The Club - Autumn 2022

CLUB the

“I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life."

George Burns

WelcoMe

caRrinGtoN CluB the Autumn edition of the to

Future Proofing is the theme we want to explore in this edition. As financial planners, this is something we look at on a daily basis – how we can help our clients ensure their futures and their legacies unfold as they’ve imagined and planned for.

In this edition, we interview Cecily Chapman, financial adviser and integral part of the Carrington team, on how she helps clients do just this.

In life, however, everything doesn’t always go exactly to plan. Along with unforeseen world events, such as pandemics and wars, we can experience unexpected changes in our personal lives. We speak to Nicola Linkleter and Rob Senior, long-time clients, and friends of ours, who generously share their thoughts on navigating significant life changes.

We cannot discuss what might happen tomorrow without addressing the future of our planet.

Lynn Dickinson of Emperor talks to us about their sustainability journey, employee ownership and their ambition to achieve B Corp status. Back in the Carrington office, we share with you the steps we’re taking to future proof our business, so as to be there to support not only your tomorrow, but also our planet and our community. We can all play a part, however small, in safeguarding our future.

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed their time and stories so that we could bring you this issue.

The ClUB WelcoMe to Mike & Al

Standing: Charles McAree, Carolyn Stewart, Stacey Berry, Mohsin Bukhari, Cecily Chapman, Nicola Craxton, Alexander Moorhouse

Seated: Mike Hodges, Thomas Fairbank, Eric Woodward, Marissa Harpa, Stephen Thompson, Rachel Hogg, Alistair Candlish

taking a look at our

FOOTPRINT

We understand that carbon offsetting is only part of the answer, and that in order to curb the emissions growth of a growing consumer population, more permanent solutions and changes need to be adopted. This has prompted us to take a closer look at the areas of our business that generate the most emissions, and where we can’t further reduce them, offset them in a bid to help future proof our planet for the next generation.

We are thrilled to say that at the start of this year we completed our carbon footprint calculation for 2021 and through Ecologi, we have offset our emissions. We also started our own Carrington Forest which will benefit the planet in years to come.

REthinking

ReTiremENt

By Nicola Craxton

What does retirement mean to you?

I've been thinking a lot about retirement recently, not because it is on the cards, my pension pot would definitely attest to that, but because one of my oldest friends has just “retired” and I think I'm battling with the concept because she's not old!

According to HMRC she should be diligently working away for another 25 years or so. However, she quit her high-powered career in a fast-paced city and is about to embark on the next adventure.

Through meticulous planning, hard work and smart investment decisions, she and her husband have reached financial independence and they are now off to do something that she is passionate about… subsistence farming in Africa. Let's hope he’s just as passionate about it!

Which makes me think that this idea of “retirement” should be rethought or at least renamed. To me it conjures up images of a grey-haired couple walking down the beach at sunset or sitting on a park bench admiring the view, but it's not really about age at all.

The term mentioned earlier, and one advisers have started talking about in more recent years, Financial Independence Day (FID), is probably more fitting. This refers to a point, a finite date which you’ll reach during your lifetime where you no longer require an active income (think income derived from your day job) to sustain your desired lifestyle.

Think about the possibilities… if you knew what this date was well ahead of time, or if you knew that by making a small change to your current lifestyle, say by investing a little extra each month, you could bring this date forward by X number of years. Powerful thought isn’t it.

As evident from my friends’ story, this can all be achieved through planning. And although it is especially relevant for preparing for your FID or ‘retirement’, planning is equally effective in helping you make qualified decisions in other situations as well. Given we should probably stop thinking about retirement as an age-linked event, should we not all be having these planning conversations with our advisers now?

Are you thinking about when you can make a change – explore a new career or make your side hustle full time? Stop working? Sell a business? Do you want to know what your FID is and if your family’s tomorrow is future-proofed? Here are a few pointers:

1.

KNOW HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH.

It is important to have a firm understanding of your numbershow much you have and how much you need to meet your desired lifestyle and leave a meaningful legacy, if this is important to you.

Leave this part to us - you give us the information and we crunch the numbers and present your plan along with your FID.

2. SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN.

This requires having a budget and knowing what you spend. Again, this is something we can help you with. We can also tell you what you need to be investing to hit your numbers/ date.

3.

INSURE YOURSELF AGAINST SERIOUS EVENTS.

Make sure you're adequately insured if you lost your earning capacity, or if the worst was to happen to you –make sure that your family is taken care of.

4.

INVEST WISELY.

Take advice from a professional, invest based on your level of adversity towards risk, the length of your investment period and your needs and requirements. But get your money working for you. Once again, this is our area of expertise, so allow us to help you.

There are no get rich quick schemes. If it sounds too good to be true, it more than likely is.

Did you know...

Our advisers work in teams of two?

This means there will always be someone you know and trust, and who knows you and your family, to turn to for advice.

Two heads are also better than one.

Cecily Chapman

Cecily Chapman, one of our Financial Advisers, joined Carrington as an intern after gaining a First from Newcastle University. Seven years later, having worked her way up, she is an integral part of the business and is forging a path for herself in the industry. Here, she shares her views on the industry, her role at Carrington and how we should all be future proofing our world.

TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOU, YOUR CAREER PATH AND EXPERIENCE?

I didn't know what I wanted to do for a long time, but I knew I would be more suited to a career in finance. I completed a Business Management degree at Newcastle University and was awarded a First. I joined Carrington the summer after graduating on an internship. This time totally inspired me and gave me a clearer understanding of the path I wanted to follow. The overriding attraction of the job then (and still is) was working with and helping people.

I officially started with Carrington in October 2015 – joining the client relationship team, whilst studying towards my Diploma in Financial Planning. I was lucky to learn about the business from the bottom up, shadowing and mentored by Mike and Al. From them, I learnt the importance of listening and really putting yourself in your clients’

shoes to understand their needs and concerns. A few years later, I was asked to manage the client relationship team. Life became quite busy, but hugely fulfilling.

In 2019, after completing my qualification and gaining the required hands-on experience, I became a Financial Adviser in my own right. This achievement was the culmination of focus and hard work and an ambition I’d had since my internship four years earlier.

The way we structure our client work here means that I have continued to work closely with Mike and Al’s clients and have built great relationships with them over the years. One of the benefits for Carrington clients is the advantage of being able to speak to two advisers, not just one. We work in pairs. If Mike or Al are not around, clients know they can always speak to me.

