Thinking Business August 2019

• OFFICIAL MAGAZINE FOR KENT INVICTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • August - September 2019 •

Inside:

Queen’s honour for Chamber Chief Executive.

Page 4

Ray Zamfir - Guard Dogs Security. Why investing in security makes for good practice. Page 16

THE CHANGING FACE OF HOW WE BUILD Applying technology to build for the future

Doing Business In Asia.

Page 39

HOTELS

Stunning Kent venues within easy reach of London and Europe ďż˝ With direct trains from Central London and easy access to popular gateways to Europe you can choose one of our inspiring country house hotels as the venue for your next business meeting, conference or team-build event. All our packages include free parking, delicious dining options, Wi-Fi plus a host of other benefits and start from just ÂŁ35 per day delegate.

Six meeting rooms

10 meeting rooms

Host up to 160 delegates

Host up to 150 delegates

38 bedrooms, 12 acres of grounds

53 bedrooms, 22 acres of grounds

Five miles from the M25/M20

Six miles from the M25/M20

Seven miles from Ebbsfleet International

12 miles from Ashford International

Easy Access to Gatwick and City airports

Ideal for travel via the Channel Tunnel

BRANDSHATCH PLACE

CHILSTON PARK

HOTEL & SPA FAWKHAM, KENT

HOTEL LENHAM, KENT

For a flexible approach and a seamless experience from start to finish, speak to our friendly sales team today.

01642 706600 enquiries@handpicked.co.uk handpickedhotels.co.uk

Welcome

Welcome & Contents

Tackling the big challenges facing the construction sector Jo James OBE

16

Chief Executive

Welcome to the latest edition of Thinking Business and this time we are talking Construction ahead of one of the biggest events in the Kent business calendar.

The South East’s leading construction event returns to the Kent Event Centre on October 3rd, when Kent Construction EXPO brings together more than 2,000 construction professionals, contractors, developers and specialist suppliers to the sector.

Brought to you by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Kent County Council and Medway Council, this major annual gathering offers a fantastic line-up of speakers, alongside the South East’s largest exhibition of construction suppliers.

The event provides a unique opportunity for you to get the inside track on major infrastructure projects and the latest industry developments, while making valuable new contacts and building your business.

Contents

We already have a great programme line-up confirmed, with inspirational keynote speakers and practical workshops and to support the event, this edition of the magazine includes a special construction feature on page 21, which examines the massive changes that the industry is undergoing.

The feature includes a thoughtprovoking piece by Simon Barnes, Industry Engagement Manager, University of Kent, who examines the way the industry is changing.

He argues that construction, in Kent and elsewhere, is currently facing existential challenges that will represent the biggest transformation for the sector in its history. Driving this change is new technology, new investment and a labour market revolution in the skills needed and the diversity and equality required in the modern construction workforce.

We look at some of the new thinking that is being used to react to the challenges and also how the industry is tackling the skills shortage, which has bedevilled it for many years.

We also take a different approach to the industry in our big interview on page 16,

Today’s criminals are highly organised and will target sites that they deem to be insecure and our feature talks to the team behind Guard Dog Security Limited, which has a proven track record of tackling criminals.

The company, which works largely on construction sites, specialises in providing highlytrained dogs and handlers and often finds itself called in to provide protection for managers who are at the end of their tether due to repeated incidents. Time and time again, the company’s approach has provided the solution that the client requires and the feature examines how this has been achieved.

41

Members News

Chamber News

19

Legal Update

20-29 Cover Feature

42-43 Chamber Events

6

Members News

Construction

44

Chamber Exhibition

9

Members News

31 Comment

45

Business News

10-11 Patron News

33

48-49 New Members

12-15 Members News

35-37 Members News

50

16-17 The Big Interview

39

50 News

International Trade

33

I would like to thank all those people who have helped me over the years: success, as I have always said, is a team effort and I very much appreciate all that they do for this wonderful county of ours.

5

Ask the Expert

20

Finally, on a personal note. I was surprised and honoured to be made an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the recent Queen’s Honours List for my ‘services to the Kent economy’.

4

Our Patrons

Members News

namely how do you keep your building site secure as work is progressing?

Last Word

Editorial and General Enquiries Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Ashford Business Point, Waterbrook Avenue, Sevington, Ashford, Kent.

TN24 0LH Chief Executive: Jo James Tel: 01233 503 838 Fax: 01233 503 687 info@kentinvictachamber.co.uk www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk Media No.1659 Published August 2019 © Benham Publishing

Publisher

39

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

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. © 2019. 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: Guy Hollaway Architects, photography by Charles Hosea

Thinking Business

3

Chamber News

Chamber Chief Executive receives QUEEN’S HONOUR Jo James, Chief Executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Honours List for her ‘services to the Kent economy’.

During her 29 years at the Ashford-based Chamber of Commerce, where she became the Chief Executive in 2008, Jo has overseen the expansion of an organisation whose members employ more than 61,000 people across the county.

Jo James OBE Chief Executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

Today, Kent Invicta is the only Chamber accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce covering the whole county, having expanded from originally just serving the business community in Ashford.

The Chamber team of 28, deliver a wide range of business support for its members including a large events programme, representation, export documentation, international trade advice, and the South East Business Boost programme and Growth Hub initiatives.

Jo also represents business on the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership and many other groups across the county.

Jo said: “To receive an

award for doing a job I love and representing such a dynamic and diverse business community is a massive honour.

“What the team at the Chamber continues to achieve for our members and Patrons is amazing and I’d like to share this award with every one of them.”

Jo previously received the Outstanding Contribution to the Business Community at the Kent Excellence in Business Awards (KEIBAs).

“To receive an award for doing a job I love and representing such a dynamic and diverse business community is a massive honour.

4

Thinking Business

Legal Update

Good news for the high street and housing?

Commercial Property expert, Sophie Robins looks at some of the changes to Permitted Development Rights which came into force on 25 May 2019.

As part of an extensive consultation on planning reform, Permitted Development Rights (PDRs) for premises on our high streets have recently been extended in the Government’s bid to support the high street and speed up the delivery of new homes.

The first new PDR to mention allows shops, hot food takeaways, betting offices, payday loan shops and laundrettes to convert up to 500 metres square to office space without the need for planning permission. There is a catch however, as prior approval from the local planning authority is required before you can take advantage of this PDR. The types of matters the authority will review before giving prior approval are the impact on highways and the sustainability of the existing shopping area. This is by no means as onerous or as time consuming as the consultation required when applying for full planning permission.

Under these same regulations premises used as hot food takeaways can be converted to residential properties without planning permission provided it has prior local planning authority approval.

Existing PDRs that allow a two year temporary change of use from betting office, or payday loan shop to community uses, such as exhibition hall, public library,

museum, clinic/health centre, or art gallery (other than for sale or hire) have been extended to three years.

In addition to the above changes, the temporary right allowing large single storey rear extensions to residential property has been made permanent, although the requirement to notify the local planning authority before commencing the works remains the same.

The Government has also confirmed that it intends to push ahead with plans to introduce PDRs to allow certain existing commercial and residential buildings to deliver additional homes, despite the idea receiving a mixed response during the consultation exercise.

Obtaining planning permission for a development can be costly and the outcome uncertain. These new and extended PDRs will make these types of applications more straightforward from a planning perspective. However, it remains to be seen if these PDR changes will have a meaningful impact on the high street and increasing housing stock.

Permitted Development is a complex area and further exemptions may apply. For further advice on this and other Commercial Property matters ask the expert and contact Sophie.

Sophie Robins

Commercial Property

girlings.com

01227 768374

sophierobins@girlings.com Thinking Business

5

Members News

NEW FUNCTION ROOM OPENING

NATIONAL AWARD SUCCESS FOR LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESS

Automechanika awards 2018 – and was shortlisted for the same award this year. While it narrowly missed out on making it two in a row, the family was delighted when Matthew Pestridge, son of founder Derek Pestridge, was named 2019’s Automechanik of the Year.

Rob Paterson, Chief Executive of Best Western Great Britain, and Cllr Gordon Cowan, Mayor of Dover, opened the new Winston Suite at the Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel & Spa.

An award-winning Ashford garage has picked up its second prize in just a few weeks – one that has made the family-run business “very proud indeed”.

Shortly after notching up its second successive win in the annual Automechanika awards, D&D Autos was named National Champion in the Manufacturing and Engineering Section of the prestigious National Family Business Awards.

The business, based in Moat Way, Orbital Park, Ashford, was named Best Large Garage in the

The Winston Suite is the latest improvement to the Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel & Spa and gives the hotel the ability to cater for weddings and private dinners for up to 140 guests. It can also be used for meetings or a cocktail party for up to 200 Mr K Rajaseelan, the owner of the hotel, said: “The new Winston Suite would provide a much needed large seafront function facility for the people of Dover and the surrounding villages’ The Best Western Plus Dover Marina Hotel & Spa continues to invest in improving the hotel and the Winston Suite is the latest investment. It follows on from earlier this year when air conditioning was installed into all parts of the hotel.

The next improvement underway are the new modern guest bathrooms and these will be progressively coming on line over the next few months.

6

Thinking Business

And while Operations Manager Lorraine Fuller, Derek’s daughter and Matthew’s sister, was rightly proud of her brother’s success, it was July’s victory in the family business competition that really made her smile.

“It was just fantastic to be at the event at Wembley Stadium and have our achievements recognised by one of the top awards for family businesses, particularly since we were up against nine other really strong companies,” she said.

“We are proud of what we have achieved since Dad set the business up 36 years ago and there is something very special about succeeding as a family business.

This award recognises that and it will certainly take pride of place amongst our other awards.”

Working alongside Derek, who set the business up in 1983, and Lorraine, is Derek’s wife Margaret, who handles the accounts, and sons Matthew, the company’s workshop manager, and Richard, D&D Autos’ service manager.

The National Family Business Awards were founded ten years ago to highlight the contribution made to the economy by family businesses and have become highly sought after.

“We see ourselves as a family business in the wider sense, too,” said Lorraine. “And although this award recognises the family at the heart of D&D Autos, we couldn’t have won it without the incredible back up we get from the whole team – the wider D&D family.”

The business is now looking to widen that family still further. “We are on the lookout for talented vehicle technicians to join the team and help us cope with increasing demand,” Lorraine said. “Please get in touch if you think you might fit the bill.”

The Ashford garage has won a number of top awards in the past, including Large Garage/Garage Chain of the Year in the CAT Awards 2017. It was also named Business of the Year in the 2015 annual Kent Invicta Chamber Awards. www.ddautosashford.co.uk

BEDFONT RECEIVES FIRST-EVER NATIONAL ACCOLADE for Technology and Innovation at The 10th National Family Business Place Awards

has specialised in the design and manufacture of breath analysis medical devices since 1976. They have a wide range of breath monitors which aid in smoking cessation, emergency CO screening, detecting gastrointestinal disorders and food intolerances, and the diagnosis and management of asthma.

Bedfont receives first-ever national accolade for Technology and Innovation at the 10th National Family Business Place Awards

Med-tech company, Bedfont Scientific, was presented with the Silver award for Technology and Innovation at the annual Family Business Awards.

On 13th July, the National Family Business Place Awards celebrated their 10th anniversary at Wembley Stadium, where local medical device manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd, received its first-ever national business award for the Technology and Innovation category.

to over a quarter of UK GDP. The Family Business Place not only helps family businesses with strategies and marketing, but also hosts annual awards, which recognise the Gold Standard in Family Business.

Family Businesses make up 85% of all UK business, and they contribute

Bedfont, who became a 2nd generation family business in 2016,

Jason Smith, Managing Director at Bedfont, says, “This is our first national accolade and we are over the moon to have been awarded the Silver award for Technology and Innovation. At Bedfont, we take pride in being an innovative company and try to break the mould of traditional healthcare and it’s honestly amazing to have that recognised on a national scale.”

MACINTYRE HUDSON HUDSON MACINTYRE MACINTYRE HUDSON

SweepingVAT VAT changes changes to Sweeping to Sweeping VAT changes to – hit the Construction Sector hit the Construction Sector –– hit the Construction Sector Prepare now!

Prepare Prepare now! now!

What is happening and when?

What is happening and when?

The new VAT “domestic reverse charge” (DRC) goes live on WhatOctober is happening and when?

1st. From that date, sub-contractors in a CIS chain The new VAT “domestic (DRC) live on of supply will ceasereverse to collectcharge” VAT from othergoes contractors.

October 1st.

From that date, sub-contractors in a CIS chain The new reverse charge” (DRC) goesThis live on In itsVAT place“domestic a VAT reverse charge system will apply. ofOctober supply will cease to collect VAT from other contractors.

1st.the From that date, sub-contractors in aliable CIS chain makes buyer of the sub-contractor’s service for Inof itssupply place a VAT reverse charge system apply.

This will cease toplace collect VAT from will other contractors.

VAT accounting in of the supplier. makes the buyer of reverse the sub-contractor’s service liableThis for In its place a VAT charge system will apply.

I am a sub-contractor how will it affect me?

VAT accounting in place of the supplier. makes the buyer of the sub-contractor’s service liable for VAT accounting in place of the supplier. you are a VAT-registered sub-contractor working I am a Ifsub-contractor - how will it affect me? exclusively for main contractors you will cease to collect I am a sub-contractor - how will it affect me?

VAT on your services. You can still reclaim VAT on your If you are a VAT-registered sub-contractor working costs which means you will be due regular VAT repayments exclusively for main contractors willhow cease collect If youfrom are HMRC. a VAT-registered working You shouldsub-contractor thinkyou about thistowill affect VAT onyour yourcash services.

You can still reclaim VAT on your exclusively forflow main contractors you will cease to collect and consider switching to monthly VAT costs youYou will beyear. due VAT which on yourmeans services. can stillregular reclaimVAT VATrepayments on your returns from October this from HMRC. should about thisVAT will repayments affect costs whichYou means youthink will be due how regular your cash andcontractor consider toaffect monthly IHMRC. amflow a main –switching how will it from You should think about how thisme? willVAT affect returns fromflow October this year.switching to monthly VAT your cash and consider If you areOctober a main contractor returns from this year.then your cash flow position should improve but need how the new I am a main contractor –you how willtoitunderstand affect me?

DRC will operate because the responsibility for accounting I am a main contractor – how will it affect me? for the VAT will become yours.

If you are a main contractor then you cash flow position should improve you need to understand new If youHow are can a main contractor then you cash how flow the position I but prepare?

DRC will operate the responsibility forhow accounting should improvebecause but you need to understand the new for theWhichever VAToperate will become yours.

DRC will because the responsibility foryou accounting side of the transaction you are on, need to know VAT accounting will change. for the VAThow willyour become yours.

All construction How can I prepare? businesses will need to adapt their systems and suppliers will need to change how How accounting can I prepare? they prepare invoices. Staff willare need on the Whichever side of their the transaction you on,training you need to new rules. know how your accounting will you change.

Whichever sideVAT of the transaction are on, you need to Allknow construction will need adapt their how yourbusinesses VAT accounting will to change.

Get itsystems wrong and HMRC on youhow like accounting and suppliers willbe need to change All construction businesses will will need todown adapt their a ton of bricks! they prepare their invoices.

Staff will will need training on thehow accounting systems and suppliers need to change new rules. they prepare their invoices. Staff will need training on the new rules.

Need to find out more?

Need to find out more?

IfNeed you would likeout to find out more about how your to find more? business could be affected If you would like to find out more about how your If you would find out more about how your business couldlike beto affected Visit us at stand 113 at business could be affected Visit us atConstruction stand 113 at The Kent Expo on Visit us at stand 113 at The Kent 3Construction Thursday October at Expo on The Kent Construction Expo on The Kent Event Centre,atDetling Thursday 3 October Maidstone, 3JF at Thursday ME14 3 October The Kent Event Centre, Detling www.kentconstructionexpo.com The Kent Event Maidstone, ME14Centre, 3JF Detling Maidstone, ME14 3JF VAT Director Sue Rathmell will be hosting a www.kentconstructionexpo.com workshop when she will explain the changes in www.kentconstructionexpo.com more detail and answer any questions you may VAT have.Director Sue Rathmell will be hosting a VAT Director Sue Rathmell will be a in workshop when she will explain thehosting changes workshop she will explain the changes more detail when and answer any questions you mayin Contact us more detail and answer any questions you may have. have.

Sue Rathmell VAT Director E:Contact sue.rathmell@mhllp.co.uk us T: +44 (0)3330us 100 220 Contact

Sue Rathmell

Offices in Canterbury and Sue Rathmell VAT Director Maidstone

Director E:VAT sue.rathmell@mhllp.co.uk sue.rathmell@mhllp.co.uk T:E:+44 (0)3330 100 220 macintyrehudson.co.uk T: +44 100 220 Offices in(0)3330 Canterbury and

Now, for tomorrow Offices in Canterbury and Maidstone Maidstone

THE MOST FLEXIBLE VENUE IN KENT Exclusive Discount

to Chamber Members Quote “Kent Invicta” when enquiring

Working with YOU, not just for YOU

We pride ourselves on providing a flexible approach to event planning with a variety of spaces to suit your event.

All inclusive conference packages start from £26.50 per person + VAT or get in contact to discuss a bespoke quote to suit your event.

Conferences | Exhibitions | Meetings | Team Building | Launches To find out more call 01622 630975 or visit www.kenteventcentre.co.uk

• Tax planning

• Inheritance tax advice

• Profit improvement strategies

• Succession planning

• Business development advice

• Payroll

Get in touch now to arrange your free consultation Assisting businesses and individuals since 1992 www.mageegammon.com

01233 630000

mg@mageegammon.com

Quarter Page ad - MG.indd 1

THE FUTURE OF

LATER LIVING You’ve worked hard all your life - don’t you deserve the best when it comes to retirement?

Discover what life could be like in an Inspired village – coming soon to Kent.

To find out more about Ledian Gardens email jane.shotliff@inspiredvillages.co.uk or visit InspiredVillages.co.uk

Ledian Farm, Leeds, Maidstone, ME17 1RZ

8

Thinking Business

04/09/2018 10:43:30

Members News

CXK awarded Integrated Communities Innovation Funding After a competitive tendering process, the Government’s Integrated Communities Innovation Fund has awarded £183,000 to Kent-based charity CXK to fund a trailblazing employability project to support disadvantaged, unemployed young people.

CXK’S Working Heads project will deliver a new way for people living marginalised and isolated lives in Kent and Medway to showcase themselves to employers.

Young people who are out of education, employment or training, and who struggle to create a good ‘first impression’ with a written CV, will be able to create video CVs as an alternative to the written form.

The video CVs will be uploaded to an online portal, which is accessed by employers looking for candidates to fill existing job opportunities.

Anthony Hollingdale, Project Manager of Working Heads, said: “At CXK we’re

dedicated to supporting individuals to progress towards sustainable education, employment and training, and we’re excited to be able to support local young people to access employers in a really engaging way, without the need for a written CV, which some young people find really difficult to construct. At the same time, we can offer employers a really convenient way to get an accurate representation of a candidate’s personality and skills.”

The web portal is currently in development and will be launched in September 2019.

Any organisation wishing to receive full details about Working Heads should contact: Anthony Hollingdale, anthonyhollingdale@cxk.org

Operating at the frontiers of science ANCON Tech Group comprises ANCON Technologies and ANCON Medical. Our work in Medical, Security/Military and Air Quality monitoring is driving us to the forefront of cutting-edge science.

The company’s successful innovative advancements are based on a novel, proprietary molecule detection technology.

Medical – No matter the disease, early diagnosis provides medical personnel more opportunities for treatment success. Applied to the medical industry, our disruptive, non-invasive technology offers powerful capabilities to screen and diagnose a wide range

of diseases with unprecedented sensitivity that makes detection possible at some of the earliest instances of disease activity, such as cancers, enabling earlier treatment.

It also enables disease management and potential remote field screening.

Air Quality – There is a great deal of concern about the health effects of nanoparticles released into the environment; both caused by humans and mother nature. Effective investigative instrumentation is an essential prerequisite for research into all aspects of toxicity assessment and the portability and ease of use of ANCON instruments makes them ideal.

