legacy for cycling created by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 starts in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, then follows a 100-mile route on closed roads through the capital and into Surrey’s stunning countryside.

With leg-testing climbs and a route made famous by the world’s best cyclists, it's a truly spectacular event for all involved.

The route is perfect for both club and recreational cyclists over the age of 18.

As well as the personal challenge of completing the route, participants’ involvement will benefit residents as Love Kingston supports small charity and community projects in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Money raised through the event will be given in grants to tackle isolation and encourage

We are delighted that many have already expressed an interest in riding for Love Kingston, signed up and are training to pit themselves against the country’s top amateurs, but there are several places available for anyone confident of raising a sponsorship target of £500.

All monies raised will boost our fund for local giving to reach

integration across the borough and help to build a fund that will support charitable activity for generations to come.

Get in touch with tessakind@kva.org.uk to be sent your secure link to register.

The registration fee for this year’s event is £69. You can find out more about Love Kingston at www.love-kingston.org.uk Tessa Kind, Love Kingston Community Fundraising Manager, said “This is an exciting opportunity for keen local cyclists who may have missed the ballot or not considered riding until now.

Image courtesy of Karen Powell

Would you like to deal with everyday stress better? ... and learn some skills to improve your mood and coping strategies?

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Join our free 6 week course (15 hours)

Practical Ideas for Happier Living Several start dates around the borough between April-June 2017 To register your interest or for more information on further dates, contact: Lesley Searle 020 8547 6839 Email: lesley.searle@kingston.gov.uk The course is part of a research project to find out if community learning can help people with problems like sleeplessness, anxiety and feeling low.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

residents in need. I would encourage the whole borough to come out and line the streets to show your support on 30th July and witness for yourself the amazing, buzzing atmosphere.

The Love Kingston Ambassadors and I would love to welcome you at our usual supporters’ venue, Al Forno, 1-3a, High Street, Kingston KT1 1LY”.

The perfect place for every occasion • BREAKFAST • LUNCH • AFTERNOON TEA • • PRE-THEATRE DINNER • Open daily from 9am

0208 974 5698

browns-restaurants.co.uk

NOW AVAILABLE

Browns Kingston, 3 Jerome Place Charter Quay, Kingston Riverside, Kingston KT1 1HT

The Boardroom at Hotel Bosco Located within a few minutes’ walk of Surbiton Station, the Boardroom offers a variety of advantages for your next company meeting.

Offering natural daylight, and a comfortable and creative environment.

• £99 per full day for up to 10 delegates • 10% discount on first boardroom booking • Unlimited tea/coffee and complimentary breakfast pastries • Free high-speed wireless Internet access • Flipchart, large television with computer connections • Secure car parking

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Once you conclude your meeting, join us for cocktails in the lounge.

Hotel Bosco also offers discounted bedroom rates for delegates and for regular corporate business.

••• For more information please call 020 8339 5720 or e-mail meetings@hotelbosco.co.uk

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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What will business rates do to business growth!

The revaluation of business rates is effective from the 1st April 2017. The irony being, this is April Fool’s Day, but to many SME owners this will not be a joke.

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

cover feature On this day, non-domestic business properties (there a few exceptions for example farm buildings or places of worship) will be given a new rateable value, which ultimately means the business rates on a particular property can rise, stay the same or by some miracle actually reduce.

To put it simply, the Government changes to business rates are not setting businesses up to thrive. Some may just survive and others may even die as a result.

With lack of cash-flow cited as one of the main challenges SME businesses face, and business rates being the 3rd biggest outgoing for many small businesses after rent and staff costs, there is a disconnect between the ‘shiny and bright’ new government initiatives (reducing regulation, launching UKTI international trade advisor service etc.) to support growth and the ‘back to basics’ of what it takes to run an SME business – CASH. Whilst the revaluation of business rates is cited as revenue neutral for the government, there will be some business winners with rates going down and some business losers with rates going up, it certainly won’t be revenue neutral for the losers.

Businesses whose rates will increase must now generate extra income or reduce costs to fund the differential and

suddenly that business is in survival mode not growth mode, which is clearly not productive for the UK economy.

Whilst the business rate revaluation was planned, having been delayed from 2015 due to the general election, the UK government must not demonstrate a Jekyll and Hyde personality with mixed messages undermining the initiatives they are creating to help businesses grow and thrive. With companies like Amazon being given rate reductions while the independent SME businesses in some areas, are given significant double or triple digit increases, this again sends out the wrong message.

Particularly with Brexit we need to be creating a competitive UK where inward investment is strong because the UK is a great place to do business, helping and supporting existing businesses and giving them every opportunity to thrive and really create an environment for SME businesses (which are the backbone of a strong

“Whilst the revaluation of business rates is cited as revenue neutral for the government, there will be some business winners with rates going down and some business losers with rates going up, it certainly won’t be revenue neutral for the losers.”

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

economy) to drive a sustainable circular business economy.

Here are my top 5 tips as to what ALL businesses can do about the potential business rate increases; #1 Understand the impact to your business today If you haven’t already, visit the gov.uk website and assess the impact to your business today. Search for your property address, obtain the revaluation estimate and if eligible enquire about transitional relief and whether it’s applicable to you.

The transitional relief helps by phasing in any increase over a period of time. #2 Identify some quick wins Re-focus on ALL the 3 levers within your business growth model - REVENUE - PROFIT – CASH and find those small tweaks, the quick wins which, when added together, could make a BIG difference today.

