Business Edge 10

BUSINESSEDGE The magazine of Sussex Enterprise

A new Chairman is elected Interest continues to grow for International Trade Forum An exotic note for an otherwise traditional British skyline

British Chambers of Commerce Accredited

AUGUSTSEPTEMBER 2012

BE 10.indd 1

3/8/12 10:44:51

The image of the Safety consultant sweeping through a company’s premises pointing out everything that is wrong, threatening businesses with closure if this or that is not done now has done a lot of damage to why Health & Safety at work was originally brought in.

Miris training are on a mission to help you make sense of Health & Safety.

The HSE themselves are working hard to lay some of these fears & prejudices to rest. My article last month told you about the “MythBusters” incentive set up by Judith Hackett, the HSE Chair.

Now read Judith Hackitt’s blog “We all pay the price” 02 Jul 2012.

I’ve talked before in the blog about the confusion that exists over what health and safety actually stands for.

Reading some of the responses to my own letter in one of the national newspapers recently, it was brought home to me yet again just how much confusion exists between what health and safety law requires and the decisions that people take off their own back or on the advice of others to reduce the risk of being sued.

The majority of the perverse decisions we see reported by the media can be traced back to fears of civil claims, and that is evidenced by the 50+ cases which we have now seen in the Myth Busters Challenge Panel. ...... the fear of being sued is real and significant, and has an impact on the judgment of employers, volunteers, teachers and even to parents, when they invite other children to play in their house or garden.

My letter to the Telegraph made it clear that ‘health and safety’ had not prevented the tug of war competition from taking place at the fete in Jeremy Vine’s village. A few sensible precautions, like ensuring sufficient space between the (presumably) burly men taking part and the crowd would have sufficed to avoid the risk of anyone getting crushed during the contest. But the concerns here were all about civil claims: health and safety law doesn’t even apply to fetes and public events where there is no work involved.

....... infamous conkers myth is another story of fear of civil claims, not about health and safety law, along with banning hanging baskets, bunting and running in pancake races.

We can only tackle the problem if we understand its cause. The Myth Busters Challenge Panel is doing its bit to give people the courage to challenge the jobsworths who trot out the ‘health and safety’ excuse, but don’t we all have to recognise the need to change our collective culture? If I fall over in the street its more likely to be because I wasn’t looking out for myself, rather than it being someone else’s ‘fault’ that the pavement was uneven or slippy.

If my child falls over and cuts her knee at school or at someone else’s house, they’ve learned a valuable lesson to be more careful in future, not created an opportunity for me to make a claim on their behalf.

And I really would like the adult who is there to put a plaster on for me - not be too scared to do so in case I sue. Or am I just being old fashioned?“ http://www.hse.gov.uk/news/judith-riskassessment/index.htm

Want a common sense approach?

One size does not fit all, so we offer realistic ways to make sure that your company is compliant It is a legal requirement if you have 5 or more employees, so it is not going to go away, but, and this is a big but, you do have a say in what is implemented and how it is done.

We will not come in tut-tutting and shaking our heads. We will work WITH you to ensure that the Health & Safety procedures and training that you put in place is RIGHT for you and your business and it won’t cost a fortune.

Check out the website

www.miris-training.co.uk Read the blog www.miris-training.co.uk/blog Phone: 01293 618881

De-mystify Health and Safety. Talk to Jane Brann at Miris Training – no obligation.

Phone: 01293 618881 BE 10.indd 2

www.miris-training.co.uk Read the blog www.miris-training.co.uk/blog

3/8/12 10:44:56

Contents

Welcome

05 09 21 40 04 05 07 08 09 12 13 15 16 19 21

Economic Overview Upfront Upfront World View Opinion Policy News BCC Focus Ask the Expert Spotlight On… The Steam Room Start Ups

Contacts Business Edge is a Sussex Enterprise publication.

If you have any stories you would like to tell us about or any comments please drop us an email at businessedgeenquiries@sussexenterprise.co.uk

SUSSEX ENTERPRISE Greenacre Court, Station Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9DS

22 26 37 38 41 43 44 48 50

The Big Interview Cover Feature Finance Premier Members View Events Member Benefits MP View New Members The Last Word

For this issue we turn our attention to the creative industry and asked Andrew Comben, CEO at Brighton Dome and Festival, to tell us about what’s going on at Brighton Dome.

We hear from Gary Peters, Founder of Brighton & Hove Jobs and Chairman of Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership, about the potential of Brighton to become one of the UK’s supercities.

There is a skills revolution taking place in the South East to develop future Richard Bransons. Dr Russell Strutt, Principal at Central Sussex College, tells us about the Coast to Capital initiative to nuture entrepreneurial skills.

Nick Handley, Executive Chairman and Wendy Bell, General Manager at Sussex Enterprise look at our core membership services. And, breatheHR has teamed up with Sussex Enterprise to take the pain out of HR administration. See page 43 for further details. We’ve been busy the last few weeks taking a delegation of Sussex businesses to Dieppe to meet French companies, as part of a trade mission to boost cross-channel trade. To find out more, see page 39.

And don’t forget to enter the Sussex Business Awards and book your ticket to attend the sparkling awards ceremony in December. For a full list of the categories, see page 9.

As always, we wish to thank our members for their excellent contributions. Please keep sending us your news stories and we’ll do our best to include them.

PRODUCTION & DESIGN

FEATURE EDITORS

Distinctive Publishing, 8th Floor, Aidan House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead NE8 3HU Tel: 0845 884 2384 www.distinctivepublishing.co.uk

John Dean & Francis Griss email:deangriss@btinternet.com

ADVERTISING Claire Todd , Business Development Manager, Distinctive Publishing, 8th Floor, Aidan House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead NE8 3HU

T: 0845 884 2334 F: 0191 478 8301 E:claire.todd@distinctivepublishing.co.uk

E-BOOK www.distinctivepublishing.co.uk/publications

British Chambers of Commerce Accredited

BUSINESSEDGE 3

BE 10.indd 3

3/8/12 10:45:18

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

A new Chairman is elected Having been a member of the board of Sussex Enterprise for 7 years, I was delighted to be elected in September of last year to become Chairman of Sussex Enterprise. With the recent departure of Mark Froud, I have now become Executive Chairman and Wendy Bell has been appointed as General Manager.

My background is a mix of working for some of the biggest global businesses and more recently with SMEs across Sussex, London and the South East.

These of course are challenging times (some would say stressful) for our members and for businesses in Sussex. The South East economy may appear to be growing slowly in comparison with the North and North East but I still find that there is much to be optimistic about – even with the uncertainties of the Eurozone. In a brief, recent tour of Sussex businesses, I found companies continuing to produce innovative products that are being used by some of the biggest global companies around the world.

At Sussex Enterprise we have over the last few months undertaken an extensive review of all operations. In today’s trading conditions, it is the view of the board and the new management team that companies of all sizes need the opportunities to come together regularly and share information, learn from each other and

find new ways to improve their businesses.

That is why we will be re-emphasising and expanding our core membership services.

The introduction of our monthly luncheon clubs (the last was held at The Grand Hotel in Brighton) has been a huge success with events quickly booked out. We plan to announce shortly some additional, new style events for all levels of membership and we successfully launched our Dieppe Exchange when we took a range of Sussex businesses to Dieppe to meet with French businesses that they have been matched with.

Our core mission has always been to grow the Sussex economy. However, I would like Sussex Enterprise to have an even sharper focus. If we can link up more businesses through our expanded programme of events and help them to trade with each other, I will feel that we have achieved our primary objective.

To conclude, please remember that we are asking members to recommend membership

of Sussex Enterprise to friends, neighbouring businesses and suppliers. The referrer and new member pulled out of a hat will have the opportunity to visit businesses in America for a week with all expenses paid.

Please do not hesitate to email me at nick. handley@sussexenterprise.co.uk with any news or views about how we can serve you even better.

Biography After a short spell in the army, Nick worked in national newspapers and television before joining Leo Burnett, the world’s largest advertising agency where he was Head of International. He then joined Readers Digest as Global Sales Director before leaving for a senior marketing role in the city. He set up Marketing Leadership in 2004.

4 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 4

3/8/12 10:45:20

UPFRONT

Unique staff training programme a winner

Maarten sets up catering business in Brighton Maarten van der Velde has opened a Jasper’s Corporate Catering franchise in Brighton.

The move is the latest in a career spent entirely in the hospitality industry. After studying Hotel Management in Maastricht in his native Holland, Maarten moved to the UK and worked in London and Chester. He has also worked in Brussels and for luxury chalet and hotel operators in the Alps and Saint Tropez.

He said:“Having spent my whole career in hospitality, I knew I wanted to set up a business in this industry but back home in Brighton. As glamorous as Saint Tropez and the Alps sounds, I’ve had enough of working away.

“Jasper’s really appealed to me because of their approach to customer service in particular.”

Jasper’s Corporate Catering provides delivered catering to businesses for meetings, training courses, businesses lunches and breakfasts, conferences and other corporate events.Visit www.jaspersonline.co.uk for more information.

A unique staff training programme that brought together the worlds of football and theatre has proved a winning combination at Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium.

In May, the stadium beat off stiff international competition to win the Best New Venue Award at the Stadium Business Awards in Turin. That success was swiftly followed by the Directors Choice Award at the Football Hospitality Awards. Regarded as one of the toughest categories to win, Brighton & Hove Albion was graded by visiting directors of other clubs on the stadium, the welcome and the standard of hospitality on offer.

The stadium’s staff training programme, Team Brighton, was developed by its training partner Nick Brice, whose company, 360 Degree Vision, uses tools developed as a result of years of experience in both people and organisational development and successful theatrical production.

Brice and his team were brought in to help Brighton & Hove Albion make the transition from its old home at an 8,500 seat athletics track to a new stadium that now seats 28,500 people.

Brice said: “We were invited to suggest ways of helping Brighton & Hove Albion take a group of people that had been working out of a much

smaller ground and up their game to provide a customer experience fitting for a five star stadium.

“This experience needed to be delivered across all touch-points on both match and non-match days and deliver a level of customer satisfaction that kept them coming back.”

The stadium’s first year has been so successful that almost all next season’s season tickets have already been sold.

Brice said “The club has done an amazing job.

Its staff have been incredible. Our role was as a stimulus, a catalyst to show them what they could achieve and make them run with it, and they didn’t just run, they flew.”

Martin Perry, CEO and now Executive Director of Brighton and Hove Albion and The Community Stadium Ltd, said: “They worked with us to clarify and communicate our customer experience strategy and are developing our people and their teams to deliver it. They did a great job in helping us achieve a very high level of performance in a very short time.”

BUSINESSEDGE 5

BE 10.indd 5

3/8/12 10:45:22

Events and meetings to suit your style

Conference facilities

Whether you arrange meetings, away days, training courses, seminars, conferences or workshops, at Wiston House you will benefit from our personalised expertise.

Meeting rooms: l l l

5 rooms accommodating meetings from 4 to 100.

All rooms laid out to meet your specification.

WiFi throughout the building including the bedrooms.

Accommodation

We offer 48 en suite bedrooms with full English and Continental breakfast.

Discounts available for Sussex Enterprise members

Steyning, West Sussex BN44 3DZ E: enquiries@wistonhouse.co.uk BE 10.indd 6

www.wistonhouse.co.uk T: 01903 815020 3/8/12 10:45:28

UPFRONT

£4 Million call to Business The Aldingbourne Trust, a West Sussex based charity, supporting adults with learning disabilities to develop skills to live independently and gain employment is currently seeking Corporate Partners.

The Trust have recently launched a £4 million Fundraising Appeal on the 7th April 2012; the funds raised will be put towards the expansion of the Trusts current facilities, such as larger conference facilities, cafe and shop which would produce an income to start to fill the anticipated fall in Government Funding over the next few years and provide additional development opportunities and paid work for adults with learning disabilities.

As a Corporate Partner of the Aldingbourne Trust you will receive a number of unique benefits such as tailor made packages which could include the use of the conference facilities; corporate team building events with full use of their facilities and training for your staff delivered by Powerful Trainers who all have a learning disability themselves.

Companies could encourage their employees to become more involved in fundraising for the Trust. JustGiving has introduced Company Fundraising tools to its site as it recognises that employees already raise millions of pounds in a personal capacity. Companies are now being offered company fundraising pages to showcase all business employee fundraising activities with a running total of all donations. Match Funding is becoming an increasingly popular way of companies demonstrating their Corporate Social Responsibility with companies often capping the amount at £500 per employee per annum.

For further information please contact abigailr@aldingbournetrust.co.uk or visit www.aldingbournetrust.co.uk

k 0

The Posturite squad who lifted the Six-a-Side World Corporate Cup of Soccer

Posturite lift corporate soccer’s World Cup East Sussex-based Posturite Ltd, the UK’s leading ergonomics company, are the new holders of the Six-aSide World Corporate Cup of Soccer.

They lifted the trophy after beating Google on penalties in a tense final at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium.

It’s the first time that Posturite, headquartered in a converted mill in Berwick, have entered the competition and the only time the cup has been won by newcomers. And they did it in some style, cruising through the group stages, quarter final and semi-final without conceding a goal.

Google, who included players from Ireland and Scandinavia in their squad, actually scored first in the final, but an equaliser from top scorer Dan Delgado took the game to a penalty shoot-out which Posturite won 5-4.

Team captain Chris Hollely, regional manager for London & South East, said: “It was a magic moment when the final penalty went in. All nine lads jumped around celebrating in front of the famous Kop stand like we’d just won the real World Cup. Everyone was singing ‘We Are The Champions’.”

Chris was joined in the Posturite squad by Mat Jones (goalkeeper), Matt O’Sullivan, Gaz Edwards, Antony Burns (named Player of the Tournament), Paul Lindsay, Jon White, Charles Webster and Dan Delgado.

Chris added: “Obviously it was brilliant to win, but I was also thrilled to be told by the organisers that we were the most popular winners they’ve had for the way we conducted ourselves both on and off the pitch.

“It just goes to prove the benefit of the great teamwork which is part of everyday life for everyone at Posturite. We’re friends as well as colleagues, and the excellent communication and mutual support that serves us so well in business also helps us on the football pitch.

“Now we’re looking forward to going back to defend our title next year.”

BUSINESSEDGE 7

BE 10.indd 7

3/8/12 10:45:32

WORLD VIEW

Interest continues to grow for international Trade Forum The Sussex International Trade Forum has met twice in the last few weeks at either end of the county.

In May the forum met at Chichester College and looked at trade with the Asian Tigers and then met again in June at the HSBC Commercial Centre in Eastbourne this time focusing on the potential of Turkey, the first time the trade forum has discussed this fast emerging market.

The meeting at Chichester College offered something special for the delegates with a Japanese tea ceremony provided by some of the many Japanese students that the College educates every year. The young ladies dressed in both traditional kimonos and more modern versions, struck an excellent balance between traditional and modern Japan as a welcome to the delegates.

The college, well-known for its catering courses also provide a spread of traditional Japanese food.

All of this was a prelude to the presentation

by Peter Brown, Director of International Operations at the college on how Chichester College has patiently developed its relationships with Japanese education establishments over many years, which is now providing a spring board into other Asian markets. Indeed the strongest theme to come from Peter’s presentation was the need to understand the local culture and adapt the College offer to the meet their needs.

highlights the way in which Sussex Enterprise at the county level can add value to the local strength of town chambers.

The second meeting in Eastbourne, benefitted from an excellent economic presentation on the Eurozone problems and potential solutions from Mark Berrisford-Smith, Senior Economist of SITF sponsors HSBC. Mark highlighted trends and options as a way few in the audience had seen before, presenting logical conclusions and possible outcomes which identified the reality of the different challenges in markets such as Greece and Spain. In addition Mark shared and explained comparative data on the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India & China) economies, indicating the further potential of the so called “sub BRIC” economies of Mexico, Indonesia and indeed Turkey.

This provided an excellent lead in to Lev Denker (UKTI) who shared views on the potential Turkey has to become a leading economy in

the future. Already the 5th largest economy in Europe, Turkey he said “has the economic and political stability, many well educated people and shows an openness to trade, both east and west”. He continued “77 million people with 50% of the population aged under 30 is a clear demonstration of a market with significant future potential”.

After the summer break, the next SITF meeting will focus for the first time on Russia - To Russia with Love! This will be held at the HSBC Commercial Centre in Crawley Monday 24th September and will be led by Tracy Masters.

The programme will include a presentation from David Cant of Albion Overseas, who assists companies to develop markets in Russia.

