Island Business Jan/Feb 2024

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

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Island Business Magazine Published by the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Editor Tom Stroud tom.stroud@iwchamber.co.uk Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Unit S1, Branstone Business Park, Stockmans Close, Branstone, Isle of Wight. PO36 0EQ Telephone: 01983 520777 Designed & Printed by Meridian3.co.uk While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of Island Business magazine the publishers do not accept any liability or provide any guarantee that the information is accurate, complete or up to date. The publisher and its employees and contractors have used their best efforts in preparing these pages and this publication but make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, with regard to the information supplied. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent those of the IW Chamber of Commerce. The IW Chamber of Commerce and its employees and contractors shall not be liable in the event of incidental or consequential damages in connection with, or arising out of, the providing of the information offered here.

Contains material sourced from responsibly managed forests, certified in accordance with the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

Editor’s

FOREWORD WELCOME TO 2024!

Oh, and to another edition of Island Business magazine too. It’s January – which can be an odd month for businesses.

Depending on your sector, it might be a lull after one of the busiest months of the year.

It’s also a time when we all stop, reflect and take stock. It’s a time to plan ahead – to look at that relatively clear diary and wallplanner, and start to fill it in.

If there’s one date to be mindful of, allow me to highlight January 31st. And not just for Self Assessment tax returns to HMRC. There are just a few weeks left to submit your entry (or two) for the IW Chamber Business Awards, sponsored by WightFibre. If you’re looking for a way to reflect on 2023 in a way that could lead to further success and

acclaim, then entering for a Chamber Award is hard to beat. Entries close at the end of the month; the shortlist will be published in March, and we could be seeing you on May 10th for the presentation of the Island’s most prestigious awards. Another potential date for that brand new diary.

I hope you and your business have a brilliant year. I hope you enjoy your magazine too.

TOM STROUD EDITOR TOM.STROUD@IWCHAMBER.CO.UK

CONTENTS

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16 VESTAS 02 12 16 20 24 25 26 28 29 30 32 34 36

20 IW CHAMBER AWARDS

News IW Chamber set for 2024 Vestas IW Chamber Awards 2024 Festive breakfast at Caffe Isola Networking with the Bank of England Isle of Wight Lottery BCC Economic Forecast Mission Zero Business Hub Red Funnel Business Startup Courses Events New Members IW Chamber President

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Wightlink wins Best UK Ferry Operator Victoria of Wight crewmembers Senior Rating Venson Da Silva, Captain Andy Grocott,

Rating Emily Joss, Deck Mate Dave McCoubrie and Senior Steward Tracy Ford toast Wightlink has been awarded Gold at the British Wightlink’s Gold in the British Travel Awards Travel Awards 2023 as Best Ferry Operator in the UK. More than a million and a half customers voted across all the categories to recognise the country’s best travel companies, based on their own experiences.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for us,” says Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield. “We are thrilled to receive this award, especially as it’s the only contest where winners are solely decided by votes from customers. I want to pay tribute to all my colleagues for their outstanding customer service every day which ensures our excellent reliability in all weathers. More than 3.8 million people choose to sail to and from the Isle of Wight every year with Wightlink. With our fleet of eight vehicle ferries and foot passenger catamarans, we are proud to support the Isle of Wight and bring people together.”

This Gold follows a Silver award for Wightlink in the 2021/2 event. Brittany Ferries took Silver this year and P&O Ferries Bronze.

Isle of Wight Distillery’s BBC Food award

Southern Vectis celebrates national award win

The Isle of Wight Distillery has been named Best Drinks Producer 2023 at the prestigious BBC Food and Farming Awards. Initially nominated by members of the public, the Ryde business was judged by presenter and brewer Jaega Wise, who visited the distillery personally.

The distillery was shortlisted alongside Nc’Nean Distillery from Scotland and Old Tree Brewery in Lewes, East Sussex.

Southern Vectis’ parent company Go South Coast has been named Large Bus Operator of the Year in the RouteOne awards. The win recognises achievements including Southern Vectis’ efforts to reduce congestion and improve air quality across the Island.

Xavier Baker, Co-founder Isle of Wight Distillery said, “We are delighted. To reach the final was an amazing feat and it doesn’t get much better than top spot on the podium especially considering the calibre of our fellow finalists. This award recognises the hard work and passion of the whole team and we are all just over the moon.”

“We pride ourselves on the fact that we continuously seek new ways to improve the services we offer,” said Southern Vectis managing director, Andrew Wickham. “We have made it our mission to encourage more people to travel by bus because just one fully loaded double decker has the potential to take up to 75 cars off the road.

“In order to do this, we have invested heavily in new buses, all equipped with the latest low emissions Euro 6 engine. The new vehicles also boast comfortable seating, USB chargers and contactless tap on, tap off ticketing technology - which makes them a more attractive proposition for our current customers, and for those considering leaving their cars at home. All this, combined with our focus on improving the frequency and reliability of our services still further, is steadily increasing the number of bus journeys made here.”

The BBC Food and Farming Awards champion and highlight the people who, through food, are changing Britain for the better. The Best Drinks Producer celebrates, according to category judge Jaega Wise, “the best of the UK’s drinks producers. People who aren’t just making incredible drinks but are doing things a bit differently”. In November 2022 the Isle of Wight Distillery was the first business on the Isle of Wight to achieve B Corp accreditation for their commitment to operate in a way that has a positive impact on the planet.

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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

IW Chamber Awards – entries close January 31st!

The countdown is on for businesses to enter for the Island’s most prestigious awards.

The IW Chamber Business Awards will be presented at Cowes Yacht Haven on May 10th, sponsored once again by WightFibre.

The deadline for entries to be received is Wednesday 31st January.

The awards are open to any Isle of Wight business. You don’t have to be a Chamber member, and with 16 categories, there’s plenty to choose from.

“Each year our shortlist spotlights

the success of the Island’s economy and I’m sure 2024 will be no different,” says IW Chamber Chief Executive Steven Holbrook. “If you’ve never submitted before, this could be your year.”

This year sees the launch of the brand new Creative Impact Award. The Hospitality Business of the year category is now joined by the Tourism & Leisure Award.

For full category listings and tips to make the most of your entry, see our special feature starting on page 20.

National award for Island NHS apprentices A pioneering partnership between the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and HTP Apprenticeship College has won a prestigious national award.

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust Careers for Young People programme won the Workforce Team of the Year category at the recent Nursing Times Workforce Awards 2023.

The Isle of Wight entry beat opposition from across the UK to win the coveted Workforce Team of the Year award, which spotlights a new Apprenticeship programme delivered in partnership between HTP and Isle of Wight NHS Trust. In its first year the scheme saw 11 young Islanders progress to full time Apprenticeships and real jobs within the NHS. A second cohort of 15 young people joined the NHS on Traineeships in September.

Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Director of Operations Community, Nicola Longson said: “We are so proud to have been recognised for this achievement. By working together with HTP we have been able to develop a fantastic programme that will really support young people to kick start their career within the NHS, and on the Isle of Wight.”

Tourism sector celebrated at Red Funnel awards

Red Funnel CEO Fran Collins with Beth and Sarah Medley from Beachlands Collective JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

Walk the Wight, Grace’s Bakery, Sentry Mead, and Fins Beach Café were among the winners at Red Funnel’s annual Isle of Wight Awards.

All three businesses took Gold for the first time, with repeat winners including The Blacksmiths, Corries Cabin and Monkey Haven.

Almost 60,000 votes were cast by members of the Island community, with 349 businesses from all over the Isle of Wight being nominated this year, underscoring the tremendous variety of places to eat, stay and spend a great day out.

Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, presenting the awards, said: “I want to say a huge congratulations to all of the award winners and applaud their success and well-deserved prize. I also want to thank everyone and every business that was nominated for making the Island a destination that continues to deliver outstanding memories and experiences. Finally, I want to thank everyone who took the time to vote. It was a pleasure to meet so many business owners and I’m already looking forward to the 2024 awards.”