The saying springs to mind ‘look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves’. For example, how much are you spending on auxiliary services (stationery, cleaning, merchandising) can this be reduced and streamlined? #3 Kick start your revenue growth strategies Most businesses tend to spend their time in attracting new customers through the front door of their business. The first and number 1 low/no cost strategy for increasing the

number of customer is referrals. Have you asked your existing customers for a referral?

86% of my business comes from referrals – was it always the case – of course not but we’ve been focused on building a referral only business. Could you do the same? What percentage of your business comes through referrals today? What could it be in the future with an increased focus in this area?

Could you focus on increasing the value from existing customers by increasing the number of products and services your customers buy from you and your business?

In my experience, (I’ve worked with tens of thousands of businesses across 27 countries) most people do not buy ALL the products and services they could from you, simply because they do not know everything that you sell.

Could this be the case in your business?

Do you have a systematised process to educate and up sell customers on your full complement of products and services available to them?

You’ve already invested the time and money in acquiring the new customer – you’ve already invested the money now is the time to capitalise on all the effort you’ve invested to date.

Client retention… or more importantly lack of it - is costing businesses millions in lost turnover and profits each year. You’re going to lose some customers/clients – FACT! But, what if, through increased focus you could reduce the attrition rate of your customer base by a small percentage point? For example, customers who rate the service from a supplier as "satisfactory" have

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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cover feature

a retention rate of 65%.

However - those customers who rate the service they receive as "Very Satisfactory" have a loyalty rate of 95%.

Where do your customers rate their satisfaction level in your business? What strategies are you going to implement to move the needle on your satisfaction meter to ‘Very Satisfied’. #4 Shift your productivity dial Whilst business rate increases could hit your overall profit margin there are multiple strategies which you can do to offset the increase.

One strategy is to focus on productivity. Put simply, how can you increase the output.

Activities can include upskilling team members, reviewing roles against requirements, identifying technology advancements you can leverage.

I appreciate some of these suggestions could trigger a cost, but the fundamental question is are you and your people busy or productive?

Take a fresh look at your ways of working to identify opportunities to increase your productivity. #5 And finally…. get a handle on your cash management Cash is what stifles the growth and actually pushes many businesses over the edge.

Really focus on cash management and specifically your debtor/creditor ratio; what payment terms are you offering, what payment terms are you receiving, try and negotiate more favorable ones if these are not working for you. Complete credit checks on new and existing customers to avoid any bad debtors.

Royston Guest is CEO of Pti-Worldwide and author of business growth book, Built to Grow. A proven time-tested formula full of practical strategies, tools and ideas into what it takes to build a truly high performing organization, which delivers accelerated, sustained, and profitable growth.

Remember you are not there to provide a free credit facility for your customers, yet too many businesses indirectly fall into this trap. This will only lead to sleepless nights. It doesn’t have to be this way if you are proactive in your cash management.

Join Royston’s Built to Grow Facebook or LinkedIn Group and access exclusive content, articles and insights on how you can deliver accelerated, sustained and profitable business growth. www.roystonguest.com.

“The rising cost of leasing commercial premises in London combinded with, for many, an increase in Business Rates, will inevitably result in a greater demand for flexible-use, “pay as you go” workspace and a greater investment in online business solutions which reduce the need to have workers domiciled in one place”.

Jerry Irving, CEO Kingston Chamber of Commerce 18

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

Seek advice early

By Lauren Cullen

With businesses feeling the uncertainty with the impact of Brexit, it can be difficult to assess what risks there are and plan accordingly.

In these uncertain times, here are some points that may assist directors to remain vigilant with their duties and responsibilities of running a company, as well as to help spot the warning signs that could indicate a company is struggling.

“Remember you are not there to provide a free credit facility for your customers, yet too many businesses indirectly fall into this trap. This will only lead to sleepless nights.

It doesn’t have to be this way if you are proactive in your cash management.”

“Particularly with Brexit we need to be creating a competitive UK where inward investment is strong because the UK is a great place to do business, helping and supporting existing businesses and giving them every opportunity to thrive and really creating an environment for SME businesses (which are the backbone of a strong economy) to drive a sustainable circular business economy.”

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Duties and responsibilities Directors are to act in the company’s best interests, be honest, remember the company’s property belongs to it and be diligent, careful and well informed about the company’s affairs.

Directors should also ensure that: - Assets are not sold or transferred for less than market value.

- No one creditor is preferred to other creditors.

- The company does not continue to trade which worsens the position of creditors (wrongful trading).

Warning signs Directors should regularly consider the following: • Bank - Is the bank account overdrawn and always at its limit?

- Has the bank refused to increase the overdraft or refused to provide a loan?

- Has the bank now asked for personal guarantees from the directors?

• Debtors (customers) - Are you aware of the current position with debtors?

- Are customers taking more and more time to pay?

- Is the company reliant on one or two major customers?

• Creditors (suppliers, landlord, employees) - Are you aware of the current position with creditors?

- Are creditors being paid on time or are demands coming in?

- Are suppliers requesting changes in credit terms?

• HMRC - Is the company behind on filing all returns on time, for VAT, PAYE and corporation tax?

- Is the company unable to meet all these liabilities, as they fall due?

• Management - Are the directors falling behind with monitoring the financial position?

- Are the directors not planning ahead and not taking steps to mitigate risks?

- Do the directors have increasing overdrawn current accounts (the directors owe the company money)?

Seek advice early As a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner, I’ve seen all too often directors seeking advice much too late when there is no option other than to close the company down and liquidate.

Guidance must be sought at an early stage. In recent years Insolvency Practitioners have been assisting to turnaround and restructure businesses rather than just liquidate. Speak with your accountant or feel free to contact Cullen & Co for free and confidential initial advice.

