Business Direction 43

TWO YEARS ON FROM THE EU REFERENDUM Business Direction

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Issue 43 May/June 2018

May/June 2018

ON TWO YEARS FROM THE EU UM ND RE REFE 4-5 PAGE

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Business Dire

Issue 43 May/June 2018

BUSINESS DIRECTION Business Direction, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s full colour bi-monthly publication. Designed and produced by business people for business people. Distributed to 4,000 businesses.

EDITOR Lucy Allen 01905 673 639 lucya@hwchamber.co.uk

EDITORIAL & SUBSCRIPTIONS businessdirection@hwchamber.co.uk 01905 673 639 www.hwchamber.co.uk/business-direction

PRODUCTION & DESIGN Distinctive Publishing, 3rd Floor, Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square, Newcastle, NE1 6UF www.distinctivepublishing.co.uk

ADVERTISING John Neilson Commercial Director, Distinctive Group 0191 5805990 | 07813 874970 john.neilson@distinctivegroup.co.uk

FEATURE EDITORS Ellen Rossiter ellen.rossiter@distinctivepublishing.co.uk

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher accepts no responsibility for omissions or errors within this publication.

Editorial submissions are included at the discretion of the editor. The opinions expressed in articles and letters within this publication are not necessarily those of the Chamber. All offers, promotions and competitions appearing in Business Direction are the sole responsibility of the advertiser/ promoting party and Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce does not accept any responsibility for any representations made within them.

FIRSTWORD

MAY-JUNE 2018: THE YEAR OF BREXIT DECISIONS The road to Brexit since the referendum on Thursday 23 June 2016 has often been an uncertain one. Many businesses have found themselves facing significant challenges, with tentative trading conditions and discouraging exchange rates, but some firms have benefitted from new opportunities and further business growth.

In the two years since the UK majority chose to leave the European Union (51.9% of voters), the Chamber’s Policy department has grown from strength-to-strength, reinforcing relationships with local MPs and working with Members to get their opinions heard at Westminster.

Current talks in government are moving towards a focus on future trade relations and a plan for the two-year transition period. Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, commented on recent discussions and stated that businesses are welcoming the European Council’s endorsement of the transition period and the progression of talks for a future EU-UK trading relationship. Adam has reaffirmed that businesses can continue to trade with a degree of confidence until 2020. However with one year to go until the UK’s formal exit from the EU, the negotiators must now redouble their efforts to find pragmatic and practical solutions to the many real questions businesses face.

H&W Chamber of Commerce has been working with some of the partnerships, like Fastershire, to help put steps in place to resolve concerns that the local business community has voiced. Back in March, the Chamber welcomed firms to the Herefordshire Connectivity Forum to provide an update on how the Chamber is working with businesses to address issues with broadband and “not spots” – a campaign that the BCC has been championing.

The forum followed on from the event held in December last year to discuss digital infrastructure in Worcestershire, where we were joined by Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) representatives.

Connectivity is just one key focus of the Chamber’s Business Manifesto for 2018, which outlines the main policy objectives and campaigns for businesses in the two counties. This year’s manifesto puts a spotlight on: Brexit, Skills, Infrastructure, Connectivity, Reducing the Cost of Doing Business and Cyber Crime. These priorities have been selected following feedback from over 600 businesses, including results from our Quarterly Economic Survey, Area Council and regular engagements with Chamber Members every day.

I look forward to the further developments as we make our way towards a post-Brexit UK, and welcome the many partnerships and relationships that we will form on our way there!

Best regards, Sharon sharons@hwchamber.co.uk

First Word Policy

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Chamber News

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Business News

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Skills

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Business News

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Business News

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Business News

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Chamber Training

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Chamber Events

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Big Interview

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Cover Feature

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International Trade

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Visit Worcester

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Visit Hereford

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Worcestershire Business Central 48 Movers and Shakers

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Members Services

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Business News

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New Members

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Charity News Awards Last Word

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Our Patrons are:

May/June 2018

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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POLICYNEWS

manifesto special

SKILLS Skills continue to remain a challenge for the local business community.

In Q1 2018, 51% of firms struggled to find suitable staff. Half couldn’t find the right manual or technical skills, over a third for professional or managerial skills and a quarter of firms couldn’t find semi or unskilled labour.

WHIRLWIND FOR THE POLICY DEPARTMENT - CHAMBER BUSINESS MANIFESTO 2018 It’s safe to say that 2018 has been a whirlwind for the Policy Department here at Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce since we successfully launched our Chamber Manifesto at Worcester Bosch back in January. We’re here to represent the local business community’s views, barriers to growth and highlight why the two counties is a fantastic place to do business.

It’s our job to meet with local politicians, government departments and key stakeholders relating to a variety of issues, sectors and geographies, to ensure that business needs laid out in our manifesto are heard loud and clear. However, the influencing role isn’t just for us, it’s for businesses too – which is why we think getting firms in front of policy makers is a fantastic tool for change.

We recently discussed this at a roundtable with Rachel Maclean MP and Redditch businesses, as all firms round the tables were struggling to fill vacancies. One of the solutions was looking at the regeneration of Redditch, as it was agreed that tired 70s builds did not draw in the talent they’re after and that a much needed upgrade could make the area a much more attractive place to start or pursue a career.

We’ve taken a delegation of Herefordshire firms to Westminster to discuss transport infrastructure with Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, brought Redditch businesses together with Rachel Maclean MP to discuss regeneration and skills, hosted a connectivity forum for Herefordshire firms to raise their broadband woes and lastly, hosting a dinner for over 40 Midlands Chamber Patron’s with the new Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Minister.

Here at the Chamber we’re facilitating greater collaboration between the worlds of business and education on the ground. But at the policy making level, we’re lobbying for an apprenticeship system that encourages increased participation in quality training for SMEs and make work experience mandatory for year 10s.

However, this is just a flavour of what we’ve been up to so far this year and one of our main challenges as a small team is to let everyone know what we’re up to. I’m delighted to introduce this special double spread on policy activity and I look forward to championing local businesses view over the course of 2018.

Policy change is no quick solution, however members can utilise the Chamber to improve their skills activity whether its by offering work experience or getting involved in mock interviews.

REDUCING THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS Increasing costs hampers businesses abilities remain competitive. With price pressures, uncertain markets and the lack of direction with Brexit, it’s not surprising that competition is the biggest concern for local firms in Q1 2018, followed by inflation and exchange rates.

It is essential that business costs – local and national, along with business rates – remain incentivising, fair and accountable. Now more than ever we need business to invest in training, premises and productivity, not cut back.

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This was a key theme of a Patron Member Dinner we hosted for seven Chambers of Commerce across the Midlands, where Andrew Griffiths MP, a recent recruit to BEIS as the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility spoke to over

40 patrons. One of our members asked a question about the implementation of the Apprenticeship Levy, which we’re currently campaigning on to get more flexibility to use funding for other high-quality workplace and vocational training.

May/June 2018

POLICYNEWS

manifesto special

CONNECTIVITY & CYBER CRIME its ‘No More Not Spots’ campaign, with the aim of ending not spots for voice coverage where UK phone users live, work, travel and play. We urge firms to get involved and report gaps in coverage to the BCC on www.britishchambers.org.uk.

Here in the two counties we are working to ensure businesses can access a world class digital infrastructure and build stronger relationships between the community and broadband delivery partners. On Wednesday 14 March we hosted a Herefordshire Connectivity Forum with Fastershire, attended by over 40 local businesses who were able to raise concerns and work proactively towards solutions.

We know connectivity is a huge concern for businesses of all shapes and sizes across the two counties and hampers business growth. Despite promising coverage stats being put out, the reality is very different for firms. As well as being a local priority, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has recently launched

In addition to the joys (or woes) of connectivity, the darker element of being a more connected county is the increasing risk of cyber crime. A recent cyber crime report found extremely low numbers of firms in the two counties reporting attacks, which is why we are encouraging businesses to report all instances of fraud and cyber crime to action fraud. We’re not looking to scare firms, but instead for them to see cyber security as an opportunity for growth by taking up the Cyber Essentials Accreditation.

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE It’s vital that for our local economy to build sustainable success, firms must be able to move their people, products and services around the region, and beyond, with ease. Locally we need an infrastructure network that meets the need of businesses, with key improvements in road and rail, in order to support a growing business community and exciting developments such as the NMiTE University in Hereford.

Recently, we hosted a lunchtime event in the House of Commons to discuss Herefordshire priorities at the heart of policy making. Sponsored by Keepmoat Homes and Bill Wiggin MP, over 20 business leaders came together with representatives from Midlands Connect, the Marches LEP and Herefordshire County Council to discuss how infrastructure is impacting local business and how we can turn transport priorities into reality.

Across the two counties, we’ve found strong support for a number of A road improvements, in order to improve efficiency and safety, as well as

improvements for junctions that were not deigned for the amount of traffic now on our roads. Headline projects were also seen as crucial, such as the Hereford Bypass and Carrington Bridge developments which we continue to support. We’re currently lobbying for better train services between Hereford and Birmingham and a journey of under two hours between Worcester and London Paddington.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

BREXIT After many months of waiting, businesses will welcome the European Council’s endorsement of the transition period and progression of trade talks, one of our and the BCC’s key campaigns.

However, with one year to go until our formal exit from the EU, it’s vital that negotiators triple their efforts to find practical solutions to real-world questions firms face. Whether it’s VAT, customs or immigration – businesses need answers and we will continue to put pressure on government to deliver those answers.

Brexit is impacting businesses across all sectors in different ways. Concerns over migration are particularly felt by our vibrant agricultural and food & drink community, an area we’re heavily involved in by hosting the Migration Advisory Committee in Evesham to meet with key representatives from the sector. Some of our biggest importers and exporters in the Manufacturing sector are naturally concerned about future trade deals, as well as around customs and non-tariff barriers. Therefore we’re engaging those interested in BCC activity and our Brexit working group to help shape future customs procedures and policies.

The process of leaving the EU is a vast issue, touching upon so many aspects of business and private life. While Brexit will always be a focus for us over the coming years, the Chamber network believe that it is fixing the fundamentals which will ensure success post-Brexit.

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CHAMBERNEWS

BRAND NEW CONFERENCES DUE TO DEMAND Earlier this year, the Chamber was delighted to announce the return of the Be Cyber Smart Conference on Tuesday 27 March.

Held at drp Group’s offices in Hartlebury, the conference was formed in association with Chamber Patrons EBC Group and mfg Solicitors, and Members drp Group, borwell Ltd, ISO Quality Services Ltd, Sutcliffe & Co and West Mercia Police.

The FREE conference provided delegates with practical support on IT security and proactive defence. With the GDPR enforcement date fast approaching at the

end of this month, Friday 25 May, the Be Cyber Smart Conference was designed to provide attendees with tips to implement into their business straight away.

The Chamber was also pleased to partner with Santander and mfg Solicitors to deliver the first Food and Drink Conference on Tuesday 20 March at Stanbrook Abbey. The exciting new event was aimed at food and drink producers, highlighting general industry issues including Brexit, investment and innovation, as well as finding out what the Food and Drink Federation is currently lobbying to government about.

To find out more about upcoming conferences, please visit our website at www.hwchamber.co.uk.

NEW EVENTS REVEALED FOR MEMBERS

ARTISTS CHOSEN FOR WORCESTER STANDS TALL

From April this year, eagle-eyed Members may have noticed a change in their membership with Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

Last year, the Chamber was thrilled to be revealed as a sponsor for Worcester Stands Tall, a Wild in Art event brought to the city by St Richard’s Hospice.

This time, the Chamber is pleased to announce that it has selected an artist to design the giraffe and can’t wait to share the news.

Following on from feedback from our Members, our popular networking events are now FREE as part of your Chamber membership, whilst the new experiential events will take making contacts to the next level as part of “Chamber Connects”.

Members will now be able to attend networking breakfasts, lunches and evenings with other business professionals in the two counties for no additional cost.

These events will still provide an array of food and drinks, as well as the opportunity to socialise with other attendees.

Chamber Connects offers Members the chance to get involved with and try many new activities, from horse-racing through to cider tasting, all whilst making valuable connections with business leaders in the two counties. To view our Events Calendar and to book your next paid for event, please visit www.hwchamber.co.uk/events-calendar

OUT-STAND-ING SUCCESS AT BUSINESS EXPO H&W Chamber of Commerce was thrilled to welcome so many local businesses to the Spring Business Expo, sponsored by Hewett Recruitment.

The bi-annual event welcomed 800 delegates on the day, who were able to network with the 120 exhibitors and attend the free seminars with leading business influencers. The Chamber received fantastic feedback from visitors who were impressed with Callum Gill, Head of Insight & Innovation at drp, and his speech on the future of communication in a world of smart phones.

The Chamber was also pleased to welcome Mark Wright, winner of BBC One’s The Apprentice who impressed seminar attendees with his journey from applying for the hit TV show through to owning his successful business “The Climb Online”.

For 10 weeks this summer, the city will spring to life as Worcester Stands Tall brings a trail of beautifully decorated giraffe sculptures to its streets, before they are auctioned to raise money for St Richard’s Hospice. The interactive project will bring a host of benefits to the county, from boosting the tourist economy to promoting local businesses - all while raising funds for charity.

Sharon Smith, CEO of H&W Chamber of Commerce said: “We can’t wait to share the chosen artist’s design with the local community later this year – and reveal what all the buzz has been about!”

Keep an eye out on Twitter at @hw_chamber for the big announcement!

Coverage of the speeches from the day and all photographs are available to view on the Chamber’s Facebook page at Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber looks forward to welcoming everyone to the Autumn Expo in October, more information can be found at www.hwchamber.co.uk/events/ business-expo.

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May/June 2018

Your local, award winning legal experts

TRIBUNAL CLAIMS ON THE RISE… HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS It comes as no surprise that since the Supreme Court’s decision to abolish Tribunal fees last July Employment Tribunals have seen an increase in the number of claims being pursued.

Statistics published by ACAS earlier this year revealed that prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the service received around 1,700 notifications per week. That figure increased to around 2,200 after the fee regime was removed. ACAS also reported that since 28 August 2017, the number of claims lodged with a Tribunal increased by a whopping 57% compared to the same period in 2016.

These figures serve as a reminder to all businesses that failing to follow due process might land them in hot water.

There are a number of practical steps that businesses can take to mitigate the risk of a claim.

USE YOUR POLICIES Legislation may feel as though it is stacked against employers but what is clear is that there is an expectation that employers will act reasonably in their decision making.

Reviewing existing employment documents, particularly capability and disciplinary procedures, to ensure they are up to date and fit for purpose is a good place to start. Good employment contracts and policies don’t gather dust; they are a great way to set transparent rules and expected standards of behaviour.

Employers who follow their own fair and reasonable rules will be a step ahead when

it comes to defending their own decision making.

staff and even the risk of a constructive dismissal complaint.

IDENTIFY RISK – FOCUS ON EARLY INTERVENTION

SEEK ADVICE

The ability to spot an employee complaint or workplace issue will help HR professionals and business owners to nip a problem in the bud and mitigate the risk of it escalating into a much bigger issue.

A grievance is often the first sign of disquiet that could lead to a claim. Failing to handle it carefully could result in your business losing a valued member of

Rarely does ignoring a problem result in a desirable outcome. Getting timely advice, particularly when a claim looks inevitable, can be the difference between a commercial outcome and a costly employment claim.

Contact Lisa Kemp, Associate Solicitor, Employment Team on 01905 677047 or e-mail lkemp@thursfields.co.uk

Worcester 01905 730450 | Kidderminster 01562 820575 Stourport 01299 827517 | Halesowen | Sedgley | Solihull | Birmingham

www.thursfields.co.uk

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

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May/June 2018

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE

THE ONE-STOP-SHOP VS THE SPECIALTY RETAILER When you’re looking at apps for your business, there is an argument for both.

With a specialty app, you get a depth of functionality and that industry (or process) expertise. Which is great. It’s often hard to get a single product that has the depth of functionality available from ‘best of breed’ applications that might be available.

Going with a single app with integrated functionality, of course, gives you less specialisation, but you’ve only got to train people on one piece of software and there is less confusion over “where” any particular bit of information is stored.

In my experience (speaking as someone who has been selling integrated software solutions for longer than I care to admit), SME’s in particular often struggle to be able to find the time to understand, integrate and afford many separate applications.

In addition to the issue of training users on multiple applications, there is the added pressure on time and resources, upkeep of multiple systems, and the internal knowledge or software/hardware required to plumb these solutions together.

So even though the theory of a singular, specialised solution with multiple applications sounds appealing, it is often not translated into the reality within the business.

Saying all that, though, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that going for a “one-stop-shop” application is settling for something as a way to save money.

A proper single, integrated solution, especially in this day and age, is often the preferred solution for the business owner.

Yes you might not get that specialisation, but other benefits can far outweigh that individual draw back.

STREAMLINED A single application is easier to manage, that’s the obvious one. You’ve got joined up writing and terminology when you move from one part of your business to another. It keeps the context of data and information, after all, it’s all there in the same place.

This allows you to make better use of the knowledge you gain.

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THE WHOLE CUSTOMER JOURNEY Being able to see all of the interactions you have with your customer, from the first enquiry through the sales cycle and acquisition phase, in one place is great for the team on the ground. But it is also a great way for the Management to get deep insights into the ongoing relationship…and pinpoint trouble spots so you can zero in and fix them.

INTEGRATION OPTIONS These days it’s hard to find a system that doesn’t integrate with other applications and that’s especially true for the bigger software out there. It’s good to integrate sometimes, so yes you need a system that has the capability to reach out into other systems when needed. Industry specific applications may be mandatory but also complex, so consolidating this information into a central touchpoint system makes the data available to a wider audience.

GDPR EASIER TO MANAGE It would seem you can’t have an article nowadays without mentioning GDPR. But I’m not just mentioning it for the buzz word. Having a single, auditable system makes the process of managing the data and compliance so much easier. You know

where everything is and you can find (and correct) the data that needs the attention.

USING THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB IS REALLY IMPORTANT Regardless of whether you want specialist software for your business or a single integrated solution, the most important thing is that you get the right tool for the job.

The first steps when you start your search is to map out what you ‘really’ need. Be clear about the ‘would likes’ as well, though. That will help you find the system(s) that will grow with your business, expanding into new departments and processes without financial or user stresses.

To talk to a member of OpenCRM team about how CRM software can benefit your brand, just call 01748 473000 or visit the website: www.opencrm.co.uk

Graham Anderson, is the CEO and founder of OpenCRM, one of the UK’s leading customer relationship management systems.

May/June 2018

BUSINESSNEWS

BREXIT BREATHING SPACE AT LAST? At the time of writing, both the EU and the UK are awaiting the outcome of intricate negotiations in respect of the deal governing our exit from the EU. It seems likely that the UK will accept the EU’s transition timescale, which means that both sides will have until December 2020 to negotiate permanent terms for their new post-Brexit relations.

The transitional arrangements are important as they will include provisions relating to the role which the European Court of Justice will have within the UK, and whether the UK can negotiate future

WARRIORS LOOKING STRONG AHEAD OF 2018/19 CAMPAIGN Warriors will head into the 2018/19 campaign in a good place as they prepare to welcome an array of new faces to the Club both on and off the pitch.

Director of Rugby, Alan Solomons, has given his coaching set-up a fresh look as Rory Duncan will come in as Head Coach from South Africa side Cheetahs, while former Ulster man Neil Doak will take up the role of Attack & Backs Coach.

Solomons has also managed to attract some top talent on the pitch with international trio Francois Venter, Ashley Beck and Cornell du Preez all moving to Sixways this summer.

With a number of key players signing new deals to extend their stay at Sixways, next season could well be a bright one for Warriors.

To find out more information about season tickets and hospitality, please visit www.warriors.co.uk.

trade deals with non-EU countries during the transitional period.

Currently, everything points towards existing trade rules applying during the transitional period.

It seems breathing space has been bought for negotiations on the long-term deal, but there is still much for both sides to work on as 2020 looms.

For further advice on Brexit-related matters, members can email Stephen Wyer at mfg Solicitors through stephen.wyer@ mfgsolicitors.com www.mfgsolicitors.com

YAMAZAKI MAZAK PRESENTED WITH AWARD BY PRINCE OF WALES Yamazaki Mazak Ltd has received the accolade of being the Industrial Cadet Employer of the Year from by HRH the Prince of Wales at the Industrial Cadet Awards.

