SBT issue 458

ISSUE 458 FREE SBT POWERED BY: SERVING THE SUSSEX BUSINESS COMMUNITY SINCE 1975 DATA DRIVEN SOFTWARE THAT BOOSTS CONVERSION WE CHAT WITH WEBTRENDS OPTIMIZE TO FIND OUT MORE

All business is symbiotic in nature. You can be inspiring your peers one day, learning from them the next. In the end, people buy people. That makes sharing our stories the most compelling way to connect with one another. What’s needed is a platform to embrace and empower our regional business ecosystem. Where varied backgrounds and perspectives provide new context. Harnessing potential, enabling growth. And at the heart of it, a dedicated term of curators unlocking insights for the good of us all. So we’re changing the way people think of connecting. Because we believe in self-reflection, rather than self-promotion. By demystifying the art of storytelling, we deliver authentic thought leadership through events, publishing and broadcast media. We come together to discover, share and grow. But we won’t be limited by geography, or our imagination. Instead, we’ll seek out local leaders, visionaries and experts, wherever great businesses thrive. Growing communities, in partnership with the businesses that power them. And nurturing the enterpreneurial spirit in everyone.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

Finding and fixing a missing link in processes can mean the difference between success and failure. In this issue of the Sussex Business Times, we discover how businesses can maximise their potential by paying careful attention to a raft of individual actions that, together, act like a magnet for increased sales. In the cover feature, we meet Webtrends Optimize who explain the importance of conversion rate optimisation (CRO). In a world where SEO rolls off the tongue as easily as ‘website’, CRO is, perhaps, less well considered - even though it is a vital element of any online offer. After all, what would be the point of attracting more visitors to your website if you cant convert them into paying customers or clients? And it is not just an element of tech that can be lacking in an organisation. Brighton Chamber, for example, has moved to bridge the staff shortage gap by co-organising The Inclusive Employers Job Fair. It aims to match vacancies with talentincluding jobseekers from Ukraine. Elsewhere in the magazine, you will find helpful advice from experts all invested in helping Sussex businesses grow. You will also note plenty of good news stories from local brands who are announcing mergers, new team structures and more - all in an effort to support the local economy and make sure their operations are robust. For lighter reading, don’t forget to discover County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month.

Sam Thomas, Managing Director

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SBTWelcome

Welcome to another issue of SBT VALUE ADDED PARTNERS WELCOME

Good Business Top SEO trends for 2022 revealed by Creative Bloom. 28 Cover Story Meet Webtrends Optimize and discover data driven software that boosts conversion. 34 HR Two successful Sussex HR firms announce a merger. 36 Charity Search Seven unveils a new leadership structure. 40 Sales & Marketing 67 Degrees explains what car dealerships can get out of its Reserve Online plugin.

Chamber News

DATA DRIVEN SOFTWARE THAT BOOSTS CONVERSION

Copyright The Business Group Sussex Ltd. 2020 ©

Tribute to Ambrose Harcourt Friends and colleagues remember the ‘Mr Lurve’ of the Sussex airwaves. 08

Accounts Clare clare@lifemediagroup.co.ukFermor

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Exciting news from The Beacon shopping centre and Zunoma releases a white paper on how to get cash to the vulnerable. 12

The Business & IP Centre Sussex explains how networking can help you to sell. 24

Networking & Events

Wine of the Month

All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Sussex Business Times Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Sussex Business Times Magazine assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisement contained within Sussex Business Times Magazine. All prices featured in Sussex Business Times Magazine are correct at the time of going to press.

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Published by The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Licenced to TBG by Pixel Publications Ltd Unit 1a Swan Barn Business Centre, Swan Barn Road, BN27Hailsham,2BY Printed by Gemini Print Group 1A Dolphin www.gemini-print.co.uk01273BN43WestShoreham-by-SeaWaySussex6NZ464884

Stories from Sussex Chamber of Commerce and Brighton Chamber. 58 Sport Football, boxing and cricket news from Sports Editor Laurence Elphick. 64 Ask the Expert John Richards asks: ‘What for you is non-negotiable?’ 66

Joint Managing Director/Publisher Sam 07894sam@thebusinessgroup.co.ukThomas762304

Michael Yeoman reveals the County Business Clubs Sussex September Wine of the Month.

New Business

CBC Stories

Issue 458

Cover 458 06

Monthly News

Finance Why retirement is about a lot more than just money. Special feature by Engage Wealth Management. 22

Joint Managing Director Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk Production & Design Kim kim@lifemediagroup.co.ukButler

An interview with top hairdresser Mark Woolly, who built a global brand. 16 Legal Fiona Dodd makes the case for solicitors delivering value for money and Alex Jones writes about recession and redundancies. 20

A round-up of news from networking organisations as well as details on up-coming events. 52 Motoring Rivervale reveals why you can’t afford not to make the switch to EV. 56

“Ambrose has been an important part of St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House for many years, and we will always be grateful for his kindness and support. “Our thoughts are with Ambrose’s wife, Pauline, his family, and friends at this sad time.” Fondly remembered by radio listeners as Mr Lurve, he kickstarted his career as a club DJ in London before becoming a broadcaster. Born in Nigeria, he had moved to the UK in 1964. He found a passion for music while studying at college five years later and went on to form an events company with some like-minded friends. Mr Harcourt volunteered his time to present shows on hospital radio before taking up a paid role with Southern Sound in 1986. Soul Direction, The Love Hour and Friends and colleagues remember a ‘complete one-off’ who entertained generations over five decades on the radio.

Tributes have been paid to veteran Sussex broadcaster and DJ Harcourt,Ambrosewhohas died following a long illness.

A spokesperson for Chestnut Tree House said: “Always generous with his time and steadfast in his support of local charities, Ambrose was always cheerful and positive, with a smile for everyone. He took on various fundraising challenges over the years for St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House – from walking and cycling to trekking the Inca Trail.

Tributes

Mr Harcourt, formerly of Worthing, died at St Barnabas Hospice, which he had supported over many years, on August 31.

“As well as raising vital funds for the hospices, he hosted and attended countless events, introduced people to the charity and provided counsel and friendship. He will be greatly missed.

TributeSBT paid to ‘Mr Lurve’ Ambrose Harcourt

SBT TRIBUTE

He worked in radio for more than five decades and was Vice President of Chestnut Tree House, which he helped to found. As well as being an avid supporter of Sussex charities, Mr Harcourt was a mentor to those starting careers in radio and has been praised for his caring, nurturing attitude to up-andcoming presenters.

With a distinctive, smooth voice and infectious smile, he touched the lives of all those he either entertained on-air or met in person. Generations grew up listening to his tunes and considered him part of their lives. Many expressed their heart-felt grief on his passing.

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“His warmth on air always shone through – he was a superb broadcaster and continuity announcer – just a shame he supported Chelsea!

“His charitable work will no doubt be rightly highlighted but he was the very first Patron of Chestnut Tree House years before half of Sussex had even heard of it. It was his initial involvement and engagement that gave that great cause the platform in Sussex it enjoys today. That’s just one example of the legacy he leaves.

“Further to working together for many years, we became very close friends. He DJ’d at my wedding, over 20 years ago, and saw my kids grow up – we shared some great memories together. I’ll miss him immensely – his laugh and smile were the constant signature to the joyous life he led. God bless my Jackfriend.”‘TheLad’ Hayes, Head of programme delivery at Love Local Jobs Foundation, Breakfast Show Host More Radio, said: “I met Ambrose on a few occasions and our chats were always warm and engaging. Ambrose had the gift of always being interested in you and what was going on in your life.

The station said on its Twitter account that it was ‘sad to announce the passing of our much-loved friend and colleague’. It has opened a Book of Condolences on its website for tributes.

Bob Hoad, Regional Account Manager at More Radio, said: “Southern FM was one of the most successful commercial radio stations in the U.K. Along with Danny and Nicky, Ambrose was one of its stars. Mr Lurve was so popular with the listeners both on air and at the many events he hosted. His enthusiasm for people was consistent whether it was Party in The Park or a small charity event.

“The impact he had on radio in Sussex cannot and shouldn’t be understated in any way. If you are of my generation and have called Sussex home for as long as I have whether you were involved in radio or not you knew the name Ambrose Harcourt and you knew that he was all about LOVE! “What a legacy to leave to have people when they hear your name immediately think ‘Love’! Good job, Ambrose, enjoy the slow dances up there.”

Night-time Heart and Soul were among his popular shows. He worked at Juice FM, Arrow FM, Sovereign FM, and was a familiar voice as a continuity announcer on BBC1, BBC2 and BBC Radio Five Live. More recently, he was a director at Brighton’s advert-free Regency Radio, which he helped to establish. Staff at the station were said to be ‘devastated’ by his death and have praised the encouragement he gave all those trying to carve out their own careers in radio.

“His personality was always effervescent, and I’m saddened to have lost a true friend, but he will remain in our hearts forever.”

“Later in his radio career, during my time as MD of Juice FM, I brought Ambrose back to the airwaves and he was the only presenter we had to conduct a full press conference for when announcing his arrival.

EVERYONE just LOVED Ambrose!

Paying tribute, Ryan Heal said: “Ambrose was a complete one-off. A constant in my life for over 20 years. Our paths first crossed in the glory days of Southern FM when a decision to move him off air resulted in a mass protest and road closures all around the radio station - such was his huge popularity.

The inflation rate suggests there may be more interest rate rises to come, and there’s open talk of a recession. The cost-of-living crisis has led to the biggest fall in real pay on record, and households are reining in spending.

Most businesses are now repaying BBLS or CBILS loans and many are also still repaying HMRC liabilities deferred during the pandemic, and rising input costs are adding to these cash flow pressures.”

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Corporate insolvencies rose in July and were 67 per cent higher than in the same month last year, according to new data published by the government.

“Many distressed businesses managed to keep afloat through Covid by using the high level of government support available.

InsolvenciesMonthlyNews up as business challenges increase

PKF GM thinks this may partly be because creditors can now take enforcement action, forcing directors to take pre-emptive action. There is also anecdotal evidence that many of these liquidations involve small companies which had taken out Bounce Back Loans and are now unable to repay them.

every business should be concerned. It is urging firms to seek advice if they are struggling - to ensure they have more options to secure survival.

PKF GM is predicting challenging times ahead as cash flow pressure on businesses grows. Oliver added: “The current headwinds will create challenges even for betterperforming businesses, not only those that were already in survival mode.

Oliver warned: “It’s critical businesses act early and seek advice if they are struggling now or think cash flow may be squeezed in the coming months. The earlier they act, the more options they’ll have to secure the business’s long-term survival.”

The increase in insolvencies has mostly been driven by Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations (CVLs), where directors have chosen to place their business into an insolvency process. In July 2022, there were 1,609 Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations (CVLs), 60 per cent higher than in July 2021 and also 60 per cent higher than July 2019.

The 1,827 insolvencies were 27 per cent higher than in July 2019. However, they represent a rise of just 7.5 per cent compared to June this year.

Restructuring and insolvency professional Oliver Collinge, of PKF GM, said:“The large rise in corporate insolvency numbers is not surprising compared to this time last year. But alarm bells ring when there is a material increase on prepandemic levels, as we are seeing now.

Insolvency practitioner and areGMservicesprofessionalfirmPKFsaysalarmbellsringingandthat

“Pressure on cash continues, and unfortunately, we expect to see heightened levels of business failures for some time to come.”

Top gents’ barber Teddy Edwards has made a great name for itself in Brighton & Hove, and now has its sights firmly set on Eastbourne. It will be one of the anchor stores and will be open for business early September.

CountdownMonthlyNews

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Teddy’s celebrates its 10th anniversary next year. It has award-winning barber shops in Brighton, Hove and Worthing. Founder Alex Burt said a great destination for hair needed to be “a balance of brilliant customer experience and outstanding service.” Also signed up is Tropic Coffee Co. Founder Howard Kaye explained: “Tropic prides itself on providing a perfectly blended cup of coffee using our hand selected beans carefully curated for Tropic. We will encourage our customers to scrap the age-old ‘Grab & Go’ concept and instead to slow down and take a few minutes to themselves, to reflect, to be aware of their surroundings and enjoy a freshly prepared cup of coffee.”

Meanwhile, the co-working hub on the first floor has attracted huge interest across the Eastbourne business community. “Sixty per cent of the offices or studios are now occupied, and we are interviewing a number of local businesses about the remaining studios,” Adam said.

FOUNDRY will be throwing open its doors to a new shopping and events experience and a fantastic mix of retail offers in The Beacon in September.

