Borough Business July 23

Guildhall, High Street

Kingston upon Thames. KT1 1EU. 020 8541 4441

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Published Summer 23 © Benham Publishing and Kingston Chamber of Commerce

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Media No. 1903

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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 or any political comments expressed in Borough Business are not necessarily those of Kingston Chamber of Commerce which is apolitical. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2023. 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.

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Patron Members

In modern business, there are legacy companies. These companies have an advantage of having a solid or good reputation and history, yet they face challenges from disruptors as often, they can be too tied into what they actually represent and are not so nimble to move from their traditional path.

Kingston Chamber may appear to have an advantage with their legacy profile or status, but to progress, we should aim to have the attitude of disruptors and not be complacent with what we have done in the past. This is the time when the Chamber cannot afford to stand still. We cannot assume that what we did before will just work the same again. Our environment is continuously changing and personally, I am not sure if this is just becoming the new norm. We cannot be afraid of challenging ourselves and improving how we deliver, what we deliver and deliver what our membership needs.

The Future of Work Summit on Friday June 16th, at Kingston Business School, was a great success and we were delighted at the number of attendees. Their

enthusiasm to engage, network and be a part of this inaugural event was fantastic. The programme provided business seminars, roundtable discussions, bringing together experienced leaders and practitioners from different areas of business, speed networking and the popular University hackathon. We would like to thank our headline sponsors, Kingston Council and Kingston University, our generous event supporters, and all our roundtable guests and business seminar speakers, whose time and sharing made these sessions work so well.

It has been a very business first half of the year. From the regular Business Breakfasts, netwalking, Women in Business lunches, the Booster+ business support programme, to the New Malden Business Forum and Coffee+Connect, the Chamber is working hard to bring our diverse business community together. As we look ahead, we are beginning to plan the Kingston Borough Business Awards24 and developing fresh ideas for the Chessington Business Expo (save the date: October 26th).

One ingredient for business success is to surround yourself with talented, generous and skilled collaborators. For the Chamber, this is very true and we are fortunate to have such rewarding partnerships with our membership, Patrons and partners. Thank you.

With the rise of inflation, interest and mortgage rates and staff retention and skills shortages, I am aware that many of us, our colleagues, friends and families, are going through challenging times. The strength of this Chamber is that we do care for one another, so as we go out and do our work, let us be more mindful, be more patient and just keep our ears and eyes open as to how people actually are around us. Take care.

Savour la Saison

Savour la Saison

With our magnifique spring menu

With our magnifique spring menu

With our magnifique summer menu

Find us at 6 Riverside Walk, Kingston upon Thames

Find us at 6 Riverside Walk, Kingston upon Thames

Bo ok online at cote.co.uk

Bo ok online at cote.co.uk

I am delighted to have taken on the role of Chamber President.

A cautionary tale of our times?

While I often write with an element of humour about the challenges that employers across Kingston face, for this special AI focused edition of Borough Business, I felt it necessary to share opinion and a word of caution on the impact of technology, as highlighted in the widely publicised Post Office scandal.

Between 2000 and 2014, the Post Office prosecuted 736 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses (an average of one a week) based on information from a recently installed computer system called Horizon. Some went to prison following convictions for false accounting and theft, many were financially ruined and have described being shunned by their communities. Some have since died. After 20 years, campaigners won a legal battle to have their cases reconsidered, after claiming that the computer system was flawed. What I find most heart breaking is not only the absolute devastation caused but also the apparent acceptance that so many sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses were stealing. That their pleas of innocence and prior unblemished employee records provided no sufficient concern that the system itself could be at fault – for over a decade.

Do we risk creating a huge blind spot for ourselves if we blindly believe the accuracy of IT systems that maybe are not perfect, just like us humans? While we embrace the transformation of technology in our workplace, this will need to be done so with continued caution. A discipline and willingness to question outcomes is going to be critical to prevent any further miscarriages of justice and the devastation of any, let alone so many, lives.

The HR Dept are an outsourced HR services provider supporting local SMEs with their people issues and strategy. For advice on conduct and disciplinaries, or for a free HR audit please call 0345 208 1290.

Always seek employment law advice regarding management of your people issues to ensure that you and your business are well protected from potential litigation risks.

I have been a member of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce for several years and on the Board for just over three. I joined the Chamber shortly after setting up my business. I was looking for a network of people who understood the journey I was about to embark on and who could support and advise as needed.

I found exactly that, a fabulous group of people who were willing to share ideas,

thoughts and advice but never pushy or salesy. Since then my business as a freelance HR and Management Development consultant has flourished and the Chamber has been part of that success.

Every President has the opportunity to support a local charity and I have chosen Kingston Charitable Foundation It is a charity led by a small but inspirational and committed team who support local charities and volunteer organisation that address inequalities across our borough.

I am also looking forward to supporting Forbes and his equally inspirational and committed team who work incredibly hard for all of our members and deliver a wide range of interesting, relevant and friendly events.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

Julie Leach President, Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Ask our resident HR expert, Sandra Porter of The HR Dept for advice on your workplace worries.

Connect I Support I Influence

ATCN Consulting Asad Tahir www.atcnconsulting.com

Genevieve Krieff Creative Genevieve Krieff www.genevievekrieff.co.uk

Edgeplan Ltd Gavin Curwen www.edgeplan.co.uk/

Fluffy Clouds Andrea Rollinson www.fluffy-clouds.com

L&H Partnership Helen Edward www.facebook.com/helenedwardcwo

Doggy Lush Raj Kaul www.doggylush.com

Attain Accountancy Ltd Udari Wickremasinghe www.attainaccountancy.co.uk/

People Inside Glenn Bowering www.peopleinside.co.uk

Clark Morgan Limited Andrew Clark www.clarkmorgan.com

Pivotal Point Limited Liz Singleton www.pivotalpointuk.com

Matthew Baker Bakerhill Associates ltd www.bakerhill.co.uk

UK Business Mentoring Steve Drake www.ukbusinessmentoring.co.uk/businessmentors/steve-drake

Forty Shillings Limited Kay Fleming www.fortyshillings.com

Reasons to join...

Membership of Kingston Chamber of Commerce brings a wealth of immediate benefits to your business.

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Welcoming, professional and supportive environment

Complimentary admission to the Future of Work Summit and Chessington Business Expo

Regular networking events and business webinars

Local supply chain opportunities and excellent links to the wider local community

Advocacy for businesses to Kingston Council, strategic partners and MPs in the borough

Business learning opportunities with the New Malden Business forum, Women in Business and THINK GREEN webinars

Hosts of the Kingston Borough Business Awards, celebrating and promoting the positive impact of local businesses in the Borough

Event Round Ups

New Malden Business Forum

In early June, Kingston Chamber hosted the quarterly New Malden Business Forum. It was a well attended and enjoyable evening as we heard from Danielle O’Shaughnessy about the broad range of community activities going on and then Niki McGibbon from Groves Residential. Niki provided us a fascinating history of residential growth in New Malden (who knew the A3 was built in 1920-23!!), the growth of the Korean community, to the current day issues for new buyers and renters. She reinforced the views that New Malden has a strong community loyalty, a wealth of educational providers and has a strong generational pull, for businesses and residents.

The New Malden Business Forum is for local businesses to come together, and hear and share knowledge and skills. Thank you to one of our Patrons, solicitors Pearson Hards, and Rotary Club, for their ongoing support.

Women In Business Lunch

In May, the Chamber’s Women in Business lunch was held at Surbiton’s Centro Uno. Giselle Monbiot was the guest speaker and she spoke about the Menopause, what the symptoms are and the five key areas to consider during this time. With the many things women are contending with at this stage of their lives, such as children’s needs changing, ageing parents and reassessing life be it career, relationship or the next stage of life, this subject deserves to be heard and discussed.

The Women in Business lunches are very popular and the varied subjects and speakers make this a very engaging lunch to come together and be inspired. The next Women in Business lunch is September 21st at the French Table so book you space!.

Business Breakfasts

Our regular Business Breakfast networking events have had a guest speaker each month, sharing their expertise to our attendees. Back in May, we were delighted to be joined by Mark Peacock, Founder & MD at PriceMaker Ltd and author of “Pricing For Success”. Pricing can be such a sensitive subject - we often do

not know how to or have confidence in our costings. Mark provided some simple steps that we can all take to improve our pricing. In June, we will be joined by our guest speakers, Jenni Cole and Åse Greenacre of MRT Consultants, who will be discussing Team & Self Care – Watch Out for your Wellbeing! Awareness around mental health is vital for all of us. This is the basis of how we cope with what life throws at us.

Booster+

Kingston Chamber of Commerce, with the support of Kingston Council, have been delivering a Booster+ business programme. This has provided a unique combination of expert advice, with peer-to-peer support for business owners.