On top of this, my days are spent meeting and working with my own clients, as well as always looking for ways to add value to the service we offer.

AS AN ADVISER WHAT ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT?

Family. I come from a strong, loving family and I think this has given me insight into the importance of family. When you understand a family’s situation, their needs, and what keeps them up at night, you can do some meaningful work. Being able to help people really drives me. I am a people person; I love working with people!

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE AND WHAT DID YOU DO TO OVERCOME THIS?

I’ve sometimes believed that age, and looking younger than your stereotypical financial adviser, can be a challenge and that clients would question my advice.

However, age isn’t a reflection of knowledge and expertise – in fact my age is often an advantage. In the long-term, clients benefit from having a younger adviser: I won’t be retiring any time soon! I will be around to follow through their whole plan and can also be a contact point for the client's children, now and in the future when the client is no longer here. It’s like a contingency plan – ensuring a client’s legacy.

YOU HAVE BEEN A FINALIST MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE WOMEN IN FINANCIAL ADVICE AWARDS AND WOMEN IN INVESTMENT AWARDS –WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

When I first started in the industry, it was apparent that it was a very maledominated business. I recall attending conferences and being the only woman in the room and the youngest by far. This was quite daunting. I think this has changed, plus my confidence has grown too. With this in mind, it has been important to me to encourage more women to enter the industry. The awards have been a great launchpad for me to talk about some of the initiatives I have undertaken as a woman and to get recognition for them. It is a great feeling to be shortlisted, it validates what I’m working towards!

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY SPECIFIC INITIATIVES YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

As I mentioned, it is really important to me that women are more involved in the world of planning and investing. As an extension of this, I have developed a service working to support women

you

situation, their

When

understand a family’s

needs, and what keeps them up at night, you can do some meaningful work.

who are going through an unforeseen change – such as bereavement or divorce.

There is so much to deal with and come to terms with at a time like this. Having the support of someone you trust, and who can untangle the financial side of things, answer your questions and give you some clarity, is extremely important. Our service enables us to lay out our client’s new situation and relieve some of the financial worries and concerns they have. Big questions are often concerning whether the children will be financially secure, and will our client be OK. What do they need to do next? What does the future look like?

In these situations, cash flow analysis, and stress testing plans are very important. I analyse current and future earnings/income, outgoings, assets, and liabilities. Will the money last and how do we structure it to make sure it doesn’t run out? I address different scenarios, perhaps a child may want to go to Uni in America – how will this be funded? Or what if maintenance payments stop earlier than planned? What if the client suffered a loss of earnings for a period of time? Everyone’s worries will be different, but we put solutions in place to give the client peace of mind. Being able to assure someone that they, and their children will be financially secure, is very powerful.

During this process we work very closely with our clients’ solicitors, executors or other professional advisers. The great news is that we’re just on the other end of the line – and we don’t charge by the hour!

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST SATISFYING ABOUT YOUR ROLE?

What gives me the biggest kick –aside from helping clients – is when, off the back of my advice, someone recommends me to their friends or family. I realise how much I’ve helped them. It’s literally the biggest form of praise and acknowledgement of the work done.

WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE INDUSTRY?

I would like to see more women joining the industry. This is important in terms of our clients as, in recent years, I have noticed that more and more women are now taking the lead in their family’s finances.

In addition, I would love to see clients engage with advisers like us when they are younger. People often wait for a ‘trigger’ before considering a financial adviser, which often comes in midlife. Of course, these triggers are great times to sit down with us. But, the benefit of starting your long-term plan

Your future starts tomorrow, make the most of it.

Vital Statistics...

JOB TITLE: Financial Adviser

BORN & LIVES: London

CLAIM TO FAME :

Throwing a tantrum age 3 in front of Princess Diana after being told I couldn’t have a milkshake

FAVOURITE BUSINESS BOOK : Legacy by James Kerr

WHAT POSITIVE CHANGE HAS COME OUT OF COVID FOR YOU?

I bought a flat and got engaged!

FAVOURTIE APP: CookBook

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Holidays

WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE? A Vet

in your thirties, compared to your fifties, is huge.

It’s our job as advisers to get that message out there to encourage people to start financial planning earlier. You are literally never too young!

WHAT DOES FUTURE PROOFING MEAN TO YOU?

In a nutshell, it’s about putting things in place now to ensure that you are able to enjoy everything that is important to you and accomplish your goals throughout your lifetime, without running out of money.

Your future starts tomorrow, make the most of it.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES TO FUTURE PROOFING?

I think there are two major obstacles. The first is fear of the unknown –people burying their head in the sand. It scares people (especially the big spenders who don’t want to know). And the other is time – there is always something more important or more interesting, so it gets kicked down the road.

I HAVE ENOUGH ASSETS –I DON’T NEED TO FUTURE PROOF. IS THIS TRUE?

You might be right, but it’s often worth a second opinion. After all, you only know what you know!

Future proofing is not just about having enough assets, it’s also about looking at potential threats to your plan. Thinking about the legacy you would like to leave. Has this been done in the most efficient or most meaningful way? Have you thought about estate planning and how much the tax man might get? Are there charitable causes you’d prefer to support?

WITH EVERYTHING YOU KNOW - WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED TO FUTURE PROOF YOUR OWN LIFE?

In my line of work, I am naturally quite alert to my own situation – it’s what I advise other people to do every day! Right now, I’m focusing on the next five-to-ten years. I am trying to get the basics in place, setting myself up as well as I can for what might happen in the future.

I’m currently building up my pension and ISA, and I’ve set up insurances in case the worst happens – so the people around me are protected. I’m

also trying to be tax efficient where I can and I’ve created my own plan, where I run my own situation through our cash flow analysis tool – playing around with different scenarios

I am going to take my own advice. I’ve just got married; we have bought a house, and as my situation changes over the next few years, I will re-model my financial plan and adapt it.

WHAT

THREE THINGS

WOULD YOU WANT SOMEONE TO REMEMBER FROM THIS INTERVIEW?

1. You don’t have to do this on your own – let an expert (us!) help you.

2. The earlier you start to plan the better.

3. What do you need to future proof for? Work out what is important to you. What do you want your next ten years to look like?