If you would like to discuss desk and office space in FOUNDRY, head to www. foundryuk.com/eastbourne

FOUNDRY is a joint initiative between Adam Walker and Beacon owners Legal & General Investment Management. Adam said he was delighted to be welcoming Teddy’s to the ground-floor retail and leisure area. “This award-winning barbers is an amazing vote of confidence in FOUNDRY. We are going to have a fantastic line-up of independent shops and traders when we open next month and will be introducing more great retail entrepreneurs throughout the summer.” The ground floor level of FOUNDRY will be open to shoppers seven days a week. It will comprise ‘boutique’ stores for independent retailers to launch an idea in front of millions of shoppers that pass through The Beacon annually.

Begins for a New Shopping and Leisure Experience

The ‘Host’ or events spaces are now being programmed for pitches, product launches, corporate get-togethers and panel Adamtalks.andthe team are reviewing applications from operators for the four health and wellbeing or treatment rooms. Adam is putting mental health at the top of his agenda. “There is much greater awareness today about the stresses and strains that we are under. I am passionate about being able to offer mental health support here at FOUNDRY and having Teddy Edwards in the community is a great start.”

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Around 93% of the UK adult population have access to financial services, meaning almost 5 million UK residents are excluded from financial support or the associated benefits that come with having a bank account. Recognising the need for inclusive financial services, and as the cost-of-living crisis worsens, Zunoma worked with the Post Office to develop the cash dispensary services, Payout and Payout Zunoma’sNOW!whitepaper details the services, gives examples of the services in practice and ultimately demonstrates the positive impact a fully comprehensive cash dispensary solution can have for organisations looking to support customers without access to financial services. Zunoma has identified that the Payout and Payout NOW! services have helped 120 businesses across the UK to provide financial relief services to 18.3 million individuals. Additionally, the scheme awarded over 100 asylum seekers with emergency cash within the first two weeks of the government granting asylum protection. Phil Ouzman, Managing Director at Zunoma, said: “The Payout and Payout NOW! services are ideal solutions for local government, suppliers and charities to issue payments to vulnerable individuals that may not have access to a bank account and offer some relief from financial strain. “We are incredibly proud to have worked in partnership with The Post Office to ensure that such a service is now in Downloadplace.”thewhite paper here: whitepaper/https://www.zunoma.com/payoutZunoma has released a white paper in partnership with the Post Office on ‘The innovative technology behind financial inclusion in the UK’ to highlight what groundbreaking financial technologies and support is available to the general population following the pandemic.

MonthlyNews

Getting cash to the vulnerable population – Zunoma White Paper

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Mark Woolley is the founder and ofCreativeInternationalDirectorleadingBritish hair brand Electric. The business comprises award-winning salons, an ethical products line, a global education offer, a photographic and film studio, a shared workspace for leading creatives in central London, and a farm and headquarters right here in the Sussex countryside. Here, he talks about his business journey Tell us a bit about you and your story

It was an industry that I found by chance. It found me in the last year of school. I have enjoyed the credit and the business elements of it.

Like Toni and Guy, Saks were one of the early pioneers of franchising so they allowed people to have their own business and they were training people from a young age to be able to operate a business. When I look back, I think that was a really clever thing. I learned my craft with them; I opened CBC Stories talks to an entrepreneur who made it big in the highly competitive beauty industry. StoriesCBC

Every time I say this, I shudder a little bit. I’ve now been a hairdresser for thirty-one years and I think, every time I say it, I think I’m old. I started when I was sixteen and grew up in the north of England, in a little town in north Yorkshire. I started with a national company and they were called Saks. I started with those guys and, basically, Saks was two guys who had been quite prominent hairdressers in London. They had both worked with Sassoon and that, and carved out a big following. They ended up back in their native northeast and, when I joined them, they had about eight salons that were in all the prominent towns and cities in the northeast. It was great - it was a lot of like-minded creative people.

I always credit those guys. They just set me off on the right foot. Hairdressing is a brilliant skill; it’s creativity and the business side of it is quite simple to operate. It was just a lot of fun.

How to Build a Global Brand

When I moved from the north down to London, I was nineteen and I opened my first salon with them when I was twenty-one. It was a great journey. They taught me well. I’ve always enjoyed the hairdressing and I still do a lot of that now. I see it as something to enjoy even though it is business as well. It is the same sort of thing that someone would get from doing the garden or playing golf. Did you always envisage from a young age that you would one day run your own business and where does that drive and determination come from?

I was listening to, it might have been a podcast, somebody talk about the influences people have in life. For some people it’s school teachers and for some people, who play a sport, it’s the coach of the football team that has a huge influence on their life. I’ve listened to a lot of people tell those experiences and I’ve read a lot biographies as well. My favorite books to read are biographies. I think one of my influences was when I was growing up. My dad worked in IT, he was in middle management of a company, and my mum worked at a school. We had a fairly humble life. We had one holiday a year and lived in a very normal house. Our nextdoor neighbours were friends with my parents. The guy was running his own business and he had a BMW. They seemed to be able to go on holiday whenever they wanted, and I remember thinking that must be what you had to do to get that stuff; you must have to have your own business.

my first salon with them. I moved to London with them because I had this burning desire to live in London.

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I met him by chance on a ski trip. We are still very good friends now and we’ve worked on a lot of projects together over the years. I would say to him: ‘I’m going to do a shoot tomorrow for David Comer.’ He’d say: ‘How on Earth are you doing that?’

It was one of those things. I was in the circle, I’d met a few people.

Anthony started teaching me how to do hair on shoots. Then I’d do more session work. Eventually, a lady came to me, Joy Goodman, who ran an agency and asked

I became very good friends with one of the founders of Toni ad Guy, Anthony Mascolo. He was one of the people I looked up to in hairdressing.

Every now and again someone would say ‘I own my own business’ and ‘I’m doing this’, so one of my goals from being at school was that I would like to own my own business. I wasn’t academic but I was really into art. I liked art, music and I liked sports - but they weren’t academic subjects. In the subconscious, hairdressing presented itself as a creative, fun business to be involved in. There were all these young people who seemed to own their own businesses and I thought that might be for me. It sounds so silly when you say it like that, but I think they were the touchpoints. Dennis and Malcolm, who started Saks, and Steve, the fella that runs it now, were all instrumental. It was in an era when you felt you had to work hard for things. People were looking to get mentored whereas everybody now has a mentor. I felt lucky to learn from those guys. How have you managed to stand out and become such a globally recognised brand? How did Saks turn into Electric? Because it was a successful franchise model, it became a very good proposition for people to own a franchise so people started owning them who weren’t from the industry and stuff like that. I just felt that the creativity died a little bit and it had become a business. When I moved to London my then girlfriend was studying fashion at Central St Martins and today she’s the global creative director of Agent Provocateur. We’ve known each other since we were about fifteen and we still work together sometimes. She moved to London and I was there as a hairdresser, knocking around with some of these people. Eventually, people would say ‘Can you come and do the hair shoot for me?’ I was eighteen at this point so I’d say ‘Of course’.

Who has been your biggest inspiration throughout your journey and why?

This is a small extract from a lengthy podcast interview. The full podcast can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/ YYEgwpEAFWg

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Success is taking one of those goals that you’ve set and seeing it come to fruition. What one piece of advice would you give to your 18-year-old self? Stick with it and never give up.

Some salons fell into rate grant territory, which was brilliant, and we had furlough.

if I’d be interested in any red carpet stuff.

I do salute our government for that. Some of our salons, where the rates were too high to get a grant, we had to take out a Bounce Back loan for. With covid, everyone had to take on a bit of debt and manage the expectations of staff. Some came back and said they didn’t want to do it anymore.

What does ‘success’ look like to you?

Probably Anthony Mascolo who, funnily enough, was our rival. A brilliant allround creative. Could you recommend a business book or podcast for our listeners?

Tune into the County Business Talks Podcast

I knew the area and Saks were in Convent Garden and it wasn’t that far from there. It opened in 2007. I did a lot of brand ambassador work for L’Oreal and became very friendly with one of the chemists based in Paris. He then went to work for Estee Lauder and moved back to London. We’d been working on a formula for a styling cream that would evaporate. The head buyer at Harvey Nichols asked if we could get some other products around this styling cream. It took two years to get four products and we launched them exclusively at Harvey Nichols. It led to us opening two salons.

What has been your biggest challenge during your journey? Tell us about how the past two years have impacted the business Covid is the obvious answer, but some types of businesses flourished. It did affect us. I don’t think there is anybody who didn’t have to restructure their business a little bit. It cost us hundreds of thousands of pounds, no question.

The next thing, I had an agent. That started my separation from Saks. I felt my Saks salon in Brighton was a bit different from all the other Saks. It was creative. We had this atmosphere that felt electric. When somebody came into our salon, there was great music playing and we were doing great hair. We kept talking about this atmosphere.

I bought myself out of my Saks contract and they couldn’t kick me out of my salon because I owned it, but it left me without a London salon. This would have been 2005 or 2006. It took about 18 months and shop became available on Marylebone High Street.

Having looked at the product they were sold, it’s clear that it would not have achieved what they thought it would. We discussed everything once more, and they have decided to do something that we are all confident will achieve their aims and that they understood. They have paid around £400 for this advice and they, and their family, are much more comfortable with their choice now.

Solicitors

That’s

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I saw them again recently. They were contacted out of the blue by a company selling asset protection products and Wills. After spending £2,800 up front, they received some very sloppy documentation that they didn’t really understand. They called the provider but found it increasingly difficult to get hold of anyone in the office other than a receptionist. The family were worried and called me in. They cancelled the contract. They have lost their money.

I have some lovely elderly clients - I saw them a few years ago. We talked about their family, their children, their property, their hopes and fears about what might happen if one of them dies; their priorities. After a good, long talk, they decided that their wills, drawn up a few years beforehand were just fine, and decided to do nothing. They paid me for my time and advice, and we parted ways. I think it cost them around £250.

When we were talking, I mentioned that, if I get it wrong, they can sue me.

Fiona Dodd, a Partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, explains how good advice, at the right time can save clients money and gives some good examples when it comes to will writing. Legal are expensive. complicate things. just a fact of life. Or is it?

Solicitors

I once saw a will that was 26 pages long, looked good on the surface, and clearly had a lot of legal phrases in there, but which on closer inspection turned out to be utter nonsense. The good thing was that we were able to put it right before my client died. Had we not, it would have been extremely expensive for them to sort out.

If a client comes to us to ask about this, we can provide specialist advice and discuss all the possible consequences before they decide what to do. It is worth repeating. We are not selling a product. We are there to advise.

This last question is very important. You should not be tied to appointing the will writer as your executor if you have a choice. Administering an estate can be very complex. It is sometimes extremely advisable to have a professional involved, and we will certainly discuss this with you if you feel it may be appropriate. But a professional will writer, solicitor or not, will charge for their services, and if you paid a lot at the start, your estate may end up paying even more later. At least if you can choose your executor, you get to choose who is in control.

5. Are you insured?

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3. What if I decide not to proceed?

7. Am I paying for the advice or the product?

Fiona Dodd

I regularly have clients ask me about “Asset Protection Trusts” which they have found out about through cold calling, a leaflet through the door, or other advertising. Often the advertising suggests that these can be used to protect against care home fees. This is not true.

There are some great will writers who are not solicitors, and not all solicitors are great will writers. But sadly, at the moment, will writing is not a regulated profession. When you are considering making a will, or checking if your present will is still ok, ask these questions:

4. What if things go wrong?

1. How much experience do you have?

Solicitors are expensive? Solicitors’ complicate things? I don’t think so. 0800www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk8494101

A great part of my job is to understand exactly what my client wants. In will writing, I am the expert, but in their family dynamics, and relationships, my client is the expert. We work together to help them make an informed choice about their wills, and what will be best for their family after they’ve gone.

6. How are your charges calculated?

We all laughed, but I have more than 20 years’ experience as a solicitor, I belong to a profession that is heavily regulated, that requires all its members to have significant insurance and an easily identifiable complaints and redress process. I also give advice. I do not sell a product. I do not have a vested interest in whether a client proceeds with a document or not. I am paid to advise.

8. Can I appoint anyone as my executor?

As part of a regulated profession, I am not allowed to stray into areas of law where I do not have any demonstrable knowledge. Because I advise on the administration of estates, as well as writing wills, I know what works in a practical sense, and what doesn’t.

LEGAL SPONSOR

2. Where will my documents be stored – and do you charge for that?

Many of these considerations should already be in the mind of employers.

A reduction in the need for staff to do work of a particular kind is the most common The legal position for SMEs outlined by 365 Employment Law Redundancies

If the number of affected staff is over 20, then collective rules apply. I do not focus on those for the purpose of this article, but on the smaller number redundancies, that affect SMEs on a more regular basis, and that will have to be faced when they are faced with those financial pressures.

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Employment Law: The Recession and

The legal position relating to redundancy of staff sets out that it can happen in one of three situations, business closure, workplace closure (i.e. the location where the employee worked closes), and the most commonly used, a reduction in the need for staff to do work of a particular kind.