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Fifth anniversary for female-led surveying firm Wheeler & Lai Chartered Surveyors have celebrated their fifth anniversary. In a male-dominated surveying industry, the company’s two female founders are proud to have reached the milestone. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) states that only 18% of chartered surveyors are female.

Rebecca Wheeler and Sau-Wan Lai have become prominent players in the commercial surveying industry across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Through dedication to clients and pursuit of customer service excellence, the founders have successfully exceeded initial expectations.

Co-Founder Rebecca Wheeler said: “We are in an incredibly maledominated industry, so to have two women own a commercial surveying company is extremely rare.

We are so proud of how far we’ve come and what we still have yet to accomplish.”

Sau-Wan Lai, Co-Founder added: “Supporting our customers along with our own personal development and growth, has been key to our success. We love the variety of our clients and we’d love to be known as the number one commercial surveying firm for customer service in Hampshire and Isle of Wight.”

Cherry Godfrey expands with insurance and mortgages Independent financial services company Cherry Godfrey has launched a personal and commercial insurance business. The new offering follows the acquisition of NRM Financial Limited (Priory Mortgage Advice), a wellestablished small company offering mortgage and life Insurance advice, across the Isle of Wight and the south coast.

Based on Newport High Street, Cherry Godfrey opened their finance office on the Island over two years ago and it is now a well-established business within the local community. The recent expansion marks the successful completion of their five-year plan, to offer all products, to all customers across its four jurisdictions, and a brand-new chapter for the Cherry Godfrey team on the Island.

Andrew Tapsell, Managing Director at Cherry Godfrey in the Isle of Wight commented “We really appreciate everyone for making us feel so welcome and for the support, which has been instrumental in enabling us to expand our product offering. Whether your needs are finance or insurance related, personal, or commercial, Cherry Godfrey is passionate about providing Islanders with a much wider choice of products than are currently available, at competitive prices, and from an expert team with many years of experience.”

Williams rebrand for Wootton Estate Agents Williams Isle of Wight Estate Agents is the new name for Chamber member Wootton Estate Agents. The rebrand reflects the fact that the business sells and rents property all over the Island from their office on Wootton High Street, which opened in 2006.

“It’s been a dilemma that we have had since we opened,” says Ben Williams. “We are very much part of the community in Wootton, however we soon grew to sell and rent property all over the Island. It was always a cause of frustration though when clients said, ‘we thought you only sold property in the Wootton area.’ The new name hopefully mitigates that whilst still being proud and grateful to the community of Wootton who gave us a leg up all those years ago, also we want to stress that the business is still the same Island staff, same Island owners who live in Wootton - in fact everything is the same. Nothing’s changed apart from the name.”

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JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

FEATURE

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Continued training success at Vestas More than 20 staff at Vestas have qualified in a range of Apprenticeships in the last year. Working in partnership with HTP Apprenticeship College, the success marks Vestas’ continued commitment to staff development and training. More than 50 team members at the Newport site are currently enrolled on an apprenticeship programme with HTP, which has been working with Vestas since 2007.

Apprenticeship training includes Customer Service, Team Leadership, Quality Practitioner and Operations Departmental Manager, with 78% of the recent apprentices achieving Distinctions. Many staff have continued to progress to higher

level qualifications, up to Level 5, allowing them to develop as managers and leaders.

“I’m very proud of our team and their continued growth and development,” says James Luter, head of operations for Vestas Blades UK. “It’s been a fantastic journey for our staff, including our management team and new managers. Apprenticeships have really allowed them to take a stepping stone to take on higher roles of responsibility because they have that deeper knowledge and understanding. The HTP team has been really supportive to our teams and our first line leaders.”

The Garlic Farm certifies as a B Corporation The Garlic Farm joins a growing group of organisations using business as a force for good. The company has now been certified by B Lab, the global not-for-profit network as having met rigorous social and environmental standards.

The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. The certification process is extremely thorough, with applicants required to provide evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity, and corporate transparency.

“This is great recognition for our team, who have been working hard for over five years on measuring the impact of the business,” says Garlic Farm director Barnes Edwards. “The improvements, and efficiencies that they’ve made have come from the collective effort of understanding how to do things better. The B Corp certification process has given the team a map to explore ways to help each other, the community, our customers, and local suppliers as well as making steps to mitigate our environmental impact. I’m heartened by progress made and what we’re learning about restorative and respectful practises but very aware that this more the start of the process, rather than the end.”

Lawdit keeps it local with new Newport office

Lawdit Solicitors has opened new offices in St James’ Square in Newport. The ribbon cutting was conducted by co-founder Michael Coyle and director Mark Reed who heads the Isle of Wight office.

Michael comments: “We had been looking to relocate our Newport offices for some time and our decision to move to St James’ Square was an easy one, being more central, to raise the firm’s profile on the Island and bringing a much-needed lift to the centre of town, helping to rejuvenation the much maligned and beleaguered High Street. We have a dedicated team of three solicitors on the Island to answer any commercial, civil, and family disputes. This is quite frankly an exciting time for us all and we look forward to supporting even more Island businesses and residents over the months and years ahead.”

Lawdit was founded in 2001 and their Newport branch complements their Southampton and London offices to provide support across their rapidly growing client portfolio both on and off the Island, including internationally.

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

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House Hotel in London last year.

The Belgrave Road scheme followed the partial collapse of a retaining wall following a prolonged period of heavy rainfall in 2020. The repair project was complicated by the fact that the site continued to experience ground movement for a significant period and also because the solution needed to combine the latest engineering technology with the need to preserve the local Victorian character.

Ventnor engineering project wins national award Works to stabilise Ventnor’s Belgrave Road have been recognised at the Ground Engineering Awards. The project has been named Best UK Geotechnical Project will a value of between £1m and £3m at the event, hosted at the Grosvenor

The Belgrave Road scheme was delivered for the Isle of Wight Council by Island Roads alongside local companies Stoneham Construction and Corefix alongside global engineering consultancy Atkins. Declaring the project a winner, judges said: “We were impressed with the innovative approach to overcome a real-time geotechnical challenge. Close collaboration between the project team has established a local skill base for future, similar ground engineering applications.”

Kieron Blamey of Corefix said: “It was great to showcase our skills and expertise on a project of this scale – especially so given it was on our home turf.”

Real achievement: a decade in business for Alison Colley Real Employment Law Advice recently celebrated a milestone 10 years in business with a drink’s reception held at Loveland Hall in Sandown and attended by over 60 people. Alison Colley founded the business in 2013 starting from scratch with no clients or business contacts here on the Island. 10 years on and the team has grown to 8 staff and has worked with over 1600 business and individuals on the Isle of Wight and across the UK. Alison attributes much of the success of the business to the local business community and in particular the IW Chamber and fellow members who have been supportive and provided guidance throughout the last 10 years.

“When I started the business one of the first things that I did was to join the IW Chamber and start attending the breakfast networking meetings, and without which I would not have met so many fantastic local businesses and made valuable contacts,” Alison said.

‘A wealth of experience’: Visit Isle of Wight’s new Chair David Curtis-Brignell MBE has been selected as the new Chair of Visit Isle of Wight, succeeding Ian Griffiths, who was the Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2019. Ian Griffiths helped to guide the company through the pandemic and then onto success in achieving Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) status with VisitEngland.

David Curtis-Brignell comes to Visit Isle of Wight with a vast wealth of experience in travel, tourism, destination management organisations and the hotel sector at a local, regional and national level.

“My career has been all about tourism,” David explains. “I started in local government, then working in - and later alongside - the national Tourist Board, gaining commercial experience in international hotel companies and tour operators - but perhaps the most rewarding times have been when working in Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). These are at the very heart of the visitor economy. They shape the destinations they serve and work in partnership with stakeholders to create a thriving visitor economy.