Lauren Cullen MAAT FCA MABRP Licensed Insolvency Practitioner t: 0203 8877 200

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connectivity Time saving tips for the connected world of digital marketing By Bobi Robson The internet was created to help build connections globally.

The inventor of the world-wide web, Sir Tim Burnes-Lee “designed it [the world-wide web] for a social effect - to help people work together – and not as a technical toy. The ultimate goal of the Web is to support and improve our ‘weblike’ existence in the world.”

Today we are some way to achieving that goal. The birth of the internet and the development of online search and social networks that followed has changed the way that we build connections and develop networks.

According to the ONS (Office for National Statistics), between March 2010 and March 2016 online sales increased by over 73% in the UK, and this trend is only set to rise. Recent studies in social media marketing suggest that people are more likely to spend with a business

that they have discovered through social referral – today’s word of mouth.

As our world becomes ever more connected and we move into the age of globalisation we must embrace all the possible communication channels to

support the growth of our businesses. But, when time is limited, and you’re often working on your own, how can you grow your customer base or even maintain the one you have? In this article, I will share some of my time saving tips.

One concern I hear from business owners is that a lack of time is leading to no activity on their digital channels or activity that lacks the quality they would ideally like. One way to improve the quality of your communication online is good design. Canva.com, is a free web based tool. The application helps you to create impactful images that you can use in email marketing campaigns, on your website, and social media.

This tool can save both time and cost for a small business.

I would highly recommend taking a look at what’s on offer.

Two other ways that you can reduce the time you focus on your online activity are;

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

automation and monitoring services. In the last few years, there has been a rise in free web based applications that can help you to automate your presence, some I admit are better than others. One that you may have heard of is If This Then That or IFTTT.com, which allows you to set rules that trigger different actions across the web.

Another is ChatFuel. This links with your Facebook Page to automate a response to any messages that you receive – the best part of this? You can integrate it in to your marketing funnel, using it to guide new customers through to conversion.

Often it is the time needed to create content that is an issue.

Quuu, is an app that mixes both automation and content curation to help you stay on top of the curve in your industry.

All our days are busy but when an important change is announced, will you have the time to source the right content to share? With all of the tools mentioned here – as with digital marketing in general - you do need to set aside some time to begin and to develop but, the effort at the start really pays dividends later.

ask the expert What is a Print Ready PDF?

By Richard Taylor, Sales Director, Printland PDF stands for Portable Document Format.

Supplying a print ready PDF will speed up your file through our pre-press department by eliminating any unwanted data.

A print ready PDF will help create a simple workflow enabling a hassle free transition from design through to print and delivery.

• The scan resolution will be 300 dpi at 100% of the final image size.

• All images will be embedded • Files should be supplied with a 3mm bleed. Finished size when trimmed will then show edge to edge printing • Any trim, score or fold marks are indicated and outside the finished print area.

• Black text is 100% black and not a mix of CMYK. Otherwise this could create a muddy brown colour A print ready PDF needs to contain the following: • Normally the file needs to contain CMYK (cyan, magenta yellow, black) and not RGB (red, green, blue). But, at printland we can produce a fifth speciality colour, Gold, Silver or Spot UV (clear colour).

If in doubt, we can convert this file for you and supply a proof.

• If you require one of our amazing foils, we will help you in the pdf creation.

• The document’s page size would be the finished trim size.

• Fonts are embedded. This stops your font from accidentally changing.

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

• White text is not set to overprint.

This knocks out any colour • Any multiple-page PDF consists of single pages running from the front cover through to the back cover, including blank pages if needed.

We can use special effects during the finishing process give prints that extra 'wow' factor creating beautifully finished work using Foils and Special Effect Films.

Environment We use high quality coated and uncoated paper with Matt, Silk and Gloss finishes sourced from companies committed to sound environmental, health and safety (EH&S) practices and sustainable forest management in their own operations and those of their suppliers.

Our intent is to protect the health and integrity of forest ecosystems, conserve biological diversity and soil and water resources.

Tel 020 8241 2667 www.printland.ltd

At Printland we print anything from business cards, flyers, labels, catalogues, magazines to posters, pop-ups and wide format prints.

Outshine your Competition Using one of our eye-catching speciality colours, Gold and Silver you can add incredible value to your digital prints, capturing high profit-potential applications that demand attention with stunning effects.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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food festival

A tasty treat in store Surbiton Food Festival bursts into life on the 6th of May, running up to the 21st with a wide variety of events, demonstrations and workshops .

The festival is a celebration of place, produce and people. Building on the best elements of 2016, this year will again feature the showcase outdoor weekend events.

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The famous Seething Freshwater Sardine Festival celebrates the idea of locally sourced food and takes place on Sunday 7th May at Claremont Gardens.

During the weekend of the 13th and 14th May, the local community come together around the two day Village Fete.

Established by The Community Brain group of volunteers and local businesses in 2013, the Festival has since grown into a spectacular community celebration and has brought the town to life through its culinary talent.

The final weekend of the Surbiton Food Festival delivers a day of further celebration in the form of a traditional Sports Day on 20th May with the added dimension of the annual ‘Drag’ Race when cross gender dressing claims the day “

Last year saw more than 40 local businesses taking part and more than 5,000 people attending 23 events and demonstrations.

A direct consequence of the success of the festival was the creation of the Community Kitchen and Museum of Futures.

Throughout the two weeks of the Surbiton Food Festival, local businesses will hold a series of “In House Events” inspired by the themes of food and drink.