As we start to see the economy decline, many businesses are worried about how to deal with staff. Rising interest rates, increasing borrowing costs and rising inflation, including increasing energy costs, mean redundancies are inevitable. The issue of staff redundancies will be in the news as the economic situation deteriorates in the Autumn. Employers that have held off on redundancies would be wise to consider the next steps they might want to take, before the situation for them becomes critical. How those redundancies happen is important from both a reason perspective, but given a process must be followed, also a procedural one. If employers make redundancies quickly in the autumn as financial problems hit them, they will face difficulty arguing that dismissals are not, at the very least, procedurally unfair.

Legal

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 19 route to staff redundancies at this time.

By Alex Jones, Managing Director, 365 Employment Law Tel: 01903 www.365employmentlaw.co.ukajones@365employmentlaw.co.uk863284 Alex Jones

A redundancy situation does not occur under this heading, if an employee is made “redundant” and someone else is hired into exactly the same role.

Using the above example, if another bar manager is immediately hired, a redundancy situation would not exist.

The employer may decide to make one of those redundant to save costs, despite the work need being there, and do some of the shifts themself. That would be a genuine redundancy, as the requirement for a bar manager has ceased. They would of course have to have a fair selection process to decide which employee goes, but one of those roles is redundant.

The staff are redundant if the employer no longer has the requirement for staff to do work of a particular kind. The test is not whether the work still exists, but whether or not the role is needed to do the work. This means that redundancy can be because of specific work reduction, for costs saving purposes, or for reorganisation purposes. As an example, in hospitality, a widely affected area as energy bills become unaffordable, a bar owner may have two bar managers, both of whom share shifts, so both are needed.

The reason why it is important for employers to get this process right, is that if an employee is not redundant, or they are unfairly selected, or a fair procedure is not followed, the employee will have an Unfair Dismissal claim, and could receive much higher amounts of compensation. Employers should also think about selection, and whether or not genuine redundancies exist. Employers also often have the mistaken belief that they can change hours and/or pay. They can only do this with informed consent. If they unilaterally vary either, they run the risk of a constructive dismissal claim and/or a claim for unpaid wages for any differences in pay. They could of course explore these possibilities with employees as a means of avoiding redundancy, and reach agreement in that regard, but should never impose such changes unless redundancy is not possible and there are dire financial circumstances. Please, always take advice on any staffrelated issues.

An employee made redundant will be entitled to statutory redundancy pay. The right to qualify for that pay is conditional on two years’ continuous employment with the employer.

LEGAL SPONSOR

Life after work is where most of us are heading. It’s why we’re working now saving diligently. But there is more to the financial aspect of moving into retirement.

We are not fans of the word ‘retirement’. It often doesn’t fill people with joy and excitement. But it should! So, today, we will call retirement ‘life after work’. This helps with visualisation. No longer is it ‘retirement’, but you’re just moving onto a different stage in life. A fantastic step where, with careful planning, you can do everything important to you. You could travel, spend time with grandchildren or adult children, start a new business, work part-time, volunteer or do whatever it is that makes you happy.

Your identity and a sense of purpose

As financial advisers, we have encountered thousands of people leading up to and beyond retirement.

20 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Many entrepreneurs, and employees, get caught up in an endless pursuit of growth. Or squirrelling away funds for their life after work. But then what…?

For most of us, work is our identity.

‘I’m an IT consultant/lawyer/accountant. I run a business doing X or providing X.’ Whether you love your work or not, work often provides a sense of

Often our clients’ focus is on ‘Can I afford to stop working?’ or ‘Are we investing enough?’. Most people overlook the enormous transition into a new phase of life.

Let us clarify: You WILL be moving to this stage of life. You will leave that business behind one day, if you run a business.

EngageFinance

Wealth Management explains how retirement is about more than money

1. Start preparing now When planning for this life stage, it is important to visualise what life after work looks like. How will you spend day 1/day 100/day 1000?! Be specific, from the moment you wake up until bed that evening. This planning can start early, and it will change. No longer will you be doing the school run, morning commute, logging on and chatting to your co-workers about the Writingweekend.abucket list before retirement will help you visualise this time and ease into this new stage of life.

endless tidying up. Yet most people claim their children provide their chief source of happiness… One way of looking at these results is that happiness is achieved through a sense of purpose. Raising a child, building a business, or building a career are all challenging pursuits. But that sense of purpose - that you’re making something great for you and your family - drives most people. What can you do to prepare for this new stage in life? Here are some thoughts:

Website: https://engagewm.co.uk Telephone: 01273 076587 Email: hello@engagewm.co.uk

Engage Wealth Management provides financial and retirement planning to successful business owners & busy professionals. If you’re approaching your ‘life after work’ stage and confused about the financial aspects, get in touch.

FINANCE SPONSOR

5. Stay healthy Our top Gardening,tips.walking, yoga or swimming are great ways to ease into exercise. Or crank it up a level by joining a cycling club, taking up kite surfing, mountain biking or running. This keeps your body and mind healthy and helps to form social relationships. Many people have stated that health is more important than financial security during life after work.

3. Have a celebration You’re about to achieve that moment that most people dream of. You no longer NEED to work. So celebrate this! We celebrate many other life stages such as graduations, a new job or launching a new business venture. So why not celebrate your new life stage?

purpose. This could involve collaborating on projects to get them over the line, helping clients achieve their goals or taking care of employees. This identity and a sense of tempernappies,lackinvolvesexample,raisingofinandpeople’sKahnemanprizeofdiscussesrecommended)bookYuvalleavedisappearpurposeonceyoutheworkplace.NoahHarari’sSapiens(highlythedefinitionhappiness.NobelwinnerDanielstudiedeverydaylivesfoundaparadoxmostpeople’sviewstheirlives.Takeachild,forwhichusuallyapersistentofsleep,changingdealingwithtantrumsand

4. Social circle This is a crucial point. For some people, your social circle will change entirely if this has been formed around the workplace. Or perhaps you’ve moved home to afford retirement.

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Finally, remember that you have one shot at life on this planet. Make sure you enjoy it. Life after work is an opportunity to do the things you’ve always wanted, help the people you’ve wanted to, and make the most significant impact on this world.

One final point. we have helped hundreds of people retire successfully and had thousands of conversations about life after work. The happiest and most content people we know living life after work now spend their days exercising and socialising. Exercise provides routine, identity, social circles and staying healthy in one hit.

2. Have a routine When work stops, the routine it provided will leave a gap in your life. Try to establish a new morning routine. Whether this involves a morning walk, yoga session or breakfast with a loved one. Establishing a routine is essential for a healthy life after work stage.

Take note of who is within your social circle and make an effort to deepen these relationships. This is important for people with little or no family nearby.

You could take an extended family trip abroad and organise a ‘life after work’ party. This helps with the psychological shift and provides an opportunity to gather friends a family together before changing your lifestyle.

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HowBusinessNew to Use Networking to Help You Sell

Doubly difficult for new business owners is the fact that increasing sales can often be achieved through that other much maligned activity, networking. Selling without being too salesy

22 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

An aspect of new business owners’ objections to sales might be a fear of coming across as too salesy. We’ve all been there, caught up in a sales process that we didn’t quite consent to being in. What had started off as our vague interest in someone’s offer, results in us having to practically back out of the shop (or email sale funnel) with a feeling that we’ve been thoroughly sold at –think old-style used car salesperson. While no doubt pressure selling is a thing, the likelihood of your own new business being one of those using hard tactics is low. If you run your business to your values – and your values include a dislike of aggressive sales, you’re unlikely to go too far down the pushy sales route. Often, there’s also a fear of the unknown. At BIPC Sussex, new business owners regularly talk to us about a knowledge gap between messaging and conversion (that is, marketing and sales). They’re often aware that they need to be able to demonstrate their product or service’s benefits to their potential clients but when it comes to converting those prospective clients into customers, there’s a lot of confusion about how to go about it. That’s where our range of publications can help. BIPC Sussex is part of the British Library’s National Network of Business & IP Centres and our mission is to democratize entrepreneurship. While we have business experts, information clinics, online market research databases, and business events galore, being based in libraries means that we also have business books. Our books range from those outlining business It is a truth universally acknowledged that, as much as selling products or services is the actual point of business, few new business owners really enjoy doing it.

basics, ‘how to’ strategy books, and those to boost your mindset. With the help of these books, and the guidance of our BIPC Information Specialists, you’ll soon be eager to get start making connections with prospects.

Do you want to meet new people?

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 23 NEW BUSINESS SPONSOR

Can you introduce business owners to your own contacts? Are there resources or help you can offer? What value could you bring to the networking relationship? Not sure where to start with networking? Why not try a little networking at our free monthly Relaxed Networking events at the BIPC in Jubilee Library?

Ultimately, we know it can be daunting as a new business owner aiming to embed networking into your sales strategy. The route from networking to a sale is winding and unpredictable. Yet there’s a strange sort of serendipity that can happen when you focus your attention on building meaningful relationships through networking. At BIPC Sussex it’s our mission to help you navigate that sales and networking path. Let’s help you take those first steps and support you along the way. We look forward to welcoming you at our upcoming networking events! Visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/bipc or email bipc@brighton-hove.gov.uk

With a no-pressure, coffee morning style, these networking sessions allow you to dip your toe into the networking scene, without undue stress as our BIPC Information Specialists are on hand throughout to introduce you to new people and provide a friendly face to welcome you.

Of course, the argument for networking for those with business-to-business (B2B) interests is clear. Networking places you in environments where your prospects congregate. But what about those whose businesses focus on individual consumers (B2C)? Not only are other business owners also consumers in their own right, but by increasing your contacts, you increase your visibility within the local environment. And that’s the funny thing about selling. You can have all the strategies in the world, but often prospects come to you in unpredictable ways. Raising brand awareness and, where necessary, positioning yourself as a thought leader via networking starts to impact on your likelihood of sales coming your way. After all, there’s no bad thing to be the first business your network thinks of when it comes to your industry.

How sales and networking are a perfect match So where does networking fit in? Well, networking is about just that – increasing your business contacts. The idea being that the more you increase your network, the more chances you’ll have to not only boost your brand visibility in the local or digital landscape, but you’ll increase your likelihood of finding prospects.

The important thing about the process of networking itself is to, as far as possible, try to enjoy it. This can happen if you’re relaxed. The best way to relax is to have a realistic plan before you get to the event itself. What this means in practical terms is to aim to have a sense of what your goal is before you attend an event.

In addition to this, it’s worth considering what you can offer your new network.

Do you want to connect with specific people or brands? Are you looking for help or guidance in any way?

is an essential part of any website that deserves attention. But, as with everything else in the world, it’s everchanging. Google is continuously moving the goal posts and many marketers do not know where to start with it. Fear not, we live and breathe this stuff so are happy to bring you our inside view on top trends for 2022 to help you get ahead of the curve. What is SEO? Put simply, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. In other words, it’s the practice of optimising your website so that its visibility on search engines is boosted. And, with more visibility, you can expect more visitors and more success. Sounds good, right?

GOOD BUSINESS SPONSOR

Create a well-organised website structure with content that’s engaging, educating and useful so that users remain on your website and go from page to page. You cannot game an algorithm, but if you get your basics right you will always be ahead of the curve.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Doing your research and placing highly relevant, good quality keywords within your content is an important signal for Google and, in turn, SEO - so good job if you’ve done that or are doing that already - but it’s just the start - and there’s plenty of even more sophisticated SEO trends around the corner that will all have an impact on the ranking factor of your website.

Top SEO trends for 2022 1. Artificial intelligence (AI) in SEO Yep, we’re going in with the meaty stuff straight away. You may have heard about an intelligent algorithm on the web that shows us the things we like at the top of our feed. This is all down to AI, and we think it will become even more crucial if you want your website to appear in 2022.

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Google’s AI algorithm, part of which is called RankBrain, ranks and analyses content across the web - as the AI evolves and the value placed on content and web elements changes year by year. It’s the responsibility of SEOs to diagnose what the AI now values and to help businesses decide what strategies need to be implemented in order to continue to rank well. Of course, while we don’t know for sure what Google is looking for when it analyses content, the general consensus is that there needs to be a healthy balance between great content, technical website best practice and great user experience. The answer?

Like it or not, SEO (Search GooglegettingOptimisationEngineakafoundonbetter)

Creative Bloom’s practical SEO tip: Read your home page content out loud, and Stu Davies, Head of Agency at Creative Bloom, search marketing specialists based in Brighton, shares inside tips to help you shift the dial on your search marketing.

TopBusinessGood SEO Trends for 2022

Creative Bloom’s practical SEO tip: Get on top of this. If you have a budget to spare ensure your mobile site is quick and efficient. Use Google’s test and work with developers to get the most out of your mobile site. It will become more important to have a slick, quick mobile site.