HELPING YOU TO MANAGE YOUR PAYROLL Welcome to Core Finance Management! We are a leading UK finance company specialising in compliant payroll solutions for a variety of businesses and contractors.

Because we were established by a team of industry experts, we like to think we know a thing or two about what works best for our valued contractors and clients and their payroll requirements.

This unique insight into a variety of different working practices allows us to provide specialist payroll help and support whenever it’s required.

Our team have experience in many different fields that we can draw on for our customers, including; Recruitment, Health Care, Social Care and the construction sector.

Core are the experts when it comes to legislation and compliance, meaning you will always be whiter than white.

Our products are fully accredited by Professional Passport and Prism and

we are partnered with various groups such as the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. We also work with 100’s of recruitment agencies and business’ across the UK, so you can rest assured we are a name you can trust.

Our Core Services are: Core ACS umbrella- a fully compliant employment solution for UK contractors and freelancers CFM CIS- payroll services for those eligible to be paid via the Construction Industry Scheme CFM Accountancy- Accountancy and sole trader services for Ltd companies and those eligible to be a self employed

Security/Military – The company has a range of products currently in development for the next generation of detection of chemical weapons, explosives, narcotics and other threats.

Working closely with the UK and US governments ANCON is leading the way in offering a new way to detect threats quickly and efficiently.

ANCON’s head office, laboratories and workshops are located in the Canterbury Innovation Centre in Kent, and ANCON Medical operates a facility in Canterbury and Minnesota (USA) as part of Medical Alley, the global epicentre of health innovation.

Canterbury Chatham Whitstable

Resolving construction disputes Call George Crofton-Martin, Construction Disputes & Adjudication on 01227 763939

Core Joint Employment- a fully VAT exempt payroll option for companies and workers who are VAT exempt Core ACS PAYE- a hassle free payroll option for those who want their payroll outsourced to experts.

Legal services for you, your family & your business

Knowledge. Experience. Results.

furleypage.co.uk Thinking Business

9

Patron News

KENT BUSINESS LEADERS DINNER Held at The Orangery, Turkey Mill, Maidstone in July

Chief Executive Jo James with her table of guests

Kent Invicta Chamber Patrons attended the latest Kent Business Leaders Dinner, along with invited guests, at the beautiful Orangery, Turkey Mill in Maidstone in July.

Guests were welcomed by Kent Invicta Chamber Chief Executive Jo James.

After dinner Barbara Cooper, Corporate Director (Growth, Environment and Transport)

at Kent County Council spoke openly, outlining the challenges of her role and the complex issues that local government is dealing with in the context of uncertain times and financial restraint. Over 60 guests were hosted by the Chamber and its Patrons at this enjoyable evening of good food and good conversation.

Photography by Ali Kittermaster

Details of the next Kent Business Leaders Dinner are available from morag@kentinvictachamber.co.uk

Chief Executive Jo James welcoming guests

Speaker Barbara Cooper, Kent County Council

Liz Gibney, Lee Evans Partnership with Jo James

Marcus Wright, University of Kent

Mersudin Forbes, Sleeping Giant Media

Sally Ammirato, MidKent College

Ron Roser, Caxtons Chartered Surveyors

Sue Rathmell, MHA MacIntyre Hudson

James Bullock, Brachers LLP

Lee-Ann Owoaje and Julie Lewsi-Mackay, HRGO Recruitment, arriving at The Orangery

Jo James speaking with guests in the gardens

10 Thinking Business

Back Pain: Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment at One Ashford Hospital will resolve within 6-8 weeks with self-care for mild pain, but other symptoms may require care by a healthcare professional in order to live a fuller, more comfortable life.

Our specialist physio team offer a range of treatments for back pain, including:

More and more people are suffering with back, neck and muscular disorders in the UK today. The impact on our working life is increasing with more than 31 million working days lost at a cost of £14bn to the economy.

Most people will experience an episode of acute back pain at some point, with attacks often occurring from exasperating a previous condition. Today’s lifestyle plays a significant role in the increasing prevalence of back related disorders. This includes poor posture, commonly caused by sitting for long periods of time at a desk, along with living a more sedentary lifestyle. Most symptoms

n Manual therapy n Acupuncture n Pilates n Electrotherapy n Shockwave therapy n Sports massage If the treatment you receive has not helped relieve your symptoms, or if you have had pain for a long period, our physios will recommend you see one of our Orthopaedic Consultants for further investigation.

You may require an MRI scan which can be carried out at One Ashford in our specialist imaging suite.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a common procedure that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body. It has revolutionised treatment for people with back pain and is considered the single best imaging study of the spine to help diagnosis and plan treatment for back pain.

Treatment with our Consultants could involve: n Nerve root blocks n Sacro iliac injections n Caudal epidurals n Spinal surgery Mr Steven Lau, Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon at One Ashford Hospital states ‘Generally speaking, fusion operations have a guarded outcome when it comes to back pain. The mainstays for helping back pain are with conservative measures such as activity modification, maintaining good core strength via exercises, analgesia and of course therapies such as Physiotherapy.

Spinal injections often help nerve pain and sciatica greatly via selective nerve root blocks whilst facet joint injections can provide excellent relief for back pain, but is

Patron News

seldom a long-term cure. In certain instances, an intradiscal injection can cure back pain secondary to an inflamed disc, and one must not overlook sacroiliac joint pain as a cause for chronic back pain.’

Based in the heart of the community of Ashford and surrounding villages, One Ashford is perfectly placed to serve all its local residents.

We are welcomed and recognised by all major insurers, so if you have private health insurance, it is worth checking your policy to see if your insurer could cover the cost of your stay.

At One Ashford, you will be treated in a brand new purpose-built hospital where we offer excellent, dignified patient care in a private calm environment.

Tel: 01233 855777 www.oneashfordhospital.co.uk ashford.info@onehealthcare.co.uk

BE BOWLED OVER BY LINKEDIN AT CRICKET BUSINESS TEA PARTY

HR GO Recruitment and its partners have teamed up to offer a networking opportunity with the added benefits of afternoon tea, advice from LinkedIn’s Global Senior Success Manager and helping Leukaemia UK.

You are invited to join them for a tea party and an opportunity to forge new business links at the Spitfire Ground, the home of Kent cricket in Canterbury, on Thursday August 15, 2019, from 4pm to 6pm.

It’s free to attend but there will be an opportunity to show your appreciation by buying charity raffle tickets.

Ralph Meyer is coming down from LinkedIn London headquarters to explain how this essential social media tool for business can work wonders for your enterprise and the vital role it can play in recruitment. He will cover how to build a LinkedIn Profile that attracts other members to network with you, how to source job opportunities and how to network to land that crucial first interview.

Wilkins Kennedy and Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce are partnering with HR GO Recruitment to bring you this event.

You will be able to help Leukaemia UK by buying raffle tickets for a charity that does so much wonderful work in funding research into blood cancers and providing essential care.

Please book your place now by logging onto www.hrgo.co.uk/hope

Roddy Barrow, HR GO Group Managing Director, said: “This is a special event that will benefit everyone who attends. You will make new contacts, enjoy afternoon tea and learn from LinkedIn expert Ralph Meyer. After England’s dramatic World Cup triumph, cricket is definitely the place to be this summer.”

Thinking Business

11

Members News

Following the 3Ps TA Barker Associates is a Kent consultancy business with a personalised approach, led

by Tracy-Anne Barker, who has worked in senior roles for large and nationally recognised brands.

She has 30 years’ experience in construction, retail, supply chain, logistics, education, public sector and property management.

Our associates are experts in their industries with a passion for excellence. Our team consult timechallenged business owners on how to improve staff attendance, attitude and motivation to build better teams, work more effectively and, ultimately, become more productive and profitable.

We offer a range of quality services, for example, one-to-one support, training programmes and coaching and mentoring.

Agreement –

harmony, accord, consensus Doing business is all about agreement - the price, delivery date, quality, components. Get the agreements right - everybody wins - get them wrong, no one does.

Don’t hope for the best and perhaps have to deal with the worst - get expert advice at the right time regarding your contracts, terms and conditions and agency agreements.

Whitehead Monckton’s Commercial Team can provide you with expert advice and support so contact us today.

Tel: 01622 698047 E-mail enquiries@whitehead-monckton.co.uk www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk Whitehead Monckton Limited (no. 08366029), registered in www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk

England & Wales. Registered office 5 Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 608279.

TB 2/19

12 Thinking Business

We run business health-checks, recruitment support, capacity building and project delivery.

We call it the 3 Ps - People, Productivity and Profitability. If you have a good people management action plan, improved productivity and profitability will follow.

We understand the challenges our clients face, because we have faced the same struggles building motivated and productive teams.

We have the experience to know what works to help business owners build an effective team.

This gives them the time they need to grow their businesses, explore new endeavours and take time off. They know their businesses will continue to prosper in their absence.

We are happy to schedule in an informal FREE 30 minute consultation. For further information visit: www.tabarkerassociates.co.uk

Goatham’s Great Kent Cycle Ride 2019 The Goatham’s Great Kent Cycle Ride 2019 started and finished in Medway as riders covered more than 200 miles of the county’s roads over a single weekend.

The ride raises money for the Kent Sports Trust to help people across Kent access sporting and recreation activities and a donation will also be made to Help for Heroes.

Riders set off from the headquarters of AC Goatham & Son at Flanders Farm, Hoo at 8am on Friday 5th July, and began their journey, travelling east along the coast via Margate before reaching Dover. Day two saw the riders cycle across the beautiful Weald of Kent to Tunbridge Wells.

On the final day, the riders cycled from Tunbridge Wells to Medway, arriving in Hoo at 5pm.

Chief Executive Officer of Kent Sports Trust, Steve Wolfe, said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for riders of all ages and abilities to get out on their bike, to see the Kent

countryside and to be a part of a real team event. Whether new to cycling or an experienced rider looking for a supported three-day ride, there was something for everyone this weekend whilst also raising funds to continue the work of the Kent Sports Trust, which is providing access to sports and recreation activities for people across Kent.”

Carol Ford at AC Goatham & Son said: “We were once again delighted to support this major fund-raising event and the work of Kent Sports Trust to enable people to access and live a healthier lifestyle. Having personally taken part in all three rides, I can honestly say it is a great deal of fun, combining the pleasure of cycling across the beautiful Kent Countryside with the company of a fantastic group of people, who encourage each other on.”

More details about the work of Kent Sports Trust can be found at www.kentsportstrust.org

Members News

BJF GROUP WINS BEST CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS

at the Maidstone Business Awards 2019 The Maidstone Business Awards recognise the best that Maidstone has to offer, with categories ranging from Start Ups and Small Businesses to Innovation and Construction.

Maidstone-based business BJF Group won Best Construction Business at the Maidstone Business Awards 2019.

The awards ceremony was held at the Mercure Maidstone Hotel where 200 representatives from the Business Capital of Kent got together to celebrate in style.

Barry Foster, Managing Director at BJF Group, said: “With a talented local employee base and great connections to London and the

South East, Maidstone is one of the best business destinations in Kent.

We are delighted to have been recognised as the top Construction business in the area and are delighted to have taken home the prize on the night I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at BJF as well as our fantastic supply chain and all of our supporters for their contributions not only to this award but to making BJF what it is today.”

Develop you and your business

As the Managing Director or CEO in your business, we know it’s a lonely place to be. From the outside it looks like the easiest position but we know the reality is vastly different as we’ve been though the same experience.

You are in a lonely position – but you need not be any more. The Alpha Board is a place just for you.

Surrounded by up to 20 likeminded CEOs who feel the same as you do.

The Alpha Board meet monthly and follow a strict meeting agenda.

We spend a few hours working on an aspect of your business as a group. Working on topics such as developing your business plans or sales and marketing strategy using a structured workbook. You come away with a tangible action

plan which the group will hold you accountable to carry out before the next meeting. Board members will hold each other accountable as they want you to succeed.

The second part of the meeting is the masterminding sessions. This is where we take a business issue from an executive in the room and brainstorm to come up with solutions for implementation.

Our boards are no place for the fainthearted – you must be willing to act if you want the results!

The Board Members all run or manage businesses between £0.5 and £60m turnover, so they are big enough to spend time working on the business not just in the business.

Every board meeting is based on Chatham House rules – and we only have one business from each sector so that those in the room can talk candidly without giving anything away to a competitor.

In addition to the board, we offer 1-2-1 coaching to work with you on a specific issue outside of the monthly meeting. We are looking for other “regional directors” to run their own boards, if this whets your appetite.

If the above resonates with you then don’t hesitate to contact martin.kingman@the-alpha-group. biz, it will be the best business decision you have made – I guarantee it.

First UK independent hospital to receive Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation

The anaesthetic team at Benenden Hospital Trust in Kent has become the first within a UK independent hospital to be awarded the prestigious Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA) from the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA).

The ACSA accreditation is the RCoA’s peer-reviewed scheme that promotes quality improvement and the highest professional standards of anaesthetic service. To receive accreditation, anaesthetic departments are expected to demonstrate high standards in areas such as patient experience, patient safety and clinical leadership.

Professor Ravi Mahajan , President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, said: “I would like to

offer my personal congratulations to the anaesthetic team at Benenden Hospital Trust for their ACSA accreditation. Receiving this award is a significant achievement, but being the first independent hospital in the UK to achieve this demonstrates clinician and management commitment to deliver the best possible anaesthetic care for their patients.

“The RCoA believes that different funding and operational arrangements within independent hospitals should not preclude them from operating under recognised professional standards. Indeed, our work has shown that no adjustments to the College standards needed to be made for Benenden’s internal processes to be accommodated.”

Claire Harley, Director of Patient Services at Benenden Hospital Trust, said: “Achieving this accreditation for our anaesthetic service is testament to the hard work of our staff and consultants here at Benenden Hospital. We continually strive to ensure we provide the highest quality of care for our patients.

“Anaesthesia may not always be at the forefront of patients’ minds when having a surgical procedure but it is so important to patient safety and a good recovery.

“We are proud and privileged to be the first private hospital to achieve this award and will continue to work with the Royal College of Anaesthetists to maintain these exacting standards.”

Chatha Hygiene don’t avoid challenges we use them to grow instead!

Building on the success of our core business as Washroom and Hygiene specialists Chatha Hygiene are now focusing on the expansion of the company with the hire of coffee machines.

We provide these on our usual favourable terms, giving the customer the option not to have to make a large purchase and to have the reassurance that if there are any problems we will deal with them straightaway.

Our clients were telling us their customers and staff expect to be able to ask for a non-alcoholic, hot drink, especially now places open so much earlier, or don’t even close at all in some cases, and with food. A generation or two ago it was virtually unheard of to go into a bar and ask for tea or coffee.

“Who wants to wait for a kettle to boil these days”, “Where can you get an instant drink of choice all in one place”, “Visitors can help themselves with easy to use machines” , “Waiting around for an appointment is easier if you have the option of a drink to pass the time”, “My staff are busy they want something quick and easy”. All comments we were hearing which made us think, Chatha Hygiene don’t avoid challenges we use them to grow instead!

Through teamwork our family are able to support each other, identify each other’s strengths and will continue to provide the personal touch and understand the needs of our very varied customer base.

Chatha Hygiene also makes sure that any waste collected, whenever possible is recycled.

Thinking Business

13

Members News

Heart of Kent Hospice wins

Kent Care Charity of the Year Award

Cantium supports KENT BUSINESSES Cantium Business Solutions are celebrating their first birthday following a successful first year.

Previously a traded service of Kent County Council (KCC), Cantium formed as a LATCo (local authority trading company) last year and now employs more than 470 staff in their Kent-based offices specialising in the provision of back office services for IT, HR and Finance.

The Microsoft Gold Partner delivers services to more than 1,000 customers within the education market, public sector, health and private sector. Taking a unique

approach to business solutions, they look to carefully tailor services to align with the goals and objectives of their customers.

Cantium are supporting Kent businesses with IT solutions, partnering with SMEs to act as a strategic partner or virtual IT director for their organisation. Acting as an extension to their team, Cantium will work with them to help shape the vision of their business and create a strategic IT roadmap that will help drive improvements.

With an extensive range of comprehensive technology

solutions available, SMEs can enjoy a ‘mix and match’ tailored package designed to help the business reach its maximum potential. Whether this be cloud services, hosting solutions or security management, there are a number of leading services available. Just one of the connectivity solutions SMEs can benefit from is Cantium’s Anywhere SIM – the UK’s leading roaming mobile network, providing seamless access to all available mobile networks with one SIM. https://cantium.solutions

Trem-bel and how it all began

by Jacqui Seager CEO of Amvill Technologies Heart of Kent Hospice was named ‘Kent Care Charity of the Year’ at the Kent Charity Awards, in a ceremony at the Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone.

The Awards, now in their fifth year recognise the outstanding contribution charities and voluntary groups undertake to make the lives of others better, across Kent.

This year’s Heart of Kent Hospice award was given in recognition of the expert and personalised end-of-life care they provide to patients with a terminal illness and their families in the local community.

Sarah Pugh, Chief Executive, said: “I’m very fortunate that I regularly receive letters from the friends and family of the loved ones we care for, thanking us for the difference we have made at a very difficult time in their lives.

“I am incredibly proud of our professional and dedicated team of colleagues and volunteers who are committed to providing outstanding care and support to patients, families and carers, across every part of the Hospice.

As a charity reliant on the generosity of our local communities, I would like to thank all our supporters who enable us to continue to provide our specialist care while, each year we see demand for our services grow.”

Hospice patient Paula has been receiving support from the Hospice for the past year, since being diagnosed with a brain tumour. She said: “If anyone had told me a year ago I’d be going to the Hospice and doing all these things I’ve done I’d have never believed them.

I’m so chuffed the amazing work of the Hospice that I know so well, has been recognised by others.”

If you would like to find out more about supporting Heart of Kent Hospice visit www.hokh.org or call 01622 790195.

14 Thinking Business

Like many people, I have an elderly mother with a wish to stay in her own home until she dies. Not so easy, when her accompanying age comes with health issues, deafness, poor vision, dexterity, stability.

Today’s technology baffles and delights her, but when it comes to simple alerting tasks around her home, it appeared to my family there were few options available that my mother could handle.

Four years ago found my sister frantically pressing the doorbell button of our mother’s home with increasing concern as to her wellbeing, whilst mum - oblivious to all the activity outside - continued to watch her loud TV. I thought about it and asked my husband John “Can you make this for me?” “I’ll give it a go” he replied. It was the start of trem-bel,

a simple doorbell alerting system with a wristband that would light up and vibrate according to the alert.

The potential user is based on my mother’s abilities. trem-bel had to be simple, with only one button, easy to attach to a wrist; contactlessly rechargeable and able to withstand a soaking inside or out.

I had no idea what qualities I would need to bring a product to market.

Where do you start? Dragon’s Den, of course! I studied the experience of other entrepreneurs on the show and began researching at The British Library intellectual property centre.

I met resident inventor Mark Sheahan, now a colleague and follower of trem-bel. Next was to find an Intellectual Property lawyer.

I settled on Andy Bridle to write our patent. His advice has been key.

Local access to a European-wide market Despite the outcome of Brexit, Europe will remain the largest export opportunity for Kent businesses, according to Dachser, which is based in Dartford.

Dachser UK is part of the German family-owned Dachser organisation, an international logistics provider with access to an extensive network of 425 offices and depots throughout Europe.

Dachser is the supplier of choice for European logistics, value-added distribution and transport services for many Kent based manufacturers, retailers, importers and exporters.

With intelligent solutions to include optimised processes and systems, the entire supply chain is managed

to ensure your worldwide flow of goods. Its services are supported by the latest IT offering, online booking and real time track and trace.

From its Dartford platform, Dachser offer daily direct scheduled services throughout its European network with fixed and reliable departure times. This preciselytimed schedule of daily connections and exact transit times allows Kent businesses to order and control shipments with total confidence.