4. You said 3, but the 4th is to call me and the team, we can help, you’re not alone!

Emotional Wellbeing in Retirement

Future proofing your tomorrow is not just about ensuring that you have enough money to comfortably live out your days. Enjoying them should be a top priority too! Looking ahead, it seems counterintuitive to be nothing but over the moon at being retired – no more deadlines or hot and sweaty commutes when you’d much rather be doing something else! But at times of significant change, such as retirement, we need to be cognisant of the psychological effects that can knock our happiness off course, even if only temporarily.

Not to be all doom and gloom, but by identifying and understanding where these feelings are coming from and putting a few tools in place to assist you through these times, can be really helpful.

The Emotional Stages of Retirement are widely researched and well documented. In order they are:

PLANNING

This is the pre-retirement work you do with us. The planning for the big day –how much you may need to save and invest, your goals in retirement and what does your retirement lifestyle look like.

EXCITEMENT

A short-lived phase, the anticipation and excitement builds up the closer you get to D-day.

HONEYMOON

Not only for weddings! The honeymoon period is the phase where retirees do all the things that they planned for when they stopped working – go travelling, take up a new hobby, spend time with family etc. There is no set time frame but unfortunately it doesn’t last forever.

DISENCHANTMENT

This is the point where the shine starts to wear off and you start to wonder if retirement is all it’s cracked up to be. This phase can elicit feelings of loneliness, boredom, meaninglessness, and sometimes depression. Don’t be afraid to seek professional support if needed.

REORIENTATION

& STABILITY

Luckily disenchantment doesn’t last forever either, so you move into a stage of relearning and rediscovering. By revisiting your original retirement plan and goals and assessing what makes you feel valued and what works for you, you can start to balance your new life.

TRANSITIONING

Finally, you’re putting new routines in place. A new identity has been or is being established and you can relax into your new meaningful lifestyle and start to really enjoy it.

We spoke to two of our clients, Nicola Linkleter and Rob Senior, who both planned towards their Financial Independence Day, took the plunge and left the corporate world behind. They share their experiences and offer nuggets of wisdom and advice.

Nicola Linkleter

It’s interesting to think of my journey in terms of the different emotional phases. Aside from the challenges Covid created, I can relate to most of those things, as well as the need to plan and consider personal goals etc.

I had always thought I would retire at 50 but life gets in the way and being in a corporate environment, there was never quite the right time to leave, certainly LTIPs and shares were major factors.

It did get to a point, however, where family priorities took over and I needed to take some time out. It was at this stage I started to re-evaluate everything - having many a conversation about finances.

The big question was always, when do we ever feel that we have enough money? When is enough, enough?

There were so many factors to consider short-term, and slightly easier ones like, how I was going to ensure the best exit package, or what were we going to do to replace my income? To the trickier ones like how many years were we going to live for!

Tough, isn’t it? We all want to be financially secure ensuring we don’t run out!!

An honest conversation with my boss led to him giving me a three-month sabbatical in the hope that I would be back and continue in my role. Yet, I knew during this time off that the right thing for me to do was to exit the business.

I certainly wanted to act in good conscience, doing the decent thing by the company and its people, and I am pleased to say that this was reciprocated.

Once the decision was made, and we are talking 2018, I think I was excited, or maybe I skipped that bit and went straight to feeling relieved.

I was exhausted; coming from an old school, 50 hours, 5 days a week job, along with the commute and at the same time raising 5 children, I just needed to focus on my family, as well as get some sleep!!

The financial planning had started years before my exit. Carrington recognised what was needed given our objectives and we had proof of what could be achieved, so we recognised it’s viability.

As mentioned, I retired shortly before Covid hit and it did derail our initial plans – we had a lot of trips booked that were cancelled, which was unfortunate, but it also meant more time with the family which was wonderful - memories that we will all cherish.

Having been a very active person I threw myself into various projects – refurbishing the house and garden which kept me busy, allowing some sort of structure and I guess purpose.

I was worried that I would get bored, so I maintained a couple of non-exec roles and continued coaching within my network. I didn’t and certainly don’t want to get too busy, however, I’ve found myself quite in demand, so I will need to ensure that it doesn’t take over my life again.

WERE THERE ANY UNEXPECTED SURPRISES?

Well, during a particularly restrictive and mundane time, I sold our house without it actually being on the market, and without mentioning it to my husband either! I had to explain to him, and our family, that we wouldn’t be moving anywhere unless we found the perfect home. Given that there wasn’t much on the market, it was a shock to find ourselves moving to Tyrrells Wood some two months later!

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEARING OR ENTERING RETIREMENT?

Well, certainly I found it took me at least 18 months to sort my wardrobe out. You’d be surprised, I just never seemed to have quite the right thing to wear - lots of clothes, no outfits! So, I now buy with occasions in mind.

On a serious note, I would say the best advice is not to have too much of an expectation of what you think you might want to do. You almost need to kickback and allow that down time in the same way that you would if you had left a company and were on garden leave or looking for a respite before joining another organisation. Let things play out, take some time to relax and clear your head so you can decide what you really want to do. What I thought I wanted to do initially turned out to be very different.

Also, when you do exit you will be leaving people behind that you’ve spent considerable time with, who, to a certain extent have become your professional family. Allow yourself to grieve - you will miss those relationships and it may take some time to adapt to that emotionally.

Your change in situation may mean that you don’t have people around you during the day, and you could find yourself on your own. Perhaps, like me, you will look to travel or take on a couple of projects. All I would say is, be easy on yourself, it’s good to have some structure to your week but try to take one day at a time and enjoy it!

Rob Senior

Rule #1 is never use the ‘R’ word. It (retirement) was designed to be a positive thing, something to look forward to, yet it has such negative connotations. In a world where everyone is increasingly active and fitter for longer, it implies that you’re done, obsolete. But this is just the next chapter. All that happens is you stop and step away from an executive role, i.e. from one set of tram rails that you've been on for however long and that you were entirely committed to. And when you step away from that, what happens is your peripheral vision is opened up and you realise that there are a number of tram rails, and they can all coexist. It allows you to do things like determine the number of hours you work and the intensity at which you work.

My decision to make a change was triggered by two things. Firstly, the thing I had loved doing for the best part of 30 years, which was advertising, I stopped loving. As I took on more and more responsibility, I was required to say and do things that I didn't agree with or believe in. My working premise has always been that if you treat people well and inspire them, you will likely get the best out of them and in turn you will likely create a good business. However, I found myself serving the

analyst market and managing the shortterm share price, as opposed to doing right by the business and my clients. I found that an impossible paradigm and it wasn’t bringing the best out of me, so I stopped loving it.

