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INSPIRE.41

The business magazine of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce November - December 2020

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Entrepreneurship - what it takes to be great

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS

East Herts businesses meet COVID challenge head on

INSPIRATIONAL LEADER

Good communication is the key to successful leadership

BUILDING CONNECTIONS

The advantages of Chamber networking

HERTS GLOBAL

Countdown to change

For your growing business, think Hertfordshire IQ. With high quality office space and opportunities to collaborate with Rothamsted Research available now. Find out more and get in touch at herts-iq.co.uk

WELCOME & CONTENTS

Spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well Briege Leahy Chief Executive Officer Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce As we head towards the winter months, the coronavirus shows no sign of abating. According to the data, cases and hospital admissions are rising across the UK and this should serve as a warning that we must all remain vigilant to protect ourselves, our loved ones and each other. In Hertfordshire, the situation is not as bleak as in other parts of the country, which is why the government has placed our county in tier one of the new three-tier system now in force. Effectively, this means that Hertfordshire is in the category with the fewest restrictions, which include 10pm hospitality curfews and the “rule of six” when socialising.

Clearly, these restrictions are having an impact on our local businesses, which are doing their best to navigate their way through this immensely challenging period. As well as COVID-19, the end of the Brexit transition period looms large on the horizon. Trading with the EU will change significantly from January 1 next year and this will have a particularly large effect on Hertfordshire’s army of exporters. The current environment has also seen UK unemployment rise to its highest level in more than three years, as businesses shed jobs to reduce costs. In this climate it would be very easy to get dragged into a negative mindset but there are still some excellent initiatives happening in Hertfordshire’s resilient business community.

In our special feature on entrepreneurs, for example, we look at the great work being done in the University of Hertfordshire’s Enterprise Hub, where many innovative ideas are being turned into viable business ventures.

We’re also supporting businesses though the Peer Networks initiative, which we’re delivering in partnership with the Hertfordshire Growth Hub and Branduin Business Support. The idea is to create diverse groups of individuals who collectively work through common business issues – ideal for small business leaders who want to grow and develop their organisation.

The Chamber is keen to support local entrepreneurs, which is why we launched the Entrepreneurs’ Foundation to nurture and grow a new network of enterprising individuals who can create As the fastest-growing Chamber successful businesses. in the British Chambers of We’re offering a two-year Commerce network, we’re framework of guidance, ready and available to help training and support, supplied our businesses through these in partnership with foundation tough times. members and supporters. I’m Briege Leahy glad to say that we’ve been Chief Executive Officer inundated with applications for Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce the scheme – a firm indication that entrepreneurship is alive and well in our county.

Contents 4-8

Tourism & Hospitality

Patron Focus

Membership Benefits

Economy

Entrepreneur Foundation

Spotlight Focus

16-17

Members News

Chamber Events

24-27

Sector Specific Summits

28-29

Mental Wellbeing

30-31

Inspiring Herts Awards

32-33

Inspirational Leader

35 & 37

Editorial and General Enquiries Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce MacLaurin Building, 4 Bishops Square, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9NE Tel: 01707 502180 Email: enquiries@hertschamber.com Web: www.hertschamber.com

38-39

41 42

Building Connections

46-47

New Members

48-49

British Chamber of Commerce 50 Members News

51-53

Herts Global

54-55

Finance

Skills & Development

Last Word

Publisher Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com

55 Published November 2020 © Benham Publishing and Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

Disclaimer Inspire is published for Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in Inspire are not necessarily those of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. ©2020 Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

Production Manager Mark Etherington Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: mark@benhampublishing.com

Media No. 1746

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneurial spirit can fire economic recovery Lord Lieutenant Robert Voss CBE has lived through many recessions and believes the current one should not deter would-be entrepreneurs from starting a business venture. “I started my first business on Black Monday in 1987,” he says, “the day that precipitated a deep recession. Also, on that day, my daughter was taken into hospital with appendicitis and I ended up crashing my car! My business advisor at the time said to me: there’s only one way that this business can go – and he was absolutely right!” Indeed, he was correct. Robert went on to spend 40 years in the commodity business, trading internationally in more than 65 countries and running his own company for the last 28 years. He was elected President of The British Metals Association at the age of 31 and went on to become President of the European Metal Federation in Brussels for 16 years and vice president of the International Federation for more than 20 years, acting as the UK representative in various trade and environmental negotiations. He also chaired the International Trade Council for seven years. An entrepreneur himself, Robert has always shown a keen interest in young entrepreneurs and has been a judge and mentor for Young Enterprise for a number of years. He also established and ran a Young Entrepreneurs Challenge and more recently pioneered his own highly successful Lord Lieutenants Entrepreneurs Challenge at the Hertfordshire County Show. The initiative sources ten of the most promising new entrepreneurs and gives them the opportunity to pitch to local leaders of industry, with the winning entrepreneurs receiving thousands of pounds worth of financial, legal, marketing and branding advice. Robert says: “We wanted to widen the appeal of the County Show beyond agriculture and this was a good way of doing it. Sometimes we undervalue young entrepreneurship so we wanted to find a way of encouraging young people to have a go at starting a business. “We have to give people of all ages a chance, especially in the current climate. In the UK perhaps we’ve been guilty of not doing this previously. Would Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, have succeeded if he had started a business in the UK? Perhaps not.

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“Now, though, I believe that we are starting to give young people a chance. If a 21-year-old knocks on the door of a bank and gets turned down for a loan, that person needs to know that there are other avenues of support for them.” This support will be much needed in the current climate, which has seen many businesses hampered by loss of revenue due to COVID-19. Difficult times, however, might bring new opportunities; people who have recently been made redundant might now decide that the time is right to take the plunge and start their own venture. “There is no right time to start a business,” says Robert. “The fact that the country is in the doldrums gives people time to think about their business ideas and whether or not they are commercially viable. “You need to be resilient to be an entrepreneur. There will always be ups and downs, good times and bad times. My advice would be to have faith in your idea, product or service. It’s also key to do your research and plan properly.

I’ve seen many entrepreneurs jump in with both feet before they’ve properly thought through their business proposition. Many people have great ideas that are just not commercially viable.” Robert’s last comment echoes the many people who have tried – and failed – to get investment from wealthy entrepreneurs on the TV hit series Dragons Den. Viewers have cringed behind their sofas as they watch an eager would-be entrepreneur pitch an idea that will never be vaguely profitable. “There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance,” says Robert. “Entrepreneurs should listen to good advice and if their idea is not commercially viable, they should either ditch it or modify it so that they can make money from it. “My grandad lived until he was 104 and he was still working at 100 years old. I remember him saying to me: Robert, I may have lived a century on this planet but I’m still learning from other people every day.” It’s clear that entrepreneurs in Hertfordshire have the capacity to learn and adapt. This year’s Queen’s Awards for Enterprise scheme featured no fewer than eight winners from the county testament, perhaps, to the resolve, innovation and resilience of Hertfordshire’s army of entrepreneurs. Robert says: This year’s winners featured a range of businesses, from pharma and tech firms to a company that sells props for use on film sets. One of the strengths of the Hertfordshire business community is its diversity and this will hold the county in good stead as we try to recover from the pandemic.”

“ You need to be resilient to be an entrepreneur. There will always be ups and downs, good times and bad times. My advice would be to have faith in your idea, product or service.” Robert has been a regular judge of The National Business Awards since 2006 and has acted as a consultant, mentor and non-executive to a number of companies. He was awarded a CBE “for services to British Industry and voluntary work in the UK” in the New Year’s Honours List of 2014 and was appointed Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire by The Queen in 2017 - a position he will hold until 2028.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneur Foundation Entrepreneurs are vital to business; individuals who have a vision, can inspire others to join them on their journey and drive the success of our local and national economy. The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce recognises this need and so launched the Entrepreneur Foundation at the start of September. The initiative has been designed to nurture and grow a new network of enterprising individuals, by offering a two-year programme of guidance, training and support, supplied by the Founders, by Supporters and, of course, by the Chamber itself.

We are delighted to introduce the Entrepreneur Foundation Lifetime Founders: Len has a passion for helping to maximise the potential of a business and the people involved in them. He has professional skills with People, Customer Service, E-commerce, Engineering, IT, Financial Planning and Strategic Planning. For more information, please visit: www.highwaycycles.co.uk

Claire Austin Claire Austin is Managing Director of Austin’s Funeral Directors.

Len Simmons After leaving school at the age of 16 with 3 GCEs, Len realised that he had the innate desire to start his own business. Len was lucky to have an employer that saw something in him and encouraged him to further his education by studying for an HNC in engineering. After finishing his studies and working for one more employer, Len started his own business in North London. For 35 years that was Len’s life, 24hrs a day seven days a week. During that time, he bought and sold several businesses, and it grew to a substantial group of companies with three divisions within the UK. At the age of 56, Len deemed it time to move on and sold the business as part of an MBO. He remains involved to this day as a Director of two of the companies within the original group. Len’s latest adventure is in owning a cycle shop. Up to this point, he had no experience in retail or the cycling industry. What he is finding interesting is that all the basics that served him well in his primary business still apply.

Austin’s was established in 1700 and Claire is the tenth generation to run the independent family business. Having expanded in recent years, Austin’s now operates ten funeral arrangement offices throughout north and east Hertfordshire and owns Harwood Park Crematorium in Stevenage. Claire has led Austin’s to win thirteen business awards, including the FSB Service Excellence Award in 2012. In the same year, Claire was named British Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year. For more information, please visit: www.austins.co.uk

Phil Wallace Phil Wallace has been Group CEO of Lamex Food Group since the 1980’s and has overseen a rise in sales from £5 million pa to over £1.2 Billion per year in his 50 years at the company. Starting in a small office above a shop in East London, Phil grew Lamex by employing great people and opening over 20 offices around the world, importing and exporting food products in large quantities. Lamex are now one of the largest private companies in their field in the world, with frozen fruit processing factories in Greece, Serbia and Chile adding to their position as market leaders in meat, poultry and honey. The Company are particularly strong in the Far East, with China one of their biggest markets. Phil also has a keen interest in football and bought Stevenage Football Club in 1999 when it was close to closing due to financial difficulties. He has since taken the Club into the EFL, upgrading the stadium along the way and adding some of the best training facilities outside of the Championship. For more information, please visit: www.lamexfoods.eu

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Edward Rowlandson Third generation Managing Director of the RO Group, a diversified family owned business investing in commercial property and trading businesses. The RO, based in Potters Bar, has been in existence for nearly 90 years and in that time has owned, backed and developed more than twenty different businesses ranging from retail to financial services, and house building to renewable energy. As an organisation their approach is characterised by the founding principle of being ‘In business to do business’, and as such RO Group are always enthusiastic about exploring fresh opportunities and supporting individuals / teams with new ideas that are complementary to their own experience.

Stelio Stefanou OBE, DL. Stelio Stefanou came to the UK aged six with his Greek Cypriot parents. His career in the oil, construction and public service industries culminated in the sale of his business, Accord plc in 2007. He then established a philanthropic charity, the Stefanou Foundation, with the aim of tackling the root causes of intergenerational disadvantage affecting those without a voice or struggling to tell their story. The Foundation’s innovative programme, For Baby’s Sake, works with both parents, starting in pregnancy, to break cycles of domestic abuse and traumatic childhood adversity. An academic evaluation led by King’s College London (published May 2020) described For Baby’s Sake as the ‘first’ to ‘fill an important gap’ in provision through ‘unique’ features which ‘overcome key limitations’ of responses to domestic abuse. Stelio is one of Hertfordshire’s Deputy Lieutenants and chairs the Lieutenancy Business Panel for Hertfordshire. He was High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 2016/17. He is Vice Chairman of the UK Cyprus Enterprise Council. Stelio has held various industry roles, including CBI Regional Chairman and Chairman of the CBI Local Government Panel, and was awarded the OBE for services to business in 2004. His hobbies include cooking and photography. For more information, please visit: www.forbabyssaketrust.org.uk

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For more information, please visit: www.rogroup.co.uk

Geoff Hill Geoff Hill, owner and founder of Astute Electronics Ltd: a one-man operation in Billericay, that has become a global electronics supply-chain partner employing over 180 people across 10 countries, with a turnover in excess of £80m. Geoff’s story began in 1989 when he identified a gap in the market to help the Aerospace & Defence industry with their hard to find components. His passion and innovation to bring customers solutions to fit complex requirements has gained the trust of the world’s largest Tier 1 suppliers. A keen sportsman, Geoff plays golf and supports Chelsea. Outside of Astute, he supports a range of philanthropic activities including the Armed Forces Para Snowsport team and a film-project to advance understanding of Parkinson’s disease. For more information, please visit: www.astute.co.uk

Herts Chamber CEO Briege Leahy commented: “I am absolutely delighted to launch the Entrepreneur Foundation and the Chamber looks forward to working with our selected group of talented new entrepreneurs, offering them training, support and mentoring to help ensure their companies thrive and grow in this challenging environment.”

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Entrepreneur Foundation The Founders and Supporters of the initiative, are carefully selected business owners and influential decision-makers, with philanthropic desires to give back to the local economy by passing on a wealth of knowledge and experience.

These businesses recognise the importance of nurturing new business initiatives and the benefits these can bring, not just to the local economy but potentially to their own businesses.

We are delighted to introduce the Entrepreneur Foundation Supporters:

Barley Agency

Lumina Technologies

Barley is a creative agency specialising in innovative solutions across all channels: marketing, design, digital and print. Their ethos is about understanding client goals, and helping them achieve business growth using tried and tested strategies.

Redwood Bank

Lumina Technologies are delighted to be a Supporter of the Herts Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur Foundation programme. Lumina Technologies works in partnership with your organisation to remove the challenges of IT and help you use technology as a business enabler.

Redwood Bank launched in August 2017 with a view to offering a real alternative for small and medium sized organisations looking to make sure that their properties and cash work harder for them.

Barley have joined the Entrepreneur Foundation as a Supporter. Barley Agency MD Andrew Bennett commented: “Now more than ever, we need to back local British businesses; our involvement allows us to utilise our skills and empower young brands to grow. Being part of bright and ambitious businesses is fundamental to our beliefs and helps to support the local business economy”. For more information, please visit: www.barley.agency

Longmores Solicitors

Longmores is a progressive firm of specialist solicitors renowned for its professional yet personal service that has been advising businesses and individuals in Hertfordshire and across the country since 1819. The firm acts for a range of clients including entrepreneurs, SMEs, large corporations and global businesses. The Company Commercial team is led by corporate specialist, Michael Budd, and intellectual property expert, Rina Sond. Their team advise on every stage of your business evolution, from start-up to eventual sale or flotation. Getting your business legally compliant during the early stages can safeguard against any issues in the future. By providing clear, commercially focused and pragmatic advice tailored to your business, they help develop thriving enterprises that create wealth, jobs and long-term prosperity. For more information, please visit: www.longmores.law

IT is an investment that can help you unlock your business goals by streamlining systems, improving efficiency, and increasing revenue. Lumina specialise in IT Strategy for businesses, Cloud Services, IT Managed Services, IT Support and IT Security. For more information, please visit: www.luminatech.co.uk

It offers British businesses simple, transparent loans and savings accounts backed up with tailored service, efficient systems and with the knowledge that money is being invested back into British business and into the communities it is part of. For more information, please visit: www.redwoodbank.co.uk

Moore Kingston Smith

VWV

Moore Kingston Smith is a local accounting and business advisory practice with international reach. Based in London and the South East, with an office in St Albans, the firm supports growing businesses with clear, practical and innovative advice which is tailored to individual needs.

VWV is an award-winning UK law firm with national recognition for their sectorfocused approach. Their 400-strong team located across offices in Watford, London, Bristol and Birmingham, brings a wealth of sector expertise, high-quality legal counsel and professionalism to meet clients’ needs, all delivered with a commercial and friendly approach.

The partners and team work collaboratively with their clients to understand their goals and then to provide support as they grow. Their hands on approach then means that strategies are developed to take up opportunities and to anticipate and deal with issues, freeing up entrepreneurs to truly achieve their goals. Office Partners: Darren Jordan, Silvia Vitiello & Nick Winters For more information, please visit: www.mooreks.co.uk/locations/stalbans- office/

As a corporate ‘Supporter’ of the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur Foundation, VWV look forward to working directly with local entrepreneurs to help develop and sustain their businesses by providing legal training, guidance and support. VWV are also platinum members of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please visit: www.vwv.co.uk

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Data indicates that Hertfordshire is a county with significant strengths in enterprise and entrepreneurship. With 98,000 self-employed residents, the county has the highest proportion of micro businesses (up to nine staff) across all local enterprise partnership (LEP) areas in England and is ranked in the top three for the rate of business start-ups outside of London.

University supports enterprising entrepreneurs By Dr Nigel Culkin Hertfordshire University is going the extra mile to support the next generation of entrepreneurs. As an enterprising and agile institution, renowned for being business-facing, we place the needs of the budding entrepreneur at the heart of everything we do. We’re passionate in our belief that entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial teams create futures that support the growth of our local and national economy. For us, with the right institutional support, they can build the skills and infrastructure that will cement Hertfordshire’s place as an innovation and entrepreneur hotspot of excellence, both within the UK and internationally. Recognised as a University Enterprise Zone and associated custom-built Science Hotel and Enterprise Hub, we provide more than 2,500m2 of life science labs and research equipment for entrepreneurs and local firms, plus 750m2 of floor space dedicated to business incubation.

Our activities create the entrepreneurs of tomorrow as we align our research, innovation and teaching activities to meet the demands of business and society. In addition, we leverage specialist funds through our subsidiary Exemplas, annually engaging with more than 5,000 businesses to power their potential and drive local growth, and contributing in excess of £500 million to UK exports. Many start-ups, particularly digital and hi-tech, have moved away from classic, capital intensive offices towards using co-working spaces underpinned by highspeed web connectivity on an as-needed basis. Through our offering of a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration and collaboration opportunities, we’ve created a community of practice designed to connect these innovative entrepreneurs, who can feed off each other’s ideas and expertise to drive their own ventures forward.