Kingston College host the venue for the sessions and with each programme running for 6 weeks, this has been an ideal platform for owners to gain confidence, learn from experts and benefit from shared experiences, all to achieve resilient business growth. Each Booster+programme provided specialist advice on business areas such as marketing, HR/ contracts, finance, management, digital skills, sustainability practices and wellbeing resilience at work and at home.

Our attendees have contributed so much to the success of the programme and to their own ways of supporting their own business.

‘Loved the supportiveness of the group. The challenge of being on your own running a business really bonded us. It’s a really tough thing to do and it was really valuable being with a bunch of people who understood quite how hard it can be. As a consequence pretty much any question someone asked was also valuable to me. Both Jerry and Forbes created a supportive atmosphere.’

’The course is very beneficial for my personal and business. Cleared in my mind where the business needs to go next and directions. Built a very strong network through the programme.’

It has been a great programme to be a part of and the feedback has been really encouraging. We are looking to explore how to progress this programme further so view our news updates for more news soon.

Booster +

Business Breakfasts

New Malden Business Forum

Women in Business Lunch

Robyn Harper Photography

Is this the end of “no fault evictions”?

On May 17, 2023, the Government announced that the long-promised “no fault” evictions will finally be placed before Parliament as part of an overhaul of the private rental sector in England. So what has been announced?

Claire Darby at Person Hards explains currently the system allows a landlord to serve a tenant with two months’ notice to leave their property. No reason is required and once the two months has expired, the landlord can apply to the Court for a Possession Order if their tenant has not left. This can be followed by an eviction, which will ultimately require the tenant to leave.

With the new system, landlords must give a reason why they want their tenant to leave. In theory, this seems sensible, why shouldn’t tenants be given a bit more security over their homes? However, it also ignores the realities of many landlord’s situations.

As a solicitor who often acts for landlords, I don’t have many clients who come to me about evicting

Here comes the sun

To celebrate the arrival of summer this year, the team at Riverside Walk will be scheduling live music to take place on top of their widebeam narrow boat, the Seven Saxons.

These performances will take place every alternate Thursday between 7-9pm, Thursday 29th June. The performances have been trialled over the coronation weekend and the response from the restaurants and visitors has been extremely positive. The atmosphere the music creates is wonderful and it really makes the Riverside feel like you’re in holiday when you visit.

If you’re looking for an evening out with the family or a date with someone special, why not pop along for dinner and enjoy an alfresco meal at one of the fabulous restaurants with some entertaining live music?

More information can be found on Riverside Walk on Facebook or riverside_walk on Instagram.

a tenant for no reason. However, those reasons are often personal to them and not because the tenant has done anything wrong. For example, if a landlord wants to sell the property because their personal circumstances have changed or they want to be able to carry out renovations to a property but need vacant possession to be able to do so. If a landlord is forced to commit to renting a property to someone until they either wish to leave or they fall into rent arrears, I believe this long term commitment will put many landlords off from renting and ultimately create more of a housing stock problem.

I feel sorry for many of my clients who often struggle to obtain a Possession Order unless the tenant is amenable to leaving voluntarily. The new rules which will require the landlords to prove fault will be difficult to Judge. How bad does a house need to look before a Judge will grant a Possession Order? This subjective decision will hard as a solicitor handling these types of claims to advise on. I may well advise a client that it looks like the tenant has caused some considerable

damage, but a Judge may not agree that it is sufficient or warrants throwing the tenants out.

It remains to be seen whether this act will pass. I anticipate a lot of pushback from the landlord sector, who already feel that landlords are being pushed to the edge in terms of the requirements on them. I also wonder the impact on the rental market, which is already in major crisis due to lack of supply. Watch this space.

If you have a query about a Landlord and Tenant dispute, please contact Claire Darby on cdarby@pearsonhards.co.uk.

Developing Professional Managers

The programme duration is typically 42-48 months. During this period the apprentice is expected to allocate one day per week in term time to the apprenticeship (46.4 days p.a. avg.). Of this college attendance is once every two weeks, with the alternate weeks allocated for degree work, which generally includes reflection on workplace application of learning.

The Kingston College programme is specifically designed for those in managerial level employment, enabling participants to both draw on experience and apply content from the course to their current roles.

The programme is mapped to the requirements of the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship leading to:

• BA (Hons) Degree in Management & Business (awarded by Kingston University)

• Accreditation for CMI L5 Diploma in Management & Leadership

• Chartered Manager – through the apprenticeship End Point Assessment

Each apprentice has a workplace mentor, and the course tutor will work hand-in-hand with the apprentice and mentor to enable the apprentice and organisation to get the most benefit from the programme.

Developing managerial skills is considered to be one of the most significant things an organisation can do to improve productivity (World Management Survey, 2021), and can have immediate benefits to factors such as retention and motivation.

“My main goal for the future is to show others within the NHS in the same position as me who had started from a lower level and climbed the career ladder that with education in addition to your experience, you can reach for the stars.”

Augustus Mohan, Chartered Manager Degree Apprentice

For further information please contact: Louise Haythornthwaite, (CMDA Course Leader)

Louise.haythornthwaite@stcg.ac.uk

Technology at the Summit

At the recent Future of Work Summit, IQ in IT Automation Expert Damien Manuelpillai took part in the Technology and Innovation roundtable to share his insights on the changing landscape of work due to newer technologies. The event, organised by the Kingston Chamber of Commerce, was a platform that brought together experts from various industries to discuss the evolving nature of work.

Damien, with his rich experience in the back end and automation sector at IQ in IT, highlighted how automation and the ever-changing scope of technology is transforming traditional work structures. He emphasised the critical role of automation in improving efficiency, reducing errors, and freeing up human resources for more creative tasks. Alongside Damien, other panellists such as Dean Carran, Joyce Ong, Howard Freeman, and Mona Sabetian shared their own insights on how current technological changes have affected their workplace landscape.

During the discussions, we were offered an insight into the many different aspect of modern-day technology. Damien encouraged the audience to embrace the automation revolution as it is not a threat, but an

opportunity for growth and advancement in the workplace.

The Future of Work Summit was an insightful event, and Damien being able to contribute his knowledge was highly appreciated. We thank the Chamber for making this Summit happen and we cannot wait for next year’s event.

https://iqinit.uk

Busy in the community

The team at Holland Hahn & Wills have been busy in June. Here’s a roundup of the exciting activities involving the local community.

Shared Economy

On 15th June, Katie Lovatt was invited to moderate a panel at Kingston Charitable Foundation’s (KCF) Shared Economy event. The discussion revolved around the idea of a circular economy – how we can support people in creative ways, with donations of time,

resources, intellect to help more vulnerable people in our community. Hicky Kingsbury, CEO of KCF was delighted! “Thank you so much to weveryone who worked so hard to make Shared Economy happen, a real celebration of what so many individuals and organisations have been doing and are planning to do locally, to support each other and our shared communities”.

Future of Work Summit

The inaugural Future of Work Summit, organised by Kingston Chamber of Commerce, brought together organisations from a range

of sectors with University staff and students to share educational insights, network, and engage in conversations around the importance of future skills for the economy.

Chris Hirsch (far left), moderating the Culture and Business Values panel, reflected on some of the key findings from the University’s future skills research with industry. “The core skill is problem solving – that really is incredibly important. Critical thinking is also essential as you can’t solve a problem unless you have a good idea about what is useful and what isn’t.”

Young Enterprise

As many of you may know, Holland Hahn & Wills has been a key local sponsor of the Young Enterprise Charity. Their aim is to promote financial education and business skills to school age students, something which is close to our hearts.

On 25th April our managing partner, Chris Hirsch, was honoured to present an award to the winners of the Kingston & Richmond Showcase. They had to register and run a company, develop strategies, keep accounts and make a profit. Their efforts were judged on a combination of ingenuity, organisation, presentation skills, interview, company report and sales. Chris congratulated all the competitors and noted that “The development of interpersonal skills and confidence of each and every one of you is nothing short of astonishing”. https://www.hhw-uk.com/

Damien Manuelpillai (second left) with the Future of Work panellists

Chris Hirsch (far left), moderating the Culture and Business Values panel

The Shared Economy

Last month, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting UK played host to the Kingston Charitable Foundation and its Shared Economy event.

Joined by guests from the business, community, public and charity sectors, the panel discussion explored how stakeholders from the Borough can come together to create a happier, healthier Kingston borough.

Panelists Julie Leach (Chartered MCIPD), the newly elected President of Kingston Chamber of Commerce, Diane White - CEO of Kingston Carers’ Network and Dr Tariq ShabbeerSecretary General of Save The World Club were joined by the CEO of the Kingston Charitable Foundation, Hicky Kingsbury. The event was expertly moderated by Katie (Catherine) Lovatt of Holland Hahn & Wills Financial Planning LLP. Topical themes explored included transparency of funding, the importance of volunteering, ways to enhance collaboration and the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

A surprise close to the event featured local dancers from London Kim’s Dance who performed two incredible and rousing traditional routines for our captivated guests. Hicky Kingsbury, CEO of the Kingston Charitable Foundation commented, “Kingston Charitable Foundation supports local charities and voluntary sector organisations that address

Improving patient care

Over the past few months, Summers-Inman have attended several networking events run by the Kingston Chamber of Commerce, as well as the careers fayre at Kingston University, which was a great opportunity to meet and chat to local students completing their master’s degrees.