‘Visit Isle of Wight is among the most highly regarded DMOs in England and it will be a genuine pleasure to work with and support Will Myles and his team to further develop our relationships, opportunities for businesses and meet the challenges and targets ahead, which I’m sure we’re going to face.’

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Isle of Wight wins at Beautiful South awards

Island businesses and events were showcased at December’s Beautiful South Awards presented by Tourism South East.

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival picked up the Gold Award for Best Tourism Event or Festival of the Year in the South East; the trophy marks a multi-award winning year for the event, which also won Visit Isle of Wight the Made On The Isle of Wight category at the 2023 IW Chamber Business Awards.

Reciving the award along with David Howarth from the Isle of Wight Ramblers Association, Visit Isle of Wight’s Amy

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

Summers said: “It’s a huge honour to be a finalist in the Beautiful South Awards, but to win the Gold Award is a fantastic achievement. It was great to have David Howarth from the IOW Ramblers alongside me to collect the award, in recognition of his dedication to the event throughout the years, and on behalf of all the volunteers that make the event what it is today.”

Organised by Visit Isle of Wight, the Isle of Wight Walking Festival was responsible for generating an estimated £500 000 of economic impact for the Island in 2023 and will celebrate 25 years in 2024.

The Royal Hotel in Ventnor was shortlisted in two categories at the Beautiful South Awards, winning Silver for Restaurant of the Year and taking Bronze as Large Hotel of the Year.

Also bringing home an award was the Art Deco House in Shanklin, winning Silver in the Self-catering Accommodation category.

Meanwhile Away Resorts Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park at Bembridge took home Bronze in the Holiday Park of the Year category.

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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

IOW Group expands with cutting-edge robotics Rising international demand has seen Ryde based IOW Group increase their production capacity, embracing cuttingedge technology. The company has acquired a state-of-theart Collaborative Robot, making a significant leap in their manufacturing capabilities. Its primary role is to optimise machine tending, encompassing automated tasks such as precise part loading, and unloading of crucial components for their acclaimed oil filtration products.

Production manager, Owen Giles says, “the new installation of the Cobot helps us to increase our machine utilisation and production uptime. We’re able to continuously manufacture high-quality precision parts that make up our market-leading products, ensuring customers receive high-performing products.”

Brett Nicholls, Managing Director adds, “It’s great as an Island business that we’re at the forefront of innovation, adopting the latest technologies to help us with our continued growth as a business. Adding collaborative robots into our processes not only aids business operations, but it gives our apprentices - the next generation of engineers - great experience working with and programming advanced technology.”

IOW Group’s UR10e Cobot with staff (from left to right): Owen Giles, Production Manager; Andy Flux, Quality Inspection Engineer; Alfie Nicholls, Engineering Apprentice; Angelo Dent, Machinist; and Abbie Cornish, Marketing Executive.

Yokogawa Marex volunteer Top Mops raises more for Mountbatten than £2,000 for Cancer Research UK Cancer Research UK has received a boost to their funds thanks to contract cleaning company Top Mops, with a cheque presented for £2,149. The Top Mops team voted to support Cancer Research UK as their official charity of the year, with fundraising taking place across the business throughout 2023.

This included a charity auction and raffle as part of Top Mops’ celebrations of 25 years in business.

Employees from Cowes-based technology company Yokogawa Marex have put their DIY skills to the test, assembling seven shelving units at Mountbatten hospice in Newport. Volunteers transformed an empty container into a functional storage space, followed by clearing moss and weeds from the patio area, enhancing its appeal and making it less slippery in wet conditions.

Mark Tutty, Top Mops Founder and Managing Director commented: “We were really pleased to be able to present Cancer Research with this cheque and provide the muchneeded funds that will help them support people living with Cancer.”

The cheque was presented to Jayne Bowater and Sarah Porter of Cancer Research UK by Mark Tutty, Craig Ford and Sarah Ford of Top Mops, outside their head office in Sandown.

Wayne Matthews, Divisional Director of Yokogawa Marex said: “Yokogawa Marex through its corporate social responsibility program contributes to the local community. As a supporter of Mountbatten this was a great opportunity for us to contribute to the great work that they do. It was a great team effort and a very rewarding afternoon for the staff involved.”

Claire Treasure, Corporate Partnership Fundraiser at Mountbatten said: “Having local businesses such as Yokogawa Marex giving up their time to come and support Mountbatten is very humbling. The amazing team from Yokogawa Marex visited Mountbatten and undertook various tasks (in the very cold weather). This not only helps our teams with time sensitive tasks and improves the overall look of the site but also enables us to save vital funds, which is crucial at a time like this. Thank you so much to everyone at Yokogawa Marex for your time, your kindness and your support, we are very thankful to have you as part of our Mountbatten family.”

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IW CHAMBER

IW CHAMBER: Working together to support each other as a community and as a network in 2024

By IW Chamber Chief Executive Steven Holbrook

2023 was a challenging year for a lot of businesses. Costs across the board are high and continue to climb ever higher, disposable income has shrunk and general confidence amongst consumers has been low.

Helping businesses navigate choppy waters is at the heart of what the IW Chamber does. As a team we sit and discuss ways we can assist businesses, all businesses, regardless of their size or performance.

As such, as we enter 2024, the Chamber team will be looking to focus ever harder on you, our members, to make sure the products and services we offer are adding value to you. We will be encouraging what the Island does best and that is working together to support each other as a community and as a network.

One of the greatest challenges we face as a Chamber team is keeping you all informed about what we actually offer, and making sure you are making full use of the benefits.

To this end, with the challenges facing the NHS and those wanting to use it and the need to keep fully engaged with the wellness of our staff, we will be highlighting the fabulous value offered by the Chamber ‘Westfield Health’ package and encouraging you to look into the product and seeing how it can benefit you and your teams. It is a product that my family and I use regularly, at a very competitive price. Please engage with my team to learn more, I really think you will be very surprised at just how good it is.

Steven Holbrook addresses the Chamber’s AGM in October

New year, new office: The Chamber team start 2024 at Branstone Business Park, where the Chamber has been located since October

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New look Expo in 2023: IW Chamber Chief Executive Steven Holbrook speaks at the opening of Expo in its new setting at Ryde School

The IW Chamber team at the 2023 IW Chamber Business Awards

We will have a real focus on training in 2024. We will invite you to tell us what you want, and we will work on delivering it.

Development of staff and skills is so important, and we want to really add value to you in this area wherever possible.

The competition is fierce, but you are great, so why not tell your story and see where it leads.

A lot of members actively use the HR and Legal helplines and document banks, but many do not. We want to encourage those who haven’t called before, to try them out and see what value they can bring you. Again, I think you will be very pleasantly surprised. With so much of what the Chamber does, the more you engage the greater the benefits.

2023 saw us move EXPO to a new home at Ryde School. Here we have the space to continue to expand and grow the event to meet demand. We are excited to continue this partnership and growth in 2024 with our fabulous hosts and our sponsor WightFibre. Already the main challenge from last year has been addressed and parking will be available on-site in 2024.

If you haven’t been involved before, why not give it a try this next time, either as a visitor or an exhibitor? It is popular for a reason.

As you read this in January 2024, there is still time to apply for our flagship event, our prestigious Business Awards. I would encourage you to get involved, apply, try… It really is quite the event and the positive impact for your business can be significant, even just by completing the process of taking part.

Networking can be intimidating, but it can also be incredibly rewarding and bring forth friendships and support in so many unexpected ways. If you haven’t been to an event before, let 2024 be the year you try. Our Cowes Week BBQ event doesn’t sell 100 tickets on launch day because people have a terrible time! Our Breakfasts don’t sell out because other people hate them. They work, and they’re fun too. Be brave, try it, you might shock yourself.