4. Video SEO Thanks to TikTok and Instagram, online video has exploded in recent years. So it probably won’t surprise you that video is essential if you want your SEO strategy to be successful in 2022. Of course, it goes without saying that the more engaging your video and the more people that share it, the better your rankings. But there’s also a few things you can be doing behind-the-scenes.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 25 GOOD BUSINESS SPONSOR

that of your competitors - ask yourselfdo you deserve to rank on Google?

Pack the video description and video name with user-friendly text as well as those all-important keywords, and create extracts for the video so you can rank for the content traditionally. Hosting your videos on YouTube means they will also be present in more of Google’s search Creativelandscape.Bloom’spractical

SEO tip: Using video software or even Social Media interfaces will provide transcript extracts or subtitles for your video for you to quickly bang it into shape to

Long-form content needs to be quality content with headings, subheadings, bullet points, links and often, pictures to help break up the text. This careful structuring helps make your article easy to scan and therefore improves the web page user experience. If your content is easy to share on social media, you get extra traction too. Writing conversationally will increase your chances of getting ‘voice search’ results and ‘people also ask’ results which will propel you into those top spots. Our view is the use of long-form searches via voice assistant will increase in 2022.

2. Create long-form content for Voice Search and Search Engine Page Features. If you’ve done any research into SEO, you’ll see that content is king, but not just any old content. Long-form content, which is over 3,000 words, is proven to get more engagement compared to your typical shorter pieces. And you guessed it, this improves your rankings in search results. It’s not just a case of writing 3,000 words though. Oh, we wish it was that easy.

Creative Bloom’s practical SEO tip: Ask a question in Google and click on the answers that come up in the ‘people also ask panel’. Look at how that content is being structured and why Google may be choosing to show that particular article over others - they are in that top spot for a reason. Mining these questions will also give you great content ideas.

3. Mobile optimisation, UX and website speed for SEO Way back in 2015, Google’s mobile update penalised sites that had poor mobile UX. Since 2017, Google has also launched successive Core updates that penalise slow, poor UX and poorly performing mobile sites. Each year mobile searches increase as a percentage of total searches. So the mobile-friendliness of your website plays a HUGE part in how high your website ranks on Google search engines. It is estimated that by 2025, 73 per cent of internet users will access websites using mobile devices only. So, if you do one thing in the next few months, make sure your website is optimised and working for mobiles. It’s not a case of making changes and crossing your fingers though. Google has their very own website test that checks out how mobile-friendly your site is. Best of all, it’s completely free! Their Mobile Usability Report also identifies any issues with your site and gives you reports on what to address.

BUSINESS

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It prides itself on its ethical position as an agency. It has a people and planetfirst attitude, and manoeuvres the great and the good into the spotlight to increase ethical consumer choice.

Google will no longer be looking at a string of words but also analysing the reason that someone is searching for that certain keyword. For example, if someone is searching for doughnuts, semantically related keywords could be: ‘fluffy doughnut recipe’, ‘how to make doughnuts without yeast’ and ‘types of doughnuts’.

Follow our Digital Marketing Podcast: The Creative Bloom Boom for further insights into the bewildering world of search and digital marketing presented by Stu and Ollie from Team Bloom.

SEO is super important if you want your content and website to land in front of the right people. We have a deep understanding of what you need in order to get digitally recognised. If you need some help please do get in touch with us.

GOOD SPONSOR

5. Semantically related keywords Remember when we said that keywords were just the start?! Well, in SEO, you have primary keywords and secondary keywords. In 2022, you need to be focusing on both.

Truly ethical businesses are driven by passion and love - but they need digital marketing strategy and insight in order to perform. That’s why Creative Bloom is here.

creative-bloom-ltd/https://www.linkedin.com/company/www.twitter.com/CreativeBloomUKwww.creativebloomrocks.com

Put simply, if you try to provide as much information as possible, using primary and secondary keywords, your content will be ticking a few boxes.

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create accompanying content for the video embedded on your website page. Don’t forget to do the SEO on page basics too.

Creative Bloom exists to help good people to run good businesses that thrive and make a positive contribution to the world. It only works with green businesses, charities, and local businesses - and has been helping the ‘good guys get found’ since 2014.

Creative Bloom’s practical SEO tip: Start designing topic clusters, based on what you want to talk about and what users search for - consider a search-based user journey too - you want to be present for many search terms along that journey. Use primary and semantically linked keywords in that content and Google will rank you higher in relevancy for that topic.

Stu helps leaders, managers and marketers to understand how their marketing works, where they need to change, and what it will take to really make a difference, for the benefit of themselves, their people, their clients - and all of us. He shares everything he knows and believes with his clients, equipping them to make their own smart, strategic, datadriven choices. Because the world of business needs good people with good ideas - and Stu has chosen to ensure those people succeed.

* Stu Davies is also the local Brighton rep for Surfers against Sewage, local surfer and environmental campaigner. With 15 years working for large corporations, learning his craft as a digital specialist, analyst and strategist, Stu now brings that know-how to our clients, to the SMEs and organisations with the potential to really change our world for the better.

Stu Davies

At Bloom, we work with the people who believe in better business. We bring digital marketing strategy, data and commerciality to the mix, giving valuesdriven leaders and their businesses the tools they need to grow, and to bring their positive contribution to the world.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 27 Call us on 01273 223290 or visit www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk/here-to-help Offices across Sussex Does your business need a helping hand? During these unprecedented times, many businesses are struggling so we would like to help. We are offering free general guidance on: • Unpaid invoices & contract disputes • Commercial landlord & tenant issues • Professional Negligence • Commercial insurance claims • Trading Standards & consumer complaints • Shareholder & Partnership disputes • Employment claims & settlement agreements • Franchise disputes www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

Investing in Google ads? Yes. Got great SEO? Yes. Increased sales? No. Imagine chucking money at pay-perclick advertising and search engine optimisation only to discover your website is not configured to convert the resulting traffic. Then imagine you are an agency working hard to deliver that traffic - with poor conversion results. Sound familiar? These scenarios are a common headache for both ambitious businesses trying to grow and digital agencies pulling out all the stops to help clients attract and engage target audiences.

Optimize - Data Driven Software That Boosts Conversion

In this feature, we meet a brand that is delivering optimal conversion results - not just for businesses but also for brands and organisations across multiple sectors.

How do you ensure a website is optimised to deliver the very best conversion rate while always providing an outstanding user experience?

Webtrends Optimize is the all-inone website optimisation solution delivering measurable benefits. It is a software toolbox driven purely by data - not hunches.

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WebtrendsCoverStory

Matt: “We have been around for 22 years. The business was founded in 2000 as Widemile and then acquired by Webtrends Inc. in 2009.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 29 COVER STORY SPONSOR

What does Webtrends Optimize do?

“Then in 2018, I put a management team together and bought out the business. I chose external people who I knew very well, and they joined me to form a founding team.”

“Webtrends Inc. then wrapped agency services around the technology, to much success, delivering optimisation solutions and services for the likes of

Matt says the core of the business was in the UK, Europe and Australia. “Since 2018 and going forward, we have operated a software model working with digital agencies while maintaining the existing service side of the business. “We have invested heavily in technology because that is where we expect our growth will come from.

“When we bought the business, we acquired a trademark and assets and then had to spin up our brand. That meant building a brand journey to tell the world about what we do.”

Matt: “We offer Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO), AB Testing, which measures the performance of 2 different versions of the same page, and Multivariate Testing, which compares the performance of multiple variables of a single page at the same time. In addition, our software delivers data-driven Personalisation that guarantees tailored, unique user experiences, as well as real-time data to build trust in a brand

It is rated Number 1 by reviewers on G2.com for customer satisfaction. We spoke to two of its founders, CEO Matt Smith and eCommerce Director Ben Charlesworth, to learn more about the product and its benefits. Can you tell us a bit about the company’s history?

Microsoft, Marks & Spencer, HSBC and many more.

Matt: “We can deliver quite complex solutions for businesses, for example we worked with a home improvement company that had a lot of products on its website. The order in which the items were listed or appeared on the website was determined by individual users and had no scientific reasoning. Many users were seeing products they were not interested in or were out of stock.

with Social Proof and Product Recommendation tools.

Ben: “A very basic example is how we helped a business in the entertainment sector. We went onto their website and discovered the ‘Book Now’ button was hidden. We created three different versions of the page, with the button in different styles and different locations. We then ran those pages through an AB Test and measured user interactions so we could deliver a statistical evaluation at the end of the test. Our software could pinpoint which version would increase bookings.

When the Sussex Business Times checked out the brand’s success rate, it found some very impressive results.

30 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk COVER STORY SPONSOR

“If the last five things a user bought were women’s clothing, the platform is not going to recommend they are shown men’s clothing. We are going to show them women’s clothing items

“What we are really offering is a technology solution that increases sales as well as improving the user experience and building trust.”

For example, a global brand increased conversions by 500 per cent, a regional travel company boosted revenue by £1.6m and a healthcare provider boosted mobile conversions by 21 per cent. An international airline also increased website signups by 24 per cent. Can you give us some examples of what the software can do?

Matt: “A good example of Personalisation is the work we did for a major high street clothing brand. We ran a test and discovered its website captured sizes. There is no point showing a user an item of clothing if their size is out of stock.

“Importantly, we also offer Serverside Testing, which can allow even greater scope for users to experiment and test. There is a whole host of other disciplines that exist within the software too, all geared to increase online conversions.”

“What Webtrends Optimize did was create a scoring algorithm that compared user data from across the site. It determined the order of the most relevant products, based on both most viewed and most purchased. The optimisation work delivered a sevenfigure return for that business.”

Ben: “For many years one of our customers in the food & drink industry wanted to offer packages based on website users’ preferences. We were able to ensure their website remembered which items an online customer bought previously so they could provide a one-click reorder service and was able to make recommendations if one of the items was not available.”

Alun Lucas, Managing Director of Zuko Analytics, James Addlestone, Chief Strategy Officer at Journey Further, and Ross Davies, Manging Director of Strafe Creative, are also recent guests.”

Who do you work with and what do you charge?

Ben : “We’ve worked with big banks, energy companies, travel and retail brands, the government - in fact across multiple sectors with businesses of all sizes.”

Matt: “SaaS software subscription is a real growth area for us. We want to continue to grow that and also increase our agency partnerships to support the agency community. Our business in that area has grown by 45 per cent in the past year and we are confident it will continue to grow.”

Matt: “Businesses that invest in their websites and spend money on PPC and SEO but not CRO are throwing good money after bad. They are sending traffic to a website that might not be converting anywhere near its full “Wepotential.maketheir investment go further. Website users get bespoke experiences that convert and businesses get users who are ‘sticky’. They can spend with confidence - our average customer return rate across all sectors is 26 times their investment.” Tell us about your podcast?

Matt: “Our SaaS monthly licence fee is based on a website’s traffic. Every subscriber gets access to all the tools, because we don’t believe in holding anything back.

COVER STORY SPONSOR

Matt: “It’s called #THEBIGLIFT and offers relaxed conversation and insights into the wider Digital world.

What do you see as your growth area?

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 31 that are in stock and in their size.”

“In its third series, recent guests have included George Beverley, of Insightful UX. He chatted about UX, copywriting, web development and data analysis.

Why is Webtrends Optimize so important for online conversion rates?

Instagram: #THEBIGLIFTwebtrendsoptimize podcast - listen on Spotify and Apple

“Some software businesses have different Optimize has the right solution for you.

“When it comes to our SaaS licence, we want businesses of all sizes to benefit - that is why we scale the pricing on the amount of traffic a website gets.

32 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

It offers bespoke optimisation across a wide range of disciplines, with every recommendation based on hard data. With no guesswork, better engagement, happier customers and more sales, it is

Join us for our Rockinghorse Charity Golf DayThursday202229SeptemberMidSussexGolfClubSponsoredbyMediaSponsor£350perteamof4players To book contact the team on: 01273 330 044 Amanda@rockinghorse.org.uk

Serena and Sue have worked closely together on many HR projects over Sustained growth has driven neighbouring human resources businesses to join forces and form The HR Dept Sussex-by-the-Sea.

Two Leading HR Firms in Sussex Announce Merger HR

The HR 2013,SerenalaunchedEastbourneDeptwasbyMayinfollowedby

Sue Beeby launching The HR Dept Chichester in 2014.

Providing outsourced human resources and employment law support to small and medium-sized businesses, the two companies have seen the need for HR support grow significantly in recent years. Together the award-winning businesses have expanded into Brighton, Hove, Arun, Adur, Worthing and Horsham and now serve over 100 clients in many different sectors, ranging from those with just one employee to those with over 100 members of staff.

34 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk HR & PEOPLE MANAGEMENT SPONSOR

Based out of offices in Falmer, the expansion will provide more SME businesses in Sussex with crucial HR support and services to help them through both common and complicated HR issues. This may range from new starters and employment contracts to disciplinaries, leavers, and everything in between.

“I would like to thank the ongoing efforts of the team and continued support of our clients. However, we know there are difficulties on the horizon for the businesses we are working with who worked so hard to come through the pandemic. We will be there to continue to support them in the coming months and years.”