I also turned 50, and a psychological thing happened, which in my case ignited curiosity. I began to wonder if all the skills I’d diligently honed over the last 30 years were transferable or would I always be labelled and destined to be an adman? These two feelings collided, and I decided to put the periscope up and see what else was out there and how else I could use my expertise and experience.

It was without question the bravest and possibly the most foolish career decision in my life. I left behind the comfort and trimmings of the most famous advertising agency in the world, to step out into relative obscurity. But I just felt the time was right.

Nothing about it was easy. It is a proper learning curve, and you have to dig deep and ask yourself some searching questions about what's important to you. What I have learned is that there is a world of opportunity out there.

I thought I would have the headspace and time to take up new hobbies and do things I've never done before – I had my sights on a cooking course in Kerela (I wanted to learn to make a proper curry), and I wanted to learn how to kite surf in Peru or somewhere cool, and then I realised that I’ve got plenty of hobbies and there are plenty of things I already know I like doing.

Having been introduced to the notion of JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out), I decided to focus on the things that are important to me and that bring me joy. Life is short, so I think there is a lot to be said for that.

DID YOU PUT ANY PLANS IN PLACE BEFORE YOU DECIDED TO TAKE THE LEAP?

The one thing I did do, which would please the good folk at Carrington

enormously, is that I sat down and worked out to within pennies exactly what the machine, that is my family, costs a year. Every penny with a 15% contingency on top. The move I was about to make was massively selfish, in my eyes, and I wasn’t prepared to have it impact my family. So, I worked out exactly what I felt we needed cash wise. Then I looked at everything in terms of investments and our wealth in the broadest sense and made a decision around what point I was prepared to start eating into the capital and therefore, as a benchmark how much I needed to earn a year just to keep the whole thing going.

This is not the time to have surprises in life. So, being on top of the pensions, which was out of character for me, was very important. When you make a change like this, it affects everyone around you. Hopefully it’s for the better, because you're less stressed, and you’re around more often so you can be a better parent, a better partner, a better friend and in my case, a better sportsman. But you also need to remember that you have responsibilities, and it was important to me that it did not negatively impact our lives. That was the ultimate goal.

Carrington’s top tips for navigating change & future proofing your tomorrow

HAVE A PLAN AND SET GOALS

Make sure that your financial plan includes all the fun things you want to do – the places you want to visit, new experiences, hobbies you want to try, your full bucket list. Accomplishing the goals you set, no matter how large or small, will give you an enormous sense of achievement.

SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS & FAMILY

Spending quality time with people whose company you enjoy boosts happiness and increases a sense of belonging.

KEEP FIT

Keeping your body and mind healthy and fit will not only make you feel so much better (get those endorphins pumping and braincells buzzing), but it’s also a good reason to meet up with friends and socialise if you have an activity/ hobby that you can share. Why not join your local Parkwalk or Parkrun?

FIND SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL VALUED

Volunteer, mentor, take a non-executive role, get involved in your local community. It will not only give you a purpose but giving back will also boost your sense of wellbeing.

CREATE A DAILY ROUTINE

Establish how you will spend your days, what you will allocate your time to and when you will spend time with family and friends, the structure will give you purpose and motivation.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK

You don’t have to figure it all out immediately. It may take you time to work out the balance that works for you.

Lynn Dickinson

EMPEROR OFFICES: London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Warwick & Dubai website: emperor.works

Lynn Dickinson is Director of Responsible Business at Emperor, a leading UK employee-owned creative agency. With offices around the UK and Dubai, Emperor helps clients address their business challenges through strategic creative communication solutions.

Here she describes what responsible business means at Emperor and the journey they’re on to achieve B Corp certification, the impact of being an employee-owned company and the importance of Emperor’s unique culture to business success.

WHY IS RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS IMPORTANT TO EMPEROR?

It’s key to our success that we have a responsible business plan in place to ensure we can attract and retain clients who share our ambitions, and talented people who want to work with companies that share their values.

We’re increasingly being asked by our clients about how we are addressing sustainability business issues. What are we doing to create an inclusive workplace? How are we reducing carbon emissions? Do we have a supply chain management programme in place? How do we contribute to our communities?

As a part of our clients’ supply chain, they're looking for all their providers to have the best possible credentials and can evidence progress. Equally, when they question our sustainability and business purpose, this is a clear signal to us that they are absolutely the clients we want to work with, and through our services we can help them achieve their sustainability goals and ambitions. Having our own ambitions also means we have a true empathy with our

clients – we know what it takes and understand the journey whatever the starting point.

Talented people are absolutely critical to delivering excellent services for our clients. This can often be a threadbare statement but for Emperor our partners truly are our greatest asset. So, in terms of the Emperor brand, we're proactively driving our own responsible business and sustainability agenda to make us an attractive agency to be a part of.

EMPEROR IS AN EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANY, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR EMPEROR AND FOR ITS EMPLOYEES, IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY?

We became employee owned in January 2020 and the pandemic hit in March 2020, so some aspects of the experience have not all been as planned but we’re a creative agency, so we know how to be agile!

Key to the original plans is a Partner Board, quarterly Partner Voice sessions and a weekly Happiness Index. These platforms give partners formal feedback mechanisms and representation, which has built on what was already a very open and transparent business. It is critical to understand what is important to

partners, prioritising those matters and developing our approach around them.

Being partner-owned means that the transparency around how the business is doing and how we're governed is very important. And getting the partners increasingly involved and engaged in taking a collective responsibility for the future of the company is going to be something that continues to evolve over time and will manifest itself in different ways. For example, we’ve just launched a "Shaping our Sustainable Future" initiative with the goal of really understanding what types of briefs, brands and businesses our partners most love to work with. It’s an exciting journey to go on together.

Employee Ownership makes us even more distinctive in the agency world than the B Corp certification we aspire to will do, which makes it central to our future resilience.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE EMPEROR’S B CORP JOURNEY?

Emperor believes in authenticity, and we wanted to be able to evidence our commitment to responsible business and continuous improvement. We also believe business can be a force for good which is B Corp’s mantra and so it felt right. We first completed B Corp’s Impact Assessment (BIA) in the summer following employee ownership

WHAT IS A B CORP?

Certified B Corporations

(B Corps for short) are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability. Businesses need to achieve a minimum verified score on the B Impact Assessment.

WHO ARE THE B CORPS?