As a business, we are passionate when it comes to supporting young people and adults in their career development. Towards the end of June, a 16-year-old intern joined

inequalities across Kingston upon Thames and 90p in every £1 donated goes directly to our grants programme.

Our Shared Economy event, hopefully the first of many, is a real celebration of what so many individuals and organisations do and plan to do locally, to support each other and our shared

communities. We look forward to the many fundraising and community events planned for the coming months.”

To learn more about the work of the Kingston Charitable Foundation, please access https://kingstoncf.org.uk/ https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en-gb

us from a local school for work experience. Her area of focus was project management within construction, and so we planned a busy and varied schedule which supported her interests.

From a project perspective, we have been newly appointed to provide quantity surveying and project management services on numerous healthcare projects based in hospitals across the UK; locations include Essex, Dorset, Northamptonshire, and South Yorkshire. For these projects, we typically provide services to oversee the refurbishment and upgrade of the hospital’s imaging rooms such as an MRI, CT, or X-Ray room. We enjoy these projects because the ultimate goal is always about improving patient care.

We are proud to be partnered with the charity “Together for Short Lives”, (https://www. togetherforshortlives.org.uk) which supports seriously ill children and their families to make

the most of every moment they have together. Our office in Kingston is aligned with the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and during the last week in June our staff took part in the 99,000-step challenge to raise money for a very special organisation.

https://www.summers-inman.co.uk

From left to right: Katie Lovatt, Julie Leach, Diane White, the Mayor of Kingston, Dr Tariq Shabbeer and Hicky Kingsbury.

Kingston University hosts Future Skills roundtable

This event was held with Shadow Minister for Business and Industry, filmmaker Lord David Puttnam and business leaders. The key role Future Skills will play in supporting the country’s economic growth was outlined during a roundtable event that brought together figures from industry, politics and education at Kingston University.

Business leaders from a range of sectors came together to discuss the country’s skills needs and hear from Shadow Minister for Business and Industry Bill Esterson MP, filmmaker Lord David Puttnam and Kingston University Provost Helen Laville. The roundtable was followed by a wideranging discussion setting out the challenges firms face in meeting skills gaps and ensuring employees can adapt in a rapidly changing world.

Representatives from the worlds of technology, communications, banking and finance, including Barclays, Cisco, and the Federation of Small Businesses attended the event, organised as part of the University’s sector-leading Future Skills campaign.

Lord Puttnam highlighted the importance of ensuring government, educators and business

worked together to solve the country’s skills gap - a key recommendation in the University’s latest Future Skills report. “We have a collective problem and that problem is not going to solve itself,” he said. “In the end, I think it’s going to be solved by the education sector, but government has got to work with it and

Kingston upon Thames is rated London’s top borough

You may have picked up that Kingston upon Thames was recently placed the highest ranked London borough for living, working and growth prospects in the 2023 London Vitality Index, by Lambert Smith Hampton.

Kingston was rated particularly high for educational achievement and house price growth; health & environment, low crime rates, high recycling rates and green space. In economy & business, Kingston scored well above the London average with one of the highest GVA growth forecasts. Why is this

pertinent here? Well simply - while some of this is down to wider factors, this success doesn’t happen completely by accident.

The work of organisations like councils, alongside chambers of commerce, universities and voluntary organisations and businesses are key factors why Kingston scores so highly and continues to thrive. If you’re in any doubt, check out the sheer breadth of what the council delivers and our vision and priorities Incidentally, even more surprising for some may be what the council doesn’t do: we don’t set the business rates (we only collect them); we don’t set rents on high streets and we can’t often

make sure the people coming through the entire system are provided with the skills they need for the late 21st century.”

Find out more about how to work with Kingston University at https://www.kingston.ac.uk/services-for-business/

influence what type of business fills a shop unit; and we don’t undertake street works for utilities maintenance - government policy and landlords determine these.

If this sounds like a bit of shameless promo for the council’s services - you’ve got me - it is! But it is also coming from a bit of pride in the kind of collaboration that enables such success - not least with the Chamber of Commerce, businesses, partners and our communities. It underlines that our commitment to such collaboration really can help make Kingston an even better place - and long may that continue.

https://www.kingston.gov.uk/

HOW LONDON AND AFRICA are closer than you think

Richard Burge shares his thoughts on boosting trade with Africa, Levelling Up London, and the importance of working collaboratively with other Chambers.

City to support businesses across London who want to engage with Africa. We need businesses to pursue the adventure of trade. It can be difficult but no more difficult than trading with America.”

“We are hoping that the Hub will inspire a lot of businesses that not only will be a good market, but it will also be a lot of fun. That’s what I’m keen to show businesses.”

Information on where the Hub will be located will be released soon.

International trade

Nurturing strong, positive links between London and Africa is on the agenda for the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Africa is a continent of wonderful countries and we are flying the flag for Africa here, in the best city in the world,” said Richard Burge.

“We are establishing an African Hub in the

Free trade agreements (FTAs) between the UK and Australia and New Zealand are due to come into force on 31 May 2023, which has been welcomed by the British Chambers of Commerce.

“FTAs are proceeding, but let’s not get too excited,” he said.

“It’s just replicated what we had before; not much has changed, but they imply trust and are a helpful step forward. Can

we do this with other countries? It shows it can be done.”

“We are no closer to a trade deal with America. What can we do to make trade easier? With America, it’s about trade facilitation and individual states. We often make the mistake of thinking of America as one country but a lot of it is dealing with individual states. Individual states are keen to do that because they are competing with other states.”

A big issue for the business community is obtaining business visas.

“As a country and in London, one of the biggest problems we are facing is business visas and how difficult the Home Office makes it to obtain one,” he added.

“There are delays with visas, and that’s got to change. Business visas should be dealt with by the Business and Trade Department not the Home Office, the same as student visas should be dealt with by the Department for Education not the Home

Office. They don’t need the Home Office getting in the middle of it. The Home Office should only deal with immigration not business visas.”

Levelling Up London

Levelling Up London is “here to stay”.

“The focus is always on particular places, but it would be better to focus on people rather than places to hit its target,” he said.

“I wonder if in London we need to articulate Levelling Up much more in terms of what London needs, instead of saying that we are hard done by. We need to put a positive case forward for London.”

Recruitment in London is “still a big issue”, especially in the hospitality industry.

“There are four major hotels opening up in London and this will inevitably take good staff from other hotels,” said Richard.

“Generally, there is relatively low unemployment in London. We do have a problem with over-50s leaving the workplace since Covid. As employers, how do we bring back these experienced middle managers who are the glue of workforces? The incentive for them to

return to work isn’t there; we haven’t got the pull to draw them back right yet. Financial incentives aren’t enough.”

London is “proving to be as resilient as always”.

“It’s a complex time,” he said. “We have a skills shortage, but we also have a pocket of people who can’t get a job.”

“Overall, our international work is expanding and we’re getting a lot of interest from overseas, but Britain’s influence has diminished.”

“People are still investing and still want to talk to London, but the UK is seen as a declining brand and I don’t think that this is going to be solved by a flash campaign, it needs to be through policy change.”

Having a local Chamber’s support is important for networking, recruitment, growth and sharing ideas.

“Businesses have access to their local Chambers,” he said.

“The Chambers across London are active; things are going well and will continue to go well. We have 19 Chambers affiliated to us [LCCI] and it is a genuine network.”

“Other Chambers are a great place for support too, whether it’s here or

overseas. Every problem you face, someone else has faced it so I always say that I talk to people and steal their solutions!”

Supporting the Ukraine

A key part of Richard’s role is engaging with other Chambers internationally. In June, he will be attending the Geneva World Chambers Congress and at the end of July, he will visit the US to meet other chief executives of Chambers. His recent visit to the Ukraine has forged good links with the Chambers there.

“We have got a major role in the Ukraine Congress,” he said.

“We’re forming business ventures with the Ukraine Chambers.”

“The focus of the G7 Summit this year is how we can all continue to support the Ukraine.”

The LCCI is hosting a joint float with Kyiv at the Lord Mayor’s Show in November.

“Our Chamber offices will be turned into Ukraine – decorations, food such as dumplings – for the day. It’s all about keeping Ukraine as a focus. This is going to go on and on, so we need to keep reminding people that they need our support.”

People are still investing and still want to talk to London, but the UK is seen as a declining brand and I don’t think that this is going to be solved by a flash campaign, it needs to be through policy change.

Movie magic returns

Kingston International Film Festival (KIFF) comes back for second year. Kingston International Film Festival (KIFF) 2023 has been a resounding success, with the exciting three-day programme offering something for everyone, from film buffs and families to industry professionals and aspiring film-makers.