Employers have needed us more than ever to navigate their way through pandemic-related HR issues, whether that’s furlough, closing a business, starting a new business or advice with applying Government guidance, which has been overwhelming for many.

Sue added: “We are both getting so much work from our respective areas that it’s just a logical progression to meet in the middle and share the next phase of our business journey together.”

Both Serena and Sue have won various awards over the years, the latest being the People Management Award in 2021 from County Business Clubs where they are joint members and value-added partners.

Sue said: “It’s onwards and upwards for us. I like to think we are playing a significant role in the communities we serve and the businesses we support - especially during the last two years.

The creation of The HR Dept Sussex-bythe-Sea will initially see the recruitment of an HR & Business Support Co-ordinator to complement the existing team and the acquisition of office space near Brighton.

the years and feel that the merger is a natural business progression that will enable them to take on more staff and grow the business further.

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Serena May MCIPD EDirectorserena.may@hrdept.co.uk T 01323 403500 Sue Beeby EDirectorsusan.beeby@hrdept.co.uk T 01243 www.hrdept.co.uk/sussex-by-the-sea214404

Serena said: “It’s been an incredible 10 years so far and I’m so excited for the next stage of my business journey with Sue as my business partner. Sue and I have provided local businesses with quality HR and employment law support for some time. The expertise, experience, and solutions we provide are an essential part of how businesses operate in today’s world, and more and more companies are demanding our services as a result.”

36 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk CHARITY SPONSOR

The digital marketing agency announces a new leadership structu re to support continued growth.

Gavin Willis, CEO “It feels great to step up into this role knowing I have the full support of a great leadership team managing the day-to-day. It’s been a while coming but now is the right time to announce the changes, and to start looking ahead with a lot of excitement.

Sussex-Born agency, Search Seven, has just finished its latest financial year, reporting an incredible 50% growth in revenue, whilst seeing the team grow from four to 14 people over the past 18 months.

Over this time, new senior additions have come into the team to help with the rebuild, with a clear focus on developing a strong leadership team that will enable future growth, but also to make their people culture as strong as its charity culture, where they pledge to fundraise and donate 7% of their profits each year, raising over £80,000 to date.

Kicking off their new financial year in September off the back of a very successful 12 months and following a period of transition to adjust to the new set-up, it felt like the right time to announce the new changes. MD & Founder, Gavin Willis, will be moving into the CEO role, with Dave Hatton taking the reins of Managing Director. Becky Henderson will be stepping up to Operations Director and Harley Andrews completes the Leadership Team as Head of Digital Marketing.

Search Seven Leads the Way in People and Purpose Charity

“I know Gav describes me as the lynchpin (ha), but I do love organising!

“I have loved playing a key role in building and embedding a new culture into the team that is very much about treating one another as adults, being there for each other and making sure we are as caring and supportive as we can be.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 37

It is important to make sure we are all accountable and that we prioritise our efforts to get the best results possible.

“I have been part of the agency for a year now, and I absolutely love the culture here, it really is like a family where we all look out for one another, try and have a real laugh, and make sure we have great relationships with our clients, where they can really sense what we are building here at Search Seven, and I’m incredibly happy to be a part of it.”

“Working closely with the Leadership Team has been great, everyone brings their own skillset and personality, and my role is to be the integrator, to help facilitate discussions on new ideas and then oversee new processes, from delivery to finances, recruitment and contracts, to ensure we are in great shape as an agency and in a healthy place in terms of our margins and for growth.”

CHARITY SPONSOR

“Heading up Operations in a part-time capacity, there is a lot to do and juggle, however I love the fast-paced nature of agency life and get a real buzz out of making sure we are as efficient and profitable as we can be.

Rebecca OperationsHenderson,Director

“My role will very much be on relationship building and placing more emphasis on being the main brand ambassador for Search Seven, ensuring our key partners, key clients, charity contacts, and friends in the community are being looked after and supported, whilst continuing to host our own charity and networking events and making a real impact on our communities, both local and beyond. “With the rest of the Leadership Team managing the day-to-day operations, supporting our great team to deliver a fantastic service to our clients and maintain a people culture that is now very much matching our strong charity culture already intact, I am incredibly excited about what’s ahead for us.”

“Heading up the client side of the business has seen my responsibilities range from overseeing client delivery and managing the delivery team, to working on new strategies on how we can market ourselves better to win new business.

GavinCEOWillis, Dave ManagingHatton,Director Rebecca OperationsHenderson,Director Harley Andrews, Head of Digital Marketing

Harley Andrews, Head of Digital Marketing

“Focusing on company culture, especially as a remote-first agency nowadays, really does lead to a happier and productive workforce, that in itself relates directly to happier clients and can enable a company to scale with a strong people culture at its core.

“The Leadership Team here are simply fantastic, and along with our incredible team members across PPC & SEO, I know we are in great shape going forwards as we aim for new targets together and having a lot of fun along the way.”

Dave Hatton, Managing Director

“Utilising over a decade of Paid Media and Leadership experience, I will continue to support the team on new business whilst overseeing the performance of the agency across all the key functions, including growing our partnership network, and the attraction and retention of great people that can be part of something truly special we are building here.

“My main objective is to support the team to deliver a great service to our clients, aligned to their goals, and I am really excited to see what comes next as we start to ramp up our marketing efforts to showcase our work to new, potential clients too.

“I am really looking forward to stepping into the MD role and building upon what we have already put in place over the last 18 months that has returned some great results for the team and the business alike.

38 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk POWERED BY SPONSORED BYENTRY INFORMATION WHY ENTER? • £360 per team • Teams of Four • Stableford Points • 9am shotgun start • Great prizes for nearest pins and longest drives • Chance to win £5,000 cash, a new car, an all-inclusive holiday, a set of golf clubs or a UK golf break • Breakfast & Lunch included • Raffle & Sponsor Sweepstake Sponsorship opportunities available Register now at: toby@tpgsportsevents.com GOLFCHARITYDAY 7 IN SUPPORT OF: THURSDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2022 DYKE GOLF CLUB, BRIGHTON Star Hole in One Prizes: £5,000 cash, Golf Holiday in Europe, Set of clubs and UK Golf break PART OF

POWERED BY SPONSORED BYENTRY INFORMATION WHY ENTER? • £360 per team • Teams of Four • Stableford Points • 9am shotgun start • Great prizes for nearest pins and longest drives • Chance to win £5,000 cash, a new car, an all-inclusive holiday, a set of golf clubs or a UK golf break • Breakfast & Lunch included • Raffle & Sponsor Sweepstake Sponsorship opportunities available Register now at: toby@tpgsportsevents.com GOLFCHARITYDAY 7 IN SUPPORT OF: THURSDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2022 DYKE GOLF CLUB, BRIGHTON Star Hole in One Prizes: £5,000 cash, Golf Holiday in Europe, Set of clubs and UK Golf break PART OF

The ultimate balance between convenience and customer service Reserve Online aligns so well with 67 Degrees’ belief in the blended approach, whereby the digital presence of a business can complement that invaluable face-to-face customer experience. The Reserve Online plugin goes beyond making an enquiry on a car via email or a contact form; instead, customers can start the process from the comfort of their own home, where they can progress to an invite at the dealership to seal the deal. This not only makes it easier for customers to secure the car they want, but also for dealers to get ready-made leads arriving overnight – quite literally!

Are you a car dealer who is keen to give your customers the easiest journey to buying a car? Do you want your dealership to keep up with the online landscape without compromising on personal service? Introducing the all-important Reserve Online tool from 67 Degrees… Bringing e-commerce to the digital forecourt We all saw the way that businesses mobilised to make a ‘click and collect’ service work for them during those early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person browsing was sadly no longer an option. For so many, it became not just a ‘nice-to-have’, but a necessity for survival, and it was the case within the motor industry too.

As a dealer in the motor trade, you’d probably say that your vehicles sell themselves, and Reserve Online enables customers to do just that – based on the car’s merit alone, a deal can essentially be done without any hard sales push from your team. A pressure-free buying process is what consumers tend to look for now, and 67 Degrees believe that the plugin allows it to be possible within the automotive industry. To find out more, visit www.67degrees. co.uk to discover the benefits for you and your dealership. can 67 Degrees’ Reserve Online plugin

transform your dealership? Sales

Online Solution for Car Dealers

Always keen to be at the forefront of dealer-friendly tech, Shoreham-based automotive marketing specialists, 67 Degrees, have developed a two-step Reserve Online e-commerce plugin.

How

ReserveMarketing&

The reserve amount is variable – it could be £49, £99, or even £250, and it’s fully refundable, which removes the barrier of irreversible commitment that could put some customers off. This clever plugin essentially allows the customer to reserve a car in just a few ‘clicks’, and it’s then within the dealer’s power to arrange the vehicle’s collection at a mutually convenient time to ensure that they’re happy with the car, complete the sale, and get them behind the wheel.

How does Reserve Online work? Reserve Online gives customers the easiest journey to buying a car; in exchange for a small transaction in order to ‘hold’ the car they want, alerting the dealer to their interest in it, and removing it from sale for a short period of time.

40 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk SALES & MARKETING SPONSOR

• Two course lunch

Best Female Cricketers Come to The 1st Central County Ground

For an extra special day out enjoy England vs India from the comfort of Cow Corner, the dedicated hospitality area at The 1st Central County Ground, with a package that costs £80 + VAT per person, and includes:

Hospitality packages

• Private cash bar For more information, call the Sussex Cricket Club Shop on 01273 827100 - Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSOR

Tickets are available to purchase now from just £1 for kids and, if you fancy making your day out that little bit more special, you can treat yourself to a matchday hospitality package.

Ticket information Tickets for children under 14 cost just £1! And for kids under the age of 18 entry is just £5. Adult tickets are £10, giving you the opportunity to take the whole family without breaking the bank. You can purchase tickets directly from the Sussex Cricket website, and seating is unreserved, so you can take in the action from your favourite part of The 1st Central County Ground.

• Pastries before the match begins

On Sunday 18th September

42 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

The 1st Central County Ground, Hove, will host England Women vs India Women, the first one-day international in a three-match Royal London Series.

• Outside decked viewing area on boundary edge • Glass of Ridgeview on arrival

World’sNetworking&Events

• Light afternoon tea including cakes and scones

2022 has been a massive year for women’s sport, with the England football team winning the European Championships, smashing all manor of spectator records along the way. That was swiftly followed by the Commonwealth Games, where women’s cricket made its debut at the historic sporting event. And the action doesn’t stop there.

The England Women’s cricket team are set to take on India Women this September in both a T20 and one-day international series. It’s another chance for the family to witness the elite of women’s sport and spend the day at the home of the Sussex Sharks, watching the some of the best female cricketers in the world.

Untitled-1 1 23/08/2022 10:46:43

44 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

In a sea of guests at a networking event, you can almost guarantee one topic of conversation. Yes, you guessed it, the weather.

As seasons change from baking hot to cold and wet, there’s one thing that remains constantand it’s a very British one.

I’ve been there. I too have blurted out generic weather-related conversations in the hope to fill a potential silence. But I’ve learned a better and more productive (for both parties) way to do so.

Thought provoking and curious questions. People remember the way you made them feel. By leading conversations with ruthlessly curiosity and with insightful questions, they’ll walk away with the feeling a good conversation was had, and more importantly, feel heard.

Try These Ideas Here’s some you can trial at your next networking event: “What current trends are you seeing in your industry?”

Conversations

Bradley Hatchett, Founder of Network My Club, explains how to start engaging conversations and make them count far more than just silence fillers.

QualityNetworking&Events

At Networking Events Require Good Questions

“Describe your perfect customer - what keeps them up at night?”

Lead with curiosity and dive even deeper with ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ follow up questions. Or my personal favourite follow up, “in what way?”

This is a much more natural way to find out how someone helps their customers, and who their customers are. You start to get a picture of how you could help them, who you can connect them with, and who in your network you know that they could benefit from knowing.

Go Beyond Business An easy and less intrusive way to get an understanding of what passions and interests that person has outside of their business.

Most forget that at a networking event you are building human relationships first and business relationships second. This question allows you to find out about them, what makes them tick, get them excited, and build a better rapport. You never know, you may find a common interest with someone you least expected. With all these questions, and networking in general, follow an ‘inch wide, mile deep’ mentality. Dive deeper below the surface. Then watch your conversations flourish.

First, it’s an easy way for the person to share some relevant and topical news from their industry - whilst also sharing what they’re currently working on. It informs you what’s happening in their industry and how they help others. And, as a bonus, you potentially have new information to use in other conversations if that topic comes up.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 45 NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSOR

“If you had an afternoon to do anything you wanted, what would that afternoon look like?”

Having the awareness to rephrase typically asked questions will help you better connect with the person or people opposite you. You’ll stand out, and you’ll be Whichremembered.iswhatnetworking is all about, right?