“Through our offering of a unique ecosystem of resources, inspiration and collaboration opportunities, we’ve created a community of practice designed to connect these innovative entrepreneurs, who can feed off each other’s ideas and expertise to drive their own ventures forward.” 8

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As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and straight into our final separation from the EU, entrepreneurs in the UK face tough decisions above the usual challenges of finding new customers and obtaining affordable finance. First, they need to be constantly adapting their products and business models to make sure they are sustainable in today’s climate emergency. Second, Brexit is a huge unknown and it will require speedy footwork to seize the opportunities it will offer. Third, with the pandemic still dominating daily life, they face a level of uncertainty and customer demand pattern changes that is probably similar to, if not greater than, that which occurs during a war or in the aftermath of a natural disaster. That said, entrepreneurs with a focus, tenacity, an eye for a great product or service and ability to excite and delight their customers can still succeed. So, too, can agile entrepreneurs who develop products for today’s business climate. Take Dean Ezekiel, who has launched his business, The Helloface, in our Enterprise Hub incubator. The product is a completely transparent, recyclable and reusable face mask that directly addresses the difficulty that deaf and hard-of-hearing people have in communicating through non-transparent fabric face masks. This issue has also been seen in industries where facial recognition is crucial. On average, studies show that up to 45% of communication is misinterpreted through masked facial expressions. The Helloface provides a solution for those who are feeling isolated due to the lack of communication through fabric face coverings. It also provides a high level of security and comfort to ensure the safety of people in public shared spaces and workplaces. The development of the company was inspired by Dean’s wife, who is partially deaf and relies on lip reading to assist when she may not be able to quite hear the person. It’s an excellent product that allows communication to take place whilst protecting people against the virus. Dean has recently had his company accepted into the Herts Chamber Entrepreneur Foundation. There are countless others who, with our support, have gone on to launch successful businesses and we will continue to assist entrepreneurs as we fight our way through this pandemic. Nigel Culkin, professor of enterprise and entrepreneurial development at the University of Hertfordshire. Author of “Tales of Brexits Past and Present: Understanding the Choices, Threats and Opportunities In Our Separation from the EU.”

HERTFORDSHIRE LEP

Stevenage named High Potential Opportunity zone for Cell and Gene Therapy The Department for International Trade (DIT) has classified Stevenage, Hertfordshire, as a High Potential Opportunity (HPO) zone in recognition of its thriving cell and gene therapy cluster of national and international significance. The successful HPO nomination was made by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and is expected to help attract further overseas investment into the county. Stevenage is at the centre of the largest cluster of cell and gene therapy companies outside of the US. The growing cell and gene therapy campus in Stevenage is delivering over 1,000 jobs and is home to over 45 companies, 13 of which are in the cell and gene therapy space. The campus was awarded Life Science Opportunity Zone status for advanced therapies in 2019 by the Office for Life Sciences. It is jointly anchored by Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, whose occupiers have raised over £1.6bn of investment to date, of which over 65% has been invested into cell and gene therapy companies; and the pioneering Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, which has built its Manufacturing Centre in Stevenage, and which has been instrumental to the growth of the UK’s cell and gene therapy industry. DIT’s High Potential Opportunities programme was launched in 2018 to encourage and accelerate foreign direct investment into the UK’s key growth sectors, in line with Government’s Industrial Strategy. There are currently 17 HPOs

throughout the UK, and an additional 19 HPOs will be developed over the course of Round 2. HPO status denotes specific commercial opportunities to potential overseas investors, which are packaged into a compelling commercial proposition for promotion through DIT’s global network. This can help accelerate the growth of business and industry, boost local job creation and prosperity, and strengthen the UK’s sectorial advantage. Cell and gene therapy is a sector of strategic importance to the UK’s life sciences industry, highlighted by the ‘Global Sales Pitch for Life Sciences’ as a core part of the country’s life sciences ecosystem. Since 2018 the UK has seen £1.7bn invested in the cell and gene therapy sector, a 60% increase in cell and gene therapy manufacturing space, and a 200% increase in industry turnover. The UK is developing further expertise and capacity in cell and gene therapies, with the global market predicted to grow to $6.6bn by 2027. HPO status will enable the existing cell and gene therapy cluster centered around Stevenage to be promoted more effectively on the world stage to bring about fresh opportunities

for growth. Hertfordshire LEP, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst will work closely with DIT over the coming months to help progress opportunities for inward investment. Nitin Dahad, Chair of Hertfordshire LEP’s Enterprise & Innovation Board, said: “We are delighted with the success of our HPO nomination for Stevenage. The HPO underlines the significance of Hertfordshire’s burgeoning advanced therapies cluster to UK plc, as well as its major growth potential. The sheer concentration of cell and gene expertise, R&D and manufacturing capability in Stevenage makes a compelling case for the inward investment needed to catalyse expansion and create high quality local jobs.” Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive Officer at Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult commented: “The UK cell and gene therapy industry is continuing to grow thanks to the strong Government backing and the unique supportive ecosystem that enables companies to develop and therapies to reach patients effectively. With one in four European cell and gene therapy companies already operating

here, and the UK accounting for 12% of the global clinical trials, we are looking forward to this additional recognition providing further opportunities to develop additional capabilities for the UK to maintain its world renowned position.” Sally Ann Forsyth, Chief Executive Officer at Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst commented: “We are delighted that Stevenage is being recognised for its significant contribution to the cell and gene therapy field. The new HPO status ensures we can support the pioneering work of our occupiers and continue to grow as Europe’s cell and gene therapy hub.” Minister for Investment Gerry Grimstone said: “The UK has so much to offer international investors across a variety of key sectors and regions. Our HPO programme looks at some of the sectors and sites across the UK where we see some of the world’s greatest challenges being solved. Inward investment will help the UK build back better while levelling up all parts of the UK. This is just the start of the steps we are taking to increase inward investment and drive economic recovery.”

To learn more, visit www.hertfordshirelep.com

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Source: BBC News, 1st October 2020, Travel Tests UK Stevenage Partner-Clinic (Medix Pharmacy)

COVID-19 PCR TESTING Flying and Returning to Work

Surge in COVID-19 Testing : A surge in demand for coronavirus tests has

led to local shortages, with many people reporting problems securing online bookings and being directed to test sites hundreds of miles from home. Source: BBC News, 16th September 2020 We find out a bit more as to why Health Practitioners, such as Daniel Cheung who recently featured on the BBC News and his in-house clinic and online store, www.traveltests.co.uk has seen increased demand for COVID-19 testing. Why have people come to your clinic or website for private COVID-19 testing? Because the demand is surging for testing as people are gradually returning to work or flying for delayed holidays, which has meant laboratories have seen a surge in testing and tight turnaround times in providing results, especially as some countries require tests to be taken 72 hours from when they are flying. The test kit has to make it back to the lab (many of which are backlogged), wait for the results, and then Fit-to-Fly Certificates have to be issued and signed off with the Lab Results. We have heard of horror stories, where people haven’t been able to make their flights for holidays or miss work commitments due to a delay in testing, which thankfully we haven’t experienced yet (touch wood). Why we have seen a surge in demand is we can proudly say we have one of the highest rates of providing results to our customers/patients.

We have opened our clinic over the weekend to meet this demand, and our laboratory partner work 24/7. We also have a dedicated account manager on top of all our open samples working ‘around the sun’ and work closely with the laboratory to follow up on queries on the hour, every hour! Also, our pricing at www.traveltests.co.uk for our Fit-to-Fly Tests include the certificate, and we’ve listened to our customers who have said others sell the certificate on top of the test.

Do you deal with many ‘Return to Work’ testing scenarios? Yes, we have dealt with small companies who are sending a 8-person creative and camera crew team to the Le Mans Race event to a corporate 250 Person Test Site Set-up, whereby we dispatched an onsite Test Team working closely with Corporate Human Resources (HR), Business Continuity Planning (BCP) to plan the DriveThru Test Site set-up, confirm who would be tested, and plan time slots for each person.

You can purchase test kits directly at www.traveltests.co.uk There is currently Free Shipping on offer using the Promo Code

‘TRAVELTESTSFREE’ 10

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We did this on less than 24 hours’ notice, and we’re satisfied knowing the employer really cares about their staff and got everyone tested before they were allowed to return to site. We’re able to offer tailored solutions and corporate pricing for this service, which can be obtained by contacting support@traveltests.co.uk

You also offer Home-Based test kits; how does that work? Some people prefer to self-swab as they have COVID-19 symptoms, convenience, or too far a distance to attend on-site testing. As we have an exceptionally good relationship with our laboratory partners, we seldom need to refer to agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) as results are usually returned in a timely manner. We also obtain details of when Home-Based Tests Kits were self-returned to our partner-laboratory so we can include them on our hourly follow ups with the lab.

ENVIRONMENT TOP TIPS

The only change is ownership. In addition to tax issues, there may be other reasons which may make a share sale more or less attractive. Selling shares means the seller can walk away on completion as the buyer is taking on the company with all its assets and liabilities.

Michael Budd answers the typical questions that owners have when they are considering selling their business.

Should I sell the shares in my business or the assets?

There are two main ways of buying and selling a business: a sale and purchase of some/all of the assets or business or, if the business is being carried on by a company, a sale and purchase of the shares in that company.

On an asset sale, ownership of the assets is transferred from the seller to the buyer. As regards shares, the assets and liabilities of the business belong to the company.

On a sale of assets, the seller remains liable for all liabilities incurred before the sale. Broadly, the buyer will prefer to purchase assets; the seller will prefer to sell shares.

How should I prepare for the sale?

Before you consider selling, get your business ready for sale. Make sure all documentation relating to each part of the business can be presented to the buyer (and have a confidentiality agreement in place before providing it). Avoid trying to run a business and having to provide information to a buyer and answer their many questions.

Typically, the buyer will ask about the ownership of the business, the products and services it sells and receives; premises; intellectual property rights; customers and suppliers; directors

and senior management; organisational structure; employees; management information and IT systems; and financial records.

What process will the buyer go through to purchase my business?

The buyer will go through a due diligence process by which it and its advisers investigate the business and its assets and liabilities before completing the purchase. Caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) applies. Generally, a seller will not be liable for non-disclosure of information so buyers demand lengthy warranties from the seller concerning the state of the business, its assets and liabilities. If the buyer discovers matters during due diligence that it will not accept it may demand the seller provides it with an indemnity, whereby the seller agrees to reimburse the buyer for any loss which the buyer suffers as a result of the relevant matter.

How will I get the money for the sale?

There are many ways a seller can receive payment. These include a lump sum, instalments,

some money may be retained as security for warranty and indemnity claims and some money may be deferred or be dependent upon the future performance of the company or business. Sometimes, the purchase price is not fixed and the parties agree a provisional figure which is subject to adjustment by reference to a set of accounts prepared as at or around completion. Sometimes the price is based on a value by reference to a multiple of estimated future earnings. Other methods include the parties agreeing a price payable for the target company or business in advance with limited ways in which the sellers can extract value between the date to which the accounts were drawn up and completion. The seller may also receive payment other than in cash, such as shares in the buyer or in loan notes, which are debt securities. Contact Michael Budd to discuss selling your business. 01992 305234 michael.budd@longmores.law

Please note the contents of this article are given for information only and must not be relied upon. Legal advice should always be sought in relation to specific circumstances.

www.longmores.law

01992 300333 enquiries@longmores.law 24 Castle Street Hertford SG14 1HP

INSPIRE

PATRON FOCUS

The global firm with a local presence Bio Products Laboratory (BPL) might be a British company with a truly global outlook, but it is keen to cement its roots in the local community in Hertfordshire.

Headquartered in Elstree, Hertfordshire the company collects plasma from donor communities and processes it safely and effectively to make high-quality products that meet the needs of clinicians, patients and stakeholders. It consists of two operating divisions: BPL Plasma and BPL Therapeutics. The former is responsible for collecting plasma from donors in around 51 centres across the US, making sure that it is of high quality and meets industry regulations and guidelines. The plasma is then shipped to BPL Therapeutics at its manufacturing plant in Elstree, Hertfordshire and fractionated on site. The Elstree site has more than 1,000 employees involved in production, quality control & assurance, engineering, research & development and commercial, marketing, and other support administrative functions, all working as a

INSPIRE

team together. Fractionation is the process that separates the plasma into proteins, which are then purified into therapeutic products that are used to treat patients suffering from immunodeficiencies, various blood disorders or that are in acute care from due to significant blood loss or trauma. Ultimately, the final products are available commercially in the UK, US and many other countries around the world. BPL, which calls Herts its home, is proud of its long heritage, originally as a company under the Department of Health and then as a private enterprise since 2013. It was therefore a logical and valuable step for the company to become a patron of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.

Michael Mensa, President and Chief Financial Officer of BPL, explains: “We are a global company with an ambition to grow by delivering quality products to patients in need. We are investing significantly in our Elstree home base in terms of production capacity, new product research & development as well as development in our people. Nevertheless, we recognised the value of forging more meaningful relationships locally, both with other Hertfordshire businesses and also community based organisations.” “The Chamber were very receptive to the idea of us becoming a patron member and we saw the benefits of finding some common ground with other organisations.

“The Chamber were very receptive to the idea of us becoming a patron member and we saw the benefits of finding some common ground with other organisations.”

For example, there are other organisations like us that are interested in developing a talent pool that can drive forward the life sciences and technology industries for the next generation. From that perspective, it’s useful for us to forge links with universities, colleges and other education providers, particularly as the skills agenda is changing in the current climate. “COVID-19 has also thrown up a lot of important questions about healthcare provision. What sort of provision will we need in the future and how can we better protect ourselves in the face of a pandemic? To that end, making connections with health organisations, politicians and local government agencies are important for BPL; we want to know the views of local constituents and professionals on these issues. “In our short time as a patron so far, the Chamber has been really supportive and quick to respond to our requests. We look forward to building our network of relationships in Hertfordshire over the coming weeks and months.”

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ECONOMY

Brexit Update October 2020 By Trevor Charsley, Senior Market Advisor at AFEX

The UK and EU recommenced talks today with a view to agreeing a deal by mid-November. A Reuter’s report released in mid-October suggests that there is a 60% probability of a deal and 40% of a no-deal. So, is everything great then? Unfortunately not. According to Michael Dougan, Professor of European Law, the deal agreed will be so minimal that there ‘may as well be no deal at all’. Even with a deal, there will be many barriers to trade. On top of these issues, the UK economy is particularly struggling at the moment.

This year it has had the biggest peak to trough GDP drop of any G20 country. The furlough scheme ends October 31st and unemployment is expected to rise sharply. As for paying for Covid and Brexit, the UK already has a debt to GDP ratio of 103.5%. To try and support the economy, the Bank of England is ready to increase QE and possibly even turn interest rates negative.

Dates on the calendar to look out for are; the Bank of England meeting on November 5th, Brexit talks supposed to be agreed by mid-November, EU parliament meets November 23-26 (hopefully to ratify the agreed deal), an EU leaders summit December 10-11 and the final deadline is December 31st, 2020. An IoD survey published on October 19th in the FT showed that 25% of businesses

thought the extension period would be prolonged, while 50% of firms polled said they weren’t ready for Brexit. So, we can only conclude that the UK is set for a period of turmoil for probably 12 months or even longer. A hedging strategy tailored to your business goals and risk appetite can help you better protect your margins. Watch this space! To find out more, please visit www.afex.com or contact Trevor Charsley on +44 (0)207 004 3866 tcharsley@afex.com

Chambers of Commerce challenge PM to meet five business tests for Covid restrictions In a letter to the Prime Minister, British Chambers of Commerce Director General, Dr Adam Marshall, BCC President Baroness Ruby McGregorSmith and Chamber CEOs from across the United Kingdom set five business tests that must be met to limit the impact of Coronavirus restrictions on businesses and jobs and take a long-term approach to tackling the pandemic. The letter from the Accredited Chamber Network - which collectively represents 75,000 firms of all sizes and sectors across the UK employing nearly six million people - comes following a week of increasing, regionally tiered restrictions, with more severe ‘circuit breaker’ restrictions under consideration, as the country battles a second wave of the pandemic. Dr Marshall, Baroness McGregor-Smith and the Chamber Chief Executives challenge the Prime Minister to meet five business tests for current and prospective Coronavirus restrictions:

INSPIRE

1. Are the restrictions evidence-based and targeted effectively? 2. Are the restrictions clear and do businesses have time to prepare? 3. Is support for businesses commensurate with the impact on them? 4. Will the time that the restrictions are in place be used to significantly improve the Test, Trace and Isolate system? 5. Is there a clear process for increasing and decreasing restrictions? The letter reads: “While the recent announcement of an enhanced Job Support Scheme will assist some firms, Chamber members tell us it will not be enough to stave off mass redundancies and business failures.” There is also a clear warning that improving the government’s ailing test and trace system is the only way to get a grip on the virus over the long term and prevent economic paralysis.

The letter reads: “The need for additional restrictions cannot be blamed on a lack of care by hardworking people in businesses across the country. Instead it represents a failure of the Test and Trace system, which must be urgently improved and expanded.” Chambers are clear about the consequences of not meeting the tests. The letter continues: “These tests must be met – to avoid serious damage to business and consumer confidence, and potentially catastrophic economic consequences. We must preserve our economy in the immediacy, while also laying the foundations of future growth. Failure to do so will undermine any broader efforts to ‘level up’ left-behind parts of the UK.” The letter concludes: “The Coronavirus is not going away anytime soon. The government must waste no more time in setting out a clear strategy to keep the economy functioning, while protecting public health over the long term.”

200

EST. 1820

YEARS

OF INSURANCE

NAVIGATING A HARD MARKET Over the coming months you might hear insurers refer to the challenges presented by a ‘hardening market’, but what does that mean and how might that impact your business? Rob Wakelam, Director at Tysers Insurance Brokers is based in Hitchin, he offers guidance and advice to Hertfordshire business owners.

WHAT IS A HARD MARKET? Insurers operate in a cyclical market that runs from ‘soft’ to ‘hard’. Soft markets are characterised by lower premium rates, better levels of coverage, flexibility of terms, more availability and stiffer competition among insurers. All these factors present favourable procurement conditions for business owners. In contrast, in a hard market there is less desire for growth, insurers lose their appetite, competition reduces, premiums increase and terms and conditions of coverage are more restrictive. This environment is challenging to (re)insurers, brokers and business owners alike.

WHAT CAUSES A HARD MARKET? A hard market occurs when positive financial results are difficult to achieve for (re)insurers. Several elements may combine to cause a hardening market including (but not limited to) : Falling investment returns for insurers; £

Insurers paying out more in losses and expenses than they are collecting in premium; Changes in the frequency and severity of insured catastrophes; Regulatory intervention; Increasing reinsurance costs; and An increase in fraud.

HARD MARKET CHARACTERISTICS

Less choice Reduced cover Increasing premiums Reduced premiums Flexibility of cover More choice

SOFT MARKET CHARACTERISTICS

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS? At the start of 2020 it was predicted that the biggest challenge when purchasing or renewing business insurance, would be the increasingly hardening market, as rates were already rising for almost all product lines. It’s currently difficult to anticipate how insurers might now be further financially impacted by the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. What is clear is that the market will continue to harden as we enter 2021 and beyond.