In addition local businesses with experience of trading in Russia will be sharing their tips on how they have built their business in a market that may seem daunting to many. For further information please check the Sussex Enterprise website or contact Amber Allsopp on 0844 371 5405 or amber.allsopp@sussexenterprise. co.uk to book a place at the event.

Rob Fryatt the second speaker focused on China and outlined the challenges his company, Xenex Associates, had encountered understanding and then entering the Chinese market from the perspective of a small SME. Understanding the culture once again featured as a key theme along with the need to visit regularly and to build a trusted contact network.

The meeting was led by Farid Ahmed, Chair of Chichester Town Chamber. This collaboration

VisitBritain Quality Accredited Agency Fully furnished houses, flats, studios, apartments and cottages to be let on a Self Catering basis in Brighton & Hove, East & West Sussex.

Letting periods of from three days to three months. Ideal for Holiday, Business or Conference accommodation.

Contact us at 4 Laureens Walk, Nevill Road, Rottingdean, East Sussex BN2 7HG Telephone: 0044 (0)1273 308779 Email: enquiries@bestofbrighton.co.uk

8 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 8

3/8/12 10:45:36

OPINION

The Search is on for the Small Business of the Year The Sussex Business Awards are here again and this year Sussex Enterprise will sponsor the Small Business of the Year award.

The most popular award scheme in the region, this is the twenty fourth year the awards have been held.

The Small Business of the Year Award is one of the most popular categories and was last year awarded to CCC Events – a team building company that differentiates itself through innovation.

The judges were most impressed by the company’s unique iSpy concept which equips customers with 3G Team iPads, and enables CCC to create events that are truly interactive and tailored to customer requirements.

Also on the shortlist last year were Sussex Uniforms, a multi-channel retailer specialising in school and team wear, and Torr Scientific Limitied which specialises in the manufacture of Ultra High Vacuum, Optical and X-Ray Components.

Simon Deighton, managing director of CCC Events, said winning an award helped to make his company stand out from the crowd. "In a tough market for team building events being an award winner is a great way to differentiate CCC Events from the competition. It is now a key part of our marketing, helps open doors and has already played a role in some big new account wins earlier this year."

There are fifteen awards up for grabs this year including Businessperson of the Year, International Company of the Year, the Award for Innovation and a new award for the Best Boss in Sussex.

This year’s sponsors include; HSBC Bank, Deloitte, Active Solutions, Domestic & General, Sussex Innovation Centre, Morgan Sindall, Morrisons Solicitors, Sussex Enterprise, Wired Sussex, Federation of Small Businesses, Checkaprofessional, The Argus, Sussex Life, Smile Sussex, Juice 107 and Absolute Brighton.

The Small Business of the Year Award is open to any Sussex-based business with a turnover of less than £2m and has been trading for at least two years.

The judges will be looking at what is unique about

your principal products or services and how you have overcome any obstacles faced in developing your business? They will also want to know how you plan the devleopment of your business and your approach to the company’s finances, employees, suppliers and the wider community?

Sussex companies have until 31 August to prepare their applications for a chance to triumph at the most prestigious business awards in the county.

All finalists receive a free place at the Awards ceremony to be held at South Lodge Hotel on Thursday 6 December 2012.

To enter simply go online at www.sbawards.org. uk. You can enter up to three categories plus you can enter the Healthiest Workplace,The Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity or nominate The Boss of the Year for free.There is a small entry charge of £50 for one award and £100 for three to cover the administration costs of the scheme.

Tickets are in great demand and can be obtained by emailing sussex@midnight.co.uk. So what are you waiting for….get your entries in and we will hopefully see you at The South Lodge at Christmas! www.sbawards.org.uk @sussexbizawards

SUSSEX BUSINESS AWARDS 2012 Award

Sponsor

Sussex Company of the Year Small Business of the Year The International Business of the Year Businessperson of the Year Entrepreneur of the Year Best Customer Service Most Promising New Business The Boss of the Year Innovation in Business The Responsible Business Award The Healthiest Workplace Award The Award for Leisure & Tourism The Most Awesome use of Digital media Best Place for Business Entertaining The Greatest Contribution to Sussex Charity

Deloitte Deloitte / Sussex Enterprise HSBC Morgan Sindall Federation of Small Businesses Domestic & General Morrisons Solicitors The Argus Sussex Innovation Centre Checkaprofessional Active Solutions Sussex Life Wired Sussex Juice 107 / Smile Sussex Absolute Brighton

Supporting Sponsors: Midnight Communications South Lodge Hotel

BUSINESSEDGE 9

BE 10.indd 9

3/8/12 10:45:43

HUMPHREY & CO

Changes to the PAYE system -Real Time Information (RTI) Between April and October 2013 RTI (Real Time Information) is being introduced.

This is one of the biggest changes to PAYE since 1944.

Currently employers send information about Tax, National Insurance and other payroll deductions to HMRC at the end of the tax year, by way of P35 and P14. From April 2013 this information must be sent to HMRC on or before the date the wages payments are made, by way of Full Payment Submission (FPS).

The FPS is to be submitted to HMRC each time a payment is made to an employee. This will provide details of the employees pay, Tax, National Insurance and other payroll deductions made.

The Employers Annual Return P35 and P14 will no longer be required. However the final ‘Full Payment Submission’ of the tax year will require the Employer Declaration similar to that of the current Form P35. Forms P60 will still need to be given to employees by 31st May, as usual.

Employee data For every employer the first step of RTI will be to go through a ‘Payroll Alignment’ process.

This is designed to help HMRC match the data it holds to that held by the employer. Where there are differences they can then work to reconcile them.

In order to go through the Payroll Alignment smoothly and continue to report successfully under RTI it is important to look at your employee data now, including those who have left in the year (HMRC will no longer accept default data).

The following details must be accurate and complete in order for submission to be successful.

Full name Date of birthऀ National Insurance number Gender Paying HMRC RTI will not change when or how payments of Tax, NIC and other statutory deductions are made, and the payment deadlines will remain

Helen Andrews

Sarah Scammell

the same. However, HMRC will now be notified with what is due. Therefore accurate and timely payments will be required to avoid penalties.

to experience RTI prior to it going out live in April 2013. This will help our specialist payroll team in providing a smooth transition for clients when RTI goes live.

Getting ready to operate PAYE in ‘Real Time’

If you require further details on Real Time Information please contact Helen Andrews or Sarah Scammell in our payroll department payroll@humph.co.uk

The ‘Full Payment Submissions’ must be sent to HMRC electronically and has to be reported through payroll software that can send information to HMRC directly. This means commercial payroll software will have to be obtained or, if you have a maximum of nine employees at any one time you can use HMRC’s free Basic PAYE Tools to report the payroll information online. Alternatively you can get someone else to operate the payroll for you such as an Accountant or Payroll Bureau.

Humphrey & Co Chartered Accountants| Business & Tax Advisers 7-9 The Avenue , Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 3YA Tel: 01323 730631 Fax: 01323 738355 Web: www.humph.co.uk

Humphrey & Co Payroll At Humphrey & Co we are lucky to be part of the pilot of RTI and are having the opportunity

10 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 10

3/8/12 10:45:52

BE 10.indd 11

3/8/12 10:45:52

POLICY NEWS

Inside Out As the new General Manager of Sussex Enterprise I thought I’d introduce myself officially.

I already know lots of members from my previous role as Membership and Events Manager so I am looking forward to catching up with lots of old friends and making some new ones too! But before we move on I thought it might be useful to reflect on what we’ve been doing during 2012 so far.....

Throughout the first half of 2012 Sussex Enterprise has been very inward looking; we’ve been looking at how we do things, what we’re delivering for members and how this can be improved and I still like to think of us as a ‘work in progress’ which will never be finished! I

think that’s a good thing as it means we will continue to strive to be the very best at what we do. It also means that we’ve got an open mind and are looking at lots of new initiatives and ideas to help businesses.

We’ve recently been looking at how we work to celebrate the success of Sussex businesses and we were very lucky to be invited to sponsor an award at the Sussex Business Awards. We’re really excited to be working with Deloitte on the Best Small Business Award. We know that there are tons of talented businesses in Sussex and we can’t wait to start highlighting and sharing their success. The awards are open for entry until Friday 31st August so don’t delay!

We’ve been innovating and collaborating with some new partners including our insurance partner, Sutton Winson and Branduin Business Support to deliver business surgeries. We’ve got off to a flying start with both of these new member benefits with lots of interest already but please do get in touch with us as we’d love to hear what you think about the new schemes.

Adam Mitchell our Member Services Manager can be reached on 0844 371 5408.

Collaboration certainly seems to be our theme at the moment we’ve been working with Dieppe Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Dieppe Maritime to deliver a joint working initiative across the channel. The goal is to promote cross-border trade across the English Channel. It’s been particularly interesting for Liz Cadman our PR & Policy Manager who’s been hopping the channel to work with our colleagues in Dieppe for some months now and we are looking forward to seeing the results of all her hard work.

Don’t forget that we are still running our member referral scheme. If you know a business that could benefit from working with Sussex Enterprise then please do let us know and you could be winging your way to Washington, that’s USA – not West Sussex... with a partner or colleague in the Autumn.

In the meantime we continue to be dedicated to our members and delivering the very best support for them, so if you have any questions or ideas then please do get in touch with me or any other member of the team. Thank you for reading this!

12 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 12

3/8/12 10:46:02

BCC FOCUS

Politicians, not businesses, are the ultimate short-termists Over the course of the recent downturn, it has become fashionable for politicians of all stripes to call on businesses to ‘be more long-termist’ in their thinking and their outlook.

Yet, thanks to our political system, Britain’s politicians - not businesses - are the ultimate short-termists. When sound bites, public school point-scoring and the latest opinion polls dominate in Westminster, there is something deeply wrong with our political system. And unfortunately, those flaws translate directly into an impact on business confidence and thence on to the state of the economy.

The long-term deal that businesspeople want with government is actually quite simple. In return for facing up to increased variability

and risk in the global economy, businesses want stability, clarity and positive policies from government at home. We’ll take risks with our capital in an uncertain world, they tell us, if ministers take bold, positive and long-lasting decisions that enable us to invest with confidence. Unfortunately, those long-term policy moves are currently in short supply.

Let’s give credit where credit is due. Ministers’ determination to begin the process of deficit reduction is crucial; if businesses have to balance their books, the reasoning goes, the government should too. Ministers’ desire to cut back unnecessary regulation is clear, even if the results have been less than overwhelming to date, thanks in part to stubbornness in individual departments and the cautiousness of the civil service machine. Reforms to the employment tribunal system are welcome. And the recent drive to use central government procurement more strategically to support businesses of all sizes is starting to yield results.

All of these measures, however, are seen by businesses as tactical rather than strategic. There are no grand, radical, long-term shifts heralded here. Instead, most of the measures announced with great fanfare help only at the margins.

The government needs to recognise that it is a major customer, a maker of markets, and the guardian of Britain’s infrastructure and skills policies. Unless it acts boldly to discharge those responsibilities, rather than tinkering at the margins, UK business won’t be able to deliver up to its full potential.

If you want business investment that delivers higher productivity and more jobs, you don’t make swingeing cuts to capital allowances, allow

inflation-busting rises in business rates, or give inward investors the signal that Britain’s doors are closed to skilled people from around the globe. Instead, you think big - with incentives for capital investment and a major infrastructure development programme.

If you want companies to get the finance they need to grow, you think big again - starting with the possibility of a British business bank to provide financing to new and growing SMEs with real growth potential.You can still pursue repair of the relationships and trust between SMEs and high-street banks at the same time, as our major banks will continue to play a huge role in providing credit for businesses regardless.

If you want companies to invest in people, again, think big - because you have to signal a major increase in the flexibility of the UK labour market. At a time when we have 1million young people unemployed and 1million people ‘under-employed’, you don’t bring in complex new regulation on shared parental leave, extend flexible working, or abolish the employer’s ability to have a discussion with older workers about retirement.You make it easier for employers to both hire and fire, and then stop tinkering with employment law year-in and year-out.You take decisions on training funding away from providers and learners, and challenge employers to direct the spending so that vacancies are filled by home-grown talent ready for the job.

Businesses want a long-term deal with government. The deal isn’t as complex as one might think, but it is tough to deliver in a country where grand political bargains aren’t the norm. Government should deal with the ‘enablers’ - freeing up the labour market, pump-priming infrastructure, encouraging business investment, and helping to improve access to finance. Business, in return, will have to accept the fact that we live in a less stable world, and learn to factor in fluctuation and variability. And we’re not talking a deal with a three-year time horizon here. This has got to be a national consensus over a decade or more, to boost our competitiveness and deliver a real spur to growth.

Such a deal would see both sides working harder to deliver growth - businesses through investment born of renewed confidence, and government through greater policy consistency and responsiveness. This is the way to get both sides ‘straining every sinew’ - to borrow a phrase from a politician. Anything less is just tinkering round the edges.

Dr Adam Marshall is Director of Policy and external affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce (www.britishchambers.org.uk).

He can be contacted on Twitter @BCCAdam.

BUSINESSEDGE 13

BE 10.indd 13

3/8/12 10:46:04

Summer Offers A Fresh Approach to Display Solutions www.freshdisplay.co.uk

Literature Racks

Pop-Ups

Banner Stands

Portable Flags

Telephone: 0845 0945 749 | Call now for more details

Looking for a transport

solution?

Chartered Building Surveyors We offer a full range of Building Surveying and Architectural Services on all building types n

Commercial and Residential Buildings Full Building surveys and Homebuyers reports n Architectural Services, Planning and Building Control Applications n Party Wall Matters n Dilapidations inspections and negotiations n Schedules of Condition n Building Works Specification and Monitoring n Building Defects Investigation n Buildings Insurance Assessments & Claims n Expert Witness n

Local, Independent, Individual Regulated by RICS 33A High Street, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 8HU Tel: 01435 866446 or email: info@ap-surveyors.co.uk

Worthing coaches specialise in providing a quality coach hire service at a cost effective price.

Having provided coach hire for many years we pride ourselves on the friendly and professional service we offer. So whatever your requirements,we are happy to help.

� Quality Coaches* � Air Conditioning* � Refreshment Facilities* � Toilet & Washrooms*

CALL US NOW FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO GET A QUOTE.

0845 389 0633

www.worthing-coaches.co.uk 117 GEORGE V AVENUE, WORTHING, BN11 5SA

* vehicle dependant

14 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 14

3/8/12 10:46:08

ASK THE EXPERT

Each edition we ask a panel of experts for the answer to issues that are challenging you. This time, it is Ian Walker MCQI CQP RSC Quality Management Consultant for Sussex Enterprise.

Q

“Based on past experience and what other company owners and managers have told me; quality management systems and achieving and maintaining ISO 9001 accredited certification is very expensive, and bureaucratic, taking a lot of time to maintain and creating a mountain of paperwork.

In other words it does not add any real value, is this really the case?�

Business owners and managers tend to want to implement a quality or environmental management system for different reasons. We need to identify these reasons before implementing a system.

A

If the reason is purely to gain a UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) certificate in order to tick a box to hopefully satisfy potential client’s requirements, then this can turn out to be an expensive exercise as there is no guarantee that it will work as a marketing tool.

The real value comes from implementing the system and writing the quality manual and associated documents to use as a toolset for continual process and business improvements.

This of course will often result in a change of culture; however, none of this will occur overnight. It needs to me a project managed, step by step process.

management need to play their part in selling and delivering the desired outcome.

The system needs to be user friendly so everyone can develop an interest and be involved. It will not work unless total commitment is encouraged. Therefore, top

n Define your processes and evaluate value added and non-value added activities, and waste.

Top tips include: n Make it simple and effective, plan, do, check, act, measure and communicate. n Reduce paper, do not create needless documents.

n Use the system to help you work smarter not harder. n Develop partnership relationship with your key suppliers - an effective quality or environmental management system goes beyond internal processes and your staff, it should impact on all interested parties including suppliers and customers.

If the current system is costing you money or not adding value, or driving down costs, then it is not working for you or your business. This could be for a number of reasons for example: n It has been not been sold effectively, therefore has not gained the total buy in required. n It has been implemented purely to tick a box to gain certification; therefore it will never add any value to the business. n Effective coaching and training was not delivered to everyone during the implementation, therefore no buy in was achieved. n The culture of the company resisted change.

In short you must consider implementation as an investment, and not a cost - like all good investments it needs to work effectively in order to make it pay for itself.