This year’s events include a butchery and blues event, pie night and pop up Thai restaurant in the Museum of Futures.

Robin Hutchinson, originator and Chair of the Surbiton Food Festival, said: ““Alongside all the wonderful food and drink the Surbiton Food Festival showcases the diversity and vibrancy of the area with three major community events.”

There are plenty of other tasty treats throughout the fortnight – arts and crafts, offers, competitions, recipes, and local business showcases and demonstrations.

Visit the website for more information on festival events and to keep up to date with the latest news www.surbitonfoodfestival.org

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

chamber events Upcoming Chamber Events Networking Lunch

President’s Ball

Friday 28th April 12.30pm – 2.30pm Comptoir Libanaise, Kingston Riverside KT1 1QN

Friday 12th May 7.00pm – late Chamber President Robert O’Dowd celebrates the end of his year in office with a glittering President’s Ball.

Only a few tickets remaining for this black tie affair with dinner, drinks and entertainment.

Sponsorship opportunities also available.

DoubleTree By Hilton, Kingston KT2 5FJ

Business Start Up Workshop Wednesday 26th April 9.30am – 12.30pm If you have just started a business or thinking of launching one in 2017, why not join our half day workshop.

Workshops run on a regular basis throughout the year so if you can’t make this one but wish to attend a future date, get in touch by emailing office@kingstonchamber.co.uk Guildhall, High Street, Kingston KT1 1EU

Networking Breakfast Thursday 11th May 8.00am – 9.30am Join us for our May networking breakfast with presentations by Graham Taylor from NatWest and Toni Flatt from Worldpay.

Holiday Inn London Kingston South, Surbiton KT6 5QQ

AGM and Lunch Wednesday 24th May 11.15am – 2.30pm Members are invited to this year’s AGM to present our audited report and accounts for 2016 as well as formally elect our new President.

Our AGM is open to Kingston Chamber of Commerce members only.

Glenmore House, Surbiton, KT6 4BN

To find out more or to book for events visit www.kingstonchamber.co.uk/events

Kingston Business Expo Wednesday 14th June 2017

8.00am – 4pm

Kingston University Business School, Kingston Hill Campus KT2 7LB The ideal showcase for local businesses! Now in its 5th year, the annual Kingston Business Expo is regarded as the only major business exhibition in the Royal Borough and embodies the single biggest networking opportunity of the year.

It’s like 6 months of networking in just one day, giving you the opportunity to promote your products and services to your target audience on a face-toface basis. No other form of marketing can get you in the same room with so many potential customers who are Once again the Expo will actively looking for suppliers feature as an official part of and to make new connections.

London Technology Week, Can you afford to miss out? bringing together knowledge • Over 600 attendees and services that enable • 40+ exhibition stands businesses to grow and thrive in an ever changing • Free business seminars technological and online world. and workshops Exhibiting is one of the most • Multiple networking efficient and effective marketing opportunities including activities available to your speed networking throughout the day business.

Visit www.kingstonchamber.co.uk/expo to register to attend or book a stand.

Chamber Golf Championship 2017 Hampton Court Palace Golf Club

Wednesday 29th March 2017 10 teams of four players took part with additional guests joining for the prize giving dinner back at the club house.

The results were: • Overall Winning Team Kingston College: Steve Bennett, Sunil Sharma, Alex Humm, Adam Douthwaite • Runner Up Team Chamber Chiefs: Jerry Irving, Justin Pinches, Guy Fallows, Michael Pearson

The inaugural Chamber Golf Championship took place at the beautiful 18-Hole royal grounds of Hampton Court Palace Golf Club in Home Park on 29th March. The course, originally reserved for the King’s sport, with fallow deer roaming amongst the fairways was the perfect venue for the businesses of the Royal Borough to battle it out for the Chamber Championship.

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

• Nearest the Pin Sponsored by NatWest Saphel Rose from Quality Solicitors Rose & Rose • Longest Drive Sponsored by Kingston Chamber Alex Humm from Kingston College • Lucky Pick HSBC Bank: Mark Poole, Andrew Reston & James Clague

Winning Team from Kingston College

We would like to thank NatWest for sponsoring the Nearest the Pin competition, Jon Wells from Surbiton Golf Studios for providing prizes and a ‘Beat the Pro’ competition and Hampton Court Palace Golf Club for hosting a fantastic day.

The event was supporting the President’s chosen charity for 2016-17 Global Arts Kingston.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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inspirational leader Looking forward while respecting the past proves the key to success In an age when so much is changing, it can be reassuring to encounter something that has stood the test of time, which is why the success of boatbuilders Turks is so welcome.

However, for all that the Turks have been one of the great Thames river families for centuries, the business owes its current success as much to embracing the 21st Century as it does to respecting the past.

The current custodian of the family business is Managing Director Richard Turk, who oversees a historic shipyard and a passenger boats service and who assumed the running of the company from his father Michael.

Richard became Managing Director of Turks Shipyard in 2008, three years after taking charge of Turk Launches. He is also a Director of The Great River Race Ltd since 2012 and has been a Board Director of Kingston Chamber of Commerce since 2010.

However, for all Richard had grown up surrounded by boats and boatmen, it was not the way his career started.

He said: “I initially worked in the City and in recruitment

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and management consultancy but at the age of 25 I found myself coming to work for the family business.

“The only condition I had was that it would only be for a year or two but here I am, still Managing Director twelve years later!”

Although keen to take the business forward, he was acutely aware of the history of a company that was created in 1710 although there are records of Turk-built boats as far back as the 12th Century.