Underpinned by the companies AEO status, Dachser is able to provide full customs clearance services.

Dachser provide global services beyond the boundaries of Europe,too, including pallet

Meanwhile, John developed our first proof of concept. Before we knew it, we had a company, patents and a clear goal.

It was time to branch out to find a company who would love trembel as much as we did and we met Paul Mullen, MD. of Cubik Innovation in Bristol. Cubik has joined Amvill Technologies to bring trem-bel to market.

2018 saw us enter trem-bel into the British Invention show, where we took gold for best new UK product and best new International product.

Best of all, trem-bel has the support of Kane Kramer, the inventor of the digital audio player.

It’s amazing to look back and to see just how far we have come, For further information visit www.trem-bel.co.uk distribution, contract logistics, supply management, intercontinental air and sea freight forwarding, all with consistent first class service.

Dachser’s Air Sea Logistics (ASL) division provide a wide range of services, for Kent exporters and importers, which are geared towards global procurement and distribution across all industries.

Intercontinental ocean freight and air freight are handled by highly trained and experienced employees who know the markets and will find solutions to meet your business specific needs. https://www.dachser.co.uk

Members News

Stagecoach South East is launching a new coach service that will enable people to travel between Kent and London, with pre-booked single tickets starting at just £7.50 from Canterbury and £6 from Chatham.

The Stagecoach Express service, which begins on Sunday 21 July, will link Canterbury Bus Station with North Greenwich underground station, which is adjacent to The O2. The M2 route has pick-up points at Hempstead Valley, Chatham Bus Station and Chatham Maritime.

Joel Mitchell, Managing Director at Stagecoach South East, said: “This is the first time we’ve launched a coach

service in the region and we are very excited about the possibilities it will bring to commuters, students and day trippers. Passengers will be able to travel in comfort, have a guaranteed seat when they book in advance, work or surf on the go with free wifi and mains charging sockets – and all at very low cost. The cheapest option for passengers is to pre-book via the Megabus website but you can also buy a ticket on board for those last minute trips.”

Kent residents looking to enjoy a day out at The O2 will be able to catch the last coach around 11pm, after concerts finish. Alternatively, if passengers want to enjoy a day in London they

can easily access the Capital on the Jubilee line from the nearby North Greenwich tube station.

David Panayiotou, Head of Transport at The O2, said: “The O2 welcomes the introduction of the new Stagecoach Express services linking the residents of Kent with our venue. The new transport route will encourage our guests to leave their car at home while still being able to travel in comfort to one of our shows, as well as experience all the venue has to offer including Up at The O2, outlet shopping at ICON, bowling, trampolining and our many restaurants and bars.”

The route will also provide new links for Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent staff and students, while University of Greenwich students will be able to easily travel between Chatham and Greenwich.

Picture caption: Joel Mitchell, Managing Director at Stagecoach South East, launching the new Stagecoach Express service that will link Kent and London.

SO WHAT IS EQUITY RELEASE? Equity Release is becoming increasingly popular and will become more so over the coming years for many reasons, but what is Equity Release?

Basically, it’s a way that homeowners over 55 can take tax free cash out of their homes, without having to move or make repayments of any kind, unless they choose to.

So why do these people want to consider equity release? Gold-plated Final Salary Pension Schemes are now few and far between.

Personal pension pots are falling short on providing decent income at retirement and life expectancy statistics continue to amaze.

Basically, many people over 55 are starting to realise their retirement may not be as rosy as they had previously hoped. Most know that their biggest asset is their home and many think the only way to access this is to sell and downsize or even sell and rent. So, is Equity Release a viable option?

The majority of Equity Release cases are Lifetime Mortgages, which can offer fixed rates of interest for life, and with many under 3.50% (depending on individual circumstances) now is a great time to consider this if someone has a need for cash, can’t afford to make repayments on things like loans or credit cards and does not want to move home.

Some older readers may have memories of when equity release which didn’t have the best of reputation due to a lack of regulation. However, now we are all regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (providers and advisers alike) and also have a market place “code of conduct” set up by the Equity Release Council. All the plans we recommend are safeguarded by the ERC and have such things as a “No Negative Equity Guarantee” to protect not just the individual but also their beneficiaries.

Independent Advisor Peter Winstanley runs Equity Release Kent

OPPORTUNITY TO DOUBLE CHARITABLE DONATIONS Kent Community Foundation (KCF) has announced The Lawson Trust Million Pound Endowment Match Challenge to encourage giving in Kent.

The Challenge will deliver an additional £2 million to support charities within Kent and Medway. It means that for every £1 donated by you, The Lawson Trust will match it with a donation of £1. The funds will be invested in perpetuity and the income gained every year will be used for charitable grant-making.

By working with KCF and The Lawson Trust Million Pound Endowment

Match Challenge, you can help make communities and people’s lives better, brighter, happier, healthier, greener, finer, kinder and richer.

You can choose the goal and direction of your philanthropy and charitable donations, and KCF will support you to achieve it all.

Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said: “Donating to a match fund appeals to philanthropists as, over time, the amount distributed will outstrip the original gift, making a lasting legacy for the community.

“If you, your family or business

Mental Health training could reduce staff absence by 12% Publicity surrounding The Royals’ Heads Together charity and the recent Mental Health Awareness week are evidence that mindfulness around mental health issues have come a long way, but there is still a way to go; particularly in the workplace.

Commercially it makes sense.

According to commissioned studies and ONS figures, 12.7% of all sickness absence days are linked to mental health issues. In monetary terms, better mental health support in the workplace could save UK businesses up to £8 billion per year.

What can businesses and organisations do to improve their levels of mental health support?

Talk to an expert. Mental Health First Aid is no different from other forms of First Aid. It provides individuals with skills to help identify potential signs and symptoms and demonstrate practical ways to support someone who is ill or in distress.

For 14 years, new Chamber member, Windmill Training Ltd have been at the vanguard of mental health training including mental health first aid training and personality disorder awareness training and the upcoming Suicide for Managers course .

Owner Nicole Capon said: “Windmill Training works with organisations, to help develop their staff’s mental health knowledge to be able to support their customers and colleagues in an informed way.”

decided to contribute to a match fund your endowment will be pooled with other funds held at Kent Community Foundation allowing for a broader spectrum of investments, protection of capital and increased returns.

Windmill Training have worked alongside Kent County Council, West Kent Mind, Jobcentre Plus and HMPPS (HM Prison and Probation Service) offering bespoke courses and nationally recognised qualifications.

“The great news is that, by investing donations, the benefit to the recipients is magnified beyond what the donor might have been able to give during his or her life.”

Asked what she is looking to gain from her Chamber membership, Nicole said: “I am looking forward to meeting and working with companies that want to increase awareness around mental health issues and further reduce the stigmas that have historically surrounded the issue.”

If you would like to find out more, contact KCF by emailing development@kentcf.org.uk.

Thinking Business

15

The Big Interview

Why skimping on security is a false and damaging economy In an age of high-tech security measures, it can be sometimes easy to forget that the best methods are often the tried and trusted ones which have stood the test of time.

16 Thinking Business

The Big Interview

“People underestimate criminals. These are not just some people off the street who see an empty site and decide to dump some rubbish. They work in gangs, they do their homework identifying easy targets, they know how they will break in, they come prepared with tools to break locks or forklifts to move large bollards and open gates.”

Which is why the services of Bromley-based Guard Dog Security Limited have proved so enduringly popular down the years, often in cases where other security initiatives have failed with disastrous consequences for businesses.

The company, which works largely on construction sites, specialises in providing highly-trained dogs and handlers and often finds itself called in to provide protection for managers who are at the end of their tether due to repeated incidents. Time and time again, the company’s approach has provided the solution that the client requires.

The business can trace its beginnings back to the childhood passion of founder and managing director Ray Zamfir. He had a natural way with dogs from a young age and decided to develop his passion for training them into a business.

Initially, he helped owners of large, powerful dogs such as German Shepherds, Rottweiler and Malinois, to train them so that they would behave predictably and suitably for their roles as guards.

However, the business gradually evolved towards training its own dogs, mostly German Shepherds, and providing patrol security services and round-the-clock onsite protection for a diverse range of customers.

In 2004, Guard Dog Security Ltd was incorporated and has since grown into a trusted provider of security services for business premises, valuable assets and people.

The team’s work and methods have repeatedly proved themselves over the past fifteen years and Ray is proud of the company’s security track record and its many positive customer reviews.

As is Ramona Zamfir, Commercial and Development Director, who said: “Our clients tend to fall into two categories, companies that invest in adequate security right from the beginnings of work on a site and those that call us in after incidents have disrupted their business, causing financial loss and frustration.”

In one case, the company, whose dogs are trained from puppies and whose handlers are all ex-military and ex-police, was called in to address problems at a building site where a twelve-storey block of flats was being constructed.

Intruders had broken in and stolen tools, then come back and done the same again, even though the tools had been moved to a more secure room.

Ramona said: “The firm had CCTV but that is of little use other than to show you how they got in. They also had a guard stationed on the site but he was at the front gate and the intruders came in through the back.

“There had been three incidents in three weeks. Break-ins where tools are stolen can have a serious effect. Workers usually own their own tools and are attached to them. They are upset when they are stolen and the relationship between workers and the managers who are responsible for security can also suffer.

“We moved our guards in to solve the problem. The handlers are highly trained as are their dogs and, in this case, although the intruders came back a few times, they were eventually chased away.

The dogs are trained to bark differently for intruders or for animals, such as foxes or cats. This helps the dog handlers to be prepare and respond to incidents quickly.”

In another case, the situation was even worse. There had

been repeated incidents at the site, which provided units to let in London, including break-ins, huge amounts of rubbish being dumped, assaults on three security guards and a deliberate fire which led to half the site being destroyed and the owner being fined and forced to sell up.

The new owner called in Guard Dog Security Limited and Ray said; “There had been a lot of problems on this particular site costing the owners a lot of money.

“The previous owner had to give up his plans of developing the site and became a distressed seller.

“People underestimate criminals.

These are not just some people off the street who see an empty site and decide to dump some rubbish.

They work in gangs, they do their homework identifying easy targets, they know how they will break in, they come prepared with tools to break locks or forklifts to move large bollards and open gates.

adequate security into your budget. Demand for our services is growing all the time.”

And the reason people keep coming to Guard Dog Security Limited? Ray said: “The selection and training of security guards and dogs are critical to consistently deliver the high security levels on which customers rely.

Our dependable guards are comprehensively assessed and licensed by the Security Industry Association and we work with former military personnel because their experience, mentality and high standards are an excellent fit for our industry. And our dogs are strong, fast and expertly prepared for security work.”

You can contact Guard Dog Security Ltd at: Tel Office: 020 8720 9388 e-mail: office@guard-dog-security.com

“They know exactly what they will steal from a site, what tools, the electric copper wire, lead from the roof, copper pipes, or how much rubbish they can dump; they know the law when they squat and use it to their advantage. It can cost a company between £20,000 and £50,000 to remove rubbish from a site. We got on top of the problem but, in such cases, we always say to a client that, once a problem has been solved, they should not assume that it is solved forever.

Security has to be ongoing.”

Ramona said: “We have had cases where we put a stop to the incidents then the client says ‘that means we do not need you any more’ and dispenses with our services and a few week later, the trouble starts up again and they need to call us back in.

“We argue that it makes more sense to work the cost of

Call 020 8720 9388

to get your FREE gift of

‘Construction Site Security Tips by Ray Zamfir’

Thinking Business

17

BUILDING ON TRUST: CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR ANY BUILDING PROJECT ‘Red Key Concepts LTD’ is a privately owned dynamic, professional Construction Management and Design & Build company based in Kent but covering the whole South East of England. Established in 2016, we, as a team pride ourselves on our combined 20 years experience of specialising in the project management techniques to oversee the planning, design and construction of projects from conception to delivery. We aim to take away the stresses and strains that come with construction projects by proactively managing the construction budget to deliver the project on time and to an exceptionally high standard.

Construction Management The cost-effective and adaptive solutions we can offer for your projects and programmes continues to ensure that we provide you with the best service possible. We tailor the specific delivery system, project approach and pricing structure to fit each and every client and project needs, for successful project solutions and outcomes. Our in house buying team ensures packages and materials are sourced and secured at the best possible price without compromising quality. Our open book policy ensures transparency between client, QS and contractor throughout the entire

project which allows for changes and upgrades to be made without the client incurring unnecessary and often inflated costs. We have a proven track record which demonstrates the advantages of using our ‘open book’ business model within the commercial sector (flag ship car showrooms, NHS facilities and establishments, warehouse developments to name but a few) and residential sector (new build developments, bespoke high end houses, property conversions).

For a monthly construction management fee agreed at the start of a project our transparency enables clients to see the trade discounts we can pass directly onto them, they pay what we do effectively ‘at cost’ without the quality and service being compromised.

Design & Build On the back of the success of this ‘open book’ business model we recognised there was also a need still for a ‘traditional’ contract solution.

We, as a company are committed to each and every project from conception to delivery and being in an advantageous position now to offer prospective clients both business models. We can identify the best possible solution for their construction and development

CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

www.redkeyconcepts.com tel: 01227 649030

needs by truly understanding their requirements. Design and Build is a project delivery system used in the construction industry.

client will be kept fully updated but we take away the day to day hassles and stress that are often associated with the construction process.

Based on our combined 20 years experience of working within the construction industry we can confidently identify the following benefits for our clients by instructing us to be their DesignBuild Contractor:

‘Red Key Concepts Design and Build Ltd’ are able to offer you the client a traditional main contractor service. We operate a highly professional policy in all aspects of what we do to ensure that the project is delivered at cost by a team of skilled and experienced Sub Contractors and Suppliers, under the strict guidance of the Red Key Management Team.

This business model is designed for the construction projects where we the contractor carries out both the design and the construction work.

By being involved at such an early stage we can proactively put the best possible team together being able to communicate instantaneously at every level which in turn speeds the whole process up, improving our/the clients project schedule.

The ‘fixed price’ offers clients the cost certainty from day one so we would not only oversee the design and build to ensure that the costs are kept within budget but also have the ability to report on the costs at any stage should the client so wish. By having control of the project we can monitor and ensure that the team all work together for a successful delivery of a completed project. You as the

It is inevitable on any project, that there will be variations and additional works. As a traditional Main Contractor we would look to manage these by proactively finding solutions and reporting such elements immediately and suggesting ways to mitigate affects on programme and budget rather than look to profit from them.

For regular updates on the ongoing projects and exciting job opportunities please visit: www.redkeyconcepts.com www.facebook.com/redkeyconcepts www.twitter.com/redkeyconcepts www.instagram.com/redkeyconcepts

Members News

EMR Metal Recycling Kent Property Market

With three sites in Kent, and more than 65 across the UK, EMR is your local metal recycler.

Developed from a single site in the UK in the 1950s, EMR Metal Recycling has grown into a world leading metal recycler with more than 170 facilities across the globe.

Handling around 10 million tonnes of metal annually, the metal we recover saves more than 10 million tonnes of CO2 every year, compared to using virgin materials.

With three recycling facilities open to both trade and public in Rochester, Ashford - a newly opened facility, and Erith – with access via road and river, we have a strong presence in Kent.

We put a great deal of importance on supporting the communities close to these sites by partnering with local charities and community groups.

We are also working with schools to deliver a free programme to educate children about the importance of metal recycling - encouraging sustainable thinking.

We specialise in delivering more value from our customers’ waste streams and pay great prices for metal of all grades, shapes and sizes – cars to cables, aluminium to zinc.

We offer a range of services to meet our customers’ needs, including total waste management solutions, facilities to process end of life vehicles and refrigeration, environmental consultancy and industry related training services, No job is too big or too small. From a one-off clearance project to a waste disposal contract handling several thousand tonnes, we can handle it. www.emrgroup.com

Training and Recruitment company JOINS CHAMBER Go Train are delighted to become a member of the Kent Invicta Chamber and are looking forward to aiding other Chamber members in greater prosperity by offering free recruitment and training to their staff.

Free Training - Go Train are a successful training provider with an excellent reputation with centres across the UK. Throughout the years we’ve helped many organisations develop their staff by understanding their training needs and implementing customised courses from a range of zero cost training options, our courses include but not limited to: Health and Safety - Mental Health and Wellbeing - Manual Handling - Safeguarding - Maths - English Equality and Diversity - Food Hygiene Customer Service - Fist Aid - IT - ESOL We are running our ‘Workplace Essentials’ course over 4 days throughout September and October: • First Aid – Certificate valid for 3 years

• Health and Safety – Level one certificate • Equality and Diversity – Level one certificate To book on this free course, please send your details to gemma.charnley@go-train.co.uk Free Recruitment - As one of the most common complaints within business is finding the right staff, we can help alleviate this by sourcing candidates, training them in the skills you require and referring them to you, we can even provide a venue to interview. There is no obligation to hire and you won’t be tied into lengthy agreements and best of all THERE IS NO COST TO YOU! Some of the companies we have helped so far include: Amazon, Travelodge, Matalan, RBS, Primark, Capita and UPS. For further information visit www.go-train.co.uk

half-year UPDATE

The 2018 Kent Property Market Report revealed many positive aspects about the property sector in Kent, but echoed national fragilities. Six months on, the picture is still positive with better than average reasons to invest in the county.

Industrial: The industrial sector across the south east has undergone a revival. Following years of comparatively inexpensive commercial rents and land values in Kent, the county’s rental uplift has outstripped the rest of the UK yearon-year since 2014, but it is still seen as good value and industrial rents have grown in most Kent markets over the past 12-months.

The jewel in the crown for land values is Orpington at £3m/acre, followed closely by Dartford where they reached £2m/acre, with Sevenoaks at £1.5m/acre and Gravesend £1.2 m/acre. Currently the county has 580,000 sq ft under commercial construction, with the added bonus of increased rental prices on new build.

Office: The Office market mirrors the industrial sector success and is seen as affordable when compared with London and prime south east property. Kent has reported the highest rental growth in the UK during the past 12-months. Overall, in both town centre and business park locations, the county has had a 9.2% rental increase, which is led

by Dover with an enviable 12% uplift.

Sevenoaks and Bromley lead the way with rental levels at £30/sq ft.

Smaller office units are quickest to let with activity below 5,000 sq ft high.

Up to 10,000 sq ft there is reasonable activity reported, while larger sized property is slower to move. Lack of stock is a problem, which has resulted in flat investment levels.

Retail: Retail findings at the end of 2018 revealed regeneration and strategic management had compensated for a seismic shift in retail habits, and had added buoyancy in some towns across the county where they had implemented

such plans. 6-months on this has not changed. The effects of changing retail habits has taken, and is still taking its toll with 25% of all sales now on-line and High Streets are also losing out to shopping centres.

Although out-of-town retail investment has dropped 80% year-on-year since 2012, investors are still drawn to redundant shopping centres, where repurposing is an option. In order to find a way out of low rents and low capital values the market needs to accept this and fundamentally change.

Residential: Residential land values have continued to increase across Kent, although this is not reflected in sale prices. Local Authorities are under pressure to increase allocation of land for residential development and the greenbelt is, as ever, high on their agendas, protecting it wherever they can. Investors can still be found in the development and private rented sectors, where there is still traction.

Ashford: The exemplar in the county is Ashford, where prime office rents are 25% above their pre-financial crisis peak and display much higher growth than for the rest of Kent.

Ashford prime industrial rental growth has risen 38% since 2013 (14% over and above Kent in general) and there is speculative construction off the back of these attractive figures. Bucking the trend both across the country and county, Ashford’s retail growth has risen 11% in just 12-months and it has attracted a rise in residential values of 26% in the past five years.

Overall, the property sector in Kent is standing up well to current political uncertainties.

Mark Coxon, Director and Head of Commercial at Caxtons said “We are delighted at the half-year property market research results and look forward to a busy run-up to the full report launch in November.

“We are still dogged by uncertainty and delayed investment decisions relating to Brexit but live in hope that these will soon resolve and that we will all be able to move forward positively.”