Following the outstanding success of the inaugural KIFF in 2022, the great and good of the industry descended on the town for the second ever KIFF event.

Across three days, the festival showcased feature films, documentaries, short programmes, industry workshops and included panels and pitching events.

The programme also saw world and UK premiers, including the world premiere of the feature, ‘Another Day to Live Through’ and the UK premiere of documentary ‘A summer with Joe, Liz and Richard’.

Up-and-coming talent from around the world was celebrated, with screenings held at fantastic venues across Kingston, including the Odeon and Curzon cinemas, Rose Theatre and Kingston University’s award-winning Townhouse.

The special outdoor screening of Sir Alan Parker’s kids’ classic, Bugsy Malone at Canbury Gardens on Saturday and a Gala Awards ceremony on the closing night were particular highlights of the festival.

BAFTA winning director Mike Newell, Academy Award winning actor Dame Vanessa Redgrave and Dungeons and Dragons actor Jason Wong were amongst the celebrated industry names supporting this year’s festival, which was again part-funded by Kingston Council.

You can find out more about the award winners at https://www.kiffest.uk/submissions

Duke of Edinburgh visits Kingston to open new creative space

A new space for creative young people in Kingston has been officially opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

Located on Kingston’s riverside, FUSEBOX was developed by Creative Youth in partnership with Kingston Council. The stunning space features areas for performance, exhibitions, creative practice, socialising, co-creation and more. Situated underneath John Lewis department store, around the footings of the original 12th Century Kingston Bridge and the remains of a Medieval undercroft, the space has been carefully and sympathetically renovated. FUSEBOX will be a vibrant new cultural centre for the area and will also drive employment and training opportunities.

Cllr Andreas Kirsch, leader of the Council, said: “We are proud to collaborate with innovative, local organisations like Creative Youth to bring spaces like this back to life, to embrace and promote the creativity of the young people living and studying in the borough.

“We are committed to ensuring our children and young people have a fairer start in life, and reinvigorating places within the borough to help develop new skills, spark imagination and create opportunities are crucial to that aim.”

He added FUSEBOX had rapidly become another “special part of our vibrant and diverse cultural offer in

Kingston town centre” and an “amazing addition to our beautiful riverside”.

“It showcases our ambition to place Kingston’s unique history and heritage at the heart of our regeneration, and create inclusive spaces local people value,” he said.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, who is President of Creative Youth, unveiled a commemorative plaque at the opening event, attended by patrons and supporters of the charity as well as representatives from the Greater London Authority and the Royal Borough of Kingston. In the few days after official opening, FUSEBOX hosted performances as part of FUSE International, Creative Youth’s annual festival of performance.

Speaking about the opening, new co-directors of Creative Youth Archie O’Neill and Daniel Cartlidge said they had already seen the venue come alive with “creativity, community, and connection”.

The development of FUSEBOX forms part of Kingston Council’s wider plans for improving the riverside area, following engagement with local people and businesses. With funding from the Greater London Authority, the Council has delivered the first phase of plans to improve this stretch of the riverside.

The project will include removal of the raised planter beds to provide better access for all.

Transformation of public spaces taking shape

Transforming public spaces across the borough to promote health and wellbeing and increase access to nature are top priorities for Kingston Council.

As part of this commitment, a number of public realm investment projects are taking shape to create spaces across the borough that everyone can enjoy, based on community feedback and engagement.

The ‘A Gateway to New Malden’ project, design competition launched earlier this year by Kingston Council, in partnership with the London Festival of Architecture.

It will deliver permanent public realm improvements to New Malden’s Fountain Roundabout and nearby pocket-park. Six design teams have been shortlisted, and further information on the design teams available on the London Festival of Architecture website.

Proposed designs for the new space were displayed in public exhibitions, allowing local residents, businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to give their feedback. This was being used as part of the final judging process to select a design.

Cllr Lesley Heap, New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Chair, said it had been important to ask local residents for their views.

“Ensuring that our residents and visitors can enjoy the wonderful spaces the borough has to offer is really important,” she said. “Making these spaces more attractive also helps to bring people into our town centres, a key part of our work to regenerate our borough and support the local economy.

“Exciting plans like these help us to improve our community spaces, bring life into our high streets, and enhance our access to nature.”

The transformation of this area of New Malden is just one part of the council’s efforts to work with the local community to ensure the town centre thrives. There will be further opportunities to be involved in community art projects and activities over the summer. Other public realm improvement projects are taking place across Kingston town centre and further engagement events were taking place in July for the space at Eagle Brewery Wharf.

Davies White Architects have also now been selected to deliver the next phase of work for the Memorial Gardens project.

For more information, please visit: https://transformkingston.co.uk/

Director Mike Newell Actor Jason Wong

SHOULD I CONSIDER BECOMING A B CORP?

TOP TIPS for dealing with HMRC furlough enquiries DON’T PANIC!

What is a B Corp?

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), commonly referred to as ‘furlough’ was introduced by the UK Government in March 2020. While relatively unheard of prior to the pandemic we have, since March 2020, been consistently hearing or using this word.

Over the past couple of years you might have seen increasing reference on websites or other materials to businesses being a ‘B Corp’, and wondered what this is all about. The answer is that a B Corp is a business which is accredited as having shown ‘high standards of social and environment performance, transparency and accountability’.

What would we need to do?

In this article Sheetul Sowdagar from Russell-Cooke gives some top tips to wrap your head around furlough fraud and dealing with enquiries.

What are the benefits?

You may or may not know that the Oxford English Dictionary defines furlough as “to give somebody permission to leave their duties for a period of time”.

Where a business has achieved the relevant external accreditation by B Lab (a US-based non-profit organisation), they can describe themselves as a B Corp when dealing with prospective employees, suppliers and customers. Think of B Corp status as an additional stamp of approval that your business is committed to having a positive influence on society and the environment, as well as making a profit.

In the press, we have seen increasing mention of ‘furlough fraud.’ It has recently been estimated that the UK Government is likely to write off £4.3 billion pounds in furlough fraud.

the furlough scheme to help retain their employees during the pandemic may receive queries from HMRC. These could even be in cases where only legitimate furlough claims had been made.

The key legal step towards becoming a B Corp is amending the company’s governing documents to include specific wording to reflect the underlying principles which B Lab are seeking to achieve (which for a limited company means amending the company’s Articles of Association). Russell-Cooke are on hand to assist with this part of the process, including any corporate approvals or other related requirements.

show your intention of being cooperative, but will also help address any issues, without the need for escalation.

Help – I’ve had a query from HMRC

In addition to the key legal step above, there is the B impact assessment (“BIA”), a set of questions used to measure a business’s positive impact on its workers, suppliers, community and environment. A minimum score is required to become B Corp certified, and the BIA includes a ‘Disclosure Questionnaire’, which allows businesses a chance to disclose any sensitive practices (for example producing or trading tobacco), fines (such as tax penalties) and sanctions affecting or relating to the company.

Tip 3: Make sure you review your records and keep copies. This will allow you to refresh your memory and more importantly have all your documents ready to disclose to HMRC if needed.

What is furlough fraud?

Below are some practical tips to help you respond to any queries received.

This may generate commercial benefits by attracting talent and customers who care about such things, which might in turn lead to increased growth and opportunities as well as other benefits such as potentially improving access to external finance.

Tip 1: Do not panic!

Examples of furlough fraud could include:

• Furloughed staff being asked to continue to work;

Could I be become a B Corp?

• Claiming furlough pay for staff who did not qualify for the scheme;

Understand that HMRC may be following up leads or simply asking questions to ensure that all claims made were done so properly.

Tip 4: Be transparent.

In the event you realise that a mistake has been made, or any overpayments have occurred, make sure you promptly inform HMRC.

• Claiming furlough pay for ‘made up’ staff;

• Over-claiming furlough pay;

• Not passing the full amount of furlough pay to the furloughed employees;

• Deliberately providing false information to receive furlough pay from HMRC.

This certification is available to companies, sole traders, partnerships, mutuals and co-operatives (but not available to charities and non-profit organisations). Generally, businesses which have been operating for at least a year can seek B Corp certification. This does mean that the process of applying for B Corp status is likely to vary depending on whether you are a start-up or a large enterprise (if an applicant is a startup and has been in operation for less than a year then it can become “pending B Corp”, which allows the relevant company time to prepare for an application for full B Corp certification). If you are a larger business or one that has been established for longer, you would probably apply directly for full B Corp status. Note that achieving this accreditation does not change the legal status of your business.

While it is understood that only a very small minority intended to defraud HMRC, it is known that HMRC have started ramping up their investigations and actively following up on tip-offs received. Many business owners in the UK who had accessed

It is rare for a business to achieve the required score on an initial assessment (80 points, including points for amending the governing documents as set out above) but B Lab offers various ways to help a business improve their score, and Russell-Cooke may be able to assist with preparing responses to questions or preparing or strengthening the documentation underlying certain questions (such as policies or contract terms) so as to improve your score.