HOW CAN BUSINESSES NAVIGATE A HARD MARKET? The insurance market is set to become more challenging for buyers, it’s therefore important to make the time to review your current arrangements so, start the renewal process early to secure the best value coverage.

There are benefits to utilising the services of a trusted local broker, including premises visits and face-to-face meetings, to inform a detailed knowledge of your business and develop a comprehensive insurer presentation. Tysers has a team of expert brokers based in both their Hitchin and London offices. A well-established broker brings access to a wide variety of markets and product lines, including the specialist Lloyd’s market. Strong market relationships are important in a challenging marketplace. Tysers has been delivering insurance solutions to businesses for more than 200 years and places more than $3bn into insurance markets annually, which provides strong negotiation leverage. Businesses operating in the European Economic Area should select a broker with European passporting rights. Tysers’ Belgium office can help companies looking to place their European risks. A reputable broker will support your risk management programme, ensure adequate coverage and help you select the most appropriate and secure insurers. If you need support through these challenging times, please contact Tysers.

GET IN TOUCH...  +44 (0)333 011 2288  hitchin@tysers.com  Tysers Hitchin 3-4 Park Street, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 9AH

Tysers Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office: 71 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4BS. Registered Company No. 2957627 England.

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS: HERTFORD AND WARE

East Herts businesses meet COVID challenge head on The county of Hertfordshire is a diverse mix of picturesque locations, historical sites, well-known tourist attractions and thriving businesses - a mix that is particularly prevalent in the east of the county. Hertford itself is a historic market town steeped in history, art, culture, nature, gastronomy and much more besides. It’s characterised by quirky independent shops, a famous museum, pubs, restaurants and stunning riverside walks. Ware, too, has a famous history; archaeologist Robert Kiln, in his book The Dawn of History in East Herts, labelled the town as one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Western Europe, with excavations on the GlaxoSmithKline site near Ware Lock revealing settlements going back to the Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age of some 5,000-10,000 years ago. Both Ware and Hertford are ideally located just a short commute to London, which benefits the many businesses that are based in these two areas of the county. Clare Stead is one businesswoman who sees the commercial advantages of being based there. Clare, who runs Ware-based education technology firm Oliiki, says: “The beauty of this type of business is that we can work from anywhere. Being based in Ware has so many advantages. We’re surrounded by beautiful countryside which we can get out in, but we’re also able to hop on a train

and be in London in no time and have great links to the rest of the country.” Oliiki has designed an app to help parents find the learning in everyday play to help their bump or baby reach their full potential. The app gives parents a daily activity to do with their bump or baby. It tells them what to do, how to do it and how what they’re doing relates to future life learning. It also explains the research behind the learning. Clare says: “COVID-19 put on hold conversations we were having with early years providers and those supporting parents-to-be and new parents. We started having conversations online with businesses that worked in the parent-to-be sector and focused not only on building business relationships, but also building connections by using social media. “I’m so excited to share the Oliiki programme delivered via an app with other businesses. It’s such a product for good, which is possibly why we came second in the Lord Lieutenant’s very first enterprise challenge and also took the people’s award in 2019! Helping parents to build their baby a strong brain and at the same time build their parenting confidence, impacts not only parents and their children but also the wider community. “Partnering with larger businesses to make a positive impact in the community is so exciting and something we actively seek at Oliiki. Together we’re stronger. Together we can make impact. Together we can give the next generation an amazing start in life.”

Clare Stead, Oliiki Clare has also recently been accepted into the Herts Chamber of Commerce’s Entrepreneur Foundation’

INSPIRE

Also hoping to make a positive impact is Pendragon Consultancy, a consultancy providing expert advice to agencies and end clients on contractor engagement, employment and off-payroll legislation. Janet De-Havilland, CEO of Pendragon Consultancy, says: “There are many advantages to being based in the attractive location of Ware. Mainly, it’s easily accessible for the staff, and the rest of Hertfordshire, which is home to many major corporates such as Tesco, Pitney Bowes, Computacenter and The National Lottery so we’re in great company. “COVID has had a devasting impact across the globe and is continuing to wreak havoc on the economy. In these unprecedented times it’s hard to stay calm and continue to remain optimistic, but that’s exactly what Pendragon has done. We decided to create a new service offering during the lockdown which was officially launched a month ago. We work in an everchanging sector where legislation heavily impacts all we do, and whilst consulting with clients they asked us to create a solution to help them with the forthcoming changes to IR35 in the private sector next April. “Taking proactive steps and using innovation has enabled us to start to secure our position and recover faster once it subsides. All of the normal business challenges have been exacerbated by this crisis, so as a

“Partnering with larger businesses to make a positive impact in the community is so exciting and something we actively seek at Oliiki. Together we’re stronger. Together we can make impact. Together we can give the next generation an amazing start in life.”

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS: HERTFORD AND WARE

business leader and owner, it is for me to figure out how to adapt and re-position our services to be able to help address the pain points that our clients are now confronting in the new normal. “With our solutions and consultancy work, we’re able to help businesses in all sectors by providing them with an outsourcing option, to engage and employ any flexible workers to rebuild their business. We’re being approached by many organisations who cannot at this time hire permanent staff but want to take on a contractor, freelancer or temp. By employing that worker on their behalf, we reduce the administrative burden, deal with liabilities and provide HR support - and there’s no fixed term. This has also worked well for clients looking to take on workers on a trial period and then if that works out, hiring them for no additional fee.” Attwaters law firm is also woven into the fabric of the east Hertfordshire business community. Joyti Henchie, a consultant at the firm, says: “Being in Hertford means that we can service both individuals and businesses alike. Our location on Fore Street gives us a great presence in a vibrant busy town and our reputation over the decades means that we’ve been able to work well with other businesses in the area.” As with most businesses, Attwaters has had to adapt to the current challenging trading conditions. Joyti says: “Initially we all adapted well to working from home and the service level provided to clients was good. Now that our Hertford office is open, we continue to build on this and have seen a recovery in all sectors, especially residential property which was the hardest hit. “The legal landscape is forever changing and the way that people want to access legal services is evolving. We need to ensure that we remain prominent in a competitive market. For this reason, having a presence and reputation in a town like Hertford is extremely important to us as it allows us to continue to service our local community. “What the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us is that a lot of our work can be undertaken remotely. By offering meetings through calls or video calling platforms and progressing matters electronically, we’ve demonstrated that we can make legal services far more accessible to those who don’t live in the locality of one of our offices. This allows us to promote our specialist services to audiences spread across a wider geographical area.”

“Initially we all adapted well to working from home and the service level provided to clients was good. Now that our Hertford office is open, we continue to build on this and have seen a recovery in all sectors.” Clearly, the COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped many Hertfordshire firms from getting on with business. Accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy, which has worked closely with local businesses and the local community for several years, has been busy completing a rebrand exercise and now trades as Azets.

Azets, Hertford office

Adam Anstey, Branch Managing Partner at Azets, says: “This is a great step forward for our business and our people, allowing us to better serve our clients, utilising our local knowledge and national team of experts. The Hertford office will continue to deliver the same quality of service, from the same people, as it has done previously. “There are three main challenges facing the accountancy profession going forward; artificial intelligence (AI), automation and cybersecurity. In turn, these challenges mean we have to develop new skills within our workforce, although we’re well placed to face them and to develop the services we provide to our clients. For example, we have staff that specialise in providing advice on various software packages and others who provide cybersecurity advice. “As an international brand that’s technology driven, Azets will continue to improve services provided to clients and enable them to benefit from accounting automation by making the process more efficient. This will ultimately save our clients time so they can focus instead on non-repetitive, strategic tasks to enable them to develop their businesses. This will not only give us the opportunity to develop our own business but also enable us to assist our clients to do the same.”

We’ve also built new relationships and onboarded new clients from further afield as we moved our business 100% online, a move that has enabled us to support clients from locations we previously wouldn’t have considered. Employers wanting to support their employees throughout the period of lockdown, and the challenges that employees have faced, has been front of mind for both new and existing clients, so coaching support on wellbeing/ lifestyle, leadership and business support has been even more important and high on the agenda. “We can see many benefits to developing our business. On the health and wellbeing side of the business, opportunities to support a wider audience through company talks and workshops have been really popular and continue to be so; enabling the wider workforce to access information, practical tips and support on a range of topics means that there’s something for everyone, wherever they’re based. On coaching front, all of our services remain online and our clients indicate that they want that to continue for the foreseeable future. We’ve found a rise in SME clients wanting a more one-to-one, personalised support for employees, which has seen growth for us in this business area. “For us, the main advantage is Ware’s location and ease of access to locations such as Cambridge, Essex and London. Prior to lockdown, travelling to see clients was easy due to train lines and access to the M25 and other motorway routes. For local meetings and networking, Ware is good for places to meet – from local coffee shops/ restaurants to more formal settings such as Hanbury Manor. As a business that operates from home, having this on our doorstep is really useful.”

Developing business has been difficult for most companies during the last few months but Shurety Coaching has seen demand for its services skyrocket. Co-founder Joanna Shurety says: “We have thrived during lockdown. As a coaching business we’ve found that existing clients need our support – even more so with the constant changes to working life and work/life balance.

Joanna and Danny Shurety, Shurety Coaching

INSPIRE

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Waste management for all businesses The carbon set for fundamental benefi t hidden change in Businesses will be required to make changes in the management of their waste materials when the UK Government’s new Resources & Waste Strategy (RWS)i is implemented from 2023.

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When fully implemented the RWS will usher in fundamental changes to how waste management services are provided across UK with implications for all to Hertfordshire businesses as well Why is this relevant your business? For a business wanting to the reduce There are lots of ways you can as forcarbon households. Nowtextiles is the time to startWe planning these changes in your business. their footprint, may might befor familiar with greener products reduce your organisation’s waste. and services – but looking inwards to the seem an odd place to focus. We Our top tips are: resources used is another angle to consider. generally hear about the three big AND all companies providing waste collection What does this mean for your Changing to more environmentally-friendly areas that affect climate change services for business will be required to collect 1. For events, consider a magnetic business? business practices will save you money the same core-set of recyclables from both and – energy, transport and food. / pin badge or lanyard rather than 1) If any of the wastes provide a stronger selling proposition when households and from businesses. branded goods, as these are However, the textiles industry noted above are pitching your goods and services to your easier to replace if a name/ logo The core-set currently includes: is responsible for 10% of global generated at your target audience. changes. business premises, • glass bottles and containers – including carbon emissions. This means the whether in the office, drinks bottles, condiment bottles, jars 2. Buy work related apparel from ethical / clothes that we buy contributes to Why become more sustainable? Research onsustainable the shop floor, in the brands. The premium • paper and card – including newspaper, shows that once consumers want to be climate change more than air and retail or in means the paidspace often also better quality, cardboard packaging, writing paper associated with environmental or ethical sea travel combined. canteen, talkingand to you need to so they start last longer A recent surveyclear conducted • products. plastic bottles – including drinks by containers, (milkofcontainers), AYTM foundHDPE that 71% millennials are more detergent, shampoo and cleaning products likely to support an environmentally-friendly Likewise, • business. plastic pots tubs and86% traysof customers say to shop attins businesses • they steelprefer and aluminium and cans that recycle, 74% prefer companies that limit the use of • food wastes pollutants and unnecessary chemicals and This of items will be subject to that periodic 67%core-set of shoppers prefer companies review by renewable Government. Processes will be put in support energy. place to manage changes on a national basis linking otherevidence RWS-related Thereinto is also that requirements many consumers such as the need to amend package labelling want guidance on how their individual so that whether an item can be recycled or not can make a difference. isactions correctly andhelp clearly displayed on the Businesses well-placed packaging in aare standard format.to help raise consumer awareness and understanding This drive for consistency is part of a trio of and, more importantly, change the way they measures designed to increase the UK’s consume. For example, did you know that recycling rate to 65% recycling by 2035 every year, Hertfordshire residents throw (currently 43.5%). In future issues we will over 7000 tonnes of textiles their rubbish discuss the new national depositinto return bins, when theyfor could have been reused, scheme proposal packaged beverages as repaired recycled. of extended producer well as theor introduction responsibility which will see manufacturers Here at WasteAware, textiles and producers funding thekeeping ‘full net costs’ of dealing and we disposal of out thewith binthe is arecycling campaign are actively post-consumer championing.packaging. It is a three-pronged

your management buywaste less. Ethical Consumer has a service provider now measure up. list of how suppliers about how they intend to Reuse: update the services they to collect reducing these the clothing footprint 3.provide For businesses, items have not could, ifbethey as simple as washing and reusing done so already. uniforms after someone has left. Did you know that extending the average lifespan of packaging 2) If you sell beverages or manufacture clothes byyou justalso 3 months materials, need of to active checkuse with your would lead to a 5-10% reduction in trade association whether your business will carbon, waste and water footprints! have obligations under the deposit return scheme and under extended producer Packaging Producers for facilitating 4.responsibility. Consider hosting a clothes swap for staff (or the has recovery packaging materials What beenof found is a shocking amount clients). It is a fun way to extend the life of clothing 3) Extended producer responsibility mayperson see new for recycling or waste for disposal - Extended by swapping with others. The average only of emissions and from both the service supported bytheir manufacturers Producerand Responsibility wears models two thirds of what’s in production disposal stage. Fast fashion and producers that retain ownership of wardrobe. WasteAware can offer you In strategy, the disposable, Government with is shaping makingthe clothing more packaging materials they move consulted local authorities, companies, rails and hangers foras free to get youfrom cheaper prices and less waste durable garments, pre-consumer to post-consumer business academic institutions started. Fashion Revolution Weekphases. is meant toorganisations, last out the season rather than How could andit the production and professional bodies from February to May 20-26 Aprilyour 2020.procurement Join in to make years. This accelerates carbon emissions, processes alter to accommodate this? 2019. A second and final round of consultations, largest swap in history. For details contact causes by increased global warmingisand delayed the COVID19 pandemic, now sees The recent partnership between Tesco and Loop WasteAware@hertfordshire.gov.uk more textile waste in landfi lls.2021 with a scheduled to take place in early (https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/zone/ 5. Use a guppy bagwhere when the washing view to changes commencing from 2023. loop) is one example old status quo The fashion industry is now taking steps to catch microfi bers shed duringand dispose of linear extract, produce, consume Consistency to move towards a more ethical and thethat process and stop sustainable them models are no longer or relevant As a resident you may havesupply noticedchain differences environmentally friendly is shifting to a the circular economic approach. entering watercourse. in theproduction recycling arrangements between councils approach which you can easily adopt in and methods, but it won’t Whilst the Government will specify the core set in Hertfordshire and indeed across the country. Recycle: your business and at home: change overnight. We need to play our of waste materials to collect, the choice of Some areas collect one thing, some areas 6. When you aremethods ready towill part a garment, part inanother changing consumption specific collection bewith down collect withthe binsuse andand boxes of varying • Preventing the purchase of new clothes see if you can donate it to a of clothing too. WRAP (the Waste and to individual service providers to decide in colours and collection frequencies. (reduce) charity rather than send it to The near consultation with you, their clients. Resources Action Programme) estimates The intention is for waste and recycling Forsignificant those thatchanges can’t beto the number mayll.see that in thetoUK alone,more we consume • Keeping clothing in active use for longer futurelandfi collections become streamlinedaround for used again byofyou, lookproviders into and sophistication service entering 1.7m tonnes of textiles annually, and of (reuse) businesses as well as households. http://www.uniformreuse.co.uk/ the ‘waste market’ with a refreshing and much this more than tonnes are sent to Indeed, under the600,000 Government’s Consistency needed circular economy approach. • Recycling unwearable textiles (recycle) proposals, 2023, all local authorities landfill or from incinerated. #RememberYourReusables: Remember, any small effort against the fast #RememberYourReusables: fashion trends makes a positive impact on the https://www.rapidformations.co.uk/blog/how-can-your-business-reduce-its-carbon-footprint/ wasteaware.org.uk/reusables #RememberYourReusables: environment! For more see wasteaware.org.uk/reusables https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2018/the-carbon-footprint-of-getting-dressed www.wasteaware.org.uk/textiles https://www.trustedclothes.com/blog/2016/02/23/fast-fashion-and-your-carbon-footprin/ wasteaware.org.uk/reusables WasteAwarePartnership #RememberYourReusables:

From growing and harvesting the raw material, to how they’re made, to crossing the world to get from factory to store, to the impact of washing them and how they’re The RWS has threeitem key of elements: disposed of, each clothing produced • hasConsistency in household and business a lifecycle carbon impact across the recycling collections in England whole of a product’s life (the ‘cradle to grave’ This isameasured using kilograms • impact). Introducing Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Irelanda of CO2 eq (or carbon dioxide equivalent), unit the for measuring carbon footprints. • standard Extending responsibility of UK

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Keep in touch

Sign up to our monthly e-bulletin https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/updateme/ WasteAwarePartnership #RememberYourReusables: wasteaware.org.uk/reusables HertsWasteAware #HertsWasteAware: #RememberYourReusables: HertsWasteAware WasteAwarePartnership wasteaware.org.uk/reusables WasteAwarePartnership @HertsWasteAware www.wasteaware.org.uk HertsWasteAware wasteaware.org.uk/reusables HertsWasteAware HertsWasteAware WasteAwarePartnership See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/resources-and-waste-strategy-for-england/resources-and-waste-strategy-at-a-glance HertsWasteAware HertsWasteAware WasteAwarePartnership

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MEMBERS NEWS

These are New book aids readers to create uncharted times. a mind shift, a profound change in Let’s navigate the volatility together the way they think and behave Are you able to manage your FX risk through COVID and Brexit?

