THINKING
BUSINESS • OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR KENT INVICTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • April - May 2022 •
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Ask the Digital Expert with Connor Styche of The Digital Lookout p15 The Big Interview with Tim Nicholson of Compare and Recycle p16-17 International Trade p32-33 Chamber Events p42-43 New Members p48-49
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Welcome & Contents
Put sustainability at the heart of your business caused by the COVID-19 crisis and now a conflict in eastern Europe which threatens world peace, global trade and security of energy supplies.
Welcome to the latest edition of Thinking Business. Over the last few years, it seems as though the country has lurched from one crisis to another. After years of austerity following the financial crash of 2007-08, we’ve had the fall-out from Brexit, two years of disruption
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I am writing this ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement so it remains to be seen what incentives will be on offer to help businesses through these challenging times. At the Chamber,
Legal Update
Members News Patron News
Kent Business Leaders Dinner
16-17 19-20 23-29 32-33 34-38 40
Our Patrons
Businesses can also do things to help themselves, particularly around the theme of sustainability (the focus of our cover feature in this edition). Many are now embedding sustainability within all of their business operations,
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Chamber News
Members News
In this context, it has not been an easy time for our battle-hardened businesses, which will now face further energy bill increases and more uncertainty surrounding raw material supplies and costs. The recent interest rate rise will come as another blow at a time when many firms are struggling under a myriad of rising cost pressures.
we’re continuing to support our members and other companies across the county by ensuring your voice is heard by government and providing opportunities to meet new connections through networking events, one-to-one advice and services to reduce your costs. If your ambitions stretch beyond the UK, we can connect you to accredited British Chambers of Commerce across the world through our Global Business Network.
The Big Interview Members News
Cover feature - Environment
International Trade Members News Members News
42-43
Chamber Events
45
Members News
46
Business News
48-49
New Members
50
Movers and Shakers
50
Last Word
rather than treating it as a separate add-on or ‘nice-to-have’. This is encouraging, not just for the climate but for the businesses and their staff. It enables organisations to cut unnecessary costs and waste and to show that their brands are meaningful and relevant, while workers are far more inclined to stay at a company that has values which align with their own.
Jo James OBE, Chief Executive, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
2332 Editorial and General Enquiries Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Ashford Business Point, Waterbrook Avenue, Sevington, Ashford, Kent. TN24 0LH Chief Executive: Jo James OBE Tel: 01233 503 838 Fax: 01233 503 687 info@kentinvictachamber.co.uk www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk Media No. 1865 Published April 2022 © Benham Publishing
Publisher
Benham Publishing Limited, Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Ian Fletcher Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 admin@benhampublishing.com www.benhampublishing.com
Advertising and Features
Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 karen@benhampublishing.com
Editor
Jez Davison Tel 0151 236 4141 Jez@benhampublishing.com
Production Manager
Peter Wilkinson Tel: 0151 236 4141 peter@benhampublishing.com
Disclaimer
Thinking Business is published for Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in Thinking Business are not necessarily those of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2022. 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.
Cover image designed by macrovector / Freepik
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Chamber News
Kent Association for the Blind
is the chosen Chamber Charity of the Year out tasks blind-folded or using spectacles that simulate specific eye conditions.
Kent Association for the Blind (KAB) is a charity that supports people with a sight impairment across Kent. Only 4% of people who are registered as sight impaired are completely blind, therefore our goal is to help them to make the best use of the vision they have.
In order to make your business more accessible, we can check that your website is accessible and make your documents into Braille, audio or large print. We can also visit your premises to carry out an environmental assessment, to help you become more accessible to sight impaired customers, staff or visitors. Iris at your event Iris is the name of our new mobile sight centre. We can visit your workplace and show you some gadgets that help people stay independent. We can also tell your employees or customers about the importance of good eye health.
It’s not just about supporting people with the practical things in life (like cooking meals, using a computer, walking with a cane or being able to work again), it’s also about providing emotional support to cope with the challenges that sight loss can bring.
Thank you! We are delighted to be the chosen Chamber Charity of the Year. Eithne Rynne, KAB’s Chief Executive, said: “Fundraising has been particularly difficult over the last few years, so we are grateful for the opportunity to meet new businesses and hopefully gain new supporters too. We believe this is a two-way partnership and we look forward to being able to help Kent businesses, by supporting them to be more accessible to people with a sight impairment.”
We help people by providing a range of different support services, including counselling, volunteer befriending, instruction on how to use equipment and gadgets, oneto-one support, mobility training, social groups and guidance on using assistive technologies. Love your eyes!
Sight is the sense that people fear losing the most. However, many people do not understand about good eye health. In the UK, almost two million people are living with significant sight loss. But did you know that over 50% of this sight loss could have been avoided? Having regular eye tests can mean that eye conditions and other health conditions are picked up and treated early to avoid long-term damage. There are so many ways that you can look after your eyes, including eating healthily, stopping smoking, protecting eyes from harmful UV rays and by blinking more. Through our Love your Eyes campaign, we can offer businesses virtual workshops to highlight the importance of good eye health.
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We believe this is a two-way partnership and we look forward to being able to help Kent businesses, by supporting them to be more accessible to people with a sight impairment. Helping your business
We can help you to feel more confident in employing someone with a sight impairment, by providing your teams with training.
Our interactive training course is currently FREE to businesses in Medway until June 2022. You’ll get to experience what it might be light to be sight impaired, by carrying
Find out more about KAB: www.kab.org.uk | fundraising@kab.org.uk You can follw KAB on Twitter and Instagram: @kentblind and on Facebook: kentassociationfortheblind
Legal Update
Responsible Investing
The commitment to responsible investing has significantly grown over the last 12 months as the landscape changes, politically, environmentally and of course due to the global pandemic. Individuals and businesses have a better understanding of, and greater commitment to, consciously behave in ways that have a positive effect on the communities from which they operate and live. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles have become increasingly familiar in the business world and frequently appear as agenda items at company board meetings, not least because focusing solely on profit is no longer considered acceptable or without reputational damage. However, ESG is about more than just mitigating the threat of reputational damage. Company boards are motivated by more than just profit and loss. Conversations are broader and shareholders and company directors expect their management teams to respond to, what can be uncomfortable, questions around the impact their companies have on the environment, their local communities and society more widely.
Getting the terminology right As ESG principles are more commonly used the terminology has elasticised in such a way that what one person identifies as ‘sustainable’ may not meet another’s criteria. Finding a fund or strategy that matches your own specific ethics and morals can become a greater challenge as a result. In response to the move towards broader and broader language the Financial Conduct Authority has reacted to confusing jargon by devising a common set of terms for advisers to use, know and understand. This should result in more advisers having a deeper understanding of the strategies they are recommending to investors, which should in turn lead to investors trusting that the recommendations meet their own requirements and that investments accurately reflect their wishes.
Making the right choice
Meaningful commitment
Not only can individuals and companies have an impact in terms of the way business is conducted and in their everyday lives, but also when making investment decisions. Fund managers consistently research the changing and growing needs of their investors and so will seek ways to incorporate new ideas into their investment approach. This is good for investors because it adds diversification, by spreading their investments across a range of funds that complement each other and meet their principles.
It is encouraging that both individuals and businesses are seeking to ensure that their investments are environmentally, and socially responsible. However, a potential problem in this area is termed ‘greenwashing’ whereby a company provides the impression it is being more socially or environmentally responsible than it actually is, which makes it more difficult for fund managers to determine whether it warrants inclusion in a fund. This means that the research and analysis involved is much deeper, as managers not
only need to ensure that a company has the potential to provide growth, but they also need to know that the companies making up their funds reflect how it has been designed and described to investors and their advisers. With a more structured approach to terminology and focused research, investment companies are able to continue developing their existing strategies and introduce new ones to meet the changing needs of investors. This should make it easier for business and individual investors and their advisers going forward to choose strategies that align with both their financial and ESG ambitions. Whether an investor has no ESG preference or a set of specific requirements, the main role of the investment manager is to provide a return consistent with the agreed level of risk being taken. Ultimately, the returns provided by investment managers must warrant their charges and the evidence so far shows that when implementing some form of ESG strategy within a proposition, returns remain consistent with risk.
For further information on ESG investing, or other independent financial advice, please contact Girlings’ independent financial planner, Tracy Furminger.
Tracy Furminger Chartered Financial Planner Tel: 01227 768 374 Email: tracyfurminger@girlings.com
girlings.com
Employers – are you aware of the main employment tax risk areas within payroll? By Rick Schofield, Tax Partner at Azets rick.schofield@azets.co.uk
Termination payments There is a common misconception that any amounts paid up to £30,000 can simply be paid free of tax and NIC. However, a termination package is made up of various elements that may require different treatment and each component part should therefore be considered separately. To further complicate matters, the legislation for termination payments was updated in April 2018. There is now a requirement to carry out a Post-Employment Notice Pay (PENP) calculation to determine the notice pay element that is required to be subject to PAYE. In addition, from April 2020, amounts in excess of the £30,000 exemption are now liable to Class 1A NIC as well as PAYE tax.
Benefits and expenses
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The world of payroll is not as straight forward as it used to be.
Being on the frontline of employees’ pay, the Azets Payroll team are frequently asked about expenses and benefits. This is a large and complex topic with various reporting and tax and NIC nuances, depending on the expense or benefit and the wider situation of each spend.
Not only do employers pay employees with numerous different elements in addition to the usual wages and salary, but ever-evolving tax legislation has increased the complexities of remunerating employees, requiring more specialist knowledge and advice more often.
It firstly needs to be considered whether there are any exemptions that can be applied. If reportable, it can then be advised whether it should be a payroll or P11D item, or whether it can be included on a PAYE Settlement Agreement.
So, what are the key risk areas imposed by employment taxes within the payroll function that an employer should be aware of?
Where taxable benefits have been traditionally reported on P11D forms each year, employers have been gradually opting to switch over to
Thinking Business
payrolling benefits following its introduction in April 2016. As such, benefits are now becoming more the responsibility of Payroll rather than the Tax and Finance personnel who previously dealt with the P11D forms. Not only do employers need to make sure they register to payroll their benefits adequately, but the amounts to be payrolled need to be carefully calculated and updated throughout the year.
National minimum wage (NMW) The subject of NMW is not simply one of ensuring employees are paid at or above NMW rates for the work they do. What is quite commonly overlooked are the additional elements of the NMW legislation; namely, with regards to deductions and accommodation, and this is where employers can get caught out for inadvertently breaching these elements of the rules.
Internationally mobile employees Employees who work in an overseas location for their employer can create complex tax and social security issues that must be carefully considered, whether these be formal international assignments or simply more adhoc remote working arrangements. From a payroll perspective, it is not easy to understand what needs to be processed and in what jurisdiction. In many cases, tax aspects must be dealt with separately to social security.
Photo Mikhail Nilov from Pexels Photo byby Mikhail Nilov from Pexels
Not only do employers need to make sure they register to payroll their benefits adequately, but the amounts to be payrolled need to be carefully calculated and updated throughout the year. IR35
Share structures
Get in touch
With the changes to the IR35 rules for public sector organisations in April 2017 and for the private sector in April 2021, there is now a requirement to payroll payments made to contractors operating via a Personal Service Company (PSC) who are determined to be inside IR35.
Shares issued or promised to employees by their employer will have some intricate tax and NIC implications depending on the plan and its criteria, and each arrangement must be considered in detail.
Unlike many payroll bureau providers who simply process the amounts provided to them each week or month for employers, the Azets Payroll team has the support of our internal specialist Employment Tax and HR consultancy teams, ensuring we offer comprehensive employer solutions. For further information or to discuss your particular circumstances, please get in touch with one of our specialists Azets advisors.
For such ‘deemed’ employees, there are various nuances that have to be taken into account in order to correctly process through the payroll.
Arrangements, be they unapproved share plans or other structures providing shares in a business, may trigger a PAYE withholding obligation, and care needs to be taken to understand how to process these transactions through the payroll correctly.
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Azets targets 1,000 apprentices in 2022 The UK Top 10 accountancy firm currently has 612 apprentices across England, with 174 students having joined the business in August 2021. Azets is now recruiting another 350 students and expects to reach the 1,000 milestone by the end of this year.
Azets, the UK’s largest regional accountancy firm and business advisor to SMEs, with several offices in Kent, has announced plans to recruit an additional 350 new graduates and school leavers as it targets a total of 1,000 apprentices in 2022. The firm said 207 of the new recruits will be in the South of England.
Investing in the next generation of talent is a key strategy for Azets as it looks to further expand its offering and continue to deliver a high-quality service to SME businesses across the UK. In January 2022, the firm’s current student cohort achieved a 95% first-time pass rate in ICAEW, ICAS and ACCA exams. Azets’ latest graduate recruitment drive is part of a wider initiative which includes 650 new jobs this year, as the firm accelerates its strategy to increase revenue by 50% in the next five years. The new student intake will be spread across
Azets’ 85 UK offices, the largest UK network of local accounting and business advisory offices. Paul Clifford, a regional CEO at Azets who started his career as an apprentice at a small firm in the Midlands, said: “I left school at 18 not knowing what career path to take, like many people at that age. I was fortunate to be given an apprenticeship which provided me with training, qualifications, and experience. I qualified with ACCA at 21 before joining Azets as a partner to run a newly acquired office. Since then, I have set up a business development department, run several successful offices, assisted with a number of new acquisitions, and been appointed Regional CEO, with responsibility for over 300 people and 13 offices.” Current vacancies can be found at www.azets.co.uk/careers.
Pension changes could offset NIC rise By Adam Gibbs, Corinthian Benefits Employers and employees will have to pay an additional 1.25% in National Insurance contributions (NICs) from April 2022 to boost funding for the NHS. Employees currently pay 12% in NICs on earnings between £9,568 and £50,270, and 2% on earnings above that, while employers currently pay a flat rate of 13.8% from £8,840 upwards.
to consider salary increases to help offset this reduction.
However, whilst this additional tax will help the country, this will mean a reduction in employees’ take-home pay. Employers may therefore need
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As an alternative, employers may wish to look at boosting their employees’ pay by changing how staff make their pension contributions. Not only would this enable employees to maintain their current take-home pay levels, it would also generate savings for the employer. Below is the annual effect for an employee earning £30,000 per annum. Current tax year 2021/2022
Next tax year 2022/2023
Additional Cost
Employee NIC
£2,451.84
£2,707.24
£255.40
Company NIC
£2,920.08
£3,184.58
£264.50
This increase in NICs is estimated to generate an additional £12 billion for health and social care.
Members News
This example would result in an additional company cost of £2,645 for every 10 employees.
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Shaping your sustainable future Jake Standing, Partner and Head of Business Advisory at Kreston Reeves Business priorities naturally change and evolve in response to the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological environments. Sometimes, those priorities need to change almost overnight, as we saw with the pandemic, and in other instances, change will happen over many years. Businesses have over the past decade looked to minimise the impact they have on our planet by reducing their carbon footprint or adopting new sustainable business practices. In our research and report, Shaping your future, over half (51%) told us that they are to a ‘greater extent’ and a further 36% to ‘some extent’ becoming more sustainable and purpose-led. There are many compelling reasons for every organisation to change the way they do business, not least of which is to help protect our precious planet. We will touch on two reasons - attracting and retaining staff and winning new business – in this article. But first, it might be helpful to share the Kreston Reeves journey as a way of illustrating where a business can start and, importantly, measure its progress.