Tip 2: Do not bury your head in the sand.

While it is easy to get distracted in keeping the business running, it is important to understand that this is not going to go away. If you cannot find time yourself to engage with HMRC, then make sure you instruct an adviser who can do so on your behalf.

Once the right score has been reached, there is an agreement to be signed and an annual fee to be paid and the business is entitled to label itself as a

B Corp. Thereafter, the business will need to re-certify every three years to maintain its status and also pay an annual certification fee.

Get in touch

It is often too easy to say that we ‘will deal with this later’ and soon enough a month or more has gone by. It is always better to be proactive and start engaging with HMRC as soon as possible. This will not only

Tip 5: Keep records for a minimum of six years. Even if you were successful in addressing any queries and the matter was subsequently resolved, do keep your records for a minimum of six years to assist you with any potential future queries.

We can help

If you would like to dicuss any of topics mentioned in this article, please contact Rachael Taylor in the Russell-Cooke corporate and commercial team.

It goes without saying that if any actions are being taken against you by HMRC, please seek independent legal advice urgently. Contact our senior associate Sheetul Sowdagar in our professional regulation team, for help.

Develop and expand your business with an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships ensure that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future.

Professional Skills Apprenticeships

Chartered Management Level 6 – Kingston

HR Consultant Level 5 – Kingston

HR Support Level 3 – Kingston

Business Administration Level 3 – Kingston

Team Leader Level 3 – Kingston

STEM Apprenticeships

Network Engineer Level 4 – Kingston

IT Technician Level 3 – Kingston

Through the training process you are able to develop and expand your business in the direction most suited to you via a mixture of on and off the job learning. You can also increase productivity, improve competitiveness, and grow a committed and competent work-force.

From engineering and manufacturing to business and finance, the UK national skills shortage has been impacting just about every sector over the past few years. 90% of employers are currently struggling to recruit and retain staff with the skills and experiences needed to make their business run smoothly, and it’s estimated that 20% of the workforce will be significantly underkilled by 2030. Apprenticeships

can help businesses across all sectors by offering a route to harness fresh new talent - more than a quarter of businesses rate this form of vocational training higher than any other qualification as work-based learning becomes increasingly higher on the government’s agenda.

At South Thames Colleges Group, we support organisations in obtaining the best apprentices for their individual business requirements through our Apprenticeship Recruitment Service. We advertise and promote vacancies online and facilitate the screening of applications. We will also liaise with employers throughout the process and work with you to shortlist and arrange interviews.

Laboratory Technician Level 3 – Kingston

Engineering Level 3 – Kingston

Motor Vehicle Apprenticeships

Autocare Level 3 – Kingston

(Can only be completed by candidates who have completed Level 2)

Motor Vehicle Service Level 2 – Kingston

Cho ose from the wide selection of Apprenticeships above on offer at your local College in Kingston or check our website https://stcg.ac.uk/apprenticeships for Apprenticeships available across the group. Book on to one of our Employer Drop-in Sessions via th e QR code to find out more.

Apprenticeships can help businesses across all sectors by offering a route to harness fresh new talent.

Ki ngston upon Thames Crowned as Top Borough for Vital ity

Kingston upon Thames has been ranked as the top borough to live and work in Greater London by Lambert Smith Hampton’s Vitality Index 2023. The index looks at 3 pillars; Economy & Business, Living and Health, and Environment (see below), and uses 18 datasets to assess the vitality of boroughs.

Kingston scored well across all three categories, with its standout performance being in the ‘Living’ category, achieving top place due to its strong educational achievement & house price growth. Kingston also finished strongly in fifth on the ‘Health & Environment’ category, with high recycling rates, large supply of green space and lowest crime rates in Greater London contributing to this placing.

In the ‘Economy & Business’ category, Kingston scored well above the London average with one of the highest GVA (Gross Value Added) growth forecasts.

Inner London boroughs filled the top 5 places in the ‘Economy & Business’ pillar but were held back by lower scores for ‘Living’ due to low or negative house price growth, as changes to working patterns mean outer London boroughs are seen as more desirable places to live. They also, on the whole, had lower scores for Health & Environment, with higher crime rates and poor air quality.

• Economy & Business takes into account wage growth, workforce jobs growth in specific sectors, new enterprises and business density, GVA per capita, GVA growth, and forecast and commercial property investment volume per capita.

• Living encompasses an analysis of education, lifestyle and consumption, including house price growth, GCSE results, NVQ4+ attainment, households in specific MOSAIC categories, comparison goods retail spend and retail vacancy rates.

• Health & Environment comprises cardiovascular mortality rate, life satisfaction, recycling rates, energy consumption per capita, CO2 emissions per capita, green space per capita and recorded crimes per capita.

Kingston is going from strength to strength.

In 2022, Kingston was also listed as 4th in the Harper Dennis Hobbs UK Vitality Ranking, which determines the health of high streets and shopping centres, rising from 20th place in 2019. With such a strong and invested business and local community, all working together to make Kingston a place where everyone has an amazing experience, we know Kingston will continue to shine!

For further information visit kingstonfirst.co.uk

Images copyright of Kingston First.

AI The Power and Potential

Internationally best-selling business author Bernard Marr talks to Sarah Dale about the future of AI, the positives and the pitfalls, and how businesses should prepare for the future of technology.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around since the mid-20th century, but its evolution has accelerated tremendously in the past few decades.

The initial stages were characterised by a lack of progress due to limited computer processing capabilities and data. However, with the advent of increased computational power, advancements in machine learning, and the availability of vast amounts of data, AI has evolved significantly.

Today, we are in the era of AI that is capable of deep learning. This means that AI can learn and improve from experience, solving complex problems without being explicitly programmed to do so. It’s the technology behind self-driving cars, generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, recommendation systems, and many other advancements that were just science fiction a few decades ago.

Futurist Bernard Marr, an internationally bestselling business author, is a CEO and strategic advisor to some of the world’s biggest organisations including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, IBM, Toyota, and the United Nations. A prolific writer, he has penned 22 best-selling books, writes a regular column for Forbes and is a frequent contributor to the World Economic Forum.

“AI’s power and potential are immense,” said Bernard, who lives in Milton Keynes with his wife and three children.

“From automating mundane tasks and providing real-time analytics to creating complex algorithms that can outperform humans in specific tasks, AI has already shown us a glimpse of its potential.”

AI can learn from data, identify patterns, and make predictions, all at a scale and speed that is beyond human capability. This makes it a powerful tool for addressing a wide array of challenges across various industries, including healthcare, finance, education, and transportation, to name a few.

In medical healthcare, AI has the potential to drastically improve diagnostics, patient care, and research. AI algorithms can analyse medical images, genomics data, or electronic health records to detect diseases such as cancer at an early stage, often with greater accuracy than human physicians. They can also predict disease progression or recommend personalised treatment plans based on a patient’s unique profile.

Moreover, AI can automate administrative tasks, allowing healthcare professionals to spend more time on patient care. In research, AI can sift through vast amounts of biomedical literature to identify potential new drug candidates or predict their possible side effects.

“For business leaders, it’s crucial to understand that digital transformation isn’t just about implementing new technologies; it’s about fundamentally changing how your organisation operates,” said Bernard.

“You need to create a culture that embraces change and fosters innovation.

“First, develop a clear vision and strategy for your digital transformation. Identify the business areas where emerging technologies like AI could have the greatest impact. This could be improving customer service with chatbots, enhancing decision-making with data analytics, or automating routine tasks.

“Second, invest in skills. Your workforce needs to be able to leverage these technologies effectively. This might involve hiring new talent, reskilling existing employees, or partnering with external organisations.

“Lastly, prioritise data management. The value of AI and other emerging technologies lies in their ability to extract insights from data. Ensure you have robust data governance, privacy, and security measures in place.”

AI does pose a risk to jobs, particularly those involving routine or repetitive tasks, however, it can also create new jobs. In fact, many of the jobs that exist now didn’t a few decades ago.

You need to create a culture that embraces change and fosters innovation.

AI is expected to create new roles related to developing, managing and maintaining AI systems. However, this transition requires proactive measures, including reskilling and upskilling of the workforce, to ensure people can take advantage of these new opportunities.

Like any technology, AI can pose dangers if not properly managed and regulated. Some potential dangers highlighted by Bernard include:

• Privacy and security: AI systems can process vast amounts of data, which can be a risk if these systems are not properly secured. They can be used for malicious purposes, such as surveillance, data theft, or cyberattacks.

• Bias: If AI is trained on biased data, it will produce biased results, leading to unfair outcomes. This is especially concerning in areas like hiring, lending, or law enforcement, where bias can have serious real-world consequences.

• Ethics and accountability: As AI systems become more autonomous, it can be difficult to determine accountability. For example, if a self-driving car is involved in an accident, who is to blame? The manufacturer, the owner, or the AI itself?

• Socio-economic impact: AI might increase inequality if the benefits are not widely distributed.