Keith Timewell announces the release of

‘Power of Me: Discover the Future’

The global economy is in a very different place to where we started in 2020. The unprecedented COVID crisis has brought on a wave of uncertainty and businesses are attempting to navigate these volatile and ever-changing environments. Foreign exchange (FX) poses a risk to any business with an international trade exposure, the question is how does your business manage this risk (through hedging or by other means)? A key question to answer and understand is “what is the purpose of business hedging” and could now be the time to re-assess some previously held currency views/policies? The objective of hedging is to achieve certainty which can ultimately protect a positive target margin. Given the global climate this year, this could be beneficial to businesses on two levels: many businesses have experienced changes to the way they operate but also many currencies have been volatile. The hedging facilities available should be flexible and bespoke to your business needs. These could include FX Forwards, Layering Strategies as well as a Portfolio Approach. We appreciate that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to protection from currency market risk which is why we offer a complimentary FX review of your current process to offer a fresh perspective and to highlight any potential opportunities for increased FX efficiencies which includes strategy ideation, FX volatility assessment, credit terms to ensure efficiency for cashflow and FX pricing comparison. Whether your FX exposure has changed due to COVID, or if currency fluctuations impact on your profitability, you might achieve a competitive advantage through a focussed approach to FX hedging. Speak to us to find out how we can help you pilot your business through choppy waters. Read more: www.iifx.co.uk/fx-hedging Phone David O’Neill on : +44 (0) 203 384 7280 Email: david.oneill@iifx.co.uk Web: www.iifx.co.uk

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This book is designed to aid readers to create a mindshift, a profound change in the way they think and behavior. It is an interactive reading experience and uses the personal touch sheets at the end of each chapter to make a personal commitment to end unwanted behaviors and habits and develop new, positive ways in thinking positive thought.

Over the 10 chapters of this book, readers will create a bespoke guide to help them navigate their journey to a new, improved version of themselves and positively change in their behavior, attitude and thinking. Each chapter shares Keith’s experiences while providing strength and hope, by applying a unique formula designed to monitor one’s growth in the 3 circles for life. “In today’s society, we are so busy that we forget to stop and concentrate on what’s important in our lives, like family and friends. This book is trying to get you to stop and think about

Go green, support a local charity and celebrate the festive season

yourself and how to change your life for the better,” Keith says. “It’s a book that offers help rather than mandating change. It has pages that you can fill in that are relevant to your own life.” When asked what he wants readers to take away from his writing of the book, Timewell replies, “This book is only a tool, but when you combine it with your own commitment to update and improve your state of mind, and let go of old practices that may have stopped working, this will make your world a better place. Start living in HOPE now. Take back control of your own life by finding the ‘power of you.’

Seasons Greetings Merry Christmas and best wishes for a happy New Year In lieu of cards, a donation has been made to help local people facing poverty and other social issues.

Registered charity No. 1156082

This year local charity Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF) is raising funds through the sale of corporate e-Christmas cards.

With many of us working remotely and keen to reduce our carbon foot print, why not go paperless and support local people in need. Every penny raised will go towards helping some of Hertfordshire’s most vulnerable residents including those facing food and

fuel poverty.For a minimum corporate donation of £250 HCF will offer you a choice of e-card designs which can be personalised to include your company logo and name. One of the seasonal designs is shown above and more designs will follow.

To place your order and for further enquiries contact marketing@herstcf.org.uk or visit www.hertscf.org.uk/christmas

Charity no: 1156082

EVERYTHING UNDER ONE ROOF!

£10 VOUCHER TO SPEND ONLINE, WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR MEMBERSHIP†

Costco Wholesale is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing our members quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices. The annual membership fee for Standard Trade Membership* is £22 ex VAT (£26.40 inc VAT). The annual membership fee for Standard Individual Membership* is £28 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT).

PREVIEW OUR WAREHOUSE TODAY!∆ Costco Stevenage, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, SG1 2FW

T: 01438 907 580 E: marketing129@costco.co.uk www.costco.co.uk

† Sign up for membership with this advert at our Stevenage Warehouse and receive a £10 voucher to spend online at www.costco.co.uk. New members only. Offer valid until 31/12/2020. * Membership Criteria applies. Please visit www.costco.co.uk/membership for details. Membership must be obtained before purchases can be made. ∆ Qualifying ID required to preview. JN26338

Now accepting Mastercard, American Express and Visa credit cards as well as cash, debit card or cheque.

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CHAMBER EVENTS

Upcoming Webinars The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce have organised a series of Webinar Events in these challenging times in order to continue supporting our members and non-members, and to provide vital information that businesses may need. With our members and benefit partners we have designed the programme to cover a variety of topics:

Incoterms 2020: Training Webinar Date: 06/11/20 Time: 10:00 – 16:00 Price: Members £300.00 Non-Members £420.00 Once again we are delighted to have our resident exporting and importing guru, Alan Bracken, ABTS Training, back to talk about Incoterms 2020 that had an implementation date of January 2020.

The eleven Incoterms 2020 explain the buyer and sellers obligations under; • Place of delivery • Division of cost • Where the risk passes from seller to buyer • A new term of delivery DAP is introduced to take the place of DAT • Marine Insurance is now split between Institute clause A and B under CIF and CIP

Personal Leadership Styles: Online Masterclass Date: 10/11/20 Time: 11:00 – 12:00 Price: Members £37.50 Non-Members £47.50 The Hertfordshire Chamber have moved our events online where possible in accordance with government guidelines. Therefore, this Masterclass will now be hosted virtually as a webinar, on 10th November at 10am. In this CPD accredited Masterclass, our trainer, Sarah Jones of Sarah-J Coaching, will enable to you to discover your personal leadership style and what this means for:

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• How you communicate • What tasks and activities best suit your own style • How you work with others • How you react under pressure You will learn how to adapt your style to work more effectively with other people. This will give you an insight into how to best lead a team, and develop your own career path. You will also discover the key differences between leadership and management and what kind of leader you are likely to be, according to your personal working style.

Sarah will combine her extensive corporate experience as a former Global Communications Director, working to Board level, and her years of coaching teams and individuals to improve their performance and results at work. Sarah will be using elements of DiSC® profiling – a behaviour assessment tool.

Incoterms 2020 is in an easy to read format and for the first time Incoterms identifies the sellers and buyers costs in detail. Make sure you have a clear understanding of Incoterms 2020. The webinar will also include a copy of the Incoterms 2020 that normally retail at £45

CHAMBER EVENTS

For more information on any event:

01707 502180

bookings@hertschamber.com or www.hertschamber.com

Countdown to Change:

50 Days to go Date: 11/11/20 Time: 10:00 – 11:00 Price: Members FREE Non-Members £15.00

The third of four topical and interactive webinars, designed to count down to the end of the EU Transition period. Webinar 3: 50 days to go

These webinars will be full of practical information and advice on what businesses need to do now in order to be prepared for the changes on 1 January 2021. They will also guide businesses through the jargon and complexities of Customs processes to ensure they understand what change is required.

Hosted by Customs expert Liam Smyth, these highly relevant and engaging webinars will guide businesses through the complexity of change in our import and export processes, systems and controls from 1st January 2020. The final webinar will be taking place on: Webinar 4: 30 days to go – 01/12/20

Showcasing Apprenticeships Webinar Apprenticeships will be instrumental, not only for developing the skills that our economy will need for the recovery of the business sector, but also in promoting social mobility. Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be partnering with the Deputy Lieutenant for Hertfordshire, Stelio Stefanou OBE, DL, a champion of apprenticeships, to bring you this online event, designed to showcase their importance and inspire greater numbers to participate. This webinar will highlight stories from those who have started their careers as apprentices and succeeded in breaking through the glass ceiling, exceeding all expectations. It will also include a panel session with apprentices, education & training providers and employers, who will discuss the importance of ongoing support and expansion of apprenticeships across all business sectors.

Our keynote speaker, Russell Gould, started his working life with an apprenticeship in Electronic Engineering and is now Managing Director of HENSOLDT UK (formerly Kelvin Hughes), a role he has held for 13 years.

Date: 12/11/20 Time: 11:00-12:00 Price: FREE

He led an MBO from Smiths Group PLC in 2007, and he has seen the company develop into a shining example of British engineering excellence, with a significant global installed base. HENSOLDT UK designs and manufactures radar-based surveillance and security solutions.

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CHAMBER EVENTS

Upcoming Webinars Virtual Networking Opportunity The next Webinar Event of the series that Herts Chamber have organised, is a pure networking event in order to continue supporting our members and nonmembers in these challenging times. Join us and enjoy the powers of networking, providing the chance to meet with up to 50 different business people in an informal atmosphere, to listen and share experiences whilst working remotely. Each participant will be given the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business.

Date: 18/11/20 N.B. Any non-member attending this meeting who subsequently signs up for Chamber membership within one week (i.e. by 25/11/20) will receive a full refund of the cost of attending this webinar.

Time: 11:00 – 12:00 Price: Members FREE Non-Members £18.00

Simple COVID Solutions – Remote Support Technology

The answer companies are looking for in the face of a second wave of coronavirus.

FIVE Benefits of using remote support technology

1 Allows companies to comply efficiently with social distance regulations 2 Reduces the impact on the environment 3 Cuts company costs 4 Benefits general health of staff 5 Increased productivity by reducing travel time 26

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Date: 26/11/20 Time: 10:00 – 10:45 Price: FREE Join us with PLM Cental and their partner company PTC for a webinar on 26th November. During which they will be discussing a software transferable to any business in the products and services industry.

Examples of some of the clients who currently use this software include M&S, Toyota, Triumph and many more. PLM Central want to make the next generation of software solutions accessible to everyone, so that every company gets an equal opportunity during this unusual time to continue to grow and expand their company through new technologies.

CHAMBER EVENTS

For more information on any event:

01707 502180

bookings@hertschamber.com or www.hertschamber.com

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce AGM Date: 01/12/20 Time: 11:30-12:00 Price: Members FREE

The Hertfordshire Chamber have moved our events online where possible in accordance with government guidelines. Therefore, this years AGM will now be held online, on 1st December at 11:30am. Please note this is a member only event and we ask that you book your place if you wish to attend.

Christmas Networking Opportunity Date: 09/12/20 Time: 11:00-12:00 Price: Members FREE Non-Members ÂŁ18.00 In place of our ever-popular Christmas Chamber Lunch, we are holding a Christmas Virtual Networking Opportunity.

Each participant will be given the opportunity to introduce themselves and their business. N.B. Any non-member attending this meeting who subsequently signs up for Chamber membership within one week (i.e. by 16/12/20) will receive a full refund of the cost of attending this webinar.

A purely networking event designed to support our members and nonmembers in these challenging times, and to add a bit of festive fun to our diaries! Join us and enjoy the powers of networking, meet with other likeminded business people in an informal atmosphere, to listen and share experiences whilst working remotely.

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SECTOR SPECIFIC SUMMITS

Sector Summits

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce held their first Creative Industries Summit on 17th September, designed to celebrate the amazing talent that we have in Hertfordshire and to showcase some of the innovative, locally-based companies which support our county.

At this virtual event we heard from keynote speakers Roger Morris, Managing Director, Elstree Studios and Sarah Roots, Executive Vice President Worldwide Tours and Retail, Warner Bros. We had a fascinating outline from Roger Morris of some of the amazing work produced at Elstree Studios; including films such as The Kings Speech, Paddington and The Danish Girl, plus TV series Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice and Britain’s got Talent. Top drama currently at Elstree is the Netflix series The Crown. In addition, Sarah Roots gave us an enchanting insight to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, which opened in March 2012.

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Now into its eighth year, the Studio Tour has been a phenomenal success with ticket sellouts and over 14 million visitors. These presentations were followed by an interactive panel session, which discussed the key issues that the Creative Sector has faced, in particular those introduced by COVID-19 in the last six months, and how different companies have responded to the pandemic to ensure that staff can continue to work safely and that business can continue or be diverted into new ways of working. In addition to the keynote speakers, panellists were: • Denise Austin and Simon Mercer, Directors, Pearldrop Video Production • David Conway, Chief Financial and Operations Officer, ITN • Nic Cornwall, Owner and Director, Little Big Fish Films • John Darin, Content Controller, Communicorp UK

• Andrew Elia, Managing Director, Arishi • Stephen Littman, Programme Leader, Digital Media Design, University of Hertfordshire • Ross Whear, Head of Planning and Economic Development, Hertsmere Borough Council Chief Executive at Herts Chamber, Briege Leahy, commented: “This Creative Industries Summit is one in a series of events Herts Chamber are holding, designed to focus on key industries within Hertfordshire and provide a platform for sharing information, ideas and latest thinking. “The Summit highlighted the fascinating world of film, media and digital technology that takes place on our doorstep – much of which we may not have been aware of, but which helps support the local economy and provides a platform for some of the best creative talent in the country.”

SECTOR SPECIFIC SUMMITS

Coming Up Supply Chain Summit

Date: 11/02/2021

Supply Chains are critical to the success of an organisation and both manufacturing and service industries are heavily reliant on their supply chains to ensure their businesses function smoothly and remain profitable.

Price: Members £25.00 Non Members £35.00

Time: 10:00-11:30

At this Summit we will hear two keynote presentations from our partners for the event, for whom supply chains play a vital role:

Cheshunt Lakeside: Inland Homes Flagship Development and opportunities for local suppliers Mike Butler, Senior Project Manager, Inland Homes  This presentation will provide an overview of Inland Homes’ Cheshunt Lakeside scheme and the opportunities available to local businesses to be involved in the supply chain for the first phase of construction, due to commence Autumn 2020.

Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter The County’s Enterprise Zone Cherie Norris, Enterprise Zone Manager, Herts IQ Hertfordshire IQ is leading the development of 3 million sqft of new commercial space over 10 years in Hemel Hempstead, alongside the creation of 11,000 new homes in Hemel Garden Communities. Not only will this ambitious and game changing development transform the area and create 10,000 new jobs, it will also provide space for Hertfordshire growth companies in the construction supply chain to cluster around market leaders and built environment experts BRE Group.

These presentations will be followed by an interactive panel session, in which these subjects and the broader topic of Supply Chains will be discussed in more depth. In addition to the above keynote speakers, panellists include: • Matt Clark, Partnership Co-Ordinator, Serco • Katrina Dougherty, Vice Principal Enterprise and Innovation, Hertford Regional College • Cllr Lewis Cocking, Leader, Broxbourne Borough Council • Khaled Dewan, Head of Sales and Services, My Energy Consultants • Ana Duta, Team Leader, Customer Services and Export, Bowman Ingredients

Members! Don’t forget you can use an Event Voucher to attend this event.

To check if you have any remaining please contact bookings@hertschamber.com

ICT and AI Summit

Date: 18/03/2021

This is the sixth event in a series of new online Summits that Herts Chamber have created, designed to focus on key industries within Hertfordshire and provide a platform for sharing information, ideas and latest thinking.

Price: Members £25.00 Non Members £35.00

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to fundamentally shift the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry as technologies such as Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Deep Learning, and others

dramatically enhance the performance of communications, apps, content, and digital commerce. At this Summit we will hear from two keynote speakers on the development of AI and how this is effecting the ICT industry.

Time: 10:00-11:30

These presentations will be followed by a choice of two interactive panel sessions for you to select from, in which these and further topics will be discussed. The keynote presenters and panellists for this event will be announced shortly.

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MENTAL WELLBEING

BEATING BURNOUT Optima-Life Launches New Programme for Leaders and Managers Programme designed to support leadership in times of change.

Hertfordshire based training provider Optima-life, has launched a new online programme specifically designed to beat burnout among leaders and managers. At a time when COVID-19 has created so many new changes and challenges, Optima-life has specifically created Beating Burnout to help build resilience, enable energy and create a greater sense of balance among leaders and managers. The programme has been devised to support life both at work and at home. Beating Burnout utilises Optima-life’s key methodology of Measure (to personalise), Analyse (to understand),

Inspire (to build confidence) and Nurture (to create habits), also known as MAINframe. Information on the individual is gathered from the outset. Firstly, an energy and performance profiler provides subjective information on how they think, work, recover, eat and exercise. This is complemented by a 72 hour analysis of heart rate data, that provides an objective insight into the demands of day-to-day life. The data, analysis and initial conversation provide the insight to create a programme that is personalised and realistic. Clients will receive regular coaching sessions over the ensuing three months to ensure that progress is made.

At the end of the twelve weeks, a follow-up lifestyle assessment will review progress and additional ongoing support is offered through Optima-life’s app and online portal called The Festival of Us. Simon Shepard, CEO of Optima-life, said: “To some extent the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged everyone in some shape or form – times have and are likely to be tough. The demands of changes to both our working, home and social lives have put significant strain on many and I have spoken to an increasing number of people who feel they are on the verge of burnout. Beating Burnout is designed for these people

and is intended to support leaders and managers who are being relied upon to deliver high levels of performance during these unprecedented times. I hope that we can help leaders to stay energised and balanced, and help organisations reduce rates of absence and attrition.” Established in 2007, Optimalife is a training company which combines expert knowledge and data, to deliver greater balance to individuals, energy to teams and resilience to organisations. Clients include both public and private sector organisations. For more information on Optima-life visit www.optima-life.com

Visit the hub of mental health and wellbeing support in East Herts Mental health and coping with bereavement are among the online courses on offer through Healthy Hub East Herts. The newly launched hub, which offers support for different health and wellbeing needs in East Herts, also has details of sessions on being job smart and healthy eating as well as lots more topics.

Afternoon or evening sessions are available which can help you with health and wellbeing, learning new skills or coping with new experiences. Eric Buckmaster, executive member for wellbeing, said: “The Healthy Hub East Herts

is your go-to site for sessions to guide you to better health as you deal with a range of challenging life situations. “It will be regularly updated with new sessions and topics so if you need support in an area of your life, keep an eye on the website.”

For more information on these sessions go to www.eastherts.gov.uk/community-wellbeing/healthy-hub-east-herts 30

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Mental Health and Wellbeing support for you and your workforce

MENTAL WELLBEING

An important webinar coming at an important time. The whole business community has been turned upside down as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Employers and employees continue to go through great uncertainty, both economically and personally. Many will have been working from home during the past few months and coming to terms with an altered way of operating in the future. As well as the stresses and strains of work, there are also many other factors that have been exacerbated within relationships and families as a result of the impact of Covid-19.

It’s likely that more people than ever before in the UK will need help with their mental health and wellbeing. This webinar will look at how you and your employees can be supported with mental health and wellbeing issues. As part of your people tool kit, this event gives you the opportunity to learn more about resources and expertise that already exist within the Hertfordshire voluntary & community sector. Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF) has its finger

on the pulse and is connected to a network of expert charities and community organisations with a remit to help local people. HCF will introduce you to some of these organisations in this webinar so that you are better informed and prepared to help yourself and your colleagues.

Recovery and resilience will not be possible without looking after your key resources: yourself and your people. So, come and meet HCF and some of the vital organisations within your community, that are here and equipped to support you.

There are two dates to choose from: • Wednesday 11th November, 11.15am - 12.30pm • Wednesday 9th December, 11.00am - 12.15pm

SME Wellbeing and Resilience Programme Concerns over the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and wellbeing in the community are widely expressed. A new programme of support from Hertfordshire Growth Hub, in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, aims to promote and support the wellbeing and mental health of employers and business owners as a vital way to improve resilience and increase productivity. As the central point of access for business support in the county, Hertfordshire Growth Hub, powered by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, has been assisting businesses during the pandemic to navigate and access the emergency Government business support provisions and, as these temporary schemes draw to a close, employers will continue to face concerns over their workforce and cashflow.