UN Sustainability Goals It is perhaps a cliché but one with an element of truth in that accountants like to measure activity. That is why when Kreston Reeves started its sustainability journey, we looked to the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) and standards held by B Corps. There are 17 SDGs in total, with each goal having clear targets and a programme to help businesses achieve that goal. Not
all 17 SDGs are relevant or achievable for businesses. Kreston Reeves identified four achievable goals in which to define its progress: ‘Good health and wellbeing’, ‘Quality education’, ‘Reduced inequalities’ and ‘Climate action’.
Competitive advantage
We report on our progress against these SDGs every year, alongside our wider charitable and corporate social responsibility activity in our Impact Report www.krestonreeves.com/impact.
Equally, the sustainability agenda is now firmly on the minds of customers and clients. Individuals are increasingly making ethical choices in their buying behaviours and businesses expect their suppliers to hold the same high standards they stand for.
It is a helpful and well-supported way for any business looking to take or build upon its sustainability journey and has helped set Kreston Reeves apart from its peers.
A strong employer brand The labour market is heating up, with staff finding it easier to move jobs and with more choice for better flexibility, working conditions and culture/values. With businesses squeezed on many fronts – for example, with increased energy costs, supply chain delays and tax increases – employers need to look beyond wage increases to attract and keep good people. A strong employer brand is critical. Businesses that have strong sustainable credentials where they look to make a positive impact on the environment and the communities in which they operate are at a competitive advantage. Employees increasingly want to work for an employer who does the right thing, that treats the environment, businesses in their supply chains, and their own staff in a sustainable and ethical way.
This needs to be more than just words – we are alive more than ever to greenwashing – and a commitment to sustainability is a valued and powerful tool.
Service-led businesses and suppliers to the public sector will be particularly alive to this having for many years had to clearly state the sustainability credentials and how they are measured. And whilst this can be considered good practice, it is not unreasonable to expect legislation in the near future that will require businesses to take responsibility and reduce the impact they have on our planet. Businesses that have strong sustainable practices will naturally have a head start if and when faced with legislation.
Further reading The following resources may help businesses who are on their own sustainability journey: • Kreston Reeves Impact Report – krestonreeves.com/impact • UN Sustainability Goals - sdgs.un.org/goals • B Corps - bcorporation.uk
Jake Standing, Partner and Head of Business Advisory at Kreston Reeves can be contacted by email at jake.standing@krestonreeves.com. Visit www.krestonreeves.com/shapingyourfuture or call us on 0330 124 1399.
Patron News
Connect with the University of Kent A recent report by Frontier Economics revealed that Universities in the East of England contribute £9.4 billion to the UK economy. At the University of Kent, we are well aware of the impact we can, and do have as an anchor institution in Kent and Medway. We are committed to delivering significant cultural, social and economic benefits to regional, national and international communities. Alongside supplying 5,500 career-ready graduates to the job market each year, we conduct practical, cutting-edge research which links to local needs. However, we want to do more to support our region's economic, environmental and social challenges. That’s why we are constantly seeking new ways to connect with and listen to business and industry. With in-person events back on the cards, we are delighted to be working with the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and other partners to offer events where you can share your business challenges, connect with our team and collaborate with our academic experts face-to-face, to help you to innovate and grow your business.
Events for your Diary Kent and Medway Business Summit (8:50-14:30, 27 April)
Join 300 other businesses, key policymakers and leading academics from across the South East to discuss business opportunity and sustainability.
Pathway to Net Zero Workshops (various dates in April-May)
Take a deep-dive into all things net zero and take steps to make your business more sustainable with support from the University of Kent and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.
We Are Listening Workshops (9:30-12:00, various dates in May-June)
Come along to share your business needs and challenges with the University of Kent and the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce in a series of interactive workshops focussing on: •
Environmental Sustainability Strategy
•
Creativity, Culture and Heritage
•
Cyber Security Challenges
•
Workplace Wellbeing
The University of Kent has a full programme of events to engage with business and industry. To find our more and register for any of these events, head to
www.kent.ac.uk/knowledge-exchange-innovation/news-and-events
Managed IT Services Provider InfoTech Solutions rebrands as Air IT following acquisition The two award-winning MSPs have completed their integration. This sees the retirement of its former name and branding. Air IT is a leading supplier of managed IT and communication services, and also provides innovative cloud transformation, cyber security and business intelligence solutions to SMEs in the UK.
Kent-based IT support provider, InfoTech Solutions (UK) Limited, a Patron of Kent Invicta Chamber, has completed the final stages of its integration with Air IT, following its acquisition which was announced in March 2021.
In March 2021, InfoTech became one of eight businesses so far acquired by Air IT, as part of their mission to become a national provider with a local presence. Air IT chose to join forces with InfoTech due to their shared ethos, values and approach. The integration sees InfoTech take on the Air IT name, branding and website - solidifying Air IT’s
expansion into Kent. Air IT is keen to amplify its presence and invest further within the London and South East region, where it also has offices in Central London, Oxford and Reading. This is the fourth full rebrand completed by Air IT, following that of its Birmingham, Coventry and Oxford branches (formerly known as Microtrading, Nexus GS and Riverbank IT Management). Jason Foord, founder and Managing Director of InfoTech, said: “Integrating with Air IT has been a smooth transition and we look forward to the next phase in our journey with a fantastic team that continues to grow.”
He added, “Though we might look different from now on, there will be no changes for our clients in terms of our everyday support and high standards of service. By combining the knowledge and skillsets of both teams, we are enhancing the way we work, adding to the services we offer and continually improving our clients’ experience.” James Healey, Chief Operating Officer at Air IT, said: “We’re really proud to have introduced the Air IT brand to Kent and to be working with some of the region’s top businesses. The InfoTech team are a huge asset to the Group, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, which gives us even greater capabilities. Now that InfoTech has completed its integration with Air IT, we look forward to a great future together empowering Kent SMEs to succeed through technology.”
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Members News
Learn intestacy lessons from the rich and famous! Heather Dunlop, Furley Page Making a will is the most effective way to determine who will benefit from your assets when you die, but an estimated 60% of UK adults do not have a valid will, leaving their estate to be divided under intestacy rules. Heather Dunlop, a Solicitor specialising in wills, probate and intestacy at Furley Page, said: “A will is essential to ensure that wealth and assets pass to the deceased’s intended recipients, but too few people in the UK have provisions in place. “When you die without a will, predetermined laws of intestacy decide who should inherit your estate and in what shares. While these laws seek to deal with matters in a fair way, they do not account for modern family structures, family dynamics or the personal wishes of the deceased. “You would expect the rich and famous to have excellent financial advice, but like many ordinary people they sometimes do not get around to making a will and setting out their particular wishes. “The lessons that can be learned from celebrities as diverse as Pablo Picasso, Prince, Amy Winehouse, Rik Mayall and Stieg Larsson, show why you should not put off making your will.” For example, when actor Rik Mayall died intestate, his wealth was subject to a substantial inheritance tax liability that might have been reduced if he had planned his affairs during his lifetime. Heather continued: “It is only by seeking advice on the preparation of a will that your own situation can be fully considered, as there are many ways in which intestacy provisions might not be suitable for your needs.”
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Hydrogen pioneer HyPoint chooses Discovery Park The UK’s potential to be a global leader in the development of hydrogen-powered aviation uses has been recognised following a multimillion investment by a Silicon Valleybased US business into Kent. HyPoint is investing £11m in its team, as well as a new research, development and production centre at Discovery Park, Kent. It is part of the company’s commitment to advancing zero carbon-emission aviation by developing its turbo aircooled hydrogen fuel cell systems for aviation and urban air mobility in the UK.
at the Sandwich-based science and innovation park.
The environmental potential offered by HyPoint was recognised by 10 Downing Street at the Green Investment Summit in October 2021. By the end of 2025, the company expects to employ more than 100 workers and have 100 megawatts of onsite plant capacity. Transport Minister Trudy Harrison, who serves as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, said:
“HyPoint is the kind of visionary tech company that we welcome. This move is a strong vote of confidence in the UK and a major boost for green jobs in the local area.” Dr Alex Ivanenko, HyPoint’s founder and chief executive, added: “With its massive technical and academic talent pool, a globally-recognised ecosystem of hydrogen manufacturers, and strong transport decarbonisation targets, the UK is well-positioned to become a global leader in the hydrogen economy.”
The NASA award-winning hydrogen fuel cell pioneer is accelerating hydrogen innovation in the UK from its new flagship location, which is less than two hours southeast of London. From its new facilities, HyPoint will apply its technology for a variety of aviation and urban air mobility uses, including for logistic drones, air taxis, electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), and fixed-wing airplanes. Over the next two years, the company plans to increase its team to more than 50 employees
Family fund celebrates ten-year milestone The Loveday Family Fund is celebrating ten years of supporting vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised children and young people. The Loveday Fund is one of eighty philanthropic funds administered by Kent Community Foundation, which support grassroots charities, community groups, families and children. In the last ten years, the fund has distributed £175,000 to good causes. The Loveday Fund was set up in 2012. Over the last ten
years, recipients of the fund have included The Kent Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, The Alkham Valley Community Project, The Blackfish Academy of Performing Arts and What’s Coming Out of the Box.
Josephine McCartney, chief executive of Kent Community Foundation, said: “The difference The Loveday Fund has made to the lives of children and young people in Kent is vast. It’s important that we talk about the people behind the money
because without them, we don't have a foundation and without the foundation we can't distribute money to good causes. “Kent Community Foundation creates a link between philanthropists such as the Loveday family and those in the community who need support. We assist businesses and families, who are able and want to help, to manage their charitable giving by establishing a fund with us. It is then our role to link the donors to the grassroots charities, community groups, families and children who need help.” To enquire about establishing a fund with Kent Community Foundation, visit www.kentcf.org.uk
Members News
Mary’s Meals tackles child poverty Mary’s Meals provides one good meal to some of the world’s poorest children every school day.
Our vision is that every child receives one daily meal in their place of education and that all those who have more than they need, share with those who lack even the most basic things. Working together with those who share our vision, we believe there is no good reason why this cannot be realised. Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from many walks of life and different backgrounds. Our mission is to enable people to offer their money, goods, skills, time or prayer and, through this involvement, provide the most effective help to those suffering the effects of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest communities. We welcome all into the Mary’s Meals family and believe that everyone has
Lifeboat Lettings strikes gold
The year 2022 started with gold for Lifeboat Lettings in Ashford. The company achieved first place in the British Property Awards in the category of “Best Lettings Agent, Ashford, Kent area”.
something important to contribute to the realisation of our vision. We have volunteers and volunteer groups scattered throughout the country. In Kent we have a growing volunteer base and have enjoyed attending events throughout Kent. We look forward to engaging with more people in the Kent area who share our vision. www.marysmeals.org.uk
The company said: “We’re really proud of what the team has achieved and grateful for the recognition of all the hard work we’ve put in through the last couple of years. We’re looking forward to being submitted into the broader county-wide competition. Founded in late 2017, Lifeboat Lettings is a small independent, Ashford-based lettings agent. It manages single family buy-to-lets for landlords throughout Kent, and specialises in managing rooms in shared accommodation. The company said: “We’re not on the high street and rely on word of mouth and recognition from our customers to promote our business. This award is all the more special, knowing that we’ve been recognised ahead of many of our big budget competitors.” https://lifeboatlettings.com
Tax process platform set to help accountants A new and unique technology platform has been launched to simplify complex tax processes with step-by-step guidance, concise commentary, custom documentation and access to HMRC material.
This will enable accountants to take on higher quality tax planning work whilst ensuring that full compliance standards are met. TaxWin has been developed by Indicator - FL Memo, an independent publisher of advice and solutions relating to tax, accounting,
personnel and health and safety issues for more than 90 years.
TaxWin is an online platform launched with more than 22 detailed tax processes, which include everything from the purchase of its own shares by a company to trading allowance elections. To be updated on a monthly basis, it comes with in-depth commentaries, links to current HMRC guidance and ready-to-use documents that can be autocompleted and sent directly to clients. TaxWin is sold as an annual subscription for £899 with
no limit on the number of users per subscription. There is currently a 20% launch discount until June.
Duncan Callow, publishing director at Indicator – FL Memo, said: “We developed and launched TaxWin after feedback from a wide range of accountants. They told us they were turning down lucrative work that they weren’t confident to deal with due to a lack of detailed knowledge of the processes and documentation required. This might be the sort of work that’s requested infrequently by their current clients or that they’ve typically been referring elsewhere.
“TaxWin gives them the confidence to say ‘yes’ to more client requests. It’s a highly intuitive platform that guides them through each step of the process, with the ability to share it with other members of the practice or the client directly. TaxWin ensures that all the compliance boxes are ticked whilst opening the door to new tax planning opportunities.” For more information visit www.taxwin.co.uk/#demo and www.indicator-flm.co.uk
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Kent Business Leaders Dinner
Kent Business Leaders Dinner Held at Shepherd Neame Brewery, Faversham The latest Kent Business Leaders Dinner, staged in association with the Kent Invicta Chamber Patrons, was held in the Old Brewery Store, part of the Shepherd Neame Brewery. Shepherd Neame, which is based in the heart of Faversham, is Britain’s oldest brewery and is famous for such ales as 1698, Bishops Finger and the iconic Spitfire. Over 60 guests were welcomed by Kent Invicta Chamber Chief Executive, Jo James and were treated to an evening of delicious food and local beverages. Alongside the brewery’s famous ales, wines from local vineyards Biddenden and Westwell were served with the meal.
Jo James, Chief Executive, hosting her table
After dinner Jonathan Neame, Chief Executive of Shepherd Neame, gave an inspiring and sobering talk about how the brewery and the hospitality sector in general have been impacted by both Brexit and the pandemic and he outlined his thoughts on the future landscape. Photography by Trevor Sturgess
Ventsi Tsankova and Aaron Hawkins, MHA MacIntyre Hudson
Drinks Reception
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Jo James with Cheryl Causebrook from the Chamber's Charity of the Year, Donations with a Difference
Sampling the Shepherd Neame beers
Nicola Webster and Graham Mitchell, Caxtons Chartered Surveyors
Speaker, Jonathan Neame, CEO of Shepherd Neame
Tracey Kerly, Ashford Borough Council & Liz Gibney, Lee Evans Partnership
Ask the Digital Expert
THE TRUTH BEHIND SOCIAL MEDIA
By Connor Styche
As digital marketing experts, we get asked about social media all the time. Most often the question is, ‘how often should I post on my social media channels?’ There seems to be a misconception that you need to post every day, or as often as possible to increase engagement and/or following. News flash. This isn’t true. Stop posting because ‘you need to post’. Haven’t got anything relevant or interesting to say? Then don’t say it. It won’t capture people’s attention, and to be honest, if it’s your fifteenth post that week, chances are your audience are now on auto pilot and scrolling straight past. Posting to a strict schedule, say once a day, every day, just comes across as contrived and forced, which is exactly what it is. This assumption of what it means to post ‘regularly’ is why a lot of people post the ‘what I had for dinner’ stuff on LinkedIn these days - because they have nothing better to say, but think they need to say something for algorithms to work. Either that or they’re simply intent on plugging their product left, right and centre.