The IW Chamber is about community. Even if you don’t need to network for your business to grow, it doesn’t mean you won’t get a host of other benefits, even if it is just support and someone to bounce ideas off and give a word of support.

I will sign off with a word about the Isle of Wight Lottery. With over £1.2m of interest free loans given out to Island businesses so far, supporting hundreds of jobs, it really is a great way to give back to the community we live in and support growth and opportunity. The Lottery needs businesses to support it if it is to continue the great work it does, so I would urge you to do so if you can. It really does make a difference.

I hope 2024 exceeds your expectations and that you are able to exceed the expectations of your customers.

IW Chamber’s Cowes Week Barbeque is one of the Chamber’s flagship events

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IN FOCUS

INNOVATIVE PHYSICS How AI, awards and international offices are bringing global business to Shanklin.

Its headquarters may be tucked away in a leafy location in Shanklin but make no mistake.

Innovative Physics Ltd is truly a global concern.

The Island-based company is fast approaching its 15th anniversary and from its small beginnings, business is booming. The applied science firm, which is a world leader in AI and pattern recognition, has recently opened new permanent presences in Virginia, USA, and Tokyo, Japan, along with a liaison office in Seoul, South Korea. It is also considering opening an office in China.

in a lovely place like the Isle of Wight, working from a beautiful manor house, yet be dealing with clients and projects across the world,” says Mike Anderson, who started the business with fellow

Nuclear Power Station following the 2011 tsunami. The American office is part of a waterfront business hub in the Virginian city of Alexandria which is also home to like-minded organisations and industry pioneers.

“The company has a wealth of knowledge (over 90 years) and at its core, an extensive patent portfolio in radiation visualisation, signal imaging and processing, sensor development, artificial intelligence, pattern recognition algorithms and software development.

Our highly qualified, internationally experienced leading research and development team combine technological and scientific experience with the imagination to create innovative, unique solutions to existing and new industry challenges.”

Innovative Physics develops cutting-edge AI technology solutions in the civil nuclear, Victoria Anderson Matthew homeland security and Innovative Physics Director of Business medical sectors believes Development and Administration the American and Japanese offices will better serve existing international clients and generate new director David Prendergast in 2008. business in two critical geographical markets. It employs 15 people at its The Japanese office is the result of Landguard Manor HQ and research and working in the country for well over development centre, with five more a decade. In 2013 Innovative Physics working off the Isle of Wight. was commissioned to supply groundbreaking radiation detection equipment “I believe it is testament to the world of modern business that we can be living to assist the clean-up of the Fukushima

In 2019, IPL was named one to watch in Europe in a list of business excellence published by the European Business Awards, one of world’s largest and longest running business competitions. It was one of a long list of honours and plaudits that have come the way of the company since it began life in 2008. Recently, Innovative Physics was asked to contribute to highly-respected trade organisation TechUK’s webinar on Future Visions: AI and Semiconductors.

In Britain, Innovative Physics is looking to work with the NHS on AI solutions to a number of conditions but also works across the world. Mike believes the ability of the sector to put the power into hands beyond “the men in white coats” is crucial to long-term growth, to make the application of IA (Intelligent Analytics) and AI available to all as a tool.

L to R Firoj Bakhshi, software engineer.

InPhys directors: Joint CEOs Mike Anderson and David Prendergast.

Shaun August, senior electronic hardware engineer and Adam Tyas, design engineer.

Innovative Physics product manager Peter Kittermaster.

Shaun August, senior electronic hardware engineer.

Victoria Anderson-Matthew, director of business development and administration.

Innovative Physics product manager Peter Kittermaster.

Sripad Sahu, embedded software engineer, and Karl Plapp, application physicist.

Helina Harvey, business development manager, North America.

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PATRON INSIGHT

WIND OF CHANGE:

Vestas Blades in Newport spotlights women in manufacturing James Luter, Vestas

IW Chamber SILVER PATRON “It’s a really exciting time for Vestas Blades on the Island. We have a full product line going through into 2025, building the V174 blade, which is still only a year or so old.

The next year is all about refining and stabilising our manufacturing process.”

James Luter, Vestas

There are around 600 people working for Vestas, across two sites in Newport and at Fawley. If you imagine what a turbine blade manufacturer looks like, you might not have expected them to be female. But with around 50 women working in roles across the site, preconceptions are being challenged every day.

A global leader in sustainability, Vestas is headquartered in Denmark, with around 29,000 employees at sites around the world. It’s a global workplace that is inclusive, with modern, progressive attitudes to recruitment, employment and health and safety. Vestas is leading the discussions with networks like WOW (Women Of Wind), spotlighting diversity and inclusion in the renewables sector.

“Diversity is something that all employers are getting to grips with, making sure that we’re putting all the right things in place,” says James Luter, head of operations for Vestas Blades UK. “On the Isle of Wight, just under 10% of our employees are females. That’s something that we certainly want to grow. There has been a tendency in the past for women not to apply for manufacturing jobs and we want to change preconceptions. These processes can be completed by anybody.”

On the Island Vestas operates from two sites in Newport, with blade manufacturing at West Medina Mills on Stag Lane, and with a warehouse at Monks Brook. Once completed, blades are shipped to Fawley for storage.

James would like to see more job applications from women, to accelerate a

Leila Mizani, Production Operative

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trend that is changing over time. UK manufacturing is lagging behind Europe when it comes to gender split, and Vestas is keen for its Isle of Wight operations to set the standard.

“We do have quite a lot of women on our shift, which is great,” explains production operative Leila Mizani. “I have a female Group Lead and Process Coordinator so there are a few of us working together on the factory floor. We are still a minority, but since I started there are now so many more women working here. It’s great to see women progressing their careers. There are a few women that if they’ve wanted to, have been able to work their way up from the factory floor, setting a great example to others. There is great diversity in this company, and I think women and trans colleagues are supported and welcomed.”

Vestas UK is taking the lead with the Women Of Wind network, rolling it out to all Blades UK employees. By creating a strong local network, with links to the wider business, they hope to empower female colleagues to progress their careers in the male dominated industry.

Planned activities include regular newsletters, content and resource sharing, networking events and a mentor programme.

“We really want more women to consider a job building blades here in Newport,” says James Luter. “You could be working within the production processes, placing the materials into the moulds at high accuracy using laser projection and technical drawings. We also have lots of quality assurance roles, checking and making sure that the quality of the product is where it needs to be. These are highly technical products that are actually doing something for the environment, especially for the generations that come after us. They’re fantastic roles, for both men and women.”

Meet Niamh, a Production Operative in the Finish team I began working for Vestas in January 2022 and shortly after accepting the job, I found out I was pregnant. This meant I could not work in the manufacturing environment because of some of the chemicals used in the infusion process.

Vestas was very accommodating and quickly found me an alternative, office-based role. I was given the training I needed and feel I slotted in easily; I had high job satisfaction and felt valued as an employee.

I was nervous about coming back to work after a year’s maternity leave, and I was going back into a new job role in a very different environment.

I’ve transitioned back to work and into the Production Operative role very well and I felt like part of the team from day one.

I’m lucky that I have my mum to help with looking after my son and coming into work can be a nice break (other moms out there will understand what I mean). Even though the shifts are long, the ‘four days off’ shift pattern makes such a difference to family life. With other jobs I’ve had in the past, it’s been one, maybe two random days off in a week, but here its four days at work and four days off. In the long run, the shift pattern allows me to spend more time with my son.

Niamh JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

I enjoy working here and have found Vestas to be a welcoming and inclusive workplace even though women are in the minority. Looking to the future I would like to continue learning new skills and work my way up in the company.

I was interested in green energy and making the planet a better place before I started working here, and so am excited about my and Vestas’ future.

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WightFibre for Business Transforming the way you work

Outstanding Customer service

Your business, your options WightFibre is trusted by over 900 businesses across the Isle of Wight, from start-ups to multinationals. We offer flexible packages for broadband and phones. WightFibre will get to know your business and then use our expert product knowledge and real-world experience to create a solution to meet your needs. WightFibre simply connects, make things better and does things differently.