Bernard’s latest book, Future Skills: The 20 Skills and Competencies Everyone Needs to Succeed in a Digital World, outlines the essential skills needed for success in an increasingly digital world.

“As the technology landscape evolves, most of the future workforce will be doing jobs that don’t yet exist,” he said. “Even our current jobs are not immune to change; they will evolve, some will become obsolete, and many new ones will emerge.”

“The aim of the book is not only to inform but also to encourage individuals to cultivate these skills, in order to succeed in the digital era,” he added.

“It emphasises the importance of continual learning, adaptability, and a keen awareness of technology, while also underlining the importance of emotional intelligence, ethical awareness, and personal wellbeing. In essence, it provides a comprehensive guide to thriving in a future that, while uncertain, holds many exciting opportunities for those prepared to navigate it.”

Bernard predicts that AI will become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, in ways we can and cannot currently imagine.

“We will likely see more applications in areas like personalised education, preventive healthcare, and sustainable energy management,” he said.

With this in mind, his book aims to prepare everyone - not just those in the workforce today, but those who will join in the future - for this rapid evolution. He explores the need for skills beyond just the current job market, including the jobs that may exist in the future as we delegate more tasks to machines. Interestingly, these future skills lean more towards softer skills, the areas where machines are currently unable to match human capabilities.

“AI will become more explainable and transparent, addressing current concerns about ‘black box’ decision-making. We’ll also see the rise of ‘edge AI’, where AI processing happens on local devices, reducing data privacy concerns and improving efficiency.

“In terms of regulation, I expect to see more comprehensive frameworks emerge to address ethical, privacy, and security issues.

“However, the future of AI depends on our actions today. By investing in research, promoting ethical use, and ensuring equitable access, we can harness the potential of AI while mitigating its risks.”

Future

Skills: The 20 Skills and Competencies Everyone Needs to Succeed in a Digital World by Bernard Marr (Wiley, £18.99) is out now.

Bernard predicts that AI will become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, in ways we can and cannot currently imagine.

AI the future of work artificial intelligence

By Johannes Castner , Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Sciences, Department of Management, Kingston University

As we have entered the era of artificial intelligence (AI), the skills required for success are evolving. Predicting the exact nature of these changes is challenging, and, historically, our predictions have been significantly off the mark.

For instance, while Excel has remained relevant, other skills such as linear algebra and calculus have become less critical as machines can now seamlessly perform tasks that were once the domain of mathematicians. Who would have thought that we would be talking about Bing search in 2023?

The rapid pace of technological advancement has brought about a shift in focus from the technical details of “how” to the intricate and perplexing questions of “why”. This is a heartening development, as it allows us humans to concentrate on the human ends that algorithms and experiences are intended to deliver. The ability of AI to produce results without our detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms frees us to think more carefully about our objectives and how to test for results, both desirable and undesirable.

In this context, resilience and adaptability are essential qualities. Rather than clinging to a particular technology or set of tools, we must cultivate a spirit of resilience and be willing to revisit and re-evaluate our assumptions. This is where the idea of possibilism, developed by economist and social scientist Albert Hirschman, comes into play. Possibilism emphasizes the importance of focusing on creating new possibilities through our actions, rather than being limited by what we believe is possible.

This spirit of possibilism is also reflected in the rise of the portfolio career, in which individuals have more fluid work relationships and greater ownership and agency. In this new world,

maintaining a disposition of curiosity and being ready for a lifetime of learning are crucial.

Develop new skills

To thrive in this era of AI, we must focus on developing skills such as emotional intelligence, ethics and cultural empathy. These skills will allow us to navigate the complex ethical questions that arise as AI becomes more integrated into our daily lives. We must be mindful of the cultural differences that exist between users and strive to build experiences that are inclusive and respectful. To achieve this, we must build feedback loops that allow

human capabilities, while Legg proves, with his Portfolio Collective, that professionals are realising that a portfolio career is not only possible but preferable.

The ethics of Amartya Sen, Shoshana Zuboff, Ruha Benjamin and Luciano Floridi provide a framework for thinking about the “why” questions of AI use and development. Sen’s capability approach emphasises the importance of expanding individuals’ capabilities to lead fulfilling lives. Zuboff’s work on surveillance capitalism highlights the dangers of data collection and exploitation by tech companies. Benjamin’s research on race and technology explores how systemic inequalities can be encoded into algorithms and perpetuate discrimination. Floridi’s philosophy of information provides a framework for thinking about the ethical implications of information technology, according to which information is a vital resource that shapes our knowledge and understanding of the world.

Cultivate a spirit of resilience

As we enter a new era of AI, it is clear the skills required for success are evolving – and rapidly. Indeed, this is something that has been evidenced by Kingston University’s own Future Skills research, sampling more than 2,000 businesses and 1,000 students, which demonstrates the importance of skills for innovation and the vital role they play in driving a thriving national economy.

us to learn in detail what works for people and what doesn’t work for them based on cultural specifics. We must learn from data as well as build an intuition for it, using empathy and a scientific mindset.

The thought leadership of experts such as Bernard Marr and Ben Legg offers valuable insights into the future of work. Marr emphasises the importance of emotional intelligence in an era where AI can augment

It is essential we focus on cultivating a spirit of resilience and possibilism. By shifting our focus from the how to the why, by removing peoples’ most pernicious blockades with empathy and a scientific mindset, by absorbing the issues brought to our attention by the most insightful ethical thinkings and by expecting a lifetime of learning, we can prepare ourselves for a future in which AI plays an ever-increasing role.

Rather than clinging to a particular technology or set of tools, we must cultivate a spirit of resilience and be willing to revisit and re-evaluate our assumptions.

Creating opportunities for adults and business

She became Principal of Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College (RHACC) in 2013 and has overseen the original two colleges - Richmond Adult and Community College and Hillcroft College – merge in 2017 to form RHACC.

“Creating opportunities for adults, businesses and the community are vitally important to me. Including people with disabilities” said Gabe.

RHACC has over 8000 people learning with them every year - developing their careers and improving their lives and wellbeing. This includes 350 adults with complex needs and Gabe added “we pride ourselves on providing something for everyone.”

printmaking, ceramics, glass, calligraphy, book-binding, clothes-making, graphic design, photography, painting and drawing, and life drawing.

Also available are courses in performing arts, music appreciation, learning a musical instrument with students welcome to join the jazz school, drama, philosophy and creative writing.

There are also foundation skills for life courses in English, EAL, maths and introduction to digital and IT skills.

“We have invested heavily in our facilities and employ specialist tutors who are experts in their fields” said Gabe, who is a member of the Royal Borough of Kingston Chamber of Commerce.

Gabe Flint has worked in education all her life and ensuring all adults can access education and learn new skills is of paramount importance to her and the college she leads.

Across the two sites in Richmond and Hillcroft, the college has a business school, which includes courses on digital technology, creative technology, animation, video, web technology, business finance, ecommerce, marketing and social media, with a number of vocational qualifications on offer to work in counselling, childcare, as a teaching assistant, business support staff, as well as disability awareness training.

The art school, which comprises a beautiful building in Richmond and a mixed media studio in Hillcroft, includes courses on

“We have a women in education programme to support women who would not otherwise have the skills and confidence to access mainstream education or had to leave education early to be a carer. Our college has a supportive environment.”

Three-quarters of both the staff and student populations are female, 45% of students are from BME backgrounds and the establishment also has 20 learners who are aged over 100. Around 25% of students have a disability.

Principal Gabe Flint tells Sarah Dale how Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College supports adults in Kingston, the college’s exciting plans and how the business community and RHACC can work together.

We are often referred to as a new college, but we have been delivering adult education for 100 years.

“Learners and staff always say how diverse and inclusive our college is,” she added.

“Our learners tell us that what they benefit from the most is the amount of 1:1 education and the support they receive from their peers. They form strong relationship groups and work together.”

Many adults who are returning to learning are provided with additional learning support to help them overcome any barriers and succeed on their course.

The college is always developing and improving the range of courses it offers and with an eye to the future is introducing green skills programmes including bicycle maintenance and green finance and the art and design courses use recycled materials.

The college has also submitted plans to Kingston Council with English Heritage to develop part of the Hillcroft campus. On site, there is a Grade II listed building, Hillcroft House, originally built as a fourbedroom family home set in four acres of land. The plans include selling part of the land to build a new college building to

replace the dated old one and transforming Hillcroft House back into family homes with English Heritage, as well as providing a community café, large art provision, an outdoor working area and kitchen.

“Lots of people feel isolated so we want somewhere for them to be able to come along to that is inclusive for everybody and where new friendships can be formed,” she said.

Making deeper, long-term connections to the local business community is behind the college’s decision to rejoin the Chamber in 2019.

“The Chamber brings a wealth of experience and we were grateful for its advice when we recently extended our co-working space The Bridge to the campus in Surbiton.” said Gabe.

“The benefits are being connected in terms of what is going on in the local community, not just in our community but more broadly, and find out what skills local businesses need.”