‘Regular’ posting should be based on a plan of content, of varying types. It could be to promote your product, highlight your team’s achievements, your personality, your brand or to share your knowledge. It could be completely random, something that isn’t about business at all, but the point is, it should feel human, not robotic. If it’s not flowing and you’re having to think too hard about what to say, chances are, it’s not going to get anyone’s attention. Let’s take LinkedIn as an example; it’s primarily a business platform. Does that mean you should shamelessly promote how fantastic your business and product is every single day? No. Business is done through building good relationships, and you can’t build good relationships if all you do is talk about your product. People are more than the businesses they work for or the products they sell. And from experience, people want to know who is sitting behind the brand as this is ultimately who they buy into and who will be delivering the service. The answer… Don’t post the same type of content all the time, keep it natural, but with a purpose. Make
a plan but don’t rigidly stick to it; if you have something relevant or interesting to say, then say it. Don’t overthink the day or the time, just add it into the plan, like you would in a face-toface conversation. Having recently taken on a client from another marketing agency, the proof is in the pudding. The agency had been posting on their social media channels once a day, Monday to Friday. The average reach of their posts was 117 impressions. Now, we’ve been posting for them for six months, twice or three times a week, sometimes only once a week, but the average post’s impressions has risen to 798. Oh, and the number of enquiries they’re receiving has risen by 19% too. It’s about quality, not quantity. Be memorable, not mundane. We also need to remember that marketing is so much more than social media. Sure, it’s become the easiest form of marketing to deliver, but it can be damaging to your brand if not used properly. And, if social media is all you’re doing, you’re missing a trick.
The Big Interview
Compare and Recycle helps firms to improve their carbon footprint Tim Nicholson has carved a niche as a commercially savvy business manager who has worked across several sectors, from recruitment to magazine advertising and sales. Now he’s doing his bit to help businesses be less wasteful with their devices as commercial manager at Maidstone-based Compare and Recycle, the UK’s largest independent mobile phone recycling comparison site. 16 Thinking Business
The Big Interview
The award-winning company has helped more than 2.5 million customers receive in excess of a hundred million pounds for their used devices by enabling them to compare a vast array of different recycling companies on the market. It was a far cry from Tim’s early career, when he went into a customer service-based role after gaining a business and economics qualification at college. Then he caught the travelling bug and jetted off around the world, sampling the sights and sounds of Australia and Asia. Tim says: “Back then, I didn’t want to grow up and settle into a career! I managed to find work in Sydney and became friends with a recruitment consultant. Every Friday we went to the pub and he left us with his company credit card – so I thought it might be a fun industry to get into! “After returning to the UK, I got a job in B2B magazine advertising and sales with a view to eventually getting into recruitment. I established a regular recruitment section within the magazine and then landed my first job in the industry. “I enjoyed recruitment so much; it gave me a real buzz. My enthusiasm and natural aptitude for the work meant that I progressed quickly up the ranks, from consultant to a managerial role.” Tim eventually launched his own firm, CIM Recruitment, in 2009. But the pressure of being his own boss eventually took its toll. “When you run your own business, you have to do everything,” he says. “I wanted to have a better work-life balance so I started to look for other opportunities. When
I ran my company, I recruited for Compare and Recycle so I knew the MD very well. That’s how I joined the team. Now we’re the UK’s largest independent mobile phone recycling site. We operate across the country with the vision to expand internationally.’’ Our main customers are individual consumers but businesses cycle through as many if not more devices contributing to the e-waste problem. We want to help businesses become more sustainable with their used devices. “The move to hybrid working has significantly increased the demand for digital equipment. As a result, many businesses are now left with unwanted or outdated devices that they need to get rid of.” Latest statistics from the United Nations show that e-waste is the fastest growing waste stream globally. Annually the figures keep rising and it is estimated to have reached an eye-watering 57.4 million tonnes in 2021. Europe alone generates 12 million tonnes of e-waste each year – equivalent of 350 cruise ships the size of the Queen Mary. Tim says: “While the need for businesses to recycle devices is apparent, the main concern is data safety. There’s a lot of sensitive data in these devices, which could have massive implications legally and reputationally for businesses if this information ended up in the wrong hands. We work with a panel of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive approved partners ensuring devices are data-wiped to GDPR standards and don’t end up in landfill. “The recycled
devices are often resold to education authorities, charities among others to give them a second life.” With more people and businesses looking to improve their carbon footprint, Compare and Recycle is the solution to do the right thing and dispose of used devices responsibly. In 2021 alone Compare and Recycle prevented more than 26t of devices from becoming e-waste and achieved a whopping £29 million for their customers via its comparison site. Now it’s looking to expand its service offering and help firms recycle tech such as MacBooks, laptops, tablets and phones. “Around 83% of devices globally aren’t recycled responsibly,” says Tim. “Solving the problem comes down to each individual and businesses making the right choices and rethinking the way we purchase, use and dispose of electronics.” “There’s a change in buying habits now, with more people choosing refurbished tech. Previously, consumers typically went for shiny new devices but now they’re making more sustainable choices and saving money at the same time by shopping refurbished options." Compare and Recycle has undertaken a study on which UK cities recycle the most tech and Newcastle upon Tyne has claimed the top spot. “We’re three years into this project which helps to raise awareness of the need to recycle goods.” says Tim. “It’s great to recognise local cities for their efforts and help others do likewise.”
Around 83% of devices globally aren’t recycled responsibly,” says Tim. “Solving the problem comes down to each individual and businesses making the right choices and rethinking the way we purchase, use and dispose of electronics.
inside story Tim Nicholson Favourite food? Thai food. Favourite tipple? Red wine or whisky. Favourite holiday? Anywhere with a warm ocean, beach volleyball, swim-up bar and a kids club!
Describe your family life? I'm fortunate to have three kids – a son and two daughters. I love spending as much time as possible on days out, walks, trips to London or a quiet evening with a movie. How do you spend your downtime? Downtime – what’s that?! I’m enjoying getting back into the gym after a long layoff. I also enjoy a spot of golf and meals out with friends. Being able to go out still feels like a gift at times. What are your key strengths as a manager? My energy and commitment to getting projects completed. I love being part of a team that works towards a common goal. And your limitations? I tend to want to be involved in everything and often end up taking on more tasks than necessary. Best thing about doing business in the county? We’re lucky to be located in a hub area close to London and have access to great talent and likeminded businesses that help driving positive change in the south east of England. Famous person you’d most like to spend dinner with? David Attenborough. Most interesting fact about yourself? That’s a question for someone else to answer but I have no webbed feet or hidden skeletons to reveal!
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THREE TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR ORGANISATION GREENER Sustainability and environmental consciousness are at the heart of everything we at EKC Group do. To ensure this continues to be true, we’ve implemented a range of micro and macro methods to gauge our environmental successes and goals. Below are some of the ways in which we’re working towards carbon net zero status, practises that you or your team could also use as the country collaborates on environmental impact reduction.
Sustainability Strategy A major step in progressing towards carbon net zero status was crafting and publishing a Group-wide Sustainability Strategy, which lays out the steps we’ll be taking as an organisation to reach the status by 2040. Due to the ever-improving technology springing up in the field of environmentalism, it isn’t wise to set out inflexible goalposts too far into the future. That’s why our strategy instead highlights what we can reasonably achieve in the next few years, after which our progress will be reviewed, and an updated strategy created. While our Group-wide strategy encompasses all six of our Colleges and all four of our Business Units, there’s nothing to stop you from making team-wide or personal strategies.
Sustainability Pledges In addition to our Group-wide strategy, every department across all six of our Colleges have written pledges detailing how they will work to create less waste and pollution. These pledges lay out objectives in a way which can be easily seen, remembered and targeted. Already these pledges are paying dividends not just to our learners’ educations but also to business partnerships. One example is the Folkestone College Construction department, which pledge to reuse and recycle as many materials as possible. As the construction industry is one of the largest consumers of raw materials in the world, the department is actively teaching its students best practise for building with the environment in mind. To this end, the department worked with external partner Wates SmartSpace - part of the Wates Group – donated cavity lintels that were surplus to its requirements. These will now be put to use by learners in the practical sections of their coursework. So if you want to promote personal environmental responsibility among your team or even individually to yourself, creating sustainability pledges are a great way to do so.
Social Action Proactive efforts in the areas your business serves are also a great way of encouraging wider social change towards environmental
best practise. This could include efforts to boost the community’s biodiversity, clearing hedgerows and parks of litter, or starting a public recycling drive. Students and staff across EKC Group have done all of these activities during our regular ‘Community Weeks. For example, Sheppey College’s Landscaping department built planters at Sittingbourne Station, increasing commuter satisfaction while increasing bee population and pollination. The department also cut grass and weeded around Kemsley Train Station in collaboration with the Kent Community Rail Partnership. Late last year, Canterbury College’s Supported Learning department went to Dane John Gardens on a litter picking expedition. By taking part in targeted social action, creating sustainability pledges or setting out a sustainability strategy, your organisation can be quantifiably work towards benefiting the local and global environment at little cost and with great effect.
Clifftop tribute to men who won Battle of Britain Businesses across Kent are being invited to support a wellrespected charity that honours the memory of the airmen who won the Battle of Britain in 1940.
The trust, which also runs a modern visitor centre that tells the tale of
Members News the most famous aerial battle in the history of this country, has a strong social media presence and is offering a range of benefits to corporate sponsors in return for helping to offset the £250,000 running costs it faces each year. Bronze, silver and gold sponsorship packages will give businesses the opportunity to support this well-respected local charity, which receives no routine public funding, while sharing in its impressive media profile. The fewer than 3,000 aircrew who took part in the Battle of Britain in the summer and early autumn of 1940 are listed on the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall at
the memorial, which sits on Kent’s famous White Cliffs. The sponsorship packages include social media promotion, recognition in The Wing, advertisements in the trust’s annual publication, free room hire, guided tours and attendance at the annual Memorial Day, depending on the level chosen. As well as keeping alive the memory of the Few, the trust has an ambitious education agenda and is keen to ensure current and future generations understand the bravery and sacrifice of the RAF men who won the Battle of Britain. For details see www.battleofbritainmemorial. org/sponsorship
The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust looks after the National Memorial to the Few, the men of the RAF made famous in Sir Winston Churchill’s famous speech: “never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few”. Based at Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, it is hoping that companies looking to fulfil their corporate social responsibility pledges, find a local charity of the year to support or raise their profile by getting involved with a worthwhile cause will come on board.
Charter aims to improve diversity and inclusion in construction The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has launched its Charter for Competitive Advantage and Enhanced Employee Belonging.
The release combines a special report on diversity and inclusion in the construction sector with a charter which the worldwide industry is being encouraged to sign. Statistics highlighted in the report indicate that diversity and inclusion in construction is a matter of business survival, and
of vital strategic importance for construction business leaders.
The aim of the charter is to promote positive change with its five actions for improving diversity and inclusion. It is hoped that employers that sign up will see improvements in the diversity and sense of belonging in their organisations, helping to address the skills shortage increasingly affecting the sector. The five actions cited in the report are supported by case studies
from the global construction industry to demonstrate the impact and effectiveness of each one. The actions are: showing leadership, making a plan, shaping the culture, being transparent and being accountable. Caroline Gumble, chief executive of CIOB, said: “Over the years, CIOB has examined some of the biggest issues in society, suggesting actions that can be taken to address them and offering leadership by making the case for doing so.
“As an industry, we have the potential to drive positive change and we can do this by ensuring that we promote equality and support initiatives which break down barriers, reduce the impact of bias and actively support all those who aspire to have a fulfilling and progressive career in our industry. “This charter sets out a direction of travel and now each of us must plot the course towards a more inclusive industry.” For more information visit www.ciob.org
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Members News
Chamber members announce marketing and branding collaboration Chamber members Izzy PR and Howell & Hicks Creative have announced a collaboration to support other members with their marketing and branding. Sarah Hawes from Izzy PR and Jen Howell from Howell & Hicks Creative have, for the last couple of years, run into each other numerous times on the fortnightly virtual networking events. In true Chamber spirit, they have always supported one another at the events, so have now announced an official collaboration to offer other Chamber members multiple marketing skills in one place.
Giving tired antiques a new life. Restoration and upcycling: Reviving your pre-loved old boxes, tea caddies, writing slopes and other items that have seen better days. Sympathetically restoring and repurposing items to help reduce waste.
ANTIQUE REVIVALS UK For further imformation: Email: antiquerevivalsuk@gmail.com Tel: 07496854411 www.facebook.com/antiquerevivals
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For a small fee Izzy PR will offer marketing strategy and copywriting/editing. Howell & Hicks Creative will provide graphic design and artwork services.
They can help Chamber members with a variety of services, from creating key messaging and artwork for their Member2Member offers to writing branded social media content, advertising and exhibition material. Jen, who runs Howell & Hicks Creative with Linda Hicks, said: “The Chamber is a brilliant place to promote your business, attract new customers and clients, and
find new people to collaborate with. Sometimes, our clients need extra support with their marketing, copywriting and editing. Thanks to this new partnership with Izzy PR, we can now offer that, working together to raise their profile and boost their business reputation.”
Sarah from Izzy PR said: “For the clients, it’s so much easier dealing with one supplier instead of sourcing two or three separate ones. Depending on the type of project, one of us will lead it, so the client has a single point of contact.” To find out more, contact Sarah Hawes at Izzy PR or Jen Howell at Howell & Hicks Creative
Giving antiques a new lease of life From a young age my father shared his restoration skills and knowledge with me. After a recent career change, I attended several restoration courses and thanks to the strong support I have around me, I started Antique Revivals UK back in 2021.
Every mark tells a story and sometimes hidden secrets are revealed during restoration such as names of previous owners, dates, old photographs and letters, or previously unknown concealed compartments.
I restore and repurpose antique wooden boxes such as tea caddies, writing slopes and other items that have seen better days. I am often found hunting at local boot fairs, antique fairs, or auctions for items that were once loved and in need of restoration. I sympathetically restore the items back to how they once were, or as close as possible, without losing the character and history of the items.
I am passionate about protecting the environment so wherever possible, I try to re-use packing materials, and I will be using signage and business cards made from recycled paper.
Items such as tea caddies or writing slopes that have been inherited or handed down within the family and are no longer used for their original purpose can be converted into more useful current day items such as jewellery boxes, trinket boxes, or grooming boxes.
By restoring or repurposing antique boxes, it also helps to reduce waste going to landfill sites. What started as a hobby has now become a small but growing business.