Thinking Business

19

CONSTRUCTION

Cover Feature

THE CHANGING FACE OF HOW WE BUILD:

by Simon Barnes, Industry Engagement Manager, University of Kent

From a slow start, the construction sector in Kent and the UK is now in the vanguard of applying technology to build for the future From standing start to ‘jumping factories’

From the origins of the earliest species of humankind to the evolution of the millennial generation, the need to build shelter and protection has been as fundamental a requirement for human existence as food, water and oxygen. In that vast swathe of time and human history we have adapted where we build, the techniques we use and the materials we deploy in constructing dwellings, places to meet and spaces to work.

Innovation has always found its way into how we construct buildings and infrastructure. A recent example is

20 Thinking Business

the ‘Jumping Factory’ method of building by Mace Construction that means an entire floor of a multistorey office or apartment block can be fully constructed in a week.

Challenges facing the sector

Construction, in Kent and elsewhere, is currently facing existential challenges that will represent the biggest transformation for the sector in its history. Driving this change is new technology, new investment and a labour market revolution in the skills required and the diversity and equality needed in the modern construction workforce.

Traditionally seen as one of the lagging behind industries

when it comes to adopting new technology (McKinsey, reports 2015 and 2017), leading construction companies are starting to embrace the newest technology in every aspect of the construction process: design, planning, Quantity Surveying, engineering, site management, health and safety, regulation and legislative compliance, materials, construction techniques, communication, payroll management, training, modular off-site construction and the use of plant and machinery.

It is estimated that by the time we are a quarter of a century from millennium eve the global market in construction will be worth approximately £1.5 Trillion and that more than 7% of the entire global workforce will be employed in the construction sector.

In South East England, the increase in Gross Value-Added (GVA) from the use of off-site construction methods alone is predicted to be £785 million by next year (WPI Economics, 2017).

Skills shortages – the perennial problem for the construction sector

According to Kent County Council Labour Market Statistics (2018), the percentage of people working in the construction sector in Kent has increased to 8% of the entire Kent labour force. The sector is set to require more workers as new housing developments and civil engineering and construction projects expand in the county.

Skills shortages, retention and recruitment are a constant challenge for the construction industry.

CONSTRUCTION

Traditional roles in construction are changing and the dominant commercial voices in the industry such as McAlpine, Kier Group and others are recognising that construction needs to attract a much higher percentage of young people and more women into the sector.

Currently less than 20 percent of those employed in the sector are female and the avergae age of bricklayers, according to the Chair of Kent Constructing Excellence (Cheryl Causebrook), is fifty-two.

To this end organisations such as Folkestone College, profiled in a Kent TV (KMTV) presentation in December 2018, are working with construction companies to design and deliver courses that appeal to young people seeking vocational careers providing key skills such as bricklaying and painting and decorating. As Ella Brocklebank, Business Development Manager at Jenner Group, has highlighted there are currently one hundred and eighty six different careers available within the construction sector and as new technology, including the ‘digitization of construction’ starts to change processes from design to build to finishing, more women will be attracted to a sector that has been dominated by men. Building Information Modelling (BIM) has already become a standard in the industry which appeals to younger people who want a career in IT applied to the delivery of tangible assets in the form of buildings and infrastructure that are transforming their own communities.

Innovation and the Future

Kent boasts some of the most innovative companies involved in the construction sector including some major award winners and companies at the forefront of technology and its use in construction. Examples include Lucas UK based in Wrotham, a multi-award winning company

Cover Feature

providing finishing to some of the most iconic building projects of recent years (e.g. the Bloomberg Building and the McLaren Thought Leadership centre); Jenner Group (Folkestone); smaller architects and consultants such as DC Architecture (Sidcup); and specialist leading companies such as Brett Aggregates (Canterbury), boasting new techniques in recycling to transform inert waste products using crushing and screening technologies to produce sub-base materials, including aggregates screened to Type 1 gradings. Sadly, R. Durtnell and Sons Ltd has recently entered into administration. It was recognised

by Durtnell’s will be digitized into data formats and be exposed to AI and machine learning technology.

The insights this data could provide into the material properties such as tensile strengths and durability would provide an invaluable resource for research and application.

The Role of Research and Technology Organisations

Construction companies do not operate in isolation. From architectural modelling and design, through testing, calibration, inspection and certification of materials to the end result of

research that drives innovation.

Universities play an important role too. The University of Greenwich for example delivers HNC courses in construction management at its Bexley centre, while the University of Kent delivers research in key subject areas used by the construction sector. The University of Kent’s School of Architecture boasts research into Future Cities under the direction of Dr Peter Bus. This team is at the forefront of investigating the way in which buildings will be constructed and the spatial relationship(s) between homes, public spaces, the environment and technology and in how they are designed and used. It is predicted the way in which construction sites operate and are monitored will be effectively controlled by technology, with autonomous and semi-autonomous drones and robotic structures interpreting blueprint and project pipeline data to complete the key tasks associated with erecting a building or completing new road surfaces.

AI and machine learning will be at the forefront of this innovation.

What all of this means for Construction in Kent as Britain’s oldest building company, constructing housing for generations of people from Shakespearian times to working on restoration and heritage projects such as the Brighton Corn Exchange. Even within this sad end, to a stalwart of the industry, is a lesson in how a company predicated on traditional techniques and materials was able to survive across five different centuries of regulation, changing social circumstances and evolving technology. It has to be hoped that the historical records of materials used in every building constructed

buildings that people live and work in and the roads and transport systems they use to travel between the two, laboratories and universities play a crucial role.

Laboratories are the facilities at the forefront of testing and accreditation for national and international standards for many industries, including construction. These labs, many of which are accredited

by UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service) also play a part of testing new materials used in construction and conducting the science and technological

In all likelihood construction will be a sector of growing importance in Kent. For housing, for jobs, for public spaces, for skills and opportunities and for our important current and future infrastructure. The challenges are there, not least in joining up the needs of the industry with the right people, technology and investment required to grow the local economy in a manageable way, that spreads opportunity and wealth across the county. In short, the future for Kent is intrinsically linked to the way that construction will develop over the next years and decades.

“Kent boasts some of the most innovative companies involved in the construction sector including some major award winners and companies at the forefront of technology and its use in construction.”

Thinking Business

21

CONSTRUCTION

Cover Feature

RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED as housebuilders strike a cautiously optimistic note

Construction businesses, including those in the South East, are working with the organisation that oversees the industry’s training to attract much-needed new talent into the sector. of Brexit, the industry critically needs a new generation of skilled, motivated workers.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has set out its plans to help the industry meet critical skills shortages, based on feedback from company bosses, those in Kent among them.

CITB’s business plan for 20192021 outlines the ‘Big Six’ skills challenges, which were identified by construction employers as: • making construction an attractive career to a broader range of recruits • developing a ‘site-ready’ workforce • getting more construction learners to join the industry • growing the number and diversity of apprentices

• helping smaller firms invest in the training that can transform their business

• boosting the number of assessors for vocational qualifications The CITB says that, with an ageing workforce and the potential of losing EU workers because

22 Thinking Business

To address that challenge, CITB is launching a nationwide careers campaign that will attract recruits from all walks of life. It will highlight the well-paid career opportunities available, reaching groups who have traditionally been underrepresented in the industry.

The campaign will provide information on how to get into construction, including through apprenticeships and work experience, and will showcase the support available, such as higher CITB funding rates for apprenticeships.

And because construction firms say that they struggle to find site-ready recruits. CITB will expand the Construction Skills Fund initiative, launched last year, funded by the Department for Education and delivered by CITB. With 26 onsite hubs already running across England, CITB will use industry funding to create a further 20 to expand the scheme across the UK. They will give thousands of people on-site experience and deliver the workready candidates that employers need.

The CITB will also increase the amount of money available to help small businesses with their

training. According to the CITB, construction now has more than a million small and medium sized employers, making them essential contributors to the sector and the economy but many smaller firms operate on thin profit margins, making it hard for them to invest in the training that can transform their business.

In 2018 CITB helped more than 1,400 smaller employers access £6m in training support through its Skills and Training Fund. In the coming year, it will continue to invest by growing the fund to £8m, reaching 1,900 firms.

CITB Chief Executive Sarah Beale said: “Our Business Plan identifies the most pressing skills challenges we face as an industry, and sets out the detail of how CITB will work with partners to address them. Working with employers, learners and education, I’m confident that this plan will help transform construction and make it fit for the future.”

The news came as housebuilders struck a cautiously optimistic note despite the uncertainty caused for the construction industry by Brexit turmoil.

Investing in House Building According to a survey for the Home Builders Federation (HBF), which included the South East, housebuilders are continuing to invest in land and securing approval for new sites despite the political and economic uncertainty.

HBF/Glenigan’s latest Housing Pipeline report shows that nationally builders had a form of planning permission granted for nearly 370,000 new homes in 2018, the second highest annual total on record and well over double the number being granted a decade ago.

According to the research, housing supply is up 78% in the past five years with 222,000 homes added to the housing stock last year.

Whilst the level of increase is unprecedented, the total is still some way short of the number of homes

CONSTRUCTION

the country needs to be building. To address the shortfall, Government has set the industry a challenging target of building 300,000 a year by the mid-2020s.

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman at HBF, said: “The industry is investing massively in people and land to ensure it can meet the challenge set by Government to deliver even more, high quality homes.

Cover Feature

According to the quarterly survey of the supply chain’s product manufacturers, contractors, civil engineers and SME builders by the Construction Products Association (CPA), sales of construction products rose according to 54% of heavy side manufacturers and 29% of light side manufacturers.

In contrast, 20% of main contractors reported a decrease in output during the quarter, whilst workloads

Another piece of research done for the Construction Products Association shows that private house building activity is expected to remain flat in areas including the South East, albeit at a high level, in cities including London over the next year.

Researchers say that the trend reflects house builder caution over the slowdown in demand and falling prices in London, as well as parts of the South East and East.

“The industry continues to work with central and local Government to ensure local planning departments have the capacity to deal effectively with the increased number of applications.

It is also pushing Government for confirmation that it will have ongoing access to skilled labour from abroad post-Brexit, which will be key to its ability to build out these sites.”

Glenigan’s Economics Director Allan Wilen said: “The development pipeline remains strong, with the number of units securing approval last year close to the record level seen in 2017. The high level of approvals over the past two years reflects the sustained flow of projects with approval that are already under construction or progressing to site.”

However, these still remain challenging times for construction in places like London and the South East, according to a survey which showed that the industry experienced a mixed quarter for products sales, output and new orders in the opening three months of 2019.

were reported lower for 17% of civil engineering contractors and 7% of SME builders.

Only product manufacturers and SME builders reported positive readings in forward-looking indicators, with a broad-based fall in new orders reported by main contractors and civil engineers.

In contrast, public housing starts are forecast to rise 2.0% in 2019 and 5.0% in 2020 supported by an increase in building for the affordable market.

Noble Francis, Economics Director at the Construction Products Association, said: “It’s a currently a mixed picture for the construction

industry and fortunes will depend highly on the sector and region in which firms are working. Those involved in major infrastructure projects, warehouses or ports are enjoying considerable growth but firms working on offices, retail and factories will be experiencing falls in construction activity.

“In private house building, activity is falling sharply in London, as well as parts of the South East and East but activity in the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands is continuing to grow in line with house price inflation.

“The endless Brexit uncertainty hasn’t affected activity on smaller projects, where households have largely switched off from reading about Brexit and continue to spend whilst employment is high and real wages are rising. However, the Brexit uncertainty has had a large impact on sectors dependent upon high upfront investment for a longterm rate of return, especially where the investment is from international investors. It has so far hindered investment in new offices, towers, factories and high-end residential and, given a 12-18-month lag between new orders and activity on the ground, output in these sectors will be adversely affected in 2019 and 2020 at the very least.

“Overall, construction output is expected to fall marginally this year before 1.4% growth next year but this growth is highly dependent on Government’s delivery of infrastructure.”

CONTRACTOR PROTECTION AGAINST EMPLOYER INSOLVENCY It’s essential for contractors to review their existing business model, to protect against employer insolvency.

Three stages to consider: 1. Contract Provisions Consider requesting in the building contract, an escrow account, weighted stage payments, advance payment, a project bank account and direct payment by a funder.

If the employer becomes insolvent, any Retention Monies may be difficult to recover, so consider a Retention Bond or Retention Trust Account.

Ensure there is a properly drafted Retention of Title Clause. This reserves the contractor’s rights over materials used in the project but is generally ineffective once the materials are fixed.

There should be specific clauses allowing termination on insolvency, and the definition of insolvency should be wide.

The contractor should make provisions in its own sub-contracts, supply contracts and professional appointments. A “pay when paid” clause limited to employer insolvency could be included in such agreements because the Construction Act 1996 Section 110(1B) confirms that pay when paid clauses in cases of

upstream insolvency are excepted from the prohibition on conditional payment clauses.

2. During the Project Look out for early warning signs of employer insolvency, such as rumours, redundancies, unexpected or unexplained omissions from the project, suspension of the project, filing accounts at Companies House late and failing to maintain insurance.

Ensure regular and complete invoicing, strict compliance with the building contract and consider starting an adjudication before the employer’s insolvency. This could make the difference between securing payment before insolvency and ending up in a queue of unsecured creditors.

3. If Employer is Insolvent Ensure that plant equipment and materials are secured and review payment obligations with subcontractors, consultants and suppliers.

Notify relevant parties of any retention of title clause and carefully identify all goods and materials on site not incorporated into the project. Do not terminate the contract without considering the situation carefully, as other parties such as a funder may wish to complete the project using the contractor by novating the original contract or entering into a new arrangement with a contractor.

David Brown is a Partner at Gullands Solicitors and can be contacted at d.brown@gullands.com www.gullands.com Thinking Business

23

Cradle to Cradle® The Circular Economy in Sustainable Construction Aran Brooks, Director at Drees and Sommer’s Ashford Office looks at the Cradle to Cradle approach to Sustainability

Founded in 1970 in Stuttgart, Drees and Sommer is a European Construction Consultancy with 40+ offices across Europe, Middle East and Russia with some 3200 employees. We are known for the regular services of Construction Project Management, Cost Management, Real Estate Consultancy and Facilities Management Consultancy.

However, in Europe we have considerable experience in the sustainable aspects of construction through our involvement with Cradle to Cradle® with EPEA (part of Drees and Sommer).

effectiveness and goes beyond conventional sustainability tools and approaches, which primarily show the negative influence of humans on the environment.

Cradle to Cradle® follows the Triple Top Line as its basic approach, and

but as available for use. After the use of the product, the materials are taken back as part of a reprocessing system and therefore remain in circulation. Companies may become less dependent on price fluctuations in raw materials markets. The economy of the whole value creation cycle is improved: the value chain is viewed from raw materials to the remanufacture of the product.

TWO NUTRIENT CYCLES:

The Cradle to Cradle® design concept distinguishes between the biological and the technological cycles for materials. Waste materials in an old product become the “food” for a new product.

CRADLE TO CRADLE®: VISION & PRINCIPLES

Need for a paradigm shift Typically, companies do everything they can to reduce their impact on the environment (ecological footprint) as much as possible – a “zeroemission” or “free-from” strategy is targeted. But it shouldn’t be about being less bad, but instead about setting positive goals. That means that for the roadmap of a company the starting point is not important, as long as the company is on its way to a positive, eco-effective goal.

A new agenda is needed to achieve positive economic, social and environmental impacts. This

Cradle to Cradle® is a design concept that was developed in the 1990s by Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart, William McDonough and the scientists of EPEA in Hamburg. It stands for innovation, quality as well as good design and describes the safe and potentially infinite use of materials in cycles.

THE CRADLE TO CRADLE® DESIGN CONCEPT:

Cradle to Cradle® is a design concept inspired by nature, in which products are created according to the principles of an ideal circular economy. This differentiates Cradle to Cradle® from conventional recycling and the concept of eco-efficiency. It is about eco-

its implementation creates equal economic, social and ecological benefits.

THE ADVANTAGES OF CRADLE TO CRADLE®: Cradle to Cradle® offers companies the opportunity to present their products as no longer just for sale,

In the biological cycle materials are returned to the biosphere in the form of compost or other nutrients, from which new materials can be created.

In the technical cycle materials that are not used up during use in the product can be reprocessed to allow them to be used in a new product. This is because they were designed for disassembly.

requires a new way of thinking in the management and the relationship with business partners along the entire value chain. Increased transparency can encourage customers at the end of the value chain to purchase high-quality products and thereby promote the company’s development towards a complete paradigm shift.

Case Studies: Where have buildings been delivered using the Cradle to Cradle® approach?

Delivered: Several buildings have been developed using the cradle to cradle approach. The most notable is Venlo Town Hall. Venlo is in the South East of the Netherlands near the border with Germany. The building was delivered with the Cradle to Cradle® principle at heart.

“A pleasant and healthy workplace for employees of the municipality of Venlo stands central; a building that will create a comfortable and healthy working environment combined with innovative sustainability. An icon at

the river Meuse, that proudly refers to the agro-logistics tradition of the city Venlo; placed in the centre of attention for Cradle to Cradle® -design. A building that exudes what the municipal organisation wants to be: open, transparent and accessible. The design of the new Venlo City Hall is inspired by the Cradle to Cradle-principles.” c2c-centre.com.

Planned: The Cradle, Düsseldorf: Winner of the Future Project Award at MIPIM 2018, Drees and Sommer and EPEA are involved in the development of this project in Germany. Due for delivery in 2021, this innovative building for Interboden will be the first timber hybrid building in the city ad provide 5200m2 of office space and 600m2 of restaurant facilities.

The Cradle, Düsseldorf

To learn more about Cradle to Cradle® go to www.dreso.co.uk/en-GB/topics/ cradle-to-cradle/ or contact Aran Brooks at Drees and Sommer aran.brooks@dreso.com 01233 896550 Credits: EPEA (Part of Drees and Sommer)

CONSTRUCTION

Cover Feature

BUILDING THE FUTURE: TECHNOLOGIES, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES The South East’s leading construction event returns to the Kent Event Centre on October 3rd, when Kent Construction EXPO brings together 2,000+ construction professionals, contractors, developers and specialist suppliers to the sector.

Brought to you by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Kent County Council and Medway Council, this major annual gathering offers a fantastic line-up of speakers, alongside the South East’s largest exhibition of construction suppliers: providing a unique opportunity for you to get the inside track on major infrastructure projects and the latest industry developments, while making valuable new contacts and building your business.

on the horizon as well as emerging technologies, practices and innovations - helping you to keep up to date and thrive in the years ahead.

We already have a great programme line-up confirmed, with inspirational keynotes and practical workshops that will provide you with fresh insights into current construction industry challenges and opportunities

See below for just a few of the hot topics and sector trends that will feature on the programme this year:

Back by popular demand, our roundtable stream provides a focussed platform for discussion where you will have the opportunity to share your challenges and opportunities, hear your peer’s points of view and learn from their experiences, ask questions and voice an opinion.

• Sustainability

• BIM & Digital Construction

• Education • Commercial • Student Accommodation • Residential • Industrial • Healthcare

• Disruptive Forces: AI, AR, Drones & Robots

for sharing best practice and real-life experiences. Attendees can benefit from:

• Local developments

• Latest updates on government infrastructure projects

• Building offsite/ modular construction • Projects & Initiatives within Kent • Utilities vs Construction

• Construction Frameworks

• Health & Safety Regulations

• VAT changes to the Construction sector • R&D Tax Credits

• Architectural Practices

• Infrastructure Post-Brexit • Innovation

• The Skills Shortage/ Skills Development

• Procurement & the Supply Chain A key feature at the event is the exclusive opportunity to put your business in front of leading contractors, suppliers and government departments, with over 600 FREE meet-the-buyer appointments at our popular Meet-The-Buyer feature!

Confirmed buyers for this year include: AMA Waste Management, Amey Ltd, Baxall, BBS Construction, Coombs (Canterbury) Limited, Countryside Properties, DCB (Kent) Ltd, Jenner (Contractors) Limited, Kier Construction Southern, University of Kent, plus many more still to be confirmed.