It’s a 3,000 strong community of like-minded companies such as Patagonia, The Guardian, The Body Shop, Abel and Cole, in 150 industries and 60 countries across the world.

and the process clearly identified for us some areas of focus.

There's so much value from completing the BIA, as it helps prioritise what you can do better and what will provide your business with the most value. It’s a free tool for any business to use whether their end goal is certification or not, and there are currently 200,000 companies around the world using it to help inspire and inform their responsible business plans.

For us, the BIA highlighted the need to focus on three areas: environmental performance, impactful supply chain management, and creating a culture of belonging. We can already see the value of having taken action on these aspects over the last 18 months; now we have an ambitious environmental strategy we have better data and can innovate with what it tells us; in reviewing our suppliers we are building stronger relationships; and the momentum behind our ED&I roadmap is reaching deep into our business and driving new approaches and partnerships.

Central to becoming a B Corp is Mission Lock – committing in the company’s Articles of Association to creating value for all its stakeholders. Emperor has a strong track record on this and by embracing this B Corp mindset it’s incredibly exciting to see where it will take us – the opportunities it will unlock.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES YOU HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME?

Like every business we are very busy and one of the things that I've been keen to avoid is building a separate responsible business team. It’s absolutely key to bring people along with you on the journey and not work in a silo or force solutions on the company. It might take longer but we will have much greater success long term the more we work together as One Emperor – creating strategies collaboratively, activating and embedding them collectively and sharing ownership.

The process of integrating responsible business practices into everything that we do, measuring them and being accountable for our progress is challenging and requires time – and people are already busy.

So, it’s about being realistic with your planning and expectations and working within the business’s capacity. It’s important to understand that transforming business practices or even just tweaking them to make them more impactful doesn’t happen overnight. That’s what we’re all trying to do, and it brings us closer to our clients who we’re helping to address their own sustainability business issues.

What works in our favour is that Emperor is absolutely committed and determined and we’re building on incredibly strong foundations that go way back.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE EMPEROR PLEDGES?

We launched our pledges in 2017 and there are 12 in total. They are a series of promises and commitments to our partners, community and the environment, and they are really important to the Emperor culture.

Two of these are more like promises: We trust, and We support you through thick and thin. They're living promises and really came to the fore during the pandemic. During lockdown we went from being in the office one day, to all being at home, and that trust was absolutely there from the off.

We look after the whole you is another pledge that has been extremely important to people over the last two years. Our Wellbeing manager drives an extremely full and diverse calendar of events with activity for everyone from yoga and meditation to cook-alongs and topical discussions, alongside workshops focused on some big life challenges such as menopause, mental health and wellbeing, and financial surgeries.

Last year Emperor created a new post, Director of Learning and Development, and Tessa McCaffrey joined to head up our Go beyond your potential pledge.

Tessa has made an incredible impact which has included organising our first Festival of Learning, a three-day event involving 40 partners working collaboratively to respond to a client brief. The feedback and results were incredibly positive and inspiring.

A vision of our previous CEO and one of Emperor’s co-founders, Steve Kemp, was fulfilled this year in the form of RISE our own apprenticeship scheme. Our We give Youth a Chance pledge team has long supported apprenticeships but to build our own programme in partnership with VisionPath is extremely exciting. Our first cohort of six apprentices have just started with us in our Whitechapel office and we have ambitious growth plans for RISE!

There is an energy that comes through the pledges which is very much driven by the people in the business who volunteer to be a champion or ambassador for that pledge – they are deeply embedded and really important to the company culture.

EMPEROR’S CULTURE APPEARS TO BE AT THE CENTRE OF EVERYTHING THE COMPANY STANDS FOR. CAN YOU TELL US HOW IT’S EMBEDDED IN THE COMPANY?

Getting across the sense of the company’s energy and what it’s like to work here, is something Emperor does very well.

I joined during lockdown and was incredibly impressed with how the culture of the company came across. The business did some great things to help us engage whilst we all sat at home in front of our laptops, many of which remain, and they are a great way for us to stay informed and feel like a collective despite being spread across many locations, not just five hubs.

The Huddle was born, a regular hourlong company meeting packed full of amazing content around our pledges, client work, updates on new joiners, updates on financial figures and of course responsible business initiatives amongst other things. There can be 200 people on the call and anyone in the business can get involved –the microphone is always shared. It reflected that Emperor people make the culture and that everyone has a voice.

Other initiatives included Monday match-up, where we’re randomly paired with someone else in the business and arrange a call with them during the week. It continues to be a great way of getting to understand who's in the business, what they do and making a personal connection.

We also have Jostle, a great intranet which is packed full of everything that gives a sense of our culture and the different ways our partners contribute to that.

Vital Statistics...

WHO HAS INSPIRED YOU THE MOST AND WHY?

At a previous agency I shaped and led an Innovation Day - an initiative which gave brand and communications advice to social enterprises in response to briefs that we developed with them ahead of the day to maximize the value of the experience. Every single one of the social entrepreneurs I met over the years was extraordinary. Each had a unique story as to why they had started their business and they put true meaning into the words purpose.

FAVOURITE BOOK/ BUSINESS BOOK:

Lots of inspirational content comes out of DO, lectures, events and publications. Co-founded by David and Clare Hieatt, it does exactly what it describes on the tin – encouraging people to do! Do Purpose is a good read.

FAVOURITE PODCAST: How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is a podcast that celebrates the things that haven’t gone to plan and what we learn from the experience. Each podcast features an often extremely frank interview with wellknown people willing to share and talk honestly about the value in things not always working out. We can all put lots of pressure on ourselves, so this is a reassuring listen.

CAN YOU SHARE A FEW OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS/ EMPERORS’ GOALS WITH US?

We have so many smart, creative, strategic people at Emperor who are an absolute joy to work with. We’re a team passionate about building long term partnerships with clients to help them succeed and scale up their positive impact. I'd also love us to be sharing what we know with green entrepreneurs who might be just setting out. There’s so much advice we can relay from our 25 years in business working with companies of every shape and size and at different stages of their journey. It would be great to find a way to share that with the community – it’s on my to-do-list!

Cold water sWimMinG

future proofing your HealtH.

New Year’s Day in the Northern Hemisphere sees hundreds upon thousands of people in swimsuits or fancy dress charging into the icy water, generally for Charity it must be said. While it is recorded that the Serpentine Swim Club in Hyde Park held its first ever Christmas day swim race in 1864, cold water swimming has become very popular and widely publicised of late, however, the first claims of its healing attributes date back to 400 BC.