Creative content & brilliant branding to get you and your business known Collaboration is what it’s all about. Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce members, Izzy PR and Howell & Hicks Creative have teamed up to offer multiple marketing skills in one place. Izzy PR
Howell & Hicks Creative
Copywriting: Blogs, articles, adverts, social media, printed materials & websites
Advertising: Press ads, posters, banners and online ads that get you noticed
Marketing Strategy and Support: Identifying key messages & target audiences
Public Relations: Getting you, your story, and your products/services in the media Crisis Communications: Managing the media and any negative stories
Branding: Professional logo design and brand guidelines for future consistency
Print Design: Effective sales brochures, promotional leaflets and product packaging Event Materials: Design, print and delivery of exhibition stands and merchandise
Exclusive member-only offer:
250 word story for Thinking Business magazine £100 Chamber website blog £100 Chamber website directory listing £45 Member-2-Member advert £95
Full Package - everything above
£250
Get in touch today 07748 631100 izzypr.co.uk
What does long Covid mean for your business? Ross Miller, Head of Workplace Wellbeing Services and Sam Delaney, Occupational Health Clinical Lead at Cantium Business Solutions explore the impact ‘long Covid’ could have on your business. To date, it’s estimated that over 2 million people have been impacted by long Covid. The symptoms which range from breathlessness and fatigue to weakness and cognitive dysfunction can affect an individual for weeks or even months, and the long-term outlook still isn’t known. In the face of a new, potentially large cohort of chronically ill employees, how can businesses manage the impact of long Covid in the workplace?
Be mindful of the impacts Being prepared for the potential impacts of long Covid on the workplace starts from the top. Business leaders and any line managers need to understand the illness and the different ways it can affect people. If employees do start presenting symptoms, then they should be referred to occupational health professionals, so they can be assessed and then their fitness for work determined. It’s important to note that reviews of fitness to work can be made later, so the first decision reached does not have to be the final decision.
Planning support ahead of time With infection rates still currently high, it’s natural to want to think ahead to alleviate any potential staffing problems but it’s a difficult one to call. Typically, chronic illnesses cannot be diagnosed quickly, so it won’t be obvious what you need to plan for right away. The minimum time threshold for diagnosis of long Covid is twelve weeks, this means individuals may have symptoms for at least three months at a similar intensity with no signs of them disappearing. This is also true for other chronic conditions. For long Covid
there will usually be a period of illness with Covid, plus ongoing symptoms for twelve weeks or more, that must be waited out. During this time of ‘wait and see’, it’s helpful to prepare for a possible outcome, with management, occupational health professionals and the employee collaborating together. Preparing flexibility for the employee is vital. Chronic conditions are dynamic in nature, what someone can do one day could change drastically the next and over-exertion may make it worse. If made available, reduced hours and home working can also be utilised to support the employee but there is also a need to recognise that long Covid patients might need more than the average number of sick days.
Getting back to work A phased return, often used after injury or surgery, might not always be the best option for re-joining the workplace. Fatigue and joint pain can persist for months, so this method, with its defined short-term phasing back into the workplace, is unlikely to be effective in rehabilitating the employee. A longer term planned reduction in hours, enforced and frequent rest breaks, a focus on pacing themselves, even a change of role – all these will options have to be considered. Also think about emotional support for potential mental health issues. Depression and anxiety have a higher prevalence among the chronically ill, so planning effective Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and counselling support will help staff to deal with them if they should arise.
What to do if you don’t have an occupational health team? Long Covid is still a very loose term – after all, it has been less than two years since Covid became a term at all. 12 weeks after acute Covid, you could still have symptoms, but it might not be as severe as long Covid. There is no rhyme or reason as to who gets it long term, and it’s difficult to care for in the workplace if there aren’t specialist provisions. Without having access to occupational health support via their employer, employees will have no choice but to visit their GP and access support that way. GPs are exceptional at providing primary care but they are limited in their understanding of the workplace and how a period of chronic illness can affect the individual in their role. Employees do not typically want to rely on overstretched GPs for conditions that can have such a strong link to their ability to work, and they don’t have to. Companies without the capacity for an occupational health team could struggle to cope if many employees feel the effects of long Covid. It’s important to build that capability, whether in house or with a delivery partner. The partner should understand the different roles at the company they are working with, so they can refer people correctly. Being proactive, not reactive, is the key take-away here. Be aware, build your knowledge and capabilities as an organisation to stay flexible and be a strong network of support for employees.
If you would like to discuss how Cantium can support your business with occupational health services, speak to one of our experts today. 03000 415555 | sales@cantium.solutions | www.cantium.solutions
Environment
Cover Feature
Support for busy SMEs to reach Net Zero Suppliers and customers along supply chains are demanding more information on environmental impacts and businesses’ green credentials. Before you pay out for the answers you need, there is another way. Low Carbon Across the South & East provides grants and training to help your business thrive in an ever- greener economy. Since 2016, LoCASE has helped over 1,300 SMEs across the region with support and much needed funds towards their ‘sustainable’ business plans. In Kent and Medway alone, £5 million of ERDF grants have been claimed by nearly 650 SMEs, around 150 of these being Kent Invicta Chamber members. As you will see elsewhere in this and other linked articles, since the programme was started, there has been an ever-sharper focus and spotlight on many of the wider aspects of sustainability no matter where you sit in your supply chain. There now exists an ever-more demanding and empowered consumer movement, expecting more transparency in where their goods and services come from, whether it has recycled/ recyclable content or packaging, plus how ethical or traceable raw materials might be at point of source. However, by that same token, this same movement may be more open to spend a little more in buying local, advocating, or sharing positive experiences or ‘green’ solutions. At the same time, partly driven by legislation but also by that same ‘positive CSR’ mantra, there is the need to appease the requirements of large corporates and the public sector in delivering contracts with a strong eye on sustainable practices. This extends all the way down to the SME community who are being required to deliver to these same standards...often under the tightest of profit margins. So, what does this mean for you and the businesses or communities you work in? Well, the answer will not surprise you if you have got down this far. Quite simply, sustainable business makes sense. Whether this is ensuring that your business
operations are running as efficiently as possible in terms of energy, use of materials, logistics, product/process design and customer interface or innovating and developing what you do offer to incorporate some real positive environmental impacts. LoCASE can help bring through (and make viable) the changes that your business may need to make to thrive. This is largely in the form of 40% match funded EU grants which can cover up to £10,000 of eligible project costs but could also extend to fully funded provision of an Environment Management System (EMS) and signposting to other linked support available. How you benefit may depend on your business, your perspective, your budget, your ambitions and/or your networks. The aim of this article is to realise that this is not just for the new start-up businesses. Nor is it only for the firms interested in help towards more efficient lighting, heating, insulation or equipment like compressors, motors, or heat pumps. This is as much about supporting those in the ‘green’ economy. In fact, if we take Kent and Medway as an example, we help as many firms in the low carbon/renewable energy goods and services sector with business development funding as we do SMEs with energy or resource efficiency projects. We are keen to continue this trend but further the ‘localism’ ideals. An estimated £10M of projects approved have been with suppliers of goods or services in the South East region. This could be a communications firm working with a local progressive architect client specialising in Passivhaus design, right through to an electrical contractor fitting a heat pump system in a nearby solicitor’s offices. Though a fair proportion of your business and markets don’t conform to
geographical boundaries, if you have clients and customers locally then think about where they could fit in, share the benefits of this EU funding whilst we’ve still got access to it, for the good of our communities. Start by registering at locase.co.uk then we discuss your options and opportunities and take you through to the application process and/or link with one of our higher education partners for innovation projects. needed and/or to break up the article
The LoCASE offering has three main aims: Stimulating Demand
by improving business competitiveness through the implementation of energy and resource efficiency measures and reducing CO2 emissions Supporting Supply
by bringing together demand and local supply across the region and driving new low carbon/renewable energy products and services Innovation Support
by working with businesses to embed bespoke innovation into their products or processes using academic expertise
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Environment
LoCASE Delivering Fresh Approaches and the Muddy Stilettos Awards. Bradbourne Bakery’s signature white sourdough was awarded a coveted gold star at the 2021 Guild of Fine Food Great Taste Awards. Business was going well, but Annabel had two issues: she wanted to reduce the carbon emissions from delivering bread by car, and she wanted to reinstate customer interaction. In 2021 Annabel commissioned London Green Cycles to design and build a Christiania electric-assist cargo bike, with a branded lidded box capable of transporting a day’s worth of bread to customers. With £1,286 of LoCASE grant funding support she would be able to buy this bike and transform her deliveries to zero emissions, as well as creating a portable shop front that she could use at pop up events in her local community, allowing customers to buy directly from the bike.
Bradbourne Bakery is an award-winning micro bakery in Sevenoaks, Kent. It was launched in 2018 by lifelong bread enthusiast Annabel Carter after the high street bakery closed and there was nowhere locally to buy good bread. Initially Bradbourne Bakery offered a made-to-order bread collection service from Annabel’s home in Sevenoaks, but as demand grew, and the pandemic changed face-to-face interactions, the business adapted. Annabel began delivering her bread to households across Sevenoaks.
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In 2020 the bakery was named Best Bakery in Kent at the National Bakery Awards, and in 2021 Bradbourne Bakery’s customer nominations earned it a place as a finalist in both the Kent Life Food and Drink Awards,
The branded bike arrived at Bradbourne Bakery in February 2022 and has now become an integral part of the micro bakery’s offer, used for all deliveries twice a week, with the first pop up sale scheduled for March 19th. Sustainability has always been important to Bradbourne Bakery – as all the bread is made to order there is no food waste – and now to be able to say to customers that their bread has been delivered emissions-free is a fantastic achievement for a small business. As the first electric cargo bike business in Sevenoaks, Annabel hopes that this will encourage other small businesses to move to this exciting and green mode of transport! “I came home after my bike's maiden voyage to find emails from strangers wanting to sign up to my mailing list after seeing the bike around town - good for business as well as good for the environment!” If you are interested in seeing how we could help your business then get in touch! Inspired? Check out Kent Green Action to see how else to make a difference in your community.
Annabel Carter – Owner bradbournebakery@gmail.com www.bradbournebakery.com instagram: @bradbournebakery
Cover Feature
Low Carbon Kent are also delivering a range of other projects and initiatives throughout the county as part of the Kent Environment Strategy. Contact us at lowcarbon@kent.gov.uk to join in: •
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The Kent Realising Electric Van Scheme (REVS) allows organisations driving on the county’s major roads an opportunity to ‘try for free’ an electric van for up to 6-8 weeks. Upcycle Your Waste is actively seeking firms keen to look at ways of turning their company’s waste into a resource, matching your needs with others in the area to come up with viable, collaborative business cases across Kent. Be part of the solution, form an ‘eco cluster’ with other businesses! BLUEPRINT to a circular economy takes this concept wider, looking to partner with anyone seeking to increase recycling rates in the region and using social enterprises to help teach the benefits of the circular economy to our Kent and Medway communities Inn2POWER seeks to support the opportunities available to businesses in the renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors as we seek to transition to a greener energy mix The C-Care Green Recovery Voucher Scheme offers SMEs in Kent £1.5K towards sustainability projects, packaging consultancy and net-zero planning Growing Green introduces food and drink manufacturing SMEs in Kent to environmental best practice, shared learning and up to £6K of grants to follow through on plans South East New Energy targets high energyusers in highlighting and supporting SMEs with additional EU grant funding as well as community energy and decarbonisation research
Steps To Environmental Management scheme. Your free benchmarking service! Free business support to help you design the environmental management system your SME needs to reduce carbon emissions and embrace the opportunities of a green economy.
This is delivered by the LoCASE partnership across three levels: Blue, Silver and Gold. Each SME completes a stage, moves on to the next level and achieves accreditation. In the Blue introductory session, we take firms through what it means to have an environmental policy, what to include in (and how to carry out) a baseline assessment of your activities and impacts. You’ll have the chance to share views and experiences with others, learn more about new opportunities which might be relevant to your operations and ultimately prepare you for moving to the next stage of improving your environmental performance and potentially reducing energy costs. There’ll also be guidance about other support available to you in the region. In the Silver and Gold sessions, we build on the basics and guide you on compliance obligations, setting objectives and targets, measuring environmental performance (i.e. your ‘footprint’) agreeing roles and responsibilities and then how best to communicate what you’ve done and are planning! Positive reasons to join the STEM workshops:
• Those with an existing system can use or borrow from tools provided to update or improve it • Ability to pose questions to staff with background and knowledge in environmental management and learn of other free services or resources available, including events, grants or circular economy training • Workshops serve as a good place to network with likeminded organisations • Accreditation recognised by a range of organisations when tendering for work • Support in implementing measures help meet targets, make financial savings and build resilience Get involved
LoCASE is delivered across the Local Enterprise Partnership As such, if you have SME clients, customers or suppliers within the wider Southeast, they too can realise the benefits of the grants programme, STEM and other fully funded partner workshops. To find out more, visit the website at www.LoCASE.co.uk LoCASE is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
• It’s fully funded (so at no cost to you!) • Even with no prior experience, tools and information are provided to allow an organisation to build an environmental management system from scratch
Visit lowcarbonkent.com to find out more about these projects.
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Environment
Sustainability is one of the biggest buzzwords in business right now. From greening up their electricity supplies to reducing their travel footprint or sourcing sustainable materials, companies of all sizes are doing their bit to fight against climate change and reduce their impact on the environment. Creating a brand that’s more in tune with the ethics of sustainability isn’t just good public relations, either. By doing this, companies are winning new contracts and are better able to attract and retain staff – particularly, it seems, the younger generation. A recent report from digital product studio PLAY found that almost a quarter (24%) of Gen Z employees – those aged 18 to 24 – would not work at a business that profits from unsustainable practices. Among British employees more broadly, two-thirds surveyed (68%) felt it was important for the company they work for to be committed to acting sustainably, while nearly half (44%) wanted businesses to demonstrate the initiatives or goals that would make the entire business more sustainable – not just one part of the business. Although more than half (54%) of employees said they’d be more likely to work for a company that provides resources and tools for them to become more
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sustainable, 35% said they didn’t know if their company was doing anything to act sustainably. This shows, perhaps, that more needs to be done by companies to promote their environmental credentials more clearly to staff, customers and other key stakeholders. In Kent, the quest for sustainability has been undertaken by many local businesses. Some have started generating their own renewable electricity; others have been reviewing their operational processes to find ways of reducing their carbon emissions. Their actions have been driven, in part, by the ongoing political drive to tackle climate change. In November, world leaders gathered at the COP-26 conference in Glasgow to discuss “decisive change” in climate strategies for the future and to reassess netzero targets. Their conclusions? We all need to be doing more,
Cover Feature
I founded this company to help business leaders thinking about climate change to exceed environmental guidelines. Given the challenges we face, it’s crucial that we incorporate climate into our strategies. especially in the corporate world. Increasingly, companies are incorporating sustainability strategies within their economic models to meet environmental regulations and shift towards a more sustainable economy.
space or choose to place it in an area of new development. As bees pollinate up to three miles from their hive, the hive will tangibly improve biodiversity. For more information visit https://beeconservation.org.uk.