As well as Meet-The-Buyer, this year’s information-packed event creates a unique environment

Abbott Construction, Broadlands, Blean, Canterbury, Kent CT2 9JJ T: 01227 471206 | E: enquiries@abbottconstruction.co.uk www.abbottconstruction.co.uk @S_T_AbbottLtd

26 Thinking Business

@s.t.abbottltd

Abbott Construction Ltd

• Over 200 market-leading exhibitors

• Invaluable networking opportunities to build and maintain business relationships

• Latest updates on government infrastructure projects

• Live Demo Areas showcasing the most dynamic and innovative products in the industry •

Big Networking Breakfast with a focus on how the evolving digital world will affect the construction industry

• Post-Event Gala Dinner, the perfect way to unwind, network and celebrate excellence within the industry. After-dinner speaker is former world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno. Book now to avoid disappoint, over 75% booked already!

For more information and to register for FREE visit: www.kentconstructionexpo.com Exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities For the latest up-to-date floorplan and more details on pricing and sponsorship opportunities available please contact: Emily Taylor emily@revolution-events.com

CONSTRUCTION

Cover Feature

SPECIALISTS IN PREMIUM VINYL FENCING

A beautiful solution to a modern world • Beautify your outdoor living space • Enjoy stylish privacy & security • Increase your property value • VMA certified 100% pure virgin vinyl fence • Choose from 36 colours and woodgrains

100%

RECYCLABLE

Tel: 0203 880 1948 | info@loufred.com | www.loufred.com V700 Straight top Classic Victorian picket fence with a New England Cap. Shown in Grand Illusions Vinyl Woodbond Mahogany.

www.loufred.com 57

HazleMcCormackYoung LLP/Chartered Architects/Canterbury/Dover/Tunbridge Wells/ Architecture/Interiors/Project Management/Masterplanning/Sustainability/Education/Healthcare/Workplace/ Stephen Coomber/stephenc@hmy.uk.com/ James Robson/jamesr@hmy.uk.com/ James Galpin/jamesg@hmy.uk.com David Hall/davidh@hmy.uk.com

Or visit www.hmy.uk.com

Thinking Business

27

Energy Efficiency

ARE YOU READY?

The UK Government established ESOS to implement Article 8 (4 to 6) of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU). The ESOS Regulations 2014 give effect to the scheme that is designed to support energy efficiency measures in the UK’s commercial and industrial sectors.

In addition, The UK has a 2050 target to reduce carbon emissions by 80%.

This was agreed by MPs under the Climate Change Act in 2008 and will now be amended to the new, much tougher, goal. The actual terminology used by the government is ‘net zero’ greenhouse gases by 2050.

That means emissions from homes, transport, farming and industry will have to be avoided completely or, in the most difficult examples, offset by planting trees or using carbon capture technology.

ESOS is a mandatory energy assessment scheme for organisations in the UK that meet the qualification criteria. The Environment Agency is the UK scheme administrator.

Organisations must notify the Environment Agency by a set deadline that they have complied with their ESOS obligations. The deadline for the first compliance period, 5 December 2015, has passed and the notification portal

Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

28 Thinking Business

has closed. The deadline for the second compliance period (ESOS phase 2) is 5 December 2019.

ESOS applies to any UK company that: •

employs 250 or more people, or

•

has an annual turnover in excess of 50 million euro (£44,845,000), and an annual balance sheet total in excess of 43 million euro (£38,566,700)

•

is an overseas company with a UK registered establishment which has 250 or more UK employees (paying income tax in the UK)

If your business is affected by ESOS and must show improvements in your energy usage and management, then GCL Building Technologies can help. There are grants, low-interest loans and tax-breaks all designed to help you meet these requirements – GCL can provide you with more information or assist you to obtain funding for energy-saving programs and installations.

Why reduce your building’s energy usage?

•

Major savings in energy costs

•

Reduce your carbon footprint

•

Comply with the relevant environmental regulations

•

For landlords, it will attract tenants to your building

GCL use smart structured cabling and ‘Remote Powering’ technology to install integrated energy monitoring systems and energy efficient lighting systems to provide you with a cost-effective solution to reducing energy usage, in some cases by up to 80%.

LED lighting

Lighting is one of highest consumers of energy in a commercial building.

LED lighting uses significantly less energy than standard or conventional alternatives, it also has a longer lifetime.

The final phase of the EU light lamp ban came into effect on 1 September 2018 banning halogen lamps in all but specialist applications. So now may be the time to take the opportunity to reduce your running and maintenance costs and make the change to LEDs. Benefits of an LED lighting system: •

Quick return on investment

•

Equivalent luminance at a lower cost

•

Longer lasting lamps

•

Lower energy usage

•

Circadian Lighting Design Improved ambience with dimmable, mood lighting with flexible colour rendering that amplifies occupant comfort and productivity

•

No “warm up” time, as with Sodium and Metal Halide lighting

Benefits of BMS: •

Coordinate the operation of various systems

•

Complete control over your building environment

•

Closely monitor building energy efficiency

•

Reduce energy consumption

•

Controls may be adjusted remotely online (password protected)

CONTACT US NOW London: 020 3906 6070 Kent: 01892 576 950 For more information email: sales@gcl.uk.com

Your building’s facilities manager can use these systems to monitor building energy usage. GCL will provide you with a coherent system that can be accessed from PCs, laptops and hand-held devices.

This will give you quick access to building information in the form of graphs, charts and reports, allowing you to make informed energy saving decisions.

Occupancy detection and daylight sensing

Installing intelligent lighting controls will ensure that you are not using any more energy than you need to. Detection systems that sense movement and natural light can replace your conventional switches ensuring that lights are turned off automatically in unoccupied spaces– reducing your lighting expenditure.

Our cabling experts will install a system that will ensure your lighting system is easy to use allowing you to manage your lighting requirements from one simple interface.

Your bespoke lighting system will: •

Significantly reduce energy usage

•

Drastically improve lamp life

•

Provide huge maintenance costs savings

•

Maintain optimum lighting levels

Building energy management systems

A Building (Energy) Management System (BMS) is a computer-based approach to measuring, monitoring and managing the performance of building services, such as heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, lighting and security.

Electrical vehicle charging installations

The UK has a commitment for almost all cars and vans to be zero emission by 2050. The Government is already trying to encourage electrical vehicles with a delivery plan in London, stating that all new developments with five parking spaces or more must equip 20% of those spaces with electric car charging points.

A report from the Department of Transport identified that recharging and lack of charger availability was seen as a deterring factor in the purchasing of electric vehicles. However, with support from the Government for electric vehicles, you now have the opportunity to introduce electric vehicle installations to your building and reduce your energy consumption.

Thinking Business

29

Welcome to Core Finance Management!

We are a leading UK finance company specialising in compliant payroll solutions for a variety of businesses and contractors.

Because we were established by a team of industry experts, we like to think we know a thing or two about what works best for our valued contractors and clients.

This unique insight into a variety of different working practices allows us to provide specialist payroll help and support whenever it’s required.

Our team have experience in many different fields that we can draw on for our customers, including; Recruitment, Health Care, Social Care and the construction sector.

Core are the experts when it comes to legislation and compliance, meaning you will always be whiter than white. Our products are fully accredited

by Professional Passport and Prism and we are partnered with various groups such as the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and Peninsula UK. We also work with 100’s of recruitment agencies and business’ across the UK, so you can rest assured we are a name you can trust.

Core Services

Core ACS umbrella- In short, an umbrella company is a standard UK limited company which acts as an employer to its contractor employees. Contractors are employed using an “overarching” contract of employment, meaning our contractors are eligible to work anywhere in the UK whilst remaining employed by us. Core then provides a payroll service, processes all timesheets and submits payroll to HMRC in real time; lastly providing a payslip to our workers at the end of each working week.

0800 211 8121

CFM CIS- As an Umbrella Company, we provide a CIS payroll service for all eligible self-employed contractors in the construction industry. We will complete an SDC assessment to ensure you are eligible to be paid via our CIS Solution, keeping you and your agency safe from any unwanted HMRC attention.

CFM Accountancy- Using a limited company usually means you will take home around 18% more than by using an umbrella solution however not everybody is eligible to operate their own limited company and setting up a limited company can seem daunting. There is no need to worry; our expert team will assess your individual circumstances to make the entire process simple and hassle-free.

Core Joint Employment- Core are proud to be able to offer a compliant Joint Employment Model to genuinely VAT exempt workers and businesses.

Our joint employment model means there is no supply for VAT purposes between joint employers, solving cash flow problems for businesses supplying workers to the NHS and organisations that are exempt from VAT. This solution is fully compliant and accredited by Professional Passport.

Core ACS PAYE- Payroll is an essential part of your business and deciding between an in-house or an outsourced payroll solution can often be a complicated task. Trusting an outsourced system such as Core PAYE can provide you with a variety of benefits. We will tailor our processes to fit your company’s needs, making our service completely bespoke and giving you the time back to focus on your business. As we are experienced payroll professionals you can rest assured that we will keep you up to date with payroll legislation and make any changes to ensure that your payroll is compliant.

CoRewards

All workers paid by Core, regardless of payment method, will be eligible for our rewards programme. Offering us the chance to thank you for your valued business. Upon registration with Core you will receive a unique login to a portal where you can access over 7,500 rewards including free eye tests, access to high street shopping discounts and much more.

Core Compliance

Core take our commitment to our clients extremely seriously; we are regularly audited

by Professional Passport and our compliance standards are second to none. This means we should be eligible to work with any UK business and provide any due diligence you will require.

Our company are also proud to be tier one founding members of trade association body Prism and Lauren Baker sits on the executive board as payroll intermediary representative.

Meet the experts

Our Core team are made up of leading industry experts and we really do believe in the personal approach, sales manager Lauren Baker will be happy to schedule a meeting with you at your offices to tailor our services to meet your bespoke requirements. No matter how big or small your requirements are we will be happy to meet with you and work with you.

info@corefinancemanagement.com

Comment

MODERN SLAVERY

By Lauren Baker

According to recent statistics there are 21 million people around the world trapped in some form of modern slavery by being forced to complete labour with either poor working conditions or very little or no pay. The term “Modern Slavery,” is used to describe various forms of slavery including trafficking and child labour.

The UK has one of the highest numbers of known working slaves in Europe with an estimated 13,000 people working as slaves in industries such as agriculture; hospitality, private homes, care homes, construction and nail bars.

Whilst it is easy to think of Modern Slavery of something that is “out there” in other countries across the world, the reality is that it is prevalent much closer to home. In the UK Construction Industry in particular, Modern Slavery is rife and being that the construction industry in the UK contributes around £103 billion in economic output it makes it a huge employer. The construction industry is particularly vulnerable because many of these types of workers are subcontracted through agencies. Whilst it may seem difficult to impart your company policies on people down the supply chain there are key standard protocols that can

“It is more important than ever to implement operating procedures for ensuring that you know who is working for you and to be able to identify the warning signs of modern slavery.” be taken to ensure compliance.

Make sure you are engaging with responsible recruitment agencies and payroll intermediaries which perform due diligence on their workers as standard. Background checks on your suppliers should always be standard when engaging with any other businesses. For example, Core Finance Management has their Modern Slavery policy on their website and are professionally accredited by two leading compliance standards; so, you know the service you are receiving is of a professional standard.

As a responsible employer, Core Finance Management pledged our commitment to ensuring that Modern Slavery of any kind would not be tolerated within our supply chain back in 2017. We have driven this commitment forward by developing training for all employees on Modern Slavery awareness and ensuring that all

our workers are paid at least the National Minimum Wage. We are also committed to working with our clients and agencies to perform quarterly welfare checks on those we are paying.

It is more important than ever to implement operating procedures for ensuring that you know who is working for you and to be able to identify the warning signs of modern slavery. People trapped in slavery are often vulnerable and not likely to assert their rights.

It is important to encourage open dialogue with workers in your working environment, so they feel safe to confide their circumstances to you. Core Finance Management believe it is at a human level that we begin to tackle this problem, by asking what is wrong and making people feel safe to confide in you.

There are many key signs to spot potential victims of Modern

Slavery, keep an eye out for groups of workers who have their wages paid into one bank account. These people are likely to be having their wages taken from them to pay for accommodation in substandard living arrangements, food and supposed repayment of debt. As part of our payroll procedures at Core we don’t allow multiple people to be paid into the same bank account as this is an obvious red flag to us.

Other key indicators include legal documents, is the person in charge of their own passport? Or are these being held by someone else? Again, here at Core Finance Management our compliance team operate a stringent check on all legal documents.

If you think you have identified a trafficker or illegal gangmaster you should call the police immediately by dialling 101 from any UK phone. For advice on how you can avoid employing victims of trafficking and how you can help ensure your supply chain is slave free, please contact Core Finance Management today and we will be able to help you safely navigate this topic.

E: info@corefinancemanagement.com

Thinking Business

31

LS Environmental offer a professional, highly rated Health & Safety orientated service, offering a wide range of asbestos removal, encapsulation and decontamination services to suit your requirements. Using the latest technologies and equipment, our services offer the most practical and advanced solutions enabling us to remain at the forefront of Asbestos Removal Companies.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE

• Asbestos Removal • Asbestos Management • Asbestos Encapsulation

• Asbestos Disposal • Land Remediation • Surveys

• Soft strip and demolition

Our experienced, fully trained team are available to advise you on all your asbestos issues, whatever sector you operate in.

For further information contact 07960 305313 | www.lsenvironmental.co.uk

Get the best legal advice from Gullands’ Business Hub Gullands Solicitors offers a full range of legal services for businesses of all sizes under the umbrella of our Business Hub. We are specialists in the fields of: • Shareholder and Partnership Agreements

• Employment Law

• Commercial Contracts

• Commercial Property Law

• Finance Documentation

• Construction Law

• Management Buy Outs

• Commercial and Management Disputes

• Company and Business Sales and Purchases • Business defence

• Charity Law

• Insolvency • Licensing

Whatever stage you are in the business cycle, contact us today to see how we can help you business@gullands.com | 01622 689700 | www.gullands.com

N428 Gullands Thinking Business Advert_112hx190w JUL19.indd 1

32 Thinking Business

12/07/2019 16:07

asktheexpert

Ask the Expert

How do I ensure that my home or workplace is as healthy as possible? since on average we spend 90% of our time indoors.

That is why Baumit has carried out extensive research which has led us to conclude that construction methods and building materials have a significant impact on our health and quality of life.

To ensure that the indoor air remains healthy and does not affect our well-being, attention must, we believe, be paid to the quality and function of the materials we use.

By Ben Warren, Managing Director of Baumit UK, part of the global building material brand Baumit.

Everyone wants to feel good at home, to have a safe space where they can relax and recharge their batteries.

However, our homes and workplaces also need to support our physical and mental health rather than threaten it, particularly

But why be concerned anyway?

Well, the problem is that modern buildings are often designed to be low-energy. That is why they are becoming more and more air-tight, providing optimal thermal protection and reducing the need for additional heating.

All very laudable but a consequence of tightly sealed building designs is that insufficient ventilation results in an accumulation of chemical and biological substances in the indoor air.

Since people now inhale up to 13.5 kg of indoor air and 1.5 kg

of fresh air per day and with such large quantities, the quality of the air is vitally important. Air humidity, purity and temperature have a crucial impact on our quality of life, and consequently our health.

For more than 25 years, Baumit has been focusing on the subject of healthy living and has launched numerous innovative products, ranging from insulation to paint and plaster.

To further the work, we embarked on research into the effects of building materials on health and well-being. In 2015 The Viva research park was founded and it has become Europe´s largest research facility of its kind. Its main objective is to measure and evaluate the impact of different construction materials to living comfort.

A research ‘village’ consisting of 12 model houses was built using the most diverse building materials from solid construction, concrete and bricks to lightweight wooden construction. The houses were built directly behind the

new Baumit Innovation Centre in Wopfing, 50 km south of Vienna.

Through the research, for example, we learned that good insulation must ensure a balanced interior climate that increases the overall living comfort.

We also learned that thick walls serve as an energy regulator.

Houses with high-quality breathable insulation and thick walls save energy best and make best use of short-term temperature fluctuations.

Our researchers also found that Klima interior plasters with 20mm thickness make a significant contribution to regulating the air humidity of interior walls and reduce the development of healthdamaging organisms. People feel most comfortable with air humidity ranging between 40% - 60%.

All this knowledge has been used to ensure that the products we sell to our UK customers ensure that buildings are as healthy as possible.

You can find out more at https://baumit.co.uk/products

Healthy living begins with a buildings façade n n n n

EWI systems and render solutions for residential & commercial projects Fully trained & approved network of installers The widest range of façade colours for endless design options Available nationwide

Find out more: t: +44 (0)1622 710763 e: contact@baumit.co.uk w: baumit.co.uk

Ideas with a future.

Healthy living begins with

Thinking Business

33

Aspect Four Demolition has more than 40 years’ experience within the industry and have quickly developed an enviable reputation for the quality and scope of its work.

This extensive knowledge means Aspect Four Demolition are well-equipped to enable the most demanding, complex, intricate or delicate of projects to be undertaken.

Customer satisfaction and health & safety remain are our top priority.

We are very keen to tender for your demolition, asbestos removals, site clearance and the associated works in the future, and I can assure you the prices tendered will be extremely competitive.

We specialise in: • Complete Demolition and Site Clearance • Soft Strip • Salvage • Asbestos Removal With many decades experience in the industry, our Managing Director has been doing this for 50 years now, we are highly confident in our promise to provide Safe and Economic Solutions for our clients.

All our projects focus on two specific areas: Heath and Safety: Our site staff and operatives hold the highest level of safety certification and undergo regular industry specific training (all of our operatives are CCDO carded – Certificate of Competence of Demolition Operatives) to standards often higher than those required by the regulatory authorities.

We are currently certified by SMAS, CHAS, CSCS committed to a Platinum Award, CQMS, Constructionline

Environment: Our industry is in an excellent position to ensure maximum reuse of material and often go to extreme lengths to maintain circa 97-100% reuse of all materials.

You will see a summary of a few of our recent projects on line: www.aspectfourdemolition.co.uk

Aspect Four Demolition Services Limited 7D Lysander Close| Pysons Road Industrial Estate Broadstairs | Kent | CT10 2YJ Office: 01843 210796

Analysis from Beaming, the business ISP, has revealed that businesses in the UK were on the receiving end of 146,491 attempted cyber attacks each, on average, in the second quarter of 2019.

The current rate of cyber attacks equates to one attack every 50 seconds and is the highest level recorded since Beaming started monitoring attacks in 2016.

The volume of internet-borne cyber attacks identified by Beaming in the three months to the end of June was 179 per cent higher than in the same

CYBER ATTACKS REACH RECORD LEVELS period of 2018, when businesses were attacked online 52,596 times each on average.

Internet of Things (IoT) devices and file sharing services were the most frequently targeted applications, attracting 17,737 and 10,192 attacks respectively between April and June.

Beaming’s cyber security analysts identified 371,080 unique IP addresses used to launch online cyber attacks on UK businesses in the second quarter.

While 52,860 of these were traced to locations in China, there was also a large amount of attack activity originating in Taiwan, Brazil, Egypt and the USA. Sonia Blizzard, managing director of Beaming, said: “The rate at which UK businesses are

attacked online has soared over the last year and companies large and small are under sustained attack from hackers around the world.

“The majority of cyber attacks on businesses are indiscriminate, malicious code that trawls the web seeking to exploit any weak point in cyber security systems. A single breach can be catastrophic to those involved.”

“We do lots at a network level to minimise the threat of online attacks, but businesses need to take the threat seriously, educate employees and put in place measures such as managed firewalls to ensure they don’t expose themselves to undue risk. We are spending more time than ever working with customers to help improve their resilience to attack.”

Members News

A new life IN KENT…

After more than a decade in London, Purewhite Creative is celebrating two years in its new home in Kent, The Chapel of St Luke, built in 1897.

With more space, the company has expanded, adding to its website, artwork, design, account and content teams.