He said: “Turk is a really well-known name on the river and has been so for hundreds of years and I like that sense of history but when I came to work for them the company was struggling.

“My father was running it and he was a great river man and a great entrepreneur but he was old school. He was not really someone who could run a business. We were in the Dark Ages. He had never touched a computer in his life, for example.

“I set out to modernise our operational processes and we also had some businesses that were not really making money so we closed them down to focus on the viable companies.

“I could see the potential in boat building and in running passenger boats and we set out to build them up. It took years but we are seeing the benefits now.”

A key decision was to expand to take over a historic boatyard in Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent, from which we offer professional boat maintenance, repairs and boatyard storage.

Before becoming a barge maintenance centre, the shipyard was used to build Second World War submarines and, after the war, the facility spent many years without being used.

Richard said: “The boatyard was a wonderful place but it had been derelict for fifty years

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

and we got the old cranes working again and took on some traditional craftsmen, welders and engineers.

“Now, the yard is going great guns and we have doubled our workload in five years.

We started off turning over £250,000 a year but this year it will be more than a million.

“One reason for the yard’s success is that property prices in London mean that more people are thinking about living on the river and buying a houseboat. We make a lot of houseboats.

“Also, a lot of boatyards have closed down. A developer will approach an old waterman who is close to retirement and offer millions to buy the site to build flats. Sometimes there is an element of luck in business.”

To meet the demand, Turks Shipyard Ltd operates a fully operational dry dock and slipway. In addition, the yard can accommodate new builds for luxury house boats, narrow boats and Dutch barges.

Richard said: “The regulations governing boats mean that a boat must go into dry dock once a year, a sort of MOT, and we are benefiting from increasing

“Turk is a really well-known name on the river and has been so for hundreds of years and I like that sense of history but when I came to work for them the company was struggling.” demand as a result and from the fact that some other businesses have closed down.

“In addition, there is a lot of activity on the river at the moment. There is a lot of development and the river is bursting with life.

“A lot of material is going by boat and the Mayor has said that he wants to increase river transport by 20 per cent by 2020.

“In terms of the future, running passenger boats is tough, it is a very competitive market, but the boatyard is going really well.”

A river man through and through, both through his family’s history and his own activities, Richard is also a big supporter of the Great River Race.

From its debut in 1988, the race has firmly established itself

in the sporting calendar to such an extent that experienced crews describe it as a classic event the one they all want to win.

The race progresses from the Docklands skyline at the start, through central London until it reaches its semi-rural Surrey conclusion. It attracts both the true racer and the leisure rower and, in developing into ‘London's River Marathon’, is doing for rowing what the road marathon did for running. Not surprising when the course is a gruelling 21 miles from London Docklands to Richmond.

Richard rows each year and he said: “Supporting the event is something and I do on a voluntary basis and something I enjoy.

“I am a hands-on person and by taking part in the race I can retain my connection with the river.”

“A key decision was to expand to take over a historic boatyard in Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent, from which it offers professional boat maintenance, repairs and boatyard storage.”

“The regulations governing boats mean that a boat must go into dry dock once a year, a sort of MOT, and we are benefiting from increasing demand as a result and from the fact that some other businesses have closed down.”

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

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BOROUGH BUSINESS BUSINESS -- The The voice voice of of Kingston’s Kingston’s business business community community BOROUGH

international

A Land of Opportunities Emanuel Adam Director of Policy and Trade, BritishAmerican Business Go America It was only recently that June Medical, a medical device manufacturer based out of Oxford, decided to make the step to the other side of the Atlantic.

With a small team of eight, but with much success in their business in the UK, June Medical is looking to grow further in the US. Being in the stage of finding suitable distribution partners for their products, June Medical expects to enter the US market within the next 12 months.

Expanding business to the US was also the ambition of Northern Star, an IT support company from London.

It worked. With a 5-year plan in hand and an opened office in New York, Northern Star is set to expand even further across the US, with plans to open another office in San Francisco in the near future.

June Medical and Northern Star are just two out of the many UK-based companies that look at the US when it comes to growing their business internationally. In fact, when asked about their preferred foreign business destination, the majority of UK businesses would name the US first.

The US offers a huge market, different clusters of highly-developed industries across the country, a common language, a highly skilled workforce, and not to forget special historic ties with the UK. As a result, the US is the UK’s top destination in trade and investment.

The investment relationship between the US and UK has made strides since the new millennium, with the value of FDI stock held by UK investors in the US increasing 45.9% between 2005 and 2014. Every day a million American workers get up in the morning to work for a UK-owned company, such as for our friends at Northern Star.

The trade in goods between the US and UK is worth over £160bn annually, with the US accounting for 19.7% of all UK exports, primarily in Machinery & Transport Equipment (£14.4bn), Chemicals (£9.4bn), and Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles (£5bn). For the past decade the UK has run a continuous trade surplus with the US, with an average value of £28.1bn – peaking in 2013 with a surplus figure of £40.3bn.

A Strong Support System The opportunities are vast, as are the challenges. Different legal systems in US states, immigration issues or, as June Medical reports, finding the right distributor, can be challenging, particularly to those who have neither the experience nor the resources.

Luckily, with the continuing success of the UK-US trade and investment relationship comes a strong support system in both the UK and the US that is meant to help companies navigate this exciting step for their business.

The Department of International Trade (DIT) offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, at the British Embassy in Washington DC as well as the British Consulates General in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco.