One of the new innovative sustainability strategies proposed by Natural England is biodiversity net-gain. This requires new residential and infrastructural developments to create 10% more biodiversity than previously. New chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper, is driving plans to “increase the supply of nature” in developed areas to improve postpandemic biodiversity and mental and physical wellbeing.
Thalia White, CEO of Bee Conservation, says: “I founded this company to help business leaders thinking about climate change to exceed environmental guidelines. Given the challenges we face, it’s crucial that we incorporate climate into our strategies.”
How can companies meet this challenge and adapt their strategies? Kent-based company, Bee Conservation, offers companies a credible and scalable way to offset carbon emissions and improve biodiversity. Companies can rent a beehive for their office
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report shows that we’re quickly heading towards 1.5°C of warming and if industries don’t respond quickly enough to this, there may be severe economic consequences for businesses in the future. Against this backdrop, reducing carbon emissions and becoming more sustainable is high on the agenda for businesses of all sizes.
Another local company, Sustainability and Business Services, has been working with SMEs throughout Kent to help set them on a journey to reduce their carbon emissions. The feedback and insight gathered has been invaluable to understand the barriers and obstacles involved. Andrew Stevens, director of Sustainability and Business Services, says: “Perhaps the biggest challenge raised is the sheer volume of information and technical guidance that’s available online. It’s quite overwhelming to many smaller businesses and they’ve greatly appreciated having someone to translate the mass of technical information into plain English. “Not having a documented starting position is also a barrier. SMEs want to know where they’re emitting carbon now and which parts of the business are contributing the most. Producing a carbon emission baseline report is Thinking Business
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Environment To date, the group has delivered thousands of projects, from growing potatoes in a branded educational bus to fitting porcelain bathrooms in an exported bathroom showroom vehicle. In addition, the group has designed and fabricated a giant interactive Perspex piano for the Elton John movie, Rocketman, and a large Perspex W for a Waitrose campaign to display fresh foods. For more information visit www.secworks.co.uk
a crucial tool to understand which changes the SME needs to make over the coming years. “SMEs are extremely interested in finding out about current funding opportunities as financing these changes can be challenging.” According to Andrew, the most popular themes that SMEs wish to explore are: •
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whether solar installations would work for them to reduce their electricity demand from the grid how best to reduce their gas and electricity consumption generally
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whether electric vehicles would be a good substitute for their current company vehicles
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mapping their Scope 3 (downstream and upstream) emissions to understand the entire impact their business has on the environment
For more information visit www.sustainabilityandservices.com Sometimes, sustainability can be achieved by doing the little things:
turning off PCs when not in use, for example, or using energy-efficient lighting. Other measures, such as using eco-friendly signage, are perhaps less obvious but no less important.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has also weighed into the sustainability debate and has provided some useful advice for businesses. •
alongside considering switching to a renewable energy tariff, businesses may wish to consider investing in greater energy efficiency on their premises as a way of cutting their energy bills
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due to the high cost of gas, it’s likely that from April, it will be cheaper to run an electric heat pump than a gas boiler for the first time
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other measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation reduce gas demand, saving money on your bills
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upgrading a building from Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band D, the average rating in the UK, to band C, reduces heat demand by an average of 20% per building
“Vehicle graphics are also available; they can transform any car or lorry into an effective mobile advertising unit for your business.”
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upgrading all buildings to band C would cut gas demand by an estimated 7% and net imports by 15%
SEC Works Group takes pride in knowing that it offers professional signage solutions to clients across the country who want to reduce their carbon footprint by choosing new sustainable recycled signs.
The BCC has produced a list of ten things that businesses can do now to lower their emissions. Taking steps to improve your energy efficiency will help to do that, while also reducing your operational costs.
For businesses that want to update their signage with a more environmentally friendly version, SEC Works Group may have the answer. The group, which has bases in Faversham and Canterbury, specialises in interior and exterior ECO signage, from external welcome signs and enclosure directions to cafeteria decals and hotel room door plaques. The company says: “We can produce premium eco-friendly signage for all your needs. Our exciting range of durable, sustainable products brings a clean approach to point of sales, directional signage and advertising.
For more information visit www.britishchambers.org.uk/news/2022/02/top-ten-thingsbusinesses-can-do-now-to-lower-their-emissions
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Cover Feature
Firms urged to take on sustainability challenge By Martin White, founder of Green Business Hub The ‘race to zero’ and the management of our natural resources on which our very way of life depends is the biggest challenge facing the global business community this century. As a small business, how can you possibly make a difference? However small the changes we think we can identify and make, by collectively taking action these will add up to have a real impact – even something as simple as helping your staff get to work. A good place to start is to think about your current environmental and social governance and areas of your business that can be made more sustainable. Take a look at the United Nations’ 17 sustainable
development goals (SDGs): www.undp.org/sustainabledevelopment-goals. What commitments do you want to make here? Importantly, canvass opinion and perhaps appoint an individual to lead on this. It’s not just about CO2 emissions; there are other important environmental and social aspects to consider. When reducing your carbon footprint, it might be helpful to do this in the context of your Scope 1 (direct),
How might you embrace a circular economy approach? How much waste do you generate, what happens to it, can this be partly designed out of your operations, and can it be re-purposed as a raw material? Whichever way you decide to address it, sustainability should be a fundamental part of your business strategy – helping to safeguard our environment one choice at a time. For more information visit www.greenbusinesshub.eco
2 (indirect), and 3 (wider value chain) emissions – see the ‘GHP Standard’ here: https://ghgprotocol.org/ corporate-standard
A good place to start is to think about your current environmental and social governance and areas of your business that can be made more sustainable.
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One-Stop Renewable Energy Shop Solar PV & Battery Storage Ground Source Heat Pumps Air Source Heat Pumps EV Chargers MHVR Ventilation
Tel: 01227 913398 | Email: info@sgs-energy.co.uk Manston Business Park, 78 The Oaks, Invicta Way, Ramsgate, CT12 5FD
Brothers champion the renewable energy revolution
The People behind the Business were generating, which was usually in the middle of the day when we get most of our sunshine. This wasn’t too much of a problem when you could receive exceptionally high rates of feed-in-tariff, but in recent times the FIT has gone and the tariff rates from utility companies is very low. This has made a solar PV installation on its own somewhat less attractive unless you had a necessity to do so or wanted it by choice. “This situation has now changed dramatically because you now have the opportunity to harness the sun’s energy and store it in batteries for use when you most need it, usually during the evening or night time when the solar panels won’t function. This allows you to consume up to 85% of the electricity generated, reducing your dependence on grid-supplied electricity. “There has been a massive rise in the number of commercial customers who want solar installations. They’re looking for ways to reduce their energy bills in a very volatile climate. The good news is that the government recently announced that companies can get business rates relief for installing green technologies.” SGS also provides mechanical ventilation heat recovery (MVHR) systems, which are suitable for anything from an individual room to a stadium, school or shopping centre and can work in isolation or in conjunction with air conditioning systems.
Jonathan Howes
Matthew Howes
Jonathan Howes has been extolling the benefits of renewable energy for many years and especially so in the current climate. Spiralling wholesale gas prices, which have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, have sent energy bills soaring for consumers and businesses and highlighted the need for the UK to produce more of its electricity from renewable sources, such as solar and wind. Jonathan is championing the drive to green up Britain’s energy supply in his current role as managing director of SGS Energy. Established in 2010, the company provides energy-saving solutions delivered through the distribution, installation and commissioning of renewable energy systems to UK homes and businesses. Jonathan says: “SGS started out as a solar photovoltaic (PV) firm but has diversified since then. I come from a heating and gas background and I brought my expertise in heat pumps to the company in 2013. Air source heat pumps and solar PV use well-established technology and represent two of the most
important sources of alternative energy for businesses and households. “In 2015 I joined forces with my brother, Matthew, and together we acquired SGS. In the last nine years we’ve quadrupled the number of staff from five to 20 and recruited specialist managers for each division of the business.” SGS offers solar PV installations and, critically, battery storage installations too. This is important, as Jonathan explains. “Previously, one of the pitfalls of installing a solar PV array was that often you couldn’t use the maximum amount of electrical energy you
“MVHRs are great for new-builds,” says Jonathan. “The system efficiently recovers heat from rejected, stale air to heat or cool incoming fresh air, which can improve overall air quality within a building. “It’s an exciting time for us. We’ve recently completed the installations for the ZeroCarbon Home Trial on behalf of energy supplier OVO. It’s an R&D project that uses different technologies to store heat and lower the temperature of the water that leads to the radiators in people’s homes, thereby reducing their carbon emissions from heating. “Going forwards, we want to strengthen our presence in the renewable energy industry in Kent. We’re starting to install micro wind turbines and hope to complete our MCS accreditation soon. We’re also aiming to open a working showroom to educate people about the benefits of renewables and to show how the different systems work. Hopefully this will help to encourage people to live in a more environmentally friendly way. We believe that the renewable energy sector is ready to help people and businesses with the rising costs of energy and decreasing their carbon emissions. Thinking Business
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International Trade
Eastern Europe conflict: what it means for UK energy supply The invasion of Ukraine by Russia is an appalling act of aggression with terrible loss of life and displacement of potentially the largest number of people in Europe since World War II.
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Photo by Wassim Chouak on Unsplash
One impact of the aggression is likely to be a significant impact on the UK’s energy supply. Energy – specifically oil and gas – is one of Russia’s key exports into Europe as it supplies much of the continent’s oil and gas. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has given its response to this crisis and has advised businesses on several key points: •
The UK does not import significant amounts of gas from Russia, despite its status as the second largest gas producer in the world (contributing 17% to global gas output in 2020). However, the current energy crisis in the UK is being driven by rising global gas prices. Volatility in this market will continue to affect UK energy costs.
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Around 5-6% of UK gas imports come from Russia.
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However, with Russia withholding resources over the last two years, the UK has been exposed to volatile international gas markets. While our supply is unlikely to be affected, the price we pay for gas is, leading to rising energy bills this year.
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Many European nations have agreed that increasing the use of renewable energy is one of the solutions to reliance on Russian gas. The Prime Minister has confirmed that the UK will “cease the dependence on Russian oil and gas that for too long has given Putin his grip on western politics”. The UK will therefore have to reduce our demand for gas or replace it with other sources. In the near-term, our reliance on Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is likely to increase, but increased global competition for this resource will drive costs up.
Energy bills in the UK are therefore likely to rise sharply throughout this year as a direct result of the conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russian exports. •
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The energy price cap in the UK has risen from £1,277 to £1,971 in response to rising gas prices. Gas accounted for at least £500 of that increase. Energy UK has warned that the price cap may increase again to £2,400 in October. The conflict in Ukraine has seen these estimates rise to around £3,000, again driven by global gas prices.
The UK government has been clear that investment in renewable energy is key to mitigating against price rises. The UK is already a global leader in the production of renewable energy; continuing to invest in home-grown energy will shield businesses and households from further price spikes. •
electricity prices. These costs are felt by consumers and businesses.
As gas, which generates 40% of the UK’s electricity, still sets the price for all generators, the increase in gas prices is also driving a rise in
Renewable energy, such as that produced by wind and solar power, is cheaper. Our increasing use of these supplies has seen electricity prices rise at a much slower rate – 54% between April 2021 and April 2022 (gas prices have risen 97% in that time).
What can businesses do?
Since the onset of the energy and gas crisis, the concept of increased energy efficiency has received additional attention as a means of reducing gas and energy consumption, thereby reducing bills. Reducing the amount of energy that you consume on your premises will be vital for businesses in the immediate future. With gas prices set to continue rising, this is likely to be the most effective way of lowering bills for some time. •
Alongside considering switching to a renewable energy tariff, businesses may
wish to consider investing in greater energy efficiency on their premises as a way of cutting their energy bills. •
Due to the high cost of gas, it is likely that from April, it will be cheaper to run an electric heat pump than a gas boiler for the first time.
•
Other measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation reduce gas demand, saving money on your bills.
•
Upgrading a building from Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band D, the average rating in the UK, to band C, reduces heat demand by an average of 20% per building.
•
Upgrading all buildings to band C would cut gas demand by an estimated 7% and net imports by 15%.
The BCC has produced a list of ten things that businesses can do now to lower their emissions. Taking steps to improve your energy efficiency will help to do that, while also reducing your operational costs.
For more information visit www.britishchambers.org.uk/news/2022/02/top-ten-thingsbusinesses-can-do-now-to-lower-their-emissions Thinking Business
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Members News
Down for the Count to open the 2022 Leeds Castle Concert Down for the Count are ready to get the party started at Leeds Castle, with a performance fit for royalty! Following its big return in September 2021, Kent’s iconic Leeds Castle Concert has a packed programme for audiences to enjoy live music and entertainment within the historic setting of the castle. This Swing Orchestra will be back to open the concert on Saturday July 9, as they bring their popular and electrifying show full of incredible energy and musicianship. Audiences can expect swing classics from their current tour across England and Scotland, including “Sing, Sing, Sing”, “I've Got You Under My Skin” and “Cheek to Cheek”. Down for the Count’s band manager, Mike Paul-Smith, said: “We're absolutely thrilled to be returning to Leeds Castle for the 2022 concert. We absolutely loved performing for you in 2021 and simply cannot wait to spend a sunny summer's day performing our swing, jazz and big band favourites for you once again!” In celebration of the Platinum Jubilee, this year’s concert will continue with a "Royal Garden Party" vibe. The audience is invited to dust off their tiaras and regal finery for a chance to win a coveted ‘best dressed’ spot prize. With a diverse and exhilarating programme, audiences will have a truly memorable evening singing and dancing to their favourite songs, and enjoying the visual spectacle of field-guns, the iconic Spitfire display and mesmerising firework finale overlooking the castle. The Leeds Castle Concert also makes for an ideal Mother’s Day present. Tickets can be purchased from the website below. Purchase ten or more tickets and receive a 10% discount. Kent law firm Brachers returns as headline sponsor for the sixth year. Leeds Castle is located near Maidstone in Kent just off Junction 8 of the M20 and only one hour’s drive from London. www.leeds-castle.com
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Gillingham Marina gets new owners The well-established Gillingham Marina extends to around 19 acres and provides fully serviced berthing in two basins for up to 490 boats, a state-of-the-art engineering workshop, a fully stocked Chandlery and a 33,000 sq ft Waterfront Leisure Centre.
There is good access to the Locked Basin with around 4½hrs HW and with around 1.5-2hrs HW for the tidal basin.
The marina is recognised by The Yacht Harbour Association’s Five Gold Anchors award, which it has held for more than 25 years. www.gillingham-marina.co.uk
Situated on the south bank of the River Medway, only eight miles from Sheerness, the marina lies below the Chatham Historic Dockyard in Gillingham Reach. Five miles downstream of Rochester Bridge, Gillingham Marina is an ideal base for local cruising on the Medway and the Thames or for more extended voyages to the East Coast and to France. It lies in a sheltered position from winter winds and, being just five miles from the M2 on the Medway Towns Northern Link Road, it offers an attractive alternative to the South Coast.