Try one of our many upcoming events. Network My Club has many events lined up in Sussex and beyond. Why not join us - armed with your new engaging questions? Website: www.networkmyclub.co.uk Twitter: @NetworkMyClub LinkedIn: company/network-my-clubhttps://www.linkedin.com/

Bradley Hatchett

Another benefit is it gives them opportunity to discuss something they probably haven’t talked much about, keeping the conversation fresh for them too.

The Tiger’s Pen The Tiger’s Pen gives eight aspiring start-ups the opportunity to pitch for investment and advice. The ‘Best Pitch’ award in The Tiger’s Pen (sponsored by Gold Pebble) went to an aspiring startup called Changing Minds Training run by Olivia-Louise Hamilton. Despite not leaving with investment, her passion and professionalism won her the Best Pitch Prize - a day out at English’s restaurant in Brighton, courtesy of Simon Rand, CEO of KuulEats Local.

46 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSOR

Renowned for more than just B2B trade shows, Sonny Cutting, the event director, has for a number of years hosted trade shows with a twist. He weaves together game-themed events to break the ice at pioneering and innovative B2B conferences. The blend provides an irresistible experience of energy with networking opportunities. For the first time ever, Ardingly saw the Sussex Business Show utilising a full shell system to enable exhibitors to have their very own spaces, giving them room to show off. Along with the new professional look to the show, the day was host to incredible speakers and the innovative spin-off, The Tiger’s Pen.

Other Prizes on Offer

The show did not disappoint at the South of Ardingly,ShowgroundEnglandinwitha refreshed style and feel. It emphasised the indisputable: that the Sussex Business Show delivers with a bang!

The Tiger’s Pen truly adds an extra inclusive layer to this show, sharing the power of business expertise, advice and guidance.

Another delightfully surprising element of the tradeshow was the long-awaited customer experience awards which returned to the show. All 85 exhibitors with a phone number on their website were called pre-event for a mystery 2022 will be hailed as the year that the Sussex Business Show established itself on the business event scene.

Sussex Business Show moves to Brighton in 2023

Networking&Events

Powerhouse Speakers With a showcase of the local region’s powerhouse speakers, the Sussex event was teeming with expertise, experience and energy. Bringing together twelve masterclass leaders, each delivered business talks on the day. Talks included topics such as wellbeing, cyber security, diversity and inclusion, data storytelling, digital marketing and start-up success to name a few.

NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSOR

The arts venue in Brighton is currently undergoing a huge transformation, making the show next year the perfect opportunity to take advantage of its updates, and it’s in the centre of the city. Next year’s show moves up a gear and offers a wellness lounge, a silent disco and 100 exhibitor stands to meet and connect with. Along with the new additions, the winning formula of a game theme will continue. The casino returns for another year and Sonny is dealing everyone in. The Grand Draw brings in so many businesses to play, engage and win prizes and makes for a day of excitement.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 47 shopping campaign. Three winners were chosen and a fourth business was given an honorary mention. Next year, the Customer Experience Awards will be back and the calls have already been started to rate them on their skills in Customer Service for the 2023 epic Brighton Showcase. The show’s focus on games, experiences and recognition at every event is unmatched. This year, however, Sonny wanted to do something special and created The Grand Draw to go along with the casino theme. Prizes were given out throughout the day, and guests were seen from as far away as a galaxy far, far away with Darth Vader and his stormtroopers making a surprise entrance on the day. Next year So, how can next year be any better?

The Sussex Business Show will have two special experiences for 2023 with a special charity ‘Rockinghorse and Star Wars Awareness Day’ on May 4th, and the much-anticipated tradeshow on September 28th in Brighton at The Dome, Corn Exchange. Sonny said of his choice of venue: “Many people have asked why I didn’t simply place the event next year at the Racecourse, Amex or Brighton Centre, and even though each of those venues offers their own unique experiences, I wanted something in the centre of the city which could deliver local businesses the opportunity of a wondrous experience of architecture whilst enjoying our new county tradeshow event.”

As an added bonus, just like Charlie and the Chocolate factory, some of the guest bags will even have Golden Tickets.

Eighty-five of the exhibitor spaces have already been snapped up. There are still some sponsorship packages available. If you would like to partner with the event, gain special perks and get an advertising package which will give your brand even more exposure, get in touch or drop into Freedom Works in Hove on Mondays or Tuesdays, and find The Sussex Business Show in the office for a chat. Alternatively, give them a call on 01273 833 222 or 07889 533641. www.sussexbizshow.com

Second Voice believe every business is That’sdifferent.why they make it their mission to understand you, your business, your market, what’s worked – and, just as importantly, what hasn’t. Using these findings, they enable you to create a unique strategy to help you scale and increase sales. By the end of the journey, you’ll know how to execute go-to-market plans, deploy simple, repeatable tactics to consistently grow your sales pipeline, and enable your teams to succeed with robust processes in place. In between, you’ll enjoy overconsultation,Toemaileverback.theyresultscomfortableWhenfriendlyknowledgeabletheirsupportcomprehensivefromhighlyandteam.you’reandtheareevident,willtakeastepButwillonlybeacalloraway.bookafreeheadto secondvoice.co.ukwww. to get in touch. The charity Second Voice has chosen to support is Brighton Soup. Brighton Soup is a platform for small local projects to pitch for funding in a uniquely social, interactive community setting. A bit like Dragon’s Den, but without the dragons - just a warm and supportive group of local people. Their next event is on 7 October 2022 –tickets will be on sale in September from Howwww.brightonsoup.org.ukdoesitwork?

September’s Big Business Breakfast will be held at The British Airways i360 on Friday 16th September.

NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSOR

Ben Bennett

We are delighted to announce our sponsor, Second Voice, and our guest speaker, the very engaging Ben Bennett. September’s chosen charity is Brighton Soup. Second Voice’s mission is to help you scale your business and consistently grow your revenues. Through their Consultancy, Training or 1-2-1 Mentoring, they have worked successfully with businesses of all sizes across the globe. They are proud mentors for NatWest Group’s Entrepreneur Accelerator programme, which helps high-growth businesses break into new markets and locate new investment opportunities, as well as being a Partner and Mentor for Plus X Innovation Hubs in London and the Southeast, supporting scaling companies to increase their revenue.

Tickets for Brighton Soup events cost just £5. For that, the audience hears from four local projects that pitch their ideas to the group. Each presenter has four minutes to share their idea, and then answer questions from the audience.

Big Business Breakfast Club Networking&Events

48 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Everyone then has a bowl of delicious soup (donated by local chefs), chats with each other, listens to musical entertainment (played for free) and, most importantly, votes on the project they liked the most.

At the end of the night, the ballots are counted and the winner goes home with all of the money raised from the door to carry out their project – usually Tickets£300-500.for the next BBBC cost £20 and include a free-flowing tea and coffee and a delicious choice of full English or continental breakfast, with all allergens catered for. Tickets can be purchased here: laterWewww.bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk/https://lookforwardtowelcomingyouthismonth

Terraforming for Dynamic Environments Weds 21st Sept | 6-8pm | MPB / Online Up your cloud computing game! Get under the hood of how MPB built out “Feature Environments”.

Games Sector Social Thurs 29th Sept | 6-8pm | Loading Bar Work in Sussex’s games sector? Sussex Game Makers is a place for anyone and everyone in the local scene to get together and network.

Getting Started Cloud Natively, with Java Tues 20th Sept | 6-8pm | Spaces / Online

NETWORKING & EVENTS SPONSOR

Get tips on how to lower the chance of risk in your products, maximise your rate of learning, and ensure greater market fit. People, Planet, Pint Thurs 15th Sept | 6-9pm | The Walrus Are you passionate about sustainable business? Meet like-minded people and find opportunities to collaborate for increased impact.

50 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Silicon Brighton is a community-led initiative supporting those working in our local digital sector. We provide a variety of free and accessible events to help people learn new skills, make connections, and progress their careers in tech. This month is buzzing with activity, so read on for a taste of what’s in store!

Do you want to create inclusive and engaging sessions for your agile team? Learn how Liberating Structures can help you do just that.

UX Brighton Social Tues 13th Sept | From 7pm | Lord Nelson Inn

The Creative Entrepreneur Panel Weds 14th Sept | 6-9pm | PLATF9RM Hear from people who have successfully turned their craft into a fledging business and meet other local entrepreneurs and creatives. Playful Facilitation With Liberating Structures Weds 14th Sept | 7-8:30pm | Online

Product Risk Special Thurs 15th Sept | 6-8:30pm | Spaces / Online

Azure Landing Zones Tues 27th Sept | 6:30-9:30pm | The Skiff Calling all Azure users! Come and deepen your knowledge about Azure Landing Zones, with takeaways from a real-world customer experience. Scan the QR code or visit hub.siliconbrighton.com/events to find out more.

Events Not To Be Missed

For anyone working in UX, whether you’ve been in the scene for years or you’re just starting out, UX Brighton’s upcoming social is an opportunity to meet others like you.

Learn how to use the AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) to deploy Java backends for various event driven applications.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 51

DARREN HARRIS Speaker, Coach and Founder at Unblind the Mind + Panel discussion with Thursday 22nd September 19:00-20:30 Online Learn practical steps you can take to drive diversity within your business.

UNBLIND THE MIND

ElectricMotoringNews Car Range Not Always Important

Many people worry that they will end up making a journey, accidentally exceeding their range and then being unable to access a charging station.

52 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to combat range anxiety and ensure that you can always keep your leased electric car topped up with charge and carry on your journey with peace of mind, wherever you may be!

It is a common concern for those considering leasing an electric car.

What is range anxiety? Range anxiety is something an electric car owner may experience when they are driving their vehicle and are unsure of how far they can travel until they need to recharge the battery.

That’s the view of Rivervale Cars Limited, which explains range anxiety is a feeling that those who have owned or just driven an electric car know all too well. For newbies, it’s comparable to that dread you get when you see the light on your dashboard reminding you to fill up your tank - when you know it could be miles before you reach the next petrol station. Only recently considered mainstream, the UK government stated that in 2021 over 500,000 low-emission electric cars were being driven in the country. For many people, swapping from a diesel or petrol car is a significant change, and with big change can come new anxieties caused by the unknown. This is where range anxiety comes into play.

Range may not be a big an issue

Thanks to the growing popularity of electric cars, charging stations are becoming a much more frequent feature

As consumers and businesses turn to electric cars to boost their green credentials, there is a stumbling block for those still considering the move - range anxiety.

Many houses now have charging stations, meaning you can charge your electric car from the comfort of your own home. Are you renting a car for a weekend break?

Airbnb now lets you search for stays that will give you access to charging ports. New laws announced in December 2021 will mean that building regulations will be altered to require new homes to possess a charging port; this change comes as part of more comprehensive government plans to increase access to charging stations. This will hopefully mean that range anxiety will be a thing of the past as more and more properties will come equipped to make leasing an electric car all the more simple! Other places to charge up As of September 2020, all major UK supermarkets have committed to installing charging stations in their car parks. There has been an 85 per cent increase in supermarket charging stations since 2020. This is fantastic news for electric car drivers as it means that you can top up your charge while you do your weekly shopping.

An increasing number of businesses are also beginning to install charging points at work as part of a workplace charging scheme; there is an estimated 33,000 charging stations available at workplaces across the UK. This is beneficial for both the employer, as it helps to promote sustainable practices, and for employees, as it means they can charge their car during the day without having to worry about range anxiety.

Use Rivervale’s EV mileage calculator. It will look at your driving habits and determine whether an electric vehicle would suit your lifestyle. Are you interested in an electric car?

Browse Rivervale’s range today and see for yourself how easy it is to make the switch from petrol or diesel! You may be surprised at just how far you can go... Convinced on going electric? Get in touch with Rivervale today on 01273 433 480 to discuss car leasing. Alternatively, request a callback for a time that is convenient for you!

As the technology of electric cars has developed, so too has their range. The majority of electric cars now have a range of over 200 miles, which should be more than enough to get you from A to B without any problems. And, if you do happen to exceed your range, there are plenty of charging points available for you to top up your car’s battery meaning that rather than charging your car battery and using it until it is empty, you are ‘grazing’ and charging on the go, as you go.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 53 of our cities and even our homes.

MOTORING NEWS SPONSOR

All in all, there are now more charging points available than ever before, and with the government continuing to invest in sustainable practices, it is likely that this number will only increase in the future. So, if you’re considering making the switch to leasing an electric car, don’t let range anxiety hold you back - there are plenty of ways to ensure that you can always keep your car charged and ready to go! Still not convinced?

According to EDF Energy, there are more than 42,000 charging points in the UK, spanning 15,000 locations. This, therefore, means that there is actually better access to charging points than fuel stations, and that is before private charging stations are even considered.