The US Commercial Service at the US Embassy in London has an open phone line for companies who want to make an investment in the US. In close collaboration with the UK and US government work, the

chapters of the British-American Business Council (BABC) - of which BritishAmerican Business (BAB) is proudly part of - offer first-hand information and are often the first local network for companies who look into specific locations, such as San Francisco, where we hope to welcome Northern Star soon.

A Good Time In these turbulent times, the transatlantic trade and investment relationship can be more than ever an anchor of stability and opportunity for UK-based companies.

Last year, International Trade Secretary Rt Hon Liam Fox MP has indicated that the UK Government will open three additional offices in Minneapolis, Raleigh and San Diego, complementing existing posts in the US network, therefore extending the UK’s reach into new and potentially lucrative areas. This is in addition to special UK Government programmes to support first time exporters and young entrepreneurs.

A good time to think about making the step to the US. Get in touch!

Strengthen Ties Jeffries Briginshaw, CEO BritishAmerican Business The United Kingdom has no closer ally than the United States. Jointly our two countries take action to meet the challenges we face locally, nationally and globally. Our bilateral cooperation reflects the common language, ideals and democratic practices of two nations built over the centuries.

And, despite recent uncertainty, we can afford to be upbeat. Because, whatever the challenge, the British American economic relationship is a source of great strength, stability and opportunity. We are the single largest investor in each other’s economies. A million British people go to work every day in the UK for The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

a US headquartered company, just as a million Americans go to work every day to work for a British headquartered company in the US. The business activities of the thousands of companies that day in, day out, trade and invest across our borders strengthen the ties between our respective economies and bring prosperity to our people.

As the United Kingdom prepares to leave the EU, and with a new Administration in Washington D.C., it is significant that UK Prime Minister Theresa May became the first foreign leader to meet with United States President Donald Trump following his Inauguration.

Any moves to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries will be welcomed by the transatlantic business community, as will any easing of regulatory burdens on the thousands of businesses operating in towns and cities on both shores.

These formal discussions provide a timely opportunity for the US and

UK to re-define and re-imagine the special relationship which exists between our two countries.

For further information contact: BritishAmerican Business 020 7290 9888 www.babinc.org policy@babinc.org

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health & wellbeing

How to retain your older workers It is one of the most pressing issues for employers – how do you accommodate an ageing workforce which still has much to offer but which may work differently than when it was younger?

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

The issue has been the focus of a three-year project run by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), whose report ‘Safer and healthier work at any age’ has come up with some solutions.

EU-OSHA says that the ageing workforce has serious implications for workers, employers and society as a whole and the objectives of the project, carried out at the request of the European Parliament, were to examine the safety and health of older workers.

The result of the study, says the organisation, could be policies which would allow companies to retain older staff and look after their well-being at the same time by being more understanding.

EU-OSHA says that since the 1960s life expectancy has been increasing throughout Europe while at the same time birth rates have remained low.

As a consequence, it says, Europe’s population is ageing.

By 2040 the over-65s are expected to account for nearly 27 % of the population and EU-OSHA says that the trend is reflected in the workforce and that the proportion of older workers (55-64 years) is increasing.

Although life expectancy is increasing, says EU-OSHA, the extra years of life are not necessarily spent in good

health, partly because the incidence of chronic diseases such as cancers, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and depression increases with age.

• More workplace health promotions

EU-OSHA says that an older population with an ageing workforce will have implications for economies, putting pressure on pension systems and health care costs.

• Implementation of rehabilitation and return-towork systems to avoid long-term sickness absence and prevent an early exit from work

In addition, it says, many Member States have been raising the official retirement age but that in itself comes with risks because prolonging working life increases exposure to workplace hazards and can cause increased prevalence of chronic conditions among workers.

• Provision of structures for vocational training and lifelong learning.

• Working conditions that are adapted to the workers’ needs

EU-OSHA says in its report that although employers have an important role to play, so do politicians.

It says: “National governments have a key role in creating an environment supportive to age management and active and healthy ageing.

“Population and workforce ageing is a cross-policy issue and the challenges can be addressed in an efficient way by integrating the concept of active ageing into all relevant policy areas.”

Such support could have radical benefits because, instead of losing highly skilled and experienced workers, companies could end up retaining them.

And at a time when so many sectors are complaining that not enough young people are emerging from educational institutions with the skills that business needs, holding onto older workers could handsomely repay the investment.

EU-OSHA says that there needs to be a change in working practices to strengthen the focus on older workers and measures suggested in the report include: • Management that includes risk prevention and workplace adaptations to prevent chronic illness and disability • Human resources management that places special focus on age

“Europe’s population is ageing.

By 2040 the over-65s are expected to account for nearly 27% of the population and EU-OSHA says that the trend is reflected in the workforce and that the proportion of older workers (55-64 years) is increasing.”

The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

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focus on finance Budget provides boost for R and D The Chancellor recently presented his Budget to Parliament and, although it proved a mixed bag for businesses, it represented particularly good news for companies seeking to invest in research and development.

Philip Hammond said that there would be £270 million to launch the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund in order to encourage the development of new business ideas.

Initial funding will support research and innovation in universities and businesses, in areas like: • developing artificial intelligence and robotics that will work in extreme environments, like offshore energy, nuclear energy and space • designing and manufacturing better batteries for new electric vehicles that will help improve our air quality • improving medicine manufacturing technologies to speed up patient access to drugs The move follows a raft of recent Government announcements about new funding schemes designed to encourage innovative thinking by businesses.

The Chancellor also announced help for those hit hardest by business rates rises but initially there was bad news for the selfemployed with news that the main rate of National Insurance contributions (NICs) will increase However, following an outcry from politicians on all sides of the house, Mr Hammond announced that the move would be delayed subject to further review, something welcomed by politicians and business people alike.