The Working Environment

The way we work has changed significantly for many businesses over the past six months. Employers, business owners and their workforce may still be working remotely or, for those that have returned to adapted COVID-secure business premises, things are not how they were. There are many risk factors for wellbeing and mental health that may now be a concern for you and your employees. These include feelings of isolation and ‘information-overload’ from using digital technology for all our communications, which can also bring the fear or anxiety of catching or spreading the virus to those that we live with who may be vulnerable.

Daily Life Pressures

the same time. Combined with issues such as managing cash flow and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, personal wellbeing and mental health can often slip down the list of priorities for businesses. However, just as the airlines teach us to put our oxygen masks on first before helping others, employers and business owners can only look after their business and employees by addressing their own wellbeing first.

Leading During Change

The SME Wellbeing and Resilience Programme offers a fully-funded programme of support which includes advice, webinars, on-demand videos, as well as useful resources and tools.

In addition to the change in work routines, daily life had also change for many. The time saved on the daily commute during lockdown was used for home-schooling or caring for family members. Some of the routines developed during this time may continue, such as caring for vulnerable friends and family. For some, home life has changed as the people they live with may be furloughed or may have been made redundant leading to financial concerns. Employers and business owners will also be experiencing the challenges outlined above, but they are also tasked with leading a team or running a business at

If you would like to find out more about this programme, please email SMEWellbeing@hertsgrowthhub.com

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INSPIRING HERTFORDSHIRE AWARDS

The Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards Grand Reveal On Thursday 1st October 2020, after a very difficult few months which nobody could have predicted, the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce held their virtual Grand Reveal event.

Originally supposed to take place in June of this year, the Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards (IHA) 2020 were forced to postpone due to the outbreak of Covid-19 to October 1st. However, with the virus still at large, the Chamber made a second difficult decision to postpone the awards ceremony again, this time until June 10th 2021. But with a few surprises.

Neil Cundale, Principal, Hillier Hopkins. Headline Sponsor for the Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards 2020/21

Over 150 delegates, made up of sponsors, finalists and other stakeholders came together for the virtual event on October 1st to hear the big announcements that the Chamber had promised to reveal.

And so, the second announcement of the afternoon was that a new award category has been created by the Chamber, in order to shine a light on those who have made an outstanding contribution to their community.

Revealed first of all was the new Master of Ceremonies for the event. Since the launch of IHA in 2012 this has been Steve Folland; a local freelance video and audio creator. Many thanks to Steve for his eight years of support!

The Hertfordshire Heroes Award 2020 is now open for nominations of individuals, groups, or companies whom have really gone above and beyond. This category is sponsored by EasyBuild Construction Software.

It has now been revealed that for 2021, the Heart FM Hertfordshire drive-time presenter, John Darin, will be presenting the awards. Heart FM are a Patron of Herts Chamber and we are delighted to have them on board as the Media Partner for the awards. More information can be found on the Chamber website.

John Darin, Content Controller, Heart FM Hertfordshire. New Master of Ceremonies for IHA 20/21

2020 has been a very challenging year for many businesses and individuals. Throughout this pandemic the Chamber have seen the Hertfordshire community and beyond come together to support one another in a variety of ways.

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Simon Walsh, Partner, SA Law. Headline Sponsor for the Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards 2020/21

The third and final announcement, and potentially the hardest kept secret of the year, was that for the tenth year of Inspiring Herts, the gala dinner is going to be taking place at a very magical venue; the Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden, the home of Harry Potter! The Chamber is delighted to be able to share this news with everybody at long last, and is very much looking forward to celebrating with all of the sponsors, judges, and finalists in June.

Bookings for the Gala Dinner on 10th June are now open We hope you will join us in finding out which of our extraordinary finalists will be awarded the winners of this yearsâ€™ Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards and who will take the overall crown as Inspiring Business of the Year!

A Reminder of the 2020/21 Sponsors and Finalists:

Business of the Year East Herts Sponsored by Longmores Solicitors • Beyond Governance • CHEXS • Croft Communications • The Property Presenters Business of the Year North Herts Sponsored by Stevenage Borough Council • • • • •

BestStart HR CHQ Architects Hart Learning & Development Intuity Communications The Living Room

Business of the Year South Herts Sponsored by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council • • • • •

Alliance Intelligent Scaffolding Aubrey Park Hotel AVS VAT Kane International Rayden Solicitors

Business of the Year West Herts Available for sponsorship • Alliance Intelligent Scaffolding • Aubrey Park Hotel • Castaway Cottage • ManAlive Fitness Business of the Year Medium to Large Sponsored by Croft Communications • Kane International • Morgan Sindall • Quanta Consultancy Services • Rayden Solicitors • TYSERS

Business of the Year Small to Medium Sponsored by Chasebridge Wealth Management

Entrepreneur of the Year Sponsored by Rothamsted Enterprises

• Alliance Intelligent Scaffolding • HBC Logistics • IBC Simply • JPA Workspaces • Kestronics • Silent Sentinel • Intuity Communications • Wagada

• • • • • •

Best use of Technology Sponsored by IT Builder • BCM Agency • CHQ Architects • HBC Logisitics • Optima-Life • PayByPhone • Wagada Community Champion Sponsored by Ocado Group • Age UK Hertfordshire • Barratt Homes (nominated by Keech Hospice) • Home-Start Hertfordshire • MetroBank • North Hertfordshire College • Resolve • University of Hertfordshire Law School Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year Sponsored by Intuity Communications • Keech Hospice • Silent Sentinel • Sonovision • Wagada Education in Employment Sponsored by University of Hertfordshire Law School • Hart Learning & Development • SETPOINT Hertfordshire • Wagada

INSPIRING HERTFORDSHIRE AWARDS

Archie Major, Castaway Cottage Cheryl Luzet, Wagada Diane Lee, DLRC James Longcroft, Silent Sentinel Beyond Governance Sharp-AX

Excellence in Customer Commitment Sponsored by Austins Family Funeral Directors • HBC Logistics • IBC Simply • Kane International • Lumina Technologies • MetroBank • Sonovision Excellence in People Development Sponsored by Spaces • Chasebridge Wealth Management • CHEXS • DLRC • Hertfordshire Building Control • Quanta Consultancy Services • Sonovision • VolkerWessels UK Export Business of the Year Sponsored by Chapman Ventilation

Most Promising New Business Sponsored by Barclays • Beyond Governance • BB Group Business Consultancy • Castaway Cottage • HBC Logistics • KM4HR • Snide London Property & Construction Project of the Year Sponsored by Dobsons • Hertfordshire Building Control • Jarvis Contracting (Maiden Park Project) • Jarvis Contracting (Watford Health Campus Project) • The Property Presenters The Green Award Sponsored by Ambition Broxbourne • Emmaus Hertfordshire • Henkel • JPA Workspaces • Origins of Beauty • PayByPhone Workplace Wellbeing Award Sponsored by VolkerWessels UK • Harrisons Research and Genealogy • Kestronics • Quanta Consultancy Services • Sonovision • Wagada

• Kestronics • Silent Sentinel Family Business of the Year Sponsored by Ashbourne Insurance • Castaway Cottage • Gatwards of Hitchin • JHP Electrical • JPA Workspaces • Kane International • Kestronics • Taylor Heating

• • • •

Year of Culture Award Sponsored by Signature Senior Living YC Hertfordshire Herts Visual Arts Forum Trestle Theatre Company University of Hertfordshire

NEW! Hertfordshire Heroes Award 2020 Sponsored by EasyBuild Construction Software Now open for nominations.

INSPIRE

5 Risks

of emerging from COVID Compounding the tragic loss of life and the impact on our physical and mental health, the coronavirus has exacted a painful toll on livelihoods and the economy.

The business community is counting the cost of lost sales opportunities, reversals in formerly healthy cashflow positions and disrupted supply chains. Of course, most of us recognise that this cannot be a return to business as usual. The Government has said that it won’t hesitate to tighten restrictions if there is an increase in the transmission rate. However, it is also important to be mindful of predictable trading risks that are within your control. Here are five pitfalls to guard against during the months ahead:

1. Over-trading In Coface’s experience, a common danger after any downturn is the temptation to make-up for lost time by taking on more orders than your business can deliver. A bulging order book may be comforting but if your cash reserves are already low, it will be difficult to ramp-up production quickly without heavy borrowing. And bear in mind that you might not receive payment for many weeks, leaving your business with a serious liquidity problem.

While it is frustrating to turn down opportunities, it is better to ensure that your business is sustainable. Before accepting an order, consider issuing a pro-forma invoice so that you receive payment in advance or mitigate the risk by obtaining a letter of credit or credit insurance so it is easier to secure the necessary funding from lenders.

2. Timidity

On the other hand, an over-cautious approach towards prospective customers is equally damaging. Although there is currently a higher risk of customer insolvency and bad debt, it is important to balance this against the significant opportunity costs of hibernating until the situation improves. Bear in mind that some established customers may not have survived the lockdown, while others will have been forced to cut back their spending. You have to be proactive about new business if you are to replace these lost sales and build for the future but your choices should not be a matter of guesswork if you are to trade with confidence. Instead, your new business strategy should be informed by accurate and up-to-date business intelligence about the weaknesses and

strengths in your target markets: from levels of corporate debt and insolvency risk, to the size of the potential customer base and the level of political stability.

3. Fraud

It’s sad but predictable that the coronavirus emergency has created bumper opportunities for fraudsters. In response, National Trading Standards have launched Business Against Scams which provides free training resources on the most common types of business frauds, while the Government has published new guidance for businesses on coronavirus fraud and cybercrime. One of the most effective ways to protect your business is by conducting thorough due diligence on prospective customers and suppliers. This includes followingup trade references, verifying the names and addresses of company directors and checking trading history.

4. Late payment

Most of your time and energy will be focused on getting your business up and running again but if you allow credit control to drift, you will imperil your own cashflow position at a critical time.

For more information and advice during the coronavirus crisis visit www.cofaceitfirst.com, email enquiries@cofaceuk.com or call us on 020 7325 7506 www.linkedin.com/company/coface/

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https://twitter.com/coface

To prevent this, it’s important to watch your DSO (days sales outstanding) for worrying trends and monitor customers’ payment behaviour, particularly requests for more generous credit terms. In challenging economic times, businesses are more likely to pay their priority creditors first. You therefore need to take prompt and firm action on outstanding invoices to recover the money and show that you are serious about late payment.

5. Supply chain shocks One of the lessons of the last few years has been the severe impact that a shock or disruption to the supply chain can have on every business, whether it is the failure of a major customer such as Carillion or a shutdown in production, as we have just seen in China. Supply chain risk is a fact of life in a global economy but you can limit your exposure by being alert and responding to developments within your sector rather than being dependent on a single source. Coface’s economic reports and resources provide a free insight into country and sector risks so you can evaluate the threat to your suppliers and find possible alternatives to your existing trading routes.

INSPIRATIONAL LEADER

Dobsons Showroom

Leading by example Family-owned Dobsons has been synonymous with the Hertfordshire landscape since 1935. It is currently run by director Helen Dobson, a fourth-generation family member who has worked in the business for 18 years. However, that wasn’t originally how she had mapped out her career. “When I was growing up I had never imagined a future in the family business” she says, “I wanted to work in travel and did so after leaving college until I was made redundant when the travel firm I was working for collapsed. Around the same time a role became available at Dobsons and, because I was out of work, I decided to take it and give it a try.” Almost two decades on, she’s glad she did Dobsons is a successful kitchen, bathroom and glazing company that has evolved from its origins as a general building and joinery firm. The company who has a large showroom in Cheshunt provides bespoke luxury handcrafted kitchens and bathrooms for customers, tailoring each one to individual needs and style preferences. In addition, Dobsons designs and installs stylish windows and doors and glazed extensions for homeowners who want to create additional living space. It’s no surprise that the firm won the family business award at the Chamber’s Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards last year. According to Helen, the secret to the Dobsons’ longevity is to their family values of honest trading, excellent service and quality products. That and its ability to adapt and innovate. “We don’t rest on our laurels,” she says. “We’re always looking for ways we can improve as a business, whether that is a new product, or service or by ensuring our showroom is up to date with the latest trends.”

Helen Dobson, Dobsons “We also take a great deal of pride in what we do and although there have been many changes during our 85 year history what hasn’t changed is our unwavering commitment to delivering a first-class service to customers.” Helen leads a team of 14 staff at Dobsons, as well as juggling the busy demands of raising her two sons. She finds that she can inspire and motivate staff by leading by example. “Just because I’m a director, I’m not afraid to make the tea or get my hands dirty,” she says. “In the last 18 years I’ve worked within every department of the business and each member of our workforce is important, regardless of seniority or length of service. I try to create a good working environment which helps staff achieve a decent work-life balance. If they need time off for family commitments, we always do our best to accommodate it” “I also feel passionately about doing our bit in the community and supporting local charities, and

we are proud to have held many charity events in our showroom over the years and this is something we plan to continue post Covid.” A naturally positive person, Helen is looking forward to the future with confidence. Although COVID-19 slowed trade down temporarily – the showroom had to close for a short while and some staff were placed on furlough – business is beginning to return to normal and trading levels are healthy. Helen says: “Rather than go on holiday this year, people are spending more time in their homes and are pushing ahead with home improvements. Like other firms, we’ve had to adapt to COVID-19 and make sure we take the necessary precautions to keep people safe. However, business is good and we’re optimistic about the future.” For more information visit https://dobsonshome.com

“We also take a great deal of pride in what we do and although there have been many changes during our 85 year history what hasn’t changed is our unwavering commitment to delivering a first-class service to customers.” INSPIRE

WEST HERTS HOMES is an award winning

housing association based in Hemel Hempstead WEST HERTS HOMES was formed following a change of name and transfer of business from its predecessor body, CTHA. In parallel with the change of name the company moved to its new offices in summer 2019, and the Right Honorable Sir Mike Penning officiated at the office opening ceremony. Being included in the list of the Top 50 Landlords In The UK in 2018 meant that West Herts Homes was 1 of only 2 housing associations in the East of England to achieve this recognition. Chief Executive, Paul Eastwood, said: “To be placed in the Top 50 list was a great achievement for us, and we are continuing to build on this. We are ambitious to grow, but giving our customers a high quality service will always be our top priority”. The association has recently begun work on building 4 new flats in London Colney, which should be ready for occupation in Spring 2021. Future plans under consideration include providing homes for key workers in west Hertfordshire, where the association will now be focusing its activities. The association has a Board that is mostly composed of people who live within west Hertfordshire, and who provide valuable skills and experience. The Chief Executive concluded: “With a clear focus, a demonstrable commitment to the areas where we work, and the support from our staff team and the Board we feel very optimistic about the future”.

admin@whh.org.uk

The company is committed to 4 main objectives • Delivering an excellent service to its customers • Achieving growth through delivering high quality new homes and acquisitions • Working in partnership with local authorities to help provide homes for people in need • Maintaining the highest standards in governance.

https://whh.org.uk

FinanceEast

Short Term Funding Requirement? FINANCE EAST COULD BE ABLE TO HELP YOU It may be that your business has had to pause temporarily due to COVID-19 and you may now be putting the wheels in motion on how the “Business as (Un)Usual” looks. Looking at viable options for your workforce, re-establishing supplier relationships and re-commencing contracts whilst adjusting to the new normal. In the “here and now” cashflow and financial concerns could seem more prevalent than before and it might be that your business could benefit

from a short-term cash injection, but you may not be entirely sure of options available to you, or which options would best suit your current needs. One of the products offered by Finance East for Hertfordshire based SMEs for which you could be eligible is the Herts LEP Growth Loan Scheme. So, what exactly is the Herts LEP Growth Loan Scheme? This scheme is specifically geared toward helping established, eligible SMEs that have a short-term trade funding requirement. You must have a proven product and contract.

Is my SME eligible? • You must be a Limited company • Location: Must have a material part of its operations in Herts • Amount: £200,000 - £500,000 • Loan term: 3-12 months

• Seeking out new opportunities and looking for new markets

What can this loan be used to fund?

• Cash-backing for performance bonds/guarantees: temporary credit enhancement to enable banks to support SMEs in the tendering and delivery of significant/strategic contracts

• Working Capital for specific contracts/orders - to fulfil particular orders or contracts which would otherwise have been unattainable due to the working capital cycles involved • Short term irregular invoicing patterns from specific contracts or projects

For more information on this scheme, or to make an appointment please contact: Gordon Brock Fund Manager, Growth Loan Scheme 07818 088021 gordon.brock@thefsegroup.com or visit www.financeeast.com

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• Export opportunities • Upfront tooling requirements for identifiable medium-term contracts

INSPIRATIONAL LEADER

Good communication is the key to successful leadership Councillor Lewis Cocking, Leader of Broxbourne Council What makes an inspirational leader? An inspirational leader is a good communicator, someone who puts communication at the forefront of the business; someone who leads from the front and gives clear direction. Communication with staff, residents and the business community is central to the council’s strategy, which has three main priorities: • a thriving economy, offering businesses growth and jobs • sustainable living in an attractive environment • an effective council that is efficient and responsive to the needs of residents and businesses In June, this year, the Broxbourne Local Plan was adopted to set out the vision for the borough from now through to 2033. It explains how land will be used to support development and economic prosperity in the borough and the three priorities are being applied as we work towards these developments.

What do you need to do differently to lead a team through difficult times, such as the current pandemic? Leading the team through the pandemic continues to be a challenge, but I believe in setting stretching targets to senior management and officers to look for alternative ways of delivering services to meet the needs of our

community. Broxbourne was one of the first councils in Hertfordshire to start paying the Business Support Grant to eligible businesses because we reacted quickly to ensure we had the correct processes in place.

part of the support packages given out by central government and administered by local councils.

What is Broxbourne Borough Council doing to support businesses through the pandemic?

Environmental health officers are on the ground, helping local business and reminding business owners of their obligations to keep their staff and residents safe. Regular visits are made to the town centres and signage and social distancing measures have been applied.

We’ve had regular contact with local businesses and have created ways for businesses to easily contact the service areas they need through the website. Newsletters are sent to more than 2,000 local companies to help them stay on top of changing guidance and we’ve employed a town centres information officer, through the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, to assist them with compliance with the COVID-secure rules.