Includes Anytime calls to UK landlines and mobiles with Phone Line Every Business Broadband package includes our WightFibre IP phone system designed for business, Voiplicity, and includes Anytime calls to UK landlines and mobiles. Use your existing analogue phone or choose one of our HD digital handsets. Using the latest Voice over IP (VoIP) technology for crystal clear audio, and features to improve the way you work, no matter your business.

Easy to use phone features including: • Call Forward

Business Broadband

• Call History

Aimed at independent businesses and chains including retail shops, hospitality venues such as cafes and restaurants, small offices, businesses with public waiting areas and guest houses.

• Online Self Care

Reliable full-fibre, ultrafast and future-proof symmetrical broadband packages – that’s the same download and upload speeds – starting from 300Mbps all the way up to a 900Mbps connection. WiFi 6, business security you can trust and a modern phone line that lets you run your business the way you want to.

Our Business Broadband also includes our WorkPass solution.

Get fast, wall-to-wall coverage. Add our smart business Wi-Fi pods that work together to create a seamless, powerful Wi-Fi network throughout your business. Adaptive, self-optimizing WiFi ensures every corner of your business gets perfect coverage.

If you are a Medium to Large enterprise, or require site to site links or specific VPN or security policies then you should look at our Large Business and Corporate connections instead, designed to your needs.

• Voicemail to email • Mobile phone app

Take Control with the WorkPass™ App Manage your Wi-Fi network from the palm of your hand with our easy to use app. A productivity app, a monitoring system, and an insights engine all in the palm of your hand.

Get network management at your fingertips. With easy onboarding, the WorkPass™ app gives you unparalleled control over your business network from any location. Easily manage guest networks, security settings, and device access, and solve any issues from wherever you are.

Enhanced employee productivity at your fingertips with Keycard™ Interested in knowing who’s at work when you’re not?

Create individual Employee Profiles with Keycard™ to access device usage analytics, review timecard data to help increase workplace productivity.

Keycard™ also makes it easier, and safer, for staff to connect their own devices, and lets you set individual device-approval clearances, depending on the level of access an employee needs.

Advanced AI Security with Shield™ Enterprise level security without the hassle, or cost. Peace of mind that your network is protected from cyber threats, and all your employees and guests are safe when using the internet.

Shield™ blocks advanced threats and automatically quarantines troublesome devices with three separate zones for back office, employees, and guests.

And it evolves as the world does so it’s always a step ahead of new kinds of cyber security threats.

Link, Concierge, Shield, Keycard, Flow, WorkPass, Plume, PowerPod, and SuperPod are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plume Design, Inc.

Smart network with Link™ Always get the strongest signal and best speeds available, thanks to our cloud-based technology that automatically optimises your network in the background. Always delivering a strong connection to the devices that need it the most.

How do you want to spend your time? We’re guessing it’s not configuring routers. That’s why WightFibre do it all for you with Link™. Out of the box, our patented, adaptive WiFi provides a strong, reliable connection throughout your space. Link steers a signal to each device, performing automatic, machinelearned optimisations as WiFi needs change.

Know your customers with Concierge™ Collect data to understand who your customers are, and their visiting habits in return for free WiFi through your own branded internet portal.

Itching to know more about your guests – like if they’re regulars or first-timers – to offer them better experiences?

With Concierge™, customers can access your free WiFi through a personalized, branded portal on your dedicated guest WiFi network. Concierge™ turns guest analytics into business opportunities by allowing you to visit frequency, data usage, length of stay, and more.

Real-time insights through motion data with Flow™ By turning devices already connected to your network into motion sensors, Flow™ gives you a newfound understanding of traffic through your business. Over time, customer density and dwell-time data help small businesses understand activity trends, predict business demand, and optimise space. This translates to better merchandising, staffing optimisation, and layout decisions. And for extra peace of mind, get alerted if motion is detected during closed hours.

Call us today on 01983 300000 to see how we can help your business, or visit www.business.wightfibre.com

ENTER NOW FOR THE 2024

IW Chamber Business Awards with WightFibre

Island businesses will be marking their successes in 2023 by entering for an Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce Business Award

Has your business had an outstanding year? Are you celebrating an exceptional 2023? It’s time to think about entering for an IW Chamber Business Award.

Presented at Cowes Yacht Haven on May 10th, and sponsored once again by WightFibre, the Island’s most prestigious awards are judged by an impartial, independent judging panel. With 16 categories, there’s plenty to choose from.

The awards are open to any Isle of Wight business. You don’t have to be a Chamber member.

“The IW Chamber Business Awards really set the standard on the Isle of Wight,” says Chamber CEO Steven Holbrook.

“Every year they are hotly contested, and the Island’s business community makes things difficult for our panel of independent judges, who are based on the Island, on the mainland and internationally.

“Businesses will be judged on their year and on their submission, by a panel of impartial business experts. Each year our shortlist spotlights the success of the Island’s

Entries are open now and must be received by January 31st Sponsored by WightFibre, the prestigious trophies will be handed out in May

economy and I’m sure 2024 will be no different. If you’ve never submitted before, this could be your year. Think carefully about the right categories to enter and tell your story well, supported by the data that the judges will need to see.

“I would urge every business to consider entering – to celebrate their own success and also to encourage analytical thinking and self-reflection. Entering for an award is a great way to measure and assess your business’ strengths and successes.”

This year sees the launch of the brand new Creative Impact Award. The Hospitality Business of the year category is now joined by the Tourism & Leisure Award.

WightFibre CEO John Irvine adds: “WightFibre is delighted to support the Chamber in making the Chamber Business Awards THE highlight of the Island business calendar. This is the third year of our sponsorship and the Awards get bigger and better every year. The team at WightFibre encourages all business large and small to enter.

You’ve got to be in it to win it!”

Entries must be submitted on-line at www.iwchamber.co.uk by January 31st.

A shortlist will be published in March, when tickets will go on sale.

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THE CATEGORIES IN FULL: Start Up Business of the Year Sponsored by PC Consultants

Entrepreneurship Award Sponsored by Liz Earle

Customer Service Award Sponsored by Red Funnel

Community Award

Sponsored by Moore (South) LLP

Employer of the Year

Sponsored by Diametric Technical Ltd

Training and Development Award Sponsored by Hillbans Pest Control

Environment and Sustainability Award Sponsored by IFPL

Technology and Innovation Award Sponsored by Lifeline Alarms

Tourism and Leisure Business of the Year Sponsored by Visit Isle of Wight

Hospitality Business of the Year Sponsored by Cherry Godfrey

Manufacturing and Export Business of the Year Sponsored by GKN

Creative Impact Award

Sponsored by Medina Publishing

Business Social Impact Award Sponsored by WightFibre

Growth Business of the Year Sponsored by WRS Systems

Micro Business of the Year Sponsored by Gurit UK

Small Business of the Year Sponsored by Wightlink

The IW Chamber Business Awards with WightFibre will be presented in a glittering ceremony at Cowes Yacht Haven in May

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

FEATURE

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IW CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS

Make the most of your entry at the 2024 IW CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS TOP TIPS ON TELLING YOUR WINNING STORY

By Tom Stroud

Whether you’re thinking about entering the IW Chamber Business Awards for the first time, or you’re a business that has been shortlisted before, or even won in the past, here are some hints and tips on how you can make the most of your entry.

I’m not a judge. I never have been and to tell the absolute truth, I don’t know who they are. But I do know what a winning entry looks like. I’ve been producing the awards ceremony for a long time now, and I’m pretty familiar with what it takes to get shortlisted.

I’ve seen exceptional entries that stole their category; I’ve seen hotly contested battles, where the difference between a win and a Highly Commended is the narrowest of margins. I’ve also seen occasions where businesses with a great story to tell didn’t manage to convey their success and fell short of the acclaim they deserved.