When it came to writing this article, the whole family – it’s a cliché, but every team member really is thought of as family – were asked what they want to tell the people of Kent. Within five minutes everyone was nattering about how different life is in Kent. So, here it is…

Planning consent powers DS SMITH IN KENT Work on a new energy efficient power plant for a major Kent company can now get under way following a planning decision by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, permission has been given to DS Smith to construct a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant to power its recycled paper mill.

The project comprises of a gas turbine (52-57 MW), Waste Heat Recovery Boilers (105MW steam) and Steam Turbine (16MW) and will be built at the DS Smith’s Kemsley Paper Mill in Sittingbourne.

The application for the Development Consent Order (DCO) was led by DHA, the Maidstone-based planning, transport, design and environmental consultancy.

David Harvey, Director at DHA, said: “We are delighted that all the hard work has paid off and work on DS Smith’s CHP plant can now get under way and sustain these important jobs in Kent.”

The DCO was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of DS Smith Paper in April 2018 and accepted later that month

for examination. Local people, local authorities and other statutory bodies and interested parties were able to participate in the six-month examination period and the project was granted consent on 8 July 2019.

The new power plant will be built by German energy supplier E.ON and when operational will replace an existing CHP plant, which currently supplies electricity and steam to the mill.

It is made up from a gas turbine, waste heat recovery boilers and a steam turbine, and will be built on the south eastern section of the paper mill, off Swale Way.

Waving goodbye to long commutes means more time in the car, so rather than dodging the snorer on the train, we only keep our eyes peeled for the empty fuel light and can enjoy blasting out tunes on the radio.

Popping to the pub isn’t as easy, but picnics outdoors with no queueing for drinks, and getting home in time for family dinners, is a true bonus.

With an abundance of office space, we can host events, invite clients to work from our office, and pre-build exhibition stands.

Quicker and cheaper commutes, more family time and a better working environment has led to happy faces all around.

Purewhite Creative hasn’t looked back since; it’s amazing to form relationships in Kent, and – with a 37-minute train journey to the city – we never feel far from our London clients.

Thinking Business

35

Members News

RECRUITER MAKES WAVES

BY PADDLING TO DRAGON BOAT GLORY Two teams from HR GO, the recruitment and business services group, took part in the Dragon Boat Challenge – and one secured bragging rights by crossing the line ahead of the rest.

After a tense and close run race on Conningbrook Lakes, Ashford, on Bank Holiday Saturday (May 25) HR GO2 edged across the finish in first place.

Both teams raised more than £1,500 for good causes, including: Wooden Spoon, Lord Whisky Sanctuary and Bowel and Cancer Research.

The inaugural Dragon Boat Challenge was organised by the Rotary Club of Ashford and sponsored by Latimer Homes and Westerhill Homes.

Dragon Boat Events managed the event and supplied all the equipment, including safety craft.

Family, friends and work colleagues banded together to make up the 17-strong teams - 16 on paddles and one beating the drum to synchronise strokes.

HR GO Group teams included staff from the Ashford head office in

Wellington House, Church Road; HR GO Recruitment and RHL Recruitment, the group’s technical jobs specialist, also based in Church Road.

After lifting the trophy, Jamie Talbot, skipper of the winning boat, said: “We’re thrilled to win this exciting challenge. It was really close and we were up against some formidable competitors. But it was a fun way of spending Bank Holiday Saturday as well as raising money for good causes.”

Retirement living DONE DIFFERENTLY Inspired Villages, award-winning developers of luxury later living accommodation, have begun building their latest village in Leeds, near Maidstone. Ledian Gardens will offer 115 one and two-bedroom apartments for people aged 65 and above.

Designed around a Clubhouse, with a range of facilities including Wellness Suite, with gymnasium, 17-metre swimming pool and spa, restaurant

Local contractor Ash Contracting featured in The Parliamentary Review Founded with former minister The Rt Hon David Curry, The Parliamentary Review’s primary aim is to showcase the work of a number of leading organisations across the public and private sector.

The publication features exclusive forewords from the Prime Minister and the BBC’s Andrew Neil alongside unique content from representative organisations within each policy sector. The resulting document serves as a reliable and balanced projection of how British industry has been affected and what may be expected in the future as a result.

Included was Ash Contracting, which is a privately-owned construction company based in Kent and Surrey, making it perfectly located to deliver construction services to the South East.

Managing Director Dean Cooper offers The Review a more thorough insight into the company.

36 Thinking Business

and bar, the development will also provide a village shop – something locals are desperate to see since the demise of the local grocery store, butcher’s and bakery.

Jamie Bunce, CEO of Inspired Villages said: “Ledian Gardens is an excellent addition to Inspired Villages’ exciting and fast-growing portfolio of high quality later living schemes in the UK.

“Our appointment of the Gallagher Group to build the access roads reflects our mission to enhance the communities in which we build our retirement villages and support local businesses.”

Last year, Inspired Villages appointed Jane Shotliff as Community Liaison Manager for Ledian Gardens to engage with the local community and ensure the village, whose facilities will be open

Jack Parkinson, executive chairman of HR GO plc and a member of Ashford Rotary Club, added: “I’m delighted that the business entered two teams and that one came away with the top prize.

“But this was more about taking part and helping charities than winning.

I’m grateful to all the Rotary Club members, local businesses and crews who made this inaugural Dragon Boat Challenge such a success. I hope it will become a fixture of Ashford life.”

to local people aged 55+, becomes an integral part of life in the area.

Mr Bunce said: “Through the delivery of Ledian Gardens we are helping to address the chronic shortage of ageappropriate housing in the UK and we are proud that the village will create new jobs in the area.”

All properties at Ledian Gardens will have the option of assisted living.

Prices st

Discovery Park & Pfizer UK host sell-out conference

The sell-out UK Manufacturing Medicines Industry Partnership (MMIP) Annual Conference took place at Discovery Park.

Hosted by Discovery Park and Pfizer UK, Medicines Manufacturing Excellence in the UK was focused on securing the future of the industry via activities such as digital transformation and skills development.

With plans to become a centre of excellence in advanced manufacturing, these are issues of strategic importance for the Park.

This plan was underlined by the announcement from Pfizer UK of a £5m investment in advanced paediatric manufacturing,the latest in its series of manufacturing and innovation investments on site, totalling £36m since 2018.

In addition, Concept Life Sciences, another tenant, launched its facility

for the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients for industry partners.

At the conference, more than 170 delegates heard about topics including advanced digital technologies, developing the optimum skills and leadership base, advanced therapies and anchoring high value manufacturing activities in the UK. Delegates heard from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the BioIndustry Association (BIA), Eisai, GSK, Innovate UK, the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, Kate Barclay Consulting, Kent County Council, the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, the Office for Life Sciences, Oxford Biomedica, Pfizer UK and Siemens. The UK ABPI,

BIA and KTN are partners in the conference and in MMIP. Mayer Schreiber, CEO of Discovery Park, said: “The issues being discussed are very pertinent to us as we build on this site’s manufacturing heritage to become a centre of excellence. As Discovery Park develops, we expect many other companies to locate here to access the developing expertise and skills base, which will be boosted by the exciting new paediatric manufacturing activities announced by Pfizer.

“The news that Kent County Council is investing in a VC fund to support life sciences businesses at Discovery Park is another exciting development. It is a significant boost to our plans to build a world class and worldleading science park here.”

ACHIEVING A FIRST RATE SERVICE

Signworx is a family run business based in Kent that have been supplying and installing different types of signage to Kent, London and throughout the UK since 24th July 1998.

The majority of our work involves the design, manufacture and installation of vehicle graphics and shop-front signage. With excellent recommendations from both private and blue chip companies, we quickly expanded our client base. Whether dealing with small businesses or international, our approach and service is the same first rate standard. This is the reason we have so much repeat business from customers who used our services over the past 21 years.

We are the company to come to for all of your business design and signage needs, including printing, and business stationery. Our complete service can provide everything from the initial design concept to completion.

Individual and creative designs are tailored to your needs, ranging from traditional to contemporary styles.

If you already have a company logo, but are simply expanding or need repair work done, we are happy to meet the tailored requirements of our clients and discuss in depth the designs and image that will work for them.

We provide a full before, during and after client service; our aim is to build strong, honest, ongoing relationships with our clients as a result. We strive to offer fair quotes and competitive prices.

Whether it is an ongoing, reliable business relationship you are looking for, or simply a change, we look forward to working with you in the future. https://www.signworx.co

Kent architects receive third Royal award

Members News

environment, is a massive vote of confidence, and reflects our longstanding work with many almshouse providers, often working in sensitive conservation areas.”

Canterbury-based firm Clague Architects has received its third Patron’s award from the Almshouse Association.

HRH The Prince of Wales is patron of the Almshouse Association, a national charity representing 1,700 independent almshouse providers throughout the UK and offering homes for 35,000 people.

The award was presented to Andrew Clague by HRH, the Duke of Gloucester in recognition of the firm’s work on four single storey almshouses for The Sir Roger Manwood Trust.

Andrew said: “Over recent years we have developed a specialism in the design of almshouses and worked for many providers, alongside our clients in the world of small-scale house builders and providers of social housing.

“Having our architectural work recognised

by Prince Charles, who we all know takes a keen interest in design and the built

The firm’s early awards were received for its designs for almshouse projects in Maidstone and Harrietsham for the Cutbush & Corrall Charity.

Clague designed the Manwood Orchard Almshouses in St Stephen’s Green, located in a conservation area in Canterbury. The new homes and courtyard garden face the back of six almshouses built in 1570 by benefactor Sir Roger Manwood. The Sir Roger Manwood Trust previously provided eight Grade II listed almshouses for the elderly in historic buildings, two miles from Canterbury Cathedral.

Clague, in conjunction with the trust, Canterbury City Council and Historic England, came forward with a design in a style sympathetic with the existing Tudor buildings, and planned to foster a community spirit amongst all residents.

The Patron’s Award was in recognition of Clague’s design, with new almshouses referring to detailing on the existing two storey almshouses, using the parapet walls to project the end gable wall upwards above the roof. The new almshouses cater for the able bodied and those with mobility problems thanks to fully fitted kitchens and wet rooms, plus external recharging spaces for mobility scooters and ramped level access around the building. https://www.clague.co.uk

Using Highbank to strengthen your market position areas of; PR, client relationships, marketing communications, website development, media relations, employee communication, media training and business development, this holds us in good stead to assist in any given business on positioning and producing high quality communications - internally or externally.

Our aim is to help you succeed by enhancing trust with your customers, strengthening brand and reputation and putting communications at the heart of your business - working together we can make a powerful combination.

MKC Training recognises this; its delivery of innovative, world class trades training for the Army engineers at the Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME), trains people to be the best.

The RSME students were able to showcase their skills in June as part of the prestigious WorldSkills Competition, the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in the world, a true Olympics of trade apprenticeships.

successful candidates will compete for Great Britain in the world finals.

The competition is a showcase for the UK, demonstrating how we develop some of the most competent engineers in the World from a wide range of backgrounds ethnicity and gender.

MKC Training’s learner-centric approach coaches students allowing them to progress at their pace using blended learning techniques.

MKC Training embraces technology enhanced learning (TEL) with hands-on tuition, to build confidence, skills and develop motivated, highly capable problem solvers, all from diverse backgrounds.

The WorldSkills heat was held at the Brompton Barracks Training Centre and, despite talented competition in Welding, Electrical, Bricklaying and Carpentry the Royal Engineer students achieved two wins.

Further heats are ongoing, hopefully increasing MKC trained representation for the NEC November finals. Ultimately

It highlights the industrial opportunities out there and with the support of organisations like MKC Training, building talent through innovation, it encourages engagement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects to help people realise a fulfilling and rewarding future.

Highbank Communications is now in its fourth year of business. We have doubled in size since our inception, fronted by Clive and Debs Hawkins based in Wilmington, North Kent.

the opportunity to use us for project work, or as a full-service team, leaving them to stay focused on their day-today business whilst we cover all things communications.

We can operate independently, in collaboration, as well as bringing in associates for specialist input as and when required. This gives our clients

With more than 30 years of FTSE corporate communications experience and know-how, operating nationally and internationally in

Building talent THROUGH INNOVATION

Design and delivery of engaging quality training is vital in embracing people to address the skills crisis in construction and engineering.

www.highbankcommunications.com

https://www.mkctraining.com Thinking Business

37

CONSTRUCTION INSURANCE CONSTRUCTION INSURANCE CONSTRUCTION INSURANCE CONSTRUCTION INSURANCE CONSTRUCTION At Towergate Insurance Brokers we understandINSURANCE that all construction is different.

At Towergate Insurance Brokers we understand that all construction is different.

At Towergate Insurance Brokers we understand that all construction isis different.

At Towergate Insurance Brokers we understand that all construction In the Construction Sector risks are ever present and At Towergate Insurance Brokers we understand that all construction is different. different.

In the Construction Sector risks are ever present and at Towergate we understand that all firms involved in We cover many aspects of the In the Construction Sector risks are ever present and At Towergate Insurance Brokers we that allmany construction is different. at Towergate we understand thatare firms in understandWe cover aspects of the In the Construction Sector risks ever present and Construction carry out a variety ofalltasks atinvolved different at Towergate we understand thatare firmspresent involved in In the Construction Sector risks ever and Construction carry out afirms variety ofall different at Towergate we understand that alltasks firms involved in stages.

Yet operationally involved inat Construction Construction carry out a variety of tasks at different at Towergate we understand that all firms involved in stages.

Yet operationally firms involved in Construction In the Construction Sector risks are ever present and Construction a variety of tasks regulations at different and face commoncarry issues.out With ever changing stages.

Yet operationally firms involved in Construction Construction carry out a variety of tasks at different face common issues.

With ever changing regulations at Towergate we understand that allyour firms involvedgoing inandout stages.

Yetemerging operationally firms involved inCreditors Construction increasing risks, including face common issues.

With ever changing regulations andout stages.

Yet operationally firms involved in Construction increasing emerging risks, including your Creditors going Construction carry out a variety of tasks at different face common issues.

With ever your changing regulations and the of business, it is important that broker understands increasing emerging risks, including your Creditors going face common issues.

With ever changing regulations andout of business, it is important that your broker understands the stages.

Yet operationally firms involved in Construction increasing emerging risks,that including your Creditors going out market trends, ensuring any risks that are identified are of business, it is important that your broker understands the increasing emerging risks, including your Creditors going out market trends, ensuring that any risks that are identified are face common issues.

With ever changing regulations and of business, it is important your broker understands the covered by your insurance that portfolio. market trends, ensuring that any risks that are identified are of business, it is important that youryour broker understands the covered byemerging your insurance portfolio. increasing risks,that including Creditors going out market trends, ensuring any risks that are identified are Accidents can still happen to even the most well prepared business covered by your insurance portfolio. market trends, ensuring that any risks that are identified are of business, itstill is important that your broker the covered by your insurance portfolio.

Accidents can happen to even thetomost wellunderstands prepared business owners.

At Towergate we endeavour minimise any disruption covered by your insurance portfolio. market trends, ensuring that any risks that are identified are Accidents can still happen to even the most well prepared business owners.

Atcan Towergate we tomost minimise any disruption Accidents stillfrom happen to evenofthe wellcircumstances prepared business to your business theendeavour effect unforeseen covered by your insurance portfolio. owners.

At Towergate we endeavour to minimise any disruption Accidents can still happen to even the most well prepared business to your business from the effect of unforeseen circumstances owners.

At Towergate we endeavour to minimise any disruption that can often interrupt business income, daily operations or your to your business from the effect of unforeseen circumstances owners.

At Towergate we endeavour to minimise any disruption that canbusiness often interrupt business income, daily operations your Accidents can still happen to evenof the most well prepared or business to your from the effect unforeseen circumstances customer base. that can often interrupt business income, daily operations or your to your business from the effect of unforeseen circumstances customer base. owners.

Towergate endeavour to minimise any disruption that can At often interruptwebusiness income, daily operations or your We feel you need partner with an insurer that fully or your customer base. that canthat often interrupt business income, daily operations to your from to the effect of unforeseen customer base.

We feel business that you need to partner with antrusted insurercircumstances thatprovide fully you understands your sector and that can be to customer base. that canthat often interrupt income, daily operations We feel you need tobusiness partner with antrusted insurer thatprovide fully or understands your sector and that can be to youyour We feel that you need to partner with anprogram insurer that with an insurance and risk management thatfully is tailored customer base. understands yourneed sector that with can be you We feel that you toand partner antrusted insurer to thatprovide fully with an needs. insurance and risk management is tailored understands your sector and that can your beprogram trusted tothat provide to your Towergate will provide business access toyou with an insurance and risk management program that is tailored understands your sector and that can be trusted to provide to your Towergate will provide business access toyou We feel that you need to partner withyour an insurer that fully with an needs. insurance and risk management program that is tailored dedicated policies designed specifically for the construction industry to your needs.

Towergate will provide your business access toyou with an insurance and risk management program that is tailored dedicated policies designed fortrusted the understands your sector and that can your be to provide to your needs.

Towergate willspecifically provide business access your toindustry with a range of features that can support you inconstruction managing risk. dedicated policies designed specifically for the construction to your needs. will provide your business access toindustry with aanrange ofTowergate features that can support you managing your risk. insurance and risk management program that is tailored dedicated policies designed specifically for theinconstruction industry with a range of features that can support you in managing your dedicated policies designed specifically for the construction industry to your needs. willcan provide youryou business access your to risk. with a range ofTowergate features that support in managing risk. with a range of features that can support you in managing your risk. dedicated policies designed specifically for the construction industry with a range of features that can support you in managing your risk.

construction sector including: We cover many aspects of the construction sector including: We cover many aspects of the We cover many aspects of the construction sector including: construction sector including: General Builders – new build, property construction sector including: General Builders – newrefurbishments build, property & We cover many of the maintenance &aspects repair,

General Builders – new build, property maintenance & repair, refurbishments construction sector including: alterations General Builders – new build, property &

maintenance & repair, General Builders – newrefurbishments build, property & alterations maintenance & repair, refurbishments & Property Developers alterations maintenance & repair, refurbishments Property Developers General Builders – new build, property & alterations Bricklayers Property Developers alterations Bricklayers maintenance & repair, refurbishments & Property Developers Civil Engineers Bricklayers Property Developers Civil Engineers alterationsHeating & Ventilation, Engineering Bricklayers Electrical, Civil Engineers Bricklayers Electrical, Heating & Ventilation, Engineering Property Developers Civil Engineers Contractors Electrical, Heating & Ventilation, Engineering Civil Engineers Contractors Bricklayers Electrical,&Heating & Ventilation, Engineering Painters Decorators Contractors Electrical, & Ventilation, Engineering Painters &Heating Decorators Civil Engineers Contractors Demolitions and Site Clearance Painters & Decorators Contractors Demolitions and Site Clearance Engineering Electrical,& Heating & Ventilation, Painters Decorators Roofing Contractors Demolitions and Site Clearance Painters & Decorators Roofing Contractors Contractors Demolitions and Site Clearance Piling and Tunnelling Roofing Contractors Demolitions and Site Clearance Piling and& Tunnelling Painters & Decorators Roofing Contractors Kitchen Bathroom Installations Piling and Tunnelling Roofing Contractors Kitchen & Bathroom Installations Demolitions Site Clearance Piling and Tunnelling Plant Hire andand Repair Kitchen & Bathroom Piling and Tunnelling Plant Hire and Repair Installations Roofing Contractors Kitchen & Bathroom Installations and many more Plant Hire and Kitchen & Bathroom Installations and moreRepair Pilingmany and Tunnelling Plant Hire and Repair and many more Plant Hire Repair Installations Kitchen &and Bathroom and many more and many more Plant Hire and Repair and many more

For all your Construction Insurance requirements, please call For all your Construction Insurance requirements, please call For all your Construction Insurance requirements, please call Neill Clark on: 01795 597182 or email: neill.clark@towergate.co.uk For all your Construction Insurance requirements, please call Neill Clark on: 01795 597182 or email: neill.clark@towergate.co.uk For all your Construction Insurance requirements, please call Neill Clark on: 01795 597182 or email: neill.clark@towergate.co.uk Neill Clark on: 01795 597182 or email: neill.clark@towergate.co.uk For your Construction Insurance requirements, please call NeillallClark on: 01795 597182 or email: neill.clark@towergate.co.uk Neill Clark on: 01795 597182 or email: neill.clark@towergate.co.uk

Towergate Insurance Brokers is a trading name of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited. Registered in England No.4043759.