Mad as a box of frogs comes to mind! However, walking down the Leigh-on-Sea beachfront on a cold winter’s morning, you’ll find huddles of swimmers dressed in their thermal robes sipping hot chocolate - smiling and laughing, while other bobble-hatted bathers stride out into the freezing stone-grey waters. Although on one such morning I was warmly wrapped up in a puffer jacket and scarf, the allure and pull of the water was unmistakable and I am happy to say that I am now the proud owner of my very own fleece-lined thermal robe.

So, what are the benefits of cold-water swimming, and what should you consider before metaphorically diving in?

BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Several studies have described a positive effect on the cardiovascular and endocrine system resulting in improved general health and fewer infections.

POSITIVE EFFECT ON MENTAL HEALTH

Studies have shown that cold water swimming has a positive and even an antidepressive effect. Regular swimming has led to the general improvement of wellbeing in swimmers.

IMPROVES CIRCULATION

By forcing the blood to the surface, and to our extremities to help warm the body, the circulatory system gets a good kickstart.

REDUCES STRESS

Although cold water swimming is physiologically stressful on the body, the body reacts by increasing its tolerance to stress factors. Research has shown that there is a correlation between cold water and stress reduction, and that cold water swimmers become calmer and more relaxed.

And if those benefits aren’t enough to get you leaping into the closest puddle of ice-cold water you can find, cold water swimming is also said to burn calories faster (than swimming in warm water) and it supposedly increases your libido too!

But hang on, safety first…

"The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create"

Leonard I. Sweet

ACCLIMATISE.

To get your body used to cold water, start your acclimatisation before the water temperature starts to drop and then continue to swim on a regular basis as the water temps get lower.

NO DIVING OR JUMPING!

Entering cold water initially causes the body to go into shock, triggering involuntary gasping and shortness of breath, and increased blood pressure. This can be fatal if it occurs while you are underwater. Jumping in has also been known to cause disorientation in people, causing them to swim down instead of up.

SAFETY FIRST.

Always swim with a buddy. Open water can be dangerous, so research your swim spot, be aware of currents and know the entry and exit points. Know your limits – depending on the temperature of the water, a coldwater dip may only last a few minutes. Always listen to your body.

WEAR THE RIGHT KIT.

Dress appropriately for the temperature – wear a neoprene swim hat, gloves and booties, bobble hats are also very acceptable. Swimsuit, thermal rash vest or wetsuit – whatever you feel comfortable in.

WARM UP SLOWLY.

You need to warm your core back up slowly but not by jumping under a hot shower as this can have an adverse effect. Be aware of ‘after drop’ which is where your core temperature will continue to drop for about 30 – 45 minutes after leaving the water. So, it is important to get dry and layer up quickly when getting out of the water. This is where your robe really comes into its own - it acts as a changing tent so you can get your wet layers off, it is very roomy – allowing for lots of layers and mine has a hot water bottle pouch in the front to get you toasty. Take time to let your temperature regulate, sip a hot drink and enjoy the afterglow of your swim.

There is lots of great advice available online from how to start, where to enjoy outdoor or wild swimming and how to stay safe. The Outdoor Swimming Society and Outdoor Swimmer websites are excellent starting points for all your swimming needs and questions www. outdoorswimmingsociety.com & www. outdoorswimmer.com.

RISKS INVOLVED

As with any sport there are risks involved, and cold-water swimming is no different. Submerging yourself in cold water can have an effect on your heart, potentially causing cardiac arrythmia, while prolonged immersion can lead to hypothermia. Although we love to give advice, this is not our area of expertise, so we would suggest that you take precautions and consult with a medical practitioner prior to pulling on your wetsuit.

Ref: Knechtle B, Waśkiewicz, Z, Victor Sousa, C, Hill C & Nikolaidis, P, 2020, “Cold Water Swimming—Benefits and Risks: A Narrative Review”, Published online

Round up

What the carrington team have been up to...

2022 has been a busy and progressive year at Carrington, and we thought we would give you a round-up of what’s been happening and some of the exciting team news.

CARRINGTON NUPTIALS

We are thrilled to announce the special news that our two advisers, Ali and Cecily, tied the knot on the 16th September 2022. The office was full of wedding buzz in the weeks leading up to the ceremony – mostly about dress shopping as you can imagine! We are all over the moon for these two wonderful people and the exciting times that are in store for them as they start their married life together. We wish them a lifetime of happiness. Massive congratulations Ali and Cecily!!

GROWING THE TEAM

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to Stephen Thompson and Charles McAree who joined us over the summer. Stephen is heading up our client relationship team and is heavily involved in reviewing our internal processes and policies to ensure we’re running efficiently and effectively, enabling us to concentrate on client care. Charles has joined the team as a paraplanner and works

closely with the advisers in preparing the advice and suitability reports you receive. Both bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to the team.

AWARDS

It was an honour to have been named finalists in the 2022 Money Marketing Awards. This year we were shortlisted in the Advice Firm of the Year and Best Investment Advice Firm of the Year categories. We

were also, for a seventh year running, selected as a New Model Adviser Top 100 Advice Firm.

MILESTONES

At Carrington we like to celebrate milestones and are generously rewarded at our 5- and 10-year anniversaries with paid sabbaticals. Congratulations to Rachel who is celebrating her 5 years at Carrington this December.

Rach is the cause of Carrington’s laugh lines! She keeps us all entertained with her stories and one-liners, and has the ability to get herself into the most unusual of pickles! She will be jetting off to Cuba soon, a trip that has been on her travel bucket list for years. We are sure there will be lots of Mojito inspired stories on her return.

Carolyn celebrated an impressive 15 years at Carrington this year, at which point she reminded us that she’d get less for murder. As she heads up our Client Experience, we’re really glad she hasn’t resorted to her fall-back career. It is truly remarkable how she has put up with Mike and Al for quite so long!! Here’s to another 15 years!

WELL DONE

The whole team deserves kudos for taking part and completing our charity challenge this year. However, special applause and admiration must be bestowed on Marissa and Carolyn, who despite their concern over their fitness and ability to complete the 25km endurance walk, dug deep, took part and finished it. There may have been some choice words along the way, but there were also smiles and we are very proud of you both. Talk about a fantastic display of team spirit.