In this article, allow me to share what I do know about the awards, the judging process and what makes a compelling entry.

The judges don’t know you Your entry will be assessed by a panel of business experts, most of whom aren’t based on the Island. Many of them are based outside the UK. They know about business, they know how to read numbers and data, but the chances are they won’t have heard of your business. That’s great, because it means the judging is impartial. Nobody can trade on their reputation and there can’t be any accusations of preferential treatment. But it also means that you have to explain who you are, how your business operates and what makes it distinctive. You can’t assume any prior knowledge of your business. Make sure you tell the judges the things they need to know.

Follow the instructions The awards entry is process is clearly laid out. You’ll see the questions you need to answer and the points allocated to each section of the entry.

Make sure you answer each section and give it the weight it deserves.

Incomplete entries won’t be judged; if you don’t answer a question and give the judges what they need, you’re going to lose points. Keep an eye on that word count too.

Think carefully about the category you want Before you choose the award(s) that you want to go for, make sure that they really are the right ones. Think about 2023 and your successes and achievements. Occasionally we see entries that miss the story. A solid submission for Small Business of the Year might actually have made an exceptional entry for Growth Business of The Year. A Customer Service Award might actually be more reflective of company culture and employee motivation, a story better reflected in the Employer of the Year award. Or vice versa. Make sure you’re telling the right story.

A good story that is told well - back it up, and explain Make sure you give the judges all the information they need to see you in your absolute best light. Give them the right data; support your claims with evidence. Explain to them why your story is award-winning. Are you better than your peers? Are you outperforming your sector? Qualify everything you include with the context to show the judges why it matters.

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Entries for the coveted awards are open now and close at the end of January

Below: Datum Electronics, winner of Business of The Year in 2023

You’re as good as your competitors

… except it isn’t. The rewards are still huge

You’ll be judged and scored in isolation. The panel will take each entry on its merits. And then, your scores will be compared to those of the other entrants. Where you place will be dependent on your entry, but also the strength of the other submissions for that category. Some are more hotly fought than others. We never know until midnight on the final day of the entry period. A significant amount will arrive in the final hours!

Winning isn’t everything. Not everyone can take a trophy.

And sometimes entries that would have been winners in other years take a Highly Commended because there’s just another slightly stronger entry. These awards are hugely competitive and the shortlist represents a small selection of the entries received.

It’s all about your entry Everything that the judges know about your business and your year will be gleaned from your entry. There is no public vote. And as we’ve established, the judges are impartial, but they’re also independent of each other. They don’t compare notes and each category is judged by different people. So sometimes a business wins big, with multiple trophies on the night. But that’s as a result of lots of people reaching the same decision independently.

It’s all about winning…

It’s a competition – and you’re competitive, right? You’re entering for the chance to take one of those glittering statues and all the acclaim that comes with it. They aren’t easily earnt.

It can get emotional in that room. We understand that. That’s the point.

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

Being nominated really is a massive success in itself – and the reflection and self-assessment involved in writing an awards entry is hugely valuable. The process of review, marking achievements and measuring your successes across the year is a powerful tool, providing insights that will be applicable across your business.

And finally… the most important piece of advice. Enter.

You really do have to be in it to win it. Get involved and be a part of it. There isn’t “your time” – there’s no correct moment to enter, so don’t wait or be disparaged. By the same token, don’t assume that you really should win your category, just because you’ve had a brilliant year or an anniversary.

Sometimes it’s tough and the opposition is incredible. But sometimes big players will take a year out too. We never know who is going to enter in each category. So don’t make any assumptions. Just make sure your entry is received by January 31st!

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IW CHAMBER MEMBER EVENT

FESTIVE BREAKFAST AT CAFFE ISOLA IN NEWPORT

Although Caffe Isola on St James’ St Newport is typically the venue for the Chamber’s informal Tea & Toast networking events, in December we held our monthly Business Breakfast upstairs. Suitably decked out in festive lighting, Caffe Isola provided a great setting for our final breakfast of the year.

Thanks to all our members who attended our events in 2023, as well as all of our host venues. We’re back at Caffe Isola in February, and our March Business Breakfast takes us to Liz Earle in Ryde. See our events listings on page 32 for full information.

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IW CHAMBER MEMBER EVENT

IW CHAMBER MEMBERS NETWORK WITH THE BANK OF ENGLAND

Florence Hubert, Deputy Agent for the Bank of England Central Southern England spoke to IW Chamber members at the Isle of Wight College. This annual event gives members insight and perspective on the UK economy and the Bank’s strategies for growth and managing inflation.

The presentation was followed by questions and answers, on topics including interest rates, inflation, pay-rises, borrowing and global markets.

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

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IW LOTTERY

CREATING 12 NEW JOBS AND SUPPORTING 26 YOUNG ISLANDERS: A WIN FOR EVERYONE

By Owen Burson, Head of Alternative Education

THE ISLE OF WIGHT LOTTERY’S WINNING NUMBERS...

£100,000 loaned to

Island businesses in 2023

115 businesses have

received loans so far – totalling whopping

£1,268,431 Over 435 Island jobs created More than 540 prizes paid out in 2023, with

£118,000 paid out

in prizes

It’s just £1 to play For further information and to sign up, go to www.isleofwightlottery.com

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OEA Alternative Provision is based on the Island and supports young people who are not able to engage in full-time education for a variety of reasons, and therefore their specific educational needs cannot be fully met within the Island’s mainstream schools. The provision works exclusively with the Local Authority and mainstream schools.

The Isle of Wight Lottery Business Loan facilitated the purchase of a site in Freshwater that allowed us to realise our long-term development plan to provide an Outdoor Education-focused education provision. This aims to help young people either maintain their mainstream school placement or help them reengage with learning in a non-formal educational environment. This, in turn, has been the catalyst for setting up an Ofsted-registered independent special school and developing two other sites to support both the School and Alternative Provision. Overall, we are now able to help 26 young people and employ 12 staff, all from the Island.

As part of this journey, we have developed strong links with other providers, the insight from which will help us as we continue to develop and expand our provision. We aim to help more young people access an appropriate academic and vocational curriculum and essential life skills to become young adults who can make a meaningful contribution to society and their local community whilst being aware of and able to influence their personal well-being and happiness.

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

ADVERTISEMENT

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QUARTERLY ECONOMIC FORECAST Q4 2023 The BCC expects UK GDP growth to flatline for the next three years • UK economic growth set to remain sluggish, with growth rate of 0.6% now expected for the whole of 2023, dropping to 0.4% in 2024, and nudging up only slightly to 0.6% in 2025.

• The inflation rate is expected to slow to 4.6% in Q4 2023, revised down slightly from last quarter.

The interest rate is expected to have reached its peak but will remain higher for longer.

• Investment and government spending are expected to decline in 2024.

GDP GROWTH

INFLATION

In the short term, the BCC is expecting 0.6% growth for the whole of 2023, falling to 0.4% in 2024 and rising slightly to 0.6% in 2025. Prolonged high interest rates, trade barriers, particularly with the EU, and limits on consumer spending are all seen to feed into a low growth climate.

Despite core inflation now outpacing the headline CPI rate, BCC research indicates the proportion of firms expecting their prices to rise is continuing to fall. The forecast for the CPI rate is now 4.6% in Q4 2023, 3.1% in Q4 2024, and 1.9% in Q4 2025.

With the CPI rate slowing, the Bank of England interest rate is expected to have hit its peak by Q4 2023 at 5.25%, although is likely to remain relatively high at 5.0% by Q4 2024 and 4.25%

by Q4 2025.

Exports are expected to grow by just 0.5% and 1.2% in 2024 and 2025, respectively, following a contraction of 0.5% in 2023.