Registered MinsterisCourt, Mincing London EC3R 7AA. Authorised and regulated by the FinancialNo.4043759.

Conduct Authority.

Towergate Address: Insurance1Brokers a trading nameLane, of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited.

Registered in England Registered MinsterisCourt, Mincing London EC3R 7AA. Authorised and regulated by the FinancialNo.4043759.

Conduct Authority.

Towergate Address: Insurance1Brokers a trading nameLane, of Towergate Underwriting Group Limited.

Registered in England

Top Tips for doing

International Trade

BUSINESS IN ASIA

By Siddharth Shankar

Asia is an increasingly important market for British business.

It’s predicted that its share of global GDP will increase to 35% by 2030 – which is equivalent to Europe and the United States’ share combined. Furthermore, it’s estimated that by the end of the next decade seven of the world’s top ten economies are likely to be in Asia.

British businesses are already benefitting from the growing market for British goods in the region. Last year was a record-breaking year for British exports. UK firms sold more goods overseas in the 2018/2019 financial year than at any other time since records began – worth a total of £639.9 billion. This was in part helped by a significant uplift in exports to Asia.

Exports to Taiwan increased by 40% in the last financial year, to India by 19% and to Thailand by 17%. Nowhere is the demand for UK exports growing faster than in Asian countries.

However, doing business there can be a daunting prospect due to the cultural and language barriers to surmount and distances involved. Here are some top tips to help smooth the way.

1. Don’t treat Asia as one homogenous market

Asia is made up of fifty different countries, categorised as five major markets – namely China, the Indian Subcontinent, ASEAN countries, the Middle-east (GCC) and East Asia.

Each has its own very specific

cultures and customs, demands, risks and legal systems. Never make the mistake of treating the region as one homogenous market.

This has led to many a business coming unstuck. For example, if you’re launching a product in China, Western branding is appealing but in India, Western products must be given an ‘Indian touch’ to be successful – making it generally easier to launch a product in China than in India.

2. Location is paramount

Many businesses, when exporting to Asia for the first time, make the mistake of automatically launching a product in the capital city. Be warned, this is not always the best policy. Pick the city you launch in carefully, based on thorough research, no assumptions.

For instance, if launching a fashion brand in India it may be prudent not to launch in a city that is politically sensitive or more traditional in its customs. Instead, pick a more commercial, modern city that is likely to be more open to a Western brand.

3. Local knowledge is essential

Without in-depth knowledge of local customs and traditions it can be very easy to make cultural mistakes. Even the smallest details in a product can make the difference between success and failure.

Take hats, for example. You might have huge success selling a blue baseball hat in China but try and sell a green version and it will likely end in failure.

Why? Because in Chinese folklore, if a man wears a green hat it means his wife is cheating on him – never a good look! Make sure you enlist a strong, trustworthy team on the ground to avoid making simple mistakes.

4. Know what’s on trend

It’s crucial to do your research into the emerging trends in the region before you embark on a costly launch. These are the products tipped to be in high demand next: • Pharmaceutical-related skin care products and make-up brands that are good for your skin • Beer is already huge in Asia, but wine, gin and rum are set to be hot

on its heels – especially amongst the younger generations • Home appliances are an area Asian households are spending a greater chunk of their budget on – the newer, fancier and more efficient the design the better • Asian consumers are increasingly looking for healthier, conveniently packaged foods, offering greater nutritional benefits.

5. Don’t be blinkered by China

China holds huge potential for British products, but businesses often focus on China and forget about the opportunities across the rest of Asia.

India, Taiwan and Thailand are the fastest-growing markets for British goods in Asia and offer increasingly lucrative opportunities for growth.

Siddharth Shankar is a leading expert in trading with Asia and CEO of Tails Trading, an innovative new solution helping UK SMEs to export their goods to Asia. Visit www.tailstrading. com to find out more.

Thinking Business

39

Members News

We have an exclusive offer for new 5 Day Members.

5 Day Members enjoy full use and access to all of the facilities on offer at London Golf Club.

The Club has an exciting golf & social events calendar and Members enjoy reciprocal playing rights at some of the best golf courses around the world.

To take advantage and for more information please contact Dominic Driver on 01474 875 752 or email Dominic@londongolf.co.uk

40 Thinking Business

Members News

LEADING FOOD AND DRINK BRAND SIGNS UP Award-winning Kent business Macknade will launch an exciting new food and drink hub at Elwick Place in Ashford. In a joint announcement, Macknade, Ashford Borough Council and Stanhope PLC confirmed that the company will be the first food and drink tenant to move into the town centre development. It will occupy unit 1, which at 5,123 sq ft, is the largest retail space available.

The council and Stanhope PLC say that further tenant announcements are expected very soon following the successful completion of lengthy negotiations.

Faversham-based Macknade’s new venue will offer an all-day dining experience, bar and delicatessen, showcasing the best of local and international produce.

It will be the go-to spot to enjoy freshly prepared produce with rich provenance for breakfast, lunch and evening dining, delivered in a relaxed and communal environment.

Dishes on the menu will include burgers and steaks prepared by Macknade butchers, and vegetarian and vegan options reflecting Macknade’s Kentish and Mediterranean roots. Customers will also be able to enjoy home baked cakes and delicious coffee, alongside deli platters and cocktails.

The bar will stock the very best beer, cider, wine, spirits and soft drinks from Kent’s flourishing drinks scene, and the delicatessen will feature an array of local, British and continental cheese and charcuterie, which is a highlight for customers of Macknade’s flagship food hall in Faversham. Customers will also have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of events, ranging from informal producer tastings through to tutored classes and live music as you shop and dine.

Macknade Managing Director Stefano Cuomo, said: “My family business started life at Macknade, near Faversham, more than 170 years ago and this year we celebrate 40 years of retailing. It is an honour for me to see Macknade grow and for the whole team to be a part of the exciting development of Ashford and its wider community.

“It is a big step for us and I am very grateful for all the support that has been given by both Ashford Borough Council and Stanhope. We are here for the long term and hope to make Ashford very proud.”

Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Leader of Ashford Borough Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome our first food and drink tenant to Elwick Place, where they join our anchor tenants, Picturehouse and Travelodge. Securing their investment in Ashford represents a notable success for the council and a just reward for months of thorough and meticulous negotiations away from the glare of the media and public.

“With a company like Macknade coming to Ashford it will not only further boost our economy, but will also send a strong message that Ashford is responding to the changing dynamics of town centre shopping. I look forward to welcoming more companies to Elwick Place to share in the Ashford success story.”

Gary Bourne, Development Director at project partner Stanhope Plc, said: “We’re delighted to have secured one of Kent’s most loved food and drink operators for Elwick Place. Macknade is a perfect fit for the scheme and brings an exciting new dimension and additional choice to Ashford’s restaurant scene.

“A key priority of the scheme is to boost Ashford’s evening economy and, as a destination venue, Macknade Ashford will support that by providing the local community with a vibrant new dining experience, as well as drawing visitors to the town centre from further afield. We’ve had very encouraging interest for the retail units within the scheme and we expect this to intensify now that we have confirmed this wellestablished brand,” added Gary.

The first phase of Elwick Place opened in December 2018, anchored by the six-screen Picturehouse boutique cinema and the 58-bedroom Travelodge hotel. The development also features nine retail / restaurant units on the ground floor and a 282 space car park.

As part of the phased opening of the development, the council and its agents have been involved in negotiations with a number of potential users, leading to today’s announcement. Ashford Borough Council funded the construction of Elwick Place in partnership with Stanhope PLC. Built on the site of a former cattle market, it is part of a wider £520m of investment in development in Ashford town centre under construction or with construction to start soon.

Lawyer warns construction industry should brace itself for large fines A leading construction solicitor based in Kent has warned that the construction sector should brace itself for the results of an ongoing investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

In March 2019 the CMA announced that it was investigating suspected anti-competitive behaviour in the supply of construction services in the UK. George Crofton-Martin, a Partner specialising in competition law and the construction sector at leading South East law firm Furley Page, said: “The CMA has conducted a series of dawn raids in search of evidence of anticompetitive practices and cartel behaviour by a number of construction suppliers.

“The ramifications of the investigation are likely to be far reaching and the fines that could be imposed have the potential to send shockwaves through the industry.”

Anti-competitive behaviour is illegal under the Competition Act 1998, which prohibits companies from entering into agreements or concerted practices which are intended to prevent, restrict or distort competition within the UK. The penalties for anti-competitive behaviour are extremely serious. Aside from the reputational damage and loss of customer trust, businesses found to have acted anti-competitively can be fined up to 10% of their worldwide turnover for the financial year immediately preceding the infringement. They can also face claims for damages from third parties who have fallen victim to anti-competitive practices.

Meanwhile, individuals found to have engaged in price fixing, market sharing or bid-rigging can themselves face unlimited fines, prison sentences of up to five years and up to 15 years disqualification as a company director.

These sanctions are in addition to any fines faced by businesses for falling foul of the Competition Act. George Crofton-Martin continued: “The CMA is really focussed on construction at the moment, and businesses operating in the sector need to make every effort to comply with the law, or face serious financial, reputational and criminal sanctions. Ensuring awareness of the law and the risks through a proactive compliance policy is the first step to protecting a business and its employees.”

The first stage of the investigation by the CMA is scheduled to complete in September 2019.

Thinking Business

41

Chamber Events

“Take a Break” Networking Lunch with Guest Speaker Chris Vinson, Southeastern

Guilty of working through your lunch hour? Take a break with us at the Royal Wells Hotel for our new bi-monthly Networking Lunch series.

Step away from your desk for the chance to make new contacts over a delicious buffet lunch.

Royal Wells Hotel,

In a relaxed environment, businesses from all sectors and sizes can enjoy the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals from in and around Kent, especially the West Kent area.

11th September 2019, 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Hear from our Guest Speaker Chris Vinson, Senior External Communications Manager – Southeastern.

Royal Tunbridge Wells

Members: £20.00 + VAT

Non Members: £25.00 + VAT Buffet Lunch Included.

Big Breakfast Behind the Scenes with Damian Harvest Brunch at The Kent Wildlife Trust Green MP Join us for a Networking special with guest speaker Damian Green MP.

There will be an opportunity to meet new contacts and generate business leads, whilst sharing ideas and experiences with like-minded business people.

Guest Speaker Evan Bowen-Jones

Join Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce this Autumn and support this exciting and informative event to see what happens behind the scenes at The Kent Wildlife Trust.

Come along and learn more about the work, values and activities of Kent Wildlife Trust.

Throughout the course of the morning, we will serve you a Full English Breakfast in the Rose Garden Room within the stunning grounds of Eastwell Manor, Champneys Hotel & Spa, afterwards you will get to hear from Damian Green MP with the chance to ask any questions.

Kent Wildlife Trust are working to raise awareness of the issues affecting wildlife; hear about the projects and volunteering.

This is a popular event so please book early to avoid disappointment!

Enjoy a Harvest Brunch and connect with local business and finish the event by taking a stroll to explore the wildlife.

Eastwell Manor, Champneys Hotel & Spa, Eastwell Court, Ashford 20th September 2019, 7:30am - 9:30am Members: £25.00 + VAT Non Members: £35.00 + VAT Full English Breakfast included

42 Thinking Business

Guest Speaker Evan Bowen-Jones CEO – Kent Wildlife Trust.

Kent Wildlife Trust, Tyland Barn, Chatham Road, Maidstone

13th September 2019, 11:00am – 1:00pm Members: £15.00 + VAT

Non Members: £20.00 + VAT

Brunch & Refreshments included

For further information on all events please contact events@kentinvictachamber.co.uk or call 01233 503838

Chamber Events North North Kent Kent North Kent East East Kent Kent East Kent North SouthKent Kent South Kent Kent South East Kent West Kent West Kent Kent West

2019 2019 2019 2019

South Kent

August September August- --September September August

West Kent

August - September Chamber Events ChamberEvents Events Chamber Chamber Events

INFORM

INFORM INFORMATI EVENTS INFOR EVENTS EVENTS Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum

EVENT

Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum Lorem Ipsum

Lorem Ipsum

www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk 01233 01233 www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk 01233 01233 503838 503838 www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk 01233 www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk 01233 01233 01233 01233 503838 www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk 01233

01233

events@ 01233 events@ 01233 503838 503838 events@ 01233 503838 events@ 01233 503838 events@kentinvictachamber.co.uk events@ 01233events@kentinvictachamber.co.uk 503838 events@kentinvictachamber.co.uk

Thursday 3rd October 2019 Kent Event Centre, Detling

The South East’s largest gathering of construction industry professionals, contractors & suppliers

Produced by the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, the Expo delivers a multitrack conference programme, over 150 market-leading exhibitors, and a unique opportunity for the construction sector to come together for an invaluable day of networking and innovation. The packed programme also includes over 600 free meet-the-buyer appointments, a Big Networking Breakfast and Gala Dinner.

Exhibitors include:

Produced by

Managed by

Register for your FREE place at: www.KentConstructionExpo.com

Business News

New agreement will open up new international opportunities for Kent businesses The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe (COBCOE) have reached an agreement that will see 24 additional British Chambers across Europe become part of the BCC’s Global Business Network – significantly expanding the leading business organisation’s reach and practical, real-world support for trade between the UK and the Continent. The agreement means that the BCC Global Business Network now includes 49 British Chambers around the world - doubling the strength of the network in markets worldwide.

The move creates new connections and support for both Kent businesses and European businesses, at precisely the time they need them most.

With the nature of the UK’s future relationship with the EU still uncertain, the British Chambers of Commerce

and COBCOE have taken a strategic decision to bring their networks together – ensuring that firms have a front door not just in every region and nation of the UK, but in major capitals and commercial centres across the European continent as well.

BCC’s membership to include overseas British Chambers across Europe means that we will now be able to assist businesses with practical support, advice and connections in almost 50 countries all around the world.

Thanks to the move – led by BCC President Francis Martin and the COBCOE Board - both UK firms and European firms will be able to harness opportunities for trade and access practical advice, support and connections to keep trading across borders, regardless of political change. From Manchester to Madrid, Aberdeen to Amsterdam, and Belfast to Bucharest, the Accredited Chamber network will be best-placed to help firms trading across borders in Europe and beyond. The Global Business Network supports two-way international trade and provides practical solutions to trading challenges. Expanding

As we face the challenges and opportunities of Brexit, we can think of no better business response than delivering practical, real-world connections between countries all across Europe and the regions and nations of the UK.

SELEP launches new partnership to meet digital skills challenge in the South East A new Digital Skills Partnership (DSP) bringing together businesses, with education, public sector organisations and the charitable sector to design a world leading digital economy that ensures the need for these vital skills is met across the South East, has been officially launched.

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) has been chosen as a new pilot for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Local Digital Skills Partnership (DSP). It will coordinate the DSP, acting as a link between the Government’s DCM) and corporate partners including Google, IBM and local digital SMEs to help support residents and businesses across the area.

The partnership will build on existing innovation and experience in the SELEP area, particularly in virtual reality and online learning, to enable education in areas which experience barriers to technology and employment, such as rural locations and prisons.

The new DSP was launched at an event held at the historic St Mary in the Castle, Hastings, and included an introduction by Margot James Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries, and a keynote address

by Michaela Neild, External Affairs Manager of Google UK. The Minister said: “We are working hard to build a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone.

Through the newly formed South East Local Digital Skills Partnership we will empower regional businesses, educators, charities and public sector to come together to boost skills and the local economy.”

Opening the event, Christian Brodie, Chair of SELEP, said: “Our skills strategy sets out our ambitions to be involved in the Digital Skills Partnership work. We’re thrilled therefore to be delivering against this as a pilot area.

“The South East LEP recognises the importance of working collaboratively with Government to tackle the digital skills challenges in the region. Not only does DCMS provide grant funding to appoint a local DSP regional coordinator, they also fast track introductions and discussions with national industry partners wishing to support, along with other policy areas within DCMS and other Government departments that may have pockets of funding targeting digital skills provision.

“The prospect of joining up all of the great digital skills work already happening with national support,

Prior to this agreement, the BCC Global Business Network already included 27 British Chambers of Commerce worldwide. Working together with the 53 UK Chambers, these overseas British Chambers offer businesses international business-tobusiness connections and services through trusted partners.

both from corporate organisations and across Government, is exciting and has the potential to create innovative programmes that will provide the greatest impact.”

SELEP’s skills strategy has identified a growing need for digital skills, with business growth being held back, vacancy numbers remaining high and many companies struggling to recruit and retain digitally-focused staff.

In the past calendar year it was reported that there were more than 35,000 digital vacancies, including web and software developers, programmers and coders across the SELEP area.

Delivering the keynote address, Michaela Neild, External Affairs Manager of Google UK, outlined the importance of digital and Google’s commitment to making technology and the web work for everyone through the potential for the internet as a powerful equaliser.

She outlined that this is best achieved through flexible and tailored training and formally announced Google’s exciting commitment to five Google Digital Garages across the SELEP area.

These will cover a range of offers from support with getting online for the first time, to coding and building a website. SELEP’s DSP will work with Google to deliver these in partnership in the coming year. The South East DSP will feed into SELEP’s Local Industrial Strategy and its objectives are integral to its recently published Economic Strategy Statement: Smarter, Faster, Together.

Quinn Estates comes to the aid of Ashford Railway Club

A smoother welcome awaits visitors to Ashford Railway Club thanks to Quinn Estates after members of the South East developer’s construction team gave up their time to resurface the carpark.

The social club, based In Bath Meadow, Beaver Road, Ashford, was in the headlines last September after a former employee admitted stealing £15,000 in club funds. The work carried out by Quinn Estates has not only ensured this project could go ahead but freed up funds to pay for further ongoing maintenance.

Mark Quinn, Chairman and CEO of Quinn Estates, said, “Ashford Railway Club is an important community facility for the local area, so we were delighted to support this when the club approached us for help.

“We always seek to leave a positive legacy in those areas in which we develop - from new sports facilities to supporting community organisations - and this donation is part of that ongoing mission.”

Quinn Estates has a long and successful history of building in Ashford, working closely with the local community to deliver projects such as the award-winning Connect 38 building, the first phase of Ashford’s Commercial Quarter driving new jobs and investment to the heart of the town.

The company continues to invest in the borough, from new homes in Victoria Way, currently under construction, to exciting new proposals at East Stour Park, Norman Road; Conningbrook Park, Kennington; and Newtown Works close to Ashford International rail station.

Tony Fortune, Secretary of Ashford Railway Club, said: “We’re overwhelmed with the support that we have received from Quinn Estates. As an independent club, we rely on donations and membership fees to keep the grounds maintained and welcoming for all, however in recent months we have struggled.

“The support from Quinn Estates will make a huge difference to the layout and usability of our car park. On behalf of all our members, we would like to thank Quinn Estates and the teams involved who helped to make this possible.”

Thinking Business

45

How much does DIY IT really cost your small business?

As a business owner, do you look after your IT needs and issues yourself?

Maybe you don’t want, or need, a full time IT person. Perhaps, also you don’t realise the true, hidden, costs of DIY IT support. Let’s take a look.

Example 1: Every morning you arrive at your office, switch on your PC and go and make a cup of tea. This may take around 10-15 minutes, which you don’t feel is unreasonable. It is annoying when you realise that you’re ready for work at 8am but your IT isn’t until 8:15.

Adding up those 15 minutes, over a week, or a month. Calculating from Monday to Friday, every week, it works out at 75 minutes per week, or 300 minutes per month that you are unable to do any work.