The results of a survey sent to Broxbourne businesses during the lockdown period has enabled the council to understand ways in which we can help with upskilling the Broxbourne workforce. As well as sessions on digital skills and networking, a recent virtual supply chain event took place to inform small businesses of the opportunity to work with larger companies delivering the sites agreed for development within the Broxbourne Local Plan.

In addition, Broxbourne Borough Council has provided £16.46m in business support grants which have helped 1,315 local businesses. These grants were

The council has also joined forces with ShopAppy, an online shopping website, and has been helping local businesses sign up to this product delivery platform. It allows

residents a wider online offer that encourages them to shop local and gives shops a virtual window in which to do business. Broxbourne Council is also an intermediary for the Government’s Kickstart scheme, which provides funding to employers to create new six-month job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

Which sectors in Hertfordshire require the most support as the country tries to get through the next few months? Sectors in Broxbourne that have been hardest hit are within the hospitality and leisure sector. We are doing what we can to help those businesses with the initiatives that I describe above. I’ve been clear that our aim is to support local businesses and local residents on the road to recovery. Positivity and communication will help all of us to help each other and I have been, and continue to be, determined to lead from the front.

“Broxbourne Borough Council has provided £16.46m in business support grants which have helped 1,315 local businesses. These grants were part of the support packages given out by central government and administered by local councils.” INSPIRE

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

The great escape

Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club offers a wonderful escape route from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Set in 200 acres of beautiful countryside in Ware, Hertfordshire, the venue is a Jacobean-style manor house that oozes luxury and quality, with wood-panelled libraries and cosy fireplaces co-existing with modern amenities and renovated event spaces. Hanbury Manor offers a variety of facilities and services for individuals and corporate clients, from treatments at the luxurious day spa to a championship 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus II, as well as a leisure club with a heated indoor pool and state-of-the-art gym.

CHRISTMAS LATE NIGHT SHOPPING

25 & 26 Nov, 2 & 3 and 9 & 10 Dec open until 9pm Also, Wreath Making 30 November & 7 December 6.30pm-8.30pm £37.50 including refreshments (Limited availability) email info@smallfordfarmshop.com to book your place

www.smallfordfarmshop.com

@SmallfordFShop

Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire. AL4 0HE

INSPIRE

01727 747340

Ian Hill, Sales and Marketing Director at Hanbury Manor, says: “This summer we hosted a national PGA golf event; this gave us great publicity and it has led to lots of enquiries and bookings. We can build in golf and spa treatments as part of a corporate package for our clients.”

face coverings, we provide hand sanitisers and we operate a strict cleaning regime. “Demand is returning, especially for small events and weddings. We’ve even had an advance booking for a wedding for 2024! For our corporate clients, we’ve adapted our offering to provide hybrid meetings, where some people can be physically present in the venue and others can dial in remotely.

As is the case with many hospitality venues, Hanbury Manor was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic but is now open for business and has taken steps to ensure that the venue is as safe as possible for customers.

“We’re looking to get back to some sort of normal as quickly as possible. It has been a difficult time for everybody but we are seeing good demand for staycation breaks, weddings and use of our spa facilities. It is taking a while for demand for business events to return, although we are seeing more small events being held. We’ve also relaunched our afternoon tea offering, which have been a real hit with our customers.

Ian says: “We’ve installed perspex screens in reception and we’ve changed the layout of our bars and restaurant to comply with social distancing rules. We ask people to wear

“People who come here know that they will get a first-class service in a luxurious venue that takes them away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.”

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

The ultimate five-star retreat Set in 300 acres of rolling Hertfordshire countryside, The Grove is the ultimate five-star retreat. Lovingly restored, the former home of the Earls of Clarendon is situated just 18 miles from London, and is home to an awardwinning spa, championship golf course, mouth-watering restaurants, and activities aplenty. Whether you are jumping on a Segway for an exhilarating ride through the scenic woodland or taking in the sweet smell of fresh herbs and flowers at Jemima’s Kitchen Garden, there is so much to see and do in the enchanting estate. Outside, you can follow in the footsteps of Tiger Woods on The Grove’s championship golf course. Or, if you would rather keep little ones entertained, we recommend a visit to Anouska’s Kids Club, Ralph’s Beach, Asher’s Woodland Trails or Gabriel’s Football Pitch. All of which promise activities for the whole family to re-connect.

Inside, you will find Sequoia spa, a tranquil setting, with a maze of relaxation spaces, designed to help relieve stress and tension. Choose to spend your time enjoying the iconic inky black swimming pool, rejuvenating vitality pool, heat experience rooms or specialist ESPA and Natura Bissé treatments. Not forgetting the state-of-theart gym, complete with the latest Technogym equipment and exercise classes to suit all paces. When it comes to dining, there really is no shortage of options. Tantalise your taste buds at The Glasshouse, a theatre of international cooking, enjoy the informal surroundings and picturesque views with dinner at The Stables or treat yourself to a delightful afternoon tea or a post dinner tipple in the newly refurbished Lounges.

For more information visit www.thegrove.co.uk INSPIRE

LOCAL PERKS. CITY FEELS.

HatTech

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

HatTech, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s spacious, modern business centre designed to accommodate freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses, is now open. HatTech’s Covid-secure co-working suite, with highend work stations, offers a professional, clean, and safe alternative to the home office, while it’s range of cost-effective private offices are ideal for start-ups and small businesses looking to make the next step. The majority of the in-house services are also available to virtual office users. The expansive working space is laid out to ensure social distancing can be comfortably observed, with hand-sanitiser stations placed throughout, as well as visual reminders of the safety guidelines.

Those needing a ‘digital detox’ during their day can enjoy HatTech’s Wellbeing Garden. With six levels of membership options -- from five days a month to full 24/7 access -- HatTech is designed to suit the needs and budgets of small businesses, entrepreneurs and individual workers. A £751k Local Growth Fund grant from Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has helped transform the first floor of the building in Beaconsfield Court, Hatfield into a creative hub offering versatile work spaces.

LOCAL PERKS. CITY FEELS.

HatTech’s outstanding facilities, flexible membership, and excellent location, just two minutes from Hatfield station, provides a convenient and creative environment in which businesses can thrive. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Councillor Duncan Bell, Executive Member for Resources, said: “HatTech provides a safe, flexible option for those who are unable to work from home or do not want to commute further afield. The health and wellbeing of clients is our highest priority and everything possible has been done to make HatTech Covid secure.”

Blue Bear Security are one of HatTech’s first tenants and owner Bobby Sokhi said: “The HatTech team are professional and supportive and have really helped us to find our feet here. Our staff are very happy with the Covid measures HatTech have in place and we all feel safe at work.”

To find out how HatTech can support your business and book your viewing, call 01707 623623 or email enquiries@hattech.org.uk

BOOK YOUR VIEWING Expansive co-working suite Large meeting room Cost-effective private offices Business lounge External wellbeing garden

A MODERN, PROFESSIONAL, SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

HatTech’s flexible co-working membership tiers give you the freedom to adapt as your business requirements change as do the ‘easy in – easy out’ terms on our versatile private offices.

RIGHT ON YOUR DOORSTEP.

Supporting you to work safely.

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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

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ECONOMY

Rebooting Britain:

creating a sustainable, resilient, low carbon economy By Andy Wales, Chief Digital Impact & Sustainability Officer at BT As the world looks to rebuild from the Covid-19 pandemic, we have a unique opportunity to change the way the economy works - creating a fairer, more resilient, low carbon society. BT has led on climate action for over 25 years and in June, we pledged our support for a green recovery – announcing two new initiatives.

scale-ups that could support BT and its public sector customers.

• At least 400,000 more people could work from home.

We’re also working with our suppliers to help them reduce their carbon emissions by 42 per cent by 2030 and for the first time, progress on carbon reduction and on digital skills training will make up part of the bonus calculation for eligible BT colleagues.

• 270,000 people could move out of cities into rural areas

The UK Electric Fleets Coalition with around 32,000 vehicles, BT Group has the second largest commercial fleet in the UK.

Despite the uncertainty caused by Covid-19, we announced a once-in-ageneration investment in the UK’s digital infrastructure: full fibre broadband to 20 million premises and continued investment in 5G mobile.

Together with The Climate Group, we’re calling on the UK Government to target 100% electric car and van sales by 2030; extend grants for electric vehicles and charging points through to at least 2023 and speed up the rollout of public charge-points across the country.

Full fibre and 5G mobile will underpin permanent changes to the way people live and work. They will also support the new technologies capable of moving us to a low-carbon economy – whether that’s home-working, developing smart cities or enabling the Internet of Things.

This comprehensive package of measures has the potential to boost jobs in the UK and will help us and others transition towards a low carbon fleet.

In 2019 the Centre for Economics & Business Research found that connecting the UK to full fibre broadband by 2025 would deliver a £60 billion boost to the UK. It also revealed that:

The Green Tech Innovation Platform - the platform aims to uncover the latest green technologies from UK-based tech

• Half a million people could be brought back into the workforce

• 300 million commuting trips could be saved annually BT has pledged to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045 and we’re encouraging others to follow our lead by setting their own science-based targets to become net zero by 2050. As one of the largest consumers of electricity in the UK, 100% of the electricity BT directly purchases in the UK and 92% worldwide is renewably sourced. Last year, we helped our customers save 13 million tonnes of carbon and have reduced our own carbon emissions intensity by 42% since 2016/17. BT wants to lead this reboot of Britain’s economy. We want to see greater investment in infrastructure, support for UK manufacturing and a focus on green technologies - helping to create decent jobs and sustainable growth. We believe we’ve got a big role to play and we hope others will follow.

“Full fibre and 5G mobile will underpin permanent changes to the way people live and work. They will also support the new technologies capable of moving us to a low-carbon economy - whether that’s home-working, developing smart cities or enabling the Internet of Things.” 42

INSPIRE

Bold, ambitious businesses

set to bounce back at Wickham Hall As the end of 2020 fast approaches many people will be glad to see the back of the last 12 months. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world, leaving behind an ugly trail of uncertainty, devastation and destruction. But bold, ambitious businesses and eager entrepreneurs are already looking to the future to see how they can get back on track. “The coronavirus pandemic has taken its toll on all aspects of our lives, but I’m hearing a lot of positivity from business owners who are keen to embrace the new working measures and head into 2021 with a whole new attitude,” says David Harvey. The 57-year-old owns Wickham Hall, a newly refurbished, stateof-the-art business complex which provides a prime selection of highquality office space, retail units and a wellness centre in impressive surroundings. The spacious, airy building is located less than a mile from the popular market town of Bishop’s Stortford, in close proximity to Stansted Airport, and has excellent commuter links to Cambridge and London. With its easy accessibility and free parking, Wickham Hall has the atmosphere of a wellness centre, located within a backdrop of beautiful, scenic countryside.

“We can’t ignore COVID-19, but I think we’re learning to live with it. Slowly, but surely businesses are starting to open up again. Working from home has its pros, and certainly had its place during the pandemic, but for some it can be a lonely and uninspiring place,” David says.

spend more time outside and take advantage of the beautiful surroundings and its easy to commute to and from.”

“Having people physically in the office means there’s more creativity, interaction and teamwork, which just cannot be replicated from your desk at home.”

The building now relies on solargenerated energy which also fuels the heating and cooling via the very latest air source heat pumps. The double insulated roofs make the indoor space highly energy efficient and high-spec low energy panel LED lights are programmed with special daylight frequencies to aid positive mental health.

With social distancing still in place and well-ventilated buildings becoming a new requirement, David says Wickham Hall ticks all the boxes. “Our unit spaces are flexible and ideal for offices or retail. They can be designed to suit your specific requirements and there’s ample space to allow staff to social distance. Having so much outdoor space also means employers can actively encourage staff to

The environment has also become a priority in recent years, which is why it was prioritised during the Wickham Hall renovation.

“Mental health is another aspect that we’ve taken seriously. If staff are happy and healthy, they’re going to be motivated, satisfied and perform well. It was a no-brainer for us to ensure that everything we did was geared towards improving mental health,” David explains.

The complex, surrounded by beautiful and luscious greenery, combines 21st century technology and traditional business together, which encourages an excellent blend of work life balance, together with wellness and calmness. Businesses already based at the complex include a personal training gym, café and yoga and reformer pilates studios which have helped reaffirm the “tranquil ethos” of the site. “We want people to come here and have that feeling of relaxation, to exhale and be in comfort. That’s the whole ethos behind the site, but it’s also about creating employment and creating an environment to provide a work-life balance for good mental health. We firmly believe that being surrounded by likeminded businesses will encourage more creativity and innovation,” David says.

Could you see your business at the centre? If you are interested in space at the centre, email james.watchorn@sworders.co.uk, call 01279 771188 or visit sworders.com/wickham-hall

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The best part of working in Home Care is meeting all the amazing people that cross our paths. Normally we get to meet them after they have had long and eventful lives with so many stories and experiences. Others are still on lifeâ€™s journey and we are fortunate to be part of it. For me personally there isnâ€™t a better career, we never stop learning, developing and trying to improve the ways that we work. Being able to visit so many people over the years and work with them on a daily basis to make sure that living with their condition was made more bearable.

Morning, Noon and Night we support people at home. There is no snow days or storm days. Every hour of every day and night there is one of us somewhere helping and assisting someone to stay living independently at home. Our amazing team work tirelessly through every situation put to them. Their stamina and dedication is priceless.

Providing Home Care to people is our passion, we love each and every one of them.

Call now on 01707 246 5552 or visit www.leaseoflifehomecare.co.uk

The Butterﬂy volunteer group is like belonging to a loving, caring and supportive family. Roza Drummond – Butterﬂy volunteer

BUILDING CONNECTIONS

Chamber members play a major role in Croft’s growth story There are many benefits to being a Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce member. The biggest advantages are the ability to network and make new contacts, as well as the opportunity to win new work. Following the MBO, Croft was keen to develop and grow the business by building a national presence and taking a more proactive lead generation approach to sales. Croft also wanted to rebrand from Mobile Account Solutions to its current name and launch a new website to engage potential clients. The company needed a strong, full-service marketing agency that could strategically plan and implement marketing activities to raise awareness of the business, so approached Wagada for assistance. Cheryl Luzet, chief executive of Wagada, says: “We implemented a comprehensive marketing campaign that included a range of different elements: SEO, blogging, PR, Google Ads management, LinkedIn Ads management, e-mail marketing and organic social media.

In Hertfordshire, the Chamber membership network is particularly strong and in recent months there have been many instances of members working with, and offering new business to, each other. A collaboration between digital marketing firm Wagada, business telecoms expert Croft Communications and Pearldrop Video Production is a case in point. All three companies are patrons of the Chamber and their partnership has brought tangible benefits for all of them.

Wagada teamed up with Croft Communications to help the company implement its ambitious growth strategy following a management buyout (MBO). Croft offers innovative solutions to help big corporates, SMEs and public sector organisations across the UK save money, work flexibly and increase mobility and productivity. Essentially, they’re a one-stop-shop for a wide range of business connectivity needs, including super-fast broadband, mobile phones, hosted telephony and productivity tools.

“We implemented a comprehensive marketing campaign that included a range of different elements: SEO, blogging, PR, Google Ads management, LinkedIn Ads management, e-mail marketing and organic social media.” 46

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“We were also keen to measure the success of the campaign so that Croft could see its value. I’m pleased to say that we’ve delivered some great results in a number of areas. In the period from March to August this year, the number of Croft website users increased by 683% on the same period in 2019, whilst blog article views rose by 457%.

BUILDING CONNECTIONS

“I’m a firm believer in supporting the local economy so it made sense to work with a company that’s on our doorstep. Following the MBO last year, we’ve grown our presence across the country and built the business into a national business telecommunications company.” “Branded keyword search volume increased from zero in April to an average of 540 monthly searches since the website was launched, and 144 hard conversions (including contact and free quote form submissions, email and phone number clicks) were achieved. “The campaign also resulted in other, softer benefits, such as increased exposure in the press and sponsorship with the Hertfordshire County Show, which resulted in quality referral traffic from Heart Radio. “This campaign has shown the benefit of working together. If local companies work in partnership with each other, it will be a real boost to business in Hertfordshire and will only help the local economy.” These thoughts are echoed by Mark Bramley, CEO of Croft Communications. He says: “I’m a firm believer in supporting the local economy so it made sense to work with a company that’s on our doorstep. Following the MBO last year, we’ve grown our presence across the country and built the business into a national business telecommunications company. With Wagada on board, we’ve taken a giant stride forward on this journey as the results of the campaign show.

“We also enlisted the services of Pearldrop on this journey. They produced some excellent video content as part of our marketing campaign and this content has been a useful part of our promotional armoury as we look to continue our growth strategy.” Founded in January 2003, Pearldrop is a full-service video production agency - creating content for internationally prominent brands, individuals, major corporations as well as SMEs. Initially focusing on the entertainments sector, the company has never looked back after spotting a gap in the market to work with the corporate sector, with the goal of making corporate videos exciting, affordable and vitally that work for the organisation that commissioned the content. “We make beautiful content but critically it also needs to do the job the client needs it to.” Denise Austin, director of Pearldrop, says: “We’ve been a Chamber patron for the last eight or nine years, and a member for a

couple of years before that. We heard that Croft was implementing a business growth programme in partnership with Wagada, and we wondered whether we could help on the video side of things. Video is becoming an increasingly important marketing tool – you just need to go on social media channels to see that – and we thought that Croft could benefit from video content as a promotional tool to grow its presence across the UK. “They wanted something fun and not too corporate to get the message out there that they were still open for business during the pandemic. We thought that animation was a good way of achieving this. We produced two videos: one was about communication through the ages and the other was a more informative message about a thermal camera that can take someone’s temperature as they enter or leave the workplace. “The project worked really well and we’re thrilled to have played a part in Croft’s ongoing growth story.”