Under the guidance of the Learning and Development team, Chris Morris and Dave Barnett, the company has considerably expanded its activity in engaging with local young people for workplace experience.

Mazak has constantly looked to improve its Industrial Cadet activity, exploring all-female cohorts and developing Industrial Cadet experiences for young people with disabilities or learning challenges, demonstrating that STEM related careers are fully inclusive.

Julie Feest, CEO of EDT, the charity responsible for co-ordinating Industrial Cadets said: “Mazak exemplifies an organisation that has taken Industrial Cadets to its heart, instilling a mission to engage with the next generation within employees at all levels of the business and bringing its culture of continuous improvement to bear on its Industrial Cadet activities as much as it does on its engineering activity.”

NEW LEAF PLANTS UNVEIL NEW PRODUCTION FACILITY Worcestershire-based New Leaf Plants were delighted to invite wholesale customers to enjoy a guided tour of the firm’s new nursery site on Tuesday 6 March.

Based near Sedgeberrow, visitors were able to view the modern propagation unit which is being used to produce top quality clematis and climbing plants for New Leaf Plants’ retail customers.

Speaking of the visit, Alice Trevor, Plant Area Manager at Batsford Garden Centre, said: “I always find it inspiring to visit nurseries and talk to the growers.

The tour of the nursery was very informative and it was interesting to see the continuing developments at the site and the different stages of production of the plants.”

Nicole and David Higginson, Directors of New Leaf Plants, are managing the nursery move from Evesham, and are very proud of the improvements being made to ensure that New Leaf Plants is fit for the future. www.newleafplants.co.uk

www.mazakeu.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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FOCUSONRECRUITMENT

THE FUTURE OF JOBS COMMISSION Towards the end of 2017, the Future of Jobs Commission – of which Louise Hewett was a member – produced its final report, including recommendations on how to make the UK jobs market the “best in the world”. The commission looked at what the UK jobs market of the future looks like for individuals, for businesses and for policy makers. How we react and adapt as businesses and employers is shaped by not only the legislative environment as laid out by the policy, but is also increasingly influenced by the demands and expectations of individuals.

From an employer perspective, a future UK jobs market should be one where – skills & staffing needs are met, boosting growth and productivity; we see significant improvement in recruitment procedures and workforce planning; inclusion is the norm and reflected across senior positions as well as in pay; employers are building from within, nurturing enhanced and diverse leaders; where more employers are working collaboratively with local schools and colleges. The changes in demographics and technology, combined with talent shortages and evolving employee expectations will disrupt – indeed already are disrupting – the UK jobs market. Employers need to prepare for these changes and be proactive in helping shape a successful post-EU jobs market.

In the local area there is already some great work going on to build relationships between businesses and schools and drive the local skills agenda. In both

Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the Enterprise Advisor network is in place – where business people are placed in local schools and colleges to support the development and delivery of their careers offering. There are some great examples of individual businesses taking the “bull by the horns” when it comes to engaging with schools, whilst March also saw the Worcestershire Skills Show, where over 2000 young people from schools and colleges across the county had the opportunity to meet with businesses across a range of sectors.

Perhaps the areas where we could all mark ourselves as “could do better” surround our approach to recruitment and inclusion.

The changes in demographics and technology, combined with talent shortages and evolving employee expectations will disrupt – indeed already are disrupting – the UK jobs market. Employers need to prepare for these changes and be proactive in helping shape a successful post-EU jobs market.

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When we look at our recruitment processes, there are some really simple things that can be done to ensure best practice. Hewett often support our clients in getting the basics right first – clear job descriptions; understanding how their employer brand is perceived by candidates and ensuring a positive candidate experience; training for line managers on how they interview and assess potential employees. We also encourage our clients to have a proactive approach to workforce planning – to understand what the current profile of their workforce is and what succession plans are in place.

In such a competitive market for talent, it is always useful to know how your pay levels compare with the market. At the end of 2017 the Chamber & Hewett Recruitment published a Salary & Skills Survey for the two counties which also included data around benefits packages

and is a useful tool to see where you stand in your market.

Once these building blocks are in place you can then really start to get creative with how you recruit. We often look to our employees for flexibility…but what if we recruited flexibly in the first place? Could a role be split in to a job share? Could it be part-time rather than full-time? Does the employee need to be office based? By changing how we recruit in the first place, we open up ourselves to an entirely new pool of talent that could be just what our business needs.

Closely linked to this shake-up of our hiring procedures is how a future jobs market is where inclusion is the norm. Looking ahead, this may require not only a revamp of hiring procedures and job description but potentially wholesale infrastructure changes. In the meantime, examples of recruitment criteria and processes changing can be found with initiatives such as “name-blind” recruitment or the removal of academic qualifications as a factor in the selection process to boost social mobility.

Finally, when we talk about inclusion we also need to consider the changing demographics of the UK as a whole.

There is a growing amount of untapped potential within the 50+ age bracket and opportunities for us as employers to upskill existing staff members as well as broadening our horizons when recruiting.

If you would like a copy of the Future of Jobs report, Salary & Skills Survey or a discussion about some of the recruitment and employment challenges you are facing, then please do get in touch at ben@hewett-recruitment.co.uk.

May/June 2018

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That's why it's crucial for At Minster, we pride ourselves on being pro-active when it comes to technical support. That's why we offer a range you to have we a dedicated IT teamononbeing handpro-active to fix yourwhen systemscomes the moment anything goesThat's wrong.why we offer a range AtSentinel Minster, pridethat ourselves to technical support. of products allow us to monitor your systemsit in real-time and fix issues before you're even aware of of products that allow tobeing monitor systems real-time and fix issues before you're even aware of AtSentinel Minster, wehard pride ourselves on pro-active when it in comes to technical support.

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Take hardfailure drives as an example, Sentinel Remote Server Monitoring on your contract, we are able of to of Sentinel products that and allow us toyou monitor systems in real-time and fix issues before you're even aware spot a hard drive order a with new your one before you have even noticed. spotfault. a hard drive order you a with new Sentinel one before you have even noticed. on your contract, we are able to the Take hardfailure drivesand as an example, Remote Server Monitoring Sometimes it’s not just things that break that affect productivity. Minster also offer services such as Sentinel Webspot a hard it’s drive failure and order you a that newaffect one before you have even also noticed.

Sometimes things that employees break productivity. offer services suchimportantly, as Sentinel to WebProtect to limitnot thejust websites that can access to both Minster prevent distraction, and, more Protect to limit thejust websites access to both prevent distraction, and, us more importantly, to Sometimes it’s not things that employees break that affect productivity.

Minster also offerallows services such as place Sentinel Webprotect against websites that that pose a threat tocan your systems.

Sentinel Mail-Protect to also protective protect against websites thatallowing poseemployees a threat tocan your systems.

Sentinel Mail-Protect allows us to also protective Protect to limit the websites that access to both prevent distraction, and, more importantly, to spam filters on your emails, us to monitor incoming emails and remove any fraudulent onesplace before they put spam filters onatyour us to monitor emails and remove any fraudulent onesplace before they put protect against websites thatallowing pose a threat to your incoming systems. Sentinel Mail-Protect allows us to also protective your network risk.emails, your network atyour risk.emails, allowing us to monitor incoming emails and remove any fraudulent ones before they put spamsupport filters on Our contracts come in a number of different shapes and sizes - tailor made to your specific business your network at risk.

Our support contracts cometelephone, in a number of remote differentand shapes andsupport sizes - to tailor made specific running business requirements.

Minster offer email, onsite keep yourtoITyour equipment requirements.

Minster offer email, to keep your equipment running smoothly withcontracts no faults.

Youtelephone, decide what you'd like usand to onsite support, from -your PC'S andtoIT servers to your Microsoft Our support come in a number of remote different shapes andsupport sizes tailor made your specific business smoothly withMinster no Youittelephone, decide you'd like usand toof support, from PC'Syour and IT servers to your Microsoft Office package, andfaults. modify as youwhat go.email, We like to think ourselves as your atoremote addition to your team. requirements. offer remote onsite support keep equipment running Office package, andfaults. modify itdecide as youwhat go. We like like to think ofsupport, ourselves as a remote addition to your team. smoothly with no us toand PC'Scosts and servers to your Microsoft Your IT support contractYou is invaluable to you'd your business can cutfrom timeyour wasting, and headaches.

Don't put Office package, and modify it as you go.

We like to think of ourselves as a remote addition to your team.

Your IT support is invaluable to your business andpain-free can cut IT. time wasting, costs and headaches. Don't put your business at contract risk, protect it and provide yourself with your business at contract risk, protect it and provide yourself with Your IT support is invaluable to your business andpain-free can contracts cut IT. time wasting, costsSentinel and headaches.

Don't put For more information on our support and products your business at risk, protect it and provide yourself with pain-free IT. For more information on our support contracts

and Sentinel products please email us at sales@minstermicro.co.uk or call 01562 68211. please us at sales@minstermicro.co.uk call 01562 68211.

For moreemail information on our support contracts or and Sentinel products please email us at sales@minstermicro.co.uk or call 01562 68211.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BUSINESSSUPPORT

FUNDING HELPS BROMSGROVE TAX CONSULTANTS DOUBLE IN SIZE Bromsgrove based tax consultancy, Woodshires Business Solutions, has seen its business double in size after funding from the Worcestershire Business Loan Fund allowed them achieve sales of over £500,000.

and Stuart and seeing their business plan I could see that Woodshires would be a success. We believe in local businesses and are committed to supporting their growth with a relationship-based approach to lending. For us, no viable business should go unsupported.”

Funding helped the company – who offers consultancy support on up to twelve specialist tax allowances, reliefs and credits – improve cashflow, update its website and employ two staff members to support the directors with business development and office administration.

The Worcestershire Business Loan Fund, which is run by regional lender BCRS Business Loans and Worcestershire County Council, supports the growth of viable Worcestershire based businesses that are struggling to access finance from traditional lenders, with loans from £10,000 to £150,000.

Paul Wood, Director, said: “We specialise in twelve areas of business, property and personal tax solutions; including R&D tax allowances, stamp duty land tax,

(L-R) Stuart Wood, Woodshires Business Solutions; Angie Preece, BCRS Business Loans; Paul Wood, Woodshires Business Solutions; Lorna Jeynes, Worcestershire County Council

relevant life insurance and much more.

Securing this funding really enabled us to grow. Angie, who helped us through the application process, was excellent and incredibly supportive.”

Angie Preece, Business Development Manager for Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire at BCRS Business Loans, said: “After meeting Paul

When you’re thinking of selling your business, we’re your local business broker with a large national presence Selling your business is one of the most important decisions you will make in your lifetime. So it’s vital to plan your exit as soon as you can and, when the time comes to sell, you need to employ the help of experienced business brokers.

Business Partnership has a national network of over 20 regional offices, with your local Regional Partner providing a personal, bespoke service, working with you and your advisors to ensure your business valuation is realistic and achievable.

Not only that, we will handle all aspects of your sale, from valuation through marketing to sale completion, dealing with all enquiries and attending key meetings, as appropriate.

Business Partnership is a well-respected and long-established business transfer agency and is a member of The Hereford & Worcester Chamber of Commerce.

For a no obligation, confidential meeting, please call John Hatt on 01684 591 372, 07768 255 797 or email hatt@business-partnership.com

Ken Pollock, Cabinet member at Worcestershire County Council, who co-financed the loan with BCRS said; “It is always fantastic to see people following their growth ambitions. This is at the heart of what we do, with the Council being committed to being ‘Open for Business’ and seeking to enhance the prosperity of the County. Well done to the team for all their work supporting Woodshires and to Stuart and Paul – good luck with the next phase of your business growth.”

To discover more about BCRS Business Loans, please visit bcrs.org.uk or call us on 0345 313 8410.

BOOKKEEPING WITH A DIFFERENCE Any of these sound familiar?

I don’t know what profit I’m making until the year end?

Cashflow gives me a headache, how can I see around the corner?...

What on earth is Making Tax Digital and how can I get ready for it?

VAT and PAYROLL are scary. Am I fully compliant?

It’s hard to make business decisions without accurate, up-to-date knowledge of my accounts Is your bookkeeper/accountant solving these problems for you?

At Adder Bookkeeping we aim to meet all the compliance and management accounting needs of clients, giving peace of mind and freeing up time.

We are a one-stop shop, offering easy-to-budget monthly fees.

We are fully qualified with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers.

We have a friendly, approachable team and we love technology – experts at setting you up in the cloud.

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We value your business For more information visit our website: www.business-partnership.com

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May/June 2018

BUSINESSSUPPORT

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Unique workspaces for your business Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

basepoint.co.uk 015

SKILLS

APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH – MEGAN PEARCE “My journey started shortly after finishing my first year of College, where I was having doubts about the next step to take and what I wanted to do in life or the career path I wanted to pursue. I decided on completing my Level 3 Business Administration Qualification at the Chamber, and worked within the Membership team which exposed me to multiple business contacts and allowed me to gain working relationships that I will continue into my new role within the Events and Training department.

“The Chamber and my apprenticeship have opened so many doors to me

and have provided me with endless opportunities to share my ideas and really have an input. Working at the Chamber and seeing the Salary & Skills Survey being conducted has allowed me to understand that in some sectors there are shortages of skilled employees and that by being an apprentice, working in a professional environment is extremely beneficial for my future.”

To nominate your apprentice to feature in the next issue of Business Direction, please send a 150-word quote and high resolution image to businessdirection@hwchamber.co.uk before Wednesday 23 May.

HCA STUDENTS SCOOP WORK PLACEMENT WITH ENVISAGE GROUP

DRP HOSTS INTERACTIVE DAY FOR WORCESTER UNIVERSITY

Two students from the BA (Hons) Textile Design course at Hereford College of Arts (HCA) have each won a two-week work placement with leading bespoke engineering services company Envisage Group.

drpdigital hosted its second interactive open day for 30 students from University of Worcester, on the Thursday 1 February 2018. The open day was created to help showcase to students nearing the end of their degree what it would be like working in a digital agency.

HCA’s Textile Design students were invited to work on a competitive Material Cultures live project with the Company, as part of their final-year degree studies. Students were encouraged to use their existing skills, new technologies, and any unusual processes to explore their materials.

Sammie Mayers, Kate Webster and Philippa Jones from Envisage Group’s CMF team had a tough time choosing a winner, so instead chose two. Megan Swancott and Rebekah Harding both won a cash-prize and a two-week work placement at Envisage Group in Coventry.

During their placement they will be working with the CMF team learning more about the discipline, and how they can use their textile skills - particularly their intuition with colour and materials. www.hca.ac.uk

SAFARI PARK LEAPS TO SPONSOR SCHOOL GAMES West Midland Safari Park is delighted to announce that it will be the education sponsor for the Worcestershire School Games in 2018.

Local schools have spent weeks taking part in numerous inter-school competitions, culminating in the county final on Monday 12 February for the Winter Games. The Summer Games will take place on Tuesday 3 July and will include some of the Park’s very own costume characters, who will be cheering the students on.

The School Games, which is funded by Sport England and delivered locally by SPHW and School Games Organisers, is a government-led programme designed to deliver competitive sports to schools and to encourage and inspire young people to achieve their full potential.

The students were taken on a grand tour of the drp 212 HQ, which led into several interactive sessions presented by the drpteam. The sessions were created to show how each team member has progressed within their role at drp, and how to kick-start a career within a creative agency.

Ben Wallace, Director of drpdigital commented: “The University of Worcester day proved to be an astounding success last year, so it was only right we carried this on. To see and hear from people who have recently been in their shoes and to be provided with valuable advice is a great experience for the students, and is something myself and the team are extremely proud of.” www.drpgroup.com

Nicola Anslow, Education Manager at the Park, said: “The Worcestershire School Games are a fantastic opportunity for all school children to participate and keep themselves active. We are very pleased to be their education sponsor.” www.wmsp.co.uk

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May/June 2018

BUSINESSNEWS

EGBERT TAYLOR WASTES NO TIME IN SECURING £2.2M DEAL

Egbert Taylor is the UK’s leading provider of waste management solutions. The firm benefits from a wealth of experience in manufacturing four-wheeled metal waste containers with some still in service after 40 years!

It is clear the export market is the target after Egbert Taylor successfully announced the opening of its trading company and 6000 sq ft warehouse in Dubai earlier in 2018. The company has furthered its commitment to innovation and quality by developing a bespoke large capacity waste container for a leading client in Saudi Arabia, in an impressive six-month turnaround from concept to completion.

The deal, for over 5000 bins, is worth £2.2m which is another success in the long history of Droitwich-based Egbert Taylor, and cements its place as a global leader in innovative waste management solutions.

SERIES OF COURSES FOR NEW GDPR

www.egberttaylor.com

Herefordshire-based Lanyon Bowlder is holding a series of courses to help schools understand the implications of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which comes into force in May.

MEMBERS GIVE THE GIFT OF TECHNOLOGY TO WORCESTER SCHOOL Surf Tech IT, in collaboration with Nicol & Co Ltd, have been working smart to support Riversides School in Worcester.

Riversides, is a small school specifically for children with special educational needs and recently they have experienced some technology shortfalls.

When Nicol & Co Ltd placed a cry for help on social media after deciding something could be done to recycle hardware that was no longer being used, it was delighted to get a response from Surf Tech IT. The updated equipment has now been presented to Riversides School for pupils to use. Mr Paul Yeomans, Head Teacher at Riversides, said: “It has made a huge difference to our ability to teach the

children and we are extremely grateful for the support from [Nicol & Co Ltd] and [Surf Tech IT].”

Surf Tech IT are hoping to help other schools throughout the year, and urge any businesses with old equipment to contact mparsons@surftechit.co.uk www.surftechit.co.uk

Lanyon Bowdler has put together a training session of practical, detailed guidance, aimed specifically at the education sector to help schools to prepare for and comply with the changes.

The event will be held at Holmer Park Spa & Health Club, Hereford, on Thursday 3 May. William Morse, Head of Education at Lanyon Bowdler, said: “The sessions will give practical insights on exactly what is needed to prepare for and comply with the new legislation and provide guidance on updating existing policies. We have also put together a package of documents to help schools in complying with the new data protection law obligations.”

To find out more about the event, please telephone Kimmy Forshaw on 01743 280281 or email info@lblaw.co.uk.

FORBES GROUP PROVIDES LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH PUBLIC DEFIBRILLATOR public use and by anyone on the trading estate who needs it. To access the equipment, you need to dial 999 and give the location number on the box. You’ll then be given instructions for use.

The defibrillator, situated outside Forbes Group factory on Glendower Road, is registered with the West Midlands Ambulance service and is available for

A number of other local companies were invited to contribute to funding the equipment including TM Factors, Wills Engineering, Leominster Accident Repair Centre, Investment Tooling Technology, and Barrington Print. Forbes Group employees took part in training on how to use the

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

defibrillator in an emergency and were joined by employees from TM Factors, Investment Tooling and Wills Engineering.

Local Deputy Mayor Jenny Bartlett, Councillor Clive Thomas and Councillor John Rumsey attended the event at Forbes Group. Chris Graville, Managing Director, said: “I hope it never gets used, but it is there if anyone needs it and if it helps save a life, it will be worth every penny.” www.forbesgroup.eu

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE

AN IMAGE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS Businesses are realising that the quality of their images powerfully represents the quality of their business and helps to ‘catch’ the big fish you are looking for. An image can instantly communicate your attention to detail, your professionalism and the customer experience your clients can expect.

In a world of online e-commerce and social media, content is king. Images are powerful content which can be used effectively in multiple marketing platforms to increase brand awareness and promote the essence of your business.

management experience to deliver your brief on time and to budget. n We look at what you like and what you don’t like n We work with your staff or team to get the best out of them

BUT WHY DO I NEED A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER? Many businesses will have an amateur photographer able to capture useful images. However, in the same way that you employed them because only they would do when the accounts need to stand up to scrutiny, when you need images that will give impact and express your business you need a professional.

At CleeCo, we blend experience of marketing and communication with photography to bring you imagery and service that enhances your business. From corporate headshots, to images for your

n We offer imagery as a perspective, a fresh pair of eyes on your business and access to marketing consultancy where helpful. strategic documents, capturing events, generating website and social media content, we can meet your needs. n We meet with you to understand your business and what you need to portray. n We get to know you, your business and your market - developing a collaborative approach. n We understand the importance of your time and use our marketing and project

n We bring artistic visions coupled with great customer service. n We take the images, and if required, bring in and manage additional specialist resources such as models or drones.