For further information, call Ian on 07540 203 450 or email ian.walker@sussexenterprise.co.uk

BUSINESSEDGE 15

BE 10.indd 15

3/8/12 10:46:09

SPOTLIGHT ON…

...Brighton Brighton & Hove was identified in the HSBC Future of Business 2011 report as having the potential to become one of the UK’s five supercities.

A

As much of a curse as a blessing, the city now has a reputation driven largely by its creative industries for being an “alternative & rebellious” upwardly-mobile powerhouse.

Some local politicians either deliberately or by accident ignore the part saying Brighton has “the potential” to be a supercity and blithely claim the status as though we already are. A supercity we are not [yet] but our economy has certainly bucked many of the national trends brought low by the economic sandwich of recession, austerity and a return to recession.

For instance, while our unemployment rate [3.6%] is higher than the south east average [2.6%] it is below the national rate of 4.1% and retail vacancy rates in our city centre [6.9%] compares well with the national benchmark of 14%. While there is increasing concern about the unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds, which now accounts for 27% of the total Job Seekers Allowance claimants, there are a number of innovative schemes designed to address this issue including the newly opened Jobs Shop in Queens Road, City College’s Apprentice Training Agency [ATA] and a successful work experience scheme led by Job Centre Plus [the third highest number of youth placements in the country].

literally] in their contribution to a superior quality of life and within that sector digital and new media are gaining an international reputation. The extraordinary willingness of digital companies to collaborate, cooperate, network and share has delivered a burgeoning segment of the local economy that is limited only by the space required to grow.

And the problem isn’t that we lack work space; we have nearly half a million square metres of offices but less than 3% is Grade A standard and too many expanding companies find themselves shoehorned into something built in the 1960s and 70s. Unsurprisingly, availability of Grade A accommodation is very low at only 11,000 sq metres and overall availability also remains low at approximately 37,000 sq metres [6%]. The provision of decent office space is a priority at a time when speculative build is rare but the 3,700 sq metre Sussex House [now renamed 1 Gloucester Place] and 6,000 sq metre Sovereign House [Church Street] have both completed multi million pound refurbishments; the former, which gained BREEAM ‘very good’ status, is already 56% let.

Although many major development projects remain on hold e.g. Brighton Marina, Black Rock Ice Arena, in addition to major

refurbishments mentioned above there is still an amount of construction confirming that developers have confidence in the local economy. American Express is close to completing a new 31,000 sq metre HQ and on a smaller scale the Gala Bingo Hall [Portland Rd] and the old Sergeant Yorke’s Casino [Queens Road] have both been demolished to make way for 38 apartments and a 140 room Ibis Hotel respectively. Work is scheduled to start on Block J of the New England Quarter [147 homes, offices and a hotel] and Investec Bank, owners of Anston House [voted the ugliest building in Sussex] are about to submit a planning application for nearly 2,000 square metres of offices and residential accommodation above.

Also, encouragingly, the global construction & services giant Bouygues and their UK subsidiary, Warings, are actively exploring opportunities for development in Brighton & Hove and the surrounding area One of the city’s most pressing problems is in the provision of housing, especially affordable housing, and there is growing concern about homelessness which is high and likely to be impacted further by the changes to social security benefits. The proposal in the draft Core Strategy for the development of Toads Hole Valley for up to 700 homes will contribute towards the city’s supply of homes over the next 20 years.

As for realising our potential as a supercity, we can do it; but only by working with our neighbours to realise our full potential and help them to realise theirs and spread the resulting success along the south coast.

Brighton & Hove’s real strength rests with the quality of its workforce with a whopping 48% qualified to NVQ level 4 compared to a national average of 31% and a south east figure of 34%. If our two world-class universities were combined the result would be the 4th largest HE institution in the UK. Forty thousand students and 7,000 graduates a year contribute to a remarkable entrepreneurial spirit that places the city third in the UK league table for business creation.

Indeed, the city has an enviable reputation for many things including punching well above its purse in terms of its artistic and cultural offer.

The creative industries take centre stage [often

Article by Gary Peters, Founder of Brighton and Hove Jobs and Chairman of Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership.

16 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 16

3/8/12 10:46:10

BUSINESSEDGE 17

BE 10.indd 17

3/8/12 10:46:11

Petrochemical

"IGSLEEP"USINESS%DGE COPY PDF

Simulation

THE

#

-

9

-9

%ASTBOURNE A SUPERB VENUE FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS IN A GREAT LOCATION

WHEN QUALITY COUNTS

#9

#-9

+

WWW THEBIGSLEEPHOTEL COM 4HE "IG 3LEEP (OTEL +ING %DWARDgS 0ARADE %ASTBOURNE ". %" 4EL &AX E MAIL BOOKINGS EASTBOURNE THEBIGSLEEPHOTEL COM

www.tenkay.co.uk

E.V. charging

#-

Unit 2 25 Marlborough Road Lancing Business Park Lancing West Sussex BN15 8TR Reg. 1925067 V.A.T. GB 423 2297 71

18 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 18

3/8/12 10:46:17

THE STEAM ROOM

Meeting: The Costs When I worked in the public sector, I measured how busy I was by the number of meetings in my diary and the number of emails in my inbox.

I am sure I was not alone - it was not uncommon to hear people say: “I am in meetings all day” or “I have got a backlog of 150 emails to work through”, as some kind of career virility exercise. Before I left, I just stopped going to most meetings, because I couldn’t work out what they were for.

Meetings often seemed to me to be a way for self-promoting people to compete, jockey for position and to make sure that their careers were treading the right path, rather than necessarily serving a wider purpose. Again it was not uncommon to hear people indignantly exclaim “I should have been invited to that meeting, not them”, as they felt that their career virility threatened by a colleague.

Perhaps the worst thing about the meetings culture was not the egocentricity of many participants; or the fact that the useful work was being done by less self-important colleagues; nor that they were often mind-numbingly boring. No, it was just that dozens of people seemed to turn up just because they were in their diaries and contribute (and probably learn) nothing.

that either don’t need doing, are being done inefficiently, or do not contribute usefully to any wider objectives.

However, I have no doubt that my contribution to the public sector has been greater when I have not been working inside it – when I have not been inundated with unnecessary emails or expected to attend too many seemingly pointless meetings.

Meetings take time and, therefore, cost money.

Like many people, I have a chargeable day rate, so I have to make judgement about whether or not it is cost effective for me to attend a meeting if I am not being paid to do so. I have an idea that might just help people to think a little more clearly about the value of time.

The

Steam Room!

Each edition we invite a visitor to ‘The Steam Room’ to let off steam on the issues that are bothering them and their business.

As well as a salary, everyone should be given an indicative chargeable day rate, based on salary, on-costs and the costs of non-productive time.

A simple way of doing this is to start with someone’s salary, then divide this by 220 days (based on a full working year) and add on, say, a further 30% for on-costs, overheads and covering the costs of non-productive time.

The last item on many an agenda was “Date of next meeting”, as if this was a requirement.

Then, a few days before the dreaded date arrived, those responsible for their organisation, went into a panic of varying degrees of intensity about what should be on the agenda: “But the meeting is tomorrow and we haven’t got an agenda – any ideas as to what we should put on it?” We’ve got a meeting - we must find something to talk about!!

Let’s say, for example, that there is a half day meeting of four Strategic Directors on, say, £125k per year and a Chief Executive on, say, £150k per year and a PA on, say around £45k per year. Excluding costs associated with preparation, organisation and venue costs, such a meeting would cost around £2,000. Let’s present another scenario: A half day meeting with 30 delegates on an average salary of £40,000 would cost around £7,000.

Meetings tend to be dominated by the verbal, not the insightful; by the self-important, not the diligent; and by the social, not the practical. I am not against meetings or, indeed, the public sector. Quite the contrary – many people in the public sector have to deal with complex and competing issues that are well beyond the comprehension of many of its fiercest critics. Such issues do require on-going, collective approaches – and, therefore, meetings.

Furthermore, “doing” fanatics can find themselves being frantically busy on activities

Both these meetings may be good value, but they may not be. If we were all allocated day rates alongside our salaries, we could begin to work out more clearly which meetings were good value and which one were not.

Perhaps then the last item on the agenda will no longer be “Date of next meeting”, but instead it might be “Estimated Meeting Costs”.

BUSINESSEDGE 19

BE 10.indd 19

3/8/12 10:46:21

UPFRONT

Poppy is tops for business University of Brighton student Poppy Mosbacher began her business career at the tender age of 13 and seven years later she has collected a top enterprise award.

Sustainable businesses needed for university study West Sussex companies that save old products from landfill are being sought for a new research study by the University of Chichester and West Sussex County Council.

There has been a recent growth in businesses increasing the life span of products by refurbishing, remanufacturing or recycling them for future use. The cost of landfill, pressure to recycle and the current economic situation means that companies and the general public are becoming conscious of the replacement and disposal of products.

Winners and top table guests at the Santander/University of Brighton Enterprise Awards

The first year product design student had just reached her teens when she noticed that popular cosmetics were not quite so “natural” as advertised.

She said: “Some had ingredients linked to cancer so I decided to make some purely with ingredients that are organic and as natural as possible. I started with workshops and worked towards launching my own products.”

Poppy is developing the Natural Beauty Box, a kit to make natural skin care products including hand creams, bath melts and face masks. She trades under the company name L’ocean which fits with her love of surfing: “I wanted products that when washed off don’t pollute the sea or harm sea creatures.”

Poppy launched her products and opened a shop in her native Devon when she was 18 and now, two years later, she has an online business and holds workshops and demonstrations.

Her efforts were rewarded at the Santander Universities/University of Brighton Enterprise Awards ceremony at the university.

Poppy was joint winner of the Most Innovative Product Award and part of her prize will be in

the form of expert advice on developing her website www.locean.co.uk.

Poppy said: “This is not about money but other values. Long term, I want to help people start up businesses that are sustainable, eco friendly and that make a difference to the environment.”

There were ten finalists in each of the three awards categories and each collected £250 from Santander and 50 free business cards from moo. com.

The winners, who collected £2,500 from Santander, were: Most Innovative Product – Poppy Mosbacher and Richard Simmonite for his begRe:Born product.

Most Entrepreneurial Service Award – Helen Tate, Daniel Elswood and Tremayne Christ for Salamanza, the Social Wine Site.

Most Enterprising Community Project – Elona Hoover, Fredrika Uppman, Tai Ray-Jones, Martin Lines, Tim Warin, Xenia Moseley, Hannah-Rose Whittle, Elea Nouraud, Pippa Smart, Zosia Poulter and Alice Foxen, for their University of Brighton Food Co-op.

Now the University and County Council, on behalf of the West Sussex Environment and Climate Change Board, want to hear from businesses operating in the Maintain, Mend and Pass-On sector, allowing them to map the size and scope of the field. This will then mean greater business support can be offered to them.

Dr David Cooper and Dr Dawn Robins from the University of Chichester are leading the project. Dr Cooper, who is the Business Development Director at the West Sussex institution, said: “There is an emerging gap in the market whereby companies can profit from adapting, refurbishing, maintaining or recycling both domestic and commercial products that would previously have gone to landfill.

This may involve adding value to a product, repairing or maintaining a faulty product or even recycling something into a completely different item.

“We want these businesses to get in touch with us, give us a short summary of what they do, allowing us to build up an accurate picture of the county in relation to these businesses and their practices.”

Businesses should send their information to Stephen Utton at the University of Chichester by emailing makedoandmend@chi.ac.uk.

20 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 20

3/8/12 10:46:28

STARTUPS

BBQ Entrepreneur Ed Wray lists his top 5 tips for setting up a successful business In 2007, Ed Wray spotted a gap in the market after attending a friend’s barbecue. His friend was using a small Cypriot rotisserie barbecue and Ed decided he wanted one for his back garden. He asked his friend where he bought his rotisserie barbecue and was told “They are like Gold Dust”. This was the Eureka moment for Ed and it led him to scour the internet and find there was indeed a gap in the market for rotisserie barbecues.

Five years on, Ed’s design called the BarbeSkew has topped £250k sales per year and the company has now moved to being a profitable venture.

Ed now lists his top 5 tips for setting up a successful business: “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” Like the famous 1980’s Clash song, at the start of your venture you need to decide whether you’re going to stay working for other people for the rest of your life or whether you’re going to go and work for yourself. Over 50% of people want to set up their own business, but only 5% of people do so.

Obviously you need to have had the inspiration for the idea for the field you are going into and once you have had your idea, there is a great book that will help you test whether your business idea will sink or swim: “The New Business Road Test: What Entrepreneurs and Executives should do before writing a Business Plan” by John Mullins.

For my 20 year career, I’d always worked for other people and at the time of the decision I had been working for my employer for 10 years. To make the decision easier, I posed the following question – “Would I still be with the same employer when I retired at 65 or 68 or whatever the official retirement age is currently. And the answer was “No – I would definitely have set up my own business before I retire.” So that made the question of “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” far more easy to answer – I should Go! But then it was down to the timing – when would I go? And

the answer was if I wasn’t going to be there when I was 65 I might as well go straight away. Decision Made!

this enabled us to meet hundreds of customers face to face so we could show them how good the BarbeSkew really was in real life.

Mission Impossible? How do you get from the stage of sitting down at an empty desk on day one to actually releasing a product that is ready for the mass market? There are many unknowns when you start your business – some of mine were how do I find a factory in China; how do I go about designing the product right through to how will I communicate with the Chinese. With each of these unknowns, it seems like Mission Impossible.

But the most important thing is to remember it’s not rocket science, someone somewhere has done all these things before and the essence of being an entrepreneur is venturing into the unknown and coming out with a successful outcome. For example when someone asks me how I found a factory in China, I simply state that I typed into Google “China Factory Barbecue” and visited the top 5 factories on the list! The factory I chose could speak English. So all of these things seemed like Mission Impossible until I ventured in and had a go. And looking back it all seems so obvious. But the most important factor is persistence and not giving up until your get a result.

Dragons’ Den – or Everything I Know About Marketing. Of course it is every entrepreneurs dream to get on to Dragons’ Den, but the Den is just one way of marketing your business.

Marketing is effectively the thing that makes selling easy. You are effectively trying to make as much “noise” as you can about your product to the people that matter – journalists, so that the general public get to know about your product.

The more marketing you do, the easier the job becomes. Marketing can be split into two: traditional marketing: press releases, attending press events, marketing stunts etc, and digital marketing: Search Engine Optimisation, easy to use website, You Tube videos,Twitter etc. Always keep focused on marketing activities – otherwise marketing gets forgotten and without realising it you become more reliant on the process of hard selling.

Sale of the Century. Every single entrepreneur thinks their product is going to sell at sky high levels and take over the whole market. But the reality can be very different. In my first month I waited for the phones to ring of their hooks ….. and we sold 2 units! Our big lesson has been about selling the product ourselves rather than through other retailers (garden centres) or through other peoples websites. Your website has to feel more like a trip to John Lewis than a trip to Lidl. It has to be fully optimised - for us the Indian SEO companies have produced better results than any website optimisation company in the UK. In the build up to fully optimising your website you have to get involved in hard selling – for us this was at shows and exhibitions like The Ideal Home Show and regional agricultural shows like the South of England Show. In 2011 we attended over 30 shows and exhibitions and

Your business is insolvent. From the word go, as soon as you start, your business is insolvent. Even if the Dragons’ award you £50k, then you are insolvent to the tune of £50k and you’ll have lost some of the ownership of the business which makes it even more difficult to pay back the £50k from your profits to get back to solvency. For us it’s taken 5 years to become profitable. By the end of 2012 we aim to have paid off all our previous years cumulative losses to make the company solvent for the first time. What I’m trying to demonstrate here is that profit is everything. I’ve wasted tens of thousands of pounds on things that haven’t helped sell the product at all. So my advice is only spend money if you get a sales return. If our shows don’t make a healthy profit they get ditched. So be warned every time you spend money, you are making your business more insolvent. Say no to everyone that’s asking for money unless you can see a profitable sales return.

BUSINESSEDGE 21

BE 10.indd 21

3/8/12 10:46:32

THE BIG INTERVIEW

Dr Russell Strutt biography Russell Strutt was appointed as Principal of Central Sussex College in June 2005.

Quiet revolution targets skills There is a quiet revolution going on within education in the South East to spot entrepreneurism at an early age and nurture these skills though school, college and universities, to develop future Richard Bransons. among themselves to buy a piece of the action” says Dr Strutt.

He was previously Principal of Haywards Heath College and led the merger between Crawley and Haywards Heath Colleges. Russell has worked in Further Education for 25 years, beginning as a lecturer and worked through most levels of responsibility before becoming Principal in 2001.