“There might be a higher upfront cost [in Air Quality News reporter Martin Guttridge-Hewitt recently sat down with leasing company Rivervale to discuss the benefits of switching to electric vehicles. This is his report, shared with the Sussex Business Times.

Although the leasing company was officially established in RivervaleBrighton-based2001,hasamuch longer history behind it. One that stretches way back to Sir Thomas Sopwith, designer of one of the most legendary planes in British aviation, the iconic World War I biplane fighter the Sopwith Camel, and his son, the renowned racing driver and company founder, Tommy Sopwith. Simply put, Rivervale was established by one of Britain’s most passionate petrol heads. A chap who, at the age of 86, was still behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG, one of the German manufacturer’s fastest creations. So, the fact 77% of Rivervale’s leasing fleet is now made up of electric vehicles (EVs) speaks volumes about how far the zero-carbon car and van market has come and gives an insight into how misunderstood this nascent area of auto sales still is. “It’s not the strongest environment at the moment for buyer confidence,” admits Vince Pemberton, Chief Executive Officer at Rivervale Leasing, nodding to the spiralling cost-of-living crisis, sky high inflation and a looming UK recession as factors impacting both his personal and business customer base. Then there are more traditional concerns over EV performance – not least so-called ‘range anxiety’, which refers to worries about how far nonpetrol and non-diesel models can travel between charges. All fears that are products of short-sightedness.

MotoringNews

Businesses and Families Can’t Afford Not to Make EV Switch

54 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk MOTORING NEWS SPONSOR

Practicalities are also difficult to deny.

“Basically, EVs don’t have as many moving parts compared with traditional vehicles. This means your maintenance costs are going to be significantly lower. You’re not going to have to get a service as frequently and foot that bill for the work,” says Bud. “And this is before we come to the major advantages when you’re talking about company cars, and employee benefitin-kind. Basically, if we’re going to make a point around EVs being liable for less company car tax, then we need to make the point this is considerably less company car tax. “And for a lot of employees, it will feel like a pay rise. Someone driving a Mercedes C Class as a company car, switching to electric will see massive savings and much better benefit-in-kind payments.

Vince explains: “The pressure is also being put on businesses for ESG –Environmental, Social and Governance: standards which measure a company’s impact on the environment and society. As a company, you start ticking some ESG boxes by switching to electric.

We ask for some numbers and are given the lowdown on a BMW 420 Gran Coupe. On a monthly basis, employees would have £457.11 more cash in their pocket if the car is electric compared with petrol due to more generous benefit-inkind rates. A significant boost to earnings at a time when domestic heating bills are at record highs with successive price hikes due in autumn and winter.

Taking all this into account, it’s unsurprising to hear EV inquiries at Rivervale have increased exponentially in the past 12 months, growing by no less than 70% since 2021. For Pemberton, it’s just one sign of a rapidly rising tide set to fundamentally change the makeup of British traffic over the course of this decade. At which point sales of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned as the country continues on the road to decarbonisation.

MOTORING NEWS SPONSOR

“There’s still some nervousness around all this, but the best thing people can do is speak to experts, who can guide them through the options and help them understand the long-term advantages of switching over.”

Vince adds: “There are the running costs for EVs, which are advantageous.

Then there’s the growing number of tenders looking for suppliers that take environmental impact into account. So, you’ve got firms bidding and winning tenders in part because their vehicle fleet is electric, as that helps customers improve their own ESG rating.”

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone is expanding next year to cover 96 per cent of the city’s sprawl, so more drivers will be liable to pay to travel into, through and out of the region. EVs offer a way to avoid fees due to their compliance with the strictest emissions regulations. Outside the capital, more and more cities are following suit with restrictions on polluting vehicles now active in Birmingham, Brighton, Norwich, and Portsmouth, among other places. Meanwhile, Oxford is operating an emission-free zone. Across Europe, there are 320 of these schemes in place, with that number expected to exceed 500 within the next three years.

For businesses, the amount that can be claimed back in taxable benefits is much higher, because the vehicle produces no CO2. On top of that, you’ve given your employee a pay rise through benefit-in-kind payments. And, of course, you’re doing something positive for the planet, and for the kids that will still be here when we’re long gone. What’s not to like?

Bud Johnston

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 55 going electric], but the longer-term saving is substantial. I don’t think this is made clear enough,” Vince continues, citing rocketing fuel costs among other factors. “If you’re lucky enough to have a driveway or off-road parking with access to charge points, even better. There are apps that control when you’re charging – you can do it overnight, when tariffs are lowest. My car probably costs between £10 and £12 to fully charge. That gets me around 220miles. A diesel tank on an average family car gets you 400miles, but sets you back about £85… And it won’t be long before we’re seeing EVs with equivalent range to petrol and diesel. It’s coming.” That 50 per cent saving is only part of the story. As Pemberton’s colleague, Bud Johnston, Rivervale’s Group Marketing Director, jumps in to explain, there are also significant advantages in terms of maintenance requirements, which in turn correlate to spending less money on servicing and, by default, having your vehicle off the road less frequently. Again, it’s a very different picture from that of reliability problems many EV critics often paint.

For more information, visit; leasing/electric-hybrid-carswww.rivervaleleasing.co.uk/car-https:// or call 01273 433 480 to discuss car leasing.

I’m talking hundreds of pounds.”

“An efficient, network approach will enable the sharing of best practice to boost outcomes for people wherever they live, work and train. Closing the skills gap across all regions and sectors will help build all communities, and we are proud to see, once again, Accredited Chambers at the heart of local growth.”

56 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk CHAMBER NEWS SPONSOR Sussex Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that they have been chosen to lead the development and delivery of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West FollowingSussex.the successful development of the Trailblazer LSIP for Sussex, published in April 2022, the Chamber has now been designated as the Employer Representative Body to take forward the LSIP for Sussex, as they are rolled out across the country. Skills shortages are regularly highlighted by businesses as a key recruitment issue and LSIPs, funded by the Department for Education, aim to put the voice of local employers at the heart of the learning and skills system to build a stronger, more dynamic partnership between employers and education providers. It is hoped this will allow provision to be more responsive to the skills needs of employers in the Sussex labour market. Sussex Chamber Chief Executive, Ana Christie, said: “This designation provides us with the exciting opportunity to continue the work started during the LSIP Trailblazer and bring together employers, training providers and other key stakeholders across Sussex to continue to respond to the skills priorities and solutions identified within our LSIP report and the associated Future Skills Sussex Improvement Framework.”

For further information please contact Claire Witz, Skills Project Director at co.ukskills@sussexchamberofcommerce.

“This is an opportunity for employers to shape how their current and future workforce can access the right training to thrive in the modern, more digital and greener workplace. More than 10,000 businesses were engaged in the eight Chamber-led trailblazers. Building on this learning and success, we will ensure that planning for local skills is aligned with the job opportunities and growth ambitions of employers.

LSIPChamberNews

The Chamber is one of 32 Accredited Chambers of Commerce which will lead LSIPs across the country, supported by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Jane Gratton, from the BCC, said: “We are delighted that so many Accredited Chambers have been designated by the Secretary of State. The Chamber Network will use its convening power and deep knowledge of their local economies and communities to develop clear plans to address skills challenges faced by businesses. Chambers will bring together local businesses, training providers and a broad range of stakeholders to identify the skills needed to increase opportunities and enable economic growth for the benefit of everyone in the community.

Secretary of State designates Sussex Chamber to deliver Local Skills Improvement Plan across Sussex. Status Announced for Sussex Chamber

Hannah Jackson, Membership and Marketing Manager at Brighton Chamber, explains how the event will help businesses find the skills and talent they need.

Special thanks for their support to: Michelle Westbury, Estelle Dingley, Sandra Murphy, Helen Vane, Emma Cleary, Hilary Ellis.

organising The Inclusive Employer Jobs Fair at the Brighthelm Centre, to help local employers with job vacancies to find the skills and talent they need.

The Chamber team started joining weekly gatherings with the Network of International Women in May, meeting people arriving in the Brighton area from Ukraine, who are looking for work - offering practical support and to see if there are any ways that the Brighton business community could come together to help. And one area that new arrivals need some extra support is finding employment. While some need help with English, many are work-ready and just need help finding the right employer. Among those looking for work are lawyers, architecture graduates, project managers, language teachers – plus those with finance, IT, event management and software skills, or those who would like to work in hospitality.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 57 CHAMBER NEWS SPONSOR On 12 theCommunitiesTrustBrightonOctober,Chamber,forDevelopingandJobsCentreare

Inclusive Employers Jobs Fair

Looking at more ways we can connect the local business community with people with English as an additional language who are looking for employment, Brighton Chamber has come together with Trust for Developing Communities and the Jobs Centre to organise The Inclusive Employers Jobs Fair on 12 October, at the Brighthelm Centre It aims to create an opportunity to help local employers with job vacancies to find the skills and talent they want.

If you have a job vacancy you’d like us to share with this growing network, send an email to brightonchamber.co.ukcampaigns@

The Jobs Fair will connect employers with those looking for work, including new arrivals from other countries in Brighton (including those from Ukraine). How did it come about?

Through match-making of skills (where possible), involving support organisations to help with CV writing and interviews, and curating opportunities to bring employers and those looking for work together.

ChamberNews The

Whatever size or sector of employer you are, it’s always important to get the right person for the right jobs. It’s against this backdrop that the Chamber has started matching people with jobs – helping people from Ukraine and other refugees who are eligible to work, find work.

So what is the Inclusive Employers Jobs Fair, and what can your business do?

Making these connections between those looking for work, local employers, businesses and organisations supporting these groups has begun to gain momentum.

So, over the past few months, alongside the help of Chamber members, and working with the Job Centre and charities like the Network of International Women, the Chamber team have been having conversations with local businesses about vacancies they have, and what they’re looking for. How are we doing it? Brighton Chamber has a large network of businesses, including Chamber members and employers who are signed up to the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign. These span all sectors and size of company, and many are keen and able to help in various ways, from offering mentoring, work experience opportunities, or sharing job vacancies.

As the main Partner of BHAFC, American Express had also arranged a special treat by organising six of the club’s star players to come along to meet those involved and provide tips and motivation, namely Lewis American Express and Albion in the Community come together to host an event for more than 100 participants from across Sussex. Sport

Joint Initiative Sees Launch of ‘Play Together’ Football Festival

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Brighton and Hove Albion players made a surprise appearance at the event, held at the ExpressAmericanEliteFootball Performance Centre in Lancing - writes SBT Sports Editor Laurence Eliphick. The festival took place at the end of July and attracted more than 120 participants from across Sussex for the inaugural event.

Delivered by Albion in the Community (AITC), the official charity of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club (BHAFC), in partnership with American Express, the PLAY Together Football Festival was formulated to bring together underrepresented groups and young people from targeted communities, to play in mixed gender and ability teams.

Having worked successfully in partnership with American Express since 2011, AITC put the event together

as part of their bespoke Learn, Live, Play Together volunteer programme with the aim of combining the power of football and passion for BHAFC with the time, energy and expertise of American Express colleagues to help local communities across Sussex.

Today’s event is the first in a series of football festivals being planned, designed to introduce new people to football as a sport for all, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, so that everyone feels welcome in football.”

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 59 SBT SPORT SPONSOR

Paul Brackley, Disability Manager at AITC, said: “We know that football is a hugely powerful tool to engage and inspire young people, promote diversity, equality and inclusion, and improve physical and mental health.

Led by AITC qualified coaches and supported by 15 American Express colleague volunteers, the day consisted of three separate ‘Football 3’ style open rules mini-festivals. Matches were played without a referee, where players collectively decide how the game will be played, assisted by a moderator.

The three mini-festivals comprised the ‘Blue’ football festival for 7-11 yearolds, the ‘White’ football festival for participants aged 12-16 years old, both with eight teams of between five and eight players, together with a Women’s Walking football showcase festival with 34 players taking part. Nikki Edelman, Vice President at American Express, said: “It’s been a great day and very encouraging to see young people of all ages, genders and abilities playing football together and having fun. What made it even more special was seeing the interaction with the club’s players… we’re very grateful to the players for taking time out of their training schedules to provide support to so many of the participants, alongside our incredible American Express volunteers.”

Dunk and Joel Veltman from the men’s team, together with Victoria Williams, Julia Zigiotti Olme, Katie Robinson and Emma Kullberg from the women’s team.

The idea of ‘Open Rules’ gave ownership of the game to the players, allowing them to develop skills related to decision making, negotiation and compromise - all with an emphasis on fair play.

Georgia

Family - Profile

She is recognised as predominantly an opening right hand batter, writes SBT’s Sports Editor Laurence Elphick.

Watching her father perform really influenced her passion and desire to make it as a professional. She told Sports Media LGBT+: “I spent my weekends down at Hove watching my dad and playing with the other kids and probably causing havoc in the nets. And also, probably getting in trouble with the stewards!”