Example 2: Once or twice per day, your laptop seems to freeze, or it just runs very

slowly. It’s frustrating because it stops you working for 30-60 minutes each day. It’s costly and wastes more time looking up a local IT person, who may or may not be reliable. You decide to try to fix it yourself, by which time another hour has passed and your computer is suddenly working fine again. Ah well, I’ll worry about it next time...

including the “backups” you keep on that external hard drive attached to your computer. Now what?

Example 3: You open an email from a known sender. It looks legit and contains an attachment, which doesn’t do anything when you open it. Then a message appears on the screen, telling you you’ve been the victim of a Ransomware attack, your files are corrupted, and to pay £500 to get them back. Those are all of your company files, including data about your customers. All copies of those files have also been corrupted,

Our fully-managed IT services suite is designed to provide you with 24/7 peace of mind, freeing you to focus on driving your business forward.

020 3714 2440 www.profile-ltd.co.uk

46 Thinking Business

These examples demonstrate real issues faced by businesses like yours.

DON’T LEAVE YOUR IT TO CHANCE.

We monitor your systems, apply patches, protect against viruses, ensure backups are performing successfully, and more.

We’ll catch (and fix) the little problems before they become big ones – in many cases before you’re even aware that there’s an issue.

To learn more about how proactive IT support can help save you stress and money, email me at info@innovo-it.com Paul Goggin has over 20 years’ experience in the IT industry; Innovo Consulting can help you use your IT to save time and money in your business.

25 YEARS OF PROFILE PLANNING Profile Construction Consultants celebrated 25 years of planning by inviting its clients and staff to a boat party along the River Medway and commissioning a very special “programme themed” cake.

Profile has been operating in Kent and London since 1994 and in more recent years has also opened an office in Mallorca, Spain. The company has grown from a small family niche planning consultancy, to a £1 million plus turnover company and became part of the PDSI group in 2010.

Having been based at an office in the Royal British Legion Village Aylesford for 20 years, Profile relocated to Malling House in West Malling at the beginning of 2014 and has also operated out of the group’s London Waterloo offices since 2010.

Profile was initially set up to primarily support main contractors but evolved quickly into other areas

“The company has grown from a small family niche planning consultancy, to a £1 million plus turnover company and became part of the PDSI group in 2010.” of construction services with clients from across the industry including Developers, Project Management, Quantity Surveyors, Design Practices, Solicitors and Trade Contractors.

Over the past 25 years, Profile has developed a flexible & reactive service to respond to clients’ needs working on a number of key projects not only within London and the South East, but also worldwide.

In total, more than 3,200 completed commissions have been delivered for hundreds of different clients.

During its 25 years in business, Profile has provided several key services to the construction industry including tender programming, live construction programming, extension of time (EOT) claims, delay analysis and expert witness services, to name just a few.

As the company has grown, so has the technology used within the industry. Many members of the company can recall when programmes were drawn by hand, now however, most of their work is undertaken using planning software such as Elecosoft Powerproject, Microsoft Project or Primavera P6.

Looking to the future, Profile aims to stay ahead of its rivals and many of the larger players in the industry by offering clients services such as 4D BIM and 2D/3D logistical drawings using CAD / Photoshop software.

Some of Profiles most prominent projects include the Francis Crick Institute, HS1, Hong Kong Airport, Victoria Palace Theatre, Benenden Hospital, The London Gateway, 02 Retail, Estee Lauder Head Office, St Pancras Hotel, St.Barts London Hospital, Kings Cross Station, Primark UK Office and Kent County Cricket Club, amongst many more.

Thinking Business

47

New Members

Welcome to our new members Advo Group Limited

Cave Hotel UK Ltd

AK Creation

Correlate Software Limited

Maidstone 01622 769210 www.advogroup.co.uk Insurance Broker

Dartford 01322 319387 www.akcreation.co.uk Web Design, Branding and Marketing Company

Alpine Commercial Cleaning Ltd (ACC)

Maidstone 07834 771098 www.alpineltd.co.uk Vehicles / Building / Commercial Cleaning

ArchOver Ltd

London 020 3021 8100 www.archover.com Business Lending

Bennett-Associates Ltd

Boughton 01227 752277 www.cavehotels.com Hotel

Hornby Hobbies Ltd

Go Train Limited

Invictus Print Management Ltd

Maidstone 01622 686088 www.go-train.co.uk Independent Training Provider

Hague Construction Ltd

Rochester 01634 729955 www.hagueconstruction.co.uk Construction and Civil Engineering

Halagen Ltd

Sittingbourne 01474 702010 www.bennett-associates.co.uk Mortgages & Protection

Brook Learning Trust

Heliocentrix Limited

48 Thinking Business

Sittingbourne 01795 428020 www.hempsteadhouse.co.uk Hotel - Weddings, Conference, Dining, Spa Leisure

Ramsgate 07365 274412 www.correlatesoftware.com Software Development, Consultancy, App Development

Tunbridge Wells 07530 713718 www.halagen.com Consultants to Construction Industry & Building Products Manufacture in Kent

Cranbrook 01580 712754 www.brooklearningtrust.org.uk Education

Hempstead House Hotel & Spa

Tonbridge 01732 600170 www.heliocentrix.co.uk IT Services

Margate 01843 233500 www.hornby.com Toy Manufacture

Rochester 01634 912996 www.invictusprint.co.uk Print Services

IQ4 Business

Heathfield 01435 872495 www.IQ4Business.co.uk Business Coaching & Training

JMLA (South East) Limited Tunbridge Wells 01892 531626 www.jmla.co.uk Structural Engineers

Kent Trainers Ltd

Folkestone 01732 808185 www.kenttrainers.co.uk Business Training

New Members

Enhance Laughland Jones Ltd

Ashford 01233 732466 www.laughlandjones.co.uk Interior Design & Architecture

LiveFeedPro.com (U-PM.COM Ltd) Sandwich 01304 612931 www.livefeedpro.com Live Video Production Services

MKC Training

Chatham 01634 822146 www.mkctraining.com Construction, Engineering & Leadership Training

M S Atlantic Logistics Ltd Herne Bay 07789 813439 www.msatlantic.com Freight Forwarding

NFU Mutual Canterbury & Sittingbourne

Protect ORF Digital UK

Dartford 07508 864104 www.orfdigitaluk.com TV Aerial & Satellite Specialists, Audio Visual & Networking Solutions

Owen Construction Consultancy Ltd

Petts Wood 01689 820105 www.owenconstructionconsultancy.co.uk Construction Consultant

Publicstar

Ashford 01233 641987 www.publicstar.co.uk BMS Specialist, Heating Controls, Smart House Controls, Energy Management

Purewhite Creative Group Dartford 020 3328 5777 www.purewhitecreative.com Creative Agency

Canterbury 01227 451088 www.nfumutual.co.uk/canterbury Insurance, Pensions, Investment, Protection

Roe Timberframe Limited

Orange Express Ltd

Standex Electronics (UK) Ltd

Ashford 01233 633050 www.orangeexpressltd.co.uk Courier, Logistics, Storage

Margate 01843 232888 www.roeltd.co.uk Timber Frame Manufacturer

Tonbridge 01732 771023 www.standexelectronics.com Manufacture of Reed Switches

Connect TA Barker Associates

Aylesford 07449 041092 www.tabarkerassociates.co.uk Management Consultancy

TaylorHare Architects Ltd Canterbury 01227 668073 www.taylorhare.com Architectural Services

Teacher Training UK

Chatham 07921 339919 www.teachertraininguk.org Pioneering Teacher Training Organisation Developing Outstanding Teachers

Windridge Coatings Ltd Broadstairs 01843 604474 www.windridge.co.uk Powder Coating, Storage

X-OR Technologies Ltd Rochester 01634 757727 www.x-or.uk Provider of Digital Tools to Manage and Enhance Soft Play Experiences

Enhance Protect Connect

Thinking Business

49

Last Word

Sam Scott The Marlowe Theatre Head of Development I wanted to be a famous designer. Then I found out my heart was in bringing theatre to disadvantaged communities.

My fundraising career started at Theatre Peckham. Five years at the National Theatre taught me how to work with supporters and secure some wonderful events. Working for charities in Kent introduced me to our local networks. My Marlowe journey has been incredible, it’s brought everything together and there is much more to do.

What was your first job and what was the pay packet?

My first proper job was as a Junior Graphic Designer at Halcrow Fox & Associates in Hammersmith London, earning around £12k.

What do you always carry with you to work?

A backpack full of all my stuff: notebook, diary, phone, ipad, make-up, water and other paraphernalia.

What is the biggest challenge facing your business?

The Marlowe aims to bring the best performances to the whole community. My challenge is to communicate that we are a charity and we reinvest every penny!

BRACHERS’ JOHN SHEATH WINS ‘OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION’ AWARD Brachers’ Head of Healthcare and former Managing Partner has been recognised for his commitment to enhancing NHS services by being awarded the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award at this year’s Kent Law Society awards.

John Sheath received the accolade at the Society’s annual dinner, acknowledging his dedication to improving NHS services through his legal expertise and his progressive approach to collaboration between legal and healthcare services.

John has had a long and distinguished career at

Brachers, spearheading the inception of the firm’s Healthcare team in 1982.

Under his leadership, the team has gone on to be ranked in Tier 1 by leading legal directory, the Legal 500, and the depth of their healthcare expertise was recognised earlier this year when Brachers was appointed as the only South East‐ based firm to deliver legal services to the NHS and wider public sector organisations.

As an individual, John has been involved in several legal landmarks that have significantly contributed to legal practice as well as delivering substantial

A new warehouse development providing much-needed industrial units has been completed, adding to Maidstone’s position as the Business Capital of Kent.

What can you see from your office window?

Our current office only has a skylight. We are moving soon and will look out on the theatre delivery yard – we’ll see the actors arriving!

Brought forward by Goya Developments, Aylesford Business Park comprises seven new trade units designed to provide space for industrial and logistics warehousing.

Situated to the north west of Maidstone and adjacent to the M20, Aylesford Business Park forms part of the wellestablished Forstal Road Industrial Estate. The scheme offers flexible light industrial and trade warehouse units.

As a business person, what are your three main qualities?

Enthusiasm: I like to encourage people into supporting great projects. Diplomacy: I can often find middle ground and make things happen. Humour: essential in any role.

What was your biggest mistake in business?

I have made many mistakes in business roles. The important thing is not to repeat them.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

Make a plan. Write it down. Visualise it.

Ask for help and support. Stick to the plan and see it through. Things always change along the way, that’s part of the excitement.

Who do you most admire in business?

I admire businesses who recognise that sharing their success and helping others makes life richer. The Marlowe Trust has some inspirational Business Partners, Sponsors and Members. They blow me away!

50 Thinking Business

John said: “It has been a privilege to practice law in Kent for nearly four decades for such a fantastic firm and an honour to win this award.

I have always been proud to be able to give something back to the NHS, whose staff work so

hard in challenging times, by sharing the know-how I have gained through my years of representing healthcare organisations to help reduce risk and benefit patient care.”

Joanna Worby, Managing Partner at Brachers, said: “We are so delighted that John has been recognised with the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award. His dedication to the firm and to his clients and the impact he has had throughout his career is truly impressive. On behalf on everyone at the firm I would like to congratulate him on this well-deserved accolade.”

New industrial park units to provide EXTRA CAPACITY FOR MAIDSTONE’S GROWING BUSINESSES

If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you change to help business?

I would invest in education and ensure that every child and young person can nurture their passion and talent.

If you could do another job what would it be?

I would be a casting director. I would love to match faces and personalities to dramatic roles.

pro-bono and valueadded services over the years, including training and contributions to NHS patient safety groups, risk management and ethics committees.

The monetary value of this contribution is estimated to run to tens of thousands of pounds annually.

News

Andy Stothard, from Goya Developments said, “We see Maidstone as a key strategic location within Kent, which is well placed to service demand from local and national and European businesses.

It was the ideal location to develop Aylesford Business Park.”

Built to the highest energy efficiency standards, all units offer cutting edge energy saving technologies which enable a reduction of carbon emissions by 35%. In addition, units have a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’, and EPC Rating A. Motion sensitive lighting, electric car

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL… In a world where the finest details matter, London Golf Club continues to raise the bar with 36-holes of Jack Nicklaus designed championship golf in impeccable condition all-year round, an award-winning clubhouse, first-class hospitality and exceptional service. Whether a member or a guest you can be sure you’ll have an experience to remember both on and off-course from the moment you drive through the gates and into the glorious surroundings of the South East’s finest golfing destination.

As the only Joint Venture Partner Golf Club of the European Tour and a part of the prestigious European Tour Destinations, IMG Prestige and Pacific Links networks, London Golf

Club provides an oasis of golfing tranquillity in 700 acres of idyllic Kent countryside, just 20 miles from the Capital. With its all-encompassing facilities and convenient access to major motorways, rail networks and international airports, the club is uniquely positioned to welcome and cater for visiting golfers, corporate golf days, meetings and weddings in addition to providing a experience that surpasses expectations.

The Heritage course is a Jack Nicklaus Signature design that bears all the hallmarks of the 18 time Major Champion. Host to the 2008 & 2009 European Open, the course provides an exhilarating test for golfers of all abilities. Maintained in

charging points and photovoltaic panels further ensure the units meet sustainability targets.

Units range in size from 3,757 sq ft to 41,320 sq ft. Unit One has already been let to one of the UK’s leading wood finishing manufacturers, and the remaining six are now on the market as leasehold properties.

John Foster, Head of Regeneration and Economic Development for MBC, said: “This investment demonstrates the demand for high-quality, affordable warehousing solutions within the borough.

pristine condition all-year round, with fast-rolling greens and immaculately presented tee-boxes and fairways, the Heritage is rightly regarded as one of the country’s finest golfing experiences.

The International course is pure downland. Long grasses sway in an ever-changing breeze. Home of the 2018 & 2019 Staysure PGA Seniors Championship and having hosted both the Volvo World Match Play Championship and Regional Open Qualifying, this course proves a tough test for the most talented of golfers while providing the opportunity to shoot some great scores with a number of risk-reward holes.

Copy Deadline: News items for the October-November issue to be submitted by 11th September

fellgrove fellgrove arboriculture ecology habitats arboriculture ecology habitats arboriculture ecology habitats

Plan in advance to save yourself a headache Plan in advance to save yourself a headache Plan in advance to save yourself a headache Summer is officially upon us. The sun is out and we are all busy making sure projects run smoothly. Winter may be the last

thing on our minds, however, theisperfect to take a moment to sure consider new run andsmoothly. continuingWinter projects during those Summer is officially upon us.now The is sun out andtime we are all busy making projects may be the last Summer is officially upon us.now The is sun out andtime we are all busy making projects may be the last not-so-Summer months. thing on our minds, however, theisperfect to take a moment to sure consider new run andsmoothly. continuingWinter projects during those thing on our minds, however, now is the perfect time to take a moment to consider new and continuing projects during those not-so-Summer months. not-so-Summer months.

A little consideration now may well save you a headache in the future because Autumn and Winter the ideal seasons undertake of ecological, arboricultural and habitat A little are consideration now maytowell save youa avariety headache in the future because Autumn and A little are consideration now maytowell save youa avariety headache in the future because Autumn and related activities.

Winter the ideal seasons undertake of ecological, arboricultural and habitat Winter are the ideal seasons to undertake a variety of ecological, arboricultural and habitat related activities. related activities.

A good example with regards to ecology is a habitat appraisal which be completed any time of the year.

Undertaking this A goodcan example with regards to ecology is a habitat appraisal A goodcan example with regards toa ecology isofa advantages habitat appraisal survey in Autumn/Winter has number such which be completed any time of the year.

Undertaking this which can be completed any time of the year.

Undertaking this as, providing details of potential species onadvantages site in plenty of survey in Autumn/Winter has a number of such survey in Autumn/Winter has a number of advantages such time so that specific species surveys can be undertaken as, providing details of potential species on site in plenty as of as, providing details potential species onbesite in of early as possible.

Thisof allows mitigation measures to plenty be put as in time so that specific species surveys can undertaken time so that specific species surveys can be undertaken as place earlier and therefore has less of an impact on the timing early as possible. This allows mitigation measures to be put in early This allows mitigation betiming put in of theas project. p possible. place earlier and therefore has less of anmeasures impact ontothe place earlier and therefore has less of an impact on the timing of the project. p of the project. pis also a very advantageous time to remove trees and Winter hedge asathis outside of nesting bird season.

During Winter rows is also veryisadvantageous time to remove trees and Winter is also a very advantageous time to remove trees and Spring/Summer months tree removals can be more costly hedge rows as this is outside of nesting bird season. During hedge rows as this is outside of nesting bird season.

During time consuming due to the requirements for nesting bird Spring/Summer months tree removals can be more costly and Spring/Summer months befor more costly and surveys.

If a nest is found, will not can be possible to remove time consuming due totree theitremovals requirements nesting bird time consuming due to the requirements for nesting bird that tree or section of hedge.

This can cause unexpected surveys. If a nest is found, it will not be possible to remove surveys. a nest found, it will not can be possible totherefore remove delays toIfwork andis affect the overall project.

It is that tree or section of hedge.

This cause unexpected that tree or section of hedge.

This can cause unexpected recommended to complete tree/hedge removals and other re delays to work and affect the overall project. It is therefore delays to work and affect the overall project.

It is therefore tree related work in Winter where possible to minimise recommended to complete tree/hedge removals and other re recommended to schedules. complete tree/hedge removals other re disruption to time tree related work in Winter where possible to and minimise tree related work in Winter where possible to minimise disruption to time schedules. disruption to time schedules.

Another consideration is contractor availability. During the summer months many contractors areavailability. at their busiest.

While Another consideration is contractor During the Another consideration is contractor availability.

During the every effort is made to start and complete jobs in a timely summer months many contractors are at their busiest. While summer months many contractors are may at their busiest.

While manner there be to times have toinwait.

This every effort is will made startwhen and you complete jobs a timely every is will made startwhen and where complete jobs a timely can beeffort athere problem into situations the continuation of manner be times you may have toinwait.

This manner there will be times when you may have to wait.

This works is dependent on the removals. can be a problem in situations where the continuation of can beisadependent problem on in the situations where the continuation of works removals. works dependent removals.

It mayisnot always on be the possible to undertake removals in winter however we would recommend taking this approach It may not always be possible to undertake removals in It may possible. not always be possible to undertake removals in where winter however we would recommend taking this approach winter however we would recommend taking this approach where possible. where possible.

Fellgrove Unit 75, Canterbury Innovation centre Fellgrove Fellgrove University Way Unit 75, Canterbury Innovation centre Unit 75, Canterbury Innovation centre Canterbury University Way University Way Kent Canterbury Canterbury CT2 w: fellgrove.co.uk Kent7FG Kent

t: 01227 806547 e: info@fellgrove.co.uk

24/7 PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS WITH CONSTRUCTION SPECIALISTS PROTECT YOURSECURITY BUSINESS WITH SECURITY

GUARD DOG SECURITY GUARD DOG GUARD DOG GUARD DOG PATROL

SERVICES

PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS WITH

24/7

SECURITY 24/7

SECURITY SERVICES SERVICES

SECURITY SECURITY SECURITY PATROL PATROL PATROL PROTECT YOUR PREMISES FROM SQUATTERS YOUR PREMISES VANDALISM PROTECT FROM

PROTECT YOUR PREMISESFROM FROM PROTECT YOUR PREMISES FLY TIPPING

THEFT

SQUATTERS

FLY TIPPING

SQUATTERS SQUATTERS

TOFLY BOOK TIPPING FLY TIPPING CALL NOW TO BOOK CALL NOW

VANDALISM

BURGLARY THEFT

VANDALISM BURGLARY VANDALISM THEFT THEFT

BURGLARY BURGLARY

020 8637 1406 020 8637 1406 TO BOOK O BOOK www.guard-dog-security.com www.guard-dog-security.com CALL NOW

Protecting businesses Protecting businesses and people sincesince 2004 2004 and people