Central Sussex College has shown that mergers can work if they are fundamentally based on a curriculum and quality improvement rationale. The College’s recruitment, quality and diversity have improved significantly and continuously over five years.

The College is a key player in 14-19 provision in the local area and a key player and influencer with employers, business organisations and the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership across the region.

Russell is Chair of FE Sussex, the association of all post-16 colleges in Sussex, which has the key aims of working together to improve quality, to improve employer responsiveness and engagement, and to promote the reputation of colleges.

Russell also chairs AoSEC, the Association of South East Colleges, which represents the interests of colleges in the region.

One of the successful ideas is a phone App to find free car parking spaces in any town across Europe. The other is a 3-D swimming experience, giving people the thrill of swimming with dolphins and whales.

I

t’s all part of an ambitious regional initiative titled Coast to Capital to develop 100,000 new jobs over the next 25 years within an area bordered by Croydon in the north, Lewes and Newhaven to the East and Chichester to the West.

Spearheading the programme is Dr Russell Strutt, Principal of the 12,000 strong Central Sussex College at Crawley, who has enrolled the Universities at Brighton and Chichester and linked up Post 16 colleges in Croydon and Worthing to prepare tomorrow’s workforce to meet the needs of new industries and services.

And it is already working. Recently, Central Sussex College gave five teams of 16+ potential entrepreneurs the opportunity to attend a series of master classes designed by Brighton University to get young people to start thinking out of the box. Like Lord Sugar’s The Apprentice programme, each team of six had to identify a new product or service and develop a strategy to bring it to market, then pitch them to a Dragon’s Den panel of established entrepreneurs.

“Two of the ideas were snapped up immediately with panel members fighting

“The swimmers wear goggles to experience the full 3-D effect beamed from large screens placed on the sides and bottom of the pool” he explains. This was snapped up by Brighton’s creative industry, which is now developing the concept at the K2 leisure pool in Crawley.

“It is all about developing entrepreneurial skills to enable young people to create jobs for themselves through new business ventures, self-employment and working from home” he adds.

Russell explains: “It is a bit like Fame Academy. Not everyone is going to be the star entrepreneur. But what we have learned from this college pilot is that every entrepreneur needs a wide range of other people – specialists in engineering, IT, marketing, web design and financial skills to bring these ideas to fruition.”

“The jobs lost during this recession will not come back, or at least, not in the volume we need, so this initiative is all about getting young people to stay in education at least to 18, and get them on the road to creating their own futures.”

The plan is to nurture entrepreneurial skills from primary right through to university and it provide the right climate and infrastructure to develop a range of new high-growth businesses within the Coast to Capital region.”

It’s an ambitious plan, but if Richard Branson’s Virgin Group with 300 branded companies can spawn 50,000 jobs worldwide and generate £12 billion revenues, an army of like-minded entrepreneurs could transform this region into the grown capital of the UK.

22 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 22

3/8/12 10:46:33

always comes first... your business At Basepoint your Atbusiness Basepoint your first... always comes first... always comes first At Basepoint your busin PORTSMOUTH BUSINESS SCHOOL

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Tel: +44 (0) 1580 893 481 Fax: +44 (0) 1580 893 949 Email: sales@unipacshipping.co.uk

always comes first...

www.unipacshipping.co.uk

Unipac Shipping, a freight forwarding company based in Staplehurst (Kent), have been providing international shipping solutions to companies across UK in various industries since 1993.

At Basepoint your business At Basepoint your business alwaysficomes first... always comes rst... ...make it a memorab

Manufacturers and distributors, organisers of conferences and exhibitions, vehicle shippers, international corporations, film &TV productions, as well as private individuals enjoy the high quality service provided by Unipac Shipping.

This flexible and friendly Kent-based company is involved every day in transportation of various size shipments (from a small parcel to a full container load) by sea, air, road and courier.

A worldwide network of co-operating offices and agents support their daily activities, which enables Unipac to keep their customers always informed on the progress of their orders.

They not only deliver but also take care of customs clearance, marine insurance, consular documentation and even export packing.

Unipac pride themselves on reliability of service, competitive prices and personal approach to the customer.

Are you thinking of starting international trade but you don’t know how to deal with export and import procedures?

year for your busines At Basepoint your business ...make it ait memora memorable ...make it a memorable ...make a mem always comes first...

Or perhaps you would like to save time and money on your shipments and focus on expanding your business?

If that’s the case then Unipac Shipping may just be the right call for you!

year for your busines r business! year for your business! yearyouryour for your bu At Basepoint At Basepoint business business always first... first...

Get your always business up comes and comes running and we’ll support you from start to finish. To find your nearest centre and take this golden to running join our award Get your opportunity business up and and we’ll support winning team you visitfrom basepoint.co.uk. start to finish. To find your nearest centre

...make it a memorable year forGetyour business!

Get your business up and running and we’ll support your business up and running and we’ll support and take this golden opportunity to join our award winning team visit basepoint.co.uk.

...make it a memorable year for your business! months To receive off your first 4...make months To receive 25% off your first 4 months ...make it ait memorable a memorable ...make it a 25% memorable nd move rent* quote Team Basepoint and move rent* quote Team Basepoint and move year year forfor your your business! business! basepoin basepoi year for business! in by 30th September. in byyour 30th September.

’ll support st centre ur award

To receive 25% first 4 To months you from start to finish. To find your nearest centre youoff fromyour start to finish. find your nearest centre Basepoint and move and take this golden opportunityrent* to join quote our award and take this off golden to join our award To Team receive 25% youropportunity first 4 months winning team visit basepoint.co.uk. winning visit basepoint.co.uk. quoteteam Team Basepoint and move in by 30thrent* September. inand byrunning 30thand September.

Get your business up we’ll support you from start to finish. To find your nearest centre *Subject to terms andour conditions and take this golden opportunity to join award *Subject to terms and conditions winning team visit basepoint.co.uk.

To receive 25% off your first 4 months quote Team Basepoint and move Get your business up and rent* running and we’ll support you from start to finish. Toin find nearest centre byyour 30th September. *Subject to terms and conditions *Subject to terms and conditions and take this golden opportunity to join our award yourGet business your and business up conditions and running up and running and we’lland support we’ll support *Subject to terms winning team visit basepoint.co.uk. Get you fromyou start from to fistart nish.toTofifinish. nd your To finearest nd your centre nearest centre

Tel: 01293 817717 Email: crawley@basepoint.co.uk basepoint.co.uk and takeand this take golden thisopportunity golden opportunity to join our towww.basepoint.co.uk join award our award basepoint.co.uk winning winning team visitteam basepoint.co.uk. visit basepoint.co.uk.

basepoint.co.uk

To we’ll receive Get your business up and running and support25% off your first 4 months To receive To receive 25% off 25% your offfiyour rst 4 fimonths rst 4 months you from start to finish. To find your rent* nearest centre quote Team Basepoint and move rent* quote rent* quote Team Basepoint Team Basepoint and move and move and take this golden opportunity to join our award in by 30th in bySeptember.

30th September. in by 30th September. winning team visit basepoint.co.uk.

BUSINESSEDGE 23

*Subject to terms *Subject andtoconditions terms and conditions

*Subject to terms and conditions

To receive 25% off your first 4 months BE 10.indd 23

3/8/12 10:47:39

basepoint.co.uk basepoint.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

REEVES

Research & Development Tax Credits – they are now firmly “in fashion” Those who avidly follow the latest trends on the catwalk will know the next instalment of London Fashion Week is in September. In the tax field, however, R&D tax credits are firmly in fashion right now writes Shirley Smith, Corporate Partner at Reeves.

Your own company may well have been targeted by organisations that have clambered aboard this particular bandwagon and have adopted a scatter gun marketing approach which promises significant benefits at modest cost without taking the time needed to understand the fundamentals of the business concerned.

If we pause for a moment, it is instructive to reflect that R&D tax credits have actually been with us since 2000. Indeed one of our Partners was probably involved in submitting some of the earliest claims for these valuable credits. To borrow another analogy from the world of couture, they are a wardrobe staple rather than simply this season’s must have item.

To qualify for R&D tax credits, a company must incur expenditure on a project that represents “an advance in science or technology.” Whilst this advance must be in the global state of knowledge and not just in that of the company concerned; it can extend well beyond the traditional image of “white coats and test tubes.” To attract the tax credits the spend needs to demonstrate a reasonable amount of innovation and/or creativity. It is not even necessary for a project to succeed.

A large proportion of the engineering, processing and manufacturing sectors are potentially engaged in qualifying activity. Indeed we at Reeves have identified many companies whose activities involve “making or processing” that can qualify.

If then, R&D tax credits represent a hardy perennial of the UK tax scene; it is fair to say that not all of the present excitement is mere froth. An already generous set of arrangements have recently been tweaked to make them yet more appealing.

If your company qualifies as a Small or Medium Sized Entity (SME) – the definition of which is broad enough to encompass some quite large businesses, then with effect from 1 April 2012 the available tax deduction has been increased to 225% of the actual spend!

A special tax deduction may be of limited use to a loss making company, so an SME in this position can surrender its R&D tax credits for a direct cash injection from the government. The rules surrounding this aspect of the scheme have also recently been liberalised, and indeed, from 1 April 2013, such surrenders may be made by companies too large to qualify as an SME. We at Reeves have been supporting our clients with their R&D tax credit claims since the very beginning; we should be delighted to discuss with you, on a no obligation basis, any potential claim that you believe you might have.

Shirley Smith

For further information, please contact Shirley Smith on 01293 776152 or by emailing shirley.smith@reeves.co

24 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 24

3/8/12 10:47:41

Local, Reliable, Cost Effective Logistic Solutions ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR LOGISTICS NEEDS? DO YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO BOOK TRACK YOUR SHIPMENTS ONLINE?

If your answer is yes to any of the above questions then Capital Logistics is just what you are looking for. Based in the heart of Mid-Sussex this family run business has over 30 years experience in the logistics industry and can offer the complete logistic solution. l INTERNATIONAL COURIER

l EXHIBITION DELIVERIES & INSTALLS

l UK OVERNIGHT/SAMEDAY

l DELIVERY OF ABNORMAL LOADS

l WAREHOUSING & STORAGE

Tel: 01444-474400

E-mail: info@capital-logistics.co.uk

www.capital-logistics.co.uk

BUSINESSEDGE 25

BE 10.indd 25

3/8/12 10:47:55

COVER FEATURE

An exotic note for an otherwise No visitor to Brighton can fail to be beguiled by the architectural daring and extraordinary heritage of the Royal Pavilion, its minarets and onion domes striking an exotic note against an otherwise traditional British seaside skyline.

A

nd what over 260,000 people every year now experience as Brighton Dome was of course originally the stables for the Prince Regent’s horses and William Porden’s bold iconic structure of 1805 set the tone for the development of the whole Royal Pavilion Estate.

Fast forward two hundred years and Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival continues to enjoy this rich history in one of the country’s most creative cities and is now a destination for artists and audiences the world over. We are the only arts organization in the country running three

venues throughout the year (Concert Hall, Corn Exchange and Pavilion Theatre) alongside the three-week multi-artform Brighton Festival, employing some 80 permanent and over 200 casual staff, with an annual turnover of £8m.

As such our dependence on and contribution to the visitor economy and cultural reputation of the city is key. We know that the Brighton Festival alone contributes £20m to the local economy each year and every one of our artistic and business partners is vital to that success.

From Rock & Pop headliners to top comedians, world-class classical musicians, to the leading contemporary dance companies from around the globe, in any given week the variety on offer at Brighton Dome is part of our strength.

Alongside this are young artists cutting their teeth, trying out new work or members of our community, young and old, learning new skills and daring to explore their own creativity, often for the first time in their lives. These vibrant and distinctive venues also inspire corporate clients, from Jamie Oliver to dConstruct, to hold conferences, dinners, receptions and meetings with us, enabling us to grow this side of our business year-on-year and extend our range of business partnerships across the city. Indeed, a growing audience membership of over 3000 members is now joined by a corporate member scheme offering benefits and entertainment opportunities across the Dome programme as well as in Brighton Festival in May.

Andrew Comben, Chief Executive of Brighton Dome and Festival

This May was one of the most successful Brighton Festivals on record and our partner Festivals – Brighton Fringe, The Great Escape and Artists Open Houses – all reported bumper years as well. That’s not to say the climate isn’t

26 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 26

3/8/12 10:48:00

ise traditional British skyline

Photo credit to Hugh Fox

tougher than ever, or that audiences aren’t watching their spend with more and more caution – they are. But the strength of Brighton & Hove’s brand as a cultural destination enables us to stand out, as does our yearly appointment of a Brighton Festival Guest Director. In previous years Anish Kapoor, Brian Eno and Aung San Suu Kyi have played this role and we have seen the impact they have had in driving audiences and interest in the Festival. This year, Vanessa Redgrave threw herself into the part, helping to devise our programme, performing herself, speaking at and attending many events – even leading the annual Children’s Parade. As a result our national media profile rose 35% this year and delivered vital returns for the Festival and our sponsors in visibility and recognition.

So where do we go from here? Brighton Dome & Festival has just embarked on its 2012 – 2020 plan, the first elements of which will be immediately visible to audiences and visitors

this autumn. Arts organisations, like any other business, have to look after and understand their customers and we’re investing in ways to do this better, installing better venue signage and more sophisticated ticketing and online services.

Ours is a business that relies on a complex mix of revenue – a vital one-third public funding provides support for the upkeep of listed buildings, artistic experimentation and core costs, leveraging a further two-thirds in box office receipts, private giving and commercial activities. Mindful of the increasing pressure on Government spending we’re working with the Royal Pavilion & Museums in new and exciting ways. Already key partners, we’ve been successful in a joint bid to increase our fundraising capacity in order to underpin our artistic and outreach programmes.

Our Resident artists, in particular the wonderful Hofesh Shechter Company and

dreamthinkspeak who take our brand around the world with them and delight audiences when they return to us, have big plans in the next three years and big dreams for the period beyond that. In the forthcoming Brighton Dome programme and future Festival plans we’re continually aiming at bringing performances with something new, often experimental, and hopefully brilliant.

Whilst we are already engaging with some 15,000 people a year, we will still be trying to reach more and more people in our community who don’t normally access the arts, and in particular develop our work with young people at risk of offending and those suffering from dementia. Most of all, we’re excited by the fact that Brighton & Hove residents repeatedly show us how important great art is in their lives and that this city - built largely on pleasure, tourism and the creative industries - allows us to plan confidently and ambitiously for the years ahead.

BUSINESSEDGE 27

BE 10.indd 27

3/8/12 10:48:01

SKILLS AND TRAINING

Making the all-important connections For those working in the skills and training field, one of the key challenges is making connections between the young people they teach and the companies that could give them jobs.

There is widespread acknowledgement that colleges and universities provide a solid grounding for tomorrow’s workforce and now a scheme has been launched to help more young people find employment when their formal education is finished.

The Government-led initiative called the Startup Career Milkrounds will see the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) and Enternships.com working with university enterprise societies.

This year saw the first annual Milkround fortnight, giving students and graduates the chance to engage with small firms through a series of fairs, summer placements and introductions to would-be employers.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk, said: “Providing opportunities for young people to start and grow a business is crucial to the long term economic success of the UK.

“We are already doubling the number of enterprise societies and aim to have them in every university and most further education colleges by 2015.”

Enternships.com will also work with each society so that local start-ups and SMEs can post placements and jobs on an online portal for free during the campaign fortnight.

Hushpreet Dhaliwal, CEO at NACUE, said: “We cannot ignore the fact that start-ups and small businesses employ more than 90 per cent of all people in the UK.

Rajeeb Dey, CEO, Enternships.com, said: “A placement is a brilliant way for both companies and student to try out new things and this initiative will create hundreds of new roles.”

“Working with Enternships.com and student-led enterprise societies, this initiative will link entrepreneurs with local businesses and show students and graduates that startups offer a great alternative career path.

The first fortnight ran between 22 May and 2 June and the Government has committed to continued investment in youth enterprise by renewing funding to NACUE. The organisation will receive £1.3 million of funding for 2012/13. More details are available at www.startupmilkround.com

“Startup Career Milkrounds will also give local SMEs access to a wealth of talent in their area.

It will remove many of the myths and ideas that young people have about starting their own business and highlight how becoming an entrepreneur can be both a viable and hugely rewarding experience.”