“In the area, 94% of businesses are SMEs so it is good for us to meet more businesses

who may need somewhere convenient and accessible to work,” she added.

“It is also good for us to get our name out there. We are often referred to as a new college, but we have been delivering adult education for 100 years.

“We are there for the local community and have been for a long time. Education is not without its challenges at the moment. We are facing the same challenges as all businesses such as inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, as well as a static funding pot. We need more skilled dual professionals in education, someone who can be a teacher who already has experience in another profession, whether they’re an artist or a web developer. Staffing can be our greatest challenge, but our greatest asset. Our staff members are committed to our mission and our whole ethos of diversity and inclusivity.

“If there is a local business that has a training need, have a look at our website or prospectus first to see what we offer, and if there isn’t the skill you need, come to us so we can have a conversation about how we can support you.”

The benefits are being connected in terms of what is going on in the local community, not just in our community but more broadly, and find out what skills local businesses need.

FUTURE OF WORK SUMMIT

JUNE 16, 2023

Kingston Chamber of Commerce would like to say a big thank you

to everyone who contributed to our inaugural Future of Work Summit on Friday 16th June 2023.

We would like to thank our Headline Sponsors, Kingston University and Kingston Council for their belief and support and to our generous Event Supporters who endorsed this new business event. From our roundtable specialists, our excellent business seminar speakers, to the Green zone experts, OMNI and speed networking, and to the University’s Hackathon, it was a genuine pleasure to host this day. But a special thanks must go to our attendees who turned out in impressive numbers to truly participate, network and collaborate with each other.

The Kingston business community does this so well. Our thanks also extends to the Mayor of Kingston upon Thames, Diane White, Sarah Olney MP for North Kingston and Richmond, and Alison Holt, the Deputy Leader of Kingston Council, for their words of encouragment at the launch of the day. This Borough has many resilient and creative businesses - when they come together, it is impressive. www.kingstonchamber.co.uk

The round table discussions were the most inspiring and insightful with great panel of experts. I also loved the open, positive atmosphere: everyone was clearly passionate about the future of businesses and careers, everyone was approachable and happy to part with their knowledge.

Most importantly, I loved the clear representation and recognition of education being a driving force behind the future of next generations.

The Royal Borough of Kingston Chamber of Commerce

All photographs: Robyn Harper Photography https://robynharper.com

The Royal Borough of Kingston Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS - The voice of Kingston’s business community

Unleash the Potential of your Business at West Thames College

Join the many local businesses already working with West Thames College to upskill their existing staff or find the next generation of talent. We also provide opportunities for your business to inspire our students which helps meet your Corporate Social Responsibility targets, and increase local community involvement.

We provide a range of industry-recognised programmes and initiatives for you

First-class Apprenticeships to support existing or new staff to gain on-the-job training and the practical skills your business demands

Discover your future workforce through our range of programmes with built-in work experience opportunities, including T-Levels with placements that lasts at least 45 days, BTEC courses with shorter one-or-two-week placements, or internships which offer a full summer-long work placement

Upskill your staff through our fully-funded Multiply Maths programmes which can be tailored to your business’s numerical needs and delivered at our Isleworth Campus, your business premises, or online

Visit West Thames College to inspire the next generation of talent with opportunities such as insight talks that showcase your industry, judging a challenge or competition at one of our events, mentoring a student, work shadowing at your workplace, or even mock interviews to develop our

Who we work with

Apprenticeships

Economic Council to power up growth

A new Economic Advisory Council (EAC) has been launched by the British Chambers of Commerce to build on its Quarterly Economic Survey and develop policies to boost the economy and business growth

The Council will comprise a range of respected national and international economists and business leaders to provide expert advice and feedback to the BCC and its Chamber Network. Its work will focus on the BCC’s long-standing and renowned programme of business research.

Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “We’re a year out on a General Election and now is a pivotal moment for business. That is why we have set up an Economic Advisory Council to help shape and guide our economic policies to boost the UK’s growth and prosperity.”

The BCC spent six months working on forming the EAC to unite “a diverse range of prominent economic and business experts”.

“These people are national and global leaders in their fields, and they will help guide and shape our economic priorities and focus into the future,” she added.

The BCC and its regional Chambers play such an important role in assisting firms to navigate and succeed in a complicated and constantly changing economic landscape.

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High inflation still a major concern for business

David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said on the latest ONS inflation figures: “The CPI rate of 8.7% shows that inflation is remaining elevated for longer than expected. After 18 months of price shocks, the impact of sustained inflation remains the top issue for the vast majority of firms we speak to. What started as a commodity price shock has now created a wage-price spiral.

“However, much more positively, the producer input price (PPI) rate has slowed

significantly once again to 0.5%. With our research showing that gradually fewer firms expect their own prices to rise, energy and commodity costs may fall away as drivers of consumer inflation.

“With the interest rate currently at 4.5% and expected to rise further to tackle inflation, widespread skills shortages, and trade frictions on the rise, the cost of doing business is the highest in years. Action by the Government to help with the squeeze on the labour supply, reform of business rates and support on exports would go some way to helping them face the future with more confidence.”

Dennis Novy, Professor of Economics, Warwick University.

After 18 months of price shocks, the impact of sustained inflation remains the top issue for the vast majority of firms we speak to.

Retrofitting historic buildings can generate £35bn economic output a year

Retrofitting the UK’s historic buildings could generate £35bn (nationally) of economic output a year, create almost 290,000 jobs and lead the fight against climate change, according to a new report.

Historic buildings play a pivotal role in Britain’s cultural heritage and economy. They can also play a role in the fight against climate change if five core issues are addressed: policy, guidance, cost, supply chain skills and capacity of local government.

Grosvenor, Peabody, Historic England, The National Trust and The Crown Estate have joined forces to highlight the skills and training challenges that will need to be overcome to ensure the UK’s historic buildings contribute to a net zero future.

Together, they have commissioned research and have shared their findings.

Their research identified a need for 205,000 workers to focus solely on retrofitting historic buildings every year from now until 2050 to meet the UK’s net zero targets.

This is more than double the number of workers the team estimates currently have the necessary skills. Whilst the significant challenge of enlisting and training so many people to address the skills shortage is concerning, the group’s research has also highlighted the great opportunities this could bring – generating £35bn of economic output annually, 290,000 jobs, more efficient homes that are less expensive to heat, in the process reducing fuel poverty and future proofing our built heritage.

The report also calls for industry and Government collaboration to build a workforce capable of meeting the UK’s climate goals and safeguarding the UK’s historic buildings, whilst also creating new construction jobs.

Improving the energy efficiency of historic properties could reduce carbon emissions from the UK’s buildings by an estimated 5% each year, while making homes warmer and cheaper to run, according to the report.

The report revealed that more than 105,000 new workers including 14,300 plumbers, 14,500 electricians, as well as thousands of carpenters and scaffolders, will be needed to work solely on decarbonising the UK’s historic buildings every year for the next 30 years for the UK to meet its 2050 net zero target.

Buildings in the UK are responsible for around a fifth of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, with historic buildings accounting for a significant proportion. Around one in five – 6.2m UK homes – and a third of all commercial buildings – around 600,000 – were built before 1919.

Retrofitting measures, such as ensuring windows and heating systems are more energy efficient, lowers emissions and can also prolong the life of older buildings. Retrofitting also avoids the carbon emissions resulting from demolishing older buildings and building new ones.

However, retrofitting historic buildings requires more specialist skills, for example, plumbers would need to be able to work with heat pumps and hydrogen boilers, which is where the specialist skills training comes in.

The industry has suffered from skills shortages due to a combination of factors including an ageing workforce, the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit. The organisations behind the research are calling on the Government to make the apprenticeship levy more flexible, allowing unspent funds to be channelled into training more people in the heritage retrofit field. About £3.3bn in unused funds from the levy was returned to the Treasury between May 2019 and July 2022.

Kingston is the oldest royal borough in England, and placing our unique history and heritage at the heart of our regeneration is a top priority, as is ensuring that we can deliver the inclusive public spaces local people value.

As a council we recognise the value of built heritage in telling our borough’s important history. Sympathetically retrofitting our historic buildings contributes to our work to tackle climate change and achieve our Net Zero commitments, whilst also extending their lifespan for future generations.

We have developed an asset strategy to ensure we are making the most of all our properties, cherishing the buildings that are such an integral part of our borough’s rich heritage and making sure they are truly fit for the 21st Century - environmentally friendly, efficient and providing spaces that our communities can enjoy.

Leader of Kingston Council Andreas Kirsch

The Medieval bridge on Kingston riverside in the space underneath John Lewis, formerly known as the Undercroft.

The Market House in Kingston Town Centre.

Dementia advice from experts

One step at a time

A video guide to navigating dementia

Our new video guide offers expert advice to help you navigate dementia, from initial diagnosis, to living well with the condition and self-care tips for carers.

Download the guide at careuk.com/one-step-at-a-time or scan the QR code.