If you would like further information or to discuss how imagery can enhance your business contact Shaun on 07595377903 or visit our website www.cleeco.co.uk

Your Gateway to Business Support Looking to start or grow your business?

The Marches Growth Hub offers free business support, information and advice including: Finance & Funding | Networking & Events Start-up Support | Employment & Skills 01432 261758 business@herefordshire.gov.uk www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk/hereford

Marches Growth Hub Herefordshire, Skylon Court, Rotherwas, Hereford, HR2 6JL

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BUSINESSNEWS

WILLS AT WORK SCHEME A SUCCESS Local law firm, Harrison Clark Rickerbys, has been busy expanding its services to include a will writing employee benefits package.

Used by some of the UKs largest employers, the benefit has been designed to be an easily accessible and cost-effective service for employees.

Wills at Work can be integrated into a financial wellbeing programme and has been extremely successful since it was launched just over 5 years ago.

Cheltenham based Ecclesiastical Insurance

launched the scheme for their employees in 2015 and it has remained a popular benefit. “Staff particularly like the easy access to advice and the clear process on what needs to be done” say the HR team. “We would have no hesitation in recommending Wills at Work to employers looking for new low cost ideas to expand their benefits offering”.

If you are interested in learning more, or know an HR professional who might, contact us as doliver@willsatwork.com, or on 01905 746 469. www.hcrlaw.com www.willsatwork.com

WORCESTER NEWS CELEBRATES THE HARD WORK OF ITS COMMUNITIES Worcestershire’s most inspirational teachers, leading schools and best brown owls will be among those celebrated at a black-tie dinner this summer. Guests at the Worcester News Education Awards ceremony will hear about the brilliant education work happening in communities throughout the county.

Worcester News has teamed up with Chamber Patron University of Worcester to shine a spotlight on the people who work tirelessly to help inspire and educate our children. The ceremony will be held at the University of Worcester arena and will welcome, former Olympic medallist Duncan Goodhew who will be telling his own inspirational story of how he overcame challenges to harness his talent for swimming.

Sue Griffiths, Events Director at Newsquest, said: “Inspirational was the word used repeatedly by guests at last year’s ceremony. Listening to the many, many stories of how people in the educational world are helping others was truly humbling.

“This year we are hoping even more guests will join us for a night of positivity. Tickets will be on sale soon.” www.worcesternews.co.uk

THE HEALTHY WORKER SHORTLISTED FOR WORKPLACE WELLBEING REPORT

NEW MEDIA TRAINING CENTRE AIMS TO INSPIRE BUSINESSES Chris Green Media has opened a media centre offering inspiration, motivation and learning for businesses in Worcestershire and beyond. The Blackpole-based centre hosts an innovative range of training courses, programmes, clubs and events designed to enable people and businesses to communicate better.

Managing Partner, Chris Green, said: “We’ve run media training courses for several years but wanted our own purpose-built, media themed venue to provide a unique training experience.

“The centre isn’t about us - it’s about the people who come here to develop ideas and skills to advance their careers and grow their businesses. It has all the equipment needed for media and communications training including screens, presentation equipment, recording and playback facilities.”

The Healthy Worker Course has been shortlisted for inclusion in a new research report undertaken by Public Health England and RAND Europe. It is testament to the quality of the programme which supports employees to improve their long-term wellbeing and demonstrates a huge payback for employers.

Specifically, and most importantly, the report highlights workplace wellbeing interventions which demonstrate effectiveness and a return on investment.

This is amid concerns that many wellbeing offerings have only poor or no evaluation to show they make a difference.

RAND Europe’s mission is to undertake objective analysis to identify effective solutions. Assessed for effectiveness using a standard process, the course achieved level 2 out of 5 for the robustness of evidence to support its value. Liz Preece of The Healthy Worker Ltd was delighted to see the programme be so highly rated.

The final report is due Spring 2018. www.thehealthyworker.co.uk

Monthly meetings of the CGM Business Media Club, which is now in its fifth year, are also held at the media centre.

For more details, please call Chris Green Media on 01905 754336 or email info@ chrisgreenmedia.co.uk www.chrisgreenmedia.com

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BUSINESSNEWS

NEW SHOWROOM FOR PEARS HOME IMPROVEMENT Chamber Member Pears Home Improvements has recently opened a new showroom at Unit 1 Northbrook Close, Worcester WR3 8BP. Daphne odora x bholua “Perfume Princess”

WYEVALE NURSERIES UNVEILS NEW PLANTS TO CONSUMERS Wyevale Nurseries officially unveiled three new plants to consumers at the Garden Press Event in London earlier this year. The Hereford firm launched Daphne odora x bholua “Perfume Princess”, Dianella tasmanica Wyeena and Phormium “Blondie”, which won a Silver Award in the Shrubs and Climbers Category at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) National Plant Show last year.

The showroom has been designed to allow customers both old and new to discover the vast product range on offer that covers every possible requirement both from design to colour.

Over the last six years Pears Home Improvements business has grown year on year with the majority of this growth coming from recommendation and word of mouth, but with the company’s product range growing at such a vast rate the decision was taken to showcase these in a purpose designed showroom.

There are other exciting developments planned for 2018 and the company hopes these will allow Pears Home Improvements the opportunity to continue to be a leading name in the replacement window, door, conservatory and orangery market in and around Worcestershire. www.pearshomeimprovements.co.uk

Adam Dunnett, Sales and Marketing Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “We were delighted to officially unveil three of our new plants to journalists who attended the show. There seemed to be great interest in the plants and we were on hand to chat to people about them in depth and explain their key features. We also spoke to attendees about our plans for the coming year as well as hot topics like Biosecurity.”

MARKETING AGENCY IS HOT PROPERTY WITH FOUR NEW CLIENTS Gough Bailey Wright (GBW) is celebrating four new client appointments from the retail and property sector.

GBW has been appointed by Lidl, to provide marketing support for its property development teams, with the brief including corporate literature to promote new store proposals to stakeholders up and down the country. GBW has also been handed a brief by construction consultancy, Feasibility Limited, including corporate literature, a new website and content marketing. In addition, Henry Boot Developments and Bostall Group have both handed GBW specific projects requiring stakeholder engagement, lobbying and public consultation.

Sue Bailey, Managing Director at Gough Bailey Wright, said: “These latest business wins are further testament to the team ethic and the truly integrated nature of the business.

I am extremely proud of the team and we’re thoroughly enjoying the chance to exceed expectations for these national and exciting regional companies.”

www.wyevalenurseries.co.uk

www.gough.co.uk

WOMEN ENCOURAGED TO TRY A TRADE Fortis Property Care (FPC) was pleased to run “Try a Trade Day” on Thursday 29 March. The event offered women the chance to learn a whole range of skills including; plumbing, carpentry, electrics and painting & decorating.

The event follows the announcement of FPC’s “Women in Construction” initiative which was launched at the end of last year and will run for 18-months. FPC currently employs 270 employees, 30 of whom are female. Currently, there is only one woman working within a trade job at FPC - Georgina King who is a gas engineer has

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worked for the company since 2014 having qualified in 2006.

Bill Tebay, Managing Director at Fortis Property Care, said: “The aim of the event was to encourage women to consider trades as a rewarding career option, challenge stereotypes and ultimately address the gender imbalance in our workplaces. As a major employer, we have a responsibility to shape a more inclusive work environment and are keen to attract women into the building trade.” www.fortisliving.com

Gas Engineer Georgina King, Fortis Property Care

May/June 2018

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Offering specialist legal advice

Saving energy is all the rage these days. It’s 2018, and less is definitely more when it comes to keeping a close eye on the electricity meter, and going that extra mile as cheaply as possible. Streetlights are going LED, Auntie Mavis has a flashy new hybrid motor, and households up and down the country are plugging in smart meters, and unplugging energy-draining devices.

And this growing obsession with cutting energy use is good news all round for Worcestershire businesses – not least thanks to the Target 2020 scheme that gives SMEs in the county free energy efficiency services that help reduce usage, emissions and overhead costs.

Over the past 12 months, the project – funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered

by Severn Wye Energy Agency – has worked with nearly 100 Worcestershire businesses, conducting free energy surveys, analysis, reports and recommendations to help them save thousands of pounds a year on their overheads.

For some businesses, the savings they are making mean it’s cheaper to install new, more energy efficient equipment than it is to just carry on as they are, paying big bills on inefficient kit. This is especially true given that the Target 2020 scheme can provide grants to cover 35% of the cost of the new equipment – so it pays for itself even more quickly.

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The scheme, which also runs in Gloucestershire, is available for almost all Worcestershire SMEs, and was recently recognised and given a commendation at the West Midlands Energy Efficiency Awards, for the work that it is doing to make businesses in the region more energy efficient.

To book your free energy survey and start reducing overheads immediately, contact Severn Wye’s business team at business@severnwye.org.uk, 01452 835060, or by visiting the website at target2020.co.uk.

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Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE

DAWLEYS - SUPPORTING YOUR E-COMMERCE FULFILMENT NEEDS In an increasingly digital world, the shift in consumer behaviour means that more customers are opting for the convenience of online shopping as opposed to hitting the high street.

With the number of households with internet access reaching an all-time high and growing, companies are investing heavily in their online presence, enticing customers to choose them over their competitors. Clicking that all important ‘complete’ button kick-starts a chain of events, which is where Dawleys can help you excel.

Based in Ross-on-Wye, Dawleys can support all aspects of your e-commerce, warehousing and fulfilment needs, whether you are a small local charity or a multinational company. Utilising their new, state of the art warehousing facility, their professional team can manage the end-to-end process from purchase to delivery, in a swift and efficient manner, last year fulfilling over 750,000 orders for a wide variety of clients.

Many companies are simply unable to hold the level of stock needed to make their business a success, but Dawleys can hold over 500 pallets of stock in their spacious 20,000 square foot warehouse. The team liaise directly with suppliers, making the whole process as smooth and efficient as possible.

The entire warehouse is secure, fully insured, fitted with alarms and covered by a network of digital internal and external CCTV cameras. Security is a key priority at Dawleys, ensuring your products remain safe. Access is strictly controlled, and a fireproof safe is on site for particularly high-value items. Their ISO 27001 accreditation and regular audits ensure that all aspects of security are reviewed annually and meet all industry standards.

From their secure premises, Dawleys pick, pack and despatch items in a timely and accurate manner. Utilising the latest

software to import and manage orders, the fulfilment process is streamlined, keeping deliveries swift and customers happy. Whether your business is currently receiving 1,000 orders a day or 10, Dawleys treats each and every order with care and attention, ensuring they arrive safely.

Personalised packaging and cover letters offer you the chance to reinforce your brand message and Dawleys relationships with key postal providers will help you to secure great postal rates.

Whilst your orders are being processed

by Dawleys, each client has 24/7 access to their stock system, as well as regular reporting and analysis, monitoring what is selling well, what’s not and identifying areas for development. The rich data provided by Dawleys is invaluable for clients’ marketing efforts, helping to target and shape future promotions.

“Thanks to Dawleys, Breast Cancer Care customers receive the items they order from us quickly and with minimal fuss. Dawleys make a complex process straightforward, allowing us to concentrate on other aspects of the organisation.”

Jason B – Breast Cancer Care Aside from the physical processing of orders, Dawleys additional services reflect their ‘whole package’ approach and can make up your fulfilment jigsaw. Their friendly call centre can handle customer service queries from start to finish, providing real-time, accurate updates to customers. Their data team can build

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emails containing company branding and despatch from a customisable domain, keeping customers informed at each stage of their order. This low cost and effective method helps reduce customer enquiries and enriches your customers’ experience.

All of these services help you to gain repeat custom and retain those customers you’ve worked so hard to welcome on board.

At every step, Dawleys works hard to minimise the impact of their services on the environment, recognising their responsibilities, from sending their waste materials to a secure power generation facility to be recycled into fuel to their ISO14001 Environmental Management System accreditation. You can be sure that Dawleys is doing all they can to offset their carbon footprint.

So whether you are a not-for-profit charity or a business looking to expand online, Dawleys has the skills and knowledge to help you find the right solution for your company.

Outsourcing aspects of your customer service and order fulfilment to Dawleys will allow you more time to focus on other areas of your business, building on your success.

Find out more about Dawleys services and how they can be integrated with your business via their website www.dawleys.com, by emailing the team on information@dawleys.com or calling 01989 768562.

May/June 2018

LEGALMATTERS

DATA PROTECTION WITHIN EDUCATION “The sessions will give practical insights on exactly what is needed to prepare for and comply with the new legislation and provide guidance on updating existing policies.

Data protection is at the forefront of many people’s minds with the introduction of GDPR - but it’s not just businesses who are scrambling to get the right processes in place.

“We have also put together a package of documents to help schools in complying with the new data protection law obligations.

“Our GDPR package includes a Data Audit Template, Data Protection Policy and Privacy notices, Taking, Using and Storing Images of Children Policy and a Data Retention Policy.”

Education specialists at Hereford law firm, Lanyon Bowdler, are working with schools and educational establishments to ensure they meet the necessary requirements too.

The new act, which replaces the previous UK data protection law, will have a major impact on any organisation which handles personal data - which of course includes schools and colleges.

Will Morse, Head of Education at Lanyon Bowdler, is advising a number of schools across Herefordshire about how to comply, and the firm has created a training package of practical, detailed guidance, aimed specifically at the education sector to help schools to prepare for and comply with the changes.

“Everyone is talking about the change which comes into effect on May 25 but many people are not aware of what they actually need to do about it,” he said.

“We spoke to our clients in the education sector to find out what sort of training they really needed and have put together a training course specifically tailored for maintained and independent schools and academies.

The training session in Hereford will take place at Holmer Park Spa & Health Club, on May 3, starting at 9.30am. To book a place, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk and search “Are You Ready For GDPR Hereford”.

Anyone unable to attend but who would like advice about GDPR in schools can contact Will directly on 01432 377152 or email william.morse@lblaw.co.uk

Transparently priced, practical advice and support delivered by legal specialists in Herefordshire Our specialist corporate, commercial property, dispute resolution and employment lawyers provide support to help you grow and protect your business, giving you a solid foundation to build upon

Incorporating Beaumonts Solicitors

01432 378379 www.lblaw.co.uk Our People, Your Team

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Beaumont House, Offa Street, Hereford HR1 2LH 44 High Street, Bromyard HR7 4AE Offices also in Shrewsbury | Ludlow | Oswestry | Telford

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE

GREAT THINGS HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE GET TOGETHER Worcestershire is the place to be for forward thinking, innovative businesses.

It’s a hotbed for agri-tech, manufacturing and cyber security but all sectors are represented. Ideas are supported and encouraged so they can develop from an acorn to a mighty oak.

WINN brings together inspirational individuals and brilliant businesses to help the region grow and become recognised nationally as a hub of innovative ideas and projects.

WINN, Worcestershire’s Innovation Programme, was formed by Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.

WINN Wednesday is WINN’s networking channel, providing a link to and link for innovation communities. Previous speakers at the event include representatives from the likes of QinetiQ, GTech, PCA Predict and Green Gorilla Apps.

The next big event is a two-day extravaganza on May 23 and 24 to

celebrate innovation, being held at Worcester’s Hive building, Europe’s first integrated public and university library.

The first ever ‘Great Things’ will bring together some of Worcestershire’s biggest and best innovators under one roof. Highlights include presentations, informative workshops and lively conversation.

Jess Antley, Programme Manager for WINN, said: “Worcestershire is a hotbed for innovation. We’ve got some truly exceptional businesses already operating in the County and plenty of people out there with original, exciting ideas.

“The Great Things event promises to be inspirational. Why not join us for what will be a truly awesome event celebrating and showcasing innovation in Worcestershire.”

Great Things is open to any business, as well as students and budding entrepreneurs. The idea behind the two-day extravaganza is to inspire, share stories and network with like-minded individuals.

Jess Antley (WINN), Nicky Langford, Charlotte Hitchcock and Dr Steve Ward-Smith

Whether you want to collect, collaborate, co-ordinate or just be inspired, WINN should be your first point of contact.

For more information about WINN, go to the website https://winn-hub.com/

Holy Trinity Sixth Form - Apply now for September 2018

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100% student record of achieving first choice university places or chosen career path

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All successful Year 12 students receive a ‘Tablet” and £100 book voucher

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www.holytrinity.co.uk | 01562 822929 | admissions@holytrinity.co.uk

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March/April 2018

BUSINESSNEWS

FREE ONLINE SERVICE TO TEST GDPR COMPLIANCE GDPR comes into force on Friday 25 May 2018, and many businesses will need to make changes if they are to be compliant ahead of this deadline. Crucially, websites are a major area of concern, particularly with the seemingly complex requirements for data handling. With fines of up to €20 million for the most serious offences, it is critical that businesses get a handle on this as soon as possible.

with fellow Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce member ISO Quality Services to provide a free online service to help determine whether your website is GDPR compliant. Any business that currently uses WordPress to power their website can fill out a simple online survey to determine whether they are GDPR compliant and, if not, help make the changes necessary to become compliant.

To help tackle the issue, local web firm Worcester Web Studio have teamed up

Find out more at www.gdprforwordpress.com

LOCAL BUSINESS ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO “PAY IT FORWARD”

MP NIGEL HUDDLESTON VISITS EVESHAM COLLEGE Evesham College received a visit from its local MP Nigel Huddleston on Friday 9 March. The Member of Parliament had a tour of the college and took part in a question and answer session with a class of Public Services and Early Years students.

Commenting on his visit, Mr Huddleston said: “It has been a real pleasure to visit Evesham College and talk to the students and members of staff. I enjoyed answering their questions and was really impressed to hear about the wide variety of exciting courses now on offer.”

“I was also particularly impressed with the college’s link with local businesses which enables it to tailor its curriculum to address the demand for trained workers in the area.

This partnership was shown by the significant investment made by the Worcestershire LEP in the creation of a state-of-the-art engineering centre.

I can see that the college provides good employment prospects and gives young people the right skills to enable Worcestershire to continue to thrive.” www.wcg.ac.uk

NEW CHAIRMAN FOR HEREFORD ENTERPRISE ZONE Andrew Manning Cox, Partner at Patron Member Gowling WLG, has been revealed as the new Non-Executive Chairman of Hereford Enterprise Zone.

Andrew brings to this appointment his wealth of experience as a Lawyer and in Non-Executive Director roles. He is a keen and long standing advocate for Herefordshire and Worcestershire businesses and has taken over as the head of the Zone’s Executive Board from Herefordshire businessman Bill Jackson, who has held the post since 2012.

Andrew commented: “The Zone already has more than 275,000 sq ft of new development built or under way at Skylon Park with a construction investment of around £13 million, helping to bring investment, jobs and growing economic prosperity to the region. As the new chairman I therefore inherit a Skylon Park in a healthy position. Managing Director Mark Pearce and I look to consolidate the achievements so far and build on them in the future, attracting high quality investment and jobs for the benefit of Hereford.”

Droitwich-based Fresh Nous has launched a campaign within the local business community encouraging them to “Pay it Forward”. This involves businesses supporting each other by carrying out good deeds which have a positive impact.

The concept evolved from the idea behind the book “Pay it forward”, where good deeds accomplish things that the recipient cannot achieve on their own. The campaign was recently launched at the Chamber’s Business Expo on Thursday 8 March where business owners were encouraged to pay it forward to fellow businesses by doing small things such as: writing a testimonial, submitting a Google review, or nominating someone for an award.

Since then, the team have taken it one step further by deciding to pay it forward to local charity Footsteps, a bereavement charity providing a free support service for bereaved children, young people and their families.

To find out how to get involved in the campaign, please visit www. freshnous.com/pay-it-forward or www. talktofootsteps.co.uk.

www.gowlingwlg.com

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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CHAMBERTRAINING

www.hwchamber.co.uk/training

HAVE YOU BOOKED ONTO OUR HR, LEGISLATION AND REGULATION TRAINING COURSES? This course series will train you and your staff in essential skills, including Health & Safety and Management processes, as well as refreshing your knowledge and keeping you up to date on the ever changing legal work environment. Comprising of eight courses, we have something to suit all aspects of the business and staff from all sectors.

Your responsibility to staff and customers is an important consideration and not one that can be taken lightly, or without sound knowledge to back it up, in order to justify with facts the decisions that you make. Our courses are, as always, interactive and engaging and we teach and discuss with our delegates a practical and reasonable approach.