Also, the Government is running the Business in You campaign to encourage more people to start or grow their business, using a range of existing support services, such as enterprise education. More information is available at businessinyou.bis.gov.uk.

Making Delegation as easy as ABCD As Roy Castle used to sing “delegation’s what you need if you want to be a record breaker” (well nearly). But it is a tough skill for any Manager to get right. Here’s a basic structure to help you get it right: A - Analyse the job and Appoint the right person Think about the job carefully and break it down so you know what’s involved and what skills and resources are needed.

Try to use delegation as a training tool so that it stretches your staff without overwhelming them.

B – Briefing Meeting Sit down and explain why you are delegating it to them. Sell it to them and explain the benefits it will bring.

Establish and specify what the completed task should look like.Agree a target completion

date which still gives you time to double check and resolve any problems.

Ask them how they feel they can tackle the task – this method gets more buy in than simply giving them a series of instructions.

Encourage them to talk you through ideas they have and give them some latitude in how they choose to complete the task as long as the outcome is what you have specified.

C – Control Decide how and when you are going to monitor progress. The level of monitoring will be dependent on the complexity of the task, their skills and experience, and the possible consequences if things go wrong.

You may need to highlight ‘mile stones’ for review. Set up meetings in advance to discuss progress and coach your staff member.

D – Deliver feedback Review achievement and celebrate success and effort. Remember to say “Thank you!”

Take time to evaluate the project, see what you can both learn for the future and to implement these changes.

If you’d like to develop your management team’s delegation skills further then contact Melody McMillan from Sussex Enterprise to come in and deliver an in-company training session Email Melody.mcmillan@ sussexenterprise.co.uk.

28 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 28

3/8/12 10:48:01

PORTSMOUTH BUSINESS SCHOOL

ADVERTISING FEATURE

First AMBA accredited MBA with a paid business placement to be offered by a UK Business School Portsmouth Business School has launched the first UK AMBA accredited MBA with a paid business placement, which will provide students joining the programme this September the opportunity to earn whilst they learn.

The Association of MBAs (AMBA), the leading accreditation body in Europe and, increasingly, across the world provides an independent and internationally recognised certification of quality.

The MBA with Business Placement has been specifically designed for students from overseas who wish to extend their studies through paid work experience. It provides them with the opportunity to work for up to 12 months in a UK or international organisation after their initial year of study.

It is highly likely that the annual salary earned during the placement will equate to the cost of MBA tuition fees so students can reclaim their investment almost straightaway. There are also

generous scholarships for self-funding students who apply before the end of May 2012.

Dean of Portsmouth Business School, Professor Gioia Pescetto, said: “We are very excited to launch this new MBA programme, which will allow students to apply their newly developed knowledge and skills working for an organisation in their second year and undertaking a supervised work-based project.

“An AMBA accredited MBA is a prestigious qualification and the Business Placement strengthens it further. This additional professional experience will leave our MBA graduates in a strong position.”

Successful entrepreneur and Portsmouth Business School MBA alumnus, Prems Srampical, is clear about the value of a year’s paid placement for students.

“This is a great opportunity for Portsmouth’s international MBA students. It’s a competitive

world now where ever you live, and gaining a year of paid business experience in Britain will strengthen their CVs considerably.”

Now the director of two companies, Colvill Banks and Whitecrow Research, which made a net profit before tax of $2 million on a turnover of $6million, Prems Srampical attributes much of his later success to the skills acquired while studying for his MBA. “The course helped me to work and collaborate with people from other cultures which is essential in a global business environment. The joint projects undertaken with classmates from Asia, Europe and America have certainly helped me to better understand my varied clients. ” If you are interested in employing a placement student (undergraduate or MBA), contact the placements office manager, Alison Shaw, on 023-9284-4055 or pbs.placements@port.ac.uk. www.port.ac.uk/mba

Show you mean business. Go back to school.

Our Master of Business Administration (MBA) will provide you with the opportunity to develop your strategic problem-solving skills whilst mastering the latest business knowledge and practice: s s s s s

Develop your management abilities Benefit through innovative work-based learning Generous scholarships Taught part-time in two-day blocks over two years Accredited by the Association of MBAs

To find out more about our wide range of degrees, come along to one of our regular open evenings – details of which can be found at www.sharpenyourcompetitiveedge.com.

The Portsmouth MBA has been a life-changing experience and one that I wouldn’t have wanted to miss.’

Heather Short, Entrepreneur

www.port.ac.uk

For more information or to apply: T: +44 (0)23 9284 8200 E: pbs.postgradadmissions@ port.ac.uk W: www.port.ac.uk/mba

BUSINESSEDGE 29

BE 10.indd 29

3/8/12 10:48:02

Looking to fill a part time job, internship, placement or graduate level position?

The University of Sussex can help you to access our students and recent graduates, through our free vacancy advertising service.

Just submit your vacancy details at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/employers and your advert will then appear at www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs

Our students and graduates can contribute a wide range of skills to your organisation. We also have a large cohort of international students who can make a big difference to your international liaison or marketing projects.

To find out more contact Andrea Wall, Employer Engagement Manager. Email: andrea.wall@sussex.ac.uk We are happy to offer advice and support.

Careers and Employability Centre, The Library, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QL Tel: 01273 678429

Invest in your most strategic resource YOUR STAFF - The people who talk to your customers and potential customers, they operate the machinery that makes your business work, whether it be phones, computers, forklift trucks, lathes...the list is endless.

Are you thinking of investing in new equipment or state of the art IT equipment, so why not invest in your people?

Times are tough, it’s really tempting to cut back – training & development are always amongst the first things to go. It is certainly a quick solution, but is it prudent when you take the long term view.

When you are busy it is always very difficult to release people from work to go on training courses, so why not take the opportunity whilst things are a bit quieter to invest some time and money in your most valuable resource.

The Chartered Institute for Personal Development (CIPD) state that one of the main reasons people cited for leaving a job is lack of development or career opportunity. It is now the case that people actively look for training & learning as part of their job expectation. If there is no opportunity for training & development it has a negative impact on both morale and stress levels.

It’s not a Magic Wand; no quick fix here; but training is effective in the long term. Training programmes like this will create a positive attitude from staff and they will stay with a company where they feel there is a constructive supportive culture in evidence.

Let’s face it; it takes a lot of time and money to employ someone, or worse still replace someone who has been with a company for a long time, arguably much more than an appropriate developmental training programme would.

Like training, experience and knowledge are very hard to measure, until they are not there.

Experience is one thing you can’t get for nothing. Oscar Wilde Check out the website www.miris-training.co.uk Read the blog www.miris-training.co.uk/blog Talk to Miris Training about flexible, affordable training solutions.

Phone: 01293 618881

30 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 30

3/8/12 10:48:04

CORNERSTONE TRAINING SOLUTIONS LTD

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Rapidly becoming one of the UK’s top training providers Formed in 2010 and with offices in Horsham, Cornerstones Training Solutions has grown rapidly to become one of the UK’s leading providers of funded training and assessment in the fields of Resource and Waste Management, Recycling Operations and Carbon Management.

Now in its third year, the company can boast a client base which covers a wide range of sectors including resource and waste management, construction, social housing, leisure and local authorities. Mike Harris, founding Director, is clear about the wide ranging appeal of the awards the company offers. “Resource and Waste Management, the Recycling of materials, and those activities associated with them, affect all of us. Not just in the workplace, but at home as well. Everyone can contribute to this most important aspect of modern life and we at Cornerstones feel that people learning, particularly in the workplace, is a most important first step as it can then so easily be reflected in other aspects of their lives.

Accredited by City & Guilds, WAMITAB and PAAV Q-SET, Cornerstones’ ‘Green Ticket’ portfolio encompasses a comprehensive nineteen awards with some particularly exciting qualifications also in development.

Awards such as Apprenticeships in Sustainable Resource Management, the Diploma for Recycling Activities and Carbon Management are accompanied by Pre – Apprenticeship Programmes such as Neighbourhood Improvement and Graffiti Removal in order that the ideology of the Apprenticeship Programme preparing an individual for work, is achieved.

When asked about the interest shown in Cornerstones’ products, Mike becomes enthusiastic. “We’ve found that companies we’ve contacted have seen the potential in what we offer, and the interest shown has been very high.” he replies. “In fact whilst you would expect a degree of interest from the Resource and Waste Management Sector, we’ve found that in particular, Construction, local authorities and the SME environment have been keen to understand what we offer. We even have a number of Apprentices at Manchester United Football Club!”

The learning and assessment available from Cornerstones is free of charge to those companies that require it. Huw Jones, a director of the company, is keen to point out that “Without the assistance of our key partners, our clients would have to pay for our services and the fact that there is no cash outlay means that there is a very real benefit for them.”

Cornerstones’ principal partner in the South East is Northbrook College. “The relationship we have with Northbrook is excellent. The extent to which they have sought to assist both us as a partner and, importantly, that business community, is an indication of how forward thinking colleges have become”.

Cornerstones’ Partnerships Manager, Paul Jenkins, is keen to stress that the company has achieved an enviable client base without a hard hitting sales pitch. “We firmly believe that the best way to understand the learning needs of our clients is to work with them throughout the process rather than simply to sell them a product” he says. “Right from the outset we identify training needs for the company and

relate individual training plans for its employees.

We make a point of explaining the qualification to the employee and guide them though it, ensuring the the quality of what we do sits at the very highest level. After all we are providing top quality education” he adds.

Cornerstones provides a multilingual service which is relevant to staff at all levels of an organisation from the shop floor to directorate.

“We can educate in anything from basic ‘green’ awareness right up to more complex Carbon Management issues” Mike points out. “In this day and age it is certainly in the interests of all organisations that they have an awareness of the resource issues facing our planet and how they can positively manage their own impact.”

Paul Jenkins can be contacted at Cornerstones’ Horsham office on 01403 788444 or on PJenkins@cornerstonestrainingsolutions.co.uk

BUSINESSEDGE 31

BE 10.indd 31

3/8/12 10:48:06

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BOWLES DEVELOPMENT CENTRE

Recipe for graduate success INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

n Half a dozen recently recruited graduates (not too soft)

1. Start by gradually mixing the graduates in to the perfect residential learning environment with the help of dedicated and professional facilitators. In order to prevent the mixture from separating introduce one of the team challenges.

n A large dose of understanding of the clients’ needs and Corporate Values n A dash of drive and enthusiasm n A perfect residential learning environment n Dedicated and professional facilitators and support staff n Minimum 4 team challenges and numerous other cerebral tasks n An appropriate diagnostic profile according to taste, such as Belbin, MBTI, Leadership Style n A couple of high intensity challenges, for instance Abseil or Leap of Faith n “Leadership Charter Initiative” self-managing group project n Plenty of Review and Discussion n Extract of participant and observer input

2. In a medium-sized syndicate room, bring the resultant mixture together as soon as the task is complete.

DO NOT ALLOW THE MIXTURE TO COOL DOWN AT ANY STAGE. 3. Whilst still warm, introduce an appropriate level of review and discussion. Add some of the observer input once the mixture has started to move well.

4. Before any signs of cooling, immerse in the MBTI or appropriate diagnostic. In order to avoid the risk of curdling, maintain high levels of extract of participant.

7. Throw into the heart of the mixture the “Leadership Charter Initiative”. It is vital that this project is pre-heated with a very large dose of understanding of the clients’ needs, the client’s own corporate values and blended with a choice of high intensity challenges such as an abseil.

8. At this stage you could garnish with a dash of drive and enthusiasm, although the mixture will almost certainly have generated plenty of its own!!!

OUTCOME The rapidly-matured graduates will have risen and been flavoured with an increased awareness of leadership and their individual and collective strengths and weaknesses. Over time this flavour will increase. Confidence and spark will abound and they will bring vigour and purpose to their roles!

Bowles Sandhill Lane, Eridge GreenTunbridge Wells, TN3 9LW Tel: 01892 610600 Email: development@bowles.ac www.bowles.ac

5. Additional cerebral tasks with review and discussion can be thrown in at this stage.

6. Allow a little time for the mixture to marinate (a meal break would be ideal).

32 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 32

3/8/12 10:48:08

KRW RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS LTD

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Training - Accelerating Change in Health and Safety Accredited Training: n IOSH Managing Safely and Working Safely n IOSH Introduction to Risk Assessment n IOSH Safer Working in the Maintenance Industry n IOSH Health & Safety Essentials for Senior Management n IOSH People Handling Train the Trainer n HSE First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work n MCA Elementary First Aid

Bespoke Tailored Training n Managing applications for construction-based accreditation schemes, n Manual handling

This is Ken Wheeler, Managing Director of KRW Risk Management Solutions Ltd.

n Work at height and with ladders n Asbestos awareness n Health and safety induction

As an experienced chartered health and safety professional I am frequently asked why I choose to ride a large motorcycle, when motorcycles account for around 1% of road traffic but accidents involving motorcycles account for around 25% of those killed and seriously injured.

The answer is quite simple – I carried out a risk assessment and established the relevant control measures such as:

In education and teaching we talk about the “experiential learning cycle” in effective adult learning, and I am pleased to say this is one that I have not yet fallen off!

There have been a number of recent initiatives that have raised the profile of health and safety, with IOSH having a programme for safety professionals leading to chartered status and the OSHCR register for safety professionals allowing employers to have a choice and be able to engage competent health and safety professionals. We are pleased to be accredited by both schemes.

n Occupational road safety Whether its advice, training or other services you need, we can't guarantee to tell you what you want to hear, but we'll tell you how it is how it really is, no nonsense or costly flannel or frills.

n Competent advice about what training you actually need

We regularly read in the press of the excesses in health and safety requirements – “HSE bans conkers”, “Health and safety laws ban hanging baskets” “workers banned from putting up Christmas decorations in the office”. But the title of the recent review by Lord Young calling for reform in health and safety legislation reflects a philosophy we have long-since held in our business - “Common Sense, Common Safety”.

n Advanced rider training

n Qualified trainers, with practical health and safety experience

KRW Risk Management Solutions Ltd 01403 266182

Attitude and behaviour also have a bearing, just as in the workplace, where the effects of peer group and other pressures can be reduced through structured training and on-road experiences.

n Health and safety training covering a wide range of topics including accredited courses and bespoke tailored training:

www.krwtraining.co.uk

n A well maintained bike - this could be seen as work equipment n Regular pre ride inspection - checks similar to daily forklift inspections n Choice of relevant and effective safety clothing ie PPE n Rider training and assessment

What KRW can offer you:

BUSINESSEDGE 33

BE 10.indd 33

3/8/12 10:48:08

AJS TRAINING SOLUTIONS LTD

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Supporting You, Your Employees and Your Business.

We are a Private Provider which has been established, to put Quality staff back into your industry.

AJS are able to deliver all the mandatory and short course health and social care training Qualified Tutors /Instructors and Assessors for all your managers and care staff requirements.

n We deliver our care courses nationwide and can meet the care training needs of individual homes, small groups through to corporate care providers.

n The Common Induction Standards

n We already deliver our care training courses to organisations across the UK

n Mandatory and specialist training n Continuous professional development. n Quality Management Systems Our care training courses are delivered in your workplace at a time convenient to you and each course can accommodate up to 12 attendees.

We also have venues and timetables for training throughout the year

We have qualified Managers that are able to work closely to assist you and carry out independent quality assurance audits and implement systems to meet business requirements under pinning and meeting compliance requirements. They are also available to complete your manager’s independent supervisions and appraisals.

n QCF Diploma Health and Social Care 5 for senior, Deputy Mangers and Registered Managers n Team Leading; n Team Leading Certificate Level 2, for any industry in which you lead a team. n Team Leading Certificate Level 3,can be taken by team leaders and managers across a wide variety of work areas in both the public and private sectors. n Diploma for Management and Leadership Level 5 ,is suitable for job roles in any sector that involves Management and Leadership responsibilities. At Level 5 learners can expect to be working as a middle manager and thus hold a more central management position

Qualifications we deliver;

All our health and social care training programs meet the requirements of CQC and OFSTED.

n QCF Diploma Health and Social Care 2, for care workers

n Tailored specifically for your organisation’s needs.

n QCF Diploma Health and Social Care 3 for senior workers

34 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 34

3/8/12 10:48:10

ALPHA TRAINING SAFETY SOLUTIONS LTD

FOCUS ON TRAINING

Breathing new life into health and safety training Alpha Training Safety Solutions Limited is a health and safety training company with a difference.

a

FEATURE

All of our team are highly motivated, front line emergency service workers, with a wealth of practical, hands-on experience of real life situations.