Brachers advises Plumpton College on site redevelopment
experience for current and future students.
Brachers has advised East Sussex-based Plumpton College as part of its ongoing campus redevelopment project. The college provides a range of specialist courses in the land and environment sector. The redevelopment of the site, including the building of new and replacement facilities, such as an agri-food hub and a new pig unit, will allow the college to continue to provide the best learning
To facilitate the overall development, the college has entered into a partnership with Clydesdale Bank for its banking facilities. Partner Ash Jilani led the team, with support from commercial property associate Ben Gallafant, construction consultant Jane Ryland and commercial partner Alex Cosgrove. The team advised the college on all aspects leading up to drawdown, including specific advice on the loan documentation, the construction documents relating to the
redevelopment, and regarding the college’s status as a statutory corporation established under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 and an exempt charity. Ben Gallafant said: “This is an exciting time for Plumpton, who have shown their commitment to remaining at the forefront of excellence in education and training in the land and environment sector. It has been a pleasure to help them unlock this new facility and see them continue to grow. We look forward to working with them in the future.” Jeremy Kerswell, principal at Plumpton College, said: “Brachers has delivered expert legal advice to Plumpton College during the most recent phases of our redevelopment, which has ensured the legal aspects of this project have gone smoothly and met key deadlines. I’d like to thank them for their ongoing support as we focus on the continuous improvement of the college.”
Members News
£50k to Support Community Allotments in Kent and Medway Kent Community Foundation has announced a new fund to support community allotments across Kent and Medway
purchase or rent costs, as well as the purchase of seeds, plants, tools, sheds, benches, fencing, water tanks, or communal tools.
Community allotments are a great way of making friends, improving mental health, living a healthier lifestyle, and preserving the environment while attracting wildlife to the area.
To meet the Kent Community Foundation funding criteria, allotments wishing to apply should be properly established as a community resource, with a governing document, trustees or a management committee, and a named bank account and the grants team may wish to make a site visit.
The Amity Allotment Fund, forms part of Kent Community Foundation’s environmental strategy and will open with £50k to encourage the expansion of existing allotments or to establish new sites throughout Kent.
Natalie Smith, Director of Grants and Impact, Kent Community Foundation, said, “We know how important allotments are to bring communities together, preserve the environment and provide a fantastic area for wildlife, and we are delighted that the Amity Allotment Fund will support existing sites as well as help with the costs to create new community allotments.” To apply to the Amity Allotment Fund, visit www.kentcf.org.uk/ funding/amityallotmentfund
The Fund will distribute grants of up to £7,500 to cover startup costs for new allotments or ongoing expenses for more established sites. Applications for funding would be considered for legal, or insurance costs, site
SkyHawk tackles problem pests We run SkyHawk Pest Management, a falconry pest control business that specialises in controlling problem birds such as pigeons and gulls. Their presence brings noise and health risks from their unsightly fouling, potentially spreading diseases such as E.Coli, psittacosis and salmonella as well as causing damage to buildings, walkways, water courses and vehicle paintwork. Based in Kent and covering London and the south east, we use hawking as an effective way to reduce the number of feeding, roosting or breeding pest birds from a site. Regular hawking is effective as the pest species see the hawk as a predator and will naturally avoid areas inhabited by them. We currently work for several waste disposal companies,
facilities management companies, the Bluewater shopping centre, stately homes such as Blenheim Palace, and a range of business parks, factories, car parks and even film sets. On premises that are open to the public, we also hold informative and educational meet and greet sessions.
Although pigeons nest all year round, activity increases during the spring. Also, at this time of year gulls pair up and look for nesting sites. Once nested, they’re extremely difficult to move and can become very aggressive. Chicks of gulls and pigeons raised this year will often return to the same site to breed and so breaking this cycle is key to long-term success.
Be aware of disabilities when staff return to the workplace With increasing numbers of employees now being asked to return to the workplace, a Kent employment lawyer has warned employers to consider the impact on staff with disabilities – or risk falling foul of the Equality Act. Tessa Robinson, an associate in Furley Page’s employment law team, said: “Now is a time of transition as employees return to the workplace, either on a hybrid or full-time basis. Employers need to keep in mind the impact of this shift on any employees with disabilities. “The impact of the pandemic on an employee’s health may only come to light as they move away from homeworking. It’s important that employers are proactive in identifying and supporting staff throughout this process to ensure they don’t fall foul of the provisions of the Equality Act 2010. “As well as any pre-existing disabilities, employees may have developed a health condition during their time working from home, including physical conditions such as long COVID or mental health conditions including anxiety or depression. As always, managers need to be alert to any signs of mental or physical health conditions that may have a significant impact on the employee.” To be protected under the Equality Act 2010, the employee has to have a health condition which meets the statutory definition. This is a physical or mental health impairment which has a substantial, long-term, adverse impact on the employee’s ability to carry out normal, day-to-day activities. Tessa continued: “In addition to an employer’s responsibility for their employees’ health and safety while working, they also need to ensure that employees with disabilities are not discriminated against, either directly or indirectly. This includes making reasonable adjustments to the employee’s workplace or working arrangements to help accommodate their disability and enable them to work effectively. For more information visit www.furleypage.co.uk
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Members News
Get New charity ready for shop opens adventure! in The Mall Maidstone Spring is a time of new beginnings, growth and fresh opportunities, and is also a brilliant time to get your team out of the office and spending time together in the great outdoors.
After two years of homeworking, uncertainty and separation, there’s never been a better time to bring groups and teams together to strengthen relationships, improve interteam communication and embed your company’s values. Kent-based outdoor adventure specialist Kingswood believes in creating life-changing adventures for everyone. The company has been working with schools, groups and businesses for nearly 40 years, helping them boost communication, develop resilience and so much more. Part of the Inspiring Learning group, which also includes apprentice specialist Skern Training & Skills and inspirational training provider In2action, there are lots of opportunities to develop and upskill teams. It’s well recognised that encouraging team members to get outside and enjoy nature is an important tool in supporting positive mental health and wellbeing, and doing that as a team can be even more powerful. Kingswood’s award-winning programmes are designed to support every individual to stretch outside their comfort zone and grow together as a team. Their 11 adventure centres across the UK, including Grosvenor Hall in Kent, are also a great place to focus on sustainability and the environment, with specialist programmes available to support groups to learn about coastlines, rivers and urban environments, even working towards KS2, KS3, GSCE or A-level curriculums. Find out more about outdoor adventure at www.kingswood.co.uk
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Following the success of ‘Elmer’s Big Heart of Kent Parade’ around Maidstone last summer, which saw a Heart of Kent Hospice pop-up shop in Maidstone town centre specially named ‘Elmer HQ,’ a new permanent location has now been found for the hospice’s charity shop inside The Mall Maidstone on the upper level, opposite T.J.Hughes. The new shop was officially opened recently by the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Fay Gooch, alongside hospice colleagues and volunteers. Rachel Street, chief executive of Heart of Kent Hospice, said: “We’re excited to be opening a
new permanent shop in The Mall Maidstone as this is something we’ve wanted to achieve for many years. We opened our first shop 30 years ago and we now have a total of fourteen shops around Kent. We hope that people will continue donating their pre-loved items to our shops; collectively our shops play an essential part in our fundraising and help towards the £5 million it costs annually to provide our free, compassionate, end-of-life care to those living with a terminal illness and their loved ones in the local community.
customers, sort donated goods and create eye-catching displays. Heart of Kent Hospice shops can be found at Aylesford, Borough Green, Coxheath, Headcorn, Larkfield, Lenham, Maidstone, Parkwood, Senacre, Snodland Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and West Malling. For more information visit www.hokh.org
“We want to thank everyone who supports our shops throughout the year including our brilliant volunteers and everyone who donates and buys from all of our shops. We’re also pleased that by encouraging reuse of unwanted items, we’re enabling customers to buy items sustainability, whatever their budget.” The hospice is looking for additional volunteers to join its friendly retail team. Volunteers can help welcome and serve shop
New e-bike lease scheme for businesses UK Electric Bike Centre is a one-stop-shop for electric bikes (e-bikes). Based in Biddenden, we offer sales, service or repair as well as self-hire and tours of Kent.
With more than 30 years’ experience within the bike industry, there’s not much that we don’t know about bikes and e-bikes. We pride ourselves on giving personal attention and can repair almost any e-bike. Recently we launched a lease scheme for a minimum of five e-bikes for businesses. This means that an e-bike can cost as little as £13 per bike per week. We can offer a maintenance contract and help with having the correct paperwork. For those needing something bigger, we can also offer cargo bikes. For employees wanting to benefit from the tax advantages of the cycle to work
scheme, we work with the Green Communities Initiative.
Did you know that KCC is offering grants of up to £1,500 for sustainable transport? Ask for more details. Our self-hire and tours are suitable for company days out, time spent with family and friends visiting
castles and gardens, or a winetasting session in many of the award-winning local vineyards.
To get a 20% discount on a selfguided vineyard tour, or to hire an e-bike, please book using code KIC via our website: www.ukelectricbike.co.uk/tours/ebike-hire
Changes at the top for Kent Invicta Chamber
“Chris has stepped up from ViceChair and takes over the reins from Miranda Chapman of Pillory Barn. A massive thank you must go to her for all her work that has largely been behind the scenes throughout the pandemic, but who has played an invaluable part in supporting me and the team.”
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce has announced changes to its board of directors. Chris Hare, Executive Director at MidKent College, has been appointed as Chair, while Andrew Metcalf, Managing Director of Tunbridge Wells-based PR, marketing and public affairs agency Maxim becomes ViceChair. They will each hold the respective positions for the next two years.
Announcing the decision, Jo James OBE, the Chamber’s chief executive, said: “We’re very pleased that Chris and Andrew have agreed to take on the positions. Their combined experience of the skills and economic development agenda will be invaluable to the Chamber’s work to support each of our members, and the county as a whole.
Commenting on his appointment, which was confirmed at the Chamber’s AGM, Chris Hare said: “The business environment continues to be challenging, and the Chamber is here to help members navigate the economic repercussions of Brexit, Covid, and the conflict in Ukraine. “I hope during my time as Chair to help the county strengthen the ties between business and educators, and boost productivity by working closely with Jo, Andrew, the board and team at the Chamber.” For more information on how the Chamber can support local companies visit: www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk
Radical new laws set to end divorce blame game With just weeks to go until the government’s new ‘no-fault’ divorce law commences, a family lawyer has welcomed the imminent end to the separation blame game. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 will remove the concept of fault and is due to come into force from April 6, 2022. Under the current system of fault-based divorce, one person submits a divorce petition, typically citing their spouse's behaviour or adultery as the reason for the divorce. This new law means that parties no longer need to accuse the other of acrimonious conduct
and instead will be able to apply for a Divorce Order, dissolving the marriage on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown. Rayma Collins, partner and head of the family law team at Furley Page, said: “This is a welcome, long-overdue change in the law surrounding divorce petitions. It follows decades of campaigning for a ‘no fault divorce’ position by many family lawyers who’ve witnessed the unnecessary distress that can be caused to a family by the current system. “The changes are the biggest shakeup of divorce laws for 50 years and will permit couples to either solely or jointly apply to the court for a divorce, thereby separating as amicably as possible.”
Under the new system, the acrimonious conduct allegations and need to evidence separation will be replaced by a simple statement of irretrievable breakdown, which will be treated as conclusive evidence of the breakdown. Rayma continued: “Crucially, the no fault system enables couples wishing to separate to do so without apportioning blame. By removing the need to find one party at fault, it’s intended that the new act will minimise acrimony from the outset, thereby improving the prospect of resolving associated legal matters consensually, promoting a more collaborative approach between couples and their solicitors, hopefully outside of the court system which is currently at breaking point.”
Members News
Not all salespeople are bad! By Owain Williams, founder of Dremur
Most of us usually forget what people have said to us or what they did for us – but most of us never forget how people made us feel, for better or for worse. So, when you’ve been through a poor sales experience that has left you feeling negative, it’s understandable that the defences go up when you next meet a salesperson. I know my profession is full of unscrupulous people who, on one hand, make it harder for the rest of us but, on the flip side, they also make it easier for the good ones to stand out. I make no apology for what I do for work and I have no control over the actions of others but it’s very frustrating that, particularly here in the UK, working in sales still has a negative stigma attached to it. Dremur’s mission is to change that! Ultimately, you’re entitled to feel how you want, especially when you’ve been let down, but please don’t let that cloud your judgement when you next meet a salesperson because I can promise you that, just like every other profession, we’re not all bad and we don’t deserve to be judged because of others. Think of all of the ‘proper’ professions out there and I assure you that each will have numerous examples of bad ones (police, doctors, lawyers, politicians, bankers etc). Be honest, do you view them with the same scepticism as you do a salesperson? https://dremur.co.uk
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Members News
Free bus travel offered to Ukrainian refugees in UK by Chalkwell Coach Hire of Sittingbourne “On boarding any of our buses, production of a Ukrainian passport will enable the holder to travel for free in order to access shopping, education, healthcare and other essential facilities.”
Chalkwell Coach Hire has kindly agreed to offer free travel to Ukrainian refugees in the UK. Roland Eglinton, Managing Director of Chalkwell Coach Hire, has written to the government offering his buses, which serve Sheppey, Sittingbourne and the Medway Towns. “We are happy to participate in the scheme to help refugees get to their final destination in the UK.” However, Chalkwell Coach Hire have gone one step further and added:
“In an effort to help Ukrainian refugees settle into life in the UK, we are prepared to allow
KENT CONSTRUCTION EXPO
them free travel for the next three months on all Chalkwell local bus services.