COURSES WITHIN THIS SERIES ARE: IOSH Working Safely – A grounding in the essentials of Health & Safety. An IOSH certificated course.

IOSH Managing Safely – Designed to get you up to speed on the practical actions needed to handle Health & Safety in your teams. An IOSH certified course.

Emergency First Aid at Work – Suitable for low risk employers in meeting their legal obligations for minimum first aid provision in the workplace.

Fire Marshal Training – A general fire safety and awareness course for staff who have additional responsibilities for fire safety in the workplace.

Employment Law Update – An overview covering developments in employment law and future changes, this workshop’s topics vary on each course depending on which subjects are current.

HR for the Non HR Manager – Aimed at front-line managers who have recently acquired responsibility for HR issues within their team or organisation.

Internal Auditor Training – Suitable for those undertaking Internal Audits, new Quality Mangers and anyone wanting to refresh their knowledge.

Quality Manager Training – An introduction for anyone involved in the development, implementation and management of ISO 9001.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY:

“Very interesting and informative – relaxed environment and pitched at the right level for me – excellent presenter. Very enjoyable.”

“As always a great course. Good to share knowledge and have access to the legal experts. Definitely recommended.”

“Dawn is fantastic at training us. Her knowledge and skills were a real asset to the training.”

“Very knowledgeable and engaging trainer who knows his field very well, and was able to cater for his groups diverse backgrounds.”

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TRAINER PROFILE Dawn Hardman, Director of HR, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

Responsible for the Health and Safety of the organisation and a Technician level member of IOSH (Institute of Occupational Health and Safety) she successfully delivers the IOSH Managing Safely and Working Safely courses along with the HR for the Non HR Manager course both at the Chamber offices and at company’s own premises. To date Dawn has delivered IOSH training to over 200 delegates.

Having successfully supported a number of local SMEs providing advice and consultancy services in respect of their internal health and safety programs, she has also designed and delivered her own range of health and safety courses specific to clients’ needs, including induction programs and risk assessment.

Dawn has helped a number of clients design and implement their health and safety program providing advice and support in respect of policies and supporting procedures.

Dawn’s delivery style is a mixture of presentation, group discussions and interactive work.

For more information on any of the courses in this series, please do not hesitate to contact our training department at training@hwchamber.co.uk.

May/June 2018

CHAMBERBUSINESSTRAINING

TRAINING CALENDAR MAY - JUNE 2018 MAY COURSES

JUNE COURSES

JUNE COURSES

Communicating for Success

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Intermediate Microsoft Excel

Tuesday 8 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Monday 4 June - 9.30am-4.00pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Thursday 14 June - 9.30am-4.00pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Internal Auditor Training

Quality Manager Training

Effective Time Management

Thursday 10 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Tuesday 5 June - 9.30am-4.30pm £236+VAT Members / £295+VAT Non-members

Wednesday 20 June - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Excel Master Class

Train the Trainer

Emergency First Aid at Work

Monday 14 May - 9.30am-4.00pm £200+VAT Members / £250+VAT Non-members

Monday 11 June - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Friday 22 June - 9.30am-4.30pm £80+VAT Members / £100+VAT Non-members

7 Steps to Closing the Deal

An Introduction to Digital Marketing & PR

Introduction to Project Management

Tuesday 15 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Tuesday 12 June - 9.30am-1.30pm FREE for Members / £100+VAT Non-members

Monday 25 June - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

IOSH Managing Safely

Introduction to Microsoft Excel - Hereford

Creating a Customer Care Culture

Tue 15 – Fri 18 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £495+VAT Members / £595+VAT Non-members

Tuesday 12 June - 9.30am-4.00pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Wednesday 27 June - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Conducting Effective Team Appraisals

Effective Use of Social Media

Effective Professional Proofreading

Thursday 17 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

Thursday 14 June - 9.30am-1.30pm £80+VAT Members / £100+VAT Non-members

Friday 29 June - 9.30am-1.30pm £80+VAT Members / £100+VAT Non-members

Professional Telephone Techniques

Monday 21 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members Fire Marshal Training

Tuesday 22 May - 10.00am-3.00pm £80+VAT Members / £100+VAT Non-members Introduction to Microsoft Excel

Thursday 24 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members Emergency First Aid at Work

Thursday 24 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £80+VAT Members / £100+VAT Non-members Email Marketing

Tuesday 29 May - 9.30am-1.30pm £80+VAT Members / £100+VAT Non-members IOSH Working Safely

Wednesday 30 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members Managing People in the Team

Thursday 31 May - 9.30am-4.30pm £150+VAT Members / £188+VAT Non-members

For more information and bookings contact us on 01905 673 611, training@hwchamber.co.uk. www.hwchamber.co.uk/training Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE

BUILDING YOUR FUTURE WITH HARRISON CLARK RICKERBYS’ REAL ESTATE TEAM

Taking a real estate project from the ground up to create new homes, offices, shops or a school, is a major undertaking and it’s rare to find a team, with the number and range of specialists as at Harrison Clark Rickerbys, to advise you on every aspect of the project.

Bringing together construction experience with commercial and residential property expertise, planning, property finance, quantity surveying, property litigation and commercial law knowledge, the team offers an end-to-end service for projects of all sizes, from a new higher education college to a lease renewal.

LOCAL INSIGHT TO KEEP YOU UP TO DATE The 70-strong team can support real estate projects of all kinds, and their involvement in local bodies builds their knowledge of the local market – Matt Hayes, who is chair of the Real Estate management team, said: “We keep our ears to the ground, so we know how the market is shifting and while we are lawyers first and foremost, our involvement in the area means that we hear about changes and opportunities. For example Philip Parkinson, Head of Real Estate in Worcester, is well connected in the community, so hears about developments early.”

BUILDING NEW HOMES TO SELL? To enhance its residential property services HCR recently set up a New build team. Its experienced staff offer buyers of new build homes support and advice from

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their first site visit to the day they step over the threshold of their new home.

Based in Herefordshire and led by Bob Leather, who has many years’ experience as a specialist on newly built properties, the team comprises Bob, Chantelle Forbes as senior conveyancer, Eyvonne Dight as operations manager and Sophie Beckett and Stephanie Waters as administrators.

Bob and Chantelle’s expertise is in demand from house builders’ legal panels and the team is already set to be appointed as the preferred choice for a number of them because of their experience with new build plot purchases.

Matt said: “Bob’s team are a tremendous addition to our real estate services; they really understand what is needed to operate properly in what can be quite a pressured and emotional environment.

They offer a seamless service to clients from the start of their journey.”

professional lives.

One example of this diversity is the growth in demand for energy generation and storage – solar panels, wind turbines and battery storage. The firm’s energy expert Harriet Murray Jones works with clients across the region and nationally, helping them to understand and work within changing regulations in the energy sector.

Harriet has advised local farmers on the opportunities available to them to use some of their farmland for energy storage, and is also advising clients on how to approach Brexit – energy regulations are currently, largely covered by EU directives, so there may be some changes in legislation following the UK’s exit from the EU in 2019.

Brexit is not the only challenge the sector is facing – closer at hand is the change to our data protection laws; the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on 25 May 2018.

BREXIT AND THE IMPACT UPON ENERGY REGULATIONS

GDPR AND PROPERTY BUSINESSES

The range and diversity of property transactions across the region is evident, going far beyond someone’s dream home, a new office block or retail development. Property issues affect most people at some point in their personal or

GDPR is the new legal framework for data protection in the UK and across Europe – it will take over from the Data Protection Act and all businesses that hold or process the personal data of EU individuals will need to comply with it. This will include data on

May/June 2018

ADVERTORIALFEATURE staff, suppliers and sub-contractors.

The GDPR introduces new concepts and approaches for the protection of personal data – for example ‘consent’ must be given on an ‘opt-in’ basis and separate permissions are required for different activities.

The legislation will affect how organisations collect and use personal data and even after Brexit the regulations will still apply. Many businesses and organisations are still unsure how the new regulations will impact upon them and what they need to do now, but it is set to affect businesses across every sector.

HOW WILL GDPR SPECIFICALLY IMPACT PROPERTY BUSINESSES? You might think that such a change would not really affect property businesses, but of course they employ staff, contact customers and store people’s personal data, just as businesses in every other sector do.

The range of activities affected is broad and will cover areas such as tender documentation and Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (PQQ), used to help developers to compile a technicallyqualified shortlist of contractors for a project.

A few of the questions to consider include - how you store, share and destroy personal information, such as names, addresses and contact details, often included in these documents. If you are managing a site, what records do you retain for health and safety or day book records of people visiting or working on the site? Is CCTV or biometrics used at this point? If you’re a landlord, how do you collect rental payments? Do you work with an agency to collect the rent and, on that basis, do they act on your behalf as a data processor?

Depending on how you answer any of these questions, you may need to: n consider what warning you give to workers or visitors about the information you are retaining; n check your commercial contracts with the processor to ensure they are appropriate and valid under GDPR; n talk to your tenants about how you use, store and dispose of their personal information.

MANY SPECIALISTS WITH A COMMON GOAL Whatever their specialism, the whole team shares a common cause – to give clients practical and commercial advice which addresses their needs, and keeps pace with those needs as they change.

What may seem to be the perfect legal solution is not necessarily the best solution for the client, for their business or for their own life. So there can be no ‘one size fits all’ solution – each client receives a service which works for them and their plans. Because the team has such a wealth of experience in the field, it can handle complex and innovative projects, adapting as the market changes.

Matt said: “Real estate projects are complex and we are experienced in dealing with the detail. We have definitely seen a growth in the need for more planning and environmental advice and our team has grown to reflect that.”

NOT SURE WHO YOU NEED TO TALK TO? Andrew James, head of the firm’s construction team, who also leads the best practice group Herefordshire and Worcestershire Constructing Excellence (HAWCE), said: “We work together across the firm all the time, so that clients have the right combination of skills – it’s a real benefit to them to have a one-stop shop.

Not only does it make their lives simpler, it also means delays in communicating are kept down and the process moves more smoothly.”

The ability to call on specialist skills across the firm is a great benefit to clients - Matt said: “For instance, we have an outstanding education team, so when we’re involved in a project such as the University of Gloucestershire’s new developments, we can call on their experience. This extends well beyond the region – we have international specialists and they support our national and international work for clients.”

Not only can the team call on its own in-house experts, but it also provides property advice to those working in other areas of the firm – corporate lawyers working on a deal involving a care home sale, for instance, will need specific property advice, as will lawyers helping a farming family make good estate planning decisions.

For developers, builders, landlords, property buyers and sellers, the team can offer a complete service so that your focus can be on your property dream, while our team focuses on the legal details, smoothing your path to success.

Matt Hayes and the team can be contacted at mchayes@hcrlaw.com or on 01432 349 662.

With property finance led by Mark Carter, Lucinda Baker’s experience in handling a wide range of construction issues, Keith Blizzard providing expert quantity surveying advice, and litigation expertise given by Andrew Walker, as well as the planning skills provided by Rosalind Andrews, the team leaders can address issues when they arise at all stages of development, from questions about leases or sales to disputes with contractors.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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CHAMBEREVENTS

www.hwchamber.co.uk/events

BOOK YOUR STAND AT THE NEXT CHAMBER BUSINESS EXPO The next Business Expo will take place on Thursday 11 October at the Malvern Three Counties Showground. For businesses who are interested in exhibiting, a single stand can be booked for October alone at the Member rate of £299.00+VAT or, a double Expo booking will allow a company to book for Thursday 11 October 2018 and Thursday 7 March 2019, for a discounted rate of £275.00+VAT per single stand.

For any booking enquiries, please contact events@hwchamber.co.uk

TICKETS FOR THE CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS ARE NOW ON SALE! This year, the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is proud to be hosting its seventeenth annual Chamber Business Awards, in association with Sanlam. The Awards offer an excellent opportunity for local businesses to raise their profile, celebrate their successes and boost staff morale.

Winners will be announced at this spectacular awards ceremony on Thursday 7 June at the University of Worcester Arena. An Overall Business of the Year will also be announced on the night. This black tie event is one

of the most anticipated events in the business calendar, attracting over 600 members of the business community.

Any business, not just finalists, can purchase tickets for this event to enjoy the networking opportunities and a great corporate night out.

Single Tickets - £90.00+VAT Members / £110.00+VAT Non-members Table of Ten - £810.00+VAT Members / £990.00+VAT Non-members For any ticket enquiries, please contact awards@hwchamber.co.uk

NEW CHAMBER CONNECTS! From April this year, Members may have noticed a change in their membership with the Chamber.

Following on from feedback from our Members, our popular networking events are now FREE as part of your Chamber membership, whilst the new experiential events will take making contacts to the next level as part of “Chamber Connects”.

Members will now be able to attend networking breakfasts, lunches and evenings with other business professionals in the two counties for no additional cost.

These events will still provide an array of food and drinks, as well as the opportunity to socialise with other attendees.

CONFERENCES – DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: Women’s Business Conference in association with Borwell Limited Date: 21 September 2018 - Time: 9.00am-3.00pm Venue: Bank House Hotel, Bransford, Worcester WR6 5JD Cost: £37.50+VAT Members / £50.00+VAT Non-Members HR Professionals Conference in association with Hewett Recruitment Date: 22 November 2018 - Time: 9.30am-2.30pm Venue: The Abbey, Abbey Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3ET Cost: £37.50+VAT Members / £50.00+VAT Non-Members

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OVER 70 ATTENDEES ATTEND CHAMBERS FIRST FOOD AND DRINK CONFERENCE In association with mfg Solicitors LLP and Santander The half day conference was held at Stanbrook Abbey and attendees had the opportunity to network with other Food and Drink producers and hear from three sector specialist speakers.

Ian Wright, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation was first to take the stage and talked about various issues including brexit, environmentally friendly packaging and sector perfomance.

The delegates then heard from Antoaneta Becker, Food & Drink Sector Director at China Britain Business Council who gave an update on the export opportunities in China. Finally Paul Hargreaves, CEO of Cotswold Fayre shared his story about setting up a leading name in wholesale food distribution.

Rachel Auty from The Freelance Foodie said; “It was great to be in the same room with so many other local producers, the speakers were knowledgeable and passionate, a great morning”.

To find more infomation on upcoming conferences, please visit www.hwchamber.co.uk

May/June 2018

CHAMBEREVENTS

NETWORKING CALENDAR MAY - JUNE 2018 MAY 2018 Sustainability Forum Wednesday 9 May - 8.00-10.00am Worcester Bosch, Cotswold Way, Worcester WR4 9FN FREE for Members and Non-members An Afternoon at Worcester Races Thursday 10 May - 1.00pm onwards Worcester Racecourse, Grand Stand Road, Worcester WR1 3EJ Join us for a relaxed afternoon of racing action at this riverside venue in the heart of Worcester. Attendees will also receive entrance into the County enclosure, a race card, a welcome drink on arrival, an evening meal and Tipster Talk £37.50+VAT Members and £50.00+VAT Non-members Redditch HR Forum in association Hewett Recruitment Wednesday 16 May - 9.30-11.30am The Southcrest Manor Hotel, Pool Bank, Redditch Worcestershire B97 4JS FREE for Members and clients of Hewett Recruitment and £35.00+VAT Non-members Worcester Women’s Business Forum in association with borwell Ltd Thursday 17 May - 9.30am-12.00pm Old Castle Farm, Evendine Lane, Colwall WR13 6DT FREE for Members and £35.00+VAT Non-members Herefordshire Networking Lunch sponsored by Marches Growth Hub Friday 18 May - 12.30-2.30pm Burghill Valley Golf, Tillington Road, Burghill, Hereford HR4 7RW FREE for Members and £35.00+VAT Non-members Cider Tasting and Tour at Weston’s Cider Tuesday 22 May - 2.00-4.00pm Weston’s Cider Mill, The Bounds, Much Marcle, Ledbury HR8 2NQ The Chamber has teamed up with local Cider and Perry producer, Westons Cider, and we are pleased to invite you to this exclusive event. The event will include a Cider Mill Tour where you will discover the craft of cider-making from blossom to bottle, with an expert guide leading the way. £20.00+VAT Members and £37.50+VAT Non-members Chamber Golf Day sponsored by HomeXperts Wednesday 23 May - 12.00pm Shotgun start Wharton Park Golf Club, Long Bank, Bewdley DY12 2QW Charity – Kemp Hospice - Individual tickets- £70.00+VAT Members/£75.00+VAT Non-members / Team of 4 - £275.00+VAT Members/£300.00+VAT Non-members / To book please contact www.amrosgolf.co.uk or email sales@amrosgolf.co.uk

Worcestershire Networking Lunch Thursday 24 May - 12.30-2.30pm Grafton Manor, Grafton Lane, Bromsgrove B61 7HA FREE for Members and £35.00+VAT Non-members Presidents Lecture Series Thursday 31 May - 9.00-11.00am Malvern College, College Road, Malvern WR14 3DF Speaker: Beth Tweddle, Britain’s Greatest Ever Female Gymnast Topic: My Story £41.66+VAT for Members and £50.00+VAT Non-members

JUNE 2018 Chamber Business Awards 2018 in association with Sanlam Thursday 8 June - 6.30 till late The Arena, Hylton Road, Worcester WR2 5JN Single Tickets - £90.00+VAT Members/£110.00+VAT Non-members Table of Ten - £810.00+VAT Members/£990.00+VAT Non-members Worcester HR Forum in association Hewett Recruitment Wednesday 13 June - 9.30-11.30am Chamber of Commerce, Severn House, Prescott Drive, Worcester WR4 9NE FREE for Members and clients of Hewett Recruitment £35.00+VAT Non-members Maximise Your Membership Event Thursday 14 June - 8.30 - 11.00am FREE for Members Hereford Women’s Business Forum in association with Thorne Widgery Accountancy Thursday 21 June - 9.30 - 11.30am Thorne Widgery, 2 Wyevale Business Park, Kings Acre, Hereford HR4 7BS FREE for Members and £20.00+VAT Non-members Networking Afternoon Tea Friday 22 June - 2.30-4.30pm Stanbrook Abbey, Jennet Tree Lane, Callow End, Worcester WR2 4TY £20.00+VAT Members and £35.00+VAT Non-members TYRO Events Wednesday 27 June - 5.30-7.00pm Gaudet Luce Golf Club, Middle Ln, Hadzor, Droitwich WR9 7JR FREE for Members & Non-members Network’GIN Thursday 28 June - 5.30-7.00pm The Brick Room, New Street, Worcester WR1 2DL £20.00+VAT Members and £35.00+VAT Non-members

To book your place on any of these events visit www.hwchamber.co.uk/events, email events@hwchamber.co.uk or phone 01905 673 600.

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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BIGINTERVIEW

BIG ENOUGH TO COPE, SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE In this issue of BD we speak to Richard Lane, Group Managing Director of the EBC Group - a business which has moved with the times, keeping ahead of the curve in technology terms, and going from strength to strength: “Service is where it all starts, we deliver an excellent service,” says Richard when commenting on the secret of their success. Richard’s story and that of the business he founded, the EBC Group, charts a remarkable journey, from selling faxes from a little white van to becoming the technology partner of numerous businesses around the region and further afield.

“EBC Group started out life in 1989 as a photocopier and fax provider, by 1995 we were providing document management systems that were shared across a business’s network and by 1998 we were building our own IT servers and storage area networks,” explains Richard.

“By 2004 we were providing one of the first softphone applications, unifying IT and telephony, providing a completely integrated and managed service for our clients. It wasn’t long before we acquired our first data centre, then our second in 2010 – which saw us make the move into private cloud computing.

“What makes us stand out from the crowd is that all of our IT is on our premises, we offer a completely hosted environment which is rare in the IT world. We don’t share any data or back-office functions and we pride ourselves on providing a private cloud-based system for our clients.

“It is our ability to provide our own data centres and a private network that marks us out from the competition, as 94% of our competitors use third-party data centres from which they rent services, which is not so secure.

“We take away a lot of risk for our clients as we do not use the public internet, but provide a completely private network instead - so businesses feel confident about outsourcing their IT and technology

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requirements to us. Clients have a direct, fibre optic connection between their office and our data centre – nothing goes out on the public internet, so any risk is vastly reduced.

“We are their complete office technology partners, advising, consulting, designing, constructing and delivering solutions – all of which is provided by our expert in-house team, who support clients every step of the way.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on the fact that all of the products we sell are products in which we are fully trained and accredited, so we have a deep understanding of them and can provide all necessary support in-house. If anything happens to our clients IT or telephony, we have the skills to fix them, we don’t use a third party.