CARRINGTON CULTURE

We work hard at Carrington to create an inclusive and strong culture, which we feel brings us closer together and positively influences everything we do. Earlier this year, we headed off for a much-needed team bonding session at The Grove. Having spent so much of the pandemic apart, it was good to all be together, regrouping. As always there were some good-natured team activities to bring out the, ahem, competitive nature in some! Al and Mike, not competitive at all, headed up teams who were pitted against each other in rounds of clay pigeon

shooting and archery. There were some surprisingly crack shots (Marissa & Cecily) who helped Al’s team just pip Mike’s to the post. Mike is still demanding a recount.

GOALS

We are very proud of Tommy, who having recently completed his final exam, a three-hour written paper, is now diploma qualified. Tommy has now started down the investment management route and is currently studying for the Investment Management Certificate exam. Thereafter he will look to join Mo on the Investment Team on a more permanent basis. Charles has started his journey on becoming a charted financial adviser. He sat his first exam, The Financial Planning Process, a 3-hour casestudy based paper at the start of September. He too is not hanging around and has enrolled in the next module in the course. Whilst Marissa has elected to complete a Diploma in Office Management and is currently working her way through the modules and coursework. Good luck

to everyone who is studying further, preparing for exams and completing coursework.

Mo joined the lycra commuter club over the summer. He bought himself a spiffy new bike (the second new steed in the office as Stephen has also upgraded his) and has started cycling into work when the weather is fair. Having completed another of his mammoth road trips over the summer – 2800 miles and 6 countries in 18 days - he’s going to need to do a whole lot more commuting to help bring his footprint down!

Nicola achieved one of her long-term goals this year by acquiring her own little spot in the sun. Having thought of Portugal as her second home for some time now, she made it official. What’s next? Carrington Algarve?

BUCKET LISTS

Tommy successfully crossed off a bucket list moment by completing the Brighton Marathon in a very respectable time of 3 hrs 56 min. Unfortunately, he more recently tore a ligament in his knee playing football which ruled him out of taking part in the charity walk. It’s

been a long road to recovery, but we know you’ll be there with us next time!

Alistair has also ticked a few items off his bucket list this year, one of which was a week-long sailing trip around the Mediterranean. With Captain Rob Sterry at the helm, Al joined five friends to make the return trip from Nice to Palma de Mallorca, spending two days without seeing land! Along their voyage they spotted a whale, dolphins and even reeled in (and cooked) a tuna! And that’s all we got. Apparently, what happens at sea, stays at sea.

ABOUT TOWN

Eric was recently papped at The Grove. He assured us it was an industry event, and he wasn’t working on his short game!

COMMUNITY

One of Mike’s greatest loves (after Bronte his Springer Spaniel) is cricket and it’s something he’s been involved with for many years in one way or another – playing, coaching, supporting and sponsoring. This year he is on the Steve Finn Benefit Year committee, arranging the event in support of the former English cricketer. We hope the campaign is going well.

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today"

Malcolm X

Book review

BY MIKE HODGES

I'm not a slave to fashion and definitely not a shoe dog. So, when I picked up this book, metaphorically speaking, I was looking for something to listen to whilst I sat on my turbo trainer looking out at the rain. What caught my attention was the sound of the narrator’s voice.

I know, the classic judging a book by its cover scenario. Anyhow, it got me hooked and I'm so glad it did.

Knowing nothing about Phil Knight and the rise of the Nike Empire, his story, which could be categorised as a memoir and/or a business book, took me on a journey of discovery and created a newfound respect for the iconic Swoosh.

Shoe Dog

by Phil Knight

I found his raw honesty compelling. He didn't try to make people like him (apart from perhaps his Japanese business partners), he didn't sugar coat his failings, and he didn’t take no for an answer. Right from the start his passion for athletics, and running in particular, shone through. His story shows that we don’t have to start anything with the answers – everything can be learnt along the way and that probably the biggest failings are succumbing to fear and not trying at all.

Knight started his business, initially selling Tiger sneakers from the basement of his parents’ house. Much to the dismay of his father, he went against convention and started his own company, eventually creating the multi-million-dollar empire that Nike is today. It wasn’t all plain sailing though and Nike survived numerous near bankruptcy scares, competitor sabotages and ongoing cashflow problems, which is hard to imagine from one of the biggest and most successful sporting and lifestyle brands.

My greatest takeaways from this book, were his singled minded passion which fuelled his drive to persevere and never give up, and his lack of ego - he understood what he could bring to the company and then he went about surrounding himself with the best people he knew to support him and fill the other roles. Knight created a company culture where he encouraged his team, which he refers to as Misfit Rebels, and who all shared his passion for sports and shoes to be creative, think for themselves and have ideas – big, crazy ideas.

What made him so successful? Responding to the needs of people, being innovative and pushing boundaries and his absolute single-minded deter mination for what he was trying to achieve. He was a man who threw out the rulebook and did everything his own way.

I would highly recommend reading or listening (via Audible) to Shoe Dog even if you are not a shoe aficionado or a keen sports person, as I think woven throughout the story are valuable life lessons for everyone.

“So that morning in 1962 I told myself: Let everyone else call your idea crazy . . . just keep going. Don’t stop. Don’t even think about stopping until you get there, and don’t give much thought to where “there” is. Whatever comes, just don’t stop.”

Phil Knight, Shoe Dog

a day in the life of

CLIENT RELATIONSHIP EXECUTIVE

: :

My day starts around 6:30am as I like to run into work. Being based in Clapham, I have the pleasure of running through the wonderful concrete jungle that is Vauxhall, across through Victoria and then into Hyde Park and Oxford Street. It will usually take me 40 minutes, however alongside a morning run I am also a morning pastry fanatic, so my run may be slightly delayed having to inspect what’s on offer at the local patisseries!

Once in the office, I use the first half an hour or so before my day starts to catch my breath and catch up on the latest investment stories and news that may have broken overnight.

I am very grateful that my role enables me to work across the client relationship team and also on the investment side of the business. It’s a varied position from discussing our portfolios and any potential switches that we may be preparing, through to assisting our clients on the planning and advice side. It gives me a unique understanding of all parts of the business, which I love.

On the investment side, I enjoy performing the ongoing research into the funds we invest in. My aim is to source new ideas and to find ways we can continue to generate a consistent return for our clients. Part of that research includes meeting with fund managers and other analysts. We may discuss the fund over a presentation, or my favourite, over lunch! This has

Bucket List

led to me being nicknamed ‘Mr. Free Lunch’ in the office. A crown I’m only narrowly keeping off Mo’s head…

The importance of meeting directly with the managers is that we are able to dive deep into the detail of the fund. It’s fascinating to hear these professionals talk about their funds; the level of detail they go into has and always will amaze me and reinforces why we continue to work with them and allow them to manage your money.