A number of the announcements received a welcome from Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), who said: “Short-term support for firms

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

hardest-hit by business rates rises will be welcomed, along with commitments to technical education, digital connectivity, easier R&D tax credits, and a one-year delay to digital tax reporting for the very smallest firms.

“The business communities hardest-hit by this year’s business rates revaluation will breathe a little easier thanks to the Chancellor’s decision to offer a package of transitional reliefs.

“We now challenge councils across England to use every penny of the new funding announced by the Chancellor to offer relief to the hardest-hit businesses in their areas, without excuses and without delay.

“However welcome, measures that mitigate the short-term impact of business rate rises are little more than a sticking plaster.

The radical changes needed to improve the broken business rates system will have to wait for another day.

“The campaign for radical reform – and an end to punishing levels of business property tax to ensure the Treasury raises enough to fund local services – continues.

“The National Insurance Contributions rise, together with the cut to dividend tax-free allowances, was not viewed favourably by entrepreneurs so this pause for thought is welcome.

It would be far better to look at business and employment taxation in the round, to ensure that our tax system is competitive and equitable.”

finance Charter proves a success Another 33 firms have signed up to the Government’s ground-breaking Women in Finance Charter.

Meeting people is old fashioned: Moving Insolvency into the 21st Century April 2017 sees some of the largest shake-ups in insolvency processes for a generation.

New Insolvency Rules, replacing in their entirety the Insolvency Rules 1986 (and their 28 amendments), together with sections added to the Insolvency Act 1986 by the Small Business, Enterprise & Employment Act 2015, make some dramatic changes to the way insolvency cases start and operate.

The move means that 33,000 extra staff in the UK are now covered by the plan to tackle gender inequality in financial services.

The news came on the first anniversary of the charter, with 122 firms, employing more than half a million people in the UK and covering almost 50% of the financial services sector, now signed up.

The Women in Finance Charter, launched a year ago, asks financial firms to commit to four industry actions to build the female talent pipeline for leadership positions.

Since the Charter launched, 77 financial services firms have committed to have at least 30% women in senior roles by 2021 and 23 firms have committed to a 50/50 gender split in senior roles by 2021. New signatories will announce their targets in June.

The Commercial Secretary, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, said: “I know how difficult it can be for a woman to get the The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

recognition she deserves and achieve her potential and in financial services particularly, women progress too slowly or they leave the sector completely.

“We have made a strong start – the first anniversary of the Women in Finance Charter sees 122 firms seizing the competitive advantage by tackling sex inequality head on.

“But this is just the beginning. The financial industry is famed for its ability to identify opportunities to improve productivity. The Women in Finance Charter is one of those opportunities.

It offers the chance to increase diversity of thought and for the financial services

sector to better reflect the society it serves. This is why I encourage firms across the UK to step up and sign the Charter.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO of Virgin Money and the Government’s Women in Finance Champion, said: I am delighted with the strong and ongoing momentum of the Women in Finance Charter. A truly diverse financial services sector will drive productivity and underpin the UK’s position as a strong and competitive economy.

There is still further to go and I urge more businesses to commit to the charter so that they can play their part in building an economy that works for everyone.”

“We have made a strong start – the first anniversary of the Women in Finance Charter sees 122 firms seizing the competitive advantage by tackling sex inequality head on.”

Adam Nakar

The most significant change creditors will notice is that meeting convenors (whether directors or insolvency practitioners) are specifically barred from calling physical meetings, unless creditors demand one, or the Court rules they must call one. Instead, creditors will be approached with ‘qualifying decision procedures’, such as a virtual meeting, where creditors can log in or phone in to a meeting; postal voting, where creditors have a paper voting form to complete and return to the insolvency practitioner before a deadline, or electronic voting, where creditors can complete an online voting form before a deadline.

The aim of the change is to make the most of new methods of communication available in this century to save time and costs, and to encourage creditor participation. Where creditors may not have taken valuable time out of their days to attend meetings that no-one else turned up to, they may be more inclined to log on or phone in to virtual meetings from their own offices or homes, in the knowledge that there may be many others doing the same. If you did not attend creditors' meetings previously, will you be more inclined to log into virtual meetings?

In some cases, such as for approving the appointment of a liquidator in a creditors’ voluntary liquidation or agreeing an administrator’s proposals in an administration, a ‘deemed consent’ procedure may be used, whereby creditors are deemed to have accepted who or what is proposed unless a certain percentage specifically object. Where the nature of the creditors on a case is expected to be uninterested, this should provide a faster and cheaper way of dealing with these decisions.

At WSM Marks Bloom we have three Licensed Insolvency Practitioners to speak with individuals and companies in financial distress.

Give us a call at WSM’s Kingston Office on 020 8939 8240 or email insolvency@wsm.co.uk, and an expert will be ready to assist you.

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BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

a day in the life...

Encouraging signs as business picks up at historic conference centre The working day begins early for Miguel Abellan van Kan, the General Manager of the historic Warren House Conference Centre in Kingston.

Miguel, who took on the job a year ago, gets in at 6.45 am and appreciates the quiet time before staff and guest arrive because it allows him to prepare for the busy day ahead.

He said: “The first thing I do when I get into work is to catch up on communications. I will go through my emails and also see how we performed the day before. Are there any issues that need addressing? Did we perform well? I will also take a look at some financials.

“I like the fact that I can have a quiet hour and a half in the office knowing that I will not be disturbed. Another advantage is that it allows me to beat the traffic!”