“We provide clients with a completely integrated and unified office system, so wherever they are in the world, whatever device they are using, everything will be working for them and looking the same every day.

“Having provided managed IT services for over 28 years, we have gone from strength to strength, with the business now offering private cloud solutions from our privately owned data centre housed at our head office in Halesowen, near Birmingham and fully replicated at our Northampton office.

“We are fundamentally a Midlands-based business, though we serve companies in the North, South East, in London and the surrounding areas. Though we now have clients in almost every city in the world, the majority of our clients remain in the Midlands.”

What speaks volumes about EBC is that so much of their business comes through

referrals or is repeat business from existing clients, so when a client moves from one company to another for example, they take EBC with them.

“We don’t believe that one contract or product fits all, we offer a flexible service that is tailored to the needs of each client, and we provide all of the IT support services a company requires. Our clients also value the fact that we offer a private data centre and hence none of their data

May/June 2018

BIGINTERVIEW

We don’t believe that one contract or product fits all, we offer a flexible service that is tailored to the needs of each client, and we provide all of the IT support services a company requires.

goes outside of the UK,” says Richard, commenting on what makes their business unique.

Their commitment to excellent service is reflected in their recent award-win for the ‘UK Managed Service Provider of the Year’ at the national SVC (Server, Cloud, Virtualisation) awards. The EBC Group are also active in chamber events, advising their fellow chamber members on cyber security and how to prepare for the advent

of the General Data Protection regulation.

EBC Group remains a relatively small business, firmly rooted in the region, which is now supporting some national and international businesses, as well as many local ones, as Richard comments, EBC strikes a fine balance being “big enough to cope, but small enough to care.”

Looking to the future Richard says, “Work is beginning on our third data centre, which will be the biggest in the region

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

and which will be live by September 2018.

Over the next three years, we will see the biggest changes in technology we’ve ever seen, we will continue to work in partnership with our clients planning and delivering their IT.” The next stage of the EBC journey awaits, and it will be fascinating to see where it takes them, we’ll have to wait and see…

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COVERFEATURE

WHY CYBER SECURITY AND CYBER INSURANCE GO HAND IN HAND “Cyber Essentials provides reassurance that we are doing everything we can to protect our clients and the firm from cyber-attacks, and gives us the best possible chance of continuing our work without disruption,” says Julian.

“As part of the rigorous accreditation process an annual review of your policies and procedures takes place, plus a health check of your IT systems. They’ll look at your firewalls, malware, antivirus, permissions, passwords and equipment, what you have in place and whether there are any gaps.

Julian Powell - Business Director at Hallmark Hulme, Rebecca Widdowson - Managing Partner at Hallmark Hulme and Duncan Sutcliffe- Director at Sutcliffe & Co.

In this cover feature, we speak to two local businesses about their approach to cyber security and why cyber insurance is crucial: Julian Powell, Business Director of Hallmark Hulme, Worcester’s oldest and most experienced law firm, is adamant that Cyber Essentials accreditation is a key step for businesses to take to ensure their cyber security.

For those not in the know, Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed scheme that helps organisations protect themselves against common online threats and demonstrate their commitment to cyber security.

“EBC Group our IT partners were helpful in answering some of the more technical questions, whilst IASME were the accrediting body who approved our application, one of just five such bodies appointed by the government. IASME also delivered staff training and now all of our new employees are given the same training documents.

“At Hallmark Hulme, we have also achieved ISO 27001 - the international standard for Information Security Management, which demonstrates we follow information security best practice, and which has also been helpful in preparing for GDPR,” concludes Julian.

Hand in hand with ensuring your business is cyber secure comes protecting your business should a breach occur and that means taking out Cyber Liability Insurance too.

Cyber Essentials provides reassurance that we are doing everything we can to protect our clients and the firm from cyber-attacks, and gives us the best possible chance of continuing our work without disruption

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As Duncan Sutcliffe, Director of Sutcliffe & Co insurance brokers explains, “businesses are extremely reliant on their electronic communications and their data is vulnerable to deliberate and accidental threats, yet most businesses have not kept up with the changes and are not insuring against these risks.

“Whilst businesses insure against fire, flood, trips and falls which are all risks, they are not insuring against the more likely and more catastrophic incidents such as ransomware, viruses and data loss.

“The advent of GDPR has brought heftier fines for data breaches, but it is not just about fines, it is about the litigation that could be forthcoming, reputational damage, loss of business and business continuity issues.

“Cyber crime is more of a threat to businesses than all other crimes put together. You may lock your doors, but the reality is that burglars now act electronically and businesses are not insuring against that threat and are not taking sensible steps like gaining Cyber Essentials accreditation to protect themselves.

“The vast majority of cyber breaches are the result of or are enabled by human error, a criminal may send a phishing email, but it could be an untrained individual who opens it. That’s why Cyber Essentials is so important in raising awareness of the issues and helping businesses remain secure.

“Computers are relatively new to us and very alien, and businesses are not always aware of the avenues they provide into their business. Cyber Essentials accreditation is like having a lock on your door or window, it is sensible security to have in place.

“Cyber risk is like any other risk; you need to take steps to reduce that risk.

Training your staff is one of the cheapest and biggest wins a company can have, as people are the weak link when it comes to cyber security. Cyber Essentials has been

May/June 2018

COVERFEATURE

shown to be hugely effective, estimated as it is by GCHQ to reduce the risk of cyber breaches by 80%, so it makes sense to gain accreditation.

“Whilst cyber insurance is akin to having breakdown cover for your car, for IT experts will quickly be on hand to locate the root of the problem and recover your data. You’ll also benefit from a crisis management team who’ll help you with the reputational, financial and legal consequences of a data breach.”

In a nutshell, Cyber Essentials gives your colleagues confidence in dealing with potential cyber threats and builds trust with your customers, whilst cyber insurance gives you peace of mind and practical help, should your business’s cyber security ever be compromised.

For more information about Cyber Essentials and advice on how to ensure your business is secure visit www.cyberessentials.ncsc.gov.uk/

When it comes to cyber security, as Duncan observes, “Herefordshire and Worcestershire are recognised as areas of cyber security expertise so there are plenty of resources locally to help businesses with their cyber security.”

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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COVERFEATURE

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY STANDS AT A CROSSROADS

For Bruce Gardiner, Managing Director of STD Pharmaceutical Products Ltd, Brexit looms large. Withdrawal from the European Union (EU) is likely to mean significant changes for the business, yet the exact nature of these changes remains unknown until any subsequent agreements are reached, making preparation impossible.

STD is a small pharmaceutical business which amongst other things, produces a niche

sterile injectable product for the treatment of Varicose Veins, manufactured for over 50 years, the product is registered in 30 countries worldwide of which 13 are in Europe.

sale around the world, including the EU. It is not so simple as saying these specialist processes should be performed in the UK, for the expertise simply does not exist.

“For any business involved in export, Europe is by far the largest developed market, bigger even than America, so the impact of the potential loss of this market is huge,” explains Bruce.

“Ultimately, if Brexit goes ahead and no alternative agreements are put in place it will make it very difficult to bring pharmaceuticals into the UK and back into the EU. We would not be able to perform the pharmacovigilance activities in the UK that we currently carry out. Ultimately, we would not be able to hold EU licenses, so we would not be able to release products in the UK for sale in the EU.”

The Pharmaceutical sector as an international business is highly regulated and rightly so, and due to the costs of managing a business in this sector, few smaller companies such as STD Pharmaceutical survive. There have been many mergers and acquisitions in recent years and this is not surprising given the sheer complexity of producing and distributing a pharmaceutical product.

In the case of STD Pharmaceutical, their active pharmaceutical product has processes performed on it in the US, France, Sweden and Germany, before being packed and released from the UK for

As for the industry as a whole, as Bruce observes, “The pharmaceutical industry stands at a crossroads, the path that will be taken in the light of Brexit and any subsequent agreements that may be made remains unknown, these are uncertain times for the industry.” www.stdpharm.co.uk

WORCESTERSHIRE SELECTED AS THE HOME OF NEW 5G TESTBED Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is delighted to confirm that the county has been successful in its bid for Government funding to test and explore 5G connectivity, in order to revolutionise the way future business will operate both in the UK and globally.

The Worcestershire 5G Consortium will begin the country’s most comprehensive industrial 5G Testbed trial, with a team of 5G specialists and business experts pioneering the concept of “Industry 4.0”. The consortium of partners includes local infrastructure providers, national network operators and research and development facilities. They are: Worcestershire County Council, 5GIC at University of Surrey, AWTG, Huawei, O2, BT, and Malvern Hills Science Park.

The 5G Testbed will provide a revolutionary platform for local and national businesses to develop

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next-generation technology focused on improving the UK’s industrial productivity. Local businesses Worcester Bosch Group and Yamazaki Mazak have already been selected to experiment with preventative and assisted maintenance using robotics, big data analytics and augmented reality. QinetiQ will use the Test Bed to advance cyber security application, providing assurances on the ‘security by design’ of IoT technology.

Worcestershire LEP and the 5G Testbed consortium is already working to increase the pool of local expertise, and is welcoming interest from enterprises looking to increase industrial productivity. To fuel interest, the consortium has commissioned the creation of new courses at local academic institutions The University of Worcester and Heart of Worcestershire College. Entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to test 5G capabilities in a new commercial technology accelerator located at the Malvern Hills Science Park.

Worcestershire LEP is taking the lead in building a connected, creative, dynamic economy that delivers increased prosperity for all those who choose to live, work, and invest in Worcestershire.

If you would like to find out more and get involved, contact enquiries@wlep.co.uk

May/June 2018

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

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Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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MANUFACTURINGFEATURE

MANUFACTURING SECTOR STRUGGLES WITH SKILLS SHORTAGES According to Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey results, manufacturing firms across the two counties are experiencing three key challenges as they head into the new financial year, crucially, a year ahead of Brexit.

First and foremost, skills remain a challenge for the sector which is experiencing one of the biggest skills shortages in recent history.

Over two thirds of businesses in sector attempted to recruit in Q1 2018 and 59% struggled to find the right staff. The majority of roles that firms struggle to fill are skilled manual or technical roles, followed by professional and managerial roles

and semi or unskilled labour. Over half of the firms who tried to recruit apprentices, struggled to fill those vacancies. This is set within the context of some of the lowest uptake of apprentices we’ve seen across the UK. This is why we are focusing on attracting and retaining skills in the two counties by facilitating greater collaboration between the worlds of business and education. By doing this, we can enable our next generation economies to be flexible, highly skilled and, most importantly, world beating. We are lobbying for an apprenticeship system that encourages increased participation in quality training by business of all sizes, particularly by changes to the

flexibility of the Apprenticeship Levy.

We are also lobbying to make work experience mandatory for Year 10s and encouraging work placements to be made part of teacher training – helping teachers understand what it’s like to work in businesses of all shapes and sizes.

SECTOR ANALYSIS: HOW IMPORTANT IS THE A46 FOR YOUR BUSINESS? TIME TO TAKE A PROACTIVE STEP TO IMPROVE SKILLS Worcestershire based firms feeling the pinch from the skills shortage are encouraged to get involved in supporting the local skills agenda by becoming an Enterprise Adviser.

Enterprise Advisers are the cornerstone of the Careers & Enterprise Company’s national programme, a nationwide network of high calibre volunteers. Advisers work to support schools and colleges to navigate the range of possible employer interactions and to help them create a school strategy for careers, enterprise and employer engagement.

We are currently looking for passionate individuals to become Advisers for a local school or college in the region. We’re looking for people who are: n Passionate about motivating young people and preparing them for the world of work

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Midlands Connect to better understand the importance of the A46 for local firms and ensure that the route receives investment.

Local businesses are invited to get involved by completing a short survey on the route, which asks questions about how they use the route, problems on the route and where they think improvements should be made.

Following the research period, the Chamber will be pulling together a short report that will be shared with local and national policy makers and giving involved businesses the opportunity to meet with influencers at an upcoming transport event.

The survey can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NYH22M6 The deadline is Friday 11 May 2018.

n Well connected to employers of all sizes, with established networks and contacts n Motivated to lead engagement with schools in the local area n Willing to support the programme for a minimum of one year and for a minimum of 8 hours per month To get involved or to find out more information, please contact Sophia Haywood, Policy Manager on sophiah@hwchamber.co.uk

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May/June 2018

VKF Renzel (UK) Ltd Supplying Hereford & Worcestershire with Displays & Point of Sale Founded in Worcestershire in 1995, VKF Renzel is your local manufacturer for all things display and point of sale. With 27,000 sq ft of manufacturing and storage space in Bromsgrove, our modern facilities and experienced staff will help you to find the solution to your requirements.

We specialise in retail displays and point of sale equipment, offering everything from shelf edge strips and price holders to A-boards and shopping baskets.

We offer a wide range of literature and information displays, with solutions for exhibitions, offices and reception areas, plus schools, colleges and libraries.

For our customers in the catering and food trade, we manufacture menu holders and display stands.

Custom or bespoke enquiries are always welcome. Using state-of-the-art machinery such as laser cutting and diamond polishing, we can work with you to create your ideal display.

You can order our standard items online 24/7.

For custom or bulk enquiries, please contact our friendly team who will be pleased to help.

www.vkf-renzel.co.uk 01527 878311 sales@vkf-renzel.co.uk

Units 6 & 7, Saxon Business Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, B60 4AD

MANUFACTURINGFEATURE Business Direction May_Jun 2018_lr.pdf 1 06/04/2018

16:55:52

THE PRODUCT PACKAGING CHALLENGE: COMPANIES TACKLE PLASTIC PACKAGING While environmental impact has always been a concern, manufacturers and brand owners in the region have been facing increased pressure following recent exposure by TV shows and media coverage of the harmful impact of ‘over-packaging’ and the use of plastics on the oceans and our environment.

The Problem The importance of product visibility and protection combined with the familiarity of certain packaging formats and shapes mean that the issues of replacing plastics can be wide ranging. Concerns around ‘migration’ of fibres and glues along with the potential reduction of shelf life all need to be considered. examples of some of the recent shapes and materials being explored.

As retailers and large businesses struggle to find solutions for tackling this issue, Redditch based Pactivate have been hitting the challenge face on by exploring new alternatives to plastic trays and films.

A Bespoke solution Director/designer Robin Taylor said: “It’s easy to see why companies of all sizes find it difficult to change from a format that has worked for them. The challenge for us is to work with them to develop a solution that is cost effective, scalable and also satisfies the concerns of the producer and consumer. By spending some time solving the problem now, we can help to minimise some of the risks for the environment and a company's future sales."

The Future Advances in materials are always changing and Pactivate are optimistic about the challenge and flexibility of businesses in the region. Consumers are more informed than ever which means that the need to change and respond quickly is paramount. call Pactivate on: 01527 31 30 40 or via email: hello@pactivate.com

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May/June 2018

MANUFACTURINGFEATURE

FIRE SPRINKLER TANK INSPECTION AND REFURBISHMENT SERVICE Franklin Hodge Industries is able to offer a cost-effective and comprehensive firewater storage tank inspection, refurbishment and repair service throughout the UK, for all types of fire tanks. Refurbplus® is a service that has been developed out of Franklin Hodge’s long history and experience as a designer and manufacturer of fire water storage tanks to a range of both local and international design standards, for use world wide.

In 1973 Franklin Hodge developed a range of site assembled water storage tanks for among others, customers in the fire protection market. Development of the Franklin Hodge water tank range included the fitting of internal membrane liners; thereby giving firewater storage tanks an increased design life, as the stored water is effectively separated from the tank shell, thereby minimising the potential for corrosion. There was in parallel a growing requirement in the fire sprinkler industry for reliable, long life tanks to act as dedicated pump suction storage reservoirs for fire sprinkler systems.

Key elements of the Refurbplus® service include: n External tank inspection and survey n Internal inspection and survey following a full draindown of the tank n Internal inspection and survey with the tank full, using a remote controlled submarine camera unit.

EXTERNAL INSPECTION AND SURVEY What we provide for our customers: If a customer selects an external visual inspection and assessment is selected, this will include if necessary the use of an ultrasound-scanning device, to assist in the assessment of the condition of:

n Top and bottom rolled angles n Holding down brackets and bolts.

If in addition to the external inspection and survey, an internal inspection and survey is selected as well, this will entail a full drain-down of the tank. We then carry out a similar procedure to the external inspection and survey, including visual inspection and assessment, including if necessary the use of an ultrasound-scanning device, to assist in the assessment of the condition of: n Tank wall sheets and liners, where fitted n Pipe work spools and flanges, including suction pump outlet pipe work and anti-vortex devices n Internal surfaces of the tank cover and the cover support structure n Internal surfaces of ancillary equipment, such as immersion heater elements and level switches

n Tank wall sheets

n Internal ladders, where fitted

n Pipe work, spools and flanges

n Assessment of the amount of debris and silt present on the tank floor.

n Covers n Ancillary equipment, including immersion heaters, valves, contents gauges and level control switches n Ladders, platforms and hand-railing

If customers select an internal survey, an external survey is automatically included in the price of the work. Alternatively, some customers may not wish to drain their fire tank, as this mean paying a premium to their insurers

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

while the sprinkler system is off-line. To help customers avoid costly additional premiums, we can offer an internal inspection and survey with the tank full, using a remote controlled submersible camera unit (ROV Survey).

In this case, there is no need to drain the tank or system. In this case we can offer our customers the following service: A full survey, allowing an assessment of the interior of the tank, to include: n Tank wall sheets and liners, where fitted n Pipe work spools and flanges, including suction pump outlet pipe work and anti-vortex devices n Internal surfaces of the tank cover and the cover support structure n Internal surfaces of ancillary equipment, such as immersion heater elements and level switches n Internal ladders, where fitted n Assessment of the amount of debris and silt present on the tank floor.

If an internal ROV survey is requested, an external survey is automatically included in the price of the work. For more infomation contact us on: Tel: 01432 269605 sales@franklinhodge.com

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INTERNATIONALTRADE

WINNING BUSINESS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

BOOST YOUR SKILLS! Don’t miss the opportunity to access vital exporting information at our upcoming Masterclasses:

MARKETING SELECTION CLINIC

On Wednesday 28 February, a Department for International Trade event, “Winning Business in Central and Eastern Europe”, was hosted at Sixways Stadium in Worcester. Despite the extremely snowy conditions (an appropriate backdrop for the region concerned?), 25 companies attended and met with representatives from the British Chambers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Romania.

Also present were Department for International Trade Advisors covering Digital Trade, Language and Culture, Routes to Market and Mark Armitage, a specialist in the region based at the Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber.

for West Midlands businesses across a range of sectors, with local distributors and end-users hungry for innovative, value-added British products and services - no wonder 19% of Midlands exporters reported growth in CEE sales in 2016.

These five dynamic economies have over 50 million consumers with high GDP growth rates (e.g. Slovenia 4.5%, Romania 4.3% and Czech Republic 3.2%) - they are stable, safe and accessible EU markets and only 2-3 hours away using low cost air carriers.

Although relatively small markets in their own right (except for Romania with a population of circa 20m) once in this region it is very easy to travel between the countries so that a 5-day visit could easily incorporate three different countries.

British products and the British brand are recognised and appreciated for quality, tradition and style, with English widely spoken and used in international business. There are huge opportunities

Should you wish to know more about this exciting region full of excellent commercial opportunities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the International Trade Team at the Chamber on 01905 673 600.

To find out more about exporting, and to access support to help you sell abroad, visit www.great.gov.uk. To contact the local International trade team for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, call 01905 673 600. Alternatively, drop in to the Hereford Business Solutions Centre between 10.00am-2.00pm every Wednesday to talk to an Advisor - contact alison.avery@mobile.trade.gov.uk.