My days are varied. I have found, that being a morning person, my analytical work is best done at the start of the day. If I’m not working on the investment side, then I will spend the morning typically administering client accounts on our platforms and writing suitability reports for new business that we have been doing.

:

Being very active (and a big foodie), one of my favourite parts of the day is lunch. I am quite keen on meal prepping, so I will usually make my lunch the night before and then bring it in to eat with the team. I don’t keep to a strict regime; however, I do enjoy a bit of variety.

I will also use this time to take a bit of a breather and catch up on Match of the Day or how England are doing at Lords. It helps me return to my desk refreshed.

Top 5 Facts

1. I lived in Shenzhen, China for six months as part of an exchange programme at university.

2. I have a rare mutation in my eye called Sectoral-Heterochromia, where one part of my iris is a different colour to the rest. It only occurs in one in every 1 million people.

3. At school, I walked 50 miles in 16 hours for charity, from Seaford, East Sussex to Godalming, Surrey.

4. I once gave a school tour to Ashley Cole and John Terry.

5. Used to play water polo competitively and got to England Schools Water Polo finals.

My afternoon usually begins by checking up on the US markets and where some of our key companies have started their day; I may also listen to a webinar on one or more of the sectors/funds that we are investigating.

I will do most of my client engagement in the afternoons. You may have had the pleasure of receiving one (or several) of my emails in the past. An aspect of the role that I most enjoy at Carrington is that I can directly engage with you, our clients and help with any queries or questions you may have.

One area that I have focused on more recently is the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) universe. Shhh, don’t tell anyone but you could say I’m a bit of an expert in this field now! Here I have been involved in the research of the investments, managing the client applications and ongoing holdings, and written suitability reports, which is a requirement for each investment. Not a small task, however, I have enjoyed the responsibility. It has also given me the opportunity to get to know and interact with our VCT clients more directly, whether that be assisting with an application form or explaining the inner workings of VCTs to them.

Depending on what day of the week it is and what time of year, my day past 17:30 really does vary. My work may continue into the evening; however, Carrington make it well known that we are not expected to work late; a part of the culture that really does benefit us all and ensures we have a positive work life balance.

On Monday’s I tend to play 5-aside football in Battersea, which usually ends in defeat. ‘It’s not about winning but having fun’ is what my teammates say. Being quite competitive I don’t always agree with their sentiment. I am also getting more into my golf, and you may find me at the driving range perfecting my impressive, yet slightly troubling ‘left to right’ drive. Apparently, it’s all in the shoulders, so my dad used to tell me…

As I’ve just qualified as a DipPFS, a Diploma qualified Financial Planner; and now that I’m working towards my Investment Management Certificate (IMC), I spend a lot of my evenings revising. Whilst revising after a day of work is challenging, it is further helping to expand my technical investment knowledge and analytical skills and will benefit me as my career develops.

On my evenings off, you may find me frequenting some of the local pubs in Clapham and Battersea: I’m a sucker for a pub quiz and a strong bitter!

Bedtime ranges anywhere from 21:30-23:00, depending on whether it’s a champion’s league night, Monday Night Football, or a spot of TV. Before bed I always get ready for the next day and plan for the varying tasks and challenges that may lie ahead.

Scan here for Tommy’s business card

chAriTY

As we wrap up our fundraising drive for the year we wanted to reflect on our chosen charity and the events that saw us raising the most money for one of our charities yet. We are so grateful for your continued support and compassion, thank you. As you may know, this year we raised money for Magic Breakfast, a charity that ensures disadvantaged children receive the best possible start to their school day – a full tummy and additional learning support. The work they do is phenomenal and truly changes the course of the children’s lives. So, it was our pleasure to put them in the spotlight, raise awareness for the work they do and help them potentially reach more children in need through our endeavours.

We are unashamedly an office of food lovers, so our first fundraising event for this year – the Great Big Breakfast was just up our street. Marissa and Nicola toiled away to produce a table that groaned with delicious and mostly healthy breakfast options for the team in return for a suitable donation. This was a great way to get the day started, and our fundraising underway.

Our Fund Manager coffee morning followed at the end of April. Having not yet had the opportunity to put our terrace to good use, it was wonderful to transform it into an alfresco café and welcome 60+ fund managers and sales teams to join us for an artisan coffee, a chat and a light bite. We were lucky with the weather; the donations boosted our initial fundraising efforts and we even

managed to keep things light and steer the conversation away from markets and inflation…for a little while!

And then more recently, the team set out to complete the South Coast Ultra Challenge. A 25km walk from Polegate to Alfriston via Eastbourne. We selected this scenically beautiful walk so that as many of the team as possible could take part. Unfortunately, Rachel and Tommy both had to pull out at the last minute due to injury – so we’ve signed them up to do the next one.

If we’re being honest, when we selected the route, we thought that we were taking the easy way out by only doing 25km (the full challenge was 100km). However, it became apparent very early on that it was not a walk to take lightly (the clue really should have been

in the use of “Ultra Challenge” in the name) and there were both physical and mental barriers that needed to be overcome during the day. Although breathtakingly beautiful, the undulating walk along the cliffs aged some already dodgy knees and highlighted other issues and niggles that we didn’t know we had! Carolyn’s group came head-to-head with a rather large and stubborn cow that forced them into a detour, and one or two team members may have started talking to the animals (friendly tree-climbing goats, ponies, and jumping fish) in their slightly delirious states. I think it’s safe to say that we were all thrilled to finish and some even made a run for the finish line… how they could get their legs to move that fast we’re still not sure!

What was amazing and boosted us in the run up to the event, and during the walk, was the ping notification from our JustGiving page and seeing everyone’s messages of encouragement and the fantastic support we were getting. To date we have raised just over £8,400, the equivalent of 30,057 Magic Breakfasts. We cannot thank everyone enough for their donations and the difference they will make to school children across the UK.

Thank You

As you know we try and do something each year to support causes close to our hearts and so we’re sure next year will be no different. However, after the recent challenge, it has been suggested that we do a bake sale! Needless to say, you will be kept in the loop as to our plans and you are always welcome to join us in whatever challenge we take on – so watch this space!

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“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something –your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

Steve Jobs