Alpha Training Safety Solutions Limited currently provide a wide variety of training courses in health & safety areas such as, fire awareness, fire marshal training, abrasive wheel safety training, manual handling techniques, first aid training, confined space working and many other specialist areas. In addition to the standard courses, many more advanced specialist skills training courses can be run at the clients request such as: Working at Height, Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus CABA, Abrasive Wheel and Harness Inspection.

Alpha Training are specialists in Confined Space Training including Rescue Team Training. Our first dedicated Confined Space Training Unit

has arrived on our new training ground in West Sussex. It allows us to run courses directly from our bespoke training centre,Combining a fantastic classroom environment with dedicated Confined Space entry facilities.

Alpha Training also have a separate Technical Rescue Team division (Rescue 2) that provide contract Rescue and Safety cover in industry for Confined Space, Water, Work at Height and other risk areas in industry.

Alpha thrive on delivering high quality, bespoke training that meets our clients’ individual and exacting needs. We have developed interactive programmes that engage and inspire, promoting safer working practices. Health and safety doesn’t need to be dull. An exciting and fun training environment encourages retentive learning whilst reinforcing the right safety messages.

We run regular health and safety training courses in Sussex, the South East, London and across the whole of the UK. We currently work with many local companies and UK/ worldwide organisations. Our professionalism and commitment to training is reflected in our fast expanding client base.

Alpha Training have also achieved ISO 9001 Certification, in the Provision of Health and Safety Training, thanks to the continued commitment of the Alpha team and their constant dedication to customer service and standards. We are also UVDB and Link Up verified, and have a wide range of other accreditations and memberships.

We work hard to make your experience with us unique, real, memorable and fun... breathing new life into health and safety training.

Alpha Training Safety Solutions Ltd The Old Stables, Decoy Lane, Arundel Road, Poling, West Sussex BN18 9QA England T: 01903 871381 F: 01903 871479 E: info@alphahealthandsafety.com Registered Office: The Old Stables, Decoy Lane, Arundel Road, Poling, West Sussex, BN18 9QA

BUSINESSEDGE 35

BE 10.indd 35

3/8/12 10:48:16

THY WILL BE DONE

ADVERTISING FEATURE

You Are Going To Die! The question is when….. and what will happen to your loved ones when you do?

If you are like me, the pressures of every day life often mean that the things I should really be sitting down and seriously thinking about I never get round to.

In some cases if I do get a minute between being a problem solver at work, a devoted partner at home and a taxi and bank for the children in between I simply don’t have the energy or inclination to do anything other than kick back, relax and forget about it all for a while.

So – if you’re like me, take 4 minutes out of your hectic schedule to think about one of the most important things that will happen to you in your life…..your death!

To make this exercise even simpler pick the categories that best suit you and all you need to know and more importantly do will be revealed in an instant

Married?

If you don’t have a Will your spouse WILL NOT automatically inherit everything when you die and vice versa, in some cases it could be up to only £250,000 that can be inherited absolutely with the remainder having to be shared with other close relatives. Also, if you die and your spouse remarries then potentially everything you bequeathed to them could be lost if they were to then divorce or even worse die. A man or woman that you have never met could inherit the estate that was rightfully supposed to end up with your children for example. If a TRUST is put in place then these types of issues are completely eradicated as only the stated beneficiaries named in the trust that you create to receive your estate when you die can actually have access to the contents of it.

Creating a TRUST also protects your children from losing part or all of their inheritance should they themselves divorce after your death or be made bankrupt.

Unmarried and living together?

Quite simply you definitely need to get a Will otherwise your loved one will receive absolutely nothing from your estate when you die. In these scenarios the deceased’s parents, siblings and even ex partner can be potential beneficiaries rather than the surviving partner which can cause terrible misery especially where children are concerned or the property was owned solely by the partner who died. Even where a property is jointly owned it is only the bricks and mortar that this relates to, half of the rest of your shared belongings and all of your personal estate will not go where you wish unless you express it in a WILL. A WILL combined with

the use of a TRUST will ensure that should your partner inherit your estate and then remarry it will not be at risk from future divorce or your partner’s death and if you have any children their share will be protected also while they are young and when they become adults it will still protect them from losing part or all of thier inheritance through a divorce of their own or a bankruptcy.

Single?

This is a simple one. If you die and your parents are still alive, they will inherit everything. If neither of your parents are alive then your estate will be split between your brothers and sisters followed by more distant relatives and finally the crown. If any of that concerns you then a simple WILL is all you need to ensure that your estate goes to those that you choose

Have children under the age of 18?

Everyone who has children under the age of 18 should have a WILL. If you are a sole carer even more so. If you die and you are single or your partner, if you have one, dies with you too where your children go? If you have not made a WILL then the decision as to where your children live could easily end up being made by the local authorities,What if you have a family that is made up of children with different fathers and mothers?

These situations have a tendency to end up in conflict and pain and sibling break up if clear concise instructions (and provision) are not left through a WILL and an appropriately arranged TRUST fund.

Own your own home solely?

Who do you wish to inherit your home when you die? What would happen should you require long term care in your later life – would your home be under threat of forced sale by the local authority to pay for it? If you have properly drafted WILL and TRUST arrangements your home will never be able to be taken from you to pay for your care at any point. Correct use of trusts will also protect those you ultimately leave your estate to from losing part or all their inheritance to future divorce, bankruptcy or generational inheritance tax.

Own your own home with 1 or more people?

Typically most couples own their home as joint tenants.This is why so many homes get sold

to pay for care in later life. One party dies and the ownership of the home reverts to the other automatically. If the surviving partner is either already in care or requires residential care later on, the property will be sold to pay for it.. A WILL and TRUST correctly drafted combined with A SEVERENCE OF TENANCY to change the ownership structure to tenants in common will ensure that the home is never wholly owned by either party and as such can never be take away at any point to pay for care with those ultimately destined to inherit the property actually receiving it. Note here that a WILL on it’s own will not suffice, you need to put a TRUST in place and SEVER THE TENANCY or there will be nothing for your beneficiaries to inherit regardless of what the WILL itself says.

Regarding Alzheimers Lasting Power of Attorney is recommended to everybody and should be put in place as early as possible. Power of attorney cannot be taken, it has to be granted, and done so while the donor is mentally capable of making rational decisions.

You will not automatically receive Power of Attorney for your spouse if you are married, this is a belief held by many that is completely incorrect.

Ironically nearly half of all individuals requiring Power of Attorney over them are under 55. It is not just Alzheimers but coma through accident and other serious illnesses that can render an individual unable to make decisions for themselves.Without a correctly drafted Lasting Power of Attorney for Finance and Welfare in place it is up to the Court of protection to appoint a deputy who will have full control over all aspects of the individual’s life.

This process is intrusive, stressful and costly and is definitely something you should avoid at all costs by granting Lasting Power of Attorney to your loved one(s) as soon as possible.

If any of the above concerns you then ask Thy Will Be Done to can come and see you at home or your place of work for a FREE 40 MINUTE CONSULTATION to discuss your circumstances and what you need to do to protect yourself and your family.

All Sussex Enterprise readers can Claim £50 off of any package that they purchase, simply by producing a copy of this article when meeting us.

Thy Will Be Done can be called FREE on 0800 668 1164 and full details of our services and prices can be found at www.thywill.co.uk

36 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 36

3/8/12 10:48:17

FINANCE

Helping businesses break through the financial barrier Ask business people to name their biggest challenge and many will identify difficulties accessing the funding needed to develop products and services.

Responding to that concern, the Government has now launched a £200 million programme to help up to 26,000 of England’s brightest businesses.

GrowthAccelerator, which is available for companies with potential for rapid and sustainable growth, is a partnership between the private sector and Government which will see business experts working with companies to identify and overcome the barriers they face.

The work will focus on issues such as securing finance, commercialising innovation and developing leadership and management capability.

As well as coaching, GrowthAccelerator fast-tracks clients to providers of business advice such as UK Trade and Investment, professional advisers and networks such as Angel Investors.

Secretary of State for Business Vince Cable said: “GrowthAccelerator is an exciting new programme that is at the heart of the Government’s commitment to help businesses deliver growth by increasing their chance of gaining access to finance and spurring innovation.

“The UK boasts vibrant small and medium sized businesses that have the chance to become the household names of tomorrow. With targeted support, we are giving entrepreneurs a fantastic opportunity to take their businesses forward to succeed both here and abroad.”

Funded by the Department for Business Innovations and Skills (BIS), GrowthAccelerator is delivered by a consortium led by Grant Thornton and comprising Winning Pitch, Oxford Innovation, Pera and seven other partners.

Mr Prisk said: “We want to give young people the best possible chance to start and grow their own enterprise. This scheme is not just providing a small amount of funding but is about looking at the bigger picture and we want to be able to offer a full package of business training and mentoring.”

Stu Anderson, Project Director Shell LiveWIRE, which offers advice to young business people, said: “These loans offer the chance for many young people with little financial track record to access seed funding to get their ideas off the ground. “There are thousands of young people with great ideas who find it hard to access funding. This scheme not only offers a chance to finance an idea but it also packages together support to ensure that they have they best possible chance of success in business.” * Further information about GrowthAccelerator can be found at www.growthaccelerator.com More information is available at www.bis.gov.uk/startup-loans

Accountants, tax and business advisers to owner-managed businesses throughout Sussex

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy and we are giving them the support they need to realise their potential.”

Karl Eddy, Head of Business Growth Services at Grant Thornton, said: “Our vision for GrowthAccelerator is clear, to provide fast-growing businesses with exactly the kind of expertise, insight and networks that entrepreneurs need to achieve their ambitions. The type of dynamic businesses that will benefit from this service are the businesses of the future, leading our economy.

“We are excited that GrowthAccelerator recognises the need for ambitious business leaders to collaborate and access growth in new ways. The service will rapidly create a community of support that will help make the UK the best place to grow a business."

For a free initial consultation call us today on

In addition, the next stage of the Government’s new £10 million Start-up Loan’ for young people pilot scheme has been announced by Mr Prisk.

The initiative aims to provide budding entrepreneurs with support and a small amount of capital to help them get started as well as access to training and business mentors.

www.parkerpartnership.com

01273 722505

The Government has been inviting organisations and consortiums who can offer the right level of support to deliver the programme to bring forward their proposals.

BUSINESSEDGE 37

BE 10.indd 37

3/8/12 10:48:18

PREMIER MEMBERS VIEW

Midnight Communications Award winning Midnight Communications is one of the South East’s longest established PR companies.

When the company was first established in 1995 it became the first PR company in the UK to specialise in Internet products and services. Today it offers a diverse client portfolio with whom it works on both a regional and national basis.

Its clients include global assistance company Europ Assistance, Sky Sports Living for Sport (delivered in partnership with the Youth Sports Trust), the award-wining trade vetting company Checkatrade, and Thomas Eggar, one of the south east’s leading law firms.

Midnight is well known in the south east for its handling of the Sussex Business Awards. The awards are now in their twenty fourth year and Midnight has been managing this scheme for four years now. It’s not the only awards they manage, however, having developed some expertise in this area.

In the past Midnight has developed schemes which include the Brighton and Hove Business Awards, the Digital Media Awards and, most recently The Sky Sports Living for Sports Student of the Year Awards for which it received the accolade “Best Award Scheme” at Event UK last year.

Midnight is no stranger to winning awards itself having won over 40 awards – both nationally and regionally – including PR Week’s PR Company of the Year and numerous b2b, consumer and media relations awards. They are proudest of the fact that, over the last seven years, a member of the Midnight team has been either a winner or a finalist for the CIPR Young Communicator of the Year in the south east.

This year Sussex Enterprise is getting involved with the Sussex Business Awards and will be sponsoring the Small Business Award with long term sponsor, Deloitte.

“I am delighted to welcome Sussex Enterprise to our family of sponsors,” says Caraline Brown, Managing Director of Midnight Communications.

“With its fantastic reach across both west and east Sussex we are looking forward to reaching a really broad range of potential entrants from across the county.”

In order to ensure that as many business as possible were aware of the awards this year the Midnight team chose to launch in three venues across the county.

“Many people associate these awards with Brighton,” says Caraline. “And indeed, that is where myself and the team are based. However, these awards are designed to recognise business achievements from across the entire county and so this year we decided to launch the 2012 Awards in three towns – Crawley, Eastbourne and Brighton.”

of you as possible at The South Lodge Hotel on December 6th for what has become established as the Sussex business community’s party of the year and a fitting celebration of Sussex success and our unique business culture.”

All three events were attended by the Mayors of their respective towns and in all around three hundred guests were present to hear from previous winners as to why winning an award can really add to the bottom line.

1.Think carefully about the categories you wish to enter. Choose the categories based on your strengths as a company or individual. Be honest about what you are good at and how you can demonstrate this to the judges.

There are fifteen awards up for grabs this year including Businessperson of the Year, International Company of the Year, the Award for Innovation and a new award for the Best Boss in Sussex.

2. Don’t leave writing your entries until the last minute and make sure you submit on time.

The organisers are delighted to welcome returning sponsors which include Deloitte, Morgan Sindall, Domestic & General, Morrisons Solicitors,The Argus, Sussex Life, Juice FM and Wired Sussex.

And welcome new sponsors - Sussex Enterprise, HSBC, Federation of Small Businesses, Sussex Innovation Centre, Checkaprofessional and Active Solutions.

For the second year, Peter Field, Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex will be taking his place as Chairman of the judges. Peter was appointed Lord-Lieutenant in 2009 and besides his royal and civic duties he is keenly involved in the business life of the city and county.

“Last year was the first time I had chaired the judging panel and I found it to be a welcome opportunity to see and meet so many inspirational local business entrepreneurs and play a role in determining those individuals and organisations that that can only be labelled the ‘Best of Sussex’.

“The Awards demonstrate what a terrific place our twin Counties are for creating and doing business and, once again, give our local businesses the chance to demonstrate great performance and excellence in their field.

“I am delighted to be invited to chair once more and look forward to learning how last year’s winners and finalists have fared over the last twelve months.

“Most of all I look forward to meeting as many

Want to win a Sussex Business Awards in 2012?

Follow these Top Ten Tips:

3.To impress the judges your entry must stand out from the crowd. Use plenty of bullet points and bolding to make your point and ensure your entry is easy to read. State clearly at the beginning precisely why you deserve to win a particular category.

4.The judges will want to see proof of claims you make about being “the best”, offering “great service”, “value for money”, “being innovative” etc. Avoid vague statements such as “raise awareness” and avoid cliches.

5.The judges will have lots of entries to read so keep your entry succinct. Write in plain English and keep it simple.The judges are unlikely to be experts in your particular field so avoid jargon.

6. Make sure it doesn’t contain typos. Many entries do and they can be very irritating.

7. Demonstrate that your product / service has a market, that there is a demand from that market and that the business is sustainable. Provide robust evaluation of your business. Competitor analysis and sales, turnover and profit figures speak for themselves and are not subjective.

8. Don’t hide good arguments in supporting material. Such material often isn’t read.

9. Be sure to answer all the questions the judges ask too, rather than just the ones that suit you to answer.

10. Avoid letting techies, lawyers or accountants write your entry.They are often not the best at communicating in words but think they can.

CEOs/MDs often lack the time or patience to do the job well. Award entries are usually best written by the PR / Marketing Department or by external experts.

38 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 38

3/8/12 10:48:18

UPFRONT

Sussex businesses jump across the channel!

Representatives of Sussex businesses went on a two-day trade mission to France on the 28 and 29 June, accompanied by the co-organizers, Sussex Enterprise, the Chamber of Commerce for Sussex. The representatives were welcomed

by Dominique Garconnet, President of Dieppe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the leading partner in the project, at the International Business Centre in Dieppe. Over 20 French companies took part in the event.

During the visit, fifty formal and informal speed-meetings took place. These meetings were designed to enable companies to meet, get to know each other, establish contacts and initiate the first concrete collaborations. The programme was enriched with group and individual meetings, company visits and presentations of clusters, as well as some time for friendly exchanges of culture and customs from both sides of the Channel.

The Sussex delegation also went on a guided tour of the port of Dieppe: Mme Fouchault, Manager of the Syndicat Mixte du port de Dieppe, presented the Dieppe’s four harbours and the efforts made for infrastructure to serve the major public investments planned for the region, such as the offshore wind farms, to make Dieppe a centre of excellence for energy.

The trip ended with visits to the companies Eurochannel Logistics,Toshiba and Vialog, before the Sussex businesses returned on the LD Transmanche Ferry.