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Wednesday 23 May 9.30am-4.30pm H&W Chamber of Commerce, Prescott Drive, Worcester WR4 9NE

HOW TO INCREASE YOUR EXPORT SALES Wednesday 30 May 9.00am-1.30pm H&W Chamber of Commerce, Hereford Business Solutions Centre, Skylon Court, Hereford HR2 6JL

INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATION SKILLS Tuesday 5 June 9.00am-1.30pm H&W Chamber of Commerce, Hereford Business Solutions Centre, Skylon Court, Hereford HR2 6JL

MARKET SELECTION CLINIC Wednesday 27 June 9.30am-4.30pm H&W Chamber of Commerce, Prescott Drive, Worcester WR4 9NE

PITCHING YOUR BUSINESS TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE Tuesday 10 July 9.00am-1.30pm H&W Chamber of Commerce, Hereford Business Solutions Centre, Skylon Court, Hereford HR2 6JL To view the full calendar and to book your FREE place on one of these events, please visit www.bit.ly/ DITeventsHW

May/June 2018

INTERNATIONALTRADE

FIND INTERNATIONAL EXPORTING OPPORTUNITIES The Department for International Trade can support you in finding further exporting opportunities across the globe. Here are some examples of live exporting opportunities you can apply to get involved with now:

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL TRADE TRAINING COURSES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMPLIANCE Thursday 10 May 9.30am-4.30pm £250+VAT Members / £275+VAT Non-members

INCOTERMS (2010)

Canada – Social Media Monitoring An organisation is in need of social media monitoring, providing real-time monitoring and analysis of social media content.

Tuesday 5 June 9.30am-4.30pm

Expires Thursday 31 January 2019

£250+VAT Members / £275+VAT Non-members

Russia – Agricultural Machinery A distributor is looking for UK manufacturers of agricultural machinery and spare parts.

BASIC EXPORT DOCUMENTATION & PROCEDURES

Expires Tuesday 12 February 2019

new software to improve communication.

New Zealand – Housing Construction A government agency is looking for organisations who can undertake the detailed design and construction of residential dwellings.

Expires Tuesday 22 June 2021

Expires Sunday 19 April 2020 Brazil – Communication Network for Police A police security department is looking for

Turkey – Raw Plastics A plastic goods manufacturer is looking to buy raw plastic materials from the UK.

Tuesday 26 June 9.30am-4.30pm £250+VAT Members / £275+VAT Non-members

SURVIVING A CUSTOMS AUDIT

Expires Friday 30 December 2022

Thursday 5 July

To view all of these opportunities and more, please visit www.opportunities. export.great.gov.uk

9.30am-4.30pm £250+VAT Members / £275+VAT Non-members

INTRODUCTION TO UK EXPORT LICENSING

HEREFORDSHIRE INVESTMENT SITES IN SPOTLIGHT AT GLOBAL EXPO In March this year, key investment sites planned for development to create jobs in Herefordshire were showcased at the biggest global property and real estate show in Europe.

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was part of the Midlands UK delegation at MIPIM in Cannes, where opportunities for investors in Herefordshire was brought to light. Promoting the region as “one of the best places in the UK to invest, live, work and play”, the

Marches LEP worked with partners like the Herefordshire Council and the Enterprise Zone team to develop an exciting proposition for investors.

Graham Wynn OBE, Chairman of Marches LEP, said: “We have fantastic investment opportunities in our region, one of the most attractive locations in the UK to live and work. Global players including BAE Systems, Caterpillar, and Heineken have already chosen to base their operations here, where we offer a first-class business landscape and an outstanding quality of life.” www.marcheslep.org.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Tuesday 24 July 9.30am-4.30pm £250+VAT Members / £275+VAT Non-members To book onto any upcoming Chamber training courses for International Trade support, please visit www.hwchamber.co.uk/ events-calendar.

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE

KELSMOR DAIRY - FROM MOO TO YOU! Built on a proud history of dairy farming, Kelsmor Dairy has developed over the years from a simple farming enterprise to a diverse vertically integrated food business supplying companies and individuals across the Welsh Marches with delicious ice cream.

QUALITY FROM THE ROOTS To achieve a high quality product, you must start with high quality ingredients. At Kelsmor Dairy this core belief influences the entire process that allows us to produce ice cream from essentially grass, along with the help from some very special cows. We know that if we provide our Guernsey cows with tasty, nutritional feed and a caring, stress-free environment they will produce supremely rich and creamy milk. Such a high quality milk affords us the pleasure of being able to be one of very few ice cream producers who uses only the milk and cream produced by our own cows without having to 'top it up' from other sources. In order to do justice to the quality of the milk we take the quality of any flavouring we add to our ice creams very seriously, with many hours of research, trials and the all important

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taste-testing phase before products hit the shelves. Working with local fruit growers and other food producers we produce a wide range of seasonal and year-round frozen treats guaranteed to tickle even the most adventurous tastebuds.

FROM MOO TO YOU Just as we pride ourselves in the provenance and eminence of our products, we also aim to provide a service to our customers and retail partners second to none. Whether you have a retail business and want to provide your customers with a quality ice cream that you know exactly where it comes from, or have an event where you want the attendees to have a taste and story to remember, we have a solution for you.

Hotels and eateries can enjoy a wide range of flavours as an accompaniment or main attraction for desserts without having to worry about sparing kitchen space, staff or ingredient quality making their own on the spot. You pride yourself on your customers dining experience time after time and we can provide a consistent product you can be proud to serve alongside your finest cuisine. Want to try something new? We can tailor make special flavours on request and work out all the kinks so you don't have to.

A trip to the theatre would not be complete without drama, hijinks, popcorn

and increasingly ice cream. More and more of our ice cream is being enjoyed by theatre goers up and down The Marches, especially during pantomime season (obligatory ohh yes they are gag). We can provide freezers on loan year round, and extras for storage during your busiest times, couple this with our flexible delivery service and the show will always go on.

Corporate days can be a great way to promote your business, engage with clients and reward staff for a job well done.

Join the growing list of businesses booking one of our mobile ice cream parlours or event stands to attend their events. Last year staff at Dyson, members and families of the RAF and Army, and attendees of the Morgan Motor Company's Run for the Hills all enjoyed our ice creams.

Having only joined the Chamber recently we have enjoyed getting to know other Members and discovering all of the different businesses that call Hereford and Worcester home. We look forward to the possibility of working with more members in the future to continually improve the services and products we supply, whilst allowing more and more people to enjoy the quality ice cream they deserve.

Contact us: Susan & Mark Jones susan@kelsmor.com 01600750685

May/June 2018

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

I’M THE BEER THAT ALWAYS HITS THE MARK!

CHOOSE ME OR KISS GOODBYE TO YOUR NUTS!

PHONES DOWN, BOTTOMS UP!

ENJOY SUMMERTIME, ANYTIME!

QUALITY REAL ALE, RIGHT ON CUE!

SEE THE LIGHT, TASTE THE DARK!

Say hello to Wye Valley Brewery’s family of real ales! From our superior quality Bitter and easy-going HPA, through to the the ray of liquid sunshine that is Golden Ale, our friendly and charming Butty Bach, and the dark, thoughtful Wholesome Stout, every beer in our range has its own distinct character. And while The Hopfather may sound rough and tough, it’s actually a bit of a smoothie, so your crisps and nuts are safe!

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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VISITWORCESTERSHIRE

www.visitworcestershire.org

ROYAL WEDDING IN WORCESTERSHIRE Prince Harry and Megan Markle marry this month and Worcestershire has some royal connections for anyone wanting to add some gilt to their ceremony. William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway chose the city for their speedy nuptials and here are some options.

DIGLIS HOUSE HOTEL Diglis House Hotel recently welcomed back a couple on their 55th Wedding Anniversary. The couple took advantage of the newly installed riverside gate, recently commissioned and built in Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove. High quality railings and gates are synonymous with the town, Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts were commissioned in 1911 to make the railings and gates of Buckingham Palace. Capture your own royal pose on the steps.

AVONCROFT MUSEUM Wedding ceremonies are held in the atmospheric New Guesten Hall beneath its magnificent fourteenth century, Grade II* listed roof. The Guesten Hall at Worcester Cathedral is now simply ruins but in the 14th Century would have provided somewhere for pilgrims and other (possibly royal) visitors to the Cathedral to stay during their time in Worcester. This breathtaking and unique venue has over 600 years of history.

CROOME WALLED GARDENS The 18th century walled garden, designed by ‘Capability Brown has been restored by the Cronin family and will be open to the public for its 5th year. The Cronin family are looking forward to hosting outdoor sculpture and indoor art exhibitions this year, showcasing the work of talented and creative artists. Visitors will be able to see the extensive restoration work on the greenhouses, borders and working vegetable plots until the end of September every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus Bank Holiday Mondays.

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THE RING ART EVENT TIMELINE

NEW ADDITION TO HAGLEY HALL Hagley Hall is delighted to reveal its recent addition to the estate with the acquisition of the neighbouring Hagley Golf Club, set in 170 acres with picturesque views of Clent Hills. The new site is perfect for hosting golf days through to dining at social events and weddings with its own in-house caterers.

The diverse nature of Hagley Hall offers a truly unique and exclusive venue available for private banquets, wedding ceremonies and receptions boasting an on-location church and all set within 350-acres of landscaped parkland which is great for assembling a marquee for larger celebrations or corporate entertaining. For more information and to arrange a viewing with a member of Hagley Hall’s team, please contact 01562 887290 or email info@hagleyhall.com

The Ring Art is a celebration of a 21-mile circle of natural and historic waterways in Worcestershire. From March - September 2018, brand new art, literature, music, talks and workshops will be available for guests to enjoy.

Rich White: Occupation March - early September Diglis Island, Worcester Heather Wastie: The Muck and Shovel Brigade From 19 March. Read the online book at theringart.org.uk Katy Beinart: Saltways May - September. Gloucester Docks, Vines Park & Heritage Centre, Droitwich NEON: Weorgoran Pavilion 15-24 June Performances and workshops, South Quay, Worcester City Centre Dave Crowe: Shire Skies 15 June Stranger Faces performance 15-24 June Shire Skies soundscape selected times Weorgoran Pavilion, South Quay, Worcester City Centre Emily Speed: Hollowware August 2018. Diglis Canal Basin, Worcester Lucy McLauchlan: Opening the Floodgates August - September 2018. Oil Dock Basin, Worcester

May/June 2018

VISITHEREFORD

www.visitherefordshire.co.uk

ICONIC POPPY SCULPTURE "WEEPING WINDOW" OPENS IN HEREFORD The iconic poppy sculpture Weeping Window by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper is now on site at Hereford Cathedral until Sunday 29 April as part of the final year of 14-18 NOW’s UK-wide tour of the poppies.

The presentations by 14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, give people across the UK the chance to experience the impact of the ceramic poppy sculptures in a range of places of particular First World War resonance. At the end of the tour they will become part of the Imperial War Museums’ collection.

The men and women of Herefordshire made a huge contribution to the war effort, from the brave young men recruited into the Herefordshire Light Infantry among them Allan Leonard Lewis who was awarded the Victoria Cross - to the Canary Girls who filled munition shells at the Rotherwas Munitions Factory. Local

farmers provided food for the country and the Front, as well as horses for the movement of soldiers and supplies.

The Dean of Hereford said: “It is an enormous privilege for us at Hereford Cathedral to be the first venue in this final year of the 14-18 NOW tour to host Poppies: Weeping Window. As expected, it looks stunning, with the poppies cascading down the staircase turret of our north transept.”

Weeping Window is from the installation ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ – poppies and original concept by artist Paul Cummins and installation designed by Tom Piper – by Paul Cummins Ceramics Limited in conjunction with Historic Royal Palaces.

Visit Herefordshire is actively supporting this through donated advertising both on its website and in the new visitor guide.

To find out more information, please visit www.visitherefordshire.co.uk.

THE RIVERSIDE AT AYMESTREY FINALIST IN VISITENGLAND’S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE After its success at Visit Herefordshire’s Tourism Awards for Excellence, The Riverside at Aymestrey has been announced as a finalist in the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2018.

The national tourist board has revealed the shortlisted businesses ahead of the awards ceremony on Monday 23 April at Bath Assembly Rooms. The awards celebrate the very best in English tourism.

The Riverside at Aymestrey represents one of the three finalists in the Best Tourism Pub category. All finalists must wait until the awards ceremony to discover whether they have achieved a Gold, Silver or Bronze placing.

Speaking of the awards, Sally Balcombe, Chief Executive at VisitEngland, said: “These awards are a celebration of our

thriving tourism industry. They highlight the people and the organisations that deliver amazing experiences for visitors, raising the profile of England as a world-class destination.

“The finalists have shown themselves to be of the highest calibre, using their talent and innovation to deliver excellence. The hundreds of applications this year reflect the quality products across our tourism landscape and I warmly congratulate all the finalists and wish them the very best of luck.”

Aymestrey, Andy Link said “It’s a great honour for all of the team here who work so hard to create an enjoyable experience where people can visit and enjoy the region. We are so passionate in showcasing what an amazing place our beautiful part of Herefordshire is, from the artisan food and drink producers to the art, heritage, history and walking. To be a finalist in Best Tourism Pub, in an area where tourism is so vital is a really special achievement for all of us.”

Speaking on behalf of The Riverside at

www.riversideaymestrey.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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WORCESTERSHIREBUSINESSCENTRAL

www.business-central.co.uk

WORCESTERSHIRE BUSINESS CENTRAL AGRI-TECH ROUNDTABLE PROVES FRUTIFUL

ENTERPRISING WORCESTERSHIRE – IP & INNOVATION

Worcestershire Business Central invited Agri-tech businesses to take part in a roundtable to discuss current issues and barriers to growth within the sector.

Tuesday 1 May - 9.30am-12.30pm Heart of Worcestershire College, Worcester

The 25 businesses in attendance had the opportunity to talk about the problems facing the industry, such as, skills, Brexit, and accessing financial support.

BEEP SUSTAINABILITY FORUM Wednesday 9 May - 8.00-11.00am Worcester Bosch, Worcester

The Roundtable key speakers included: Professor Roy Kennedy, Pershore College, who talked about the new groundbreaking STEM facility at the College.

Jo Jury, Rural Development Lead DEFRA, who discussed the Rural Development Programme which provides money for projects to improve agriculture, the environment and rural life.

Sophia Haywood, Policy Manager, Chamber of Commerce, who highlighted the current politic climate businesses face and how the Chamber can support local businesses.

Businesses had the opportunity to network, discover potential funding to increase productivity and turnover, and

UPCOMING EVENTS

view the new groundbreaking facilities at Pershore College.

Randesh Kalar, Business Engagement Manager for Worcestershire Business Central, said “It was beneficial to bring together a mixture of businesses from the Agri-tech sector and offer the opportunity to build networks, source local suppliers, and to highlight the business support that is available for the sector in Worcestershire.”

To find out more about the Worcestershire Business Central Roundtables, or to discuss the funding and support available for your business in the area, please call Randesh Kalar on 01905 677 888

MANUFACTURING TOUR FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

OPEN SPACE MAY CHARITY BREAKFAST Friday 11 May- 7.30-9.30am Open Space, Malvern

WINN: “GREAT THINGS” Wed 23 – Thurs 24 May - All day The Hive, Worcester

THREE COUNTIES DEFENCE & SECURITY EXPO 2018 Thursday 31 May- 9.30am-4.30pm Three Counties Showground, Malvern

WORCESTERSHIRE FESTIVAL OF BUSINESS Friday 14 September 9.00am-4.00pm Chateau Impney, Droitwich Our events are updated regularly – to stay up-to-date and to book your place, please go to www.business-central.co.uk

The centre, one of five catapult centres in the UK, features some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world. Businesses had a first hand opportunity to view the cutting edge, innovative technologies, and leading training facilities for apprenticeships at the centre.

The Worcestershire businesses that took part in the tour, included: Neoperl, Malvern Panalytical, Smart Actuator, and Worcester Bosch.

Worcestershire Business Central recently facilitated a tour for local businesses of the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry.

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Gwen Evans, Business Engagement Manager at Worcestershire Business Central, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to view the world-leading facilities, engineers, and award winning apprenticeship scheme at the MTC. We will continue to facilitate future tours of local universities, bringing

Worcestershire businesses together with the technologies and talent that challenge the boundaries of manufacturing.”

For more information or if you would like to participate in a future tour, please contact Gwen Evans on 01905 677 888, or email gwene@business-central.co.uk

May/June 2018

Worcestershire Business Central Worcestershire Business Central, part of the government-supported Growth Hub network, brings all aspects of business support into one place

With access to a helpline, website, business events calendar, and one-to-one sector focused support and guidance, we can offer free support at any stage of your business journey

Starting

Growing

Contact our team today on 01905 677888 or email info@business-central.co.uk Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Running

Funding

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE Whether you are property owner needing to sell, or are looking to lease new business premises, we can help.

City Arcade, Worcester, WR1

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The Screenhouse, , Worcester, WR2

· Sales and purchases of commercial property · Commercial property lettings · Lease renewals and terminations · New developments · Auction sales and purchases · Property-based business sales

T. 0330 024 3000 E. commercial@andrew-grant.co.uk

Working hard for Worcestershire Harris Lamb is a progressive national Commercial Property Consultancy focused on delivering realistic, effective and commercial solutions to clients across the property spectrum. With a diverse range of clients across the whole of the UK, the 75-strong team provides a comprehensive range of services including property management, planning, Rating, lease advisory, recoveries and LPA receivership, corporate support, development, investment and building consultancy. Harris Lamb’s Commercial Agency team has won the prestigious EGi Most Active Agent of the Year award for the region for eight consecutive years and overseen a number of high profile commercial deals within the Worcestershire region and the Midlands.

During the course of 2017, the business has enjoyed significant success throughout Worcestershire, having secured planning permission to build Fortis Living’s new HQ in the city centre and being responsible for marketing the region’s Worcester Six business park at Junction six of the M5. The business has overseen the first letting at the site, a 15-year lease on a 140,000 sq ft unit to healthcare manufacturer Kimal PLC.

www.harrislamb.com

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May/June 2018

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

LEADING FROM THE FRONT

Platinum Group are proud to announce the arrival of Steven Holmes as Operations Manager, he brings with him a wealth of experience in the commercial sector and thrives on providing the best customer service.

“The business has seen unprecedented growth over the last 12months, Steve’s appointment is part of our ongoing search for key personnel to cater for the ever increasing work load and diversity of challenges” said Adrian Clements (MD)

Steve has worked his way to the top, from a junior continuing up the ladder to become Depot Manager, driving 100% KPI’s on a daily basis and winning depot of the year for 5 consecutive years.

n Plumbing

Away from the business Steve manages two junior football teams and has done for the past 9 years, he said it still gives me a buzz, the teamwork effect from the game is something I strongly believe in and bring into the work environment.

n Plastering

Platinum Group offer a 24x7x365 service to commercial property owners, with a team of over 65 mobile engineers we are able to offer a complete building maintenance solution to our clients. We have experience in carrying out work both in and out of normal operating hours. We can ensure rapid first time fix through carrying adequate stock level on our vehicles and by obtaining uplifts for work if required. We are Gas Safe and NIC EIC registered and all our engineers wear full company uniform and carry ID. Our team is fully trained and compliant with all Health and Safety and Legal requirements.

n Gas & Heating n Glazing n Brickwork n Carpentry/Joinery n Painting and Decorating n Floor/Wall Tiling n Flooring n Roofing n Electrical n HVAC The Granary, Brockhill Court, Brockhill Lane, Redditch, B97 6RB Phone: 01527 599 989 Email: kw@platinum-commercial.co.uk

Platinum Group specialises in the following commercial building maintenance services:

To Let

New and Refurbished Industrial Units Pleasant and Convenient Location For enquiries please call

01384 569556 or 01299 822731 Wilden Industrial Estates Wilden lane, Stourport-on-Severn DY13 9JY

enquiries@wildenestates.co.uk

www.wildenestates.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE

“Absolutely brilliant staff so friendly, helpful and attentive even helped me set up my venue as I was running behind.

Food was delicious would definitely use again” 10/10 Airwright Midland Redditch– Corporate event fundraiser 120 people “Thank’s everyone…spot on as usual. Very little scope for improvement 10/10” Strickland Tracks – Pershore Repeat booking Surprise staff lunch 70-80 staff “Scrumptious! All employees loved their food “ 10/10.

Karndean Designflooring – Evesham Surprise employee lunch. 80 staff members “The mobile chip shop turned up on time, the staff were polite and smartly dressed, food was absolutely delicious, they acted in a professional manner and were efficient throughout the service. I would highly recommend to all parties.”

Mr James Powell - Sequani Herefordshire – Repeat booking 200 staff and family

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May/June 2018

MOVERSANDSHAKERS Sam

Anne-Marie

NEW RECRUIT FOR GREEN LIGHTING NEW HEAD OF PRIVATE CLIENT SERVICES FOR WYE VALLEY LEGAL TEAM Bringing substantial experience to the Wye Valley office of Harrison Clark Rickerbys inc Shawcross, David King has joined the firm as Head of Private Client services in the Wye Valley and Hereford.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE FOR DS&P CO With a wealth of experience behind her in several industries, Jemma Shone has joined The Droitwich Sign and Print Co as its new Business Executive.