A link for the bus timetables have been sent to the Department for Transport and copied to Kent County Council, Medway council, Sittingbourne and Sheppey council also local MP Gordon Henderson. For more information visit www.chalkwell.co.uk
Thursday 6th October 2022 Kent Event Centre, Detling
Fresh Insights into Current Construction Industry Challenges, Opportunities and Innovations
Kent Construction EXPO is the largest gathering of construction industry professionals, contractors, and suppliers in the South East. Join us this year for another incredible day of gathering fresh inspiration and new ideas, networking and doing business. Register your FREE place at kentconstructionexpo.com
The event is also the perfect platform to promote your business and raise your company profile. For more information on exhibiting or sponsorship please contact Emily Taylor on 01892 820939 or emily@revolution-events.com
38 Thinking Business
HR Clubs
Concerned about bullying and harassment in the workplace? Confused by discrimination claims? Unsure about flexible working requests? Worried by upcoming legislation? Join our HR Club, a network of HR professionals, hosted by employment lawyers from Thomson Snell & Passmore. We meet virtually on a regular basis and offer a chance to network with peers, share thoughts and ideas and discuss a wide range of employment law issues that HR professionals deal with on a day to day basis. Upcoming HR Clubs include: • •
Thursday 20 April: 12pm - 1pm June: TBC
Our next HR Club meeting will feature an update on GDPR with guest speaker Andy Styles, Senior Consultant, Risk Evolves. Andy will be delivering a session on GDPR four years on, discussing bear traps, case studies, extents of fines and penalties, issues around data subject access requests, war stories and other issues. Our expert lawyers also produce a monthly newsletter – Workplace Law – which includes a host of informative articles and videos on relevant topics. Visit www.ts-p.co.uk/contact-us to sign up to both the HR Clubs and Workplace Law. www.ts-p.co.uk @pragmaticlawyer 01322 623700
Members News
Financial broker renews stake in Kings Hill
An independent financial broker has completed a new office lease in Kings Hill. Elson Associates, which has been based in the garden village for the past 15 years, has recommitted to 2,228 sq ft in Liberty Square. The company provides an execution-only broker service to more than 80,000 clients from all over the UK. Director Michael Elson, who is also a local resident, said: “Kings Hill has been my home and office for some 15 years. It has the perfect mix of facilities and amenities, all within a very well maintained and relaxing environment, which makes for a great place to work and live.” Elson Associates, which has nine members of staff, provides low-cost valuation and performance monitoring services together with tools to help clients make their own investment decisions. It specialises predominantly in stocks and shares ISAs and can arrange investments using up to 5,000 available funds plus individual shares. It also arranges personal pensions and junior ISAs on a nonadvised basis. Caroline Binns of Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust said: “Elson Associates is a longstanding member of the business community in Kings Hill and we’re delighted they’ve chosen to renew their lease here.” The landlord is represented by Hanover Green, Altus Group and Knight Frank. To view the wide range of office accommodation available in Kings Hill for organisations of all sizes, visit www.kings-hill.com
40 Thinking Business
Working together, achieving success! Medway-based MC Personnel is a temporary and permanent recruitment specialist, dedicated to providing clients and workers with quality recruitment services.
Established in 1998, the business has evolved along with the recruitment market, meaning that many of its management team and senior consultants have grown with the company and have a high level of experience within the candidate market. Throughout the years, MC Personnel has developed business relationships throughout the Kent region, across a range of sectors which include industrial, manufacturing, office and executive. The Gillingham-based recruitment agency is adept at handling fluctuations and seasonal demands. Whether you need one person, or 80 people, an experienced and skilled consultant will work with you to find the right solution for your business. After recognising early on that accessing certain work locations
proved difficult for some temporary workers, MC Personnel introduced its fleet of minibuses. With a friendly, qualified and licensed team of drivers onboard, temporary workers can pay to travel to client locations. Licensed by VOSA, minibuses are kitted with up-to-date tech such as trackers, cameras and payment portals. MC Personnel’s transport department also holds contracts with local councils, allowing them to transport young and vulnerable people to and from schools.
Why Kent is a prime location for businesses
With its excellent transport links, creative communities and wide-scale development across the county, Kent is fast becoming a prime location for businesses. Such is the attraction of Kent that there was a 57% rise in London companies seeking property in Kent from July-September 2020, according to research by Locate in Kent. In a recent Q&A with Kent design and build firm Rap Interiors, Locate in Kent gave further insight into why there has been an increase in companies looking for commercial property in Kent: “We have a healthy pipeline of firms wanting to come to
Minibuses are also available for private hire for various occasions such as nights out, airport trips and swimming lessons. The past 24 months has been challenging for everyone. Despite the impact that COVID-19 has had on the employment market, MC Personnel has pushed through and continues to service local businesses and build new relationships. For more information visit www.mc-personnel.com people will have their own reasons [for moving to Kent], whether it’s the lower cost of living relative to London, job opportunities of all skills and levels of pay, or being able to live in bustling vibrant towns.” As for Rap Interiors, the Maidstone firm is delighted to hear that Kent is thriving. Director Julie Anderson said: “As a Kent company, we’re delighted – and not surprised – to hear that the county is generating so much interest from London and further afield.”
Kent because of the easy and fast access to London and Europe by train. A talented workforce, lower operating costs and a great quality of life also make Kent a great place to build a thriving business.” There has also been plenty of interest in Kent from employees looking for an alternative to London: “Kent is such a diverse region and
With so much going on, it’s likely that there’ll be plenty more companies seeking property in the area. For those already in Kent, they’re well placed to take advantage of the rapidly-developing area that will undoubtedly become one of the UK’s prime locations for businesses. Read the full article at www.rapinteriors.co.uk/news
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Every week we bring you an eclectic mix of information sessions, networking events, Every week we bring you anand eclectic mixsessions of information sessions, events, workshops, panel sessions training with some of thenetworking top local business workshops, panel training industries. sessions with some of the top local business professionals fromsessions an arrayand of different professionals from an array of different industries. Each event is designed to offer invaluable up-to-date information tailored to our attendee’s Each is designed to as offer invaluableopportunities up-to-date information to our attendee’s wantsevent and needs, as well networking to help youtailored grow your business. wants and needs, as well as networking opportunities to help you grow your business. With many events held online and across Kent, you’re sure to find the right one for your With many events held online and across Kent, you’re sure to find the right one for your business. business.
Virtual Business Networking Tuesday 12th AprilNetworking Virtual Business Tuesday 12th April An Audience With The Archbishop of Canterbury Wednesday April House, An Audience13th With The| Picture Archbishop ofAshford Canterbury
Wednesday 13th April | Picture House, Ashford Cyber Security: How To Stay Vigilant and Business Safe Cyber Security: Tuesday 19th Vigilant April How To Stay and Business Safe
Tuesday 19th April Business Talks: Networking and Alpaca Walking Thursday 21st April | Lost Gardens, Sevenoaks Business Talks: Networking and Alpaca Walking
Networking and Networking and at The Alpaca Walking Alpaca Walking at The Lost Gardens Lost Gardens
A magical 11-acre rare species A magical 11-acre rare species woodland that hosts one of the country’s woodland that hosts one of the country’s best selection of rhododendrons, best selection of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and conifers. azaleas, camellias and conifers. The beautiful scenery makes for a The beautiful scenery for a perfect location for thismakes laid-back perfect location foras thiswe laid-back networking event, explore the networking as weon explore the woodlands event, and embark a gentle woodlands and embark on a gentle walk through The Lost Garden’s historic walk through The Lost ancient woodlands andGarden’s gardens.historic ancient woodlands and gardens. Thursday 21st April 2022 Thursday April 2022 10:30am - 21st 12:30pm 10:30am - 12:30pm Members: £20.00 + VAT Members: £20.00 + VAT+ VAT Non-Members: £25.00 Non-Members: £25.00 + VAT
Networking, Tour and Networking, Wine TastingTour at and Wine at Hush Tasting Heath Estate Hush Heath Estate
Learn about the secrets of the Hush Learn secrets of the Heath about Estatethe history whilst a Hush Heath Estate history whilstbrings a knowledgeable tour guide to life knowledgeable tour guidefrom brings to past. life some fascinating stories their some fascinating stories from their past. The event includes a being shown to the The event includes in a being shown to the private mezzanine the tasting room private mezzanine in immersed the tastinginto room where guests will be the where guests will be immersed into the world of winemaking as our Head world of winemaking as ourtalks Head Winemaker, Fergus Elias, through Winemaker, Fergus Elias,intalks through the winemaking process a short film. the winemaking process in a short film. Thursday 19th May 2022 Thursday May 2022 10:30am - 19th 12:30pm 10:30am - 12:30pm Members: £20.00 + VAT Members: £20.00 + VAT+ VAT Non-Members: £25.00 Non-Members: £25.00 + VAT
Thursday 21st April | Lost Gardens, Sevenoaks Correct Use Of Tariff Classifications Including ImporterUse AndOfExporter Obligations Including Correct Tariff Classifications Tuesday 26th Importer And April Exporter Obligations Tuesday 26th April Virtual Business Networking Tuesday 26th AprilNetworking Virtual Business Tuesday 26th April Employment Law Update Thursday 28thLaw AprilUpdate Employment
Thursday 28th April Kent Construction Focus Group (KCFG) Tuesday 3rd May Focus Group (KCFG) Kent Construction
Tuesday 3rd May Chamber Connections Networking Thursday 5th May | Mercure Dartford, Dartford Chamber Connections Networking Thursday 5th May | Mercure Dartford, Dartford Virtual Business Networking Tuesday 10th MayNetworking Virtual Business
Tuesday 10th May Business Vision Live Wednesday 11th May Business Vision Live| Kent Event Centre, Detling
Wednesday 11th May | Kent Event Centre, Detling We Are Listening: Cyber Security Workshop Tuesday 17th May |Cyber Kent Invicta Chamber, Ashford We Are Listening: Security Workshop
Tuesday 17th May | Kent Invicta Chamber, Ashford Business Talks: Networking, Tour and Wine Tasting Thursday 19th May | Hush Heath Estate, Staplehurst Business Talks: Networking, Tour and Wine Tasting Thursday 19th May | Hush Heath Estate, Staplehurst Virtual Business Networking Tuesday 24th MayNetworking Virtual Business Tuesday 24th May We Are Listening: Wellbeing Workshop Thursday 26th May Wellbeing | Kent Invicta Chamber, Ashford We Are Listening: Workshop Thursday 26th May | Kent Invicta Chamber, Ashford
42 Thinking Business
Hosted by members of the KCFG committee, Cheryl Causebrook and Ella Brocklebank, we bring you KCFG Live! Hosted by members of the KCFG committee, Cheryl Causebrook Hosted by members of the KCFG committee, Cheryl Causebrook and Ella Brocklebank, we bring you KCFG Live! and Ella bring you KCFG Live! The KentBrocklebank, Constructionwe Focus Group (KCFG) is a one-stop-shop for local businesses to discuss the future of Kent development, giving The Kent Construction Focus Group (KCFG) is a one-stop-shop for The Kent Construction Focus Group (KCFG) is a and one-stop-shop companies access to local knowledge, expertise contracts. for local businesses to discuss the future of Kent development, giving local businesses to discuss the future of Kent development, giving companies access to local knowledge, expertise and contracts. companies access local knowledge, and contracts. KCFG promotes thetofuture role of Kent expertise land development and construction businesses in the Kent KCFG promotes the future rolegrowth of Kentand landdevelopment developmentofand KCFG the future role of Kent land development and and its promotes environment. construction businesses in the growth and development of Kent construction businesses in the growth and development of Kent and its environment. and environment. The its session will start promptly at 7:30am for a chance to be put into rooms network with the for other attendees. The breakout session will startand promptly at 7:30am a chance to be put The session will start promptly at 7:30am for a chance to be put into breakout rooms and network with the other attendees. into roomsofand network with the other attendees. The breakout first Tuesday every month
7:30am 9:30am | of The Village Hotel, Maidstone The first- Tuesday every month The first Tuesday of every month KCFG + VATHotel, | Non-Members: 7:30amMembers: - 9:30am |£20.00 The Village Maidstone £30.00 + VAT 7:30am - 9:30am | The Village Hotel, Maidstone KCFG Members: £20.00 + VAT | Non-Members: £30.00 + VAT KCFG Members: £20.00 + VAT | Non-Members: £30.00 + VAT
Correct Use Of Tariff Classifications Including Importer And Exporter Obligations Correct Correct Use Use Of Of Tariff Tariff Classifications Classifications Including Importer And Obligations Including And Exporter Exporter There are manyImporter steps in the supply process, all ofObligations which contribute to the eventual which should beprocess, coveredall byofa which comprehensive There are manycost steps in the supply contribute There are many steps in the is supply process, all of which quotation. Just as important using the correct tariff codecontribute for to the eventual cost which should be covered by a comprehensive to the eventual cost which should be covered by a comprehensive imports or exports. quotation. Just as important is using the correct tariff code for quotation. Just as important is using the correct tariff code for imports or exports. imports or exports. The course will look at the process for determining the code that fits product obtaining binding decisions in avoid Thethe course will and lookfor at the process for determining theorder codetothat The course will lookwill at the for determining the code disagreements go process through the quotation process in tothat fits the product and and for obtaining binding decisions in order avoid fits the product and for obtaining binding decisions in order to avoid considerable detail practitioners have a thorough disagreements and so willthat go through the quotation process view in of disagreements and will go through the quotation process in what the requirements are.practitioners have a thorough view of considerable detail so that considerable detail so that practitioners have a thorough view of what the requirements are. what the requirements are. Tuesday 26th April 2022 | 9:30am - 1:00pm Members: £56.25 + 2022 VAT ||Non-Members: £67.50 + VAT Tuesday 26th April 9:30am - 1:00pm Tuesday 26th April 2022 | 9:30am - 1:00pm Members: £56.25 + VAT | Non-Members: £67.50 + VAT Members: £56.25 + VAT | Non-Members: £67.50 + VAT
Virtual Business Networking is a bi-weekly, fun way of networking which is highly interactive,Networking sparking interesting to bring Virtual Business is aconversations bi-weekly, funand wayaims of networking Virtual Business Networking is a bi-weekly, fun way of networking which is highly interactive, sparking interesting and aims to bring like-minded people together, guide forward newconversations ideas and form new business which is highly interactive, sparking interesting conversations and aims to bring like-minded people together, guide forward new ideas and form new business relationships. like-minded people together, guide forward new ideas and form new business relationships. relationships. Conversation with our guest speaker will be followed by three breakout room
Conversation with our guest speaker will be followed by threeorbreakout sessions where attendees can delve deeper into discussion, discuss room their own Conversation with our guest speaker will be followed by three breakout room sessions where attendees can delve deeper into discussion, or discuss their own topic in more depth. sessions where attendees can delve deeper into discussion, or discuss their own topic in more depth. topic in more depth. Every other Tuesday | 10:30am - 12:00pm Every other Tuesday | 10:30am - 12:00pm Free to attend Members: Free to attend | Non-Members: Every other Tuesday | 10:30am - 12:00pm Members: Free to attend | Non-Members: Free to attend Members: Free to attend | Non-Members: Free to attend
Chamber Connections Chamber Chamber Connections Connections
These These informal informal events events will will give give you you an an opportunity opportunity to to promote promote your your These informal events will give connections you an opportunity to promote your business business and and make make invaluable invaluable connections with with local local businesses businesses business and makeConnections invaluable connections businesses in Kent. Kent. ‘Chamber ‘Chamber Networking’with is a a local new networking networking in Connections Networking’ is new in Kent.free ‘Chamber Connections Networking’ is a new networking event, to both members and non-members. event, free to both members and non-members. event, free to both members and non-members.
Over Over the the past past two two years, years, the the COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic pandemic has has dominated dominated Over the past two years, thedelaying COVID-19 pandemic hasnumber dominated people management people management issues issues delaying or or postponing postponing a a number of of people management issuesAsdelaying or further postponing a number of employment law changes. we move into 2022, employment law changes. As we move further into 2022, this this event event employment changes. law As we move further into 2022, this to event will cover cover the thelaw employment changes that employers employers need be will employment law changes that need to be will cover the employment law changes that employers need to be aware aware of: of: aware of:
Each month will be in a new location, so to be inclusive of all Each monthinwill be in a new location, so to be inclusive of all businesses Kent. businesses in Kent.