The next business events organized by Sussex Enterprise, will be in Sussex on the 4 and 5 October 2012. The Sussex and French businesspeople are already preparing their diaries to continue the business meetings in Sussex!

Hurry up and join our group by contacting: liz.cadman@sussexenterprise.co.uk

The visit formed part of the DEEDS project (‘Development of Economic Exchanges between Dieppe & Sussex’). Part of the European France-England (Channel) programme INTERREG-IV (2007-2013).

The ‘DEEDS’ project has been developed by the Dieppe Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dieppe-Maritime Urban Community in partnership with Sussex Enterprise. DEEDS is supported by the INTERREG IVA European programme France (Channel) – England, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Its aim is to boost economic activity around the Channel axis by promoting cross-border trade between businesses in Sussex and Dieppe.

Brighton toasts “inspirational” Principal Leading figures from Brighton & Hove’s civic and business world paid tribute to City College Brighton and Hove Principal Phil Frier at a farewell lunch hosted at the Amex Stadium’s East Central Brasserie to mark his retirement.

Since Mr Frier became Principal in 2007, the College has gone from a ‘satisfactory’ Ofsted rating to ‘Good with Outstanding Features’ while success rates have steadily improved to the extent that the College is now one of top ten highest performing Further Education Colleges in the country.

During his time as Principal, Mr. Frier also became Chair of Brighton & Hove City Council’s City Employment & Skills Steering Group which included key personnel from the Council’s main strategic partners in the public, private and community and voluntary sectors.

Mr Frier was formerly Executive Director at Sussex Downs College and was Principal of Park College, Eastbourne, before it merged with Sussex Downs College in 2003. He has worked in the Further Education sector for 30 years.

At the event, Mr Frier thanked family, friends and supporters across Brighton and Hove and praised the strong spirit of partnership working across the city. He also praised the governors, staff and students who had helped the College achieve its success. Special praise was reserved for his wife Cath. He said: “Without her support, I simply wouldn’t have been able to do the job.”

Mayor of Brighton & Hove Bill Randall said: “Phil Frier has been an inspirational Principal.”

Brighton and Hove Albion director Martin Perry, who was Chair of the College’s Board of Governors when Mr Frier was appointed Principal, said: “Phil has transformed the College and created so many opportunities for young people there and throughout the city.”

contribution has been unmatched by any public servant in the city recently in terms of what he’s achieved during his time at City College” Broadcaster and former Chair of the Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership Simon Fanshawe said: “Phil has a way of dealing with people that makes them feel special and I think that’s a remarkable and powerful quality that’s the true sign of a great educator.”

City College is still recruiting for courses starting in September. For more information, call 01273 667759, email info@ccb.ac.uk or see www.ccb.ac.uk

Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove City Council John Barradell said: “I think Phil’s

BUSINESSEDGE 39

BE 10.indd 39

3/8/12 10:48:20

UPFRONT

£2 million boost for rural businesses and communities More than £2 million has been awarded to businesses and voluntary groups with a further £800,000 made available.

The grants come from the two LEADER groups administered by West Sussex County Council’s Economic Development Team.

International trade is a large part of the regions business growth

The LEADER scheme brings together farmers, businesses and community representatives to identify how funding from the Government’s Rural Development Programme for England can best meet local needs.

So far, grants have been awarded to 115 projects across the LEADER areas, which include most of rural West Sussex, Lewes District and the rural parts of Havant Borough.

The most recent awards include:

Ian Tandy, HSBC Regional Commercial Director for the South & East, welcomed the release of the Q1 2012 HMRC trade figures for the South East Region. The figures showed: n The South East region continues to be the largest region for exporters with a value of £42.5 billion for the year ending March 2012, despite a 2.4 per cent value decrease over the annual period. n Total exports for the South East in 2012 Q1 were £ 11.1 billion. n Total exports for the UK were £ 75.4 billion in Q1 2012 n Exports from the South East grew by £25.2 million between Q4 2011 and Q1 2012.

Ian Tandy said: “These figures show that international trade in the South East region is continuing to grow with many businesses in the region making good use of export opportunities. It is extremely encouraging to see South East businesses embracing international trade in export markets. We have seen a number of companies increase their international activity this year particularly to markets outside of Europe. The domestic market is still very important but international trade is a large part of many companies’ business dealings and it

accounts for a large slice of the region’s business growth.

“HSBC is well placed to help companies who are trading, or aspire to trade, internationally, with our UK export related business growing by a third last year compared to 13% for the UK economy as a whole. Our strategy is based around international connectivity, with our joined-up structure and global footprint giving UK businesses access to global expertise and support. We have increased our number of International Commercial Managers in the South East region by a third and HSBC’s International SME Fund is also proving attractive to businesses, with more than £1.3 billion of the total amount lent in the first quarter being borrowed by SMEs that trade or aspire to trade internationally. The £4 billion fund was established after findings from HSBC’s ‘Global Connections’ trade forecast predicted that over the next 15 years, the UK is set to increase its international business activity by around 60%.”

n £37,000 to help a growing business that sells local venison and game move into larger premises at Duncton n

£2,126 for a family-run sheep farm at Cowfold near Horsham, to diversify into catering at events, selling their Sussex Lamb burgers

n £30,000 to help a farm near Petersfield open a tearoom specialising in local produce The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recognised LEADER’s success by allocating an extra £214,000 to help more projects in West Sussex, Lewes and Havant. Farms and small rural businesses can apply for grants to improve their competitiveness and create jobs.

Lionel Barnard, Deputy Leader of West Sussex County Council and responsible for the Communities, Environment and Enterprise portfolio, said: “The rural economy is vitally important in our part of the world so I would urge potential applicants to contact the LEADER team without delay because all the funding has to be used by December 2013.”

For further information, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/rdpeleader, email rdpeleader@westsussex.gov.uk or telephone 01243 756606.

40 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 40

3/8/12 10:48:22

CHAMBER EVENTS

PREMIER EVENT -

Jeremy Spiller (White Hat Media) looks at the future of the web and technology with specific reference to innovation and business. The topics covered will include geo-location, cloud, convergence, connected TV, intelligent bar codes, gesture technology, embedded web and others. This will be looked at with a particular focus on business, marketing and sales and how to keep up to date with and take advantage of these innovations.

Network with other premier members from Sussex and our neighbouring county, North Hampshire as you enjoy a delightful afternoon tea on the terrace overlooking the Thames.

Excellent networking oportunities and breakfast included!

Tea on the Terrace 2012 When: 16.00pm – 18.00pm 12th September 2012 Where: House of Commons, Westminster An exclusive opportunity to meet and converse with MP’s from Sussex and North Hampshire amongst the imposing surroundings of Westminster.

Access is via the Cromwell Green entrance.

Full details including directions and House of Commons invitation will be sent to you a week before the event.

Events

Premier members – free Member plus – free Member & StartUp – free Non-members – Free for those sampling events for the first time. Pay as you go £24 inc vat

Book early to secure your place.

Premier members – free Member Plus – £72 inc vat The Evolution of Business (Re-Scheduled from March) When: 7.30am – 10.00am 18th September 2012 Where: The Dome, University of Chichester (Bognor Campus) Celebrating the £8m transformation of the Dome into a vibrant business and research centre and state-of-the-art learning and resource centre, we invite you to join us for an enlightening breakfast event in this fantastic new facility.

We will explore the last 100 years of marketing theory - asking the ultimate question ‘what have we learned about the customer?’. Dr Michael Leseure from the University’s School of Enterprise and Management (SEMAL) will look at how marketing has evolved since that time including relationship marketing and social marketing.

Taking a look to the future for inspiration on emerging methods/technologies which will shape the way we communicate with our customers.

In the last twenty years we’ve seen the rapid rise of the web now with more than 1.5 billion users worldwide; we’ve lived through the phenomenal growth of social media and a society where new technology and innovation are now the norm. Incredibly In the next twenty years we will see even greater changes, and even more innovation; the only limitation according to Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the web being our own imagination.

But as business people and marketers how does this affect you, how will this change your business and what it does, and what does the future hold?

Please see the event homepage for full payment terms and conditions 1-2-1 Business Review Clinics for ‘Member Plus’ Level Members When: 21st September 2012 Where: Sussex Enterprise Office, Burgess Hill Calling all ‘Member Plus’ level Members of Sussex Enterprise!

Are you a ‘Member Plus’ level member? If so, register your interest now to receive your free hour-long 1-2-1 Business Review session from Branduin Business Support. The subject for discussion is driven by you and is designed to address any short-term issues or provide advice on general business development.

Members will be issued with a pre-Clinic questionnaire upon booking. This will describe the format of the session and provide members with the opportunity to outline what they would like to discuss and what they hope to achieve from attendance.

The advice provided at each session can in many cases provide a solution to the issues raised. In other cases, however, the member may be offered a GMapTM consultation at their premises to discuss the issues in greater detail.

There are only 5 sessions available on this day.

Please register your interest by pressing the ‘Book Event’ button and you will be contacted to arrange your appointment time. A holding deposit of £15 will be required to secure your place to ensure all slots are attended.

These sessions are only open to members at the Member Plus level. Not sure what level of membership you are? Give me a call on 0844 371 5405 to find out.

All events can be booked by visiting www. sussexenterprise. co.uk/events

Sussex International Trade Forum ‘To Russia With Love’ When: 17.45pm – 20.30pm Where: HSBC Commercial Centre, Worthing Exploring the opportunities when exporting to this tricky customer. Full details to be announced.

Premier members – free Member plus – free Member & StartUp – free Non-members – Free for those sampling events for the first time. Pay as you go £24 inc vat Please see the event homepage for full booking terms and conditions If you’re interested in upgrading your membership or becoming a member to access these events, please visit our website or call 0844 37 595 50

BUSINESSEDGE 41

BE 10.indd 41

3/8/12 10:48:22

A variety of venues including a medieval banqueting hall located within the precincts of the beautiful Chichester Cathedral � � � � �

Corporate Hospitality Cocktail Receptions Meeting rooms Day delegate rates 5 star accommodation at George Bell House

For further information, please telephone 01243 813586 or email bookings@chichestercathedral.org.uk

www.cathedralenterprises.co.uk www.chichestercathedral.org.uk

Introducing the new Kenco Singles Brewer now with Hot Chocolate and a two stage Cappuccino Order your new machine now and quote ‘Business Edge’ to receive a 10% Discount Contact us now for details of this and other great offers

0800 195 3170 www.westwaysvending.co.uk Like us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter

42 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 42

3/8/12 10:48:29

MEMBER BENEFITS

More resources for HR-related administration Smaller companies rarely have the resource or time to spend on HR-related administration such as holiday bookings, sickness absence and performance management.

It is also hard to keep track of all the other related documentation, particularly when recruiting, and it is vitally important for any business to keep accurate records of disciplinary or grievance processes and other consultation meetings. Our HR Consultants recognise that it can sometimes feel overwhelming and have been looking at some simple software solutions that offer a value for money and user-friendly service, without expensive installation costs or long term contracts.

We are therefore delighted to announce that we have partnered with breatheHR to offer our members an effective system that will help you reduce administration and empower your employees.

West Sussex based breatheHR is owned by Centurion Management Systems Ltd, who have implemented HR management systems for over 15 years.

“Being Sussex Enterprise members ourselves we think it’s great that we’re working with Sussex Enterprise to offer breatheHR to their members. breatheHR fits in perfectly with

their excellent HR advice service as both are specifically designed for small to medium sized businesses.” Jonathan Richards,Managing Director, breatheHR. breatheHR.com is an easy to use online HR system that gives you the tools to free up your valuable time to focus on growing and developing your business. n Reduce absence management paperwork.

Automated holiday booking and sickness reporting. breatheHR includes a very useful online team calendar so your employees can quickly check their requests before submitting them approval. n Not enough time or knowledge to run effective one-to-ones and performance appraisals? Performance management tools include a built in process for one-to-one meetings, objective recording and monitoring plus templates for job roles and appraisals.

n Store all employee documents online for easy access. Data securely stored in the UK. n Individual employee records. Software your team will enjoy using! n FREE 30-day trial. No credit card details required.

The best way to see how breatheHR.com can help you manage your team is to try it for yourself. Take advantage of the breatheHR 30-day FREE trial and you can be up and running in minutes. Any members that then sign up will also receive a free HR ‘Health Check’, worth £500, from one of our Consultants, who can advise you how best to protect and develop your business. Have a look at our website at http://www.sussexenterprise.co.uk/ hr-advice/ for further details.

n Works wherever you are - useful for online team announcements, and reminders of key events.

BUSINESSEDGE 43

BE 10.indd 43

3/8/12 10:48:36

MP PAGES

An optimistic future for Bright on As the local Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven since 2010, I am delighted to be contributing an article for Sussex Business Edge.

B

efore being elected to Parliament I was a Sussex businessman, running a number of pubs and restaurants in Brighton, as well as setting up Juice FM radio station.

Given my background in business I have, perhaps unsurprisingly, taken a close interest in issues affecting industry in Parliament, and sit on the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee. I am always conscious of the importance of having people with real, practical business experience, discussing and debating laws and regulations which often have a huge impact on businesses here in Sussex, and up and down the country.

Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, which stretches from the Marina to Moulsecoomb and from the Palace Pier to Peacehaven, is a vibrant, cosmopolitan, mixed area and it is a huge honour to represent in Parliament.

From an economic standpoint the constituency has a number of large, multi-national companies such as American Express, but the economic heartbeat of the constituency is the vast number of small and medium sized businesses.

Brighton Kemptown is an attractive area, benefitting from its location by the sea and South Downs, and is just an hour from London.

Brighton’s reputation for tolerance and diversity also makes the City an enticing proposition to many potential entrepreneurs. Research from Lloyds TSB confirmed that Brighton and Hove is the most popular place in the country, outside London, for successful professionals aged between 25 and 44 in the year to February 2012.

This, alongside two universities in the City, gives businesses in the area a deep pool of well qualified employees. This situation is not without its consequences, however, and I am often contacted by residents who feel it is hard for local people to access well paid jobs in the City.

This is one of the reasons why I have been a vocal advocate in Parliament of the need for plentiful, good quality apprenticeships as a viable alternative for those who wish to pursue a more vocational route into employment.

Since 2009 there has been an 80% increase in the number of apprenticeships in Brighton Kemptown, putting the total number at 640 in 2011.

Brighton Kemptown, with a wealth of excellent bars, restaurants, attractions and hotels has a thriving tourism sector and also a blossoming creative industries sector, which provide many jobs and valuable income to the constituency.

One of the initiatives the Government launched to help businesses was the creation of a £100 million urban broadband fund from the Department for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport’s.

Simon Kirby

Brighton was not eligible to bid for this funding as it did not fulfil the population criteria. I was very aware of the benefit of faster broadband in helping to support businesses in the constituency, especially those involved in

44 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 44

3/8/12 10:48:47

MP PAGES

ht on Kemptown & Peacehaven

the digital industries. Therefore, alongside my colleague Mike Weatherley (MP for Hove and Portslade), I lobbied the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport and the Chancellor, to request they opened up the funding for cities like Brighton.

I was delighted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer acknowledged this campaign and set up a further £50 million fund for smaller cities like Brighton. This money will be a significant boost to local businesses, particularly those that rely heavily on the internet.

The challenges facing businesses here in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, and Sussex more widely, are similar to those facing businesses up and down the country during these difficult economic times.

I recognise that the way out of the economic trouble we are in comes through creating an environment where companies and employers and grow and continue to create the jobs and prosperity we all want to see created.

The Government, despite working under tight financial restrictions, has taken a number of

steps to help businesses, which gives me cause for optimism looking to the future.

Specifically I have outlined below just a few of the measures the Government has taken to support businesses: n Cut corporation tax: Cutting corporation tax from 28 per cent in 2011-12 to 24 per cent in 2012-13. It will be reduced to 22 per cent by 2014-15, within touching distance of 20 per cent which is the lowest in the G20. n Local business rates discounts. Giving local authorities a new discretionary power to offer local business rate discounts to help attract and support local firms. n Office of Tax Simplification created.

Establishing a new Office of Tax Simplification to help simplify the tax system. n Reducing Regulation. Capping the cost of regulation and identifying 887 regulations to scrap or substantially overhaul. Plans to extend training regulations have been scrapped, saving small businesses £390 million per annum by overhauling environmental red tape.

I am always very concerned when I learn of decisions being taken by local authorities which can make the trading environment even tougher for businesses. That is why I have been campaigning fiercely against the decision made

by Brighton and Hove City Council s Green administration to massively increase business and trader parking permits, as well as increasing the cost of pay and display parking in the City.