David comes to the firm after heading up a highly successful private client team - his experience includes advising the high net worth clients of a number of high street banks and insurance companies on estate planning, estate administration and trust matters.

Jemma commented: “I am so excited to be joining the team at this stage of its development. The company offers such a broad range of quality products and services and is constantly looking for new ones to stay one step ahead of the competition. I can’t wait to start!”

www.hcrlaw.com

www.droitwichprint.co.uk

Locally renowned award winning Chef Richard Evans has joined the Green Lighting group at the helm of their healthy eating venture “The Office Canteen”. Based at the Great Western business park, the canteen is open to everyone and provides freshly cooked food that can be eaten in or taken away. At Richards’s side are two further recruits Mandy Churchill and Becky Omara.

Richard commented “It is a fantastic opportunity to be part of. I’m excited about being able to provide locally sourced products in a variety of fresh and healthy dishes.” www.greenlighting.co.uk

PRACCTICE APPOINTS NEW PRESENTATION SPECIALIST CLIENT DEMAND TRIGGERS KAMAZOY APPOINTMENT TWO NEW APPRENTICES JOIN JANITORIAL DIRECT LTD Mariella Franks and Tyler Walters are the latest to join the team at Janitorial Direct.

Based at its county house offices in Worcester, Kamazoy Virtual IT Department has appointed Josh Kingsbury to the post of Network Engineer.

Mariella is taking a Business & Administration course at Kidderminster College, since joining the firm she has quickly excelled in everything she turns her head to. Tyler is with us to undertake a warehouse course with the Apprenticeship Center, and in a short time has become a valuable member of the warehouse team. Both have said they are excited for their futures with Janitorial Direct.

Commenting on his appointment, Josh said: “Having previously worked for Kamazoy two years ago, it was the relaxed and supportive atmosphere which brought me back and a great feeling to know that no issue is too big and there’s always a strong team who can help, in an environment where everyone brings their own specialism to the team, and opinions are valued and considered.

www.janitorialdirect.co.uk

www.kamazoy.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Pracctice Ltd is pleased to announce its appointment of Rob Johnson as Presentation Specialist.

Speaking of his appointment, Rob said: “I am excited to be able to work with one of the leading suppliers of Legal Practice software in the industry. Pracctice provide an enviable combination of forward thinking design and development with industry leading training and support.

I hope to enhance their outstanding customer support and leverage the extensive functionality by working with new and existing customers to deliver greater working efficiencies and customer transparency.”

MEET YOUR NEW ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES The Chamber is delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Holdaway and Anne-Marie Jepson as Account Executives for Worcestershire.

With previous experience as an Account Manager for local tourism businesses, Anne-Marie is eager to get stuck in at the Chamber. Speaking of her appointment she said: “I am excited to be a part of the Chamber team, the people I work with are so lovely and helpful and I would love to bring the same service to my Members.”

Sam has joined the team with a wealth of experience from a previous role at a global IT company dealing with service delivery, project releases and management to name but a few. Commenting on her role, Sam said: “I am thrilled to join the Chamber at this really exciting time, and I can’t wait to support Members with their business aspirations.”

BE A MOVER & SHAKER Movers & Shakers is the page for your business to share any news about new appointments, promotions, retirements or even apprentices. The perfect way to break the ice and get to know the who’s who in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, make sure to send 80 words with a high resolution image to businessdirection@ hwchamber.co.uk for the chance to be included.

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MEMBERSSERVICES

BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES n HR & Legal Support: Trained HR and Legal Professionals are on hand 24/7 to offer free and unlimited advice on a range of issues, from employment issues through to environmental health, taxation and VAT. To contact our Qdos advisers, please call 01455 852037 and have your account number ready!

roadside assistance services for Chamber Members. n Primary Healthplan: Member’s employees can reclaim the costs of their healthcare through the Westfield Healthcare Chamber Plan.

This discounted scheme helps to reduce absenteeism and recruit/ retain staff.

n Roadside Assistance: Providing up to 61% off the standard rates of AA’s

SUCCESS FOR THE FIRST GROWTH FORUM OF THE YEAR

Attendees at the forum included delegates from Haygrove Ltd, Land Rover Experience, AKW & Worcestershire County Cricket Club, as well as 20 other local businesses that were keen to engage and grow.

Jane Brant of Muller England Ltd commented: “Excellent content and venue, Look forward to the next one.”

The next Growth Forums will be held in May and September, and will be available on our website at www.hwchamber.co.uk, or for more information please contact hayleyg@hwchamber.co.uk.

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To take advantage of these benefits, please contact your Account Manager on 01905 673 600

FIRST EXPO FOR THE SITE DOCTOR The Chamber’s spring Business Expo took place on Thursday 8 March at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern. It was this Expo that was Hereford-based The Site Doctor’s first.

On Tuesday 13 March, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce held the first Growth Forum of the year, sponsored

by EBC Group. The morning was held at Stanbrook Abbey Hotel and highlighted the new GDPR rules that will come into enforcement on Friday 25 May 2018.

Delegates heard from speakers Reynold Lemming, of the Information and Records Management Society, and Tim Waterton of M-Files, who both discussed the practical steps for managing documents and data, and explained how personal data can be identified, secured and managed. The growing businesses were keen to get “clued up” and take top tips on this hot topic to ensure they’re compliant with GDPR going forward.

n Private Healthcare: Access reduced price private medical insurance from AXA on the Chamber healthcare plan. This plan has been designed to get you back to health and back to work as soon as possible by giving you prompt access to diagnosis and treatment.

HEREFORDSHIRE MEMBERS UPDATE Rosie Boulanger, Account Executive covering Herefordshire and beyond, provides a bi-monthly update for what’s been going on in Herefordshire.

Rosie says: “I was delighted that the Chamber was chosen as the 46th Best Not-for-Profit Organisation to work for by The Sunday Times Top 100 earlier this year.

“Working with our Members is the driving force behind the hard-work that we carry out at the Chamber, and what makes our job so enjoyable.

“I was thrilled to see so many faces at our Meet The Neighbours event and Expo, it is encouraging to see so many local firms engaging in our business community.

“I’m looking forward to meeting more of you at our very first Maximise Your Membership event at our Hereford offices in Rotherwas on Friday 11 May. Guests will hear from the Chamber Membership team and Chief Executive about getting the most out of your membership.”

Speaking of the event, Tim Gaunt, CEO, said: “March was The Site Doctor’s first Business Expo so we weren’t sure what to expect.

Having been to a number of exhibitions before, we knew that we’d need to put on a good show. We were pleasantly surprised by both the turnout and reception we received by all involved. There was a great variety of businesses at the expo ranging from sole traders right up to multi-nationals.

“We already feel that the Expo has helped raise The Site Doctor’s profile within Herefordshire and Worcestershire and we’re hopeful that we’ll be building Chamber Member websites soon - time will tell.

“We feel the Expo was well run and the key note speakers were interesting and relevant in the current economic climate, we would definitely recommend exhibiting if you’d like more awareness of your business.” www.thesitedoctor.co.uk

May/June 2018

ADVERTORIALFEATURE

PERSHORE COLLEGE’S £5.8M TRANSFORMATION Pershore College’s £5.8m transformation, houses business suites and versatile spaces for conferences, meetings and entertainment.

CORPORATE TEAM DAYS Come to Pershore College for your team away day for fun team building, great food and state of the art meeting spaces and facilities. Pershore College is in a beautiful location with views of the Malvern Hills and is a great place to get away from the workplace and try something new.

The beautiful surroundings, together with modern facilities, makes Pershore College an ideal location for any meetings or training events.

THE FACILITY From the elegance of Avonbank to the versatility of our tiered seated lecture theatre, we have a wide range of rooms suitable for meetings of two up to 187 guests. n An ideal central England location

n Technical support available n Exclusive use (by arrangement) n Fully licensed bar and nightclub available for hire

n Less than 15 minutes from M5 junction 7

n Delegate’s discount of 10% at onsite Plant Centre

n Pershore rail station only three miles from the college

n Ensuite student accommodation may be available to hire by delegates

n Free on-site parking

CATERING

n Free internet access

Our professional in-house catering team will freshly prepare quality hot and cold catering on the premises, to your exact dietary requirements.

n Fully equipped training and meeting rooms n Multi-purpose hall with retractable seating n Business services: photocopying, PC access, printing and faxing

Let our experts in horticulture, food production, juice and cider making create a fun and unique team building session for you.

MAKE A BOOKING We are entirely flexible, allowing you to choose between hiring our facilities by the hour, half-day or whole day. Our rates are competitive to suit all budgets or we can provide bespoke packages.

To make an enquiry or booking, contact space@wcg.ac.uk or call us on 0300 456 4550.

Whether you require breakfast, morning coffee, a buffet lunch, or a formal dinner, we will tailor a menu to compliment your event and budget.

The Midlands has been our home ever since we started doing business over 20 years ago. We now provide our voice, data and connectivity services to over 3,000 businesses nationwide but our roots will always be here, helping local businesses to connect with one another and their customers.

Get in touch today for your FREE telecoms consultation. This includes: + Free analysis of your current telecoms spend + Access to the best rates on the market + Free demonstration of how we can improve your current setup.

To find out how we can help you get connected, get in touch today.

E: enquiries@networktelecom.co.uk T: 01952 221 312 www.networktelecom.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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ADVERTORIALFEATURE

FRESH NEW LOOK FOR AWARD WINNING ACCOUNTANTS Thirty-three-year-old firm of chartered accountants, Ballard Dale Syree Watson are delighted to have recently launched their new name and fresh branding.

The firm will now be known as Ballards LLP. Chief Marketing Officer, Steven Jones is quick to point out that the core principles of the business which are to provide a quality service and modern thinking still remain paramount to the firm.

“We felt that the new name and branding better reflect how the firm feel internally and how we want to be recognised in the marketplace. This is as a progressive firm of modern thinkers that are motivated by providing quality advice to our clients. We have been embracing and implementing a great deal of technology into the firm over recent years and I hope that this is further improving our service to clients.”

The award-winning firm of chartered accountants employs over 60 professional staff including eight partners. CEO James Syree said “We have grown substantially over recent years and felt that this was

Pictured L-R: Chief Marketing Officer Steven Jones and Chairman Bill Ballard.

the right time to go through the rebrand process. Changing a company’s name is always a lengthy process and I’m sure it will take a little while to bed in with clients and the general public. One thing is for sure and that is that the new name is certainly less of a mouthful!”

The rebrand project was done in

partnership with Creative Folks design agency and Droitwich Sign & Print Co who worked on the firm’s two buildings based in Hampton Lovett, Droitwich. Managing Director of Droitwich Sign and Print Co, Mark Hanson said “We have worked with Ballards LLP for a number of years and it’s great to be able to support them going into their next stage of growth.”

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May/June 2018

BUSINESSNEWS

QINETIQ TO HOST FIRST WOMEN’S ENGINEERING SOCIETY CONFERENCE The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) is delighted to invite the local business community to the WES 1st Regional Cluster Conference on Tuesday 24 April, hosted by QinetiQ. The purpose of the conference is to meet and form a local member network, invigorating and kick-staring the Cluster.

The event promises to be a fantastic evening with a variety of experienced speakers as well as ample networking time. Guests will hear from mfg Solicitors on key aspects of employment law related

to D&I, QinetiQ and the Chief Executive of WES. The event will arm visitors with relevant insights into WES and MentorSET, who offer independent mentors who understand the challenges in the industry and can provide support and advice.

Refreshments will be available throughout the event and are kindly donated by mfg Solicitors.

For more information, please contact Cath Heslop at info@wes.org.uk www.qinetiq.com

SIEMENS TO INVEST IN NEW 3D-PRINTING FACTORY Siemens is to make a £27 m investment in a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for Worcester-based Materials Solutions Ltd. The new building, set to open in September 2018, will enable it to increase its fleet of 3D printing machines from 15 to 50 over the next five years.

The new factory will be fully powered

by Siemens Digital Enterprise technologies solutions, an end-to-end portfolio comprising software-based systems and automation components which cover every conceivable requirement arising along the industrial value chain and therefore harness the potential of digitalisation.

Cassie Bray, Director of Business Engagement at the Chamber, said “Siemens investing in Worcester is great news for our local businesses and the local community. We’re delighted that the new jobs created will be high tech and focused on the latest 3D-printing innovations for industry – a sign that our region can be at the centre of a fourth industrial revolution” www.siemens.com

FREE BUSINESS START-UP COURSE AT UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER ROCK POWER CONNECTIONS EXPANDS INTO UTILITY SURVEYING One of the UK’s fastest growing Independent Connections Providers, Rock Power Connections, is excited to announce the launch of Rock Surveying - a new dedicated Utilities Mapping service.

The launch of Rock Surveying is a natural, strategic move for the innovative firm, who, through their work on the distribution network, are experienced in identifying the routing, type and depth of buried services.

As a result, its new utilities mapping service will allow for greater confidence during construction, improving safety and assisting project management timescales through the creation of accurate GRP Geophysical and Topographical surveys.

Operations Director, Reece James, explained: “The expansion and diversification of the Utilities Sector has led to an increased difficulty in assessing accurate, current and unambiguous utility asset information. The creation of quality, underground utility surveys quickly overcomes this difficulty, offering risk aversion to those engaged in design, construction and asset maintenance.”

Last summer saw 40 individuals take part in the free Enterprising Worcestershire Summer Startup Bootcamp at the University of Worcester, which is part funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund through Worcestershire County Council.

Recruitment has started for this year’s start-up bootcamp which will commence on the Monday 9 July and will span various dates over the summer. The course is delivered by industry experts, Entrepreneurs and Lecturers covering topics such as Ideation, Venture Creation, Marketing, Sales and Finance.

To be eligible you just need a Worcestershire postcode and not yet registered the business with HMRC. Part of the initial ideation days will help you create business ideas if you don’t yet have one.

To find out more, discuss eligibility and attendance please email joanne. murphy@worc.ac.uk or sign up at http://www.worcesterenterprise.org/ summer-startup-bootcamp/

www.rockpowerconnections.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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NEWPEOPLETODOBUSINESSWITH BROMSGROVE

HARTLEBURY

Choose Your Carer

All-Clean Support Services Ltd

M P Sports Cars Ltd

01527 834626

01299 666116

Care Services in Community www.chooseyourcarer.co.uk

Cleaning Contractors www.acssltd.co.uk

Selling & Servicing Supercars www.thesupercarrooms.co.uk

BNI Midlands

HAY-ON-WYE

Cleftbridge Limited

Hay and Brecon Farmers Ltd

01497 820516

Specalists in Hi-Tech Surface Coatings www.cleftbridge.co.uk

Agricultural Supplies www.hayandbrecon.com

Linthwaite Ltd

0121 7115112 Business Network www.bni-worcestershire.co.uk

Cripps Heating & Plumbing

01527 835888 Heating & Plumbing www.lac-plumbingandheating.co.uk

Weaves Interiors T/A World of Weave UK LTD

01527 575377 Interior & Outdoor Living www.weavesinteriors.co.uk

Barton Court

01242 248177 Venue/Accommodation www.bartoncourtonline.co.uk

01531 633771

Brinsop Court

01432 509925 Venue/Accommodation www.brinsopcourt.com

07725973847 Business Consultancy www.businessdoctors.co.uk

Insulation & Plumbing Plastics Manufacturer & Supplier www.davant.co.uk

Trumpet Corner

01531 670082 CafĂŠ/Exhibition Space www.trumpetcorner.co.uk

LEOMINSTER Orphans Press Ltd

D & T Engineering Ltd

01432 355433

01568 612460

Engineering & Manufacturing www.dandtengineering.co.uk

Creative Design, Print & Web Development Agency www.orphans.co.uk

Droitwich Back & Neck Clinic

Hampton Hire Limited

The Seed Group (Herefordshire Media Ltd)

01905 798226

01432 379399

Private Healthcare www.droitwichchiro.com

Events & Catering Equipment Hire www.hamptonhire.com

Brand Communication, Websites & Content www.theseedgroup.co.uk

Hanbury Watches

Juniper Bars

07496665126

07429 002203

MALVERN

Ecommerce Watches www.hanburywatches.com

Hospitality/Bar Hire www.juniperbars.com

Mindful Holistic Therapies Ltd

Kidwells Solicitors

0786174103

01432 278179

Holistic Therapies www.minfulholistictherapies.co.uk

Specialist Lawyers: Employment Law, Commercial Law, Debt Recovery, Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution www.kidwellssolicitors.co.uk

Indra Renewable Technologies Ltd

RentMyHouse.co.uk Limited

Malvern Mindfulness

07963 393315

01684 560677

Serviced Accommodation/Lets www.rentmyhouse.co.uk

Health & Wellbeing www.malvernmindfulness.co.uk

DROITWICH

Physique Fitness Ltd

01905 797452 Gym www.physique-fitness.com

EVESHAM

01568 737970

Dirt Works Bikes Ltd

01684 212278 Bike Retailer www.dirtworks.co.uk

01684 770631 Smart energy and vehicle conversions www.indra.co.uk

The New Curiosity Shop

Malvern Special Families

01386 442753

07983982566

01684 892526

Multi Academy Trust (Special Education) www.advancetrust.org

Antiques

Special Families Charity www.malvernspecialfamilies.org.uk

Advance Trust

Geeknson

01386 764755 Manufacturer of Fine Furniture www.geeknson.com

Keskidee Marketing

Vision Gelpack Limited

01432 267391 Polyethylene Extrusion Manufacturer www.vision-gelpack.co.uk

KIDDERMINSTER

07968809306

Branches Nationwide

Marketing Consultancy www.keskidee.co.uk

01562 850614 Grounds Maintenance www.branchesnationwide.co.uk

Swimming Hippo

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LEDBURY

01531 630068

HEREFORD

Business Doctors

COLWALL

07970740363

01386 764747

Cheshires Laser Mail

Web design, Digital Marketing & Graphic Design www.swimminghippo.co.uk

01562 610350 Mailing Services www.cheshireslasermail.co.uk

Quest for Future Solutions

07904 389889 Sustainable Development Consultancy www.questforfuturesolutions.co.uk

PERSHORE Abbey Forestry

01386 554027 Woodland Management www.abbeyforestry.co.uk

Exponential Coaching Ltd

07824837636 Coaching - Business & Life www.exponentialcoaching.co.uk

May/June 2018

NEWPEOPLETODOBUSINESSWITH Far Eastern Mould Tools Ltd (FEMT Ltd)

P W Compass Ltd

Taurus Customer Service Ltd

01386 462286

07545 838281

01905 330 996

Sourcing Plastic Mould Tooling & Parts. www.femt.co.uk

LED Lighting Solutions www.highbeamsolutions.com

Call Centre www.windsormint.co.uk

Quick By Design Ltd

Q M Systems Ltd

The Unity Brew House Ltd

01386 554554

01905 621882

01886 884110

Design & Building of Websites www.quickbydesign.co.uk

Bespoke Automation Systems www.qm-systems.com

Brewing www.unitybrewhouse.co.uk

STOURPORT

Shrubbery Dental Practice

Thyme Keepers Limited

Astley Vineyard

01905 20136

07752162638

01299 822907

Dental Practice www.shrubberydental.co.uk

Retail www.thymekeepers.co.uk

Vineyard www.astleyvineyard.co.uk

Silver Fox Chambers

Worcester Food Bank

07495173507

01905 780400

07821660198

Barristers Chambers www.silverfoxchambers.org

Charity www.worcesterfoodbank.org.uk

Coaching, Training & Development www.inspiremedevelopment.com

Sterling Networks Ltd

You Do Better

01905 947150

07891777464

0330 1200295

Networking Events www.sterlingnetworks.co.uk

Business Support www.youdobetter.co.uk

IT solutions & Support Company www.surftechit.co.uk

Stripes Retail Ltd

InspireMe Development

Surf Tech IT

Wall James Chappell Solicitors

01384 371622

01905 26772 Womenswear Retail & Beauty Salon www.stripesfashion.co.uk

Sollicitors www.wjclaw.co.uk

WORCESTER Clothes4Work Limited

0800 0325660 Provision of Workwear, Business wear & Leisure wear www.clothes4work.co.uk

Coffee-Bike

07506 927940 Specialist Coffee Catering www.coffee-bike.com

Exsel Dytecna Limited

01684 579000 Engineering Design & Manufacturing www.exsel-dytecna.com

Fancy Dress Worldwide

0800 0209910 Online Retail www.fancydressworldwide.com

Fit3Sixty Ltd

07760475579 Personal Training Facility www.fit3sixty.co.uk

Montel Civil Engineering Ltd

01905 425468 Civil Engineering National & International www.montelcivilengineering.co.uk

Mutually Yours Limited

07886 356963 Business Service www.mutualonline.co.uk

P & D Surgery

0800 0482321 Plastic Surgery & Medical Education www.pdsurgery.co.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

059

NEWPEOPLETODOBUSINESSWITH

RENTMYHOUSE.CO.UK Rentmyhouse is a unique lettings and management service for quality serviced accommodation in Herefordshire. With over 20 years’ experience in the lettings industry, former owners of Maitland Rachel Letting Agents, Carey and Mike McKeown are now providing short term lets, serviced apartments, corporate lets and self-catering holiday lets.