Trusted to care

Sherwood Grange care home

Kingston Vale careuk.com/sherwood-grange

Men & Mental Health health and wellbeing

This is normally inherent from childhood, as they may have had family who did not talk openly about emotions or saw therapy as a sign of weakness or it could even be a cultural thing, where emotions were not seen or heard.

I am proud to say that I currently have more male clients than females and this is so good to see, however there are those who still do not believe that therapy can help them or that they don’t need it. This could be because of fear, lack of awareness, they may even see it as a sign of weakness. For if they have been told their whole lives that you must “just get on with it`’ or “be a man”, this is enough

to keep males from entering the world of therapy. I think on the contrary, that for a man to come to therapy is a sign of courage and it shows such strength to come and open up to somebody and share your inner most thoughts and allow yourself to be vulnerable. With me, you will never be judged and you will hopefully leave the session feeling less burdened that you arrived.

I recently presented a Men & Mental Health presentation to the first team at Eastbourne Borough Football Club and I was blown away by how engaged and attentive the guys were throughout my presentation. I left feeling hopeful that even if they learnt just one thing from my presentation, I have done what I aimed to do and they were

more aware of the importance of men and mental health.

One of the main reasons why I always offer a FREE 90 Minute therapy session is to give those who are more sceptical the opportunity to come and discover about themselves and to understand why they behave the way they do. It also costs nothing, no commitment as there is no contract to sign and no hidden agenda, purely 90 minutes of your time and the possibilities of what you may discover is immeasurable. I therefore urge those guys who feel that they don’t need therapy to at least dip their toe in the water and as I have just said you lose nothing, but could gain the chance of living your best life!

pexels-andrea-piacquadio

Reeta Minhas-Judd is a life therapist and has run her wellbeing company, RMJ Wellbeing, for the past three years. Her focus is primarily on the positive health and wellbeing of her clients, with the ultimate goal of helping them to enjoy a happy existence. For more information visit www.rmjwellbeing.com

For some men, even in the current times we live in still have a phobia/hesitation when it comes to therapy.

If men have been told their whole lives that you must “just get on with it” or “be a man”, this is enough to keep males from entering the world of therapy. I think on the contrary, that for a man to come to therapy is a sign of courage and it shows such strength to come and open up to somebody and share your inner most thoughts and allow yourself to be vulnerable.

The Business Psychopath

There are difficult colleagues in every workplace but could you be working for a corporate psychopath?

either violent or non-violent – sociopaths will act more on compulsion. And they will lack patience, giving in much more easily to impulsiveness and lacking detailed planning.

According to Dr. Martha Stout, of the Harvard Medical School, 4% of the world’s population are sociopaths. That’s one out of every 25 people, worldwide.

Most of us, fortunately, will never meet a Hannibal Lecter, but psychopaths and sociopaths certainly do exist. And they hide among us (or arguably in full view like a former President of the US). Sometimes as the most successful people in society because they’re often ruthless, callous and superficially charming, while having little or no regard for the feelings or needs of others. These are known as “successful” psychopaths, as they have a tendency to perform premeditated crimes with calculated risk.

First of all though, what is the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath?

Psychopaths, Regardless of what form their anti-social behaviour disorder takes, have no conscience, and no empathy. But they are smooth talkers, adept at getting senior management on-side. They are also ‘doers’, often hired to do the jobs that others find distasteful – like sacking other people. Not a problem for a psychopath, as they have no morals holding them back.

Sociopaths are normally less emotionally stable and highly impulsive - their behaviour tends to be more erratic than psychopaths. When committing crimes -

“Psychopathy is someone who is sadistic or whose main intention is to manipulate others and gets satisfaction from doing that,” says David M. Reiss, M.D., a psychiatrist based in San Diego. “To put it more simply, a psychopath chooses to “live on the evil side,” says Dr. Reiss. By contrast, sociopaths have problems differentiating good from evil, right from wrong.

Dr Kellie Vincent, MBA Director, Westminster Business School, shares these traits high on the psychopathic spectrum.

1. Superficial charm: You may think of them as slippery, glib entertainers who are highly charismatic.

2. They lie a lot: Typically, they manage to talk themselves out of trouble when found out.

3. Manipulative: They are usually very good at conning people, highly networked and able to seduce people into their webs of deceit, often to do their dirty work for them.

4. Bragging: Psychopaths are highly arrogant with a massive sense of their own worth, and as such, tend to behave above the rules.

5. Lack of remorse: Psychopaths rarely feel bad about their actions and revel in the misery they cause. They are ruthless in the way they treat colleagues to pursue their own careers.

6. Shallow and cold: They rarely show any type of emotion.

7. Zero empathy: Selfishness, belittling and verbal abuse are common traits, without any capacity to experience the feelings of others.

8. Lacking responsibility: They blame others for mistakes and take credit for others’ success.

So how can you deal with one? In her article The Sociopath In The Office Next Door contributor Davia Temin suggested the following strategies.

Trust your instincts, take notes and keep records and proceed with caution are some steps to take. Call the person out and defend yourself (carefully). If you can do so, calmly and without losing your temper, do whatever else is necessary to hold your ground and avoid becoming a pawn. This will send the message that you’re not a victim to be played or walked over. Proceed with care - the effort to defend yourself could backfire if it makes you an even bigger target.

For many, dealing with a true psychopath/ sociopath can be a deeply harmful experience. In addition to the emotional pain and anxiety they cause, if you stand up to them they may also do their best to destroy you. So, don’t take one on lightly, as they all take far more than they give. Many people have often thought seriously about changing jobs, or simply had to. This is not a cowardly response but is all about selfprotection. It can better to cut and run.

net zero

Net Zero Change Pivotal to UK Plc’s Competitiveness

Business says a partnership with Government is vital to meet the UK’s commitment to be Net Zero by 2050.

The proposal is a centrepiece of a new report from business leaders which recommends how we successfully transition to a Net Zero economy.

Among its other recommendations are:

• Government must ensure the UK doesn’t fall behind on Net Zero, and promote the advantages of a low carbon UK economy.

• Reaching Net Zero means action beyond energy production – including upgrading our transport systems, homes, businesses, and land use.

• All major Government spending and policy decisions should be stress tested to check they help deliver the UK’s Net Zero aim.

• There must and can be a step change in the way we move people and goods, how we heat our buildings and what we produce and consume.

• Action is needed now, if UK business is to remain competitive in a global race for investment.

• To truly unlock the UK’s potential, business and government should focus on a five Is framework – Integrity, Investment, Implementation, Innovation and Influence.

The report, by the Advisory Business Group, has been sent to the Government’s independent statutory Climate Change Committee (CCC) for consideration.

The group was formed last November by the CCC to provide solutions from the business

community to keep the UK’s Net Zero commitment on track.

It has been chaired by Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce. The CCC will now consider the report before making its final recommendations to Government.

Commenting on the proposals, Ms Haviland, said: “Net Zero is simply about commercial competitiveness and positioning companies to seize the global benefits that the low-carbon transition will bring.

“But if the UK is to stand even a chance of hitting the Net Zero target by 2050 then businesses and government must work together to achieve it.

“With the right framework in place, UK firms can lead on creating and manufacturing the technology to allow us all to live greener lives. Which is vital for supporting the consumer behaviour required to reach Net Zero.

“Everyone understands the imperative, but research also shows that many firms, especially smaller ones, do not fully understand how to capture those benefits.

“There is a real danger that these businesses will get left behind unless politicians and business leaders come together to galvanise action. The UK is poised to be a global leader in Net Zero competitiveness and inward investment, but that opportunity may slip from our fingers.

“With so many business sectors making up our economy, the pathway to net zero will not be the same in each one – farmers, builders, creatives and accountants will all need to take different routes.

“What is essential now is building Net Zero into all aspects of Government policy and spending, to demonstrate the commitment. Giving that clarity and certainty will drive business confidence to invest.

“We need to know how businesses will be supported to switch from industrial scale heating systems; plans for electric vehicle charging networks; how our freight systems will be decarbonised, and our energy sources diversified and stabilised.

“Once we have the full picture it will then become much easier for firms to make their plans with confidence and work out how they can finance them.”

Responding, after receiving the report, Climate Change Committee Chief Executive, Chris Stark, said:

“I’m grateful to our Advisory Group on Business for this report, which offers important ideas to realise the potential of business to support the UK’s journey to Net Zero.

“Our own analysis emphasises the integral role that the private sector must play in the transition. It is businesses that will develop and deploy low carbon technologies, their capital investment is the majority needed for Net Zero, their offering to consumers will drive the change in Net Zero lifestyles.

“The Advisory Group’s recommendations and insights will now feed into a new report we are preparing on the potential for business action on climate change later this year.”

Harald Matern @ Pixabay

Net Zero is simply about commercial competitiveness and positioning companies to seize the global benefits that the low-carbon transition will bring.

ENJOY A WONDERFUL SUMMER at Riverside Walk

Sally Baker Photography