“Video is becoming an increasingly important marketing tool - you just need to go on social media channels to see that - and we thought that Croft could benefit from video content as a promotional tool to grow its presence across the UK.” INSPIRE

NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to new members NEW PATRON Warner Bros Studio Tour London

Warner Bros, Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter Twitter: @wbtourlondon Web: www.wbstudiotour.co.uk Tel: 0203 4277777 Address: Studio Tour Drive Leavesden Watford Herts WD25 7LR

AWS Television and Security Ltd Install and maintain TV networks and security equipment in public and commercial buildings Email: ellena@aws-access.com Web: www.aws-access.com Tel: 01582 730241 Address: 5 Crown Court Inkerman Street Luton Bedfordshire LU1 1JB uuu

Bespoke HR Solutions HR Email: Web: Tel: Address:

claire@bespokehrsolutions.com www.bespokehrsolutions.com 07765 011701 37 Hillside Court Constables Way Hertford Hertfordshire SG13 7TY uuu

Createwerx

Marketing Agency Email: anja@createwerx.com Web: www.createwerx.com Tel: 07940 246275 Address: 13 Crosier Place Hertford Hertfordshire SG14 1SQ 48

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Flexible Space Association Trade association for the UK flexible workspace industry Twitter:

flexsa_uk

Email:

jane.sartin@flexsa.co.uk

Web:

www.flexsa.co.uk

Tel:

01707 932105

Address: 2nd Floor, Titan Court 3 Bishop Square Hatfield Hertfordshire AL10 9NA uu u

Golden GreenLand Co ltd Wholesale/Retail Twitter:

GoldenGreenland

Email:

info@GoldenGreenlandCompanyLtd.co.uk

Web:

www.goldengreenlandcompanyltd.co.uk

Tel:

07805 342208

Address: 76-77 Eaton Square London SW1 9AW uu u

Hertsmere Borough Council District Council. Economic Development function led through Planning and Economic Development Service Twitter:

HertsmereBC

Email:

ross.whear@hertsmere.gov.uk

Web:

www.hertsmere.gov.uk/home.aspx

Tel:

020 8207 2277

Address: Civic Offices Elstree Way Borehamwood Hertfordshire WD6 1WA uu u

Infinity Foreign Exchange Offering tailored international payment services to both business and private clients Web:

www.iifx.co.uk

NEW MEMBERS

Jarvis Contracting Limited

Regional design and build contractor, Est 1905 Twitter: JarvisGroup Email: fiona.watson@jarvisbuild.co.uk Web: www.jarvisbuild.co.uk Tel: 01582 761211 Address: No1 Waterside Station Road Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 4US uu u

Katy’s Gift Boxes Ltd

Email: klittlew@hotmail.com Tel: 07393 420911 Address: 8 Ramsey Lodge Court St. Albans Hertfordshire AL1 3QY uu u

King Copywriting

Copywriting, Tech copywriting, Blog posts, Website copy Twitter: RichardKingCopy Email: richard@kingcopywriting.co.uk Web: www.kingcopywriting.co.uk Tel: 07794 494879 Address: 9 Tarrant Drive Harpenden Hertfordshire AL5 1RP uu u

Leisuregrow Products Limited

Garden furniture, BBQ, Christmas lighting and pet products manufacturer Web: www.leisuregrow.com uu u

Lord’s Taverners (Hertfordshire Region) UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity Twitter: lordstaverners Email: lordstavernershert@lordtaverners.org Web: www.lordstaverners.org Tel: 020 7025 0000 Address: 90 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1E4 uu u

MIDS Pest Control Ltd

Pest Control Services Twitter: MidsPest Email: steve@midspestcontrol.co.uk Web: www.midspestcontrol.co.uk Tel: 0800 9997 600 Address: 6 Furmston Court Letchworth Hertfordshire SG6 1UJ

Mortgage Vision

Mortgage and Protection Advice Email: alan@mortgage-vision.com Web: www.mortgage-vision.com Tel: 01923 954777 Address: 469 North Western Avenue Watford Hertfordshire WD24 5NX uuu

Nigel Alleeson PC Repairs

PC Repairs Web: www.nsalleesonpcrepairs.co.uk uuu

Resilience Energy Technology

Allows users to effortlessly connect their energy systems Web: www.resilienceenergy.co.uk uuu

The Alcohol Free Brewing Co. Alcohol Free Brewery Twitter: unltdbeer Email: johnny@unltd.beer Web: www.unltd.beer Tel: 07535 895 282 Address: 16 Waterdale Hertford Hertfordshire SG13 8DU uuu

The LK Group

Geo-Environmental Consultants Twitter: the_lkgroup Email: i.deans@thelkgroup.com Web: www.thelkgroup.com Tel: 07872 812 587 Address: 2 Falcon Gate Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire AL7 1TW uuu

The Outdoor Kitchen Collective

A high-end event and retail space showcasing first-class outdoor Kitchens and BBQ’s Email: marketing@theoutdoorkitchencollective.co.uk Web: www.theoutdoorkitchencollective.co.uk Tel: 07494 893 042 Address: Coleman Croft Suttons Farm Woodcock Hill St Albans Hertfordshire AL4 9HJ INSPIRE

NEWS

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q3 2020: Nearly half of firms report UK sales decrease as businesses endure sustained cash crunch

The bellwether survey of 6,410 firms, employing over 580,000 people across the UK, revealed that, while key indicators have improved from historic lows in Q2, they remain significantly lower than before the pandemic struck. Business to consumer firms, including hospitality, fared worst.

Key findings:

• Almost half (46%) of firms reported a decrease in domestic sales, while just 27% reported an increase on the previous quarter • Two-thirds (66%) of respondents in hospitality and catering saw decreases in sales and bookings • Indicators, including cash flow, remain at levels comparable to the 2008-09 recession for firms in the services sector

Business conditions Overall, while this quarter has seen an improvement compared to the unprecedented percentage of firms reporting decreases in domestic and export sales in Q2, the majority of firms continue to report decreases or no change in sales in Q3. • Nearly half of firms (46%) reported decreases in domestic sales, down from 73% in Q2. • 27% of firms reported an increase in domestic sales. 27% reported no change • 47% of firms reported decreases in export sales, down from 72% in Q2 but still substantially worse than Q1, where only 21% of firms reported a decrease • Nearly a quarter (24%) of firms reported increases in export sales, up from 9% in Q2 Business to consumer (B2C) firms, particularly those from the hospitality and catering sectors, saw the weakest performance, with two-thirds (66%) of respondents in hospitality and catering reporting decreases in sales and bookings in the last three months, compared with 46% overall. In the services sector, the balance of firms reporting increased domestic sales increased to -25% in Q3 2020, up from -64% in Q2.

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The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) – the UK’s largest independent survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth – found that business conditions remained weak in the third quarter of 2020, despite much of the economy reopening. The balance of firms reporting  increased export sales increased to -31% in Q3 from -55% in Q2. In the manufacturing sector, the balance of firms reporting increased domestic sales increased to -15% in Q3 2020, up from -59% in Q2 2020. The balance of firms reporting increased export sales increased to -26% from -52% in Q2.

Cash flow Cash flow, a key indicator of business health, continued to deteriorate for almost half of firms. In Q3, 21% of firms reported an improvement in cash flow, 34% reported no change and 45% reported a deterioration. In Q2, 11% of firms reported an improvement, 25% no change, and 64% a deterioration. Micro firms were more likely to report worsening cash flow, with 51% of these firms reporting a deterioration. In the services sector the balance of firms reporting improved cashflow increased to -30% from -56%. After the lowest level on record in Q2, this balance is the lowest level since Q4 2008. In the manufacturing sector, the balance of firms reporting improved cashflow increased to -18% from -47% in Q2.

Investment and confidence Over a third of firms (37%) continue to report decreased investment in plant, machinery and equipment, highlighting longer-term concerns for the economy as many businesses look to downsize. This follows Q2, which had the largest proportion of firms revising down investment in the

history of the QES dataset. Nearly half (46%) expected no change in plant, machinery and equipment investment, up slightly from 39% in Q2. Just 17% of firms plan to invest, up slightly from 9% in Q2 but remaining historically low. 41% of firms said they expected their turnover to increase over the next 12 months, while a third (35%) still expected it to decrease. Nearly a quarter (24%) expected that it would stay the same. In the services sector, the balance of firms looking to increase investment in training increased from -32% in Q2 to -17% in Q3. The balance of firms confident that turnover will improve over the next year increased from -36% in Q2 to +1% in Q3. In the manufacturing sector, the balance of firms looking to increase investment in training increased to -19% in Q2 from -38% in Q3. The balance of firms confident that turnover will improve over the next year increased to +7% in Q2 up from -31% in Q3.

Looking ahead

Despite improvements in some indicators compared to Q2, business conditions remain close to historic lows. Most of the survey fieldwork took place before the Prime Minister’s announcement that a ‘second spike’ of Coronavirus had hit the UK on 18 September. The rise in Coronavirus cases from 7 September, the subsequent introduction of new national restrictions and tightening local restrictions paint a concerning

picture for business conditions in Q4. Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “Our latest survey indicates that underlying economic conditions remained exceptionally weak in the third quarter. While the declines in indicators of activity slowed as the UK economy gradually reopened, they remain well short of pre-pandemic levels with little sign of a swift ‘V’-shaped recovery. “The manufacturing sector recorded the strongest improvements in the quarter, while consumer-focused services firms, where social distancing restricts activity, saw more limited gains. The persistent weakness in cash flow is concerning as it leaves firms more vulnerable to external shocks, including further restrictions. “While the government’s Winter Economy Plan may provide a short-term boost, with restrictions tightening and the economic scarring already caused by the pandemic starting to crystallise, the resulting gains in economic output are likely to fade over the coming months.” Responding to the findings, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Dr Adam Marshall, said: “Our findings clearly demonstrate that business conditions remain fragile in the face of uncertainty, with the prospect of a difficult winter to come. “It is time to be direct. “The economy will need more support, over and above the Chancellor’s welcome recent efforts. Ministers must stand ready to provide that support, and to strengthen measures to underpin business cash flow and jobs. “The disappointing Test and Trace system must be improved to ensure as many businesses as possible can function through the winter and beyond. “A Brexit deal must be reached to avoid yet more disruption. “And above all, businesses need confidence and calm, clear communication to successfully navigate a tricky period ahead.”

We’re Removing House, Not Moving House… Barley House has been established for over 15 years and specialises in creative for schools, local government, charities, businesses and trade associations. With a new focus and Creative Director on board, the company has changed its name to Barley - a creative agency. OUR NEW CREATIVE DIRECTOR We’re excited to introduce our new Creative director, Dominic Walsh, with over 20 years of agency experience. Dominic has been instrumental in cracking creative for clients such as PepsiCo, Stella, Tesco and Nestle.

“I believe that with our methodology, personality and added value, we can bat well above our average; we have a strong team with immense capabilities and I’m genuinely excited about bringing new clients on board” Dominic Walsh, Creative Director

OUR METHODOLOGY

Barley blends traditional creative with a modern outlook, we begin with a brainstorm with you the client, making you feel part of the team. We sketch, concept, design, artwork and produce beautiful creative from digital to print all the while keeping you part of the process and decision making. With an exciting year ahead, we look forward to helping brands on their creative and marketing journey with our new methodology and forward-thinking team. If you’d like to learn more about Barley visit the website, or give us a call, we’d be more than happy to take you on the journey.

View the new brand and methodology by visiting www.barley.agency

Local Search agency Distinctly helps corporate events and team building business Wildgoose reinvent itself in the face of the Covid-19 crisis When lockdown began, Wildgoose suffered an immediate sales and pipeline downturn, with a year on year drop in sales of 62% for April 2020. With the help of Rickmansworth based search marketing agency Distinctly, Wildgoose repositioned its offer with unique remote team building activities, resulting in 158% growth over the next three months. The move has led to an overall increase in organic website traffic of 56% and a sales increase of 158%, since the company’s lowest point in April. The swiftly activated project involved the expertise of Distinctly’s SEO, digital PR and copywriting teams. ‘This collaboration has helped Wildgoose catch the attention of industry heavyweights and gained them coverage in Forbes, the Chartered Management Institute and Thisismoney. co.uk’ explains Tom Shurville, MD at Distinctly.

Wildgoose’s website now consistently ranks in the top 3 search results for specific “virtual” related team building search terms on Google. Whilst their new team building products have received excellent reviews and a 5* rating on TrustPilot - crucial when encouraging people to enquire about an unfamiliar product. Matt Finch, SEO Manager at Distinctly, says “The speed at which the market was evolving made traditional SEO more challenging than usual. People’s searching habits changed when lockdown set in, so traditional keyword research had to change with it. Our approach and experience, coupled with Wildgoose’s agile thinking, have helped turn the company’s fortunes around’. Distinctly continue to focus on helping grow Wildgoose’s online presence. Wildgoose is one of several ambitious businesses Distinctly work with to achieve their business goals in a post-COVID world.

If you are looking to grow your business online, contact Tom Shurville at Distinctly on 01923 728191 or tom@distinctly.co

Are you ‘locked in’ your business and unable to step back? Contemplating retirement and wondering how you’re ever going to sell? What if you could step back and have your business run without you? What if you could sell your business for the maximum value? We work with ambitious owner managers and entrepreneurs who are growing high value businesses and know what it takes to grow a successful business from the ground up.

How can we help you? Book a 15 minute discovery call to find out how to unlock the profit and value in your business

Call us on 01992 364740 www.effectiveaccountants.co.uk

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MEMBERS NEWS

Corporate Specialist Michael Budd joins Longmores Longmores Solicitors are delighted to announce that on 7 September 2020, Michael Budd, joined the firm as a Partner and to lead the Company Commercial team. Michael is a corporate specialist who has worked as a senior solicitor in leading London commercial firms including Weightmans LLP, and Shakespeare Martineau LLP. He brings with him rich experience gained as a lawyer specialising in a broad spectrum of corporate matters, including acquisitions and disposals, restructurings, management buy-ins/outs, joint ventures and corporate finance. Michael has successfully assisted a full-range of clients from SMEs to large corporations and global businesses. Michael has recently acted for the target company in relation to an investment in it by Coca-cola, a management buy-out of a hardware business for £5million, the sale of the issued share capital of a food business for £18million, and a US client’s competitive bid for a medical packaging company for £350million. Michael strives to provide clear, commercial advice and aims to be accessible and responsive to his client’s needs. Commenting on his arrival at Longmores, Michael says “Longmores is a leading firm with a rich history; it is staffed by excellent lawyers providing their clients with first class service. The opportunity to join the firm was one that I could not miss”. Richard Gvero, Joint Senior Partner and Head of Commercial is delighted by Michael’s addition to the team, “We are excited to have a corporate lawyer of Michael’s calibre join the firm. His proven track record and expertise in the field of corporate law will be a huge asset to us and our clients and means that we can build on the already firstclass commercial services we offer”. If you would like to meet Michael to see how he and his team may be able to help your business, please email michael.budd@longmores.law

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Chamber of Commerce awards BRONZE MEMBERSHIP worth £2,645 to three businesses in the Borough of Broxbourne Following the participation of 195 local companies in a business recovery survey designed to help assess Broxbourne Borough Council’s response to COVID-19, three participating businesses were selected at random to win a year’s Bronze Membership with Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. The business support package which is worth £2,645 per annum was randomly awarded to Data Engineering, a Hoddesdon-based family business with over 40 years’ experience in press toolmaking and general Engineering; Windmill Dry Cleaners, a Cheshuntbased dry cleaning and alterations services provider; and Melissa Electrical Distributors a Hoddesdon-based independent electrical wholesaler.

The businesses will also have access to discounted membership services such as e-learning, advertising in the organisations bi-monthly Inspire Magazine, free use of the accredited Chamber Member logo, press support, business listing on the chamber’s website, along with free or discounted access to networking events, and free entry to the Annual Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards and the BCC National Awards.

Leader of Broxbourne Borough Council, Councillor Lewis Cocking said: “Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce membership is an excellent way for these companies to access support during these tough times. With so many challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic it is assuring for the Council and partner organisations to continue its engagement with local businesses, and most importantly continue to provide as much support where possible.”

Briege Leahy, CEO at Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce said, “The support that Broxbourne Council has offered businesses in the district has been exemplary during the pandemic. Herts Chamber will continue to work in tandem with the Council to support these three new members as well as existing members to connect, collaborate and grow in Hertfordshire. We thank Broxbourne for their visionary leadership through these extraordinary times. We are stronger together and encourage other Broxbourne businesses to get in touch to explore how we can help them as well.”

With support from the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce Bronze Memberships the winning businesses will be able to benefit from various business support initiatives and platforms to help boost their growth.

To find out more about Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce membership packages and what these offer, visit www.hertschamber.com/membership-subscriptions-explained

“Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce membership is an excellent way for these companies to access support during these tough times. With so many challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic it is assuring for the Council and partner organisations to continue its engagement with local businesses, and most importantly continue to provide as much support where possible.”

Top Herts marketing agency nominated for industry award A Hertfordshire no-nonsense public relations and marketing agency run by a “powerhouse” and a “creative titan” has been nominated for a top industry award.

Strand PR, located in Barkway near Royston, has been named as a finalist in the Social category at The Drum Recommends Digital Awards 2020. It is a unique awards programme as the nominees are based on client ratings. The winners are determined through ratings provided by customers of each shortlisted agency. Strand PR, which specialises in public relations and digital marketing, was founded in 2013 by Laura Pearce. She has singlehandedly grown the business, having worked with the likes of national challenger banks and international 3D printing firms. She has also helped market companies from within the personal finance, retail and hospitality sectors. The 30-year-old said: “Our customers’ satisfaction is the lifeblood of what we do. We’re a dynamic and flexible team, and when we start working with new clients, we completely immerse

Legal Property Experts in association with Penman Sedgwick LLP

ourselves in their business; how they work and what they want to achieve.

Claire Miller – Partner, Head of Property, Penman Sedgwick LLP

Commercial Leases and Contractual Break Rights

Lockdown hasn’t stopped Laura and her team, and together they worked around the clock with their clients, ensuring their customers were kept up to date about what was happening and how they might be affected. Sharon Mordecai, managing director of Hitchin-based bookkeeping and payroll specialists Modina, said: “We cannot thank Strand PR enough for the help and support that have provided us with during the COVID-19 crises. “Strand have handled all of our communications to our clients is a fast, imaginative and professional manner. Many of our clients have contacted to say how impressed they have been and to thank us for the information we have been regularly providing.” Another client, Paul Chambers, said: “Laura is an absolute powerhouse of a women, relentless in delivering the very best service, product, words and imagery. She’s a creative titan, a perfectionist and one of the most hardworking people I know.”

“We’ve always had incredible feedback, but to have been shortlisted for a Drum Award is such a huge honour. Knowing that the nominations and winners are driven by our clients makes the accolade even more special.” The winners of The Drum Recommends Digital Awards 2020 will be announced during a virtual ceremony during the Agencies 4 Growth Festival on October 21, 2020.