Looking ahead, I feel that whilst the road will not always be easy, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future for businesses in Brighton Kemptown & Peacehaven and I will do all I can to assist them.

The crucial role for Government, whether local or national, is to listen to what businesses are saying. To this end I would be happy to make representations on behalf of Sussex Enterprise members to the relevant Ministers. If this would be of interest please do let me know at simon.kirby.mp@parliament.uk.

BUSINESSEDGE 45

BE 10.indd 45

3/8/12 10:48:55

DZDUG ZLQQLQJ VXQEHDWDEOH RUJDQLF 63) FRYHU 35--%2 42!6%, %33%.4)!,3 • Broad-spectrum UVA & UVB protection • SPF15 with natural suntan accelerator • Suitable for adults and children who may be prone to prickly heat or eczema • New Sun & Sports Shampoo • 100ml travel size 0(94/ 3#)%.#% 0 , ! . 4 0 % 2 & / 2 - ! . # % 7)4(/54 #/-02/-)3% For a FREE catalogue and sachet please call 01403 740350 Our products are not tested on animals and never contain: Sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol, alcohol (ethyl alcohol, ethanol) & petrochemicals

100% certified products 10% of net profit is donated to charity

BusEdge_HP_230712.indd 1

www.greenpeople.co.uk 30/07/2012 10:46

46 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 46

3/8/12 10:48:59

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Kabuki Productions adds a new account manager to its team

Simon joins EMC’s ‘mobile boardroom’

Kabuki Productions, the creative and technical event production company based in Chichester, has added Account Manager Rachel James to its team.

The move follows a busy start to the year, which included the continued development of its relationship with the global consumer giant Unilever and a major contract win for corporate event production surrounding an England sport team’s home internationals.

Rachel comes from an account management background at global consulting, outsourcing and investment services company Mercer and, prior to that, global publishers Wiley. She was based at the Chichester offices of both companies.

Kabuki Director Ajay Parekh said: “It’s great to have Rachel on board at such an important time for Kabuki. Her experience speaks for itself and she has already demonstrated her expertise by hitting the ground running, managing existing clients and new projects.”

Simon Robbins, who has more than 30 years’ experience in business development, strategy and marketing, has joined EMC Management Consultants in Eastbourne and Hove where he operates as an interim commercial director and non-executive director, carries out business reviews, advises on growth strategies and works on one-off business advisory projects.

Simon, who holds an MBA from the Cranfield School of Management, has worked in and advised FTSE 100 companies, private equity-backed and privately-owned businesses and companies from start-ups to those with a £1 billion turnover.

EMC, which has five offices in Sussex and Kent, is one of the region’s leading corporate finance and business management boutiques having completed more than 250 sales and acquisitions, raised more than £800m of debt and equity finance and completed well over 1,000 corporate strategic reviews since its formation in 1989.

The firm pioneered the concept of the ‘mobile boardroom’, a multi-disciplined taskforce of senior professionals who provide hands-on support and advice to businesses on a short or long-term basis.

New General Manager joins Fontwell Park More than £8m has been spent improving the facilities including the construction of the £6.5m 888sport Premier Grandstand in 2010.

Along with offering superb raceday facilities, the state-of-the-art Grandstand is ideal for conferencing, trade shows, weddings and parties and is fast becoming one of the most popular business and leisure venues for business along the South Coast.

Fontwell Park has appointed a new General Manager. Tracy Skinner joined the team at Fontwell Park earlier this month having worked for Northern Racing for over four years.

Tracy, 34, joins Fontwell Park from Newcastle Racecourse where she previously held the position of Commercial Manager.

Having delivered the Northumberland Plate and Fighting Fifth Hurdle, as well as numerous concerts, sports events and private parties, Tracy is looking forward to further developing the range of events offered at Fontwell Park.

Tracy said, “I am delighted to be continuing my career with Northern Racing having thoroughly enjoyed my time at Newcastle Racecourse. The development at Fontwell Park since Northern Racing bought the track

in 2002, lends itself to growing our feature fixtures such as Ladies Evening, the October Festival & Boxing Day as well as maximising the tremendous opportunity for other events throughout the year.”

Tracy replaces previous General Manager, Holly Glover, who was head-hunted by The FA in early June. Holly is now the Commercial Manager at St George’s Park, the FA’s new home of football development.

BUSINESSEDGE 47

BE 10.indd 47

3/8/12 10:49:05

NEW MEMBERS

Ahha Publications Business Services 257 Kings Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 2UR Audrey Fletcher, Director T: +44(0)1323 501722 E: audz@ahhapublications.com W: www.ahhapublications.com/

Bluebell Railway Ltd Preserved Steam Railway Sheffield Park Station, Sheffield Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 3QL Roger Kelly, Funding Director T: +44(0)1825 720813 E: roger.kelly@bluebell-railway.co.uk W: www.bluebell-railway.co.uk

Clive Mason Sign Language Consultant 67 Sycamore Drive, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 0GG Clive Mason, Owner E: clivewgmason@gmail.com

Duncan Stewart Textiles Amicus Horizon Ltd Housing Association PO Box 322, Sittingbourne, Kent, West Sussex, ME9 8PQ Asif Choudri T: +44(0)208 726 8727 E: Asif.Choudri@amicushorizon. org.uk W: www.amicushorizon.org.uk

Arinc Network & Data Communications Pegasus House, Gatwick Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9AY Samantha Drake, Import Export Admin T: +44(0)1293 641200 E: jdrake@arinc.com W: www.arinc.com

Brambletye Hotel Hospitality The Square, Forest Row, West Sussex, RH18 5EZ Jennifer Sharma T: +44(0)1342 824144 E: hotel@brambletyehotel.co.uk W: www.brambletyehotel.co.uk

Dyno-Rod South East Ltd Branduin Business Support Business Support 8 Kynaston Close, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 6TQ Steve Forey, Managing Director T: +44(0)20 3195 7988 E: steve@branduin.co.uk W: www.branduin.co.uk

Census Searches Ltd Ask Moneypenny Ltd Virtual PA 51 The Gardens, Southwick, West Sussex, BN42 4AP Sophia Lee-Spencer, Owner T: +44(0)1273 957088 E: sophia@askmoneypenny.com W: www.askmoneypenny.com

Begbies Traynor Group PLC Insolvency Practitioners 2-3 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1EE Jon Beard, Director T: +44(0)1273 747847 E: jon.beard@begbies-traynor.com W: www.begbies-traynor.com

International Probate and Genealogical Research 28 Hazel Grove, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 0BY Lady Teviot T: +44(0)1444 242605 E: lady.teviot@census-searches.co.uk W: www.census-searches.co.uk

Chart Interiors Office Furniture & Equipment 3 The Barns Bulrushes Farm, Coombe Hill Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4LZ Michael Piggott, Owner T: +44(0)1342 326659 E: michael@chartinteriors.com W: www.chartinteriors.com

Clarke Roofing Ltd Blue Arrow Ltd Employment & Recruitment Agencies 15 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4PR Alison Collville, Branch Manager T: +44(0)1424 444555 E: alison.colville@bluearrow.co.uk W: www.bluearrow.co.uk

Spa Products. Retail/wholesale Aztex House, Ivy Arch Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 8BX Fraser Stewart, Partner T: +44(0)1903 201251 E: fraser@towelsrus.co.uk W: www.towelsrus.co.uk

Roofing Contractors 4 Hammonds Drive, Hammonds Drive Industrial Estate, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 6PW Denise Matthews T: +44(0)1323 640777 E: denise@clarke-roofing.co.uk W: www.clarke-roofing.co.uk

Drain Cleaning Services Unit 12B, Chalex Ind Est, Manor Hall Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN42 4NH Wayne Crew, Manager T: +44(0)1273 420735 E: wayne.crew@centrica.com W: www.dyno.com/drains-brighton

Expressions Partnership Business Services 23 Eden Road, Gossops Green, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 8LZ Simon Thorpe T: +44(0)7899 845 535 E: welcome@expressionspartnership. com W: www.expressionspartnership.com

Faraday & Franklin Ltd Electrical contractor Unit B, Bayhorne Lane, Horley, Surrey, RH6 9ES Andrew Aird, Director T: +44(0)1293 822220 E: andrew.aird@faradayandfranklin. co.uk W: www.faradayandfranklin.co.uk

Flude Commercial Surveyors & Valuers Pavillion View, 19 New Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UF Edward Flude, Director T: +44(0)1273 727070 E: e.flude@flude.com W: www.flude.com

Friday Media Group Computers & the Internet London Road, Sayers Common, West Sussex, BN6 9HS Robert Hancock T: +44(0)1273 837700 E: rob.hancock@fridaymediagroup. com W: www.fridaymediagroup.com

H & B Sensors Ltd Temperature Sensor Manufacturers Odyssey House, Durban Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO22 9RH Roger Homer, MD T: +44(0)1243 866866 E: roger.homer@hbsensors.co.uk W: www.hbsensors.co.uk

Heyland & Whittle Soap & Herbal Merchants 1 Crompton Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9QR Padraig McEnernery, T: +44(0)1293 525825 E: padraig@heylandandwhittle.co.uk W: www.heylandandwhittle.co.uk

Imax Design & Print Ltd Niche publisher and design company The Old Cart House, Applesham Farm, Coombes, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 0RP John Catchpole, Director T: +44(0)1273 464777 E: john.c@imaxweb.co.uk W: www.imaxweb.co.uk

Internship in Brighton Education Brighton Junction, 1a Isetta Square, 35 New England St, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4GQ David Wiseman T: +44(0)1273 251271 E: info@internshipinbrighton.com W: www.internshipinbrighton.com Judi Watkinson Interiors / Design and Access Interior Design Concorde House, 18 Margaret Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1TS Judi Watkinson, Interior designer T: +44(0)1273 586464 E: hello@judiwatkinson.com W: www.designandaccess.co.uk

48 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 48

3/8/12 10:49:05

NEW MEMBERS

Lloyds TSB Commercial Bankers Connaught House, Alexandra Terrace, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3DA Richard Hutchins T: +44(0)1483 781304 E: richard.hutchins@lloydstsb.co.uk Marten Investments Investments The Coach House, Framfield Place, Framfield, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5QH Robin Maten T: +44(0)1825 890645 E: martenra@googlemail.com McMillan Learning Training Consultancy 3a Buttermere Close, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 4GP Melody McMillan, Director T: +44(0)14032 59528 E: melody.mcmillan1.mm@gmail.co.uk Nairne Ltd Research Consultancy 85 St Andrews Road, Portslade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN41 1DD Bruce Nairne, Director T: +44(0)7929 446 665 E: bruce@nairneltd.com NetDev Ltd Telecoms First Floor, 47 Middle Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1AL Claire Marshall T: +44(0)1273 936100 E: claire.marshall@netdev.co.uk W: www.netdev.co.uk Nuts4 Corporate Activity Days Activity Days Four Chimneys Farm, Royal Oak Lane, High Hurstwood, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 4AN Sue Paddon, Events Manager T: +44(0)7812 139 922 E: sue@nuts4corporate.com W: www.nuts4corporate.com Peter Christian Direct Wholesale & Retail Mackley Industrial Estate, Henfield Road, Small Dole, Hanfield, West Sussex, BN5 9XR Nicholas Alderton, Managing Director T: +44(0)1273 493393 E: nick.alderton@peterchristian.co.uk W: www.peterchristian.co.uk

Provida Services Ltd Accountants Lyndenhurst, 7 Summer Hill Lane, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1RL Christopher Blenkinsop T: +44(0)1444 413737 E: chris.blenkinsop@btinternet.com W: www.providaservices.co.uk Reo Process Improvement Ltd Process Management Consutlants 25 Bulkington Avenue, Worthing, West Sussex, BN14 7HH Stephen Carleysmith T: +44(0)1903 235535 E: swc@carleysmith.eu W: www.reoprocessimprovement.eu Social Sparkle Social Media 7 Tillington, Swanborough Drive, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 5QH Michelle McCann, Director T: +44(0)753 470 5188 E: claire@socialsparkle.co.uk W: www.socialsparkle.co.uk Sparkhouse Consultants Ltd HR Consultants 32a Gladstone Place, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 3QD Melanie Franks, MD T: +44(0)1273 235057 E: mfranks@sparkhouseconsultants.co.uk W: www.sparkhouseconsultants.co.uk

Sussex County Cricket Club County cricket club The Probiz County Ground, Eaton Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 3AN Trevor Mould, Commercial Manager T: +44(0)1273 827100 E: trevor.mould@sussexcricket.co.uk W: www.sussexcricket.co.uk The De Vere Grand Hospitality 97-99 Kings Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 2FW Kirsty Grammer, Sales Director T: +44(0)1273 224300 E: kirsty.grammer@grandbrighton. co.uk W: www.grandbrighton.co.uk Titan Self Storage Littlehampton Self Storage Unit K, Riverside Industrial Estate, Bridge Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5DF Anthony Adams, Director T: +44(0)1903 868047 E: anthony@titanselfstorage.co.uk W: www.titanselfstorage.co.uk/index. html

Unlimited Potential Coaching Chestnut House, Old Eridge Road, Eridge Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9JF Richard Hawkes, Owner T: +44(0)845 626 2244 E: richardhawkes@unlimitedpotential. co.uk W: www.unlimitedpotential.co.uk Unysystems Ltd Fire Alarm Systems Unit 7, Robell Way, Storrington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 3DW John De Groot T: +44(0)844 2430 533 E: johndegroot@unysystems.co.uk W: www.unysystems.co.uk

Tongue Tied Translators & Interpreters Waterside House, Unit 10/11, Basin Road North, Brighton, East Sussex, BN41 1UY John Shouler, Director T: +44(0)01273 419999 E: john@tongue-tied.co.uk W: www.tongue-tied.co.uk

Enjoy a range of benefits exclusively negotiated for you For more information about becoming a member, call us on...

0845 67 888 67 BUSINESSEDGE 49

BE 10.indd 49

3/8/12 10:49:05

THE LAST WORD

THE LAST WORD…

Each edition we invite one of our contributors to answer some key questions we all want to know the answers to.

This time it’s the turn of Andrew Comben CEO at Brighton Dome and Festival Photo credit to Hugh Fox

1 2

Which words or phrase do you most often overuse? Anything else?

Karaoke song of choice?

I became a programmer so people didn’t have to listen to me sing… but I’ll listen to anyone singing How deep is the ocean.

3

What’s your biggest regret?

Not singing anymore

4

When and where were you happiest?

Performing as a boy in The Magic Flute at Sydney Opera House

5

When was the last time you lied?

I’ll take a leaf out of the Leveson Inquiry – I don’t recall

6

What talent would you most like to have?

Hyperpolyglotism

7

What quality do you most admire in a person? Wisdom

8

Which virtue is the most overrated?

Tact – important but overrated

9

Early mornings or late nights?

Late nights. Early mornings are necessary but not nearly as creative.

10

Deal or no deal?

Almost always dealTell us a secret...

I am naturally lazy

11

Tell us a secret.

Not all Australians are good at sport

50 BUSINESSEDGE

BE 10.indd 50

3/8/12 10:49:10

Sir Geoff Hurst (left) with Ryan Heal

During one of the greatest sporting years for Britain, the fantastic Best of British event is heading to Crawley to raise funds for Sussex children’s hospice, Chestnut Tree House.

The brainchild of Brighton businessman, Ryan Heal, this is a sports-themed luncheon which has been held in Brighton for the last four years and has welcomed such illustrious speakers as football legend, Sir Jimmy Greaves, Olympic gold medallist, Duncan Goodhew and renowned boxer, Frank Bruno.

On Friday 9 November 2012, this business networking luncheon comes to the Copthorne Effingham Park Hotel and will feature one of football’s greatest - Sir Geoff Hurst - as the main speaker. Guests will be able to celebrate the ultimate sporting year in Britain and enjoy a 4 course lunch, entertainment and a fundraising raffle and auction, with all proceeds going to Chestnut Tree House.

Chestnut Tree House is currently caring for over 260 children with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses across the whole of Sussex, yet receives only 8% funding from central government and so relies heavily on events such as the Best of British and support from the local community.

Tickets are on sale now at £750 for a table of ten but are being snapped up fast. Be a sport - call 01273 244122 today and help your local children’s hospice.

Telephone 01903 871837 www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk Dover Lane, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9PX BE 10.indd 51

3/8/12 10:49:23

TiredOfOfYour YourCar? Car? Tired

BE 10.indd 52

3/8/12 10:49:39