That quiet period comes to an end as staff start to arrive followed by delegates and by 8.00am the day is well under way as conferences begin.

They are busy days because it is a popular venue. Warren House Conference Centre sits in a peaceful and secluded area

of the exclusive Coombe Estate in Surrey, between Kingston and the commercial districts of south west London.

Conveniently located less than ten miles from Westminster, Warren House Conference Centre is also within easy reach of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the A3 and the orbital M25.

The house is Victorian, Grade II listed and was originally built for banker, Hugh Hammersley and his large family. With a rich and varied history spanning 150 years of distinguished owners and important guests, its timeless elegance makes it the perfect venue for corporate meetings and events as well as private celebrations and weddings.

Miguel said: “As people start to come in, I will have a walk round the centre, checking that the

WARREN HOUSE

meetings room are set up properly for the events.

“I will also take a look at breakfast to make sure we are set up OK, that the buffet is well stocked, and catch up with the various teams, recapping what happened the day before and ensuring that we know what is happening in the day ahead.

“Once the conferences are under way, our main meeting of the morning is at 10.15 when we have our Morning Briefing.

This is attended by all the team leaders when we can take a look ahead to the next couple of days as well as what is happening on the day itself.

“Again, we take the opportunity to look back on the previous day to make sure that we responded to any issues that may have come up.

Meeting & Events • Bar & Restauarant • Rooms

020 8547 1777

email: info@warrenhouse.com The Royal Borough of

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

warrenhouse.com

“The rest of the day is taken up with meetings and keeping an eye on how we are doing and we will have an afternoon briefing when we can recap on the day.

“I make time during my day to meet clients and prospective clients. As a conference centre, we are in a good place at the moment.

“Last year was only an OK year but we made some changes and we are in a better place for 2017-18.

“After a tough January and February this year, which are always tough months, March saw things picking up and we are being helped by an upturn in business generally.

“There is still concern about where the UK is heading and there is a lot of uncertainty but we are well placed. Things are picking up.

“As for when my working day ends, I tend not to have set hours and I will often find myself working in an evening.”

Warren House, Warren Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 7HY (Located 5 mins from A3, Robin Hood Gate)

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starting up Enjoying the benefits of networking The response has been phenomenal when I’ve attended my networking groups and advised that I’ve set up my own firm.

Lauren Cullen Cullen & Co 0203 8877 200 www.cullenco.co.uk Lauren@cullenco.co.uk Q1 Tell us a bit about your business?

Cullen & Co are insolvency specialists, here to assist corporates and individuals with financial concerns.

The firm offers the full range of insolvency services: CORPORATE RECOVERY - Administration - Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) CORPORATE INSOLVENCY - Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) - Compulsory Winding Up PERSONAL INSOLVENCY - Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) - Bankruptcy Cullen & Co also work with successful company owners that wish to close their companies down in a tax efficient manner, through a Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL).

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Q2 What gives your business the x-factor?

The firm is run by me, I’m a Chartered Accountant who then specialised in insolvency, with over 12 years of experience. Cullen & Co’s goal on every case is to make a difference. I consider that we are approachable, people can place their trust in us and we won’t let them down. We go the extra mile, meeting when convenient to the client, taking the time to understand their position, give the appropriate advice and support them through the process.

Q3 What motivated you to set up the new business?

I’ve had a yearning to run a business for years! I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed my work and have been passionate about growing a firm, running it efficiently and developing staff. It was in August last year, around my birthday, that I took a moment to seriously consider my options going forward. The seed was sown to set up my own practice. By the end of the year I realised that if I didn’t do it now I would regret it.

Q4 What you like most about working for a start -up?

I’m most enjoying networking.

Primarily the firm’s clients come from referrals; accountants, solicitors and independent financial

advisers. The response has been phenomenal when I’ve attended my networking groups and advised that I’ve set up my own firm.

I deeply value the interest, support and assistance many contacts have shown and provided to me. I’m also delighted that new contacts are now reaching out, find me approachable and like the ethos of my firm.

Q5 What has been your greatest business success to date?

I would have to say March astounded me, the firm took on more cases during this month than we had originally anticipated, also that three of these were from new contacts. Two of these cases were solvent liquidations and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work closely with the accountants.

It’s exciting that our contact base is growing and more people entrust us with their clients.

Q6 What has been your lowest moment?

Although I’ve had moments of doubt, I wouldn’t call them a low moment. My main concern with starting the business was financial security therefore I organised a financial buffer to reduce potential stress. I’ve had two “wobbles”, with thoughts of “have I done the right thing?” and “will I get work in?”.

BOROUGH BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

On the last occasion, I thought this just prior to going to bed. At 8am the next morning I took a phone call resulting in a new client!

Q7 In terms of business achievements, where do you want to be within the next 5 years?

My aim is to increase the firm’s presence. There are accountants, solicitors and financial advisers who do not know an Insolvency Practitioner and are unable to assist their clients. I want to reach out to these people, to build relationships with them and raise awareness of all the services we offer. I also want the firm to maintain the close relationships it has with existing contacts. Throughout, the firm is to continue to provide a first-class service on every case!

Q8 What would be your top tip to someone thinking of starting up their own business?

I have a few tips! Firstly, give yourself time to give the new business the attention it deserves and needs. No one can be an expert on everything, listen to and allow yourself help from trusted sources. Be sure to attend the Chamber’s Business Start Up Workshop; this covers everything you need to know, in a relaxed environment with Jerry Irving who is most approachable so don’t be afraid to ask questions!