Imports are similarly lacklustre, with further regulatory changes at the UK and EU borders continuing to weigh on trade flows. Against this background, the BCC expects business investment to contract by 0.8% in 2024, before rebounding to 1.2% in 2025.

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EMPLOYMENT While the number of vacancies continues to decline and demand remains subdued, the unemployment rate is also expected to stay higher for longer, hitting 4.8% by the end of 2025. However, this cooling of the labour market is yet to translate into any significant easing of the recruitment difficulties felt by firms, with BCC research showing the hospitality, construction and manufacturing sectors all struggling. average earnings are now expected to grow more strongly than inflation across the forecast period, with growth of 5.5% in Q4 2023.

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

LET’S MAKE 2024 EVEN GREENER

By Matt Greg, Chair of the Mission Zero Business Hub

REFLECTING ON 2023, IT’S INSPIRING TO SEE HOW THE ISLE OF WIGHT BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS INCREASINGLY EMBRACING SUSTAINABILITY. As we enter the new year, I looked back at the 2023 issues of Island Business magazine in search of inspiration for my next article. What I found was a wealth of stories about our local businesses making real progress in sustainability.

This article highlights some of these achievements, showing the increasing commitment we have for supporting the environment.

The Isle of Wight Distillery, known for Mermaid Gin, and the Garlic Farm, both achieved B Corp certification, setting a high standard with an impressive score.

This independently earned recognition is not just about a label; it’s a testament to their genuine commitment to the

environment and community values.

The Green Impact Awards recognised various businesses for their dedication to energy efficiency, waste reduction, and biodiversity. Gold Awards were bestowed upon companies like Nettlecombe Farm Holiday Cottages, Vikoma, ERMC Ltd, Calbourne Water Mill, and L&M Plus Consulting.

Each of these businesses has shown an exceptional commitment to sustainability, setting an example for others to follow.

Vestas’ new 85m wind turbine blade at their Newport site signifies innovation in renewable energy. This advancement in technology bolsters the renewable sector, and brings new job opportunities to our local economy, strengthening economic resilience.

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

Datum Electronics received the Clean Maritime Enabler award, highlighting their efforts in sustainable maritime practices and the wider goal of decarbonising the industry.

The Isle of Wight Council’s EV strategy has made notable progress in expanding the network of public chargepoints. I personally noticed a major increase in charge points across the Island this year, an encouraging sign that the strategy is having a positive impact.

Wight Crystal’s shift to a glass-bottled spring water range marked a move towards sustainable packaging.

This change not only benefits the

environment but also supports local employment and inclusivity, reinforcing the notion that sustainability can also drive economic growth.

The Green Tourism Award celebrated the efforts of ten Island businesses in sustainable travel and eco-friendly initiatives. These businesses are not just operating with a profit motive but are actively contributing to our goals for Net Carbon Zero and upholding our UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.

The Island Tea & Coffee Co.’s invested in a new solar-powered coffee roasting and training centre, as well as introducing electric vans for deliveries.

On the theme of solar, Wight Community Energy’s recent fundraising for their Homestead solar farm shows

how community projects can really make a difference, by getting local people involved and investing in solar energy.

Wightlink’s participation in the Big Microplastics Survey underscores the importance of understanding and addressing marine plastic pollution.

It’s an important step in preserving the natural beauty and health of our coastal and marine environments.

WRS Systems is working with Vehicle Consulting Solent to introduce the electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme is a forward-thinking approach to reducing emissions and enhancing employee benefits. This scheme is

an example of how businesses can contribute to a greener future while also looking after their workforce.

It’s clear that the past year has shown that through collaboration and innovation, we can continue to make significant strides in sustainable business practices.

I encourage you to continue sharing your sustainable achievements in 2024.

Please email the editor – tom.stroud@ iwchamber.co.uk – with around 200 words and some photos.

Let’s make the next year even more impactful in our journey towards a greener, more sustainable Isle of Wight.

To get involved in the Mission Zero Business Hub, visit: missionzerohub.co.uk FEATURE

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Looking to start your own business?

Need help getting moving?

We can help!

Our expert business mentors will give you an overview of running your own business, operating as sole trader or company, bookkeeping, insurance, professional services, marketing and more.

The Red Funnel Business Start Up Course is a great way to learn more about the world of business and how to get moving in the right direction. The informal environment is also a friendly place to ask questions and learn with like-minded people.

The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce is providing monthly, one-day business start up courses, sponsored by Red Funnel.

Our friendly courses will help you to get started on the road to being your own boss.

The Red Funnel Business Start Up Course is only £5 to attend, thanks to the support of Red Funnel. The courses are promoted by the Isle of Wight Lottery, as part of the Lottery’s work to create and sustain employment on the Isle of Wight.

Sign up today!

Thursday 25th January, 9.30am – 4.00pm Thursday 22nd February, 9.30am – 4.00pm Visit: www.iwchamber.co.uk/startmeup

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Helping your people save money on their health From £6.74 per employee per month

Available exclusively to Chamber of Commerce members, our Chamber Primary Health Plan gives your employees cashback, up to set limits, on essential healthcare and access to valuable health and wellbeing services.

Access to services including: 24 hour Advice and Information Line and up to six sessions of structured counselling.

Expert medical opinion.

Money back, up to set limits, for services such as dental, optical and chiropody.

24/7 telephone access to a practising UK GP. Discounts and special offers at hundreds of retailers, restaurants and destinations.

Cover for dependent children on some benefits at no extra cost.

For help with your wellbeing strategy or a free consultation, get in touch: 0345 602 1629 businessenquiries@westfieldhealth.com westfieldhealth.com/chamber

Westfield Contributory Health Scheme Ltd (company number 303523), Westfield Health & Wellbeing Ltd (company number 9871093) and Westfield Employment Services Ltd (company number 9870326) are collectively referred to as Westfield Health and are registered in England & Wales. Additionally Westfield Contributory Health Scheme Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Our financial services registration number is 202609.31

EVENTS & TRAINING RED FUNNEL BUSINESS START UP COURSE

Liz Earle, Nicholson Road, Ryde

Thursday 25th January, 9.30am– 4pm

Friday 1st March 2024, 7.30am – 9.00am

Available to non-members, £5 admin fee

IW Chamber members - £16 per person

We offer new businesses the opportunity to take their ideas from paper into practice. We offer a business seminar aimed at people who are starting a business. Get the tools you need to take your idea from the drawing board to the real world. This course is designed for those with a business idea through to those who have been in business for six months.

Non-Members - £32 per person

IW CHAMBER TEA & TOAST NETWORKING Caffe Isola, Newport Wednesday 7th February, 7.30am-9am IW Chamber members – FREE Meet members for informal networking in a great location.

It’s free to attend, with hot drinks and toast for everyone.

SPARKLING AFTERNOON TEA

BUSINESS BREAKFAST AT LIZ EARLE

Join us for a hot breakfast and the opportunity to network with other members.

EMERGENCY FIRST AID AT WORK COURSE Delivered by Good Skills Training YMCA, Shanklin Monday 11th March 9am–4pm IW Chamber members - £70+VAT per person This one-day course is designed to give delegates the knowledge, skills, and confidence to help those that have become unconscious, and those with minor injuries. The Emergency First Aid at Work Course also looks at the responsibilities of the Emergency First Aider. On successfully completing this course, attendees will be confident, safe, prompt, and effective emergency first aiders. The certificate will be emailed after completion.

Luccombe Hall, Shanklin Thursday 8th February, 3.30pm-5.30pm IW Chamber members - £20 per person IW Chamber members and their guests are invited to join us for a Sparkling Afternoon Tea in the Grand View Restaurant at Luccombe Hall.

FIRE MARSHAL COURSE Delivered by Good Skills Training YMCA, Shanklin Monday 18th March, 9am–12.30pm IW Chamber members - £65+VAT per person

RED FUNNEL BUSINESS START UP COURSE Thursday 22nd February, 9.30am - 4pm Available to non-members, £5 admin fee

This half day course is designed specifically for those who have been designated with the responsibilities of Fire Marshal or Fire Warden. The course will look at the legal responsibilities of both the company and the individual. By the end of this course learners will understand what their duties as a fire marshal are. The certificate will be emailed after completion.

BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW! Go to www.iwchamber.co.uk or Email chamber@iwchamber.co.uk Fired up: IW Chamber’s Emma Spinelli and Kathryn Morey are recently qualified Fire Marshals Luccombe Hall

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IW CHAMBER

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

IW CHAMBER TRAINING WORKSHOPS WITH IN2ACTION IW Chamber is offering members the opportunity to take part in training delivered by In2action’s Tim Sissons. Tim is an industry-leading TED speaker and specialist in the design, implementation, and delivery of exceptional motivational, leadership and cutting-edge customer service and complaint handling workshops. He has over 20 years’ experience consulting and training some of the largest companies in the UK and the rest of the world.

BE ON A 10 – “CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE” Wednesday 10th January Explore how to approach every day with a positive mindset and the ability to inspire yourself and others. Making you more aware of your positive attributes and helping you excel in your personal and professional life. This workshop will explore how to approach a Be on a 10 positive mind-set in your role. In a truly unique time and environment we are now all in, are you able to say “I am on 10” at all times.

GO AHEAD MAKE MY DAY CUSTOMER SERVICE Wednesday 24th January The In2action “Go Ahead Make My Day” training includes interactive presentations and group practical work to help your customer facing teams work through real scenarios to improve their service excellence when faced with real face to face guest confrontations and every day customer dealings. The “Go Ahead Make My Day” training can be pitched at senior staff level or grass roots teams to ensure that making the customer feel special and putting them at the heart of everything you do is filtered from senior management to grass roots level staff as a moral code and the DNA of your company. Turn customer grumbles into positive memorable positive moments for your guests. The second half of this workshop focuses on the skills required to handle customer complaints effectively and positively.

PRESENTATION SKILLS & DELIVERING POWERFUL PRESENTATIONS WORKSHOP Thursday 15th February Whether the setting’s formal or informal, internal, or external, being skilled at delivering presentations or training is a must-have not a nice-to-have – it is essential. Mumbling in a monotone or simply reading from slides isn’t acceptable or professional.

Only a small number of people find public speaking easy, but everyone can learn not only to endure presenting but to enjoy it. Success depends upon being able to present ideas concisely and clearly with confidence and conviction – whether it’s a regular team meeting, a major sales pitch or an update to the board In2action’s Presentations Skills workshop can help you improve and deliver that killer pitch or presentation.

All courses are £150 + VAT and will be held at Ryde Cricket Club, 0900-1300 with the opportunity to network after.

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

IW CHAMBER

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NEW IW CHAMBER MEMBERS Isle of Wight Sports Foundation

Careprint.UK

Jerry Cullum careprint.uk orders@careprint.uk 01983 664888

Claire Beasley, Chair of Trustees iowsports.org Chairman@iowsports.org 07901 716657

JD’s Cleaning and Property Maintenance

Corries Cabin

Richard Quigley corriescabin.com corriescabincowes@gmail.com 01983 293733

Janna Prince & Dan Blowers facebook.com/ jdscleaningandpropertymaintenance jdsiow@protonmail.com 07508 402315

Possibilities and Perspectives

Diamond Adventures Keiran O’Toole daiow.co.uk info@daiow.co.uk 01983 666504

Sarah Hussey possibilitiesandperspectives.co.uk sarah@possibilitiesandperspectives. co.uk 07300 299808

DMR Engineering Ltd

Rowena Grace

GoodOaks Homecare-Isle of Wight

Tommy Barker

Island Paving

Vectis Health Care Solutions

David Rapley dmrengineeringiw.co.uk enquiries@dmrengineeringiw.co.uk 01983 209030

Camelia Moise Gogoasa goodoakshomecare.co.uk iow@goodoakshomecare.co.uk 01983 211203

Ian Matthews Islandpaving.co.uk info@Islandpaving.co.uk 01983 526667

Rowena Grace Swallow rowenagrace.co.uk rowena@rowenagrace.co.uk 07970 833394

Kian Brady tommybarker.co Woof@tommybarker.co

Beverley Durrant vectishealthcaresolutions.co.uk drbdurrant@ vectishealthcaresolutions.co.uk 07899 806912

Want to join the Chamber?

Call the team on 01983 520777 or online iwchamber.co.uk 34

IW CHAMBER

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Join the

www.iwchamber.co.uk

CHAMBER!

Being a member of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce is a great business decision!

Membership starts at little more than £3 a week and entitles you to a huge range of business support, exclusive events and member discounts.

IW Chamber members have access to these four essential services:

ChamberHealth & Safety ChamberHR ChamberTax ChamberLegal

These services give you unlimited access to no less than five business advice lines and a website which features over 750 free downloadable template documents. Not only that but you are protected by £1,000,000 of legal expenses insurance which includes employment cover and tax enquiry cover.

All these services are included in your membership fee.

Don’t delay…join today!

IW Chamber SILVER PATRONS

IW Chamber BRONZE PATRONS

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

IW CHAMBER

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Achieve more together than you can alone

IW CHAMBER PRESIDENT

By Jonathan Thornton, IW Chamber President

At the Chamber, we constantly strive to make improvements for the entire Island business community and for the Chamber itself, and we have come together to see what more we can do.

At a recent strategy meeting, we formalised our new mission, values, and purpose statements. We felt that the old values had become outdated and were not really in touch with what we are as an organisation, and we wanted to really nail down what it is that the Chamber does for businesses. We’ve co-opted new board advisors who come to us with expertise in different fields showing that the Chamber board and the wider advisory board are representative of businesses of varying sizes, and people of a wide age-range and gender.

The Vision: To bring the Island’s business community together, helping organisations of all sizes achieve more than they could alone.

The Mission: To provide value and benefit for our members through listening, representation, support, and collaboration.

Our Values. We are stronger together and have four values: Integrity - to uphold high standards of transparency, honesty, and respect.

Excellence - to consistently deliver the highest quality products and services.

Sustainability - to support economic growth and the environmental health of our Island.

Equality - to nurture a culture of fairness, equality, and inclusion for all.

We truly believe that businesses can achieve more together than they could alone, and the Chamber allows us to create that network and bring the Isle of Wight’s business community together, giving them the support that they need. We are fortunate on the Island to have a close-knit business community and it’s because of organisations like the Chamber that the community comes together through events like Expo, the Business Awards, at networking events, and at free-to-attend events.

And so, when we look at our vision, it is underpinned by those values.

The Chamber is also updating the member benefits, and I can’t emphasise enough how, particularly for smaller businesses, these give you access to the sorts of benefits that employees in larger companies enjoy – discounts on ferry fares and gym memberships for example, along with corporate rates for private health care.

Again, this goes back to our Vision – that you can achieve more together than you can alone, with tangible advantages.

With regards to our integrity, the annual awards are an amazing opportunity to showcase business excellence and are open to all, regardless of Chamber membership. The awards are a real chance to show the best that the Island has to offer and with an international judging panel, it means that your business is seen and assessed globally. A small number of judges are based on the Island and the others are based on the mainland or in countries like South Africa, Qatar, and the UAE. The judges will almost certainly have never heard of your business or company until they read your application, making their decisions completely unbiased. The strength of your application is what gets you onto that shortlist and into that international arena and I encourage all Island businesses to apply.

I should also mention that we have moved into new offices at Branstone Farm in Arreton which has brought the team together in a beautifully, holistically built environment, and this has allowed us to really look at what the Chamber means to us as a team and in turn to our members on the Island. A new year, new offices, and a new sense of value and purpose for the whole business community.

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IW CHAMBER

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT

no rainer.

S i gn u p JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2024

IW CHAMBER

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