Developments Developments in in employment employment law law and and the the likely likely impact impact on on your your Developments in employment lawhow andtothe likely impact on your workforce; practical guidance on prepare for changes; workforce; practical guidance on how toand prepare formanagement. changes; effects on HR policies and procedures people effects on HR policies and procedures and people management.
‘It is not just who YOU know, its who they know – the power of ‘It is not just who YOU know, its who they know – the power of connections!’ connections!’
Thursday 28th April 2022 | 10:30am - 11:30am Thursday 28th April 2022 | 10:30am - 11:30am Members: Free to attend | Non-Members: Free to attend Members: Free to attend | Non-Members: Free to attend
10:30am - 12:00pm 10:30am - 12:00pm Members: Free to attend | Non-Members: Free to attend Members: Free to attend | Non-Members: Free to attend
Thinking Business
43
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Members News
Companies struggling with repayments urged to seek advice
insolvency with Azets in London and the South East. Azets is the UK’s largest regional accountancy and business advisor to SMEs with offices throughout the South East including several in Kent.
The £4.3 billion of COVID loans that may have to be written-off by the Treasury due to fraud and highlighted by the recent resignation of Lord Agnew, could be eclipsed by businesses failing to repay their CBILs and BBLs Covid support loans*. That’s the warning from Duncan Swift, partner, restructuring and
A total of £73.8 bn has been loaned under the above schemes to around a quarter of UK businesses by banks, building societies and other accredited lenders. This includes more than 1.5m Bounce Back Loans, worth £47.4bn, where businesses were provided with a loan of up to £50,000, or a maximum of 25% of annual turnover, with the government guaranteeing the repayments. Concerns have grown over the potential losses and fraud within the Bounce Back Loan scheme in particular. In 2021 the
The new normal As omicron levels drop, it does now feel that we may be heading towards the socalled ‘new-normal’. I still feel conditioned to wear a mask in the supermarket and am not entirely certain if it’s ok to shake hands or hug, but it’s good to be able to meet with friends and family again.
So, what does this move mean for the workplace? Many employers will have seen the benefits of remote working over the last two years in terms of reduced overheads and better productivity, but they will also be conscious of the challenges remote working presents when trying to create a workplace culture, encourage collaboration or manage staff. Likewise, some employees will be desperate to return for those
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy estimated that 37% of BBLS (around £17.5 billion) may not be repaid, mostly because the businesses concerned would not survive over the longer term. By the end of September 2021, the state-owned British Business Bank, which oversees the schemes, disclosed that £2bn worth of loans had been repaid, yet £1.3bn worth of loans were in default. Duncan Swift said: “A substantial and increasing number of businesses are already struggling to make their CBILs or BBLs loan repayments. Businesses and particularly SMEs have had to endure an exceptionally difficult two years and whilst many have closed, many of those which have persevered have only managed to survive due to the loans and other government-backed interventions, such as furlough. As a result, we believe that, across the UK, as much as £20bn of all CBILs and BBLs loans will become defaulted in some shape or form.” For more information visit www.azets.co.uk the law on flexible working. Employees who’ve worked for 26 weeks have the right to request flexible working as long as they haven’t made a request in the previous 12 months. Employers have a duty to consider the request and respond to it within a three-month period.
‘water cooler’ moments and others will be reluctant to return to the daily commute. Before the pandemic, only 2% of the workforce worked mostly from home. This has greatly increased. It’s anticipated that this shift to hybrid working will stick, which begs the question: what do employers need to think about before embracing such a change on a permanent basis? Do employees have the right to work flexibly? The pandemic has not changed
Before the pandemic it was relatively easy for employers to turn down requests provided that they could point to an adverse impact on their business. Now employees have been working wholly or partly from home for two years, it’s more difficult for employers to show that such working arrangements will have an adverse impact on their business. Employers will therefore have to give greater thought to their reasoning behind a rejection and be mindful of the employee challenging the decision claiming it’s discriminatory based on age, sex or disability. By Petra Venton Associate Solicitor, Employment Specialist, Whitehead Monckton www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk
A second career for Rob after rehab
New Chamber member and business life coach Rob Smith is celebrating. On April 4 2019, he started a sixweek stint in rehab to overcome his unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Just three years later he has not only recovered, he’s now running Fulfilment Coaching to help people launch a new business, run their start-up better, grow their company or sell up. Each of these categories brings the business owner challenges. Most of us in business will be familiar with the overwhelming concerns that come with wearing all of the hats, benchmarking against others, worrying about if we’re doing it all right, doubting ourselves or wondering if we’re as successful as we’d hoped to be. It was during his stay in rehab that Rob discovered a skill and passion for listening to and helping people. For the first time in his life, he heard about Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and this has been his new focus; learning all he can about it, studying, undertaking various coaching qualifications and sharing his experience with others to help them. He said: “What a complete surprise it was for me to discover this career path – one I hadn’t known anything about in my previous job as a franchisee owner for a major international audio-visual brand. “I was what people might call a ‘functioning alcoholic’ but in the end it affected everything and my health was suffering massively. That was the trigger for rehab. “It’s the best feeling to see that lightbulb moment and have sessions with clients who tell me all about the action they’ve taken as a direct result of the coaching.” For more information visit https://fulfilment-coaching.com
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Business News
Exciting start for businesses at LOC8 A ground-breaking event has taken place to celebrate work starting at LOC8 , a £47m new mixed-use business park on Ashford Road. A recent ceremony took place where the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Fay Gooch, officially started construction work on the project. All partners working on the project also attended, including Maidstone Borough Council, Locate in Kent, developer Clearbell and joint agents CBRE and Caxtons. The building work is now underway, with plans for the new units to be completed and ready for businesses by summer this year. The site will be suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, with room for more than 1,000 employees. LOC8 is designed to protect nature and enhance sustainability with the prominent use of local materials throughout the site. The landscaped setting will have extensive planting of native woodland and new ponds. Cllr Fay Gooch said: “Maidstone is the business capital of Kent so it’s really exciting to see this great new business park getting off the ground. It will certainly encourage even more businesses to be based in the borough and its location is ideal, right next to junction 8 of the M20.” With excellent road and public transport links, LOC8 is well placed to service Europe’s largest consumer market, London and the south east, with nearly 21 million consumers within three hours’ HGV drive time. With the Thames and Channel ports plus the Eurotunnel close by, global markets are just a short leap away. Mark Coxon, director and head of commercial agency at Caxtons, said: “The scheme is one of the most impressive business parks to be constructed in the south east in recent years. It benefits from high spec industrial units within a prestige parkland location and direct access to the M20 Junction 8.” Richard Seton Clements, industrial & logistics director at CBRE, said: “The LOC8 scheme has already received early interest from local and national companies impressed by the high specification and location of the scheme.” https://loc8maidstone.co.uk
46 Thinking Business
Brompton plans to build revolutionary bicycle factory of the future Brompton, the UK’s largest bicycle manufacturer, has taken the first step towards creating a revolutionary new factory in Ashford, Kent, by announcing its intention to submit a planning application for the development. To support global demand, as cities move away from car culture to healthier walking and cycling strategies, Brompton has set its sights on a new home, situated between leading cycling cities of London and Paris. The factory, which is being supported in principle by Ashford Borough Council, will enable Brompton’s future growth ambitions as it continues to transform the way that people move in cities around the world.
The new factory will be constructed on a floodplain, which will provide an opportunity to restore the wetland and promote walking and cycling for the local community in this unique, natural setting in the heart of Ashford. The innovative scheme will house a world-class production facility and become the Brompton Global Headquarters and, by 2027, the company expects to employ more than 1,500 staff. Once fully operational, the proposed development will result in around 4,000 jobs being supported locally, including supply chain jobs, jobs supported by the spending of staff and the factory operation itself. The proposals equate to a £100 million investment into the
local economy, adding £270 million per annum of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Kent economy. Will Butler-Adams OBE, CEO at Brompton, said: “There has been a global realisation post-pandemic that we need to change how we live in our cities, to design them around the people that live in them, not the automobile. Brompton has a large part to play in supporting that transition, but we need to have more space to innovate and create the products of the future. "By choosing Ashford we can retain this strong connection to London and the UK, whilst being on the doorstep of Europe.”
Kent plays host to new community sports facility Herne Bay Sports Hub, a new state-of-the-art community sports facility, was officially opened recently by Sir Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet. The hub is a £10m, 15-acre facility delivered by Kent developer Quinn Estates and is now home to the local hockey, youth football, tennis and cricket clubs. As a commitment to local sports clubs and the community, Quinn Estates gifted the facilities to a charity trust for £1 who, through the incorporation of key features including a bar, can now self-fund running costs in perpetuity, catering for thousands of users a week and becoming a major community asset.
The event was attended by more than 60 guests, including the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Pat Todd, Lady Mayoress, councillors, local businesspeople, inward investment representatives and members of local sports clubs. It provided the opportunity for attendees to view the facilities and hear about its positive impact on the community, witness the unveiling of the commemorative plaque and enjoy a drinks reception. Mark Quinn, CEO and chairman of Quinn Estates, said: “Herne Bay Sports Hub represents the culmination of a lot of hard work and commitment from the local community who worked tirelessly alongside us to realise the vision
for sports facilities in the area. I’m extremely proud to see the sports clubs and local community making use of the facilities and the legacy that it brings them in terms of a sustainable future for these clubs. We’re delighted to have been able to welcome the Secretary of State and our other guests to share our story and celebrate the hub with an official opening.” For more information visit www.quinn-estates.com
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Thinking Business
49
Last Word
Erik Uebel Woodpeckers of Kent Director Born and grew up in Germany, studied business administration. Started as an assistant buyer in a DIY store chain. Moved to Hong Kong in 1999 for product development, manufacturing and exporting consumer electronic products to the EU, south America and south east Asian countries. Moved to England in 2015 and set up a social enterprise wood recycling project. Started beekeeping in 2016 and set up a micro business for skin care products using beeswax from our own bee hives near Ashford. What was your first job and what was the pay packet? I worked as a sales assistant in a consumer electronic store during my studies. The pay was an hourly rate - typical for a students job. What do you always carry with you to work? A messenger bag made of recycled lorry tarps and seat belts. What is the biggest challenge facing your business? As a social enterprise, attracting volunteers to our ‘off the beaten track’ location. If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you change to help business? I would rather like to see more support to the socially marginalised people as I am working daily with disadvantaged people. What can you see from your office window? A lot of littering on and in the verges while driving our collection vehicle. If you could do another job what would it be? I have a very fulfilling job. I am working with wood in a sustainable business model that saves resources, offers training and job opportunities to the disadvantaged. As a business person, what are your three main qualities? Hard working, honest, ethical. What was your biggest mistake in business? To believe that all business people are honest. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs? Don’t feel entitled, work hard and take on responsibilities. Who do you most admire in business? When businesses are using parts of their profits to benefit their communities and society.
50 Thinking Business
Chartway Group’s new hire to deliver next stage of growth strategy Chartway Group has appointed Steven Creswell as chief operating officer to support the delivery of the next chapter of success for all of the group’s companies. The award-winning Kent-based development and construction group operates across the south east, building great homes and delivering the best quality service since 2009. Chartway Group is made up of Westerhill Homes, Westerhill in Partnership, Chartway Civil Engineering, BBS Construction, CGL Drylining and Swale Building Supplies.
Mr Creswell’s appointment follows an exciting time for Chartway Group, which has enjoyed strong performance with its Homes and Partnerships businesses over recent years. He will play a critical part in delivering the next phase of growth. He joins Chartway from a similar role with Thakeham Group based in West Sussex. He brings more than 30 years’ experience within the construction industry, a career that started with a carpentry and joinery apprenticeship and led to significant leadership experience in several senior roles that will bring unique insights, knowledge and expertise to the group’s senior management team.
Kent Crisps owner receives MBE The owner of Kent Crisps, Laura Bounds, has received her MBE, awarded for Services to International Trade. Held in February at Windsor Castle, the investiture was hosted by Anne, Princess Royal, who presented the honour. An MBE is awarded for an outstanding achievement or service to the community, serving as an example to others, and Laura’s nomination reflects her work done through Kent Crisps to bring Kent and the UK to a world stage. Laura said: “It was a privilege to experience such an incredible day
Kreston Reeves appoints new HR Director
Accountants, business and financial advisers Kreston Reeves has appointed a new HR Director, Sharn Manku, as the firm looks to further develop its transformative HR and training function. Sharn joined Kreston Reeves in late February from Wolters Kluwer, the tax and accounting information and technology provider, where she was Head of Human Resources for three business units in Europe including the UK and Ireland.
and be recognised for a lot of hard work and dedication to building the incredible brand that is Kent Crisps. Although delayed a year, it was worth the wait! “I’m so grateful for the support I have around me, including my incredible team, industry colleagues and connections, my friends and family. I do hope that this shows others that with commitment and determination, we can all make a difference and that anything is possible.” Kent Crisps is based in Bridge near Canterbury. It supplies local and regional outlets as well as Kreston Reeves has offices across London, Kent and Sussex, and is just one in four accountancy firms recognised by Ofsted as an Employee Training Provider. It has a high staff retention rate with staff surveys scoring the firm highly on satisfaction, advocacy, loyalty and a willingness to do more. The firm is underpinned by its values of understanding, looking ahead, making it personal, being crystal clear, and, most importantly, being human. Commenting on her appointment, Sharn said: “The recruitment market in the accountancy sector is fierce as the demand for accountancy services increases. Kreston Reeves is in a good place with a strong employer brand and a first-class training programme. “But there is more we can do to support the firm’s ambitious growth plans and vision. Now, more so than ever, it is critical
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Movers and Shakers Ian Savage, Chartway Group CEO, said: “We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Steven Cresswell as our new chief operating officer. This appointment comes at an exciting time for our group, having enjoyed continued growth in our Homes and Partnerships businesses which also benefits the wider group companies within our integrated delivery offering, providing significant expertise and quality to our customers. “Steven will be responsible for delivering the next phase of our growth strategy, creating our group vision and leading each of our group businesses in line with our forward business plan. He brings with him significant leadership experience from large main contractors to residential developers, and we are excited to welcome him to the board.” international airlines, trains, ferries and ten markets across the globe including Germany, America and Asia. The business is independently owned and run by Laura, whose portfolio includes Kentish Oils & Condiments and A Little Bit Food Co, all of which use and champion local produce. In addition to Laura’s MBE, Kent Crisps has won several awards, including the Federation of Small Businesses “UK Micro Business of the Year” and “Kent Business of the Year” at the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce Awards. For more information visit www.kentcrisps.com for accountancy firms to invest in their people, support talent development, and build the best possible HR function as the sector embraces a new working landscape.” Nigel Fright, Managing Partner, Kreston Reeves adds: “We’re delighted to welcome Sharn to the team to lead HR and people engagement initiatives. She brings a terrific track record in creating transformational HR teams both at Wolters Kluwer and in her role as Chief HR Officer at HCA Healthcare and we look forward to the contribution she will make to the firm’s continued growth and development. “We’re proud of the culture that we’ve built together with all our people and truly believe this is what stands us apart from peers.” www.krestonreeves.com