Rentmyhouse.co.uk specialise in providing accommodation for corporate clients.

They are able to source suitable properties either using their own property portfolio, existing client’s properties or new instructions and they are always looking to take on new properties on behalf of local landlords.

WELCOME TELECOM: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF TRADING!

Orphans is a multi-faceted design to print to web business based in Leominster. The business origins (as far back as 1873) were in printing but has now broadened to offer full branding and communication services.

With a team of 15 designers and web developers Orphans are working with a spectrum of clients including Chase Distillery, Edward Bulmer Paints and Hereford Cathedral School.

For more please take a look at www.orphans.co.uk or contact Helen on 01568 612460

www.rentmyhouse.co.uk

RentMyHouse can help anyone looking for a short term let whatever their circumstances. Their accommodation offers 24/7 guest support, check-in and key exchange, fully equipped self-catering

THE OPRHANS PRESS

Director, Helen Bowden, says: “We are in the business of really getting to know our clients and where they are headed. This allows our design team to produce fresh and innovative ideas which we can then take straight into production, whether it is online with website development and applications or into printing where we have full digital and litho facilities. This integrated approach is liked by clients not just for convenience but because of the joined up brand thinking we deliver.”

facilities and free Wi-Fi as standard in all properties. The nightly rates are more competitive than a lot of the budget hotel chains and there are discounts based on the length of stay.

YOU DO BETTER Owned by Ruby Edwards, You Do Better delivers on-site business support, project management and virtual consultancy – consultancy, just not in your office - as well as supporting the communication needs of businesses through intelligent and strategic content marketing; distributing valuable, relevant and consistent on line material via social media, blogs, press releases and video.

Ruby splits her time between You Do Better and Worcester Web Studio – as well as being a Partner at #WorcestershireHour - drawing upon 15 years’ experience as a Business Consultant.

Ruby has a strong understanding of customer service requirements in both leadership and operational positions, as well as a depth of knowledge in compliance, quality and change management. A wealth of experience in communications, marketing and PR as well as campaign management – across all media – and managing multiple stakeholder relationships.

Welcome was established in 1998 with the aim of providing hassle-free telecommunication services to UK organisations. Over the past 20 years it has been doing exactly that for all shapes and size of company, from SoHos to blue chip enterprises. As new, relevant, technologies come to market Welcome utilises them to help its customers work more effectively and efficiently. Welcome tailors the best solutions to fit every company’s unique requirements, enabling time and cost savings to be made, and ensuring that the smallest company is able to benefit from the same functionality and flexibility as the biggest corporation.

Managing Director, Duncan Laker, said: “We are proud of the relationships we have with our customers, and are always looking at new technologies which we know will help them do business. We look forward to continuing these relationships and forging new ones now and into the future!” www.welcometelecom.co.uk

www.youdobetter.co.uk

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May/June 2018

CHARITYNEWS

BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR CHARITY’S 40TH

WORCESTER MARATHON RETURNS THIS MAY Sunday 20 May will see the return of Worcester’s Full and Half Marathon in aid of St Richard’s Hospice.

Hewett Recruitment is delighted to once again be sponsors of this great event, now in its 7th year and has always been hugely popular event with the running community. Well known for its challenging but scenic route, the course takes runners through some of Worcester’s beautiful countryside. The event raises much needed funds to enable the Hospice to continue its valuable work within the community. This year, Hewett has arranged for Sports Therapy Studio to be on hand at the finish line with a team offering runners a well-deserved sports massage to soothe those aching muscles. Hewett staff will be at the finish line cheering runners home, as well as handing out medals and T-shirts. To find out more about registering and details of the event, please visit: http://bit.ly/ WorcesterMarathon2018

Herefordshire Mind is proud to be celebrating its 40th birthday in 2018, with festivities taking place throughout the year. The local mental health charity is currently putting together plans for a community art project at the Ledbury Poetry Festival in July, with many more projects yet to be announced!

In further celebration, the mental health charity is pleased to welcome Environmental Management Solutions (EMS) and Hereford Asbestos Services (HAS) who have pledged to show their support for the local charity. Both EMS and HAS have shown their support through an initial donation and a pledge to support Herefordshire Mind in its 40th year through continuing fundraising efforts throughout the year.

Herefordshire Mind provides quality support to people experiencing and recovering from mental health problems, whilst raising awareness and promoting understanding about mental health issues.

It believes in finding positive ways to make people feel valued and to enable them to live the lives they want, as fully as possible. www.herefordshire-mind.org.uk

SVR WINS HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND SUPPORT Severn Valley Railway has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for its project to restore the Falling Sands Viaduct.

The HLF has awarded development funding of £71,800 to help the SVR progress their plans to apply for a full grant later this year. More than two thirds of the SVR’s annual 250,000 annual visitors begin their journey in Kidderminster, and the viaduct is an essential link between the town and the rest of the 16-mile line, terminating at Bridgnorth. Closure of the viaduct would seriously compromise the operational viability of one of the UK’s leading heritage railways.

SVR Chairman, Nick Paul, said: “Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, once the work is completed in 2020, we’ll be able to lift the current speed restriction on our heritage trains, and look forward to at least another century of service from the viaduct.”

www.hewett-recruitment.co.uk

www.svrtrust.org.uk

NEW AIR AMBULANCE FLIES INTO THE MIDLANDS A new upgraded air ambulance helicopter has entered Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s fleet. The new helicopter was officially unveiled on Monday 26 February by the charity’s Chairman, Brendan Connor with supportive charity ambassadors, John Challis, Sir Lee Pearson CBE and Neil Back MBE. The new helicopter will undertake an average of three air ambulance missions every day, and will provide a great number of benefits to patient care within the Midlands. It travels greater distances

without the need for refuelling and enables the aircrew to respond even faster due to increased speed capability.

Brendan Connor, Chairman of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Excellent pre-hospital patient care is at the heart of everything we do. To support our mission, build resilience, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the charity, we made the strategic decision to invest a proportion of donations into a larger, upgraded H145 model.” www.midlandsairambulance.com

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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CHARITYFOCUS

WEST MERCIA WOMEN’S AID Work can be a really important element in the life of someone experiencing abuse at home, and a source of personal resilience and self-esteem. We work with employers and with employee organisations to promote a level of understanding which will help employees to maintain good attendance at work: everyone benefits.

ABOUT WEST MERCIA WOMEN’S AID We are a specialist organisation working primarily with women and children affected by domestic abuse, utilising the knowledge and experience gained from over 30 years of campaigning and service delivery. We also support male victims whose needs are regarded as ‘high risk’ and signpost other male victims to appropriate organisations.

Our services operate across Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. They include safe and secure emergency accommodation in refuge and safe houses, Helpline for those seeking immediate telephone advice and support, community-based support for those surviving abuse, group programmes and peer support networks, and specific safety planning and support through the legal process for those regarded as ‘high risk’.

A strong element of our work is with the survivors of abuse once they have resettled, supporting them to build on their new-found confidence and pursue either volunteering, training or employment.

If you want to learn more about our work, or our training and support packages, then please call 01432 356146, or visit our website www.westmerciawomensaid.org

Lisa Peplow, Manager of WMWA’s Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Service, leading a training programme for health service employees.

We provide training to professionals in understanding domestic abuse, so that they can respond appropriately and promote earlier intervention and support. We also provide training for employers to help them to understand domestic abuse and provide appropriate support to their staff as and when this is an issue in their lives.

If you would like to support our current campaigns for our work with children affected by domestic abuse, and for refurbishment of our refuges, then please follow these links: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/ charity/westmerciawomensaid/ happyholidays https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/ charity/westmerciawomensaid/refugerefurb



Herefordshire Wildlife Trust

Getting Outdoors with Herefordshire Wildlife Trust With the sun shining across the beautiful Herefordshire countryside, this month might be the time to look for an opportunity to ditch the suit and don some shorts – if only for the day. Volunteering with Herefordshire Wildlife, as either an individual or corporate team, is the perfect excuse to get outdoors while contributing to the conservation of our beautiful county.

Our 55 Nature Reserves include spectacular

wildflower meadows, ancient shady woodlands, lush floodplain meadows bordering meandering rivers, traditional orchards and undulating heathland commons. These landscapes all require hands on work to continue the traditional management which has shaped them through generations and centuries.

In the summer, this may mean cutting and raking meadows for hay or helping to maintain access through our reserves – stabilizing paths, hanging gates or constructing board walks.

Full details can be found on our website or get in touch by calling

01432 356872 or email enquiries@herefordshirewt.co.uk

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While once this work would have been undertaken by small holders, farmers and commoners, today our reserves are managed by work parties of volunteers and staff who continue with the seasonal patterns of tasks. Not only does this maintain vital habitats for our regional wildlife, and wild spaces for people to enjoy, but the teamwork and camaraderie links the teams with both the landscape and each other.

Find your place in nature this summer with the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust!

www.herefordshirewt.org

May/June 2018

CHARITYFOCUS

MYRIAD CENTRE REPLACES STOLEN MINIBUS The Myriad Centre provides support packages for thirty young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) from across the county of Worcestershire. These disabilities may entail profound developmental delay, learning difficulties, physical disabilities, sensory impairments and mental health problems.

Our aim is to enhance their lives by providing a range of holistic support and developmental opportunities, at a critical time as they make the transition from school to adulthood. During the week, this involves a range of activities, including hydrotherapy, rebound, swimming and outdoor activity visits.

In the past year, the Myriad Centre launched a fundraising campaign to replace one of its minibuses which was stolen from our premises in February 2017. We are hugely grateful to the numerous local grant-makers, businesses and individuals who have supported this appeal which has enabled us to replace not only this minibus but also a further

vehicle that was involved in an accident.

In the coming year, the Myriad Centre also plans to launch a range of volunteering opportunities with our young clients including social events, minibus driving and helping to build a new sensory garden.

If any local businesses would be interested in these volunteering days as part of their CSR policy we would be delighted to hear from you.

MYRIAD CENTRE St George’s Walk, Worcester, WR1 1QY Registered Charity No. 1109843 Company Limited by guarantee Registered No. 5321062 01905 729190 info@myriadcentre.co.uk www.myriadcentre.co.uk

Working with and for children and young people with disabilities and their families in Herefordshire and South Shropshire Marches Family Network offers inclusive social opportunities for children and young people with disabilities/additional needs aged 0-25.

We provide support for a wide range of needs on an individual level in safe and stimulating environments.

We offer: Weekend activity days Day trips Evening youth clubs

Holiday adventure schemes Information, advice and support

Interested in youth work / volunteering?

Get in Touch

Our workers and volunteers gain a wealth of experience and transferable skills. Please contact us if you would like to know more about working with us.

@marchesfamilynetwork

01568 614908 @MFNcharity www.marchesfamilynetwork.co.uk play@marchesfamilynetwork.org.uk

Business Direction published by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

Interested in being a Trustee?

Please contact us if you would like to help guide our charity forward – we want to hear from people from all walks of life

063

CHAMBERAWARDS

FINALISTS FOR CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS REVEALED The countdown to the annual Chamber Business Awards 2018 has officially begun, with only weeks to go until the awards ceremony on Thursday 7 June.

The Chamber Business Awards, sponsored

by Sanlam, look to celebrate firms in Herefordshire and Worcestershire from all sectors and sizes. For this year’s awards, there were a total of 13 categories for businesses to enter – with three brand new awards including Best Use of Social Media, Micro Business of the Year and Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace Award.

The Awards are completely free to enter for Members and Non-Members, and the opportunities that come alongside entering an award are invaluable including a great boost to staff morale, a powerful

064

tool to raise your profile and a way to stand out against your competitors.

The awards ceremony will take place at Worcester Arena, and will welcome well over 600 guests to the event to congratulate the award winners and runner-ups.

The Chamber would like to thank all businesses that entered the awards, the applications for 2018’s Business Awards broke records and the competition has been regarded as the toughest year yet.

Firms in the two counties are now invited to join us at the awards ceremony in June. The black tie event will welcome businesses of all sectors and sizes to celebrate the winners in each category.

The evening will be hosted by David Meade and will see the Chamber’s Chief Executive, Sharon Smith, welcome guests to the ceremony.

Guests will be greeted by an electric

violinist and an ice-themed reception, and are invited to make use of drp’s popular drinks bar before taking a seat and enjoying a three course dinner and socialising with other guests on the table.

After congratulating the winners and having your company photograph taken, guests are invited to the Awards After Party from 11.00pm at Browns at the Quay, sponsored by TechTeam. Attendees will be treated to a welcome drink on arrival and have the opportunity to make new business contacts in a sociable environment.

Tickets are priced at £90.00+VAT and includes a reception drink, a delicious three-course dinner, access to the After Party and more surprises to be revealed soon.

To find out more information and to book your ticket now, please contact the Events department on events@hwchamber.co.uk.

May/June 2018

CHAMBERAWARDS

THE FINALISTS OF THE CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS 2018 Best Use of Social Media Sponsored by Worcestershire Business Central SW&A Accountants All About Magazines OLPRO FIT3SIXTY Ltd Fresh Nous Best Use of Technology Sponsored by TechTeam Kingspan Insulation SimpliWiFi One Creative Environments Ltd The Site Doctor AKW Kinetic 6 Ltd Employer of the Year Sponsored by University of Worcester ISO Quality Services Midlands Air Ambulance drp Gemporia GTAccess Ltd Excellence in Customer Service Sponsored by Handelsbanken Bright Lights The Evesham Hotel & Spa ISO Quality Services Print Strategy Europe Landrover Experience Excellence in Innovation Sponsored by Malvern Hills Science Park The Smart Actuator Company Limited Kingspan Insulation REHAU Limited Air Products PLC Amplitude Clinical Services Indra Renewable Technologies Ltd

Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace Award Sponsored by Proton Partners International Malvern Hills District Council REHAU Limited Pracctice Ltd Phoenix Group Worcester Bosch High Growth Business of the Year Sponsored by Hewett Recruitment Level Peaks Associates Limited Greensafe IT Rock Power Connections Ltd One Creative Environments Ltd drp DRG Interior & Building Solutions Indra Renewable Technologies Ltd Manufacturer of the Year Sponsored by QinetiQ Kingspan Insulation Bee Lighting Ltd Vision Labs AKW Micro Business of the Year Sponsored by Air Products Swan Brewery Pyon Products Ubi-Tech (3R) Ltd EasyRead Time Teacher Ltd Wright Staff Recruitment Ltd Most Promising New Business Sponsored by mfg Solicitors LLP NMiTE Fancy Dress Worldwide Make More Noise Episteme Surf Tech IT Ltd

Excellence in Professional Services Sponsored by Worcestershire County Council

Small Business of the Year Sponsored by Orchard Valley Foods

Place Partnership Limited Thursfields Solicitors Bishop Fleming LLP ISO Quality Services Focus Ecology Phipps & Pritchard

Greensafe IT Rock Power Connections Ltd Bee Lighting Ltd Pharma Packaging Systems Ltd Clesse UK 8D-Closures Ltd

Exporter of the Year Sponsored by Malvern Instruments

The winners and runner-ups of each category will be revealed in our Awards special in the July/August edition of Business Direction magazine. To stay up to date with all Chamber Business Awards information, make sure to follow us on Twitter at @HW_Chamber

Level Peaks Associates Limited Pyon Products ETL Systems Limited Egbert Taylor Shires Equestrian

Business Direction published by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

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LASTWORD

MODUS - WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY ABOUT YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROOM? n How much does it cost for a logo? n I need a new brand, can you do it?

At modus, I guess we get asked those questions more often than anything else.

SO WHAT IS BRANDING AND WHAT IS A BRAND? Branding is all about giving a meaning to an organisation, a product, services or even a place, by shaping how people feel about that brand. Brand is all about helping customers identify products and organisations and to give them a reason to choose one over the other by identifying what a particular brand is and what it is not.

The team at modus have created brands for clients like Worcester Warriors, Worcester County Cricket Club, The Sports Partnership HW, The Commandery, Fortis Living, Sight Concern, Hartlebury Castle, Southway Housing, Gecko Homes and more - and we have designed a lot of logos too!

JEFF BEZOS, CEO OF AMAZON DEFINES BRANDING AS: “Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

This sums up the purpose of a brand.

Your brand is everything – it’s who and what you are.

A brand is not just a logo. You can’t just have a logo designed and say “that’s our brand.”

A logo is just a badge. You also can’t

create a logo design and a set of stationery and call that branding either.

Your logo is only part of your brand identity – which is different to your brand.

All you need to do now is “live” your brand. Make it the way you behave. It’s the life and soul of your organisation. It’s how people see and perceive your organisation.

BRANDING. SIMPLY PUT:

It’s your modus.

Your brand is made up of your values and attributes (essence, functional and emotional associations) which together with your brand proposition (a statement that paints a clear picture of what your brand has to offer), form your brand personality; add a logo and you’re done.

“Way in which anything is done” For more information about branding and logo design, please don’t hesitate to contact Guy on 01905 731529 or guy@modusagency.co.uk www.modusagency.co.uk

MAKING YOUR SUMMER WORK WITH MARKETING & PR Marketing & PR has become a buzz phrase in the business community, which often leads to many further questions... n Should we be using social media? n How can we get our press releases published? n What makes a good news story? n How do we get our business out there?

The July/August edition of Business Direction magazine will put a

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spotlight on Marketing, Advertising and PR and anything else that comes along with it.

Through successful Business News to an exciting Big Interview, take away some top tips to implement into your business straight away.

News stories should be no more than 150-words including a high resolution image. All content for the next issue of Business Direction should be sent to businessdirection@hwchamber. co.uk before Wednesday 23 May.

May/June 2018

PEOPLE ARE

OUR PASSION W H AT’S YO U R S ?

OUR 30 STRONG COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TEAM AVERAGES 15 YEARS’ COMMERCIAL PROPERTY EXPERIENCE

Our expertise is a firm foundation for you to build on. We provide excellent commercial advice for every property transaction.

Matthew Hayes, Chair of Real Estate Team Talk to us: 01432 349 670 Visit us online: www.hcrlaw.com

Join the discussion:

Harrison Clark Rickerbys Ltd is authorised and regulated by the SRA

@HCRlaw

BUSINESSNEWS

wcg.ac.uk/employers

Bridge the Engineering Skills Gap

Employ Apprentices As one of the UK's largest apprenticeship providers, WCG are experts in making them work for employers.

Winner of Training Provider of the Year 2017 at the Coventry & Warwickshire Apprentice of the Year Awards

WCG Apprenticeships have expert knowledge, extensive industry links and fantastic facilities at Rugby, Warwick Trident and Evesham colleges.

Currently working with Jaguar Land Rover, BT Fleet, Cummins Engines, Greenmech, Downhurst Engineering and more‌

Tackle your skills shortages and grow your own staff Reduce staff turnover and improve productivity Upskill your experienced staff to take on new roles Funding available for your staff development

Evesham College Engineering Centre launches on 25 April, a brand new facility created in response to the skills needs in Worcestershire. The centre will enable us to build further links with employers and schools to promote careers in engineering, as well as training for both full-time students and apprentices.

If you'd like to attend the launch please get in touch.

Contact our work based learning team today Contact our work based learning team today:

0300|456 0046 | employers@wcg.ac.uk 0300 456 0046 employers@wcg.ac.uk 068

For upcoming employer events visit:

wcg.ac.uk/employers

May/June 2018