In 2014, Adams captained Sussex for the first time, in a Women’s County Championship match against Yorkshire where she scored 106 from 111 balls, which was her first century. In 2015, Adams was captain for multiple Twenty20 Cup matches and was top scorer in Sussex’s opening two matches.

Sport Success

Sussex Cricket’s Georgia Adams SBT SPORT SPONSOR Getty Images

Georgia Adams is the daughter of Chris, the former England Test batter who captained Sussex to County Championship glory in the 2000s.

Georgia started batting at number seven and gradually worked her way up where she has represented both Loughborough Lightning and Southern Vipers in the Super League, along with both the Oval Invincibles and currently the Southern Brave in The Hundred. Oh, and she also captains the Sussex Women’s team, having made her first-class debut for the County in 2009.

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I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Georgia on several occasions myself and, after Louise Adams turns 29 next month but has already achieved so much since she broke into the Sussex team at just 15. Runs in the of

In 2017 she became permanent Sussex captain, taking over from Georgia Elwiss whom she had covered for when Elwiss was away on England duty.

Born in Chesterfield, there have been many highlights during her cricketing journey and 10 years after making her bow for Sussex, she became the youngest player to reach the milestone of 100 appearances for the county. In 2020, Adams was handed a regional contract and was later selected in the Southern Vipers squad for the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. In a match against Western Storm, Adams scored 154 not out and, at the time, it was the seventh highest women’s List A cricket score. That season, Adams scored 500 runs in seven innings in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, the most runs of any player in the tournament. In 2021, Adams captained Southern Vipers to their second Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title and was the side’s second-highest run-scorer and secondhighest wicket-taker, with 233 runs and 12 wickets. In the same year, she also won The Hundred with the Oval Invincibles and, in April this year, she was signed by the Southern Brave for this season’s Hundred competition.

With women’s cricket increasing in popularity all the time, as crowds at The Hundred have shown, and four wins out of four for the Southern Brave at the time of writing, clearly Georgia Adams knows the way to the top. Sky Sports Sussex Cricket

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 61 interviewing her in 2018 about her father’s influence on her, she was happy to tell me she’d normally go to him for advice as he was her biggest fan. Apparently though, Adams senior can’t relax when he’s watching his daughter.

She used to play netball before cricket, but what about something that perhaps we don’t know? Georgia apparently has nine small tattoos - including a heartbeat line on her ribs, a wave on her foot and one of a compass on her ankle.

This year’s Hundred has seen some solid performances from Adams and clearly, she can confidently turn her hand to bowling right hand off break, having been regularly called upon to end opposition batting partnershipsmost notably seeing her named Match Hero by Sky after her two wickets in the victory over the Oval Invincibles last Withmonth.over4,000 runs and 40-plus wickets in all formats of the women’s game, cricket is quite clearly in the family, but when Georgia’s not playing or coaching at Brighton Aldridge Community College, she enjoys a good dog walk on the beach and likes going to coffee shops and the gym.

“During my first Super League game against Surrey Stars, he was sat in the box watching me and after I’d got Player of the Match I went to see him at the end of the game. I was told he’d been awful so I was worried he’d had too many beers, when in fact he’d been pacing up and down, couldn’t watch and was constantly asking what was happening…normally he’s such a logical man and very calm.”

“I’m someone who needs to be out and about all the time…unless it’s raining!”

SBT SPORT SPONSOR

Speaking at a press conference, 32-yearold Eubank Jr said: “This is a fight like no other in the history of the sport. Two legends who went into a ring 30 years ago inspired a nation, became superstars, etched their names into not just boxing history but British history. Seventeen million people watching these guys fight twice and now, 30 years later, their sons who have both made their name in the sport of boxing are going to get into the ring and the Eubank-Benn name is going to go to war for a third time. Something like this has never happened before and I don’t think it will happen again, ever. That is why I took this fight.” Benn, who could have taken an eliminator for a world title bout at welterweight, feels like he had little choice but to take what he describes as “a once-in-a-lifetime” clash.

When it comes to boxing, grudge matches and memorable contests from the 80s, one would be partial to thinking about Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns, the late ‘Marvellous’ Marvin Hagler, and Sugar Ray Leonard, but surely one of the most memorable battles from those days gone by were the fights between Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn? at Stake in the

Chris Eubank Jr. has followed in his father’s footsteps, fighting in the middleweight and super-middleweight divisions with Benn being lighter than his Thefather.bookmakers appear to make the bigger and more experienced Eubank Jr the heavy favourite in what’s classed as a catchweight contest because no belts are on the line. A bout without belts wouldn’t normally be considered a huge draw, but tickets reportedly sold out in 47 minutes as fight fans secured their place to watch the latest instalment of a rivalry that’s literally spanned the generations.

FamilySport Pride

Next month, thirtytwo years on, it’s time for Eubank and Benn to go headto-head again. But this time, rather than two former champions coming out of retirement, it’s their respective sons, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, that have agreed to square off at London’s O2 Arena on 8th October.

62 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk SBT SPORT SPONSOR

Ring Boxing News Online Sky Sports

Separated by two divisions in their last fight, Benn is stepping up from welterweight, adding 10lbs to his usual fighting weight, whereas Eubank Jr has agreed to drop down to the lowest weight class of his career, stepping down from middleweight. Widely thought of as one of the greatest rivalries in British boxing, Eubank won Benn’s WBO middleweight title in November 1990, recording a ninth-round stoppage after a dramatic fight, before the second instalment at Old Trafford, Manchester ended in a split draw with each fighter retaining their supermiddleweight belts.

The 25-year-old added: “This is a fight which makes sense for now. The world title is still the goal, but this is once in a lifetime. It is a fantasy fight for the British Eubankpublic.”Jrhas won 32 of his 34 bouts as a professional, his two defeats coming against George Groves and Billy Jo Saunders, while Benn is unbeaten in 21 outings as a paid boxer with 14 knockouts.

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 63 SHOW ORGANISER SHOW PARTNER Find out more at www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk#betterbiz2022 Design:&Branding yoohoocreative.com ENTRYFREE Worthing Leisure Centre Thurs 22nd Sept • 10am - 4pm PowerBreakfastHour Enjoy networkingsome over a hearty breakfast Buy Local Discover what’s on your doorstep supportBusiness From expertsbusinessinvarious fields and industries areaNetworking A central area to meet and greet InspiringKeynoteSpeakers Build ConnectionsyourSpeakers Speed Networking 100+ exhibitor stands Explore local opportunities What does it mean to be a ‘business for good?’ Ruth Anslow Co-Founder of HISBE & The Good Business Club Success can be fun! Lawrence Boon Director of Fizz Creations - Keynote Speakers -

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In the introductory session of the day, I encourage delegates to think honestly and carefully as individuals about what might be the essential practices or elements in their life, work and relationships without which they would be unable to function or exist.

Furthermore, when as a group we discuss how it may have felt thinking in this way, delegates invariably confess that they have barely ever thought such a question through for themselves, or ever considered its implications for life and personal growth.

AskExpertthe What

It is an endlessly interesting exercise because, of the many people from a whole range of backgrounds with whom I have worked, all without exception have to think intently for some time before journalling their answers.

Often those keen to share their answers describe the most fascinating essentials on which psychological wellbeing rests and without which they would struggle to cope.

‘What for you is non-negotiable?’

One of the questions I ask clients to think about in the Awareness Days that I direct is:

Naturally, there are many who are certain that time and closeness to their children or partners are the only things that they couldn’t negotiate on, but others seem committed to agonising over this question - even if what is uncovered is uncomfortable - in an attempt to greater understand themselves and pursue personal change and growth. for You is Non-Negotiable?

www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 65 ASK THE EXPERT SPONSOR

One successful businessman shared quietly that, after thinking intently for nearly five minutes, he ultimately challenged himself to write completely honestly and wrote about his addiction to the gym and his countless hours spent there, often to the detriment of his family life and the cause of much conflict in his marriage.

In the overwhelming information bombardment of our modern ‘connected’ world, it occurs to me that in our constant busyness and the relentless challenge of balancing the multiple demands on us, we may be missing the element that in our humanity is most essential to our growth and wellbeing; personal time in which to reflect and challenge ourselves with a view to change.

This-------isan extract from DEEPER By John https://www.awarenesschange.comRichards

Another delegate tentatively shared that without her hour of yoga and meditation every morning, she knew without any doubt that her marriage would quickly crumble as would her psychological health and her ability to do her job as a Senior Leader. I have been privileged to hear people both relay and grapple with the most remarkable and unexpected things when they really consider such a question deeply, bravely, honestly and with a view to exploring themselves and unearthing that which is hidden in their lives.

The willingness and discipline to take time out to think about what we really feel and think and the values that underpin our actions and behaviours holds enormous power to bring healing, positive change and true growth. We might do well to prioritise it.

Manyfascinating.ofus seem to live a life that, in the words of John Lennon, actually happens when we are ‘busy making other plans’. We often live carried along by the force of external events or by our unexamined actions, habits and choices, despite the fact that they have significant and far reaching Weconsequences.tendtospend little time reflecting on the deep questions, missing the fact that the answers to these questions actually underpin all that we do and feel, every moment, every hour, every day.

I find this phenomenon endlessly

Often, when we are courageous with ourselves and are willing to look a little deeper into such questions, there is a wealth of truth and revelation waiting to be discovered that can lead to personal challenge, renewal and subsequent inspiration. I ask my clients to consider 12 different personal ‘Life’ questions on the Awareness/Change Days that I direct. All 12 are about individual values, thoughts, backgrounds, influences, relationships, hopes and personal ambitions. I have never yet had a single delegate either prepared with an answer or respond that they have ever thought about any of the questions raised.

To sample Kinsbrook wines you will have to visit the vineyard as they sell most of their wines in-house due to limited production. “21” is available online but I would suggest you save the postage and visit so you can try their range of wine. It is a lovely place to visit, has alfresco dining with their small plate menu and will have their new restaurant opening soon with the deli and farm shop as well as live entertainment on Sundays. I am particularly fond of their rose.

WINE OF THE MONTH SPONSOR

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The award-winning 21 21 perfectly blends three still grape varieties - Bacchus, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir Précoce. Tasting notes: Ripe

Michael’s tasting notes

For this month’s Wine of the Month, we have chosen a vineyard near Thakeham, West Sussex. The origin of ‘Kinsbrook’ comes from combining the word ‘kin’ (which is all about family and connection) and ‘brook’ (because flowing brooks cut through both the vineyard’s main sites).

County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month September 2022

JoeHoneyTropicalpeachHariboblossomsuggestspairing 21 with creamy dishes to cut through the richness with its high acidity followed with lots of stone fruit and tropical flavours with a long finish.

Joe Beckett and his partner Rebecca Dancer, grow a mixture of grapes for still and sparkling wines but have a real focus on bringing the very best local food producers to showcase their wines. Favouring minimalinterventionalist, regenerative practices, both in the vineyard and winemaking processes, Kinsbrook is continuing to promote sustainability through Kinsbrook Farmhouse, its brand new farm shop and eatery, which will open its doors later this month. Check the website for the new opening times. From the excellent range of wines on offer, we have chosen the recently launched “21” which was recently named Great British Wine’s ‘Wine of the Month’. Winemaker’s notes Joe explains: “In 2021, despite suffering brutal frosts, heavy rain, high humidity, a summer of no sun, hungry birds and curious neighbours, at harvest time the yields were modest and not enough to make our usual single-variety wines, but full of flavour and juice. In this, we saw an opportunity to make a special, limited edition wine: 21, of which there were just 3,000 bottles produced.”

Michael Yeoman, English Wine and International Wine MichaelSpecialistYeoman produces his own range of sustainable spirits with Spirit of the Downs (www. spiritofthedowns.co.uk) and works with small batch local vineyards with his Brighton and Hove Wine Club ( brightonandhovewineclub.co.ukwww. )

For me, 21 on the nose provides an instant hit of grapefruit. This reminds me of a French Sauvignon Blanc with floral notes followed by citrus. On the palate, it is fresh and delicate with rich acidity, which makes your mouth salvate, followed by lots of fruit. It’s a great wine for pairing with food.

68 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk At the British Airways i360 in Brighton. T H E S U S S E X C O N T E M P O R A R TY H E S U S S E X C O N T E M P O R A R TY H E S U S S E X C O N T E M P O R A R Y A R T E X H I B I T I O N 2 0 2 A2 R T E X H I B I T I O N 2 0 2 A2 R T E X H I B I T I O N 2 0 2 2 S p o n s o r s Visit the largest exhibition of contemporary Sussex artists with over 200 artworks on show. Free Fadmission ree Fadmission ree admission 8th - 22nd October 2022 www.thesussexcontemporary.co.uk www.thesussexcontemporary.co.uk www.thesussexcontemporary.co.uk All art is for sale and a percentage raised by the exhibition will go directly to Table Talk Foundation, a charity that delivers food education to children in Sussex.