For further information, visit strand-pr.co.uk

Are you a commercial tenant with an imminent break right? If so, and if you are considering exercising this right, it is vital that you take great care in doing so. Rights like these are more valuable than ever in the current uncertain market, and making a mistake could be very costly indeed: the exit route that you took care to negotiate when you entered into your lease, and which you now find yourself in need of, will be lost and you will remain committed to the rent and other obligations in the lease for what could be many more years to come. You will need to consider the following in particular: • any conditions attached to the break right - a break clause will be strictly construed and these must be strictly performed if your break notice is to take effect • any time limits in the break clause - time will be of the essence in respect of these, even if the clause does not expressly state this

• the notice provisions in the lease - failure to serve the break notice in accordance with these provisions could be fatal • the form of the break notice - if the lease prescribes a particular form, it must be used, and even if it doesn’t there are plenty of tenants who have found that their break notice has been invalidated by defects in the notice itself • who may serve the notice, and on whom it should be served - make a mistake with either, and your notice will be invalid It is important that you take legal advice before you exercise this valuable right: we can help with this, and all that flows from this such as dealing with dilapidations liabilities, claiming back any rent paid in advance for the period after the break date (if the lease provides for this) and lodging an application to the Land Registry to close your leasehold title (if your lease is registered).

Problem Solved

e: cmiller@penmansedgwick.com t: 01923 225212 www.penmansedgwick.com

5 George Street, Watford, Herts WD18 0SQ

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HERTS GLOBAL

Accountants Hillier Hopkins launch customs declaration service Ruth Corkin

Accountants Hillier Hopkins has today announced the launch of a dedicated customs declaration service to help firms following Brexit.

Hillier Hopkins’ customs declaration service will help businesses with the documentation needed to move goods to and from mainland Europe and to Northern Ireland once the UK leaves the transition arrangements on 31 December 2020. The service will, importantly, ensure that businesses pay the right amount of VAT and duties required. The service will be led by Hillier Hopkins VAT and indirect tax director Ruth Corkin, who has been an adviser to the government for the Alternative Arrangements for Northern Ireland Committee and a champion for the access to HMRC’s systems for SMEs in order for them to be able to prepare customs declarations. Ruth Corkin said: “HMRC estimates that businesses will need to make some 255 million customs declarations a year once the UK leaves the transition period on 31 December, an increase of 200 million on the 55 million currently made each year. “There are currently serious shortcomings in the government customs systems leaving

business unable to fully prepare for this change to the way we move goods in and out of Europe. Businesses face huge delays in importing and exporting goods, particularly at channel ports. “Whilst the paperwork is relatively straightforward to complete, systems are not. “The position in Northern Ireland is particularly acute, with some 74,000 new registrations for VAT in 2019 of which 71% are SMEs employing under 50 people. They simply will not have the time or the expertise to manage the customs declarations required if they are trading with the rest of the UK. “That is why we have launched this new customs declaration service to help businesses continue to trade as seamlessly as possible.”

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“That is why the Hillier Hopkins service offers a holistic approach combining both the documentation needed together with the VAT and tax supporting documents.” The service also includes a free to use online Customs Declaration Checker to help businesses determine whether or not they are required to complete declarations and highlights where they may need assistance. For more information on Hillier Hopkins customs declaration service visit www.hillierhopkins.co.uk.

Most customs declarations are made by intermediaries and freight forwarders. There is, however, a chronic shortage of advisers currently operating in the market, and with gaps in the service provided.

“There are currently serious shortcomings in the government customs systems leaving business unable to fully prepare for this change to the way we move goods in and out of Europe. Businesses face huge delays in importing and exporting goods, particularly at channel ports.” 54

Ruth said: “At present, customs declarations made by intermediaries and freight forwarders often do not keep documentation on customs declarations for more than a few months, and that can provide real challenges for businesses when making VAT and tax returns.

C O N N E C T • C O L L A B O R AT E • G R O W

HERTS GLOBAL

Uncertainty Remains By John Woodruffe

External Export Manager As I write this article, we still are no nearer agreement and a trade deal with the EU is still very much in the balance. Whatever the outcome we do know for certain that from 1 January 2021, the process of importing and exporting goods between Great Britain and the EU will fundamentally change. Results from various surveys conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce, show there remains a large percentage of companies who are not as well prepared for the forthcoming change as they might be. Admittedly uncertainty remains, some details are still sketchy and still more have to be ironed out. To keep abreast of the position, if you have not already seen it, then the Herts Chamber website, under Export and Brexit, is an excellent source of relevant and appropriate materials. Still more can be found on the gov.uk webpages under Transition period, with a step by step guide on the requirements needed for both import and export. This also includes an excellent country by country guide. All these pages continue to be updated on a regular basis, so do please

keep checking them. Any queries please do ask us and we will do what we can to either answer or signpost you to the right people. Further we have had the first two of the BCC hosted ‘Countdown to Change’ webinars. The latest, ‘75 days to go’, took place on 16th October. This is now available on the Herts Chamber website for members only. The next webinar ‘50 days to go’ is due to take place on 11 November. Please do book your place on this as early as possible as demand is high. Finally, I mentioned in my previous article in the September/October edition of Inspire, the changes to the current export Certificate of Origin forms. At the time of writing I do not have any further updates, but if you do have some of the existing stock it would be helpful if you could let either Frances Harris or I know how many you will require to replace these from 1 January. This would assist in a smooth a changeover as possible. The Chamber Export team remains fully committed to helping you with your exporting and from 1 January with your customs declaration forms. Do please contact us for any assistance.

The Chamber Export team remains fully committed to helping you with your exporting and from 1 January with your customs declaration forms. Do please contact us for any assistance on export@hertschamber.com

Don’t miss these brand new events organised by the BCC - four topical and interactive webinars, designed to count down to the end of the EU Transition period They will be full of practical information and advice on what businesses need to do now in order to be prepared for the changes on 1st January 2021. They will also guide businesses through the jargon and complexities of Customs processes to ensure they understand what change is required. Hosted by Customs expert Liam Smyth, these highly relevant and engaging webinars will guide businesses through the complexity of change in our import and export processes, systems and controls from 1st January 2021.

Countdown to Change: 50 Days to go N.B. Any non-member attending this meeting who subsequently signs up for Chamber membership within one week (i.e. by 18/11/20) will receive a full refund of the cost of attending this webinar.

Countdown to Change: 30 Days to go N.B. Any non-member attending this meeting who subsequently signs up for Chamber membership within one week (i.e. by 08/12/20) will receive a full refund of the cost of attending this webinar.

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FINANCE

Debunking the gift myths Gordon Craft, Director Chasebridge Wealth Management Ltd

“Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can,” John Wesley, who founded the Methodist movement in the Church of England, once said. However, when the evangelist, who died in 1703, made that comment it was a few hundred years before an organisation called the Inland Revenue was created. Never in his wildest dreams did Mr Wesley consider that once the government agency had opened for business, would it impose all sorts of regulations on how we spend our money and gift it.

GIFTING AND SIFTING TRUTH Many people might not realise that there are limits to how much money you can gift. At the moment the annual allowance is £3,000. If you did not gift any money the year before, then you are allowed to carry the unused amount forward. However, when you are gifting large sums of money, there is a 40 per cent Inheritance Tax to pay on any financial gifts given in the seven years before you die. Gifts made in excess of your Nil Rate Band, which is currently £325,000, can see a reduction in the 40 per cent Inheritance Tax level after three years have elapsed from the date of the gift. So, from year four to year seven, from the date of the gift, there is a sliding scale of Inheritance Tax known as ‘taper relief’. There are other rules for small cash gifts too. You can give as many gifts of up to £250 per person as you want during the tax year as long as you have not used another exemption on the same person.

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THE GIFT OF GIVING

BUSINESS BONUS

Now you know the facts there are plenty of options to explore.

There are also strict gifting limits for business owners too, but before you go bonus bonkers, remember they are classed as earnings. So you will need to add the value to your employees’ other earnings and deduct and pay Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax and Class 1 National Insurance through payroll.

If you have an additional annual income you might wish to consider gifting some of that unused income. You could do this by making an annual contribution to your loved one’s pension pot perhaps? Contributions to an ISA or Junior ISA is a great way to ensure someone close to you has some money put away for a rainy day. Plus, ISAs have tax benefits as any interest that is earnt from cash savings or investment gains is very tax efficient. Taking the family on holiday is a great gift without exchanging money or you might want to consider purchasing more tangible items instead of handing over cold, hard cash.

Some employers choose to give what is called ‘trivial gifts’ to their staff. This can be up to the value of £50 per person. A slap-up meal might also be a good way to say thank you, as business owners are allowed to spend £150 per head. Annual leave is another effective way of showing staff how much they are appreciated. A days’ leave in the run up to Christmas or on their birthday will always be welcomed.

To receive a complimentary guide covering wealth management, retirement planning or inheritance tax planning, contact Chasebridge Wealth Management Ltd. email chasebridgewm@sjpp.co.uk

“If you have an additional annual income you might wish to consider gifting some of that unused income. You could do this by making an annual contribution to your loved one’s pension pot perhaps?”

BE COVID SECURE Reduce the risk of transmission in buildings

It seems like there’s a new set of COVID-19 regulations each week now, some more impactful than others, and all of them coming with the underlying suggestion that things will only get worse if we don’t follow the rules. We have to accept that the likes of social distancing, rules of six and masks could be with us for some time to come, and it certainly seems that it will be some time before everyone is confident that they are completely safe in a public area or workplace. For that reason, it makes sense for businesses to look now at costeffective safety measures that will make employees and visitors feel protected, and which will remain as easy-to-use safeguards even once the pandemic is over, but awareness of infection control remains at the forefront. AWS Tel Sec in Luton specialises in door entry and access control and has a range of solutions including facial recognition systems, mask and temperature detection and hands-free exit solutions that all combine to reduce the risk of transmission in buildings.

Ellena O’Sullivan, from AWS Tel Sec, said: “When multiple individuals share common touch points; such as push buttons, handles, push bars, keypads and press-to-exit buttons, there is an evident risk of spreading infection. Viruses are invisible and can remain infectious on stainless steel for up to 48 hours. “But it isn’t difficult to install measures that reduce that risk, and although there is, of course, a cost implication, this could well be the ‘new normal’ and staff and visitors will come to expect such measures for the foreseeable future. With this in mind, we’re offering businesses a free COVID Secure Assessment to identify the risks in their premises and offer advice on what steps they can take.” By using the latest technology, AWS Tel Sec provide facial recognition terminals that monitor temperature and whether or not

someone is wearing a mask and will only triggers doors to open if the technology is satisfied there is no risk. Using the technology, time and attendance with temperature records can be logged, thereby reducing the requirement to manually staff entry points and making tracing easier, and the automatic doors reduce the number of touch points at entry doors. Foot pedals for toilet and internal doors mean less contact with handles and touch points while automated arms can be fitted to adapt existing open doors; and barriers at counters can allow a set number of people in accordance to social distancing requirements. Infrared buttons that sense movement up to 60mm, allow visitors to safely hover their hand over the button without touching replace push to exit.

Ellena added: “At first, we all thought safety measures would be a short-term thing, but it’s looking increasingly sensible for firms to take whatever steps they can. Many of these solutions are not prohibitively expensive, but could prevent someone becoming ill, which can be costly to the business and can cause disruption where teams need to get tests or self-isolate. “Our free assessment gives us the opportunity to discuss with a client what is available and give them some ideas on how they can introduce simple safety measures.” AWS Tel Sec are offering a free Covid Secure Assessment on your premises. Call 01582 730241, email info@aws-access.com or visit the website www.aws-access.com

BE COVID SECURE

REDUCE THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION IN BUILDINGS Protect staff, customers and the public during this Pandemic The Coronavirus can remain infectious on stainless steel for 48 hours, and can be spread through common touch points such as buttons, door handles and keypads.

CORONA-PROOF YOUR BUILDING With the latest solutions from approved installers AWS

Reduce common touch points with touchless controls and automated doors REDUCE YOUR RISK WITH: • Touchless electronic building security • Hands-off approach to entry/exit • Automatic temperature checks • Mask detection: no mask, no entry • CCTV and alarms

CONTROL ENTRY With our facial recognition, mask and temperature detection

REMEMBER, VIRUSES ARE INVISIBLE KILLERS AND CAN REMAIN INFECTIOUS ON STAINLESS STEEL FOR UP TO 48 HOURS, POSING AN ON-GOING THREAT

01582 730241 | info@aws-access.com | aws-access.co.uk INSPIRE

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@Refill

MEMBERS ARTICLES

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GIVE A FUTURE SUPPORTERS

Join employers across Hertfordshire by supporting our campaign to share with young people your passion and insights. Inspire North Hertfordshire College students as they start their career by pledging to offer one or more work-based experiences. Find out how to get involved and how supporting the campaign will benefit your business www.nhc.ac.uk/GiveAFuture

SKILLS & DEVELOPMENT

Collaboration is key in skills revolution

What sort of skills will Britain need in the post-COVID-19 era? It’s a topical issue of fierce debate and the answer is far from straightforward. According to Lindsey Sherring, director of Hart Learning and Development, part of the answer lies in increased collaboration between companies, education providers, government and employment agencies to work out the skills that employers will need to fire an economic recovery.

Clearly, there has been a spike in redundancies during the pandemic and this has raised many issues. For example, someone who has been in work for many years and has recently lost their job may not be confident about going for an interview. They may need help with interview techniques or updating their CV. Colleges and universities may also need to adapt their learning provision to suit the changing skills needs of employers.

Lindsey says: “We’re currently living through the most challenging period in our lifetime. People are losing their jobs, employers are struggling and there’s increased uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus and how long it will continue to affect our lives.

Hart Learning and Development is well placed to facilitate these links so that businesses of all sizes can attract, retain and develop the best emerging talent in the market. It is part of the Hart Learning Group, a charitable organisation with a mission to spark fascination, inspire and motivate people through learning. The group includes: North Hertfordshire College, a large general further education college in Stevenage and Hitchin; the Hart Schools Trust, that currently sponsors Thomas Alleyne Academy and

“However, many companies in Hertfordshire are adapting well in this crisis. Some pubs are now offering takeaway services. “As companies adapt, they may need an influx of new skills within their businesses. Digital literacy will become more important as more people use technology to work from home. The ability to find new innovations that can protect health and wellbeing will also be vital. “We are working with SMEs, the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) and local job centres to see what skills are required by jobseekers and companies.

“It’s clear that we all have to work in partnership with each other to tackle a fast-evolving skills agenda. It can’t be done in isolation.”

Roebuck Academy in Stevenage; and Hart Learning & Development, a progressive new learning and development business that helps employers engage with and invest in emerging talent. The latter delivers apprenticeships and a range of employability programmes to get people fit for the workplace. With North Hertfordshire College, they have just launched a campaign called Give a Future, an initiative that pairs companies with college students for mutual benefit. Lindsey says: “The campaign has given companies the opportunity to tap into a talent pool to solve real-world issues within their business. It has enabled students to go into a company for a period of time to work on a new innovation or tackle a technical problem. “It therefore benefits companies and gives students valuable work experience that looks great on their CV. “We will keep working with key partners to address skills issues as Hertfordshire and the rest of the country recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.”

“The campaign has given companies the opportunity to tap into a talent pool to solve real-world issues within their business. It has enabled students to go into a company for a period of time to work on a new innovation or tackle a technical problem.” INSPIRE

THE LAST WORD

The Last Word

Emma Cameron

Partner and Corporate Lawyer Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP (VWV) Q

What do you do?

I specialise in Corporate law with a focus on the technology sector, ambitious start-ups and businesses that have the potential to scale up rapidly. As well as handling company sales, mergers and acquisitions, I advise on joint venture agreements, shareholder arrangements, fundraisings and corporate governance issues. I’m also heavily involved in general business development and I’m keen to identify opportunities to raise the profile of our law firm.

Who do you work for?

VWV has four offices (London, Bristol, Birmingham and Watford) and I am based in the Watford office, which is headed up by Partner Richard Phillips.

Why did you join the Chamber?

We were a bronze member of the Chamber for quite some time. We saw the benefits of attending Chamber events and building our network of contacts, so we upgraded our membership to platinum status. There is also a lot of cross over between the Chamber’s and VWV’s initiatives such as a focus on specific sectors, developing international business and promoting the businesses of tomorrow.

Patrons

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What you do get from it?

What advice would you give someone starting out?

We have found the sector specific summits really useful, especially the life sciences summit as this is a key sector for VWV and is led out of our Watford office by Partner Paul Gershlick. We are a supporter of the Chamber’s Entrepreneurs’ Foundation and are looking forward to getting to know the other supporters and helping local entrepreneurs to develop their businesses. Another positive about the Chamber is that the people there have an entrepreneurial spirit and really understand the key issues that businesses are facing. They’re very forward-thinking and actively promote their members via social media, events and other platforms.

Grow your network. Your local Chamber can be a really good way to do this. It is an opportunity not only to generate new business but also to learn new things about what’s happening in your industry. More generally, despite having a limited budget, do consider what legal protections your business may need and prioritise them in a way which is relevant for your specific business. Taking part in the Entrepreneurs’ Foundation will be a good way to get some pointers on how to do this.

How has it helped your business network?

We’ve expanded our network of contacts in Hertfordshire and gained some new work from Chamber members. There’s also the less tangible benefit of all of the promotional work that the Chamber does; you can’t really quantify this value but it has certainly helped our business.

What do you think is the biggest challenge affecting running and growing a business?

COVID-19, closely followed by Brexit, is the biggest challenge facing businesses due to the uncertainty it creates. This makes it difficult for businesses to plan even for the short term.

“We are a supporter of the Chamber’s Entrepreneurs’ Foundation and are looking forward to getting to know the other supporters and helping local entrepreneurs to develop their businesses.”

What support do you want from government?

In an ideal world, it would be good if the Government could listen to the concerns of businesses more before implementing support packages. For example, initially there was a conflict between key tax reliefs for investors and the structure of the Future Fund (a Government funding programme for innovative businesses requiring investors to match the amount lent by the Government). This issue could have been resolved sooner had the Government taken notice of comments from investors at an earlier stage.

How confident are you your business will grow in the future?

We’re well placed to weather the storm. We’re fortunate in that we provide a wide range of legal services so if there’s a reduction in one area of work, the shortfall can be made up by increases in other areas. The probate and wills, employment and dispute resolution parts of our business, for example, are really busy. Also, the fact that we focus on various sectors, including technology, life sciences and education, means that we have work coming in from different sources, as well as from abroad due to our international network, so we’re confident that we can navigate through these challenging times.

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Customs advisory and compliance Moving goods in and out of the UK? The customs procedures will change on 1st January 2021 regardless of any trade deal with the EU. We can help you prepare for the changes and provide a declarations service to keep your business moving. Get in touch and book a free